Explore Minnesota Birding Report: January 30, 2009
Bald eagle on the Mississippi River. This is the Explore Minnesota Birding Report Newsletter as of Friday, January 30, with information provided courtesy of the Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union, and brought to you by Explore Minnesota Tourism.
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 the city of Duluth, in St. Louis County, the immature Golden-Crowned Sparrow was still being seen at 21 East College Street as of January 29, but it is only being seen intermittently.
Also in Duluth, the male Barrow’s Goldeneye was seen again at Canal Park on January 28.
Despite apparent trapping by grounds-keepers, there is still at least one Snowy Owl at the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport. The best location to check for this bird is along Cargo Road. A Snowy Owl was still in Dodge County on January 25, in a field to the west of 150th Avenue, roughly halfway between 690th and 700th streets. And in Mower County, a Snowy Owl was found near the town of Sargeant along 640th Avenue, south of 300th Street.
On January 26, at least one Spruce Grouse was in Lake County along State Highway 1, one-tenth of a mile east of Mile Marker 302.
And a Varied Thrush is visiting a feeder in Independence, in Hennepin County, but at this point there is no further information.
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.”
