Explore Minnesota Birding Report as of July 20,
In general, July is an excellent time to see American White Pelicans. Recommended sites to view these birds are the Minnesota River dam in Granite Falls, the dam near Watson, and the spillway on Marsh Lake near Appleton.
The following is a list of recent, significant sightings:
An ARCTIC TERN was seen on July 14th and 15th from the end of Ruby Red Peninsula in Lac Qui Parle County. To reach the peninsula access road, begin at the Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge headquarters and drive south on Big Stone County Road 19. After crossing the Minnesota River, when it becomes Lac Qui Parle County Road 15, take the second gated road on the left. Park and walk down the gravel road to the fork, and take the right fork to the tip of the peninsula and continue roughly one mile.
On July 12th, Bob Russell and Phil Chu found a LITTLE GULL at the Paynesville sewage ponds in Stearns County. July records of Little Gull in Minnesota are exceedingly rare.
On July 15th, Dale Yerger and Ben Wieland briefly observed an adult PARASITIC JAEGER near Pelican Island on Leech Lake, in Cass County. The bird flew in from the east, was observed for approximately 30 seconds, then departed to the southwest. There are no previous July records for this species in Minnesota.
Twelve species of shorebirds have been reported in the past week, and among them were SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, SOLITARY SANDPIPER, SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER, BAIRD'S SANDPIPER, STILT SANDPIPER, and SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER.
"The information in this report is provided courtesy of the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union and Explore Minnesota Tourism."
