January 28, 2011 Explore Minnesota Birding Report
During the months of January and February, keep an eye out for great gray and snowy owls, as well as snow buntings, lapland longspurs, hoary redpolls, and American tree sparrows. Open water areas along rivers are great for viewing Canada geese, trumpeter swans, and mallards - if you look closely, you may also see common goldeneyes, American mergansers, and American black ducks. And the section of the Mississippi River between Red Wing and Wabasha in southeastern Minnesota offers an abundance of sites to view bald eagles. Anyone wanting more information on southeastern Minnesota phenology, should check out the Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center blog site.
The following is a list of significant sightings:
Mike Hendrickson reported a Spruce Grouse along Lake County Road 2, roughly one mile north of the Sand River. He also relocated the Varied Thrush in Ely in St. Louis County. It was seen across from the Pillow Rock historical marker at the 2100 block of Main Street.
Black-Backed Woodpeckers are still being seen in the Sax-Zim Bog area of St. Louis County. Check the snowshoe trail on the east side of McDavitt Road, about two and a half miles north of Sax Road.
There was a very unusual sighting of a Gray Jay in Prior Lake in Scott County on January 23. The observation was quick, and the bird may have been a Northern Shrike - if it is seen again, this report will be updated.
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@gmail.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."
