December 18, 2009 Explore Minnesota Birding Report
Bald Eagles congregate at open-water areas on the Mississippi River during the month of December, including at the city park and Colvill Park in Red Wing, and at Reed's Landing south of Wabasha - to learn more, check out "Eagle Watching" on the Upper Mississippi River Refuge web site. Birders will also want to consider a trip to Monticello to view the many Trumpeter Swans, with up to 1100 swans typically viewed on the east side of town off Mississippi Drive. More information can be found at the Monticello Chamber of Commerce web site.
Information has been provided courtesy of the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union. This report is brought to you by ExploreMinnesota.com.
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The following is a list of recent, significant sightings:
A male Harlequin Duck was still at Point Douglas Park in Washington County on December 17. This location is across the Mississippi River from Prescott,
WI. Another male Harlequin Duck was found at the mouth of the French River east of Duluth on the 16th.
On December 11, a Long-Tailed Duck was seen from the pedestrian overpass at Grand and Hardman Avenues in South St. Paul, in Ramsey County, and a
White-Winged Scoter was seen here as well on the 13th.
A couple of Great Gray Owls have been reported from Aitkin County since December 12 along County Road 18, roughly one-half mile west of Pietz's Road.
A Varied Thrush has been seen at a feeder just west of Alexandria in Douglas County since December 1. Please call park personnel at the Lake Carlos State Park headquarters for additional information.
At least one Townsend's Solitaire was still at the Ann Lake Campground in Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge on December 17.
And on the 16th, a late Savannah Sparrow was found along the bike path near the southwest corner of the Northbrook Shopping Center parking lot in Rochester, in Olmsted County.
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."
