March 11, 2011 Explore Minnesota Birding Report
During the month of March, watch for early returning migrants such as Canada geese, bald eagles, and American Kestrels. Also watch for the first eastern bluebirds and wood ducks that arrive in search of nest boxes. And some of the best waterfowl migration activity occurs from mid-March through mid-April.
The following information has been provided courtesy of the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union. This report is brought to you by ExploreMinnesota.com.
Subscribe here to receive any or all of our reports by email or RSS/news feed.
The following is a list of recent, significant sightings:
On March 5, the Barrow's Goldeneye was still along the Mississippi River in Monticello in Wright County. Milton Blomberg found it just down river from the Trumpeter Swan Park.
Five Long-Tailed Ducks were still at Agate Bay in Two Harbors in Lake County on the 5th. Tim Lamey reported three White-Winged Scoters on the 8th at the mouth of the Lester River in Duluth.
A Spruce Grouse was found by Norma Malinowski on March 10 near the Kawishiwi Pines Scientific & Natural Area southeast of Ely in St. Louis County. Numerous Gray Partridge have been reported this past week. One covey was in Brown County on the 7th along U.S. Highway 14 between Sleepy Eye and New Ulm. They have also been reported in Dakota County at the Randolph Industrial Park, located just north of the town of Randolph along 284th Street off Minnesota State Highway 56.
A Varied Thrush was still in Ely on the 5th. It was seen along Main Street across from the Pillow Rock historical marker.
A few Sandhill Cranes were heard flying over the Whitewater Refuge in Winona County on the 3rd. Other spring migrants seen or heard recently include Hooded Merganser, Northern Harrier, Merlin, Ring-Billed Gull, Northern Saw-Whet Owl, and Song Sparrow.
Information in this statewide birding report is provided by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU), Minnesota's oldest and largest bird club. To submit a bird sighting, email Anthony Hertzel at axhertzel@gmail.com.
