Minnesota Birding Report as of August 24
In general, August is an excellent time to see Sandhill Crane famiilies emerging from their nesting marshes and traveling to adjacent hayfields and grasslands. Late summer is also a great time to relax by a northern Minnesota lake and listen to the haunting call of a loon, and enjoy the sight of soaring bald eagles and osprey.
The following is a list of recent, significant sightings:
Scott Swanson reported a possible LONG-TAILED JAEGER along the western boundary of Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge in Marshall County on August 21st. The bird was last seen flying to the southwest.
In Jackson County, the BLACK-HEADED GULL was seen again on August 20th at the north end of Big Spirit Lake on the Minnesota-Iowa border. This is at the grade along Jackson County Road 2.
A RED-THROATED LOON was found by Peder Svingen on August 23rd at the Lafayette Square/31st Street access to Park Point in Duluth. He also found two WHIMBREL on the ball fields at the Park Point recreation area.
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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 moumembers@yahoo.com.
"The information in this report is provided courtesy of the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union and Explore Minnesota Tourism."
