Explore Minnesota Birding Report Update October 12, 2012
Birders can view an amazing number of raptors during the month of October at Hawk Ridge in Duluth, with large numbers of the "big birds" passing through including Bald and Golden Eagles, Rough-legged Hawks, Red-tailed Hawks and Northern Goshawks. Naturalists are on site through the end of October to assist visitors with raptor identification and to answer questions. Hawk Ridge also offers Owl Evenings for kids and adults, with an Owls for Kids program on Friday, October 19, and Owls for Everyone programs the evenings of October 13, 20 & 27. Seating is limited to 60 people per evening--please purchase your tickets ahead of time to ensure a seat. And late October is an excellent time to travel down Highway 61 along the Mississippi River to see waterfowl in Weaver Bottoms, located just south of Weaver, MN.
The following information has been provided courtesy of the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union and their affiliates. This report is brought to you by ExploreMinnesota.com.
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The following is a list of recent, significant sightings:
A Say's Phoebe has been at the McQuade Road Safe Harbor along Scenic Highway 61 northeast of Duluth since October 7th. It is most often found near the restroom building.
On the 9th, a Harlequin Duck was on Lake Superior in Duluth just south of Canal Park, and a Red-Throated Loon was on the lake out from Park Point near the Sky Harbor Airport.
A Carolina Wren was in Rochester in Olmsted County on the 9th, along 7th Avenue SW between 9th and 10th Streets. This is likely one of the two birds reported here since late August. Another Carolina Wren was in Ramsey County on the 9th, along the 1900 block of Malvern Street in the town of Lauderdale. And there is a late report of a Carolina Wren seen on the 5th along Twin Bluffs Drive in Winona, Winona County.
Evening Grosbeaks were reported by several observers over the past week, mostly in the northern quarter of the state, and the fall's first Varied Thrush was banded at Hawk Ridge in Duluth on the 7th. An unusually late Wood Thrush was seen on the 7th at the Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park in northern Hennepin County. Other lingering migrants include Osprey, Great Egret, Barn Swallow, Sedge Wren, Ovenbird, and Magnolia Warbler.
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 the MOU birding report compiler at rba@moumn.org.
