June 29, 2012 Explore Minnesota Birding Report Update
The City of Duluth and Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory have joined efforts to present the 7th Annual Peregrine Watch, with informal interpretation at Lake Place Park, above the ?corner? of the Lakewalk in downtown Duluth. Naturalists will be on-site with spotting scopes and binoculars Tuesdays through Saturdays (weather permitting) through approximately July 10th to teach about a family of rare Peregrine Falcons that nest in a man-made nestbox atop the historic Greysolon Plaza Building. Four chicks hatched in mid-June, and they are now very mobile, traveling to nearby areas to feed. Naturalists will "tag along," leaving a sign at Lake Place Park on the Lakewalk directing visitors to their new location. The Peregrine Watch will end when the fledglings can no longer be followed, at which time signs will no longer be left directing visitors. 218/428-8722
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 Scissor-Tailed Flycatcher was reported on June 23rd, along Tanberg Township Road 271 in Wilkin County, but the bird apparently left the area soon after its discovery.
The Sprague's Pipit which has been seen consistently at the Felton Prairie in Clay County since June 8th was reported again June 28th. To view this bird, begin at the junction of State Highway 9 and Clay County Road 26, then travel east for about three miles to 170th Street. Turn north and drive the dirt road to the first fence north of the windmills. Park and walk east along the fence to a metal pipeline post. Listen here for the bird's skylarking song.
There is a secondhand report of a possible Little Blue Heron seen on the 28th in south Minneapolis. It was reported from Cedar Avenue at the southwest corner of Lake Nokomis.
At Frontenac State Park in Goodhue County, a Bell's Vireo was found behind the entrance station on June 24th. Another was on the south side of Watonwan County Road 1, roughly 1.3 miles west of County Road 18. And two were at the edge of the woods about 80 yards south of the 103rd Street/Hadley Avenue parking area at Grey Cloud Dunes, Scientific & Natural Area in Cottage Grove, Washington County, on the 23rd.
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.
