Explore Minnesota Birding Report as of October 29
In general, during the month of October, migrating birds of prey, including Golden Eagles, Red-Tailed Hawks, Peregrine Falcons and other raptors continue to be seen as they travel down the Lake Superior shoreline. And, late October is an excellent time to travel Highway 61 to see Tundra Swans and Bald Eagles at Weaver Bottoms, located within the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge. Also, October is the month when many of the very late migrants begin to show up, including Northern Shrikes, Bohemian Waxwings, Lapland Longspurs, and Pine Grosbeaks.
The following is a list of recent, significant sightings:
A subadult male BARROW'S GOLDENEYE was on the Grand Portage sewage ponds in Cook County on October 22nd.
As many as 72 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS were on the Minnesota side of the Superior Entry in Duluth on October 21st. This represents the highest fall count for Minnesota. On the same day, 58 BLACK SCOTERS were on Lake Mille Lacs in Aitkin County.
A LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was at Pearl Lake in Maine Prairie Township, in Stearns County, on October 20th.
An early SNOWY OWL was reported on the east side of Lake Harriet in Minneapolis, between 46th and 45th streets, on October 21st. Another was seen on the 22nd at the junction of Broadway and South 6th Street in Rochester, in Olmsted County.
On October 20th, a CAROLINA WREN was still in Bill Bruins' neighborhood in Rochester where a pair nested this summer.
A female-plumaged MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD was at the Castle Danger sewage ponds in Lake County on October 23rd.
A female-plumaged SUMMER TANAGER was seen briefly at Stoney Point in St. Louis County on October 21st.
And, an influx of BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKERS has been noted in northern Minnesota during the past week. Dozens have been seen along the north shore of Lake Superior in St. Louis, Lake and Cook counties, and there is at least one additional sighting from Aitkin County. A THREE-TOED WOODPECKER was at Stoney Point on October 23rd, and another was at Lighthouse Point in Two Harbors, in Lake County, on the 24th. There have also been several reports of TUFTED TITMOUSE, SNOW BUNTING, LAPLAND LONGSPUR, PINE SISKIN, and PINE GROSBEAK.
"The information in this report is provided courtesy of the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union and Explore Minnesota Tourism."
