Explore Minnesota Birding Report Friday, August 22
In general, August is an excellent time to see families of sandhill cranes emerging from their nesting marshes to relocate to adjacent hayfields and grasslands. And, birders can still see large numbers of American white pelicans at the Minnesota River dam in Granite Falls, the dam near Watson, and the spillway on Marsh Lake near Appleton.
The following is a list of recent, significant sightings:
Fall migration is well underway and a variety of warblers have been reported in the southern half of the state, including Tennessee Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Wilson’s Warbler, and Northern Waterthrush.
On August 16, a Summer Tanager was seen at the Chamberlain Woods Scientific and Natural Area in Le Sueur County. The bird was about 250 yards northeast of the parking area.
There was an unusual sighting of a Spotted Towhee reported on August 18 at Lake Vadnais in Ramsey County. The bird was seen in the dense brush at the far north end of the lake on the west side of the road. Nearly all of the extreme early dates for this species are in late September.
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.”
