Explore Minnesota Birding Report Update May 11, 2012
The first half of May is the best time to enjoy the passage of warblers in their full breeding plumage, according to Carrol Henderson, supervisor of the Minnesota DNR's Nongame Wildlife Program. Their spectacular reds, yellows and blues add vivid color to our springtime forests and landscapes. A great way to familiarize yourself with migrating songbirds is to attend the 2012 Festival of Birds, held May 17-20 in Detroit Lakes. Enjoy professional speakers, field trips and workshops, along with small town hospitality and various lodging specials!
The following information has been provided courtesy of the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union and their affiliates. This report is brought to you by ExploreMinnesota.com.
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The following is a list of recent, significant sightings:
An apparent Neotropic Cormorant is being seen in Sherburne County. It was first reported on May 9th near Stickney Pond along the Wildlife Drive of the Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge, but it may have been present at the Nelson Pool as far back as a week ago.
A White-Faced Ibis was still at the 180th Street marsh in Dakota County on the 6th, and two were at the Old Cedar Avenue bridge in Bloomington on the 4th.
In Duluth, eight White-Winged Scoters and a Surf Scoter were seen on May 7th on the harbor side of Park Point, and eight Red-Throated Loons were seen on the 9th on the lake side out from the Park Point Recreation Area. In Lake County, fifteen Long-Tailed Ducks were seen on the 10th at Burlington Bay in Two Harbors. A Long-Tailed Duck was at the Moose Lake sewage ponds in Carlton County on the 6th.
On May 2nd, nine American Avocets were on Prescott Lake in Delaware Township, Grant County, just to the north of the junction of 180th Street and 260th Avenue.
Newly reported spring migrants include Least Bittern, Short-Billed Dowitcher, Black Tern, Common Tern, Black-Billed Cuckoo, Common Nighthawk, Olive-Sided Flycatcher, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Western Kingbird, Philadelphia Vireo, Prothonotary Warbler, Connecticut Warbler, Black-Throated Blue Warbler, Dickcissel, and Orchard Oriole.
