Minnesota Birding Report Friday, May 8In general, the first half of May is the best time to view warblers in full breeding plumage as they travel to summer destinations. Look for stunning indigo bunting, scarlet tanager and rose-breasted grosbeak. And birders will want to take advantage of the multitude of birding tours and field trips that are offered this time of year. One of the most popular birding events is the Detroit Lakes Festival of Birds held May 14-17. For information, and for a full online program, visit
www.visitdetroitlakes.com, or dial 1-800-542-3992
The following is a list of recent, significant sightings:
In Pope County, a Say’s Phoebe was reported on May 5 near the town of Glenwood. To view this bird, begin at Glenwood and travel south on State Highway 104 for roughly seven and one-half miles to 255th Street. Turn west and drive to 245th Avenue. Turn south to 270th Street and drive west on the dead end road for roughly one mile to where the grasslands occur on both sides of the road. Another Say’s Phoebe was reported on May 2 at the intersection of Cottonwood County Road 6 and Jackson County Road 7.
On May 4, a Yellow-Throated Warbler was reported along the dike road at Prairie Island in Winona County, roughly one-third of a mile past McNalley Landing.
There was a secondhand report of four Surf Scoters at the East Landfill Reservoir near Rochester in Olmsted County on May 5. Another was on Lake Calhoun in Minneapolis, May 7.
Two Piping Plovers were seen on May 3 at Olson Lake Waterfowl Production Area in Kandiyohi County, and another was in a flooded field along 120th Street near Pennock, three-quarters of a mile north of U.S. Highway 12.
On May 3, a Western Tanager was at Red Rock County Park, which is located on the border of Brown and Cottonwood counties.
On May 5, two Whooping Cranes were in a meadow on the south side of 18th Street in eastern Owatonna, in Steele County. These birds are most likely from the introduced Wisconsin flock.
Recent spring arrivals include Hudsonian Godwit, Red-Necked Phalarope, Caspian Tern, Chimney Swift, Yellow-Throated Vireo, Sedge Wren, Gray-Cheeked Thrush, Golden-Winged Warbler, Black-Throated Blue Warbler, Henslow’s Sparrow, and Bobolink.
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 membership@moumn.org
“The information in this report is provided courtesy of the Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union and Explore Minnesota Tourism.”
