Explore Minnesota Birding Report as of December 14
In general, the month of December is an excellent time to view Bald Eagles along the Mississippi River. These birds are abundant from Hastings all the way to the Iowa border. And, Trumpeter Swans can be seen at Mississippi Drive Park in Monticello. At the time of this report, there were over 1200 birds, with numbers expected to increase to 1500 in the near future!
The following is a list of recent, significant sightings:
The potential first state record INCA DOVE may still be in Two Harbors, in Lake County, but it hasn't been seen since December 7. The bird had spent much of its time in the backyard of the house at the southeastern corner of 3rd Street and 2nd Avenue.
On the morning of December 13, Bill Litkey found a male BARROW'S GOLDENEYE on the Mississippi River from the dike at Hardman and Grand Avenues in South St. Paul, in Dakota County.
Two GREAT GRAY OWLS were reported from the Sax Zim Bog area of St. Louis County, both on December 13. Directions to view the first Great Gray Owl are to drive north from County Road 133 on County Road 29 to Centerline Road. Travel east to where to road bends north and look for an alder marsh where the owl has been seen for several days. The second Great Gray Owl may be found by driving south off County Road 133 along County Road 47. The road will bend to the east. Look for the owl where the roads turns back to the south. On December 10, another Great Gray Owl was along Aitkin County Road 18, one-third of a mile east of U.S. Highway 169.
And, on December 8, there were two TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRES in downtown Two Harbors, in Lake County, at South Avenue and 1st Street.
===============================================
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."
