Minnesota Birding Report
With information provided courtesy of the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union, and brought to you by Explore Minnesota Tourism. For lodging specials and incredible deals, check out
www.exploreminnesota.com, otherwise dial 1-888-TOURISM (868-7476) to have a travel counselor help you plan your next Minnesota getaway using Journey, our free customized travel planning service. While you are a subscriber to this newsletter, we will send you a weekly update reporting bird sightings throughout the state. To subscribe to or unsubscribe from any of our email newsletters, visit
http://www.exploreminnesota.com/travel/enewsletter/index.aspxIn general, the first half of May is the best time to view warblers and songbirds in their full breeding plumage. Some of the favorites include Indigo Bunting, Scarlet Tanager and Rose-Breasted Grosbeak. Towards the end of May, birders have another opportunity to see these beautiful birds in the far northern regions of Minnesota.
The following is a list of recent, significant sightings:
A GLOSSY IBIS, along with at least 22 WHITE-FACED IBIS, were found in Lac Qui Parle County on April 29th. They were initially found southwest of the town of Madison, near the junction of Lac Qui Parle County Road 14 and 221st Street. Throughout the day, they worked their way southward, but by the next morning they were back at the original location. To view these birds, begin in Madison, travel south for two miles on U.S. 75 to County Road 14, and then six-tenths of a mile west.
A SNOWY EGRET was found by Jim Otto at the western end of Lake Byllesby in Dakota County on April 29th.
On April 28th, a CAROLINA WREN was reported north of Black Dog Road in Dakota County, roughly 80 yards west of the western outlet to Black Dog Lake.
A male MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD was found near the Bluestem Prairie in Clay County on April 28th. It was seen near the junction of 50th Avenue and 165th Street.
On May 3rd, Jim Mattsson found a male SUMMER TANAGER at Spring Lake Regional Park, near the city of Hastings in Dakota County. It was roughly 30 yards into the woods north-northeast of the parking lot that is located on Fahey Avenue, just north of Pind Bend Trail. A WESTERN TANAGER has be seen in Freeborn County. To view this bird, take Interstate 35 south to the Clark's Grove exit, take County Road 31 west, then north, then west again, and check the farm yard just to the north at Fire Call 73694.
A SPOTTED TOWHEE has been visiting the Richardson Nature Center in the city of Bloomington, in Hennepin County, for more than one week. The exact location is along East Bush Lake Road just south of Interstate 494.
The annual Minnesota Ornithologists' Union Salt Lake Festival was held in Lac Qui Parle County this past weekend, and 131 species were recorded. Among them were BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER, WILLET, HUDSONIAN GODWIT, and AMERICAN AVOCET. Other migrants that have been recently reported include CATTLE EGRET, RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD, LEAST FLYCATCHER, EASTERN KINGBIRD, WARBLING VIREO, WINTER WREN, MARSH WREN, HENSLOW'S SPARROW, LARK SPARROW, and BALTIMORE ORIOLE.
"The information in this report is provided courtesy of the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union and Explore Minnesota Tourism."
