Saw a Pacific Loon on Lake Osakis yesterday afternoon from the city
park in Osakis, MN. Also saw white Phase and Blue Phase Snow Geese
(both adults and Juveniles) ate the Osakis WTP. There was a flock of
Pine Siskins in the cemetary just N of the WTP and I saw two Merlins
in the county as well. Joh
Just returned from camping in NE MN. Saw three Spruce Grouse on
Kiwishiwi Lake Road in Lake County about midway between Hog Creek BWCA
entry point and Kiwishiwi Lake entry point (5:20 P.M. Wednesday.) Saw
many N. Flickers, Swainsons and Hermit Thrushes, Palm W., Orange
Crowns, Yellow Rumps, some Vi
Had two Female Pine Grosbeaks eating Red Splendor Crabapples at my
cabin near Miltona in NE Douglas County yesterday from 10:30 (when I
noticed them) until at least 3:30 when I left. Seems early for Pine
Grosbeaks that far south, and it was a county first for me. Also saw a
Black Scoter in Lake Osa
-- Forwarded message --
From: "John P. Ellis"
Date: Fri, 6 Jan 2017 21:03:12 -0600
Subject: Curve-Billed Thrasher
To: "mou-...@lists.umn.edu" , mou-net
At 3:42 P.M. this afternoon I was sitting in my car across from 605 NE
11th Avenue in Grand Rapids, havin
s of call alone, but also the eye
color, bill color and shape and overall appearance...drab brown-grey
and no striping.
John P. Ellis-St. Paul
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As far as I can ascertain, this bird I just reported may be a first Fall
record for Western Tanager in Douglas County and the sixth Fall for MN.
John Ellis- St. Paul
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On Friday morning about 8:35 A.M. I was sipping coffee and watching
birds off the deck of my cabin in Douglas County. A more unusual looking
bird flew by me and lit in a Red Osier Dogwood shrub just off the corner of
the deck about 30 feet away. General appearance was brownish and black. I
was
Looked for the Bairds on Wednesday night and Thursday AM with no luck. The
Osakis Sewage Ponds had about 40 Least Sandpipers and a handful of
Semi-Palmated Sandpipers foraging on top of the green scum on one of the
ponds. About a dozen Franklin's Gulls were loafing with some Ring-Bills on
the back
Has anyone found or not found the WEWA at the Cannon River Wilderness Area
since the initial report about yesterday AM??? Thanks John Ellis- St. Paul
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Saw Pair at noonish today, sexes different, Male with golden brownish head
and neck and golden highlights on leg feathers, Bill and feet dark pink
with dark grey splotches, tail, back, belly dirty white with grey
highlights on back. Wing tips black and primaries had black edging on them.
About one
Had some interesting waterfowl Saturday near where the Long Prairie River
flows out of Lake Carlos, a female Scaup (Lesser?), two Drake Common
Mergansers and a single Pied-Billed Grebe, as well as a Trumpeter and a
Canada Goose. Hardly any raptors in the area I birded, a single Bald Eagle
and a Nor
To clarify my son Jesse's earlier post; I got to Canal Park about 4:00 PM
and talked to several birders there who had not seen the Ivory Gull. There
were 50 or so gulls around. At somewhere past 4:20 but before 4:25 the
Ivory came flying from the harbor, up the ship canal, flew over the visitor
cen
Had two Spruce Grouse on "the Grade" about two and a Half miles east of the
Sawbill Trail on Friday morning at 8:35 AM. Lots of N. Flickers and Hermit
Thrushes around, a few warblers and several Merlin in the area of the
Crescent Lake N.F. campground. John Ellis- St. Paul
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P.S. Had upwards of 1500 Franklins Gulls at the Osakis Sewage Ponds today.
John Ellis-St. Paul
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Thanks to those who posted Buff-breasted Sandpipers yesterday. It got me
out looking in Douglas yesterday evening and my last stop (Douglas 15 and
56) there were mud flats with 3-400 shorebirds present. While I was there a
flock of 23 Buff-breasted Sandpipers flew in and landed on a mud peninsula
i
Had a few new birds in Douglas yesterday: Warbling, Blue-Headed and
Yellow-Throated Vireos, Black and White, Orange Crowned, Wilson's, Yellow,
Nashville Warblers and C. Yellowthroat, Savannah and Vesper Sparrows and a
Sedge Wren. Just a few in numbers. John Ellis-St. Paul
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Had a few new birds at my property near Miltona Saturday; Kingfisher, White
Throated Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Brown Thrasher, Hermit Thrushes, and a
Virginia Rail. Lake Osakis had many, many waterfowl still, including
Western, Horned, and Eared Grebes. No Red Necked Grebes yet and I did not
see a si
On Thursday I had a Eurasian Collared Dove drinking water off the pavement
at the public landing at Osakis, MN. I had stopped looking for them a
couple of years when they turned up in Kensington, but there it was! Lake
Osakis was 99% iced on Thursday and it was 20 degrees or so Thursday night,
but
Looking for info and recommendations on guides for hire for day at a time
birding outings in Belize (March, 2015). Please contact me offline at
jellisbird@gmail .com. Thanks. John P. Ellis- St. Paul
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Tern was still at posted site from 8:10 to 8:30 P.M. Last night. Light
was fading but very adequate. Tern was first sitting on mud flat in SW
corner and then was circling and diving as in foraged. John Ellis- St.
Paul
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The south winds yesterday and today seemed to blow in many migrants which
changed birding from Saturday to today. Had 8 or so Rough legs on Friday,
a N Shrike today and a handful of Am. Tree Sparrows and Juncos. Canada
Geese were in small to medium flocks everywhere today. New birds today
included
Saw two Snowy Owls in Douglas County today. One was found by Ben
Eckhoff, the Naturalist at Lake Carlos State Park and may be a bird that
was seen earlier near Carlos (who really knows?) It was along MN 29 in the
NW quadrant of the intersection of 29 with Buckskin Road, sitting on top of
a hil
On vacation, had a pair of Spruce Grouse on the Grade about 2 miles east of
the Sawbill Trail, also had a Goshawk further east.. Most impressive
though, were the flights of Nighthawks. John Ellis-St. Paul
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Had a White-Faced Ibis on south side of Douglas County 5 west of
Douglas 7 and .6 miles east of Douglas 16. Bird had typical Ibis size and
shape and long decurved bill. Had white curved border around eyes and
pinkish highlights inside the border. The bird flew into the interior of
essentially
Steve Weston saw the probable Snow Goose at 180th marsh yesterday.
Three of us had decided (through the snow and rain-that's an excuse) that
the single White Goose was probably a Ross's Goose.) Sorry to put others
out for a Snow Goose. John Ellis
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Saw a Ross's Goose lying in the vegetation at 180th this AM. Northeast
pond, reeds separating the small front pond from the rear pond on the S
edge. John Ellis-St. Paul
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Not a lot new in Douglas besides waterfowl. New for me were 3 Cooper's
Hawks, a single Fox Sparrow, several Song Sparrows and a few duck species.
Lots of Raptors; 6 Rough-legged Hawks, 3 Sharp-shins, a Merlin, 23
Red-tailed Hawks, a Northern Harrier,
7 Bald Eagles, 2 Turkey Vultures, 9 Kestrel
Had more than 50 species in Douglas today (first time since last
fall). New were Turkey Vulture, Eastern Phoebe, Common Grackle, Tundra
Swans, Lesser Scaup(1), Pied Billed Grebe(1), Gadwall(1), Cackling Geese,
Northern Flicker(1), and Tree Swallows. Saw many Raptors; 19 Red-Tails, 4
Rough-Legg
Had a decent mix of winter and spring birds yesterday and this AM
(despite the fog). Still had a Rough-leg, a N. Shrike, Purple Finch, C.
Redpolls, a RBNuthatch and Snow Buntings. Not many waterfowl yet, Hoodies,
Woodies, two Ring-Necked Ducks and a single Ruddy Duck. Had a Sharp-Shinned
Hawk,
Went on my bi-weekly quest for my Douglas County Red Crossbill and
Evening Grosbeak and struck out once again. Had 30 species for the day
however, including a Snowy Owl. I flushed him inadvertantly and he flew
south over I-94 and landed on the 6th power pole from the freeway from a
location ju
Saw a Great Grey Owl hunting about 3-3:30 PM this afternoon on Lismore
Road just west of Ryan. He was sitting on a 12 foot snag just off the
shoulder of the road working an open field. Saw him go down in the nearly
foot deep snow and nail a mouse or vole with his claws while looked around
the
Went looking for Red Crossbills or Evening Grosbeaks in Douglas
County again and turned up NO crossbills or Grosbeaks of any kind, nor any
Snow Buntings nor H. Larks nor L. Longspurs. There WERE many redpolls in
many places, mostly feeders and in grasses alongside roads. I've had only
one
Lars Benson and I took a half day looking for winter finches, etc, in
Douglas and found a single Pine Grosbeak at Rose City in a mature White
Cedar in a feeder yard just N of the main crossroad in town. The bird sat,
sang, and took off about 15-20 seconds after we saw it. We saw NO Red
Crossbills,
Seen this AM at 9:05 for 10 minutes or so on front of Cook County
Courthouse. John Ellis-St. Paul
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Seen 1:05 Friday SE corner Douglas 6 and Mums/Ost road near N side of
Cnty. John Ellis/St. Paul
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Just saw a hatch of five CGeese in Douglas county. JEllis-St. Paul
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Had a few new species yesterday in Douglas. Had an Am Bittern calling
Friday evening and again Saturday AM. Lake Osakis had Bonaparte's Gulls (no
Franklins yet) and also had at least three Forster's Terns. I also saw many
more W Grebes. Conditions were calm yesterday PM when I drove by and the
lake
My sister Mary(who commutes from Chisolm to Duluth) reported to me
that there are two Swans, presumably Trumpeters, along US 53 at mile marker
50 in Caribou Lake on the west side of 53. This is evidently very near the
wayside which is on the east side of US53. She sees them regularly in the
AM
Had some new birds in Douglas County yesterday and today. Yesterday Lake
Osakis had Red-Necked Grebes and today they were joined by Horned Grebes
and a handful of Western Grebes. I'm not sure whether they came in on
yesterday's south winds or today's westerly winds. Had a Raven for the 4th
weekend
Had a good mix of winter migrants and spring migrants, including Pine
Siskin, Purple Finch and a flock of about 2837 Lapland Longspurs (kidding
but seriously a HUGE flock swirling around.) More interesting were
waterfowl. Lake Jennie opened up on the south end and today had 345 Tundra
Swans, 55 or
Briefly on ice, flew west. Also 12 GLGU, 1 ICGU, 2 GBBG , 2 THGU, goshawk.
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The Scoter I saw yesterday AM on Lake Osakis was mis-identified as a
Black Scoter and it was a SURF Scoter. It was a larger Black duck, with no
white on the wings, had lighter markings on the head but it was difficult
to see details as it was diving constantly and the waves were constant. It
u
Saw a Black Scoter this AM from about 9-10 at the town end of the
lake. I first saw it from the public landing in town straight out from the
city park. It was out from about 4th to 6th when I first saw it and it was
foraging to the east. It ended up over near the cemetary at the Todd County
en
Swift Purple Sandpiper on the rocks at 5:10 P.M. on 230th SW on 10/18/11.
John Ellis- St. Paul
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Had 12 Sparrow Species in Douglas today, mostly at my farm property: Harris,
Fox, Song, Swamp, Lincolns, Junco, White-Throat, White-Crowned, Savannah,
Vesper, LeConte's and Nelsons Sharptail. The LeConte's (3) was a County bird
and the Nelsons was a second county bird . Also had an Orange Crowned,
K On Thursday evening I was watching warblers and vireos and catbirds
from the deck of my cabin in Douglas County when either a female or juvenile
Summer Tanager showed up. I wasn't sure how long it had been there when I
turned to it as I had been looking through binoculars in another direction
A few notables: had 450 or so Franklin's Gulls on Lake Osakis this PM,
also 120 or so Wilson's Phalaropes (presumably all) at the Osakis Sewage
Ponds. Had an Orange-Crowned Warbler yesterday and this AM, two House Wrens
still attending a nest cavity, many ducks and shorebirds along Douglas 56
Sorry I didn't post location with my original post as I have had
several responses from people who would like it. Here goes: take MN 27 from
Osakis or Alex to Nelson and go North on Douglas 9 and turn North on Johnson
Road. Go east on Douglas County 30 from Johnson Road about .1 to .2 mile to
Saw a single adult Trumpeter Swan in Douglas County (Friday and Saturday)
with either seven or eight Cygnets. I've not seen nesting swans in Douglas
before so it was nice to see them. If anyone needs a location, let me know,
I don't have my maps with me right now. John P. Elli
On June 3 while doing Beaver patrol work in Douglas County with my brother,
Michael, we heard what I believed to be a Least Bittern call repeatedly from
a large cattail marsh on my property. Yesterday a Least Bittern flew by me
and flew along the edge of the beaver pond I was working near for just
Went looking for Bohemian Waxwings today. Had a single mixed Waxwing
flock near an open stream at Douglas 22 and West Lake Cowdry Road, 18-20
Cedars and 30 Bohemians. Also at this location in the stream were Canadas, 2
Cackling Geese with the requisite Mallards alongside, and 3 Am. Coot. Had
Had 12 sparrows (most were Juncos with many White Throats), not many
ducks, saw three flocks of Blue phase Snows with a few Whites, the largest
being 135 blues with ONE white goose. Had a (probably local) Red Shouldered
Hawk, a Loon, 3 Warblers (Palm, Orange Crowned, and many Yellow Rumps),
Sa
Had flocks of C. Nighthawks Friday evening of 22, 115 and 1 (at 7:30
PM.) Had a few warblers Friday and Saturday the best being a juvenile
Cerulean Warbler which must have been coming out of someplace further north.
Had a Wilson's Warbler (had a Wilson's three weekends in June, two weekends
in
Had a Wilson's Warbler foraging in the heavy underbrush off of the deck at
my cabin near Miltona in Douglas County. The setting is perfect (heavy
shrubs and undergrowth with a light overstory and near water) but the bird
is 300 miles or so south of its nesting range. I could not follow it
visually
New birds this weekend- Indigo Bunting, Broad Winged Hawk,
GCFlycatcher, Marsh Wrens, Sedge Wrens, NWaterthrush, Veery, Ovenbird, Least
Flycatcher, RTHummingbirds, RBGrosbeaks, BOrioles, Redstarts, Wilson's
Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Catbirds, Warbling and YTVireos, and my personal
first Cape Ma
Had a few new birds in Douglas this past Saturday while taking breaks
from shrub planting. Had a pair of Brown Thrashers, an Orange Crowned
Warbler, a Hermit Thrush and my first Doug. County Eastern Towhee, a single
female scruffing around in the leaves while I was watching both phases of
Whit
Saw a pair of Ravens Friday (4/23) between 12:15 and 12:55 PM and again
Saturday AM about 8:45 in the same area south of Miltona, MN bounded by
Willow Road, Carlos-Miltona Road, Douglas county 5 and the railroad that
runs N-S west of MIltona 65. A local farmer stopped to ask me what I was
seeing
Sorry about this-its late- AND a Northern Rough Winged Swallow. J. Ellis
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Also had a White Throated Sparrow, 4 Forster's Terns, and Cowbirds. John
Ellis- St. Paul
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My 9 acre prairie burn got scrubbed for lack of humidity on Sat. so I went
birding. Had Song, Chipping, Vesper, Field, Fox, Swamp Sparrows as well as a
couple of Juncos in Douglas. Lake Osakis had a Red-Necked Grebe, 3 Horned
Grebes and 2 Western Grebes as well as the ubiquitous Pied-Bills. (Christ
Went looking in Douglas County today for winter finches-not much luck with
them but I turned up a Male Varied Thrush out in the boonies in NEastern
Douglas. The bird was along the road and flew up and over the road as I
drove by and lit in a young birch tree. I stopped and it flew a 75 yards
into a
Birded Douglas County yesterday and this morning (Sat). Had 29 species
all told, including: a Brown Creeper; a Red-breasted Nuthatch; 3 Northern
Shrikes; four flocks of Snow Buntings, 55, 65, 80, 90; a small flock of C.
Redpolls feeding in some Tamaracks and another small flock flying over; 1
Yesterday's glassy water revealed one White-winged Scoter and 2 Black
Scoters on the Todd County side of Lake Osakis. There were 15 Trumpeters
also and close to 2000 ducks of various species. I did NOT see the Pacific
Loon nor the Long-Tailed ducks earlier sighted. Turned up a Ruffed Grouse in
The Rough Legged Hawk reported earlier by Frank Nicolletti was at the N
bound exit at Harris this afternoon (Sunday) shortly after noon. Had a F
Purple Finch in Douglas County on Saturday morning. John Ellis-St. Paul
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Arc
There were a family (two adults with a juvenile) of Cooper's Hawks
sittling in a tree on the median of St. Paul's Summit Avenue (1390 Summit)
last night about 8 PM. This is midway between Snelling and Hamline Avenues.
John Ellis-St. Paul
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Lars Benson and I went chasing birds this weekend for his Big Year. Had
a Short-eared Owl in Douglas County near L. Osakis along Doug 3 within a
mile N. of Douglas 10 in the evening as we were driving in. Saturday we had
an Avocet in Big Stone, a Loggerhead Shrike in Big Stone and some of 12 W
Lars Benson and I were out and about today and saw a Trumpeter Swan pair
with at least two poults in a wetland at the north end of Middle Lake, just
south off of Nicollett County 5 about a mile or two east of MN 111. More
unusual was the presence of a pair (M & F) of Buffleheads in with a group of
Heard a Chat singing at Frontenac State Park this AM for about 30-40
seconds. I never saw it and did not hear it sing again after listening,
looking around and poking about for a half hour. There is a peninsula of
woods in a draw pointing directly at the restrooms at the parking area at
the en
Could someone let me know where Veteran's Park and the Worm-eating Warbler
is located? Thanks- John Ellis
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Was too late for the Varied Bunting on Friday and did not hear about the
Brown Pelican? until a half hour ago. Had a good mix of shorebirds at the
Osakis sewage ponds including 4 Red-necked Phalaropes, about 45 Dunlin, a
Hudsonian godwit, a few Least, and several Semipalmated SP, 4 Stilt, at
least
Went to a demo bird banding session at Minneopa S.P. Group Campground
on Saturday. Dr. Merrill Frydendall, the bander, told me he had heard the
Kentucky Warbler last week, so I went with my sons, Alexander and Jesse
Ellis this morning and found him singing his heart out while foraging just
ove
As of 6:30 PM last night the Bunting was still present and active at the
feeder in Moorhead as previously posted. The Homeowner noted that a Coopers
has been working the neighborhood, The bird is using the apple tree as a
refuge and at one point, held the same location without moving for about 20
m
Did a burn on my property near Miltona this weekend-New birds in
Douglas since last weekend are the following: R.T.Hummingbird, R.B.
Grosbeak, B. Oriole, Marsh Wren, Blue-Grey Gnatcatcher (at Carlos State
Park), Yellow Warbler, Am. Pipit, L.B. Dowitcher, Spotted S.P., Green Heron,
Warbling Vi
Many Raptors over the weekend. Friday saw 22 Bald Eagles (NO Golden), 64
Red-Tail of every description except Krider's, 24 N. Harriers (including
several Females), 30 Kestrel, One Rough-Legged Hawk, 3 Coopers and had a
Barred and Great Horned Owl calling at night. Had FOY Brewer's BB, Rusty BB,
Went to refill my 14+or- wood duck houses this weekend and go birding.
Saturday was foggy and hazy all day, saw a few raptors and waterfowl in late
PM looking for a SEOwl or GEagle. Wind from E today and cloudy bright in AM
and cloudy in PM but many birds seemed to have moved in and moving tod
-- Forwarded message --
From: John P. Ellis
Date: Fri, Feb 20, 2009 at 10:37 PM
Subject: St Paul Peregrine/Rock Pigeon (deceased)
To: mou-...@moumn.org
My son Alex was coming home along Snelling Avenue this afternoon and
encountered an interesting city scene. Evidently a
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