Explore Minnesota Birding Update, Sept. 15, 2014
Autumn highlights include spectacular fall color, the disappearance of mosquitoes, and incredible fall bird migrations. One of the most notable migrations is the large number of birds of prey traveling south along the Lake Superior shoreline due to their reluctance to cross large bodies of water. Hawk Ridge in Duluth is an excellent spot to observe these birds, with peak migration occurring mid-September to late October.
The following is a list of recent, significant sightings:
On September 15th, a Rufous Hummingbird was reported from Le Sueur County. It has been visiting the Nesgoda yard in the town of Le Sueur at 30627 Pumpkin Hill Road.
A Snowy Egret is being seen in Mille Lacs County at the junction of US Highway 169 and County Road 13.
On the 7th, Doug Kieser reported a White-Eyed Vireo at 7-Mile Creek Park south of St. Peter in Nicollet County, but the bird has not been seen since.
A Mississippi Kite was reported as a flyby on the 6th at the Bethany Hawk Watch in Mankato, Blue Earth County.
A few Parasitic Jaegers are still being reported off Park Point in Duluth, and the first Lapland Longspur of the season showed up at the Sleepy Eye sewage ponds in Brown County on the 14th.
Birding events and weekend outings just around the corner include:
Hawk Ridge Weekend Festival 2014 -Sept. 19-21, Hawk Ridge in Duluth
Lowry Nature Center Fall Bird Banding -Sept. 20, Lowry Nature Center in Victoria
Fall Sparrow Field Trip -Sept. 27, Kalmar Reservoir in Rochester
Sparrow Workshop -Oct. 3-5, Big Stone & La Qui Parle Counties
Red Tail Hawk Walk -Oct. 4, Quarry Hill Nature Center in Rochester
Information in this statewide birding report is provided by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU), Minnesota's oldest and largest bird club. View photographs of recent sightings at the MOU website. To submit a bird sighting, email the MOU birding report compiler at rba@moumn.org.
