Minnesota Birding Report Thursday, May 15
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 May 8, six White-Faced Ibis were near the north end of Black Rush Lake, along Lyon County Road 59. Two Great-Tailed Grackles were also present.
A Black-Necked Stilt was seen briefly on May 11 in Kandiyohi County, although the bird could not be relocated later in the day. Directions to relocate this bird are to begin three miles west of Willmar on U.S. Highway 12, and then travel north on 60th Street NW for roughly one mile to 15th Avenue. Check the flooded field in the northeast corner of this intersection.
A Say’s Phoebe was in Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge on May 14, roughly four-tenths of a mile west of the intersection of Highways 15 and 40. The bird was seen at the wayside rest, about 50 yards up the hill from the public restrooms.
A male Painted Bunting was seen on May 13 at the Lake City Department of Natural Resources office in Wabasha County. The bird was present for only about 20 minutes.
A Pacific Loon and a Red-Throated Loon were seen on May 13 from the boardwalk between the bath house and the airport at Park Point in Duluth.
Six Hudsonian Godwits were seen on May 13 in the flooded fields located roughly three and one-half miles west of Aitkin on County Road 15.
Three Cattle Egret were on the west side of Marshall in Lyon County on May 13, along the south side of State Highway 19.
On May 12, a Great Gray Owl was in the Sax-Zim Bog area of St. Louis County at the Kelsey-Fraser Road junction at County Road 29.
On May 10, an immature male Summer Tanager was on the east side of Lake Calhoun in Minneapolis, working the trees on both sides of the parkway between the Gideon Pond plaque and the intersection of 36th Street and the parkway. Another was found on May 13th, at the 300 block of 2nd Avenue in the city of Two Harbors, in Lake County.
Other spring arrivals this week include Yellow Rail, Common Nighthawk, Acadian Flycatcher, Sedge Wren, Magnolia Warbler, Hooded Warbler, Wilson’s Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, and Scarlet Tanager.
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.”
