Explore Minnesota Birding Report Update May 20, 2013
From May 31-June 2, discover the birds, wildflowers, geology and more of northeastern Minnesota's dynamic and rich landscape during the Northern Landscapes Festival in Grand Marais. A series of inter-related, field-focused courses form the backbone of the event, complimented by featured presentations and programs. For more information, dial 218/387-9762. To learn of other birding weekends, visit the Minnesota Birding Weekends site.
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Information in this report has been provided courtesy of the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union and their affiliates. This report is brought to you by ExploreMinnesota.com.
The following is a list of recent, significant sightings:
On May 15th, Ed Brekke-Kramer reported a Brewer's Sparrow at his home in Fairmont, Martin County near the intersection of Prairie Avenue and First Street. This location is just west of the small church at the corner of that intersection. The bird was feeding with a mixed flock of Harris's, White-throated, White-crowned, and Lincoln's sparrows.
On the 10th, Dave Bartkey reported a Black-necked Stilt at Rice Lake State Park in Steele County. The bird was in the southeastern corner of the lake.
A Say's Phoebe was at the Felton Prairie in Clay County on the 12th, on the south side of County Road 108 across from the parking area at the interpretive kiosks.
Dave Zumeta found a Yellow-Throated Warbler on the 10th at Whitewater State Park in Winona County and it was still present on the 14th. The bird was in the hardwoods and white pines around the parking lot for the state park nature store, and also in the picnic area across the Whitewater River from the swimming beach.
Vanessa Lane and Sandy Aubol briefly observed a Whimbrel at the East Grand Forks sewage lagoons in Polk County on the 12th.
On May 16th, Allen Loken found a Little Gull in a flock of about 200 Bonaparte's Gulls at Hearding Island in Duluth.
The Northern Mockingbird that was found on the 6th in Nowthen, Anoka County, was seen again on the 10th. This is along the 7300 block of Hillendale Road. Another mockingbird was at the Tamarac Refuge feeders in Becker County on the 11th. On the 12th, one was at the junction of Jamaica Avenue and Washington County Road 12. And on the 13th, a mockingbird was at Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary in St. Paul in the stand of oaks in the center of the sanctuary.
There was an unusually late report of a Townsend's Solitaire seen on the 11th at the Rice Lake Wildlife Refuge in Aitkin County. It was found about a half a mile down the main access road.
On the 11th, a Yellow-breasted Chat was reported from Murphy Hanrehan Park Reserve in Scott County. It was about 25 yards from Trail Marker 16.
Also on the 11th, Karl Roe reported a female Summer Tanager at the southeast corner of 34th Avenue and 33rd Street in south Minneapolis. A male Western Tanager was at Steve Richards' feeder in eastern Rochester, Olmsted County on the 12th and again on the 14th.
Information in this statewide birding report is provided by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU), Minnesota's oldest and largest bird club. View photographs of recent sightings at the MOU website. To submit a bird sighting, email the MOU birding report compiler at rba@moumn.org.
