Explore Minnesota Birding Report: April 24, 2009
Common Loon
This is the Explore Minnesota Birding Report Newsletter as of Friday, April 24, with information provided courtesy of the Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union, and brought to you by Explore Minnesota Tourism.
In general, mid to late April is an excellent time to look for migrating waterfowl. Check for yellowlegs, willets, dunlins and other sandpipers in shallow wetlands and mudflats throughout the state. And, the last week in April typically marks the arrival of the first wave of early migrant songbirds, particularly yellow-rumped warbler, ruby-crowned kinglet, and palm warbler.
The following is a list of recent, significant sightings:
In Polk County, a Cinnamon Teal was reported from the Nature Conservancy office along State Highway 32 at Glacial Ridge on April 17th, but the bird has not been seen since.
On April 22nd, a Red-Throated Loon was on Sauk Lake, in the city of Sauk Centre, in Stearns County.
Two American Avocets were seen on the western most strip of land at the Purgatory Creek wetlands in Eden Prairie, in Hennepin County, on April 23rd. And as many as seven American Avocets were at the western end of Lake Byllesby in Dakota County on the 23rd, along with many Pectoral Sandpipers, Long-Billed Dowitchers, and Dunlin.
A Summer Tanager was seen on April 22nd in Spring Valley, in Fillmore County, but the bird has apparently left the area.
A Yellow Rail was heard from the boardwalk at the Old Cedar Avenue Bridge area in Bloomington, in Hennepin County, on April 17th. There have also been new reports of American Bittern, Broad-Winged Hawk, Least Flycatcher, Northern Rough-Winged Swallow, Barn Swallow, Gray-Cheeked Thrush, Orange-Crowned Warbler, Lark Sparrow, and Yellow-Headed Blackbird.
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 membership@moumn.org
“The information in this report is provided courtesy of the Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union and Explore Minnesota Tourism.”
