The RBNU is an irruptive species, with many some years and few or none in others. It is also irrupting in New England. I put up my feeder in south Minneapolis today and had a RBNU visiting today along with a Pine Siskin. I think that this year will be big for winter finches. I birded briefly at Lake Calhoun Sun at sunset. Most of the gulls were far out in the center in the beautiful weather. I id'd one as a 1st winter lesser Black-backed Gull but will wait for the gull experts to confirm that sighting Warren Woessner
-----Original Message----- From: mou-net-bounces at moumn.org [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Ed Reilly (home) Sent: Sunday, November 11, 2007 11:12 PM To: mou-net at moumn.org Subject: [mou] Red-breasted Nuthatch (RBNU) irruption? All, Interesting blurb in last week's Star Tribune ("Nuthatches gain southern exposure" /by Jim Williams, 11/06/2007/) about a possible Red-breasted Nuthatch (RBNU) irruption. An online search at the StarTribune.com will reveal the article if you missed it. Here in South Minneapoils - I have had one RBNU visiting my suet feeder on a regular basis since October 17th. Though only my my second fall/winter season here in MN - last year I had *no* RBNU sightings at all. So - a 100% improvement over last year! An irruption indeed! Ed
