[mou-net] Nesting Dickcissel, migrant M. Warbler (Hennepin Co.)
This morning, I watched a pair of Dickcissels, along with 2-3 fledglings, at the General Mills Nature Preserve in Golden Valley. The male was giving the distinctive frp call as the female gave the high chink note and had food in her bill. She was being followed closely by their offspring. The birds were hanging out by the bench on the northwest side of the wetland. I have photos of the female and of one of the fledglings, one of I which I may put up on the MOU website later. This is the first confirmed nesting record for the county, and it's barely ten minutes away from my house. :-) I had seen a singing male here several years back (2007.) I also observed a curious female/juvenal-type plumaged Mourning Warbler at the General Mills Nature Area, also in Golden Valley, this morning. This is a south-bound bird, since this is the first time ever that I've seen this species at this site. Craig Mandel relocated one of the Black-crowned Night Herons at the Louisiana/Laurel Avenue ponds a few evenings ago (again, in Golden Valley). I heard either a Blue-headed or a Yellow-throated Vireo yesterday at Westwood Hills Nature Center in St. Louis Park. It was giving its descending nasal chatter. I have been unable to find any good recordings of the call notes online, so anyone with more experience with these species can help me out. E-mail me off-channel for directions to any of the previously-mentioned sites. Good birding! Alyssa DeRubeis Golden Valley, MN, for the next week or so Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
[mou-net] Common Gallinule pair and chicks/Dakota Cty, 180th St. Marsh
Late this morning, 2 Common Gallinule adults and 5 (possibly 6) chicks were seen on the east 180th St. Marsh pool, from the north side of the road, closest to the farm. I first saw 1 chick, which flushed from the reeds very close to the north side of the road. Barbara Deneen, who was also there, later spotted the two adults with chicks swimming and foraging among the reeds near the east pool shore, farther north of the road. We had wonderful views with scopes until they disappeared into the reeds. Laura Coble Cannon Falls Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
[mou-net] Shorebirds in west central MN
Bob Janssen and I just finished our three day shorebird workshop. The weather was perfect with lots of shorebirds in many locations. We saw 17 species with very good long looks at most of them. Salt Lake (southwest of Marietta) has few shorebirds, but there are lots of Wilson's Phalaropes with a few Red-necked Phalaropes sprinkled in. The Big Stone NWR auto tour route has large numbers of shorebirds but it requires a hike off the paving to get really good looks. Most are Pectoral and Lesser Yellowlegs with others here and there. We did find a couple of Red-necked Phalaropes there as well. The slough that is one mile Southwest of Rosen MN (crossed by Hwy 7) is very good for shorebirds of about 6-7 species with easy access to get close. 3-4 Buff breasted and lots of Stilt Sandpipers are the highlights. One half mile east of the Ortonville sewage ponds is a nice wetland with a good number of birds of 5-6 species very close to the gravel road. This will be drying up in the next week at the most without rain. Doug Buri Milbank, SD www.itctel.com/buri/SHOREBIRD www.itctel.com/buri/SPARROW Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
[mou-net] Swainson's Hawk, Cottage Grove
At 2:45 pm today I was able to relocate the SWAINSON'S HAWK that has been previously reported near HWY 61 and Jamaica in Cottage Grove (Washington County). It was flying low at Cty. Rd 19 and 90th St., adjacent to Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park (immediately west of the north end of the park). Peter Nichols Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
[mou-net] Sax-Zim Bog visits (past week) with pictures
Over the past week, I've led two birding trips to Sax-Zim Bog. My eBird lists are below. Although relatively quiet compared to past visits to the bog in late spring/early summer, the diversity is still impressive during the slow time of summer! http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S11257518 http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S11244010 And a few pictures to share... Tree Swallows galore!! http://www.pbase.com/birdfedr/image/145191113 Sedge Wren http://www.pbase.com/birdfedr/image/145188274 Chestnut-sided Warbler http://www.pbase.com/birdfedr/image/145191105 First Palm Warbler I've observed in Sax-Zim Bog this summer http://www.pbase.com/birdfedr/image/145188273 Black-and-white Warbler http://www.pbase.com/birdfedr/image/145188268 Clay-colored Sparrow http://www.pbase.com/birdfedr/image/145191102 Spider web with dew http://www.pbase.com/birdfedr/image/145188276 Dogwood with dew http://www.pbase.com/birdfedr/image/145188275 Two of my close birder friends (from Ohio) and I http://www.pbase.com/birdfedr/image/145191109 Good birding, Erik Bruhnke Duluth, MN -- *NATURALLY AVIAN* - Birding Tours and Bird photography birdf...@gmail.com www.pbase.com/birdfedr www.facebook.com/NaturallyAvian www.naturallyavian.blogspot.com Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
[mou-net] Hartley Nature Area this morning
This morning I took a walk around the trails of Hartley Nature Area. There are many immature warblers out and about now! My eBird list is below, followed by pictures. http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S11275203 Mourning Warbler (1st-winter female) http://www.pbase.com/image/145224461 Rose-breasted Grosbeak http://www.pbase.com/image/145224463 Song Sparrow http://www.pbase.com/image/144762680 http://www.pbase.com/image/145192036 Pine Siskin Fledgling http://www.pbase.com/image/145192030 Alder Flycatcher http://www.pbase.com/image/145224458 Raspberry http://www.pbase.com/image/145192039 Curly leaf on the ground http://www.pbase.com/image/145224466 Bright sumac http://www.pbase.com/image/145224471 Good birding, Erik Bruhnke Duluth, MN -- *NATURALLY AVIAN* - Birding Tours and Bird photography birdf...@gmail.com www.pbase.com/birdfedr www.facebook.com/NaturallyAvian www.naturallyavian.blogspot.com Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
