Birdingonthe.Net Recent Postings from Minnesota Ornithologists' Union > Home > Mail > Alerts Updated on Friday, May 24 at 07:16 PM EST The most recently received Mail is at the top.	Hooded Crane,©Jan Wilczur

24 May Fwd: new old Cedar Ave Bridge [linda whyte ] 24 May "Brewster's Warbler" [Eric Hall ] 24 May Hummingbird [Janice Dunlap ] 24 May Seeking Connecticut Warbler; LeConte's Sparrow in Minn [Gerald Kruth ] 24 May Re: 5 Cattle Egrets in Le Sueur Co ["Williams, Bob" ] 24 May 5 Cattle Egrets in Le Sueur Co ["Williams, Bob" ] 24 May Pileated Woodpecker recapture/Rice Co. [dan&erika ] 24 May Orchard Oriole in Minneapolis [Don Beimborn ] 23 May Red Crossbill farmington Dakota Co [] 24 May Nighthawks Ramsey Co. [Clay Christensen ] 23 May Photo link to Northern Mockingbird, Sturgeon Lake, 5/22/2013 [Carol Carter ] 23 May [mou-rba] Northwest Minnesota Birding Report- Thursday, May 23, 2013 [Jeanie Joppru ] 23 May Cattle Egret - Scott County [Mike Majeski ] 23 May FOY Baltimore Oriole [Janice Dunlap ] 23 May Carver County [John Cyrus ] 23 May Red Crossbill farmington Dakota Co [] 23 May no White-winged Tern [Kim R Eckert ] 23 May Scarlet Tanager - Anoka County ["Wenger, Char" ] 22 May Duluth birding [Karl Bardon ] 22 May Northern Mockingbird, Sturgeon Lake, Pine County [Carol Carter ] 22 May Sherburne NWR [Paul and JoAnn Gunderson ] 22 May possible White-winged Tern, Lyon Co [Kim R Eckert ] 22 May Lazuli Bunting, Nicollet Co. [Brian & Risa Smith ] 22 May Beltrami County Red-headed woodpecker, green heron nest [George-Ann Maxson ] 22 May Warblers on the beach in Duluth [K R E ] 22 May Say's Phoebe, Felton Prairie, Clay County [Doug Kieser ] 22 May Scarlet Tanager [john c nelson ] 22 May Warblers and more, S. Washington County [Pete Nichols ] 21 May MRVAC Trumpeter Newsletter [Steve Weston ] 22 May Soras and Virginia Railing Loring Park ["McBride, James E. \"Jamie\"" ] 22 May Red-headed woodpecker [Janice Dunlap ] 22 May Re: Are the cardinals redder? [Sue Keator ] 22 May Harris’s Sparrow/Rice Co. [dan&erika ] 22 May Re: Are the cardinals redder? [Holly Myhre ] 21 May Are the cardinals redder? [Lee Pratsch ] 21 May Little Gull & more [Michael Hendrickson ] 21 May MRVAC Trumpeter Newsletter [Steve Weston ] 21 May Bay-breasted and Blackpoll at Lake Elmo Park [Ben Douglas ] 21 May whooping crane follow up ["Gelvin-Innvaer, Lisa A (DNR)" ] 21 May American Avocet Crow Wing Co [Tony ] 21 May What to do if You See Whooping Cranes ["Gelvin-Innvaer, Lisa A (DNR)" ] 21 May Acadian Flycatcher - Dakota Co. [Bill Litkey ] 21 May Re: Winona Shorebirds [Malcolm Gold ] 21 May Malardi Lake [Paul Budde ] 21 May Westwood Bird Walk 1 [Victor Lewis ] 21 May Crosby Park, St. Paul, This Morning [Julian Sellers ] 21 May Carver County [John Cyrus ] 21 May whooping crane -correction ["Gelvin-Innvaer, Lisa A (DNR)" ] 21 May whooping crane follow up ["Gelvin-Innvaer, Lisa A (DNR)" ] 21 May Henslow's Sparrow at Night [Audio] [Alan Stankevitz ] 21 May What to do if You See Whooping Cranes ["Gelvin-Innvaer, Lisa A (DNR)" ] 21 May Interesting handful in my Burnsville backyard last evening ["deanne.endrizzi AT juno.com" ] 21 May Winona Shorebirds [Malcolm Gold ] 21 May More on the passerine fallout at Park Point on Sunday, 19 May (long) [Peder Svingen ] 20 May Lovely Day at Sherburne NWR ["Fr. Paul Kammen" ] 20 May Water feature post coming [Thomas Maiello ] 20 May Baraboo Whooping Crane in Aitkin County [Warren ] 20 May Connecticut Warbler and Wood Thrush, Jackson County [Bob Dunlap ] 20 May MVNWR - Black Dog Unit - Dakota County - 5/20/13 [CRAIG MANDEL ] 20 May Re: Pine Siskins [Cathy Gagliardi ] 20 May Douglas County indigo bunting [Judith Clayton ] 20 May Hutchinson Lazuli Bunting [Don Kienholz ] 20 May Eastern Meadowlark, Nobles County [Bob Dunlap ] 20 May Re: Pine Siskins [john c nelson ] 20 May St. Louis Co: Warblers and White-winged Scoter [Douglas Mayo ] 20 May Cass County Whimbrel [Ben ] 20 May Imm. Great Black-backed Gull AND Long-tailed Duck, Thief River Falls Sewage Lagoons (5/19) ["Forbes, Andrew" ] 20 May Re: Pine Siskins [ssmorton ] 20 May MVNWR - Black Dog Unit - Dakota County - 5/20/13 [CRAIG MANDEL ] 20 May State bird improvements: Replace cardinals and robins with warblers and hawks. - Slate Magazine [Susan Tertell ] 20 May Re: Pine Siskins ["North, Michael R (DNR)" ] 20 May requesting reports of Peru Banded Shorebirds ["Gelvin-Innvaer, Lisa A (DNR)" ] 20 May Red Crossbill in Plummer MN [Agassiz Audubon ] 20 May Henslow's sparrow - Polk County [Jeanie Joppru ] 20 May Hennepin Henslow's sparrow [Jonathon Jongsma ] 20 May Stearns County sightings 5/19 [Jason Caddy ] Subject: Fwd: new old Cedar Ave Bridge From: linda whyte <birds AT MOOSEWOODS.US> Date: Fri, 24 May 2013 18:51:16 -0500 In case anyone missed this information, Gordon Andersson has asked me to forward this link to the update on the bridge replacement at Old Cedar Avenue. ** ** http://www.startribune.com/local/west/208595711.html**** ** ** ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: "Brewster's Warbler" From: Eric Hall <emhall AT LIVE.COM> Date: Fri, 24 May 2013 17:12:24 -0500 5/24/2013 Today I walked a 3 mile stretch of swampy forest along the Soo Line Trail southeast of Barnum, Carlton County. Highlights were 10+ singing Golden- winged Warblers, and a female "Brewster's" Warbler. -Eric ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Hummingbird From: Janice Dunlap <jrdwriter5 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Fri, 24 May 2013 09:37:08 -0700 FOY Hummingbird - in my garage! I left the garage door open for a few hours by mistake, and I guess my red car looked like a huge bloom? It's been an amazing week for birds at our place - something new every day! We even had the Red-headed Woodpecker at the feeder at the same time as a Red-bellied. Plus the Baltimore Oriole and the Red-breasted Grosbeaks are feeding here consistently. Hooray for spring! Jan Dunlap Author of the Bob White Birder Murder Mysteries Find me on LinkedIn, Facebook and Pinterest http://www.jandunlap.com "Everything a cozy mystery should be! A wonderful new series here."...amazon.com reviewer on the Birder Murders ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Seeking Connecticut Warbler; LeConte's Sparrow in Minn From: Gerald Kruth <GKruth AT AOL.COM> Date: Fri, 24 May 2013 11:37:41 -0400 This is our first post in the Gopher State, so I hope it gets to the right place: My wife and I are traveling up your way this weekend (nothing like waiting until the last moment, but it was a last moment decision). LOL We are seeking areas for Conn Warbler and LeConte's Sparrow, and are hoping to gain some information on where we might hear them singing and even get a glimpse at these little skulkers. Many sincere thanks to anyone who can help. Good birding, Jerry Kruth Pittsburgh ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Re: 5 Cattle Egrets in Le Sueur Co From: "Williams, Bob" <BXWilliams AT CBBURNET.COM> Date: Fri, 24 May 2013 09:57:55 -0500 Went back after I sent this and they were gone! Sent from my iPhone On May 24, 2013, at 9:55 AM, "Williams, Bob" wrote: > There are currently 5 Cattle Egrets on the west side of CR 30 just north of Heidelberg in a large grassy field. > Bob Williams > > Sent from my iPhone > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > The information in this electronic mail message is the sender's confidential business and may be legally privileged. It is intended solely for the addressee(s). Access to this internet electronic mail message by anyone else is unauthorized. If you are not the intended recipient, any disclosure, copying, distribution or any action taken or omitted to be taken in reliance on it is prohibited and may be unlawful. > > The sender believes that this E-mail and any attachments were free of any virus, worm, Trojan horse, and/or malicious code when sent. This message and its attachments could have been infected during transmission. By reading the message and opening any attachments, the recipient accepts full responsibility for taking protective and remedial action about viruses and other defects. The sender's company is not liable for any loss or damage arising in any way from this message or its attachments. > > Nothing in this email shall be deemed to create a binding contract to purchase/sell real estate. The sender of this email does not have the authority to bind a buyer or seller to a contract via written or verbal communications including, but not limited to, email communications. > > ---- > Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net > Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this electronic mail message is the sender's confidential business and may be legally privileged. It is intended solely for the addressee(s). Access to this internet electronic mail message by anyone else is unauthorized. If you are not the intended recipient, any disclosure, copying, distribution or any action taken or omitted to be taken in reliance on it is prohibited and may be unlawful. The sender believes that this E-mail and any attachments were free of any virus, worm, Trojan horse, and/or malicious code when sent. This message and its attachments could have been infected during transmission. By reading the message and opening any attachments, the recipient accepts full responsibility for taking protective and remedial action about viruses and other defects. The sender's company is not liable for any loss or damage arising in any way from this message or its attachments. Nothing in this email shall be deemed to create a binding contract to purchase/sell real estate. The sender of this email does not have the authority to bind a buyer or seller to a contract via written or verbal communications including, but not limited to, email communications. ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: 5 Cattle Egrets in Le Sueur Co From: "Williams, Bob" <BXWilliams AT CBBURNET.COM> Date: Fri, 24 May 2013 09:53:46 -0500 There are currently 5 Cattle Egrets on the west side of CR 30 just north of Heidelberg in a large grassy field. Bob Williams Sent from my iPhone ---------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this electronic mail message is the sender's confidential business and may be legally privileged. It is intended solely for the addressee(s). Access to this internet electronic mail message by anyone else is unauthorized. If you are not the intended recipient, any disclosure, copying, distribution or any action taken or omitted to be taken in reliance on it is prohibited and may be unlawful. The sender believes that this E-mail and any attachments were free of any virus, worm, Trojan horse, and/or malicious code when sent. This message and its attachments could have been infected during transmission. By reading the message and opening any attachments, the recipient accepts full responsibility for taking protective and remedial action about viruses and other defects. The sender's company is not liable for any loss or damage arising in any way from this message or its attachments. Nothing in this email shall be deemed to create a binding contract to purchase/sell real estate. The sender of this email does not have the authority to bind a buyer or seller to a contract via written or verbal communications including, but not limited to, email communications. ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Pileated Woodpecker recapture/Rice Co. From: dan&erika <danerika AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Fri, 24 May 2013 08:50:39 -0500 Hi All— On 21 May I recaptured a Pileated Woodpecker in Northfield that I originally banded on 3 November 2010. Since I band relatively few Pileateds, I wondered if a three-year-old Pileated is among the oldest on record, but it turns out to be a far cry from a 12-year-old Maryland bird. A photo of a remarkably angry Pileated Woodpecker is on my blog. http://dantallmansbirdblog.blogspot.com/ dan -- Dan or Erika Tallman Northfield, Minnesota danerika AT gmail.com http://sites.google.com/site/tallmanorum http://dantallmansbirdblog.blogspot.com http://picasaweb.google.com/danerika The White Album: Portraits of Minnesota Birds Two Years Among the Odonates ".... the best shod travel with wet feet...Beware of all enterprises that require new clothes ....”—H. D. Thoreau; "Back off, man. I'm a scientist."—Dr. Peter Venkman ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Orchard Oriole in Minneapolis From: Don Beimborn <beimborn AT UMN.EDU> Date: Fri, 24 May 2013 08:42:16 -0500 On May 22 an orchard oriole appeared at the oriole feeder. The first one for the yard list. We've had a catbird and a red bellied woodpecker at the grape jelly as well. Don Beimborn By Cedar Lake in Minneapolis> ><{{{(*> >><{{{(*> ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Red Crossbill farmington Dakota Co From: avocet13 AT charter.net Date: Thu, 23 May 2013 13:48:11 -0400 (EDT) The hits keep coming!! Now showing in our Farmington backyard. Call if interested for an update 612-414-0214 Thank you, Blaine Seeliger Dakota Co Wyatt's Twisted Americana Food and Drinks Hastings Mn 55033 WWW.WYATTS55.COM 651-437-1123_______________________________________________ mnbird mailing list mnbird AT lists.mnbird.net http://lists.mnbird.net/mailman/listinfo/mnbird Unsubscribe: %(user_optionsurl)s Subject: Nighthawks Ramsey Co. From: Clay Christensen <clay.christensen AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Fri, 24 May 2013 02:55:18 +0000 Common nighthawks were migrating over Lauderdale at sunset tonight and continued through the dusk. Clay Christensen Lauderdale, Ramsey Co. ________________________ The Birdman of Lauderdale ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Photo link to Northern Mockingbird, Sturgeon Lake, 5/22/2013 From: Carol Carter <carolwcarter AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Thu, 23 May 2013 21:18:42 -0500 Here is a link to a photo of the NOMO seen in Sturgeon Lake, Pine County on 5/22/2013: http://www.flickr.com/photos/61047199 AT N05/8798672067/ ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: [mou-rba] Northwest Minnesota Birding Report- Thursday, May 23, 2013 From: Jeanie Joppru <rba AT MOUMN.ORG> Date: Thu, 23 May 2013 19:11:43 -0600 -RBA *Minnesota *Detroit Lakes *May 23, 2013 *MNDL1305.23 -Birds mentioned Long-tailed Duck Horned Grebe American Bittern Green Heron Red-shouldered Hawk American Golden-Plover Spotted Sandpiper Whimbrel Hudsonian Godwit Ruddy Turnstone Least Sandpiper Wilson's Phalarope Caspian Tern Common Nighthawk Ruby-throated Hummingbird Red-headed Woodpecker Black-backed Woodpecker Olive-sided Flycatcher Least Flycatcher Say's Phoebe Loggerhead Shrike Red-eyed Vireo Marsh Wren Eastern Bluebird Swainson's Thrush Gray Catbird Golden-winged Warbler Black-and-white Warbler Tennessee Warbler Nashville Warbler Common Yellowthroat Blackburnian Warbler Yellow Warbler Palm Warbler Pine Warbler Wilson's Warbler Henslow's Sparrow Scarlet Tanager Lazuli Bunting Indigo Bunting Yellow-headed Blackbird Brewer's Blackbird Orchard Oriole Baltimore Oriole Pine Siskin -Transcript Hotline: Minnesota, Detroit Lakes Date: May 23, 2013 Sponsor: Lakes Area Birding Club, Detroit Lakes Regional Chamber of Commerce Reports: 1-800-542-3992 (weekdays during business hours) Compiler: Jeanie Joppru (ajjoppru AT mncable.net) This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Thursday, May 23, 2013 sponsored by the Detroit Lakes Regional Chamber of Commerce. You may also hear this report by calling (218)847-5743 or 1-800-433-1888. What an interesting week it has been , what with all the rain, more than anyone wanted, then the lovely sunny weather that followed. Tonight, it appears that the wind has finally dropped. Many areas experienced a warbler fallout early in the week during the bad weather, and now that the sun has returned, activities in yards and feeders has lessened. From Douglas County on May 19, Judith Clayton reported EASTERN BLUEBIRD, and on the 20th GRAY CATBIRD and INDIGO BUNTING. In Ottertail County, the Detroit Lakes Festival birders reported a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK at Maplewood State Park. Gary and Marion Otnes saw a LAZULI BUNTING under their feeders . Marshall Howe in Hubbard County reported SPOTTED SANDPIPER, many PINE SISKINS, and ORCHARD ORIOLE on May 18, a wave of warblers on May 19 and also RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, GREAT GRESTED FLYCATCHER, COMMON NIGHTHAWK, GRAY CATBIRD, and SWAINSON'S THRUSH. On the 20th, LEAST SANDPIPER, and RED-EYED VIREO showed up. OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, LEAST FLYCATCHER, and YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD were seen on May 23. Ben Wieland found a WHIMBREL at the Walker wastewater treatment ponds on May 20. At Itasca SP , the festival participants found a BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER near the headquarters. The Detroit Lakes Festival of Birds identified 150 species of birds on Friday and Saturday including 20 warblers. A NELSON'S SHARP-TAILED SPARROW was seen at Tamarac NWR. Linda Schumann reported RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD, INDIGO BUNTING, SCARLET TANAGER, and BALTIMORE ORIOLE at Rainbow resort on May 19. Kay Hartness also saw a RED-HEADED WOODPECKER at Detroit Lakes on May 17. Marshall Howe reported AMERICAN BITTERN, MARSH WREN, BREWER'S BLACKBIRD, and YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD at Hamden Slough on May 18. Paul Budde ,Doug Kieser and Mark Ochs found a SAY'S PHOEBE at Felton Prairie on the longspur road on May 22. A HORNED GREBE was seen on the lake there. Shelley Steva, Emily Hutchins, Vanessa Lane and I found a singing HENSLOW'S SPARROW in the rain at the big cemetery in downtown Crookston, Polk County on May 20. Other birds that we saw included HUDSONIAN GODWITS and CASPIAN TERNS at several locations. An amazing fallout of warblers and thrushes were seen in Crookston, at the cemetery, and at UMC campus. Sandy Aubol in East Grand Forks reported OVENBIRD,SCARLET TANAGER, ORCHARD ORIOLE and PINE SISKIN on May 17. Bill Blackburn found a GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER at the Audubon Center on May 17 along with many other species of warbler including COMMON YELLOWTHROAT and BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER. On May 18, Shelley Steva reported WILSON'S PHALAROPES, HUDSONIAN GODWITS, and SPOTTED SANDPIPERS at the impoundments near there, and a LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE near the intersection of CR 23 and CR 68. On May 19, Bill Blackburn found 18 AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS flying over the impoundment on CR 23. Andy Forbes discovered a LONG-TAILED DUCK and an immature GREATER BLACK-BACKED GULL at the Thief River Falls wastewater treatment ponds in Pennington County on May 20. Bill Blackburn observed a RUDDY TURNSTONE at the impoundment east of Radium in Marshall County on May 19. From Beltrami County, Pat Dewenter reported a warbler wave on May 19 that included BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER, BLACKPOLL, YELLOW WARBLER, TENNESSEE WARBLER, NASHVILLE WARBLER, PINE WARBLER, PALM WARBLER, and WILSON'S WARBLER. George-Ann Maxson reported a nesting GREEN HERON on the shores of Lake Beltrami and also a RED-HEADED WOODPECKER. In Hallock in Kittson County, Paul Clay saw a SCARLET TANAGER on May 21. Thanks to all who sent in sightings this week. Please report bird sightings to Jeanie Joppru by email, no later than Thursday each week, at ajjoppru AT mncable.net OR call the Detroit Lakes Chamber's toll free number: 1-800-542-3992. Detroit Lakes area birders please call 847-9202. Please include the county where the sighting took place. The next scheduled update of this report is Thursday, May 30, 2013. Jeanie Joppru Pennington County, MN ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Cattle Egret - Scott County From: Mike Majeski <mmajeski AT EORINC.COM> Date: Thu, 23 May 2013 17:37:48 -0500 Today I observed a Cattle egret in Shakopee about 500 feet west of the dead end on Crossings Blvd (west of Foothill Trail). Crossings Blvd is located just south of the intersection of CR 21 and CR 18 near the Home Depot. The egret was foraging in the flooded wetland around 3:00 p.m. this afternoon. Mike Majeski ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: FOY Baltimore Oriole From: Janice Dunlap <jrdwriter5 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Thu, 23 May 2013 12:13:58 -0700 Here at the porch feeder right now. Beautiful male in Chaska. He joins the two pair of Red-breasted Grosbeaks we've had all week. Jan Dunlap Author of the Bob White Birder Murder Mysteries Find me on LinkedIn, Facebook and Pinterest http://www.jandunlap.com "Everything a cozy mystery should be! A wonderful new series here."...amazon.com reviewer on the Birder Murders ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Carver County From: John Cyrus <cyrus150 AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Thu, 23 May 2013 18:59:15 +0000 It was another great morning at Carver Park Reserve with a surge of flycatchers to the area and the continuing high variety/number of warbler. I covered a greater area than the past few days and even more than this past Saturday as well. I covered areas accessed from the nature center, both rec areas, King Observation Area, and the Lake Zumbra access(rarely go here). Any day now these warbler numbers are going to plunge. Select counts are below. Common Loon 1 Least Bittern 1 Turkey Vulture 1 Osprey 2 Bald Eagle 2 Broad-winged Hawk 1 American Kestrel 1 Eastern Wood-Pewee 9 Alder Flycatcher 18 Willow Flycatcher 1 Least Flycatcher 10 Empid species 15-20 Eastern Phoebe 1 Great Crested Flycatcher 4 Yellow-throated Vireo 5 Blue-headed Vireo 1 (possibly heard a 2nd bird half-heartedly singing) Warbling Vireo 5 Philadelphia Vireo 2 (probably heard a 3rd bird) Red-eyed Vireo 16 Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 12 Veery 1 Ovenbird 2 Northern Waterthrush 1 Golden-winged Warbler 1 male Blue-winged Warbler 8 Black-and-white Warbler 1 female Tennessee Warbler 22 Nashville Warbler 2 Mourning Warbler 1 male Common Yellowthroat ~15 American Redstart ~35 Magnolia Warbler 8 (4 male and 4 female) Bay-breasted Warbler 4 male (possibly a 5th bird, a female, seen but too brief and distant to count) Blackburnian Warbler 7 (5 male and 2 female) Yellow Warbler ~20 Chestnut-sided Warbler 10 (5 male and 5 female) Blackpoll Warbler 17 (6 male and 11 female) Palm Warbler 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler 3 female Black-throated Green Warbler 3 male Canada Warbler 6 (5 male and 1 female, possibly a 7th bird, a male, but based on bird movement in the area I had to consider it a repeat sighting) Wilson's Warbler 9 (4 male and 5 female) ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Red Crossbill farmington Dakota Co From: avocet13 AT CHARTER.NET Date: Thu, 23 May 2013 13:48:11 -0400 The hits keep coming!! Now showing in our Farmington backyard. Call if interested for an update 612-414-0214 Thank you, Blaine Seeliger Dakota Co Wyatt's Twisted Americana Food and Drinks Hastings Mn 55033 WWW.WYATTS55.COM 651-437-1123 ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: no White-winged Tern From: Kim R Eckert <eckertkr AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Thu, 23 May 2013 12:23:19 -0500 I just to talked to Paul Egeland who was unable to relocate the possible White-winged Tern photographed yesterday by Garrett Wee in Lyon County. Paul checked Lone Tree Lake and several other wetlands in the Cottonwood area from about 7am until noon without success. Kim Eckert ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Scarlet Tanager - Anoka County From: "Wenger, Char" <CAWenger AT LANDOLAKES.COM> Date: Thu, 23 May 2013 13:27:30 +0000 We had a Scarlet Tanager show up in our backyard in Coon Rapids yesterday. The bird has been eating black oil sunflower seeds from a feeder hanging by our window. It has been a treat to get a close up look at this beautiful bird! Is this unusual for Tanagers to eat seeds? Charlotte Wenger cawenger AT landolakes.com (651) 375-2828 ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Duluth birding From: Karl Bardon <karl_bardon AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Wed, 22 May 2013 21:12:22 -0700 The last four days of birding in Duluth have been fantastic. The fallout of warblers which occurred on Sunday, May 19th continued for four straight days! I have never known this to happen, but the strong Northeast winds, rain, and fog which grounded the birds on the 19th continued until Wednesday afternoon, giving the birds no option to leave. Even more amazing was that all these hundreds of warblers fed mostly on the ground, giving unparalleled  views. Of the 25 species I saw the last four days, all of them were seen at close range within just a few feet. I had numerous warblers try to land on my tripod while taking photos and a Black-and-white Warbler even landed on our legs! On Tuesday May 21st I counted all warblers seen in a 3 mile stretch of Park Point and had a state high count of 452 Palm Warblers, with smaller numbers (nothing record breaking) of 22 other species, including 3 Connecticuts. Numerous thrushes, sparrows, and empids were also involved in this fallout.   Waterbirds have also been grounded by the weather, with a state high count of 1447 Red-breasted Mergansers counted along Park Point on May 20th, and today there were record numbers of scoters. After counting 106 White-winged, 14 Surf, and 7 Black Scoters on Park Point (on the bay and lake side between the rowing club and the recreation area), I heard there was a flock of 284 scoters near Leif Erickson Park  (about 4-5 miles away) found by Greg Garmer and counted by Greg and Peder Svingen. I found 13 Surf Scoters in this flock, leaving a total of 271 White-winged Scoters. This gives a total of 377 White-winged Scoters (previous state high was 150), 27 Surf Scoters (previous high was 25), and 7 Black Scoters (second highest spring count).   Karl  Bardon Duluth, MN ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Northern Mockingbird, Sturgeon Lake, Pine County From: Carol Carter <carolwcarter AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Wed, 22 May 2013 22:39:18 -0500 Today, May 22, 2013, I saw a Northern Mockingbird in Sturgeon Lake, Pine County, MN. The bird was observed in the side yard and back yard of the house at the corner of 1st Ave. and Towne St. It also spent some time in the side yard of the house on the corner of Towne St. and Market St. The bird was first observed around 9:00 a.m and then again around noon. Carol Carter Audubon MN Breeding Bird Atlas ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Sherburne NWR From: Paul and JoAnn Gunderson <gunder AT IZOOM.NET> Date: Wed, 22 May 2013 21:46:49 -0500 Hi birders, JoAnn Stark, Noel Paukert, my wife JoAnn, and I birded the wildlife drive at Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge around mid-day yesterday. Highlights included a male Gadwall and Caspian Tern on the first pond when you turn left to enter the the drive. We walked the half-mile woodland trail and the number of warblers was unbelievable. There were so many active near the ground and at eye-level that they provided good viewing in spite of the poor light due to the heavy cloud cover and occasional mist and light rain. We observed 15 warbler species as well as an Olive-sided Flycatcher, Red-eyed Vireo, and Yellow-throated Vireo. Warblers observed: Blue-winged Black-and-white Tennessee Nashville Common Yellowthroat American Redstart Magnolia Bay-breasted Blackburnian Yellow Chestnut-sided Blackpoll Yellow-rumped Black-throated Green Wilson’s Good Birding, Paul Gunderson Big Lake Township Sherburne County ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: possible White-winged Tern, Lyon Co From: Kim R Eckert <eckertkr AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Wed, 22 May 2013 19:34:57 -0500 This morning, May 22, Garrett Wee of Cottonwood MN photographed what appears to be a possible White-winged Tern (Chlidonias leucopterus): http://www.flickr.com/photos/73121423 AT N07/8783909796/in/pool-79514222 AT N00/ The location was at Lone Tree Lake in Lyon Co: from Cottonwood go 1.5 mi W on Main St to 290th Ave, then 1.0 mi N to the lake. After I was sent this photo from a friend in CA who had happened across the image on the internet, I called Paul Egeland who used to live in Cottonwood and had Garrett's phone number. He then called Garrett who told him that he had been photographing something else at the time, didn't notice the terns in the image until he got home, and then later went out to try and relocate it without success. Paul also said he was sure that Garrett wouldn't mind if this was posted on mou-net on his behalf. Please keep in mind that this ID is only tentative since the image is only marginal in quality, and since Garrett took no other photos and wrote no description (since he didn't realize it was there at the time). Kim R Eckert eckertkr AT gmail.com http://www.mbwbirds.com ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Lazuli Bunting, Nicollet Co. From: Brian & Risa Smith <brsmith AT SLEEPYEYETEL.NET> Date: Wed, 22 May 2013 19:17:55 -0500 Hi, I thought it worth menioning that another Lazuli Bunting was seen this spring and it was found by Nancy Voges of rural Courtland, MN on 5-15-13. Nancy wasn't familiar with this species and asked me to help ID some photographs that she took of it. Nancy provided some additional information and I have submitted documentation on her behalf. According to the MOU data base, this is a first county record for Nicollet county. Brian Smith ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Beltrami County Red-headed woodpecker, green heron nest From: George-Ann Maxson <mngrousehunter AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Wed, 22 May 2013 18:43:57 -0500 An adult Red-headed Woodpecker showed up in our yard today. It poked around in fresh sapsucker drillings on a birch. First one we've seen in many years. On May 19, a pair of Green Herons began constructing a nest in a balsam fir, about 15 ft up. The tree is in our yard, between our house and Lake Beltrami. We can view the nest from our living room, though branches make it difficult to photograph. The herons apparently began incubating yesterday. We'll continue to monitor and cross our fingers that the pair will be successful. ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Warblers on the beach in Duluth From: K R E <eckertkr AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Wed, 22 May 2013 15:33:24 -0500 Total of 17 species foraging in the sand at just 2 sites on the L Superior side of Park Point: 12th St access (14 species along a 100-yard stretch) and at 31st St (11 species visible by the platform). All of them in the beach sand by the water, not in the grass or shrubs in the dunes. Did not have time to bird the Recreation Area, but maybe others can provide a report from there. Kim Eckert Sent from my iPhone ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Say's Phoebe, Felton Prairie, Clay County From: Doug Kieser <doug.kieser AT CLYNCH.COM> Date: Wed, 22 May 2013 20:06:59 +0000 Say's Phoebe on the north end of the longspur road, sallying after insects on the east side of the road. This is only a mile or so from the SAPH found by the MBW group earlier. Horned Grebe still present on the lake here. Doug Kieser Paul Budde Mark Ochs Sent from my Sprint phone. ________________________________ This message contains information which may be confidential and privileged. Unless you are the intended recipient (or authorized to receive this message for the intended recipient), you may not use, copy, disseminate or disclose to anyone the message or any information contained in the message. If you have received the message in error, please advise the sender by reply e-mail, and delete the message. Thank you very much. Subject: Scarlet Tanager From: john c nelson <dsgabaska AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Wed, 22 May 2013 15:02:50 -0500 Our FOY Scarlet Tanager is at the grape jelly right now with an assortment of Baltimore and orchard orioles, catbirds and two Tennessee Warblers. John Nelson Good Thunder MN ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Warblers and more, S. Washington County From: Pete Nichols <petenich76 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Wed, 22 May 2013 08:21:45 -0700 I found large numbers of warblers this morning along the river at Grey Cloud Dunes SNA.  In particular, singing Tennessee Warblers were present in very high numbers, making it difficult to ID other birdsong. Highlights included 15 warbler species, Black-billed Cuckoo, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Swainson's Thrush, Sedge Wren, and Grasshopper Sparrow.  My eBird checklist is below. Peter Nichols Cottage Grove South Washington County --- On Wed, 5/22/13, do-not-reply AT ebird.org wrote: From: do-not-reply AT ebird.org Subject: eBird Report - Grey Cloud Dunes SNA, May 22, 2013 To: petenich76 AT yahoo.com Date: Wednesday, May 22, 2013, 10:10 AM Grey Cloud Dunes SNA, Washington, US-MN May 22, 2013 5:55 AM - 8:35 AM Protocol: Traveling 1.5 mile(s) 61 species (+1 other taxa) Canada Goose  4 Wood Duck  3 Mallard  2 Blue-winged Teal  2 Double-crested Cormorant  1 Green Heron  1 Bald Eagle  1 Killdeer  1 Mourning Dove  6 Black-billed Cuckoo  1 Red-bellied Woodpecker  2 Downy Woodpecker  3 Hairy Woodpecker  2 Northern Flicker  1 Olive-sided Flycatcher  1 Eastern Wood-Pewee  2 Least Flycatcher  4 Empidonax sp.  6 Great Crested Flycatcher  3 Eastern Kingbird  3 Warbling Vireo  4 Red-eyed Vireo  3 Blue Jay  6 American Crow  3 Northern Rough-winged Swallow  20 Barn Swallow  8 Cliff Swallow  4 Black-capped Chickadee  3 House Wren  8 Sedge Wren  1 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher  3 Swainson's Thrush  1 American Robin  4 Gray Catbird  16 Brown Thrasher  2 Tennessee Warbler  60 Orange-crowned Warbler  1 Nashville Warbler  3 Common Yellowthroat  3 American Redstart  18 Magnolia Warbler  1 Blackburnian Warbler  1 Yellow Warbler  14 Chestnut-sided Warbler  5 Blackpoll Warbler  7 Palm Warbler  2 Pine Warbler  1 Yellow-rumped Warbler  2 Canada Warbler  1 Wilson's Warbler  2 Eastern Towhee  6 Clay-colored Sparrow  1 Field Sparrow  5 Grasshopper Sparrow  6 Song Sparrow  5 Northern Cardinal  5 Rose-breasted Grosbeak  6 Indigo Bunting  1 Red-winged Blackbird  1 Brown-headed Cowbird  15 Baltimore Oriole  4 American Goldfinch  3 View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S14205301 This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org) ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: MRVAC Trumpeter Newsletter From: Steve Weston <sweston2 AT comcast.net> Date: Tue, 21 May 2013 21:25:43 -0500 The May/June issue of the Minnesota River Valley Audubon Chapter (MRVAC) is available at http://mrvac.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/2013-May-June.pdf Steve Weston On Quigley Lake in Eagan, MN sweston2 AT comcast.net_______________________________________________ mnbird mailing list mnbird AT lists.mnbird.net http://lists.mnbird.net/mailman/listinfo/mnbird Unsubscribe: %(user_optionsurl)s Subject: Soras and Virginia Railing Loring Park From: "McBride, James E. \"Jamie\"" <JMcBride AT MINNEAPOLISPARKS.ORG> Date: Wed, 22 May 2013 08:19:40 -0500 With Great Egret and Green Herons. Loring Park Sent from my iPhone ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Red-headed woodpecker From: Janice Dunlap <jrdwriter5 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Wed, 22 May 2013 05:59:02 -0700 I am so excited!! We have a red-headed woodpecker at our feeder! It was here on and off for the last hour. It's the first one we've seen here in our Chaska townhome in the 8 years we've lived here. We back up to a ravine and preserve area filled with streams and trees, off Bavaria Road and Bavaria Hills Trail. I'm taking it as a good omen since this morning begins a 5-day FREE Kindle promotion at amazon.com for the second book in my Birder Murder mysteries. Murder on Warbler Weekend is free today on Amazon.com, just in time for all our wonderful warblers in migration - please download a copy if you haven't read it yet and help me hook more folks on birding. Please share the offer!   Jan Dunlap Author of the Bob White Birder Murder Mysteries Find me on LinkedIn, Facebook and Pinterest http://www.jandunlap.com "Everything a cozy mystery should be! A wonderful new series here."...amazon.com reviewer on the Birder Murders ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Re: Are the cardinals redder? From: Sue Keator <chickadeedee55 AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Wed, 22 May 2013 07:38:42 -0500 I think it might be since we have more diffuse light with all the clouds the colors appear brighter? Or perhaps it is because everybody recently changed into their new breeding "clothes"? Even the orioles seem brighter to me. sue on Melody Lake, Edina Sent from my iPad On May 22, 2013, at 12:39 AM, Holly Myhre wrote: > I think it odd that you should say this.I was thinking that the Goldfinches were more yellow and bigger!!! > šŸ˜ > TIA,Holly in Andover > >> Date: Tue, 21 May 2013 23:45:52 -0500 >> From: leepratsch AT MSN.COM >> Subject: [mou-net] Are the cardinals redder? >> To: MOU-NET AT LISTS.UMN.EDU >> >> Good evening, >> >> Maybe it's my eyesight or memory, but it seems to me that this year the males are redder. >> >> Has anyone else seen the same? Could it be a seasonal difference? >> >> TIA, >> Lee in St. Paul >> >> ---- >> Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net >> Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html > ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Harris’s Sparrow/Rice Co. From: dan&erika <danerika AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Wed, 22 May 2013 07:01:29 -0500 Hi All— Last week I banded a Harris’s Sparrow in Northfield, Rice Co. I have only one other spring record for the county. A photo is posted on my blog-- http://dantallmansbirdblog.blogspot.com/ dan -- Dan or Erika Tallman Northfield, Minnesota danerika AT gmail.com http://sites.google.com/site/tallmanorum http://dantallmansbirdblog.blogspot.com http://picasaweb.google.com/danerika The White Album: Portraits of Minnesota Birds Two Years Among the Odonates ".... the best shod travel with wet feet...Beware of all enterprises that require new clothes ....”—H. D. Thoreau; "Back off, man. I'm a scientist."—Dr. Peter Venkman ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Re: Are the cardinals redder? From: Holly Myhre <hollysmyhre AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Wed, 22 May 2013 00:39:43 -0500 I think it odd that you should say this.I was thinking that the Goldfinches were more yellow and bigger!!! šŸ˜ TIA,Holly in Andover > Date: Tue, 21 May 2013 23:45:52 -0500 > From: leepratsch AT MSN.COM > Subject: [mou-net] Are the cardinals redder? > To: MOU-NET AT LISTS.UMN.EDU > > Good evening, > > Maybe it's my eyesight or memory, but it seems to me that this year the males are redder. > > Has anyone else seen the same? Could it be a seasonal difference? > > TIA, > Lee in St. Paul > > ---- > Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net > Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Are the cardinals redder? From: Lee Pratsch <leepratsch AT MSN.COM> Date: Tue, 21 May 2013 23:45:52 -0500 Good evening, Maybe it's my eyesight or memory, but it seems to me that this year the males are redder. Has anyone else seen the same? Could it be a seasonal difference? TIA, Lee in St. Paul ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Little Gull & more From: Michael Hendrickson <mlhendrickson AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Tue, 21 May 2013 19:55:11 -0700 The rain let up around 1:30pm and I decided to check the lake to see if any shore birds were on the beach at Park Point and also to see if the warblers were still foraging for insects.  Around 1:45pm I spotted a small group of Bonaparte's Gulls flying past me and I noticed an adult Little Gull was among them.  The dark charcoal under wings and the white trailing edge of the wings were clearly seen as it zipped right by me as the group was heading was heading towards WI Point. Other birds seen on beach near airport at Park Point: 11- Red-throated Loons foraging close to shore. 9 Black Scoters flying towards Canal Park. 3 Black-bellied Plovers 37 Sanderlings 15 Dunlins 5 Ruddy Turnstones 1 Dowitcher sp. Park Point Recreational Area highlights: 43 Lincoln's Sparrows were counted from 44th Ave to the airport 1 Harris Sparrow 15 species of warblers were found but the numbers were way down from Sunday.  1 Peregrine Falcon 1 Sora walking around on the lawn near the public boat launch. Sadly I found a dead Black-throated Green Warbler near the public restrooms at the base of a cedar tree.  Most likely died from starvation and cold-wet weather conditions.  A lot of thrushes were foraging on the lawns ( Swainson's. Veery and Gray-cheeks ).  When the weather clears up late tomorrow afternoon the conditions will be ideal for scanning through all the terns on lake superior for Arctic Terns.  I observed a lot of terns moving up and down the beach and there has to be one Arctic Tern out there.  Good birding Mike Hendrickson Duluth, Minnesota MikeHendricksonGuiding.com Sax-ZimBog.com ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: MRVAC Trumpeter Newsletter From: Steve Weston <sweston2 AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Tue, 21 May 2013 21:25:43 -0500 The May/June issue of the Minnesota River Valley Audubon Chapter (MRVAC) is available at http://mrvac.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/2013-May-June.pdf Steve Weston On Quigley Lake in Eagan, MN sweston2 AT comcast.net ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Bay-breasted and Blackpoll at Lake Elmo Park From: Ben Douglas <hj70ft AT MSN.COM> Date: Tue, 21 May 2013 21:18:06 -0500 Along with great variety tonight I was astounded to find over 40 Bay-breasted and over 60 Blackpoll Warblers. An insect bloom drew in species and made the south and east ends of Eagle Point Lake look like a feeding frenzy. I've not seen anything like that before. The swallow counts were near impossible as well. At one point I counted 4 different Flycatcher species in a single tree near an open area. The sky was also loaded up with Nighthawk. Other highlights tonight included... 2 Canada Warblers 4 Blackburnian 4 Chestnut Sided 1 Orchard Oriole 1 Barred Owl I have birded this park pretty heavy all year and have not seen anything like this before. ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: whooping crane follow up From: "Gelvin-Innvaer, Lisa A (DNR)" <lisa.gelvin-innvaer AT state.mn.us> Date: Tue, 21 May 2013 14:07:31 +0000 I've received some emails requesting a bit more follow up re: whooping cranes viewing. The Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership has provided additional guidance in the past which I'll share: The WCEP asks anyone who encounters a whooping crane in the wild to please give them the respect and distance they need in order to survive and thrive. More specifically, please-- - Do not approach birds on foot within 200 yards; -Try to remain in your vehicle -Use of binoculars or spotting scopes is recommended for viewing -Do not approach in a vehicle within 100 yards. -Remain concealed and do not speak loudly enough that the birds can hear you. -Do trespass on private property in an attempt to view whooping cranes." Researchers have learned that cranes that become overly tolerant of human presence are at greater risk to numerous hazards that could endanger their well-being. The WCEP recognizes that some birders may share the specific locations of whooping cranes on local "rare bird alerts" or the media, but believes that most people are glad to protect these extremely endangered birds by maintaining their distance and allowing these birds to establish a healthy, wild nature. Hope this is helpful Lisa Gelvin-Innvaer Reg. Nongame Wildlife Specialist, CWB (r) MN DNR Southern Region Div. of Ecological & Water Resources 261 Hwy 15 South New Ulm, MN 56073 phone: (507) 359-6033 fax: (507) 359-6018 e-mail: lisa.gelvin-innvaer AT state.mn.us _______________________________________________ mnbird mailing list mnbird AT lists.mnbird.net http://lists.mnbird.net/mailman/listinfo/mnbird Unsubscribe: %(user_optionsurl)s Subject: American Avocet Crow Wing Co From: Tony <tony.lau AT CHARTER.NET> Date: Tue, 21 May 2013 18:01:23 -0500 Kelly Applegate and I stopped in Garrison to look at all the gulls and Terns eating Walleye caviar that was washing ashore and found some other surprises. An American Avocet, 30 Ruddy Turnstones, a Dunlin, Sanderlings, Semipalmated Sandpipers, (Common, Black And Caspian) Terns, as well as (Ring-Billed, Bonaparte's, and Herring) Gulls. Also saw some Yellow-Headed Blackbirds and Yellow Warblers on shore. ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: What to do if You See Whooping Cranes From: "Gelvin-Innvaer, Lisa A (DNR)" <lisa.gelvin-innvaer AT state.mn.us> Date: Tue, 21 May 2013 13:04:10 +0000 Greetings! The Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership offers this guidance re : What to do if You See Whooping Cranes http://www.bringbackthecranes.org/what2do.html "Should you be fortunate enough to encounter these birds, use extreme caution in observing the cranes and do not attempt to approach them. Joe Duff, the project's lead ultralight pilot, said it best during a recent interview: 'Although we take special precautions to ensure these birds are reared in isolation from human contact, they are still far from wild. Their return to nature takes place over months but could be destroyed by one curious onlooker. Despite good intentions the best thing an observer could do for these birds and this project is to observe from a distance. The worst thing you could do is attempt to feed them. ' Each exposure lessens the whooping cranes' natural fear of humans, which is an important survival mechanism. Feeding the whooping cranes can result in the birds becoming dependent on humans as a source of food. Both would negate the many long hours biologists, veterinarians, pilots and volunteers endured in hot costumes and silence while raising and caring for these whooping cranes. As the population of this reintroduced flock increases, sightings are more common. Interested citizens can best show their support by respecting the delicate balance in which this flock must survive and getting their updates through this website or one of the project partners' websites." They would appreciate reports of whooping crane sightings on their online website at http://www.fws.gov/midwest/whoopingcrane/sightings/sightingform.cfm For more information about whooping cranes, see the main WCEP website http://www.bringbackthecranes.org/index.html Cheers, Lisa Gelvin-Innvaer Reg. Nongame Wildlife Specialist, CWB (r) MN DNR Southern Region Div. of Ecological & Water Resources 261 Hwy 15 South New Ulm, MN 56073 phone: (507) 359-6033 fax: (507) 359-6018 e-mail: lisa.gelvin-innvaer AT state.mn.us Invest in the future of wildlife Donate to the Nongame Wildlife Fund www.dnr.state.mn.us/eco/nongame/checkoff.html Like us on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/MinnesotaNongameWildlifeProgram_______________________________________________ mnbird mailing list mnbird AT lists.mnbird.net http://lists.mnbird.net/mailman/listinfo/mnbird Unsubscribe: %(user_optionsurl)s Subject: Acadian Flycatcher - Dakota Co. From: Bill Litkey <blitkey AT USFAMILY.NET> Date: Tue, 21 May 2013 16:33:47 -0500 This morning a vocalizing Acadian Flycatcher seemed to be lingering in the woods to the east of the parking lot in Schaarā€™s Bluff Park. The location is at the beginning of the easternmost (last) loop of the main path that begins near the bluff edge. Bill Litkey ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Re: Winona Shorebirds From: Malcolm Gold <malcolmgold AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Tue, 21 May 2013 16:25:25 -0500 The consensus for the unknown is a white-rumped sandpiper. Unknown Sandpiper http://www.flickr.com/photos/malcolmgold/8761848275/ Comments included "The spots down the flanks and long wing projections are what I am looking at" and "appears to be nonbreading plummaged in transition". As terrible as it is to say I often wait until they fly to check out the rumps in flight. On Tue, May 21, 2013 at 12:37 AM, Malcolm Gold wrote: > My wife I walked through the flooded Bartlet Lake Rd in Winona this > afternoon. A decent sized flock of peeps was fairly tolerant and allowed > us to take a few photos. There were 40+ Semipalmated Sandpipers, 12 Least > Sandpipers, 1 White-rumped, and an unidentified one. Please backchannel me > via email or comment on the flickr link with any points that would separate > the two likely species. > > Least Sandpipers > http://www.flickr.com/photos/malcolmgold/8762972362/ > http://www.flickr.com/photos/malcolmgold/8761841727/ > http://www.flickr.com/photos/malcolmgold/8761846155/ > > Semipalmated Sandpiper > http://www.flickr.com/photos/malcolmgold/8762978258/ > > Unknown Sandpiper > http://www.flickr.com/photos/malcolmgold/8761848275/ > > -- > Malcolm Gold (Stockton, Winona County) > http://mcmdgold.blogspot.com/ > http://www.flickr.com/photos/malcolmgold/ > -- Malcolm Gold (Stockton, Winona County) http://mcmdgold.blogspot.com/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/malcolmgold/ ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Malardi Lake From: Paul Budde <pbudde AT EARTHLINK.NET> Date: Tue, 21 May 2013 15:34:01 -0500 Several of us visited Malardi Lake in Wright County this morning. The recent rains have practically refilled it, except for about 15 feet of mud around its border. We could only find 1 Wilson's Phalarope, 1 Dunlin and 12 peeps. The drive in was quite birdy, however, with 3 sps of vireos (including Philadelphia) and numerous warblers (including Bay-breasted). Paul Paul Budde Minneapolis, MN pbudde AT earthlink.net ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Westwood Bird Walk 1 From: Victor Lewis <azvegasvic AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Tue, 21 May 2013 13:46:38 -0500 Great bird walk at Westwood Nature Center this morning with 8 birders finding 65 species! Highlights were 14 species of warblers,(Northern Parula,Tennesee,Yellow, Chestnutsided,Cape May,Yellow Rumped, palm,Bay- Breasted,Blackpoll,Black and White,Common yellowthroat,Wilsons,and Canada!Also red eyed,warbling, and yellowthroated vireos! foy Great crested fly catcher and Peewee. the Swallows and chimney swifts were abundant over the lake and Trees.Mother and baby Great Horned owl gave us great looks far from their nesting tree! At my home last evening foy Common Nighthawk showed up! Thanks to all who showed up for a challenging but fun morning of birding! Spring Migrant Vic Lewis ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Crosby Park, St. Paul, This Morning From: Julian Sellers <JulianSellers AT MSN.COM> Date: Tue, 21 May 2013 10:56:35 -0500 I led a St. Paul Audubon bird walk at Crosby Farm Regional Park this morning. Highlights: - A Least Bittern made a brief flight across the marsh between the boardwalk and the larger lake. - As we were walking through the open area from the smaller lake to the parking lot, we heard a Connecticut Warbler singing near the edge of the woods about 150 yards east of the parking lot. We watched and listened as it sang for about 10-15 minutes. It stopped singing, and we walked into the woods to try to find it. It did not sing again, and we gave up looking after about 15 more minutes. - Other warblers: Tennessee, Yellow, Chestnut-sided, Blackburnian, Blackpoll (numerous), American Redstart (everywhere), Northern Waterthrush (heardā€”not to be confused with Connecticut Warbler), Common Yellowthroat - Scarlet Tanager Julian St. Paul ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Carver County From: John Cyrus <cyrus150 AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Tue, 21 May 2013 15:45:44 +0000 Warblers have continued to be quite consistent at Carver Park Reserve with 24 species the past three days. Sunday(May 19th) I found 15 warbler species, Monday 18, and today 20. I covered a bit less area than I did when I was out on Saturday May 18. Today though I spent nearly the same amount of time as Saturday as leaf-out has finally slowed birding a bit. Blackpoll Warbler numbers dropped significantly as did most other species numbers Sunday compared to Saturday(only found 7 Blackpoll). Yesterday Blackpoll numbers had increased, and today they had increased even more. Yesterday a male Hooded Warbler was near the nature center. Highlighted counts from today are below. Sandhill Crane 2 Caspian Tern 1 Barred Owl 1 Common Nighthawk 6 Olive-sided Flycatcher 1 Eastern Wood-Pewee 3 Alder Flycatcher 5 Willow Flycatcher 1 Least Flycatcher 4 Great Crested Flycatcher 5 Eastern Kingbird 2 Yellow-throated Vireo 2 Warbling Vireo 3 Red-eyed Vireo 15 (exact count) Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 Sedge Wren 3 Marsh Wren 1 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 6 Veery 1 Swainson's Thrush 1 Wood Thrush 1 Ovenbird 2 Golden-winged Warbler 1 male Blue-winged Warbler 3 Black-and-white Warbler 1 female Tennessee Warbler 34 (mainly male) Nashville Warbler 1 Connecticut Warbler 1 male Common Yellowthroat 8 American Redstart ~30 Cape May Warbler 1 male Magnolia Warbler 4 (3 male and 1 female) Bay-breasted Warbler 3 (2 male and 1 female) Blackburnian Warbler 6 male Yellow Warbler ~20 Chestnut-sided Warbler 5 (2 male and 3 female) Blackpoll Warbler 26 (19 male and 7 female) Yellow-rumped Warbler 3 female Black-throated Green Warbler 3 male Canada Warbler 1 male Wilson's Warbler 4 male Henslow's Sparrow 2 (arrived Sunday) Scarlet Tanager 4 (2 male and 2 female) ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: whooping crane -correction From: "Gelvin-Innvaer, Lisa A (DNR)" <lisa.gelvin-innvaer AT STATE.MN.US> Date: Tue, 21 May 2013 15:13:44 +0000 WCEP guidance should have read: "Please not trespass on private property in an attempt to view whooping cranes." See http://www.bringbackthecranes.org/newsroom/2012/KeepDistanceApril2012.html Thanks to those that caught this as spell check didn't.... Regards, Lisa Gelvin-Innvaer ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: whooping crane follow up From: "Gelvin-Innvaer, Lisa A (DNR)" <lisa.gelvin-innvaer AT STATE.MN.US> Date: Tue, 21 May 2013 14:07:31 +0000 I've received some emails requesting a bit more follow up re: whooping cranes viewing. The Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership has provided additional guidance in the past which I'll share: The WCEP asks anyone who encounters a whooping crane in the wild to please give them the respect and distance they need in order to survive and thrive. More specifically, please-- - Do not approach birds on foot within 200 yards; -Try to remain in your vehicle -Use of binoculars or spotting scopes is recommended for viewing -Do not approach in a vehicle within 100 yards. -Remain concealed and do not speak loudly enough that the birds can hear you. -Do trespass on private property in an attempt to view whooping cranes." Researchers have learned that cranes that become overly tolerant of human presence are at greater risk to numerous hazards that could endanger their well-being. The WCEP recognizes that some birders may share the specific locations of whooping cranes on local "rare bird alerts" or the media, but believes that most people are glad to protect these extremely endangered birds by maintaining their distance and allowing these birds to establish a healthy, wild nature. Hope this is helpful Lisa Gelvin-Innvaer Reg. Nongame Wildlife Specialist, CWB (r) MN DNR Southern Region Div. of Ecological & Water Resources 261 Hwy 15 South New Ulm, MN 56073 phone: (507) 359-6033 fax: (507) 359-6018 e-mail: lisa.gelvin-innvaer AT state.mn.us ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Henslow's Sparrow at Night [Audio] From: Alan Stankevitz <alan AT IWISHICOULDFLY.COM> Date: Tue, 21 May 2013 08:26:13 -0500 Ten years ago, 7 acres of our land was put into a conservation program. Now for the past 3 years, I have had a Henslow's Sparrow in the field. This spring it has been calling throughout the night. Here's an mp3 audio clip for your listening pleasure. I have processed the audio clip to filter out the chorus of frogs so that you can hear the sparrow better: http://iwishicouldfly.com/iwishicouldfly/audio/Henslow.mp3 Alan Stankevitz Houston Co. Hokah, MN ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: What to do if You See Whooping Cranes From: "Gelvin-Innvaer, Lisa A (DNR)" <lisa.gelvin-innvaer AT STATE.MN.US> Date: Tue, 21 May 2013 13:04:10 +0000 Greetings! The Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership offers this guidance re : What to do if You See Whooping Cranes http://www.bringbackthecranes.org/what2do.html "Should you be fortunate enough to encounter these birds, use extreme caution in observing the cranes and do not attempt to approach them. Joe Duff, the project's lead ultralight pilot, said it best during a recent interview: 'Although we take special precautions to ensure these birds are reared in isolation from human contact, they are still far from wild. Their return to nature takes place over months but could be destroyed by one curious onlooker. Despite good intentions the best thing an observer could do for these birds and this project is to observe from a distance. The worst thing you could do is attempt to feed them. ' Each exposure lessens the whooping cranes' natural fear of humans, which is an important survival mechanism. Feeding the whooping cranes can result in the birds becoming dependent on humans as a source of food. Both would negate the many long hours biologists, veterinarians, pilots and volunteers endured in hot costumes and silence while raising and caring for these whooping cranes. As the population of this reintroduced flock increases, sightings are more common. Interested citizens can best show their support by respecting the delicate balance in which this flock must survive and getting their updates through this website or one of the project partners' websites." They would appreciate reports of whooping crane sightings on their online website at http://www.fws.gov/midwest/whoopingcrane/sightings/sightingform.cfm For more information about whooping cranes, see the main WCEP website http://www.bringbackthecranes.org/index.html Cheers, Lisa Gelvin-Innvaer Reg. Nongame Wildlife Specialist, CWB (r) MN DNR Southern Region Div. of Ecological & Water Resources 261 Hwy 15 South New Ulm, MN 56073 phone: (507) 359-6033 fax: (507) 359-6018 e-mail: lisa.gelvin-innvaer AT state.mn.us Invest in the future of wildlife Donate to the Nongame Wildlife Fund www.dnr.state.mn.us/eco/nongame/checkoff.html Like us on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/MinnesotaNongameWildlifeProgram ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Interesting handful in my Burnsville backyard last evening From: "deanne.endrizzi AT juno.com" <deanne.endrizzi@JUNO.COM> Date: Tue, 21 May 2013 12:17:36 GMT I came home from work to find Cape May and Tennessee warblers along with two 1st year male orchard orioles in the neighbor's apple tree. Also, had a pair of rose-breasted grosbeaks coming to my feeder. Later I saw a female blackpoll warbler, least flycatcher, olive-sided flycatcher and yellow-throated vireo. What a fun spring. Deanne Endrizzi Burnsville, Dakota Cty. ____________________________________________________________ 23 foods to kill belly fat These surprising foods boost your metabolism and flatten your stomach. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3131/519b662642ee766265c29st01duc ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Winona Shorebirds From: Malcolm Gold <malcolmgold AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Tue, 21 May 2013 00:37:47 -0500 My wife I walked through the flooded Bartlet Lake Rd in Winona this afternoon. A decent sized flock of peeps was fairly tolerant and allowed us to take a few photos. There were 40+ Semipalmated Sandpipers, 12 Least Sandpipers, 1 White-rumped, and an unidentified one. Please backchannel me via email or comment on the flickr link with any points that would separate the two likely species. Least Sandpipers http://www.flickr.com/photos/malcolmgold/8762972362/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/malcolmgold/8761841727/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/malcolmgold/8761846155/ Semipalmated Sandpiper http://www.flickr.com/photos/malcolmgold/8762978258/ Unknown Sandpiper http://www.flickr.com/photos/malcolmgold/8761848275/ -- Malcolm Gold (Stockton, Winona County) http://mcmdgold.blogspot.com/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/malcolmgold/ ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: More on the passerine fallout at Park Point on Sunday, 19 May (long) From: Peder Svingen <psvingen AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Tue, 21 May 2013 00:13:45 -0500 On 19 May 2013 at Park Point, Duluth, observers witnessed the biggest fallout of thrushes, warblers, and other passerines in recent memory. Our total of 24 warbler species did not include Pine Warbler (which was reported by others) or Connecticut Warbler. The bonanza lasted throughout the day, although by afternoon the rate of new arrivals diminished. Record-high counts of 43 Veeries and 135 Swainson's Thrushes were found at the Recreation Area, and warblers seemed to be everywhere. During the early morning hours, overwhelming numbers of birds in reverse migration were moving past 43rd Street so quickly that most could not be identified; we estimate that only 10-15% of the early morning warblers were ever identified. Difficult viewing conditions in the afternoon, including high winds and poor visibility, also hampered our ability to identify each and every individual. Four observers (Mike Hendrickson, Jan & Larry Kraemer, Peder Svingen) conducted eBird area counts of Southworth Marsh, morning and afternoon area counts at the Recreation Area, and stationary counts at Lafayette Square and the bus turnaround at 43rd Street. We also surveyed parts of the beach on the Lake Superior side of the Recreation Area. Observer effort and time were similar during our morning and afternoon area counts at the Recreation Area; however, the morning count favored areas near the ballfields, while the afternoon count favored the area between the entrance to the Recreation Area and the first parking lot. The total number of passerines counted in the afternoon was considerably less than our morning total, but at least 9 species were found in the afternoon that had not been seen earlier in the day. New individuals continued to arrive well into the afternoon. It should be noted that our area counts focused on passerines; a few exceptional waterbird species were reported by others during the morning, but we wanted to carefully document the exceptional numbers of thrushes, warblers, and sparrows. Heavy fog lingering from the previous day of rain and wind limited visibility in the morning to about 1/4 mile, but by late morning the fog lifted as the offshore winds (ENE 20-25 mph) picked up. By afternoon the winds were so strong that it was nearly impossible to see and/or identify waterbirds on Lake Superior. None of the larger trees and shrubs on Park Point were leafed out due to winter-like weather extending well into May (Duluth had its snowiest April ever with more than 50 inches of snow and persistent cold). Hummingbirds were trying to find sustenance from willow catkins and the first buds on fruiting trees without much success. Warblers congregated along the shore on both sides of the point. Northern Waterthrush, American Redstart, and Magnolia and Yellow warblers were among the most common species foraging along the bayside shoreline. Orange-crowned, Tennessee, and Cape May warblers were among the most common species foraging at or below eye level in willow, red osier dogwood, and other small shrubs. American Redstarts, and Cape May, Magnolia, and Chestnut-sided warblers were foraging on the ground and flycatching from low perches. Despite the strong offshore winds, hundreds (perhaps thousands) of warblers were desperately trying to find food and shelter among the grasses and small shrubs along the dunes. Warblers were apparently searching for insects and any other available sustenance in the detritus washed up on the beach. Hundreds of Palm Warblers were foraging along the wrack line, along with several other warbler species. Most surprising to us were the Blackburnian and Blackpoll warblers (species normally seen foraging in trees above eye level) and the Mourning and Canada warblers (species usually seen skulking in heavy undergrowth) that were picking at debris on the beach. Though adding a splash of color to the beach on a dreary and overcast day, we realized that these birds were stressed by the cold, windy conditions and lack of food sources. The following data represent our best effort to count and keep track of birds throughout the day and undoubtedly underestimate the numbers of the most common warbler species. These totals do not include the thousands of warblers migrating past the 43rd Street bus turnaround prior to our arrival at Park Point. We also missed seeing most of the thousands of sparrows reported by Douglas Mayo. Our results: 43 Veery (record high count) 6 Gray-cheeked Thrush 135 Swainson's Thrush (record high count) 4 Golden-winged Warbler 61 Tennessee Warbler 12 Orange-crowned Warbler 53 Nashville Warbler (4th highest northbound count) 7 Northern Parula 22 Yellow Warbler 26 Chestnut-sided Warbler 72 Magnolia Warbler (2nd highest northbound count) 92 Cape May Warbler (2nd highest northbound count) 5 Black-throated Blue Warbler (2 males, 3 females, 2nd highest northbound count) 84 Yellow-rumped Warbler 1 Black-throated Green Warbler 8 Blackburnian Warbler (including adult male on the beach) 118 Palm Warbler 1 Bay-breasted Warbler 4 Blackpoll Warbler (including adult male on the beach) 12 Black-and-white Warbler 185 American Redstart (3rd highest northbound count) 28 Ovenbird 14 Northern Waterthrush 1 Mourning Warbler (on the beach!) 7 Common Yellowthroat 18 Wilson's Warbler 3 Canada Warbler (adult male on the beach!) plus 4,000 unidentified warblers Ten species of sparrow including: 140 Chipping Sparrow 11 Clay-colored Sparrow 1 Vesper Sparrow (rare migrant at Duluth) 27 Savannah Sparrow -- Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN psvingen AT gmail.com ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Lovely Day at Sherburne NWR From: "Fr. Paul Kammen" <fr.paul AT DELANOCATHOLIC.COM> Date: Mon, 20 May 2013 22:01:31 -0500 Had planned to spend the day photographing flowers at the arboretum due to the cloudy forecast, but sun broke though so headed up to Sherburne for a couple of hours. Did the wildlife loop and the woodland's trail and the first short paved trail upon entering the loop were quite productive. I only count birds I actually get a decent photograph of, and I had good looks at yellow, Nashville, Tennessee, American Redstart, Yellow Rumped and a rather cooperative Magnolia Warbler. Also along the woodland trail near the entrance was a beautiful Scarlet Tanager. Interestingly outside of a Canada Goose there were hardly any waterfowl to be seen. Hoping to get back up late on Wednesday and to bird Aitkin County's Rice Lake NWR on Friday. If anyone has birded Aitkin recently would love to hear any reports on warblers. Good birding to all, Fr. Paul Kammen ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Water feature post coming From: Thomas Maiello <thomas AT ANGELEM.COM> Date: Mon, 20 May 2013 21:37:28 -0500 I am still getting numerous requests for my info on my water feature and pics. When the numbers slow down I will prepare the post. Likely Wednesday at he ate requests keep coming. I am thrilled so many are willing to consider the magnetic draw of running water on birds. It is easy and amazing. Anxious to share. Sent from my iPad ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Baraboo Whooping Crane in Aitkin County From: Warren <wenelson AT MLECMN.NET> Date: Mon, 20 May 2013 20:55:16 -0500 This evening I got a call from an old class mate who said he was sure that he had just seen a Whooping Crane. I checked it out and it is one of the birds from the Baraboo release. The bird has blue, red and blue bands on its right leg and a white band on its left leg. The bird can be found by driving north from Aitkin for 14 miles to County Road 3 (towards Palisade) and then going east for 2 8/10 miles on C.R.3. The bird is in a field on the north side of the road. Warren Nelson ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Connecticut Warbler and Wood Thrush, Jackson County From: Bob Dunlap <dunla013 AT UMN.EDU> Date: Mon, 20 May 2013 20:33:20 -0500 This afternoon I found a Connecticut Warbler among 13 warbler species at Kilen Woods State Park. This bird and most of the others were in the woods adjacent to the river down the hill from the picnic shelter. There was also a Wood Thrush singing in the same location, and a late Red-breasted Nuthatch was also a bit of a surprise here. Bob Dunlap ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: MVNWR - Black Dog Unit - Dakota County - 5/20/13 From: CRAIG MANDEL <egretcman AT msn.com> Date: Mon, 20 May 2013 15:32:03 +0000 May 20, 2013 Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Black Dog Unit Cliff Fen Park Trailhead 7:00 am - 9:30 am Trail access is from Cliff Fen Park, at 120 East Cliff Road, Burnsville 55337. From I-35W, proceed east on Cliff Road approximately 3/4-mile to Cliff Fen Park. The trailhead is east of the playground area at the back of the soccer field. While leading a walk this morning we observed some of the following birds: Green Heron - Fly over at main parking lot. Osprey Peregrine Falcon Willow Flycatcher - Several heard and seen along main trail North and East of the power lines. Bell's Vireo - One was seen and heard along the main trail, where the power lines cross the trail. Sedge Wren - Seen and heard along the main trail, North of the power lines. Indigo Bunting Many of the birds were observed carrying nesting material and all were singing. Craig Mandel Minnetonka, Hennepin County EgretCMan AT msn.com _______________________________________________ mnbird mailing list mnbird AT lists.mnbird.net http://lists.mnbird.net/mailman/listinfo/mnbird Unsubscribe: %(user_optionsurl)s Subject: Re: Pine Siskins From: Cathy Gagliardi <patcatgags AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Mon, 20 May 2013 23:56:28 +0000 Hi Michael, very interesting data you've shared, thank you. I too, have been inundated with their irruption up in NW WI at our cabin. 75 or more are coming in and quite a few juvies too being fed by adults. I was quite surprised the young had fledged especially considering the May 2nd snowstorm that dumped 18" on our area. Is this normal for them to breed that early? I appreciate any input you might be able to offer. Cathy Gagliardi Sent from Xfinity Connect Mobile App -----Original Message----- From: Michael R North (DNR) To: MOU-NET Sent: May 20, 2013, 9:36 AM Subject: Re: [mou-net] Pine Siskins I am going to go out on a limb here and suggest that we are possibly seeing an irruption of pine siskins rather than a normal spring movement. I have been having hundreds swarming at my home near Pillager (Cass County) since May 15th. On the 19th I caught one that was banded near Revelstoke, British Columbia on August 22, 2012, as a hatch-year bird. Also, I have banded another 65 and they are all second-year and after second-year birds (no young-of-the-year), and they all have wing lengths in the shorter spectrum of the range of possible wing lengths, suggesting to me they are mostly females with few males. They are also heavy with fat and weighing in far above the normal weight. None have shown any signs of breeding activity (i.e., no brood patches, no cloacal protuberances). Definitely atypical. The next few days or weeks should tell if we are having an irruption or whether I am "all wet." -----Original Message----- From: Minnesota Birds [mailto:MOU-NET AT LISTS.UMN.EDU] On Behalf Of Alan Stankevitz Sent: Friday, May 17, 2013 3:10 PM To: MOU-NET AT LISTS.UMN.EDU Subject: [mou-net] Pine Siskins Very strange... I have had a few Pine Siskins that have stuck around since Winter but this afternoon there must be hundreds of Pine Siskins in the trees nearby. The sound of zzzziiipppp... is everywhere. I have never seen/heard so many Pine Siskins and usually they are gone by April. Alan Stankevitz Near Hokah in Houston County ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Douglas County indigo bunting From: Judith Clayton <judithan AT THERIVER.COM> Date: Mon, 20 May 2013 17:11:18 -0500 Hi all, So far today, I've had 2 new yard birds: male Indigo Bunting and a Gray Catbird. Scarred away my FOY male Baltimore Oriole. Although, I have backyard feeders, that I enjoy daily, and I have a favorite routes going into town I do not consider myself a dedicated birder. But within the 5 mile radius that I routinely travel, I've seen 73 species of birds so far this year. MOU's Douglas County Composite List totals 275 species. I'm amazed at the rich variety of species! Good birding! Judy in Alexandria ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Hutchinson Lazuli Bunting From: Don Kienholz <dkienholz AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Mon, 20 May 2013 15:26:36 -0500 The bunting was seen at 3:15 today at previously posted location Sent from my iPhone ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Eastern Meadowlark, Nobles County From: Bob Dunlap <dunla013 AT UMN.EDU> Date: Mon, 20 May 2013 13:55:36 -0500 This morning I found an Eastern Meadowlark at Schweigert WMA in Nobles County. There is a small parking area for the WMA on the south side of 1st St. (the Murray/Nobles county line) adjacent to some large cottonwoods and a stand of cedars; the bird was singing in the grassland to the south of the cedars. Interestingly, our group found a meadowlark in Pipestone County yesterday morning on the east side of Woodstock WMA that was singing both a perfect Eastern song as well as another song that sounded a bit atypical. In the dim light I believe I saw yellow on the malar, fainter spotting on the sides of the breast, and more limited white in the rectrices which are all plumage tendencies of Western Meadowlark. We ultimately left the bird unidentified as we heard no other vocalizations. By contrast, today's bird in Nobles County showed plumage tendencies of Eastern (more extensive white in rectrices, no yellow in malar, heavier streaking on sides of breast), but the clincher was when the bird gave a towhee-like "hee" call which is characteristic of Eastern. Bob Dunlap ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Re: Pine Siskins From: john c nelson <dsgabaska AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Mon, 20 May 2013 13:54:16 -0500 I have only a couple Pine Siskins but ANY at this date is unprecedented in our yard. On the other hand 100-200 Goldfinch have been the norm for the past two weeks. This past weekend at the store 9 out of 10 customers reported incredible numbers of goldfinches, whether someone who had never had any and were seeing 20, or experienced bird feeders seeing hundreds. Also, both Saturday and Sunday I received numerous calls asking, " What is the little blue bird at my feeders. Never have had so many people seeing Indigo Buntings singly and in multiples. Several inquiries about females and molting males. Easily 1000# of Nyjer went out the doorover the weekend. Many customers seeing their first Orchard Orioles, as well. John Nelson Good Thunder MN On May 20, 2013, at 12:02 PM, ssmorton wrote: > And...what about the goldfinches? I had over 200 in my yard over the > weekend. > > Sue Morton > Cottonwood > > -----Original Message----- > From: Minnesota Birds [mailto:MOU-NET AT LISTS.UMN.EDU] On Behalf Of North, > Michael R (DNR) > Sent: Monday, May 20, 2013 9:27 AM > To: MOU-NET AT LISTS.UMN.EDU > Subject: Re: [mou-net] Pine Siskins > > I am going to go out on a limb here and suggest that we are possibly seeing > an irruption of pine siskins rather than a normal spring movement. I have > been having hundreds swarming at my home near Pillager (Cass County) since > May 15th. On the 19th I caught one that was banded near Revelstoke, British > Columbia on August 22, 2012, as a hatch-year bird. Also, I have banded > another 65 and they are all second-year and after second-year birds (no > young-of-the-year), and they all have wing lengths in the shorter spectrum > of the range of possible wing lengths, suggesting to me they are mostly > females with few males. They are also heavy with fat and weighing in far > above the normal weight. None have shown any signs of breeding activity > (i.e., no brood patches, no cloacal protuberances). Definitely atypical. > The next few days or weeks should tell if we are having an irruption or > whether I am "all wet." > > -----Original Message----- > From: Minnesota Birds [mailto:MOU-NET AT LISTS.UMN.EDU] On Behalf Of Alan > Stankevitz > Sent: Friday, May 17, 2013 3:10 PM > To: MOU-NET AT LISTS.UMN.EDU > Subject: [mou-net] Pine Siskins > > Very strange... I have had a few Pine Siskins that have stuck around since > Winter but this afternoon there must be hundreds of Pine Siskins in the > trees nearby. The sound of zzzziiipppp... is everywhere. I have never > seen/heard so many Pine Siskins and usually they are gone by April. > > Alan Stankevitz > Near Hokah in Houston County ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: St. Louis Co: Warblers and White-winged Scoter From: Douglas Mayo <twizler AT MSN.COM> Date: Mon, 20 May 2013 13:53:03 -0500 Yesterday afternoon Park Point in Duluth was dripping with warblers. The weather, however, was terrible. The temperature was in the 40s and a strong wind was blowing from the northeast at 20 to 30 miles per hour. While the weather made for challenging birding, it forced the birds to feed on the ground, sometimes right at my feet (no binoculars needed). Warblers were everywhere: In yards, on the street, in low-lying shrubs, and along the shore. During three hours of birding I found 20 species. Palm, Magnolia, and American Redstarts were the most common. I saw only one each of Black-throated Green Warbler, Golden-winged Warbler and Mourning Warble, but there were good numbers of Cape May, Chestnut-sided, Pine, Wilson, Nashville, Northern Parula and other warblers. Another birder told me about a Black-throated Blue Warbler seen near the end of Park Point, but I could not find this bird. There were also thousands of Savannah and Chipping Sparrows. In addition, I observed two White-winged Scoters in the harbor side bay of Park Point a bit northwest of the Rowing Club. Since weather conditions in Duluth today (and maybe tomorrow) are similar to yesterday, I’m guessing that the warblers are still hunkered down there.Douglas Mayo ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Cass County Whimbrel From: Ben <wielandba AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Mon, 20 May 2013 13:03:55 -0500 There was a Whimbrel present at the Walker sewage ponds today at noon. Ben Wieland Deep Portage Learning Center ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Imm. Great Black-backed Gull AND Long-tailed Duck, Thief River Falls Sewage Lagoons (5/19) From: "Forbes, Andrew" <andrew_forbes AT FWS.GOV> Date: Mon, 20 May 2013 12:28:51 -0500 Yesterday Caleb Ashling and I found an immature Great Black-backed Gull and a Long-tailed Duck at the Thief River Falls Sewage Lagoons in Pennington County. Both birds were seen AT 400PM. Sorry for the delayed post (got home at 430AM) and lack of photos (no camera). You'll need to get permission to access the lagoons beyond the fence from the city of Thief River Falls plant superintendent. I can't find the phone number at the moment but I do remember finding it on the city website www.citytrf.net. Andy Forbes, Burnsville ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Re: Pine Siskins From: ssmorton <ssstnnph AT MVTVWIRELESS.COM> Date: Mon, 20 May 2013 12:02:52 -0500 And...what about the goldfinches? I had over 200 in my yard over the weekend. Sue Morton Cottonwood -----Original Message----- From: Minnesota Birds [mailto:MOU-NET AT LISTS.UMN.EDU] On Behalf Of North, Michael R (DNR) Sent: Monday, May 20, 2013 9:27 AM To: MOU-NET AT LISTS.UMN.EDU Subject: Re: [mou-net] Pine Siskins I am going to go out on a limb here and suggest that we are possibly seeing an irruption of pine siskins rather than a normal spring movement. I have been having hundreds swarming at my home near Pillager (Cass County) since May 15th. On the 19th I caught one that was banded near Revelstoke, British Columbia on August 22, 2012, as a hatch-year bird. Also, I have banded another 65 and they are all second-year and after second-year birds (no young-of-the-year), and they all have wing lengths in the shorter spectrum of the range of possible wing lengths, suggesting to me they are mostly females with few males. They are also heavy with fat and weighing in far above the normal weight. None have shown any signs of breeding activity (i.e., no brood patches, no cloacal protuberances). Definitely atypical. The next few days or weeks should tell if we are having an irruption or whether I am "all wet." -----Original Message----- From: Minnesota Birds [mailto:MOU-NET AT LISTS.UMN.EDU] On Behalf Of Alan Stankevitz Sent: Friday, May 17, 2013 3:10 PM To: MOU-NET AT LISTS.UMN.EDU Subject: [mou-net] Pine Siskins Very strange... I have had a few Pine Siskins that have stuck around since Winter but this afternoon there must be hundreds of Pine Siskins in the trees nearby. The sound of zzzziiipppp... is everywhere. I have never seen/heard so many Pine Siskins and usually they are gone by April. Alan Stankevitz Near Hokah in Houston County ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: MVNWR - Black Dog Unit - Dakota County - 5/20/13 From: CRAIG MANDEL <egretcman AT MSN.COM> Date: Mon, 20 May 2013 15:32:03 +0000 May 20, 2013 Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Black Dog Unit Cliff Fen Park Trailhead 7:00 am - 9:30 am Trail access is from Cliff Fen Park, at 120 East Cliff Road, Burnsville 55337. From I-35W, proceed east on Cliff Road approximately 3/4-mile to Cliff Fen Park. The trailhead is east of the playground area at the back of the soccer field. While leading a walk this morning we observed some of the following birds: Green Heron - Fly over at main parking lot. Osprey Peregrine Falcon Willow Flycatcher - Several heard and seen along main trail North and East of the power lines. Bell's Vireo - One was seen and heard along the main trail, where the power lines cross the trail. Sedge Wren - Seen and heard along the main trail, North of the power lines. Indigo Bunting Many of the birds were observed carrying nesting material and all were singing. Craig Mandel Minnetonka, Hennepin County EgretCMan AT msn.com ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: State bird improvements: Replace cardinals and robins with warblers and hawks. - Slate Magazine From: Susan Tertell <stertell AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Mon, 20 May 2013 10:09:56 -0500 I hope this is not too much off-topic, but this is a charming and laugh-out-loud funny article on the state birds and what they should really be according to this author. http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/2013/05/state_bird_ improvements_replace_cardinals_and_robins_with_warblers_and_hawks.html Susan Tertell ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Re: Pine Siskins From: "North, Michael R (DNR)" <michael.north AT STATE.MN.US> Date: Mon, 20 May 2013 14:26:32 +0000 I am going to go out on a limb here and suggest that we are possibly seeing an irruption of pine siskins rather than a normal spring movement. I have been having hundreds swarming at my home near Pillager (Cass County) since May 15th. On the 19th I caught one that was banded near Revelstoke, British Columbia on August 22, 2012, as a hatch-year bird. Also, I have banded another 65 and they are all second-year and after second-year birds (no young-of-the-year), and they all have wing lengths in the shorter spectrum of the range of possible wing lengths, suggesting to me they are mostly females with few males. They are also heavy with fat and weighing in far above the normal weight. None have shown any signs of breeding activity (i.e., no brood patches, no cloacal protuberances). Definitely atypical. The next few days or weeks should tell if we are having an irruption or whether I am "all wet." -----Original Message----- From: Minnesota Birds [mailto:MOU-NET AT LISTS.UMN.EDU] On Behalf Of Alan Stankevitz Sent: Friday, May 17, 2013 3:10 PM To: MOU-NET AT LISTS.UMN.EDU Subject: [mou-net] Pine Siskins Very strange... I have had a few Pine Siskins that have stuck around since Winter but this afternoon there must be hundreds of Pine Siskins in the trees nearby. The sound of zzzziiipppp... is everywhere. I have never seen/heard so many Pine Siskins and usually they are gone by April. Alan Stankevitz Near Hokah in Houston County ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: requesting reports of Peru Banded Shorebirds From: "Gelvin-Innvaer, Lisa A (DNR)" <lisa.gelvin-innvaer AT STATE.MN.US> Date: Mon, 20 May 2013 13:59:48 +0000 Forwarding request for sightings reports of Shorebirds banded in Peru: (see bottom of email for where to send reports) Dear everyone, We hope all of you are more than well. As we are in the middle of the northwards migration, we would like you to know a little more about our actual work with shorebirds in Peru. After 2 years of fieldwork in Paracas National Reserve, we have banded 1680 shorebirds, between semipalmated and western sandpipers, sanderlings and semipalmated plover. The 90% of our captures were semipalmated and western sandpipers. But we also have banded (2) red knots and few ruddy turnstones. We use an incoloy band in the right tarsus and a yellow flag with red letters in the left leg. Currently we are just waiting to see if anyone in the northern hemisphere is seeing these individuals at any time and at any point. It would be very exciting for us to have any resighting, and we collaborate with: www.bandedbirds.org , but you can also feel free to contact me directly if you see any of our marked individuals. We are going to start another field campaign this coming October which will last until March 2014. So we hope to continue gathering as much data as possible. Thank you very much for your time and please feel free to distribute this flyer (attached) to anyone interested in shorebirds conservation. Warmest regards, Eveling -- BSc. Eveling Tavera Fernandez, Coordinadora Programa de Anillamiento CORBIDI (PAC) CORBIDI - Sta Rita 105 of 202, Huertos de San Antonio Surco. Lima 33 - Peru Tel: (51-1) 3441701 Cel: (51-1) 975 598232 **** Para mayor información sobre el Programa de Anillamiento de Aves en Peru por favor visite: www.corbidi.org **** **** For more information about the Banding Program in Peru please visit: www.corbidi.org **** ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Red Crossbill in Plummer MN From: Agassiz Audubon <agassizaudubon AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Mon, 20 May 2013 08:46:54 -0500 Paula Cater photographed a Red Crossbill at her feeders in Plummer this weekend. Her photo is posted on the Agassiz Audubon facebook page. -- Heidi Hughes Agassiz Audubon Society 27391 190th Street NW Warren MN 56762 218.745.5663 http://AgassizAudubon.blogspot.com http://www.facebook.com/AgassizAudubon ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Henslow's sparrow - Polk County From: Jeanie Joppru <ajjoppru AT MNCABLE.NET> Date: Mon, 20 May 2013 08:19:53 -0500 Yesterday, while doing a Big Day, Vanessa Lane, Emily Hutchins, Shelley Steva , and I found a Henslow's sparrow singing in the rain in the Northeast corner of the big cemetery in Crookston , located at the end of Memorial Drive. The bird was quite cooperative and busy feeding in the grass. Jeanie Jeanie Joppru Pennington County, MN ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Hennepin Henslow's sparrow From: Jonathon Jongsma <jonathon AT QUOTIDIAN.ORG> Date: Mon, 20 May 2013 06:45:23 -0500 For those that are interested, there are at least two Henslow's sparrows singing at Richardson Nature Center in Bloomington. I got fairly good views and a nice recording: http://xeno-canto.org/134237. They were hanging out in the grasses just across the trail from the dock of the lake that is labeled 'Turtle Basking Pond' on the trail map. -- jonathon ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Stearns County sightings 5/19 From: Jason Caddy <j.caddy AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Mon, 20 May 2013 00:55:49 -0500 I started early Sunday morning to try to see as many species as I could in Stearns County. I really wanted to break 100 species for the first time for me in Minnesota and I was able to hit that mark before noon. I was already planning on Stearns county based on the previous report from Besty Beneke so it was a bonus to have the two reports on Saturday night explaining where the migrants were being seen. I started my morning at the St. John's University Campus. It was raining for the first hour but when it stopped the birds were fast and furious. It was a good start to the day! I then went to the Albany sewage ponds. I wish all sewage ponds in Minnesota were as productive as these with a large number and variety of shorebirds as well as waterfowl and even some prairie species around the perimeter. I then went south and birded a bit of the rural county until I got to the Paynesville sewage ponds. These were a stark contrast to the Albany ponds and appeared almost lifeless despite having a very similar appearance to the Albany ponds. As I turned left on Highway 23 to head back home something immediately caught my attention on the south side of the highway. It was a pair of beautiful American Avocet! They were foraging in a muddy pit that looks pretty good for shorebirds although I did not see any others in the area. What a way to end the day! Highlights: 16 species of warbler including Cape May, Mourning, and Blue-winged; 8 species of flycatcher including a singing Alder and a Yellow-bellied; 4 species of vireo; 13 species of shorebird including American Avocet, 4 Red-necked Phalarope, a large number of Wilson's Phalarope, Willet, White-rumped Sandpiper, Dunlin, and Wilson's Snipe. I did not do particularly well with sparrows with only 8 species seen. The two big highlights of the day were seeing four Red-necked Phalarope in breeding plumage, which I had never seen before, and, of course, finding the Avocets. The woods around St. John's were particularly thick with empid flycatchers, vireos and warblers. What a fun birding day in central Minnesota! I will miss the posts from Al Schirmacher from this part of the state. Happy May! Jason Caddy, Minneapolis, j.caddy AT hotmail.com ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html