Minnesota Birding Report as of October 12
During the month of October, migrating birds of prey, including Golden Eagles, Red-Tailed Hawks, Peregrine Falcons and other raptors continue to be seen as they travel down the Lake Superior shoreline. And, late October is an excellent time to travel Highway 61 to see Tundra Swans and Bald Eagles at Weaver Bottoms, located within the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge. Also, October is the month when many of the very late migrants begin to show up, including Northern Shrikes, Bohemian Waxwings, Lapland Longspurs, and Pine Grosbeaks.
The following is a list of recent, significant sightings:
On October 6th, a juvenile SABINE'S GULL was found at Lanners Lake in Yellow Medicine County. Lanners Lake is located on the south side of County Road 32, two miles west of County Road 11.
A juvenile SABINE'S GULL was seen near the lift bridge on Park Point in Duluth on October 5th. Then, on the 6th, both a BARROW'S GOLDENEYE and an ARCTIC TERN were reported from Park Point. The Goldeneye was seen near the rowing club building at roughly 38th Street, and the tern was flying over Lake Superior at the Recreation Area. Lake Superior has recently hosted SURF SCOTER, WHITE-WINGED SCOTER, BLACK SCOTER, RED-THROATED LOON, and PACIFIC LOON.
Mark Junghans reported a TUFTED TITMOUSE on October 9th at his feeder in Ramsey, in Anoka County.
A TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE was along Scenic Highway 61 in Knife River, in Lake County, on October 10th. It was on the north side of the road, about one block east of Emily's Restaurant.
On October 6th, a NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD was at the Bass Ponds area of Bloomington in Hennepin County. It was seen near the northern edge of the first large pond to the west.
And last, it now appears that the Gyrfalcon reported September 28th on the Minnesota side of the Superior Entry of Park Point in Duluth is an escaped falconer's bird, and probably of some mixed European or Asian species.
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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."
