Brian,
Many thanks for the picture of the Shrike and its lunch ! Looks like
the Common Meadow Vole, /Microtus pennsylvanicus/ and probably heavier
than the shrike ?
Regards
Ron Huber
On 3/4/2023 4:08 PM, Brian Tennessen wrote:
Kyle, Tami,
Thank you for the reports, nice to read..
Two winters ago we had Red-breasted Nuthatch winter in / around our
backyard in St. Paul. Last winter I saw none. This winter they are back
again, I've identified there are two of them this year, a pair. They don't
hang around here past spring, in the ~8 years we've lived here.
I saw the Shrike this morning down by Old Cedar Bridge, that's been hanging
around there this winter. I saw the Shrike catch what I believe was a
field mouse and fly it up into a tree, and got a photo of this, not of
great quality but a capture of an interesting behavioral moment in any
event. The mouse is about as big as the Shrike!
https://www.flickr.com/photos/fisherkingbat/52725961691/in/dateposted-public/
I saw a Mourning Dove fly by too, those were the most notable sightings
this morning..
I went up last Saturday to Taylors Falls, hoping to see the Harlequin Duck
and it never showed that day. I noticed the next day though, last Sunday,
there were sightings reported to ebird, so I chose the wrong day. I'm not
sure if it's still being seen there or not, I'll have to check ebird.
Happy birding to you all,
Brian
On Fri, Mar 3, 2023 at 12:23 PM Tami Vogel <tvo...@wrcmn.org> wrote:
Just a bit south of you in Afton, we have horned larks lining the fields
alongside the roads. First flocks showed up almost two weeks ago, but now
there are many more. I love watching their graceful flight as they lift off
from the exposed gravel edge as you approach. They're almost impossible to
spot until they take off.
My barreds have been displaced by a pair of horneds, who are actively
calling even during the day.
There was a bit of excitement here when a mature bald eagle was in the top
of one of my neighbor's burr oaks for 4 days in a row. We were all
wondering if it was going to nest there, especially my neighbor who has two
very tiny pomeranian mixes, lol... Eagle has moved on, neighbor is
relieved.
Swans flew overhead this morning. With Lake Edith and Hudson being just to
the northeast, and farmfields to my west, I see swans on a regular basis.
Who knew that we'd ever have a day when swans were that common of a
sighting? Just a remarkable recovery story.
Saw what I think was a harrier yesterday on the field just north of 94 and
west of Manning. Admittedly didn't get a good look at it since I was
driving, lol.
Goldfinches are definitely brighter, and red squirrels are very frisky.
Waiting for my titmice to return 🙂
- Tami in Afton
________________________________
From: Minnesota Birds <MOU-NET@LISTS.UMN.EDU> on behalf of Kyle Te Poel <
kyle.tep...@gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, March 3, 2023 10:59 AM
To: MOU-NET@LISTS.UMN.EDU <MOU-NET@LISTS.UMN.EDU>
Subject: [mou-net] Washington County this morning
This is partly a test--I haven't received an email on this list since
January (I know it's a slower birding season but still, worth a test)--and
mostly a bird update :)
Here in rural Washington County, it's been a birdy morning at my place.
Duetting barred owls; several returning, singing Red-Breasted Nuthatches
(nesters on my property, but largely absent this winter); a Sharp-Shinned
Hawk patrolling my feeders; Trumpeter Swans calling in the distance; and a
pair of Sandhill Cranes probably hoping for a little less snow. Hope there
are some birds in your neck of the woods as well!
Kyle Te Poel
Stillwater Township, MN
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