September 2, 2011 Explore Minnesota Birding Report
Major migrations of Minnesota nesting species occur in September. Sharp-shinned and broad-winged hawks, peregrine falcons and other raptors also migrate to southerly locations from early September through mid-November, with peak migration in mid-September. One location to view a flurry of activity by a variety of species is Hawk Ridge in Duluth. On a good day, visitors may see hundreds, even thousands, of birds flying overhead! The public is invited to attend the very popular Hawk Weekend Festival which will be held at Hawk Ridge, Friday through Sunday, September 16-18, with a variety of field trips and seminars, family activities, social events, and more!
The following is a list of recent, significant sightings:
A Prairie Falcon was reported on August 30th by Bob Ekblad, at the North Ottawa Impoundment in Grant County, very near the Traverse County line. Alex Watson refound it the following day.
There are a couple reports of migrant Orange-Crowned Warblers, but this species is exceptionally rare before the first week of September. Other less-controversial reports include Horned Grebe, American Avocet, Buff-Breasted Sandpiper, Dunlin, Wilson's Phalarope, Caspian Tern, Philadelphia Vireo, Olive-Sided Flycatcher, Magnolia Warbler, Northern Parula, and Connecticut 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.
