Tundra Swans gather in large numbers on the Mississippi River near Winona during the fall season, reaching peak numbers during the month of November. Visitors will likely see lots of bald eagles as well.
The following is a list of recent, significant sightings:
An Acorn Woodpecker was discovered on November 9 at Crow Wing State Park in western Crow Wing County, just south of the city of Brainerd. The bird was photographed as it worked the trees at campsite #6 in the park's primary campground, but it has not been seen since.
On November 13, an adult Slaty-Backed Gull was found at the far end of Park Point in Duluth. It was on the Minnesota side of the Superior, Wisconsin entry.
On the 10th, three Black Scoters were at the Rice sewage ponds in Benton County.
Six Northern Hawk Owls were reported on November 8 in northeastern Minnesota. In Lake County, two were along Forest Highway 11, six miles east of Stoney River Forest Road and one was eleven miles west of Stoney River Forest Road. In St. Louis County, one was at the junction of St. Louis County Roads 16 and 110, and two were along U.S. Highway 53, one mile north of Cotton.
On the 6th, a Northern Hawk Owl was along Lake County Road 266 north of Two Harbors Road. In Cook County, one was north of Hovland off the Arrowhead Trail just past Jackson Lake Road, and another was at the Iron Lake Campground along the Gunflint Trail north of Grand Marais.
A Snowy Owl was on the break wall at Stocky's Harbor Estates on the southwest side of Lake Mille Lacs on November 12. The exact location was at Fire Call #13045 of Mille Lacs County Road 35. And two Pacific Loons were in the Garrison Harbor in Crow Wing County on the 12th.
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."
