October 19, 2011 Explore Minnesota Birding Report Update Thousands of Sandhill Cranes are making their way through Minnesota in October, and many of these birds stage at the Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge for several weeks to fatten up for the remainder of their trip south. Sherburne Refuge staff, the Friends of Sherburne and the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union are sponsoring Sandhill Crane Viewing Tours on Saturday, October 22 at 6:30 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. Tours meet at the refuge headquarters, enjoy a cup of coffee or hot chocolate, learn about cranes and share plans and logistics for the tour. Groups then head out with tour guides to a couple of nearby viewing spots. Space is still available for both morning tours offered October 22. Pre-registration is necessary. To learn more, dial 763/389-3323, ext. 13, or visit
www.fws.gov/midwest/sherburne/Refuge.htmSharp-shinned and broad-winged hawks, peregrine falcons and other raptors continue to migrate to southerly locations through mid-November. One location to view the 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! And late October is an excellent time to travel Hwy. 61 along the Mississippi River to view amazing numbers of waterfowl, including large numbers of tundra swans. Weaver Bottoms in the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge is an excellent place to view a great variety of species.
The following is a list of recent, significant sightings:
A juvenile Purple Sandpiper is being seen in Swift County at the Lubenow Wildlife Protection Area, located roughly seven miles north of the town of Appleton. The specific location is along 230th Avenue, about two miles north of U.S. Highway 12. Although it has been found all along 230th Avenue, it is most often reported on the rocks on the east side of the road close to the north end of the WPA.
In Chippewa County, a juvenile Snowy Egret was found on October 17th at Mile Marker 62 of State Highway 7, northwest of the town of Watson.
On the 16th, a Summer Tanager was in the yard of Cindy and Chris Edwardson of Duluth, at the corner of East Arrowhead and Vermilion Road.
And at the Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge in Sherburne County, 4,958 Sandhill Cranes were counted on the refuge on October 18th.
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.
