Minnesota Birding Report as of Friday, February 29
In general, the month of February is an excellent time to see a variety of owls throughout the state, such as snowy, boreal, great gray and northern hawk owls. Open water sites along rivers and near power plants offer a chance to view an abundance of Canada geese, trumpeter swans and mallards–look closely amongst these birds for common goldeneyes, American mergansers and American black ducks. And, bald eagles are a common sight along the Mississippi River south of Hastings.
The following is a list of recent, significant sightings:
A Harlequin Duck is still being seen on the Mississippi River near Point Douglas in Washington County, and it was most recently reported on February 26.
The Northern Hawk Owl previously seen in the Sax-Zim Bog was relocated on February 24 along St. Louis County Road 7, one-half mile south of Stone Lake Road.
A most unusual report comes from Anoka County where a Black-Backed Woodpecker was reported on February 28 at Bunker Hills Regional Park near Andover. The bird was seen in the trees along the east side of “A” Road, roughly one-quarter of a mile north of the Bunker Beach water park.
The Townsend’s Solitaire that has been seen behind the Science Museum of Minnesota in St. Paul for quite awhile was still present on February 23. On the same day, a Townsend’s Solitaire was in a grove of evergreens at Lake Rebecca Park Reserve in western Hennepin County, although no specific directions have been provided. And, a Townsend’s Solitaire was still present in Sherburne County on February 27, along the snowmobile trail at Ann Lake. To view this bird, begin at the junction of County Road 5 and 253rd Street, travel east for one mile, park in the small parking lot, and walk the southern trail for roughly one-quarter of a mile.
Also in Sherburne County, the Varied Thrush continues to be seen in Princeton, on Sherburne County Road 1, one-half mile north of State Highway 95 at Fire Call #2465.
And last, a Northern Mockingbird was found on February 27 in east Duluth at the corner of 60th Avenue East and Tioga Street.
