[mou-net] Best Bird While Not Birding?
I saw this bird at the south rim of the Grand Canyon.I later found out that it was #52, a male. http://www.pbase.com/powderhorn/image/122884344 Cheers, John Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
Re: [mou-net] Best Bird While Not Birding?
Philadelphia vireo outside living room on Pagoda Dogwood eating berries. Also yesterday joining the Philadelphia vireo were Eastern Kingbird Yellow Warbler, imm female Robins, imm Phoebe Redstart Black Capped Chickadee Charlene Nelson Grant County On Aug 8, 2011, at 10:02 AM, Michael Engh wrote: Philadelphia vireo outside my office window in Arden Hills. Peregrine falcon perched on ledge of the Minneapolis Midtown Exchange Bldg above the party room during my daughter's wedding rehearsal dinner. Black throated blue warbler hitting the family room picture window in Wayzata and sitting dazed for several minutes on the sill before flying off. Mike Engh On Sun, Aug 7, 2011 at 9:36 AM, Al Schirmacher alschirmac...@live.comwrote: Sometimes the best birds show up while doing something else. Golden Eagle at a business convention dinner - Violet-green Swallow during a meeting break (both pointed out by non-birders) - Prairie Falcon while reading in my chair - Tri-colored Heron while visiting relatives - sure there have been others. You? Al Schirmacher Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html 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] Best Bird While Not Birding?
I was sitting on the dock that at that time was right behind the Lake Harriet Bandshell. It was an early, warm summer evening and very crowded, as usual. What's sitting just about five feet away, but a Black-crowned Night-Heron. It was lined up on the dock like the rest of us (but his feet didn't reach the water). To most of the people there on the dock, it might as well have been the Creature from the Black Lagoon--such a bizarre looking bird. Judy Chucker Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
Re: [mou-net] Best Bird While Not Birding?
I was exploring the Mayan ruins of Tikal in Guatemala and there was a group of green toucans that flew through the courtyard. I never knew that toucans could be green and it wasn't until much later that I identified them as Emerald Toucanets. I also saw California Condors soaring over the Grand Canyon before I became a birder while riding mules up the canyon. The bird that sticks out most was a Black Oystercatcher that I saw while in Victoria, British Columbia when I was very young. I had seen them in my parents Peterson guide and thought they looked so weird. When I actually saw one on the rocky coast I was amazed at their appearance. Such an orange bill on such a black bird! Very cool! Jason CaddySouth minneapolisj.ca...@hotmail.com Date: Sun, 7 Aug 2011 09:36:08 -0500 From: alschirmac...@live.com Subject: [mou-net] Best Bird While Not Birding? To: MOU-NET@LISTS.UMN.EDU Sometimes the best birds show up while doing something else. Golden Eagle at a business convention dinner - Violet-green Swallow during a meeting break (both pointed out by non-birders) - Prairie Falcon while reading in my chair - Tri-colored Heron while visiting relatives - sure there have been others. You? Al Schirmacher Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
Re: [mou-net] Best Bird While Not Birding?
Al, Jason: On one Thursday in August, 1982, I was helping a fellow re-shingle the roof on his house. I had seen a bird swooping along a line of trees that bordered San Antonio's Olmos Creek. The bird finally got close enough for even me to note that the bird was largish, was mostly white, and had pointed, wings that had black on the trailing edge, and had a forked tail with pointed ends. It was only my lifer Swallow-tailed Kite and, most importantly, the first record of the species in the San Antonio area for 50-60 or more years. Birders in San Antonio laughed at me until the following Tuesday. This was because Swallow-tailed Kites were supposed to only migrate along the Gulf of Mexico coast in the fall. That laughter ended when Vernon Ellis went outside to smoke while his wife was in a beauty parlor. Vernon looks across a fairly busy West Avenue to the trees lining that part of Olmos Creek and about has a heart attack when he sees a Swallow-tailed Kite sailing just over the tree canopy. In subsequent years people in Central Texas have seen more Swallow-tailed Kites as the birds' population has increased. Later! Steve Stevan Hawkins San Antonio TX -Original Message- From: Minnesota Birds [mailto:MOU-NET@LISTS.UMN.EDU] On Behalf Of Jason Caddy Sent: Tuesday, August 09, 2011 9:50 AM To: MOU-NET@LISTS.UMN.EDU Subject: Re: [mou-net] Best Bird While Not Birding? I was exploring the Mayan ruins of Tikal in Guatemala and there was a group of green toucans that flew through the courtyard. I never knew that toucans could be green and it wasn't until much later that I identified them as Emerald Toucanets. I also saw California Condors soaring over the Grand Canyon before I became a birder while riding mules up the canyon. The bird that sticks out most was a Black Oystercatcher that I saw while in Victoria, British Columbia when I was very young. I had seen them in my parents Peterson guide and thought they looked so weird. When I actually saw one on the rocky coast I was amazed at their appearance. Such an orange bill on such a black bird! Very cool! Jason CaddySouth minneapolisj.ca...@hotmail.com Date: Sun, 7 Aug 2011 09:36:08 -0500 From: alschirmac...@live.com Subject: [mou-net] Best Bird While Not Birding? To: MOU-NET@LISTS.UMN.EDU Sometimes the best birds show up while doing something else. Golden Eagle at a business convention dinner - Violet-green Swallow during a meeting break (both pointed out by non-birders) - Prairie Falcon while reading in my chair - Tri-colored Heron while visiting relatives - sure there have been others. You? Al Schirmacher Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html 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] Best Bird While Not Birding
Over twenty years ago when I was still a smoker, I was banished to our front porch to smoke. I looked over at our neighbor's porch roof and saw what I thought was a Saw Whet owl. I quietly went in the house and called Jeff to come verify my observation. He came out and quickly identified it as a Boreal owl!We were able to observe it for a short period of time before it flew across the street to a cedar tree and we lost sight of it. Jeff and son Ray had heard Boreals calling but to date Ray has yet to see one! Lois Newman\ Lakeside, Duluth 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] Best bird while non-birding: two merlins at an outdoor wedding
As the wedding vows were being said at a beautiful site along the lake shore in Door County, WI., two juvenile merlins flew around and called raucously. Henceforth to be known as the merlin wedding by the few birders present among all the guests! -- Claudia Egelhoff Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
Re: [mou-net] Best bird while non-birding: two merlins at an outdoor wedding
One Saturday afternoon, when we lived in Logan, Utah, we had just returned from a shopping trip to Ogden. We were coming in the house with our purchases and were in the kitchen, when I looked out the door that went onto the deck and spotted a large object in the back yard, perched in a dead tree. I approached the deck and grabbed binoculars-it was a Golden Eagle! That was probably the best bird I ever got while not birding-probably also my best yard bird ever. Richard From: Claudia Egelhoff cegelh...@gmail.com To: MOU-NET@LISTS.UMN.EDU Sent: Monday, August 8, 2011 8:02 AM Subject: [mou-net] Best bird while non-birding: two merlins at an outdoor wedding As the wedding vows were being said at a beautiful site along the lake shore in Door County, WI., two juvenile merlins flew around and called raucously. Henceforth to be known as the merlin wedding by the few birders present among all the guests! -- Claudia Egelhoff Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html 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] Best Bird while non-birding:
This may make some cringe. I don't know if this counts, but I've seen some of my best birds while pheasant/duck hunting. I've seen dozens of short/long-earred owls. I kicked up a Wilson snipe in January once. Another time I had a Prairie Falco make a failed pass at another Wilson Snipe that I had kicked up in a small drainage. -- Hackensack/Longville Cass County, Mn Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
Re: [mou-net] Best Bird While Not Birding?
A bit of a tough question to answer, because I'm 'always birding', especially if I'm out and about!* * One thing I've found about being a birder, which is being observant, is it's hard to shut it off!* *But here are my best while out doing something else: * White-winged Scoter *- while attending a wedding (on the shore of Lake Superior) Also saw a *Common Loon* *Alder flycatcher*at the same wedding! *Yellow-headed blackbird *- at a job interview (it was a lifer at the time - no I didn't get the job) Yes, I had a lifer during a job interview!! How many can say that? *Peregrine Falcon* - twice while at work -once an outdoor picnic, 2nd just pausing to look out the window on a break - it flew right in front of me and looked right at me! *E. Screech-owl -* one morning at home I heard blue jays making a racket. I went out to investigate and this was the cause of their ruckus, right in my front yard! -- Sincerely, Jim Ryan Saint Paul's Westside One of the first conditions of happiness is that the link between Man and Nature shall not be broken. -* Leo Tolstoy* A well governed appetite is the greater part of liberty. - *Lucius Annaeus Seneca* On Sun, Aug 7, 2011 at 9:36 AM, Al Schirmacher alschirmac...@live.comwrote: Sometimes the best birds show up while doing something else. Golden Eagle at a business convention dinner - Violet-green Swallow during a meeting break (both pointed out by non-birders) - Prairie Falcon while reading in my chair - Tri-colored Heron while visiting relatives - sure there have been others. You? Al Schirmacher Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
Re: [mou-net] Best Bird While Not Birding?
Philadelphia vireo outside my office window in Arden Hills. Peregrine falcon perched on ledge of the Minneapolis Midtown Exchange Bldg above the party room during my daughter's wedding rehearsal dinner. Black throated blue warbler hitting the family room picture window in Wayzata and sitting dazed for several minutes on the sill before flying off. Mike Engh On Sun, Aug 7, 2011 at 9:36 AM, Al Schirmacher alschirmac...@live.comwrote: Sometimes the best birds show up while doing something else. Golden Eagle at a business convention dinner - Violet-green Swallow during a meeting break (both pointed out by non-birders) - Prairie Falcon while reading in my chair - Tri-colored Heron while visiting relatives - sure there have been others. You? Al Schirmacher Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html 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] Best Bird While Not Birding? Maybe.
I n May, I was walking through the parking lot at Rosedale late in the afternoon, no binoculars handy, when I saw three birds soaring near the intersection of Hwy. 36 and I35W. Two were clearly crows but what was the third larger bird? It was very dark, unlike juvenile eagles although the relative size did make me consider that. Maybe a raven, but it didn't look quite right for that either and it would have been a bit too far south for a raven . Looking towar ds the sun and with no bins, I was unable to identify the bird by eye but it was intriguing. The nex t day, a Black Vulture was reported and photographed in North Oaks, only a few miles as the vulture flies from where I saw the mystery bird. Was that the bird? Perhaps but I'll never know. Jeanne Tanamachi Lauderdale MN - Original Message - From: Al Schirmacher alschirmac...@live.com To: MOU-NET@LISTS.UMN.EDU Sent: Sunday, August 7, 2011 9:36:08 AM Subject: [mou-net] Best Bird While Not Birding? Sometimes the best birds show up while doing something else. Golden Eagle at a business convention dinner - Violet-green Swallow during a meeting break (both pointed out by non-birders) - Prairie Falcon while reading in my chair - Tri-colored Heron while visiting relatives - sure there have been others. You? Al Schirmacher Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
Re: [mou-net] Best Bird While Not Birding?
A number of years ago I was working at Dayton's Distribution Center which was in a huge warehouse. One day a golden-crowned kinglet got into the building and was frantically trying to find an exit. Another birder who also worked there and I were able to throw a shirt over the bird when it landed on some equipment. We brought it over to Wildlife Rehab which was still at the U of M at the time and very close to the warehouse. The bird was checked over and released the next day. Gail On Sun, Aug 7, 2011 at 9:36 AM, Al Schirmacher alschirmac...@live.comwrote: Sometimes the best birds show up while doing something else. Golden Eagle at a business convention dinner - Violet-green Swallow during a meeting break (both pointed out by non-birders) - Prairie Falcon while reading in my chair - Tri-colored Heron while visiting relatives - sure there have been others. You? Al Schirmacher Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
Re: [mou-net] Best Bird While Not Birding?
A yellow throated warbler on the deck of the restaurant at the resort in Mexico A Kiskadee on the patio of my hotel at the same resort. (I chased all over Texas and never found one--but in Mexico I could not count it) -Original Message- From: Minnesota Birds [mailto:MOU-NET@LISTS.UMN.EDU] On Behalf Of Michael Engh Sent: Monday, August 08, 2011 10:03 AM To: MOU-NET@LISTS.UMN.EDU Subject: Re: [mou-net] Best Bird While Not Birding? Philadelphia vireo outside my office window in Arden Hills. Peregrine falcon perched on ledge of the Minneapolis Midtown Exchange Bldg above the party room during my daughter's wedding rehearsal dinner. Black throated blue warbler hitting the family room picture window in Wayzata and sitting dazed for several minutes on the sill before flying off. Mike Engh On Sun, Aug 7, 2011 at 9:36 AM, Al Schirmacher alschirmac...@live.comwrote: Sometimes the best birds show up while doing something else. Golden Eagle at a business convention dinner - Violet-green Swallow during a meeting break (both pointed out by non-birders) - Prairie Falcon while reading in my chair - Tri-colored Heron while visiting relatives - sure there have been others. You? Al Schirmacher Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html 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] Best Bird While Not Birding?
My first exposure to nature when I moved to MN from Oklahoma! I was out at Grand Forks AFB managing a project of installing deep wells and assessing base contamination. I was collecting samples from a monitoring well in late May in the morning after a rainy night. Puddles were everywhere. As I did my field work at the well, I noticed something move to my right. I froze as I watched a Long-billed Dowitcher Singer sewing machine its way through puddles not far from me. I stood frozen as in Oklahome such a bird is rare indeed. I was afraid that any movement would make it fly away. As I stood there, it continue sewing machine its way closer and closer. I could barely breath or blink. Then as I stood there, the bird worked its way right between my legs I had this rush of OMG and then as I found that I could move (I was supposed to get some work done!) and that the bird could care less. I said to myself I'm not in Oklahome anymore. I didn't even watch the bird continue on its way as I went back the chore of collecting groundwater samples from the well. What a great preview of what I was in for in my move to the birdie land up north. By the way - please sign up for the MOU booth at the fair. Prime spots are still available. Bring your kids to staff the wheel while you interact with the birding public and the touch-screen computer. You can become an expert in as little as 2 minutes the way it is set up for easy use. Thomas Maiello Angel Environmental Management, Inc. Maple Grove, MN Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
Re: [mou-net] Best Bird While Not Birding?
Long before I even started birding and while attending the University of California at Santa Barbara (darned ornithologists who taught zoology courses that I took for my anthro major made me do it for labs; now I can't quit), I was working out on my bicycle on a frontage road of the Pacific Coast Highway in Goleta where I lived, I scared up a jack rabbit in the brush who shot off ahead of me, parallel to the road. The rabbit was scooped up directly in front of me by a Red- tailed Hawk who had spotted the rabbit while soaring over the area and swooped down for it in typical Red-tail fashion. It was a great workout ride, one of my best. Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
Re: [mou-net] Best Bird While Not Birding?
My best bird while not birding occurred when I was a kid, many years before I became a birder. I grew up in Golden Valley. My dad built our house on 2 acres and there was a large field behind our house. One winter day my mom came and got me and told me to look out back. There sitting on a stump was a large white owl. It sat there the entire day. The only thing it could have been is a Snowy Owl! Rick Hoyme rho...@comcast.net LinkedIn Profile http://www.linkedin.com/in/rickhoyme Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
Re: [mou-net] Best Bird While Not Birding?
A Bald Eagle soaring outside a hotel window while attending a professional seminar in Northern Arizonia! (-I still have a blank page in my notes!) Claudia Anders --Original Message-- From: Bill Kahn Sender: Minnesota Birds To: MOU-NET@LISTS.UMN.EDU ReplyTo: Bill Kahn Subject: Re: [mou-net] Best Bird While Not Birding? Sent: Aug 8, 2011 7:30 PM Long before I even started birding and while attending the University of California at Santa Barbara (darned ornithologists who taught zoology courses that I took for my anthro major made me do it for labs; now I can't quit), I was working out on my bicycle on a frontage road of the Pacific Coast Highway in Goleta where I lived, I scared up a jack rabbit in the brush who shot off ahead of me, parallel to the road. The rabbit was scooped up directly in front of me by a Red- tailed Hawk who had spotted the rabbit while soaring over the area and swooped down for it in typical Red-tail fashion. It was a great workout ride, one of my best. Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
[mou-net] Best bird while not birding
Kind of a double header: driving to the wedding of my sister-in-law in Maple Grove with my mother and young daughter, I noticed something odd flying parallel to our road. Trying to drive and look (don't tell my wife!), it looked like two birds flying side by side. As we continued, the bird(s) gradually were getting closer and something still wasn't quite right. As I drew up to a stop sign, a peregrine falcon landed on the top of a telephone pole at the intersection, with a drake Bufflehead in its talons. The Bufflehead was still looking up at the falcon as defiantly as it could; it had been still trying to fly as the falcon landed which is why it looked so odd. Reality struck when my mother commented that she had never seen a bird with such brilliant red on its chest. I had to tell her it isn't usually red Tough way to see my first Bufflehead. The standoff was still in progress when I had to head to the wedding. Still the best pair of birds through the sun roof! Mark LaRose 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] Best Bird While Not Birding?
Sometimes the best birds show up while doing something else. Golden Eagle at a business convention dinner - Violet-green Swallow during a meeting break (both pointed out by non-birders) - Prairie Falcon while reading in my chair - Tri-colored Heron while visiting relatives - sure there have been others. You? Al Schirmacher Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
Re: [mou-net] Best Bird While Not Birding?
Many, over the years, though no species as exceptional as those. Most recently, yesterday: arriving at my pet-care gig at a friend's house 2 blocks from home, a pair of Merlins in the conifer in her yard. Linda Whyte On Sun, Aug 7, 2011 at 9:36 AM, Al Schirmacher alschirmac...@live.com wrote: Sometimes the best birds show up while doing something else. Golden Eagle at a business convention dinner - Violet-green Swallow during a meeting break (both pointed out by non-birders) - Prairie Falcon while reading in my chair - Tri-colored Heron while visiting relatives - sure there have been others. You? Al Schirmacher Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
