The Lesser Goldfinch was spotted and photographed on Sunday, December 8 at 4pm; Monday intermittently between 1 and 4pm; Tuesday at 11:30 and intermittently between 1 and 4pm; and on Wednesday 7:50am, 8:30am; 9:35am and 10:30am. An immature Golden Eagle flew over 11am, a small flock Bohemian Waxwings were spotted at 4pm and a Red-winged Blackbird was spotted throughout the afternoon.
Access and parking: Please do *not* park anywhere on 190th street NW. There is plenty of parking at the NW Minnesota Pollinator Garden (27596 19th St NW). Please do not block the entrance or the Pollinator Garden driveway. Please honor the yellow "DANGER" sign on the east side of the Pollinator Garden near the canal - and do not attempt to access the birdfeeders from the footbridge behind the danger sign. The footbridge over the canal is *unsafe* - and any human activity in that area will spook the birds at the feeders where the Lesser Goldfinch has been hanging out. Please do *not* park in the driveway at 27499 190th Street NW - and do *not* park at 27391 190th Street (the entrance to the former Wetlands Pines and Prairie Sanctuary). There is a red gate at 27391 190th Street NW - and a sign that says: unauthorized access prohibited. Please honor that sign - Please do *not* walk around the red gate to access the property. The Lesser Goldfinch visits the feeders hanging between the yellow garage and yellow house at the end of the driveway at 27499 190th Street NW. Please walk from the NW Minnesota Pollinator Garden parking lot to 190th Street NW and continue a short distance east to 27499 190th Street NW - then head south down the driveway. There is a sign at the entrance to the driveway that says: Unauthorized access is prohibited. Bird-watchers are authorized to access the property to observe the Lesser Goldfinch. Please do *not* walk past (or around) the wire "line" that marks the end of visitor access - near the end of the driveway. We will also scatter cracked corn at that location. You are welcome to set up a chair on the north side of that line in the driveway. The Lesser Goldfinch has also been spotted at the foot of the large Black Willow on the east side of the driveway (your left as you walk in) near the yellow garage. There is a cardboard box (an improvised windbreak) at the base of the Black Willow. The bird has been spotted in the grasses near the cardboard box. He has also been spotted in the Box Elder stump growth near the dumpster at the end of the driveway. You can spot the bird easily with binoculars - please do not walk around the yard, the dumpster or the rickety bridge to the west. Please stay in the driveway north of the wire line. Please do *not *walk towards the house - or the garage. That will spook the birds. It is very cold. Dress for the weather. If the bird is not spooked, you may not have to wait long to see it. But if the bird is spooked, you may want to sit while you're waiting - so bring a folding chair and dress for very cold temps. If it is windy, it will be very, very cold. Please don't walk around the farmyard. Visitor access is restricted to the driveway, north of the wire line. If you have questions, please call 218-745-5663. Thank you. Heidi Hughes 218-745-5663 27499 190th Street NW Warren MN 56762 @AgassizAudubon @NWPollinatorGarden ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
