Re: [mou-net] Boreal Chickadee

To answer to the question posed below, I checked old issues of The Jack-Pine Warbler, and, no, there was no irruption of Boreal Chickadees in MI in winter 1966-67. That still leaves open the question of WI, and one might reasonably suggest that Boreal Chickadees are more likely to irrupt

[mou-net] Tufted Duck, Stearns Co. - NO

Between 8:10 and 9:20 this morning – hoping to be able to see what I could not see yesterday, i.e., whether or not digit I (= hallux) is present on the left foot – I was at the Albany sewage ponds; however, I did not see yesterday’s adult male Tufted Duck. I *did* check all four ponds there,

[mou-net] spoonbill left (for the evening at least)

At 8:03 this evening the spoonbill took off, first heading SE, then turning NE and flying out of sight. It's hard to know how consequential this is. A spoonbill located in a township park at 9 PM on 13 June in OH departed at 7 AM on the 14th - but reappeared back in the township park at 9 PM

[mou-net] Red Knot in Stearns Co. (Albany sewage ponds)

Of some interest - actually, of *much* interest to me as a Stearns Co. guy - was a juvenile Red Knot at the Albany sewage ponds. The knot was present when I arrived at the ponds (4:40 PM) and was still present when I left (7:25 PM). It was in the triangular (southeasternmost) pond, sometimes

[mou-net] Snowy Owl in Stearns Co.

Less expected than yesterday’s Snowy Egret in Stearns Co. – but WAY more expected than today’s Sage Thrasher in St. Louis Co. – was a Snowy Owl in Stearns Co. this morning, perched on a fencepost along westbound I-94 between MN 15 and the next overpass to the west (labeled on Google Maps as

[mou-net] Stearns Co. Snowy Egret

In the "local interest" category, this morning there was a Snowy Egret at the Albany sewage ponds. Indeed, it was still there when I left at 10:45 AM. It was moving around between the SW pond, the SE pond, and the dike between them; seems conceivable that it could also go up and spend some time

[mou-net] as most of you already expected, no Curlew Sandpiper today

Today from 7:15 to 11:15 AM I was at Lone Tree Lake in Lyon Co. There were, by my count, 1501 shorebirds of 16 species – there’s nothing like counting by ones to force you to look at every bird – but none of them was a Curlew Sandpiper. It’s another case of being “a day late and a dollar

[mou-net] Plegadis ibis at Getchell Lake in Stearns Co.

Today along the northeast shore of Getchell Lake in Stearns Co. there was a Plegadis ibis; I first noticed it at 11:25, and it was there when I left at 1:00. It was an adult, but was always between 400 and 800 yards away, so my ability to evaluate bare-part colors was quite limited: legs were

Re: [mou-net] Red Knot - Albany WTP

Over the lunch hour, I ran out to Albany – spent about an hour scoping the rock riprap along the pond margins, but had no luck. I’m not sure how much this means. Around here right now there’s a stiff wind out of the NW (varying from 15 to 25 mph), which makes longer-distance scope viewing

[mou-net] Scissor-tailed Flycatcher nesting?

The Scissor-tailed Flycatcher was present and frequently seen between 6:40 and 9:00 AM this morning. It appears to have a nest on the previously mentioned cellphone tower. At least, there is a small heap of dead plant material – rootlets (or something similarly flexible and woody-looking) and

[mou-net] Western Wood-Pewee, Clay Co.; Black-necked Stilts, Grant Co.

The Western Wood-Pewee at Buffalo River State Park in Clay Co. continues: I was there between 5:40 and 8:15 AM this morning, and must have heard the bird 150 times. It's a good thing, too, because yesterday someone said to me, "Dude, stay away from the King Rail site because you're obviously

[mou-net] Western Wood-Pewee: NO, 9 June 2017

Today I was on-site from 0615 to 1230, and there were no Western Wood-Pewee vocalizations. The most interesting bird was an apparent intergrade towhee, located between the pewee area and the next trail intersection to the east. The bird mostly looked like a spotted - two bold wing bars, four

[mou-net] Whimbrels still present, Albany sewage ponds, Stearns Co.

A short time ago Ron Erpelding called to say that the eight Whimbrels – which flew in at 0940 this morning – are still in the northwest corner of the large pond at the Albany sewage ponds here in Stearns Co. Phil Chu Department of Biology St. John’s University Collegeville, MN 56321

[mou-net] Tropical Kingbird

As possibly the last person in MN to go look for the Tropical Kingbird, yesterday (15 July) I spent from 7:00 AM to 1:45 PM in the vicinity of trail marker 36 at Murphy-Hanrehan Park Reserve. During that time I saw the kingbird for about one minute at roughly 8 AM, and it was not at the

[mou-net] Black-necked Stilt, Stearns Co.

Today I found two Black-necked Stilts at Getchell Lake in Oak Twp., Stearns Co. I watched them from about 12:30 PM to 4:00 PM, and then I left; the stilts were still there. To get to Getchell Lake, take I-94W to the Albany exit; at the foot of the exit ramp, turn left and go under the freeway

[mou-net] Garganey YES - Crex Meadows (Burnett Co., WI)

The Garganey was present from 1100 to 1200 – there when I arrived, still there when I left. Throughout it was in the eastern of the two channels on the south side of Abel Rd.; the two channels lie just to the east of where Abel intersects with County Rd. F. Phil Chu Department of Biology St.

[mou-net] NO Garganey at Crex Meadows (Burnett Co, WI)

When I left Crex Meadows Wildlife Area at noon, no one had yet seen the Garganey today (28 April). According to others with whom I spoke, observers made sporadic visits to Erickson Flowage as early as 0530, and one or more people were there continuously from perhaps 0915 until at least 1200;

[mou-net] Townsend's Solitaire still in SE Stearns Co.

The Townsend's Solitaire found on Thursday evening by Milt Blomberg was seen again this morning. Milt found the solitaire along CR 143 at the north end of Fuller Lake, roughly 1 mile WNW of the town of Clearwater, at about 5:45 PM on Thursday; this morning at about 8:15 AM, Bob Janssen and

[mou-net] Hoary Redpoll continues in Stearns Co.

The Hoary Redpoll in Stearns County's St. Joseph Twp. – found on Saturday by Marco Restani, and seen again yesterday by Herb Dingmann – remains in the northwest quadrant of the intersection of CR 2 and 270th St. It's in a flock of roughly 100 Common Redpolls; while I was there, between 0830

[mou-net] A little more Sprague's Pipit information from 12 June

As Dave Cahlander reported, the Sprague’s Pipit was heard and seen again this morning. The previously posted directions (“first fence north of the windmills, walk east along the fenceline to metal pipeline post”) are excellent, though, as Dave noted, when the bird was first heard it was

[mou-net] Snowy Owl, Stearns Co.

This afternoon from about 1:00 to at least 3:30 PM there was a Snowy Owl in Stearns Co. - specifically, along 390th St., 0.7 miles E of CR 26. This location is in Ashley Twp., the northwesternmost township in the county. Phil Chu Department of Biology St. John's University Collegeville, MN

[mou-net] update: Glaucous-winged Gull in Duluth

I received a first-hand report of the Duluth Glaucous-winged Gull on 31 December. Yesterday I spoke with Duluth folks, and if memory serves then none of them knew about 1 January, but they told me that the gull was NOT seen on 2 January – and I can say from personal experience that it was NOT

[mou-net] Lesser Black-backed Gull, Wright Co.

This morning between 10:45 and 11:00 AM there was a first-cycle Lesser Black-backed Gull at Smith Lake in Middleville Twp., Wright Co. The gull, and the 120-plus Ring-billeds with it, were on the peninsula about 250 yards west of the public-access site on the east side of the lake. For

[mou-net] White-winged Scoter, Stearns Co.

This afternoon at about 4 PM there was an immature White-winged Scoter at Pearl Lake in Maine Prairie Twp., Stearns Co. As best as I could tell - it can be kind of hard to judge these things - the bird was in the NE quadrant of the lake. Phil Chu Department of Biology St. John's University

[mou-net] Surf Scoter, Stearns Co.

This afternoon there was a male Surf Scoter at the Albany sewage ponds here in Stearns County. The scoter was in the southwesternmost pond. Phil Chu Department of Biology St. John's University Collegeville, MN 56321 Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net

[mou-net] Long-tailed Duck in Stearns County

Today from about 11:00 to 12:15 there was a female Long-tailed Duck along the Mississippi River just north of St. Cloud. Initially it was about 350 yards NW of the 9th Ave. bridge, but eventually it moved farther NW to the Sauk River mouth. As far as I could tell, it was always in Stearns

[mou-net] NO Scissor-tailed Flycatcher in Dodge Co.

Today, from 12:30 to 5:15 PM, I did *not* see any Scissor-tailed Flycatchers in Dodge Co. My time was spent driving successively larger loops, till I had covered every road within three or four miles of the intersection of CR 1 and 555th St. - with, of course, every loop bringing me back to

[mou-net] Red-throated Loon, Stearns Co.

This morning - from 0805 (when I arrived) through 0925 (when I left) - there was a Red-throated Loon on Sauk Lake, in the town of Sauk Centre. The loon was in winter plumage, and I suspected it to be less than a year old because of how weakly red-tinged the iris was. To get to the spot from

[mou] Long-tailed Duck, Stearns Co.

Late this morning there was an adult male Long-tailed Duck in Stearns Co. at the Albany sewage ponds - specifically, the southwest pond. Phil Chu Department of Biology St. John's University Collegeville, MN 56321

[mou] Eurasian Wigeon still present in Hennepin Co.

The male Eurasian Wigeon remains at North Anderson Lake in Eden Prairie; it was present continuously from 7:25 (when I arrived) until 9:45 (when I left). I second Jim Mattsson's 6 November statements about the bird's appearance, and add that - at a distance where I could clearly see dark

[mou] Lesser Black-backed Gull and Black Scoter, Stearns Co.

Today, in the northwestern quadrant of Pearl Lake (Stearns County, Maine Prairie Twp.), there was an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull. One wonders - OK, I wonder - if this is the same individual that spent about a month at Pearl Lake late last fall. Also, at Grand Lake in adjacent Rockville

[mou] CORRECTION - Black Scoter, Stearns Co.

The Black Scoter at Grand Lake in Stearns Co. was on the lake's west shore, not its east shore. Note that it was in the company of coots and *very close* to shore: I frequently lost sight of it as it moved through the shallows along the edge of the reeds. A few Ruddy Ducks remain on the

[mou] Golden-crowned Sparrow still present

As of 10:55 this morning, the Golden-crowned Sparrow was still on Leech Lake's Pelican Island. Phil Chu Department of Biology St. John's University Collegeville, MN 56321

[mou] Cinnamon Teal, Lac Qui Parle Co.

At 10:30 this morning I bumped into a male Cinnamon Teal in Lac Qui Parle Co. The location was along CR 7 about 0.15 mile south of CR 36; here there is water on both the east and west sides of the road, and the Cinnamon Teal was at the north edge of the water on the west side. Accompanying

[mou] Western Tanager, Stearns County

The adult male Western Tanager reported yesterday from the vicinity of Paynesville, Stearns County, was still present today as of 2:10 PM. If you're interested in making arrangements to try for it, then sharglenn at peoplepc.com is the e-mail address to query. Phil Chu Department of Biology St.

[mou] Ivory Gull

Peder Svingen just found an Ivory Gull at Canal Park in Duluth. Phil Chu Department of Biology St. John's University Collegeville, MN 56321

[mou] Pacific Loon and Lesser Black-backed Gull in Stearns Co.

Today at Pearl Lake in Maine Prairie Twp., Stearns Co., there was a Pacific Loon (wearing juvenal plumage, basic plumage, or a combination of the two). The loon was first seen at about 2:30, and was still present at 5:00 when I left; throughout it was along the north and/or northwest shore of

[mou] Pacific Loon in Stearns Co.: location correction

The Pacific Loon at Pearl Lake in Stearns Co. was along the north and/or northEAST shore of the lake, not the north/northwest shore as stated previously. Phil Chu Department of Biology St. John's University Collegeville, MN 56321

[mou] Lesser Black-backed Gull, Stearns Co.

Today, 20 October, from about 2:30 to 5:30 (when I left), there was a Lesser Black-backed Gull at Pearl Lake in Maine Prairie Twp., Stearns Co. The bird appeared adultlike, except for outer primaries that had neither white mirrors nor white apices - a combination that suggests a bird molting

[mou] Sabine's Gull, Yellow Medicine Co., 6 October

On Saturday, 6 October, while counting shorebirds at Lanners Lake in Yellow Medicine Co., a juvenile Sabine's Gull appeared in front of me and landed. After less than two minutes it took off, flew several hundred yards farther south, and landed again; I returned to counting shorebirds, and

[mou] 25 August: Red Knot, Lac qui Parle Co., and Plegadis ibises, Big Stone Co.

I'm sorry for the tardiness of this message, but - with that old saying, Better late than never, in mind - I thought a couple of birds seen yesterday (Saturday, 25 August) might be worth mentioning. First, at Salt Lake in Lac qui Parle Co. there was a juvenile Red Knot; the knot was seen on

[mou] NO Whimbrel, Hennepin Co., 9 Aug.

All: The two Whimbrels at Purgatory Creek Recreation Area last evening were *not* seen this morning. I was there from 0730 to 0900, and spoke with Steve Carlson who had been there since before 0600, and both of us came up empty. Actually, came up empty isn't quite right, as I tallied just under

[mou] Arctic Tern, Lac qui Parle Co., 14 July: still more directions, and an update

Regarding the Arctic Tern, as mentioned previously the bird was seen from the end of Ruby Red Peninsula, so known because it's the site of the Ruby Red Quarry. To reach the Ruby Red Peninsula access road - which you cannot drive, but can walk - head south from the Big Stone NWR headquarters.

[mou] Little Gull, Stearns Co., 12 July

Today, 12 July, at about 2:45 PM, Bob Russell and I saw a Little Gull at the Paynesville sewage ponds in Stearns Co. The gull was in second- or adult-summer plumage. Regrettably, we didn't see the Little Gull until it, and about 12 accompanying Franklin's Gulls, flew across one of the

[mou] Tricolored Heron still in Lyon Co. on 7 Jun.

Today, 7 Jun., the Tricolored Heron was still at Black Rush Lake WPA, Lyons Twp., Lyon Co., where Bob Janssen found it on June 5th. From 11:50 to 11:55 this morning, the heron was in view from the minimum-maintenance road that bisects the WPA - the same road from which Bob saw it two days ago,

[mou] Eurasian Wigeon is a hybrid: details

As previously posted by Tony Hertzel, the Eurasian Wigeon at Hyland Lake = in Bloomington is not pure-blooded, but instead appears to have both = Eurasian Wigeon and American Wigeon genes. The above assertion is based primarily on three characteristics, which I = noted while I was Hyland Lake

[mou] Barrow's Goldeneye update

Today, from about 10:00 to 11:30 AM, the adult male Barrow's Goldeneye = was visible from Freedom Park in Prescott, WI. The bird was in MN = waters for nearly the entire time. Also in the same area was the previously reported Long-tailed Duck. In a related matter, old hands may be unsurprised

[mou] Surf Scoter and Ross's Goose, Stearns Co.

Yesterday, for the second weekend in a row, there was a Surf Scoter in Stearns Co. - this time at the Paynesville sewage ponds, and, specifically, at the north-most pond in the sewage-pond complex. The scoter was a first-fall bird. Also at the Paynesville sewage ponds were a first-fall Ross's

[mou] Surf Scoter, Stearns Co.

With apologies for the tardiness of this message, a few of you may be interested to know that yesterday - Sunday, 8 October - there was Surf Scoter at the Albany sewage ponds. The scoter was either a female or a first-fall male, and was in the largest pond (which is also the southwesternmost

[mou] Snowy Plover, Lac qui Parle Co., and Plegadis ibises, Big Stone Co.

Yesterday, Sunday, 6 August, Peder Svingen and I found one juvenile Snowy Plover along the west shore of Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge's East Pool, meaning that at least one of the two previously reported chicks has fledged successfully. To get to the area in question, take the so-called

[mou] Piping and Snowy plovers, Lac qui Parle Co.

At 5 PM yesterday afternoon (Sunday, 16 July), on the little bit of Salt Lake that extends into South Dakota, there was a Piping Plover. Several hundred yards of running or flying would place the plover in MN. If you are in Lac qui Parle Co. to visit Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge (BSNWR),

[mou] update on conditions at Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge

With apologies for the belated nature of this message (and, secondarily, = with the hope that this topic is not too unexceptional for mou-net), = some of you may be interested to know about the progression of the = drawdown at Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge. Presently, conditions at the

[mou] Great-tailed Grackle, Lac qui Parle Co., 23 Apr.

For those interested in county listing, yesterday - Sunday, 23 April - I = encountered a male Great-tailed Grackle in Lac qui Parle Co. OK, it = didn't vocalize, so I can't rule out a Boat-tailed Anyway, I found the grackle along CR 24 about 0.2 mi E of CR 5. At that = point a

[mou] early Snowy Egret, 9 April

Of some interest yesterday, 9 April, was a Snowy Egret in Big Stone = County's Otrey Township, along CR 67 1.0 mile south of CR 10. A few years ago Tom Tustison (2001) wrote that the state's earliest = Snowy Egret was 10 April 1981 in Anoka County, meaning, I guess, that = yesterday's Snowy

[mou] Plegadis ibis, Big Stone Co.

The first-fall Plegadis ibis that Peder Svingen found last week in Big = Stone Co. was still present as of Saturday, 15 October. The location is in Ortonville Twp., along CR 64 about 1.7 miles west of = CR 67, at Munnwyler Lake - specifically, the little bit of the lake on = the north side of CR

[mou] Yellow-crowned Night-Herons

The two juvenile Yellow-crowned Night-Herons were still in Madison Twp., = Lac Qui Parle Co., on Saturday, 13 August. On Saturday, the two night-herons had moved a short distance down US 75 = to the Madison Wildlife Management Area, located on the southwest side = of US 75 0.8 miles southeast of

[mou] Say's Phoebe, Tuesday, 7 June

Following the old saying, If at first you don't succeed, ..., I tried = again for the Say's Phoebe in the gravel-pit area just north of the east = end of CR 108 in Clay Co., and this time saw it - for about 10 mins. = starting at 9:55 AM, and then again for a minute or two each at 10:50, = 11:40,

[mou] NO Barrow's Goldeneye

Today, from about 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM, I was *not* successful in = relocating the male Barrow's Goldeneye previously reported from the = WI/MN state line in the vicinity of Prescott, WI. All of the goldeneyes that I saw were in two groups - a larger group in = the mouth of the St. Croix River,

[mou] giving credit where credit is due

Credit for finding last weekend's Snowy Plover goes to Karl Bardon, a = fact that I failed to emphasize when trying to get the word out. Phil Chu Department of Biology St. John's University Collegeville, MN 56321

[mou] Cinnamon Teal, Big Stone Co.

Yesterday, in Otrey Twp., Big Stone Co., there was not only the Ruff = posted on the MOU rare-bird alert but also a male Cinnamon Teal. From = about 9:00 to 9:30 AM the Ruff was at the pothole on the northwest side = of the intersection of CR 67 and CR 21; it then departed, flying away = high in

[mou] shorebird sites, Big Stone Co.

Yesterday in Big Stone Co., Peder Svingen and I conducted a shorebird = survey and found almost 6000 shorebirds. Yesterday's best shorebird sites included the following. (1) Otrey Twp., CR 21 0.7 mile south of where it meets CR 10; look at = the pothole on the west side of the road, not the lake

[mou] Surf Scoter - Big Stone Co.

In the realm of mildly interesting observations, on Saturday, 25 Oct., = there was a first-fall Surf Scoter at the Browns Valley sewage ponds in = Big Stone Co. The scoter was in the south pond. Phil Chu Department of Biology St. John's University Collegeville, MN 56321

[mou] Northern Bobwhite status, again

Today I spoke with Todd Bogenschutz, the Iowa DNR's Wildlife Research = Biologist responsible for upland wildlife. Regarding the Northern = Bobwhite in Iowa, Todd told me that there no bobwhites in northwest and = northcentral Iowa, but that there may be some in northeastern Iowa. Todd also told

[mou] White-faced Ibises, Big Stone Co.

Today, in Big Stone County's Toqua Township, there were two White-faced = Ibises. The ibises were in a pothole on the north side of CR 54, 1.2 = miles west of CR 61. They were there when I arrived at 1115, and were = still there when I left an hour later. Also at this pothole were seven

[mou] Rock Wren still present

The Rock Wren was still present at Acacia Park Cemetary late yesterday = afternoon. When I arrived, at about 5:20, the bird was in the = previously mentioned brush-pile area northwest of the two buildings at = the cemetary entrance; at about 5:50 it moved up to those buildings, and = there it

[mou] Red-throated Loons

Yesterday evening, Herb Dingmann found two Red-throated Loons - one = wearing alternate plumage, and one wearing basic - at Little Rock Lake = in Benton Co. One of the two (the one in alternate plumage) was = associating with several Common Loons. The birds were viewed from Benton Beach County