Minnesota Birding Report Friday, May 2
In general, the first half of May is the best time to view warblers in their full breeding plumage, with birders having an opportunity to view stunning indigo bunting, scarlet tanager and rose-breasted grosbeak. Towards the end of May, head to the prairies for a chance to view upland sandpiper, marbled godwit, bobolink and dickcissel.
The following is a list of recent, significant sightings:
On April 26, a male Cinnamon Teal was found at the sewage lagoons in Crookston, in Polk County, but it departed to the southwest and could not be relocated.
A Say’s Phoebe was seen in Cook County on April 25. It was feeding along the break wall at Artist’s Point in Grand Marais.
Two Red-Throated Loons were seen on Lake Superior in Duluth on April 29. The best place to check is probably the recreation area toward the end of Park Point.
On April 27, a Snowy Egret was found at the Bass Ponds in Bloomington, in Hennepin County. It was seen on the east side of the State Highway 77 Bridge along the shore of Long Meadow Lake.
Two adult Piping Plovers were photographed at the Sleepy Eye sewage ponds in Brown County on April 28.
A Little Gull was found on April 26 along Chippewa County Road 32, just north of County Road 13.
A Townsend’s Solitaire was at Stoney Point in Duluth on the April 27. It was seen along Stoney Point Drive at Fire Call 1313.
Deb Sewell has a male Western Tanager visiting her house in Pine County. For further information, you may email her at flutemandolin@gmail.com. And, a female Summer Tanager was in Alexander Watson’s backyard, along 7th Avenue NW in Austin, in Mower County, on May 1.
Returning spring migrants this week include Black-Bellied Plover, Long-Billed Dowitcher, Dunlin, Willet, Least Flycatcher, Yellow-Throated Vireo, Gray Catbird, Black-And-White Warbler, Cape May Warbler, Northern Waterthrush, Ovenbird, Clay-Colored Sparrow, Henslow’s Sparrow, Rose-Breasted Grosbeak, and Baltimore Oriole.
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 moumembers@yahoo.com.
"The information in this report is provided courtesy of the Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union and Explore Minnesota Tourism."
