During the month of October, migrating birds of prey, including sharp-shinned and broad-winged hawks, peregrine falcons and other raptors continue to be seen in great numbers as they travel down the Lake Superior shoreline. And, late October is an excellent time to travel Highway 61 to see Tundra Swans and Bald Eagles at Weaver Bottoms, located within the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge.
The following is a list of recent, significant sightings:
On September 28th, Peder Svingen reported a GYRFALCON on the rocks on the Minnesota side of the Superior Entry of Park Point in Duluth, and it was seen again on the 29th. Also seen in the area was an adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, a juvenile PARASITIC JAEGER, and a BLACK SCOTER.
Also on September 28th, Kim Eckert found a juvenile SABINE'S GULL along the east side of Cottonwood Lake in Lyon County, just north of downtown Cottonwood. On September 30th, Mr. Eckert found two juvenile PLEGADIS IBIS on the north side of Black Rush Lake in Lyon County, just south of the town of Marshall. Denny Martin found a SABINE'S GULL at the north end of Spirit Lake in Jackson County on the 28th, and he reports that the BLACK-HEADED GULL was still there as well.
On September 29th, Brian Smith found a WESTERN SANDPIPER at the Sleepy Eye sewage ponds in Brown County. To view this bird, take Highway 4 south of Sleepy Eye for roughly one and one-half miles. Just past the auto salvage yard on the right, travel another one-quarter of a mile and look for the entrance to the ponds on the left. The bird is being seen on a gravel spit on the northwest pond to the left of the entrance.
The immature YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was seen again on October 4th near Minnehaha Creek and Lake Hiawatha in south Minneapolis. Check the trees on the north side of the creek near the intersection of 28th Avenue South and 47th Street East.
There was an unusual sighting of an EVENING GROSBEAK by Dave Thurston on October 3rd at the southwest corner of Lake Vadnais in Ramsey County.
WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS and DARK-EYED JUNCOS have made a strong push into the southern half of Minnesota in the past few days, and a few AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS, FOX SPARROWS, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS, HARRIS'S SPARROWS, and LAPLAND LONGSPURS have also been reported from scattered locations.
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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 moumembers@yahoo.com.
"The information in this report is provided courtesy of the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union and Explore Minnesota Tourism."
