Explore Minnesota Birding Report 1.23.09
In general, a drive along Highway 61, from Hastings to La Crescent, offers birders a chance to see numerous bald eagles, especially at Read’s Landing. This is also a great time of year to check out the open water sites along rivers and near power plants for Canada geese, trumpeter swans and mallards. If you look closely, you may also find American black ducks, American mergansers and common goldeneyes.
The following is a list of recent, significant sightings:
In Duluth, an immature Golden-Crowned Sparrow was seen at 21 East College Street on January 17, but it has not been observed since.
Also in Duluth, a male Barrow’s Goldeneye was at Canal Park on January 19.
A Snowy Owl was in Clay County on January 18 at the Crystal Sugar Ponds near the city of Moorhead. The bird was on the dike near the intersection of 28th Avenue and 28th Street. On the 20th, a Snowy Owl was on the East Bank of the University of Minnesota near the junction of 15th and University avenues. In Dodge County, a Snowy Owl was seen on the 16th, one-quarter of a mile east of County Road 3, and south of County Road 4. And, a Snowy Owl was in Murray County on January 15, near Mile Marker 21 of Highway 30, four miles west of Lake Wilson.
There was an unusual one-day appearance of a Northern Hawk Owl in Nicollet County on January 20. The bird was found in North Mankato between Candi Lane and Mary Lane, but it has not been seen since its initial discovery.
On January 18, a White-Winged Scoter and a Harlequin Duck were on the Mississippi River near Hastings, in Dakota County. A Townsend’s Solitaire was seen on the 20th at the Ann Lake Campground in Sherburne County. It was along the path to the right of the parking lot, one mile east of County Road 5. Another Solitaire was in Duluth on the 17th along East Flynn Road, one-tenth of a mile east of McQuade Road.
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
“The information in this report is provided courtesy of the Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union and Explore Minnesota Tourism.”
