After spending the day chasing stake out birds around southern Minnesota I found myself driving by the airport at dusk and on a whim decided to drive 24th and Cargo Rds on the chance the cold weather had brought down an owl. At the very end of Cargo Rd where it ends in a turnaround I found a SNOWY OWL perched on the corner of a small brown building at the edge of the runway at 5:20 PM. The building is to your left as you enter the turnaround area.
I was able to watch it for about five minutes through my scope before it flew to the north. It was heavily barred below so I assume it is a first winter bird. Also today, the Green-tailed Towhee was at the feeder in Mountain Lake at 9:40 AM this morning. There were quite a few Horned Larks along Hwy 60 as well as one flock of Lapland Longspurs near St James. Both the Slaty-backed gull and Long-tailed duck were present at Point Douglas between 2 and 2:45 PM. I also refound the Townsend's Solitaire at the previously posted location in Afton State Park at 3:45 PM. Joel Claus Eden Prairie
