February 5, 2010 Explore Minnesota Birding Report
Late in the winter, owl sightings can become more prevalent, with a chance to see snowy, boreal, great gray and northern hawk owls. Bald Eagles congregate at open-water areas on the Mississippi River during winter months, including at Colvill Park and the city park in Red Wing, and at Reed's Landing south of Wabasha - to learn more, check out "Eagle Watching" on the Upper Mississippi River Refuge web site. Birders will also want to consider a trip to Monticello to view the many Trumpeter Swans, with up to 1000 swans viewed most winter seasons on the east side of town just off Mississippi Drive. More information can be found at the Monticello Chamber of Commerce web site.
Birders have a special opportunity to contribute to the Minnesota Breeding Bird Atlas (BBA). BBAs are used throughout the world to document and map the distribution of breeding birds. Surveyors record evidence of breeding status for each species observed, and volunteers are needed to help gather data. Everyone is eligible to participate. Detailed information about the atlas and becoming a surveyor is available at the Minnesota Breeding Bird Atlas web site.
Information has been provided courtesy of the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union. This report is brought to you by ExploreMinnesota.com.
The following is a list of recent, significant sightings:
On February 3, one male Barrow's Goldeneye was still on the Mississippi River at the far eastern end of Lake Pepin near Read's Landing in Wabasha County.
Two Long-Tailed Ducks were on Lake Superior at Father Baraga's Cross in Schroeder in Cook County on February 3, and a White-Winged Scoter was roughly ten miles up the shore from Duluth on the 1st.
In the Sax-Zim Bog of St. Louis County, a Great Gray Owl was found on February 4 on the north side of Stone Lake Road, roughly one mile east of County Road 7.
Six Northern Hawk Owls were seen on February 3 along the North Shore of Lake Superior. In Lake County, they were found at Flood Bay, Gooseberry Falls State Park, and one mile east of Little Marais. In Cook County, one was along County Road 7, a mile and a half north of Highway 61, and two were found a mile east of Sugar Loaf Cove. Hawk Owls have also been reported from the Sax-Zim Bog of St. Louis County and on the east side of Leech Lake along Cass County Road 73, roughly two miles west of County Road 8.
In Melrude, in St. Louis County, a Boreal Owl made a brief appearance in Ben Yokel's yard on February 2.
At Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge, a Black-Backed Woodpecker is being seen at the Ann Lake campground, about 200 yards east of the parking lot. And just north of the nearby town of Zimmerman, a Varied Thrush continues to visit the house on the southwest side of Elk Lake.
Information in this statewide birding report is provided by and financially supported by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU), Minnesota's oldest and largest bird club. The report is composed from reports submitted by MOU members and other birders throughout the state. You can support this weekly birding update by submitting your bird reports to Anthony Hertzel at axhertzel@sihope.com or by calling the hotline directly at 763-780-8890 and leaving a detailed message. MOU members receive the organization's quarterly journal "The Loon," and the bi-monthly magazine, "Minnesota Birding." For membership information, send an e-mail message to our membership secretary at membership@moumn.org
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