Explore Minnesota Birding Report February 25, 2011
During the month of February, keep an eye out for great gray and snowy owls, as well as snow buntings, lapland longspurs, hoary redpolls, and American tree sparrows. Open water areas along rivers are great for viewing Canada geese, trumpeter swans, and mallards - if you look closely, you may also see common goldeneyes, American mergansers, and American black ducks. And the section of the Mississippi River between Red Wing and Wabasha in southeastern Minnesota offers an abundance of sites to view bald eagles.
The following is a list of recent, significant sightings:
A few Long-Tailed Ducks were on Lake Superior in Two Harbors, in Lake County, on February 19.
On the 21st, Larry Wilebski found a Snowy Owl about a mile south of Lancaster in Kittson County.
Two American Three-Toed Woodpeckers were northeast of Ely, in St. Louis County, on the 20th. The birds were seen just south of the Low Lake boat access.
The Varied Thrush that has been in Ely since at least mid-January was reported again on February 18 along Main Street across from the Pillow Rock historical marker.
And new spring migrants reported since last week include Gadwall, Green-Winged Teal, Redhead, Common Merganser, Bald Eagle, and Lapland Longspur.
Information in this statewide birding report is provided by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU), Minnesota's oldest and largest bird club. To submit a bird sighting, email Anthony Hertzel at axhertzel@gmail.com.
