Explore Minnesota Birding Report May 17
In 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:
The NEOTROPIC CORMORANT continues to be seen at Diamond Lake in south Minneapolis. Diamond Lake is at the junction of 54th Street and Portland Avenue.
On May 14th, Jim Kiehne reported a TRICOLORED HERON in a location much further north than usual. The bird was seen in the city of Warroad, in Roseau County, at the north edge of the channel to Lake of the Woods and near the intersection of Lake Street northeast and Riverdale Drive northeast.
A WHITE-WINGED DOVE is still coming to the feeder at the home of Larry Wilebski in the town of Lancaster in northern Kittson County. The bird was first seen on May 4th. Larry's house is on the east side of U.S. Highway 59, near where the "Business District" sign points west. The bird has been visible from the highway.
This year's first RED-THROATED LOON was seen on Lake Superior in Duluth on May 15th between the recreational area and Lafayette Square at Park Point.
CLARK'S GREBES have been reported recently from both Thielke Lake in Big Stone County and Lake Osakis in Todd County.
YELLOW RAILS were heard calling from a marsh near Baker Park on May 12th. To view these birds, begin at Hennepin County Road 19 and travel east roughly one-quarter of a mile on County Road 24. Park at the Baker Park entrance and listen for the birds on the north side of the road.
On May 13th, Craig Menze reported a NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD at Oakwood Cemetery in Mora. From Kanabec County Road 6, turn right on West Central Avenue which runs along the cemetery. Take the first entrance road on the west side of the cemetery and look for two spruce trees to the west along the fence line.
Craig Mandel reported HOODED WARBLERS at Murphy-Hanrehan Park Reserve in Dakota and Scott counties on May 13th. He found them near the intersection of trails 9 and 13. He also reported a LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH at the falls area of Minneopa State Park in Blue Earth County. To view this bird, check the gray wooden bridge that crosses over Minneopa creek, roughly 100 yards from the falls. A KENTUCKY WARBLER was found at the nearby Williams Nature Center. From the parking lot, take the trail to the right of the nature center and then the first trail to the right again. Follow this through the oak woods into a less wooded area. The bird was singing from a perch, about 25 feet off the ground, in a tree roughly 150 feet back and to the left. Another LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH was at Beaver Falls County Park in Renville County on the 12th. The bird was seen along the creek between the bridge on County Road 2 and the picnic area.
A BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER continues to be seen at Wood Lake Nature Center in Richfield, in Hennepin County. It can be heard calling near the main entrance on the north side of the park.
On May 12th, Drew Smith found a SUMMER TANAGER at the Holland Lake access to Lebanon Hills Regional Park in the city of Eagan, in Dakota County. A WESTERN TANAGER has been seen at the Anoka County home of Thomas Maiello, and birders are welcome to visit. His home is along the 700 block of 80th Avenue northeast in Spring Lake Park.
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