-RBA
*Minnesota
*Duluth/North Shore
*December 16, 2011
*MNDU1112.16
-Birds mentioned
- Greater Scaup
- Black-legged Kittiwake
- Thayer's Gull
- Iceland Gull
- Glaucous Gull
- Great Black-backed Gull
- Snowy Owl
- Harris's Sparrow
- White-crowned Sparrow
-Transcript
Hotline: Minnesota, Duluth/North Shore
Date: December 16, 2011
Sponsor: Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU)
Reports: (218) 834-2858
Compiler: Jim Lind (jslind@frontiernet.net)
This is the Duluth Birding Report for December 16th, 2011 sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union.
A BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE was found by Jason Caddy on the 13th at Canal Park. Several observers have also reported ICELAND GULL, GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULLS, GLAUCOUS GULLS, and THAYER'S GULLS at Canal Park during the past week. The male BARROW’S GOLDENEYE was relocated by Peder Svingen on the 15th at Canal Park along with a late GREATER SCAUP, and he saw a SNOWY OWL at the end of the Canal Park breakwall. SNOWY OWLS continue to be reported from Duluth’s Port Terminal area.
Don Kienholz found a late-lingering WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW on the 15th in the brush piles at the WLSSD compost area in west Duluth. Mike Hendrickson saw a late HARRIS'S SPARROW in the Port Terminal on the 10th along Helberg Road.
The next scheduled update of this report will be on Thursday, December 22nd.
The telephone number of the Duluth Rare Bird Alert is 218-834-2858. Information about bird sightings may be left following the recorded message.
The Duluth Birding Report is sponsored and funded by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU) as a service to its members. For more information on the MOU, either write us c/o the Bell Museum, e-mail us at mou@moumn.org, or visit the MOU web site at moumn.org.
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Date: Sat, 17 Dec 2011 09:37:46 -0700
Reply-To: Alex Cruz
Sender: Rare Bird Alert
From: Alex Cruz
Subject: [mou-net] Townsend's Solitaire, Carpenter Nature Area, Dakota Co
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Matthew Bribitzer-Stull and I found the Townsend's Solitaire at Carpenter Na=
ture Area just north of the bench on Savannnah Trail at 9 am this morning. A=
lso saw Pileated Woodpecker, Bald Eagles and American Tree Sparrows.
Looking up,
Alex Cruz, Jr
St Paul, Mn
Sent from Alex's iPhone.=
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Date: Sat, 17 Dec 2011 10:03:46 -0700
Reply-To: Betsy Beneke
Sender: Rare Bird Alert
From: Betsy Beneke
Subject: [mou-net] Townsend's Solitaire - Sherburne Co
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CBC participants Dick and Gloria Wachtler found a Townsend's Solitaire at a=
bout 9:30 a.m. this morning along the=A0west Edge of Eagle Lake.=A0 It was =
along Sherburne CR 5, approximately 4.5 miles south of the entrance road to=
Sherburne NWR's Prairie's Edge Wildlife Drive.=A0 It was sitting atop a ju=
niper/cedar on the west side of the road between 23611 and 23660.=A0 There'=
s a steep incline and a small creek at the bottom at this point.=0A=A0=0ATh=
is site would be 1.5 to 2.0 miles SW of where Pastor Al found the 3 solitai=
res earlier.=0A=A0=0ABetsy Beneke=0ASherburne NWR
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Date: Sat, 17 Dec 2011 10:52:05 -0700
Reply-To: Alex Cruz
Sender: Rare Bird Alert
From: Alex Cruz
Subject: [mou-net] Long-tailed Duck, Point Douglas Park,
north oh Hastings, Mn
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Matthew Bribitzer-Stull and I found a beautiful male Long-tailed Duck at Poi=
nt Douglas Park at 11 am today. It was loosely associating with a flock of C=
ommon Mergansers about 200 m north of park in open water. Scope definitely h=
elps.
Looking up,
Alex Cruz
St Paul, Mn
Sent from Alex's iPhone.
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Date: Mon, 19 Dec 2011 09:08:47 -0700
Reply-To: Jason Caddy
Sender: Rare Bird Alert
From: Jason Caddy
Subject: [mou-net] Black-legged Kittiwake Photograph
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Thank you Karl Bardon for getting a photograph of this amazing gull and pos=
ting it on the MOU web page. There is no way to know for sure but I do beli=
eve that this is the individual that I found in Canal Park on 12/13. The ex=
tent of gray on the upper wing is variable in juvenile Kittiwakes and this =
photo shows the gray just as I remembered it. The mantle has strong almost =
dark gray coloration but the gray extends only slightly out past the black =
M pattern. The black collar is also a variable feature on these birds and t=
his black collar is very thick and dark. Both features on this bird are exa=
ctly how I remember them on the bird I saw and also match the sketch that I=
had drawn at the time. It sounds like the bird did not hang around very lo=
ng for you either but the photograph is fantastic! Good birding everyone! =
Jason Caddy=2C Minneapolis =
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Date: Mon, 19 Dec 2011 20:10:37 -0700
Reply-To: markjunghans@AOL.COM
Sender: Rare Bird Alert
From: Rare Bird Alert
Subject: [mou-net] Aitkin County Great Gray Owl
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Great Gray Owl found just before dark on 560TH ST 2.9 miles east of Hy. 169=
.
Other birds in the area:
Red-tailed Hawk
Rough-legged Hawk
Northern Shrike=20
American Crow
Common Raven
Common Redpoll=20
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Date: Tue, 20 Dec 2011 06:12:38 -0700
Reply-To: sparky stensaas
Sender: Rare Bird Alert
From: sparky stensaas
Subject: [mou-net] Sax-Zim CBC including Snowy Owl
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Monday December 19
Sax-Zim CBC
A very average 28 species
Highlights:
Snowy Owl (first since 1991...when we had 4) CR 29 1 to 1.5 mi N of CR133 (=
found by Peder Svingen and Tony Hertzel)
2 Boreal Chickadees at Admiral Road feeder
10 Black-billed Magpies
28 Rough-legged Hawks
125 White-winged Crossbills
244 Common Redpolls (no Hoarys)
no three-toed woodpeckers of any kind (windy!)=2C no Sharp-tailed Grouse (w=
indy!)=2C no other owls=2C no Snow Buntings (no snow so why?)
Thanks to:Dave Benson=2C =A0Pam Benson=2C =A0John Ellis=2C =A0John Heid=2C =
=A0Dave Evans=2C =A0Tony Hertzel=2C =A0Peder Svingen=2C =A0Sparky Stensaas=
=2C =A0Jan Conley=2C =A0Sandy Roggenkamp=2C =A0Don Kienholz
Sparky Stensaas=20
2515 Garthus Road=20
Wrenshall=2C MN 55797=20
218.341.3350 cell=20
www.SaxZim.org
=
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Date: Tue, 20 Dec 2011 12:26:42 -0700
Reply-To: Bob Dunlap
Sender: Rare Bird Alert
From: Bob Dunlap
Subject: [mou-net] Carolina Wren still present, Chicago County
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The Carolina Wren made about a minute-long appearance at the visitor center
feeders at Wild River State Park around 1:15 this afternoon.
Bob Dunlap
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Date: Tue, 20 Dec 2011 12:28:25 -0700
Reply-To: Richard Smaby
Sender: Rare Bird Alert
From: Richard Smaby
Subject: [mou-net] Spotted Towhee in Austin
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A Spotted Towhee was reported on our Christmas Bird Count on Sunday at a
feeder in Austin. It has been seen both yesterday and today. I posted a
picture on the MOU web site. It is at the home of John and Sally Garry, 306
20th St SW, Austin. 507-434-4809. It was first found by John Garry.
Richard Smaby
rnsmaby@charter.net
507-433-1925
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Date: Wed, 21 Dec 2011 07:30:19 -0700
Reply-To: dan&erika
Sender: Rare Bird Alert
From: dan&erika
Subject: [mou-net] Townsend's Solitaire photos/Washington Co.
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Hi All--
On my blog, I posted two photos of the Carpenter Nature Center's Townsend's
Solitaire. Erika and I saw it yesterday (20 December). The Center folks
gave us precise directions to find the solitaire, and we found it with no
trouble at all.
http://dantallmansbirdblog.blogspot.com
dan
--=20
Dan or Erika Tallman
Northfield, Minnesota
http://sites.google.com/site/tallmanorum
http://dantallmansbirdblog.blogspot.com
http://picasaweb.google.com/danerika
danerika@gmail.com
".... the best shod travel with wet feet"
"Beware of all enterprises that require new clothes ...."--Thoreau
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Date: Wed, 21 Dec 2011 11:28:20 -0700
Reply-To: Betsy Beneke
Sender: Rare Bird Alert
From: Betsy Beneke
Subject: [mou-net] Barrow's Goldeneye & Great Blue Heron
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I was birding along the Mississippi River yesterday afternoon=A0- stopping =
at various places to look at waterfowl.=A0 A male Barrow's Goldeneye was am=
ong a large raft of Common Goldeneyes, easily viewed from the boat ramp at =
the Municipal Park in Sauk Rapids (Benton County).=A0 There were two other =
rafts of goldeneyes up river from this point as well, one with 60+ birds.=
=0A=A0=0AThe park, and this particular spot, is at 10th St. North and River=
Ave. North - River Ave runs parallel to Benton Drive between the railroad =
tracks and the river.=A0 Easiest place to access this site is by Vos's Moto=
rs on Benton Dr.=A0 Access at the east end would be by the Burger King on 1=
st St.=A0 I don't think there is any other access road between 1st and 10th=
.=0A=A0=0AIn Sartell (Stearns County), there was a Great Blue Heron standin=
g on some rocks along the S. bank of the Miss. River=A0-along CR 1 (Riversi=
de Ave or Dr - can't remember which it is), about a block north of Edgewate=
r Lane.=A0 There are always lots of C. geese in this area.=0A=A0=0ABetsy Be=
neke
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Date: Wed, 21 Dec 2011 13:30:09 -0700
Reply-To: Betsy Beneke
Sender: Rare Bird Alert
From: Betsy Beneke
Subject: [mou-net] Snowy owls near Mora and Ogilvie?
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I've gotten a couple of second and third-hand reports of Snowy Owls near Mo=
ra and Ogilvie...does anyone have locations?=A0 I'll be heading toward Hinc=
kley over the Christmas weekend, and I'd be happy to take the 'scenic route=
' to look for owls.=A0 If anyone can provide info, I'd be thankful for it!=
=0A=A0=0ABetsy Beneke
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Date: Thu, 22 Dec 2011 13:59:52 -0700
Reply-To: Karl Bardon
Sender: Rare Bird Alert
From: Karl Bardon
Subject: [mou-net] Glaucous-winged Gull, Duluth
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Beginning at 9:43 this morning, I have been studying an apparent adult Glau=
cous-winged Gull at Canal Park, Duluth, St. Louis County. I say apparent be=
cause of the many complications inherent in identifying large gulls, especi=
ally this species. Since Glaucous-winged Gull forms hybrid swarms with mult=
iple other species of gulls (including Glaucous, Western and Herring), wher=
e the majority of some local populations are actually hybrids, great must b=
e taken when identifying this species out of range. For now I have posted a=
single photo on MOU recently seen, but will include a more in depth analys=
is on my pbase gull pages (www.pbase.com/karlbardon).=0A=A0=0AKarl Bardon=
=0ADuluth, MN
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Date: Thu, 22 Dec 2011 16:33:46 -0700
Reply-To: Scott Mehus
Sender: Rare Bird Alert
From: Scott Mehus
Subject: [mou-net] 9 Golden Eagles seen in Winona and Houston counties
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Yesterday I met with Scott Leddy of Meadowlark Restorations who is actively=
and passionately involved in restoring bluff prairie habitat. He wanted t=
o show me some of the work that they have done as he knows how I talk about=
how golden eagles utilize this type of habitat. We concentrated our lookin=
g in an area basically from Rushford to Houston to Wilson to Wyatviille. Wh=
ile looking at the habitat work he has done and other bluff prairies, I was=
able to show Scott some golden eagles as well. I had done some looking for=
golden eagles before and after meeting Scott, so for the day I was able to=
see 9 golden eagles. Eight were adults and were "paired up" and perching =
near each other or just a couple of trees away. Only one of the adults and=
the sub adult were the only ones observed in flight, making it difficult t=
o find these birds unless you know where to look, and what I find so intere=
sting is that it is the same bluffs or even the same trees that I have seen=
birds using for the past seventeen years that I have visiting these areas.
If anybody is interested in helping with the 8th Annual Wintering Golden Ea=
gle Survey which takes place on January 21st 2012, we still have some route=
s open in Houston and Fillmore counties. There are just as many golden eag=
les to be found in those areas, so if you would like to help with the surve=
y and advance our knowledge on this wintering population, just let me know.=
Last year we had over 100 surveyors count over 80 golden eagles in south e=
ast Minnesota, north east Iowa and western Wisconsin.
THANK YOU,
Scott A. Mehus
Education and Eagle Research Director
NATIONAL EAGLE CENTER
50 Pembroke Avenue
Wabasha Minnesota 55981
651-565-4989 ext. 101
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Date: Thu, 22 Dec 2011 18:45:39 -0700
Reply-To: Kelly Larson
Sender: Rare Bird Alert
From: Kelly Larson
Subject: [mou-net] Bemidji CBC -Varied Thrush!
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The Bemidji CBC was held last Saturday, Dec 17th. Weather conditions
were favorable for the 12 participants and we tallied 34 species with
three additional species for count week. Judging from the numbers it
would appear that the mild temperatures and lack of snow cover is
having an impact on the "normal" movement of winter birds and late
migrants. Highlights included a Varied Thrush, Evening Grosbeaks, N.
Shrike, Magpie and Brown Creeper. High numbers of Junco and Canada
Goose and the lack of Waxwings and Pine Siskins were noted. Three
additional species were recorded for count week, Sharp-shinned Hawk,
Northern Cardinal, and Hoary Redpoll. A big thanks to our faithful
and trusty team of veteran counters and a warm welcome to our newest
participants, Chuck and Danielle, and Valkyrie.
Canada Goose (85)
Mallard (2)
Common Goldeneye (1)
Hooded Merganser (2)
Ruffed Grouse (2)
Bald Eagle (10)
Rough-legged Hawk (4)
Rock Pigeon (99)
Mourning Dove (8)
Barred Owl (1)
Red bellied Woodpecker (3)
Downey Woodpecker (12)
Hairy Woodpecker (10
Pileated Woodpecker (8)
Northern Shrike (2)
Blue Jay (60)
Black-billed Magpie (1)
American Crow (52)
Common Raven (32)
Black-capped Chickadee (293)
Red-breasted Nuthatch (18)
White-breasted Nuthatch (32)
Brown Creeper (2)
American Robin (1)
Varied Thrush (1) -has been at a private residence on the east side
of Lake Plantagenette
European Starling (97
Dark-eyed Junco (21
Pine Grosbeak (15)
House Finch (6)
Common Redpoll (151)
Pine Siskin (2)
American Goldfinch (92)
Evening Grosbeak (13)
English House Sparrow (23)
Kelly Larson
The Bagley Farm -Clearwater
The Bemidji Loft -Beltrami
Minnesota
Eschew Obfuscation!
The middle of Nowhere is Somewhere!
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Date: Thu, 22 Dec 2011 19:55:14 -0700
Reply-To: Jeanie Joppru
Sender: Rare Bird Alert
From: Jeanie Joppru
Subject: Northwest Minnesota Birding Report- Thursday, December 22, 2011
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-RBA
*Minnesota
*Detroit Lakes
*December 22, 2011
*MNDL1112.22
-Birds mentioned
Canada Goose
Ruffed Grouse
Sharp-tailed Grouse
Greater Prairie-Chicken
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Rough-legged Hawk
Snowy Owl
Northern Shrike
Black-billed Magpie
Common Raven
Brown Creeper
Varied Thrush
Eastern Towhee
Harris's Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Common Redpoll
Hoary Redpoll
Evening Grosbeak
-Transcript
Hotline: Minnesota, Detroit Lakes
Date: December 22, 2011
Sponsor: Lakes Area Birding Club, Detroit Lakes Regional Chamber of Commerce
Reports: 1-800-542-3992 (weekdays during business hours)
Compiler: Jeanie Joppru (ajjoppru@q.com)
This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Thursday,December 22,
2011 sponsored by the Detroit Lakes Regional Chamber of Commerce. You
may also hear this report by calling (218)847-5743 or 1-800-433-1888.
Still there is no snow in the northwest, and we are seeing evidence that
it will change the species lists for the Christmas Bird Counts in the
area. Some commonly seen species are fewer and there will be some
surprise laggards from the summer populations. It should be an exciting
year for the CBC.
The Bemidji CBC in Beltrami County was held on December 17 and 34
species were seen. Highlights included a VARIED THRUSH at a private
residence on the east side of Lake Plantagenet. Other species seen
included SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, NORTHERN SHRIKE, BROWN CREEPER, NORTHERN
CARDINAL , HOARY REDPOLL, and EVENING GROSBEAK.
Shelley Steva reported that as of December 19 two ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS
continued to be seen near Plummer in Red Lake County.
In Polk County, Sandy Aubol reported on December 21 that the EASTERN
TOWHEE and two HARRIS'S SPARROWS continue to come daily to her feeders
in East Grand Forks. Emily Hutchins was in Polk County from December 9-
December 12 where she found a SNOWY OWL on December 12 along MN 9 south
of US 2. Other species she mentioned were SHARP-TAILED GROUSE, GREATER
PRAIRIE-CHICKENS, RUFFED GROUSE , BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE, and more than 12
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS in and around the Chicog WMA.
Mel Bennefeld found a COMMON RAVEN on the Pondorosa Golf Course in Clay
County on December 20.
From Hubbard County, Marshall Howe observed a NORTHERN SHRIKE east of
Lake George along MN 71 on December 21. On the 20th, he saw ROUGH-LEGGED
HAWK, BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE, COMMON REDPOLL, and one HOARY REDPOLL in
Hubbard County.
Brad and Dee Ehlers reported on December 17 that 8000 CANADA GEESE are
using the Orwell Reservoir in Otter Tail County southwest of Fergus
Falls.
Thanks to Brad and Dee Ehlers, Emily Hutchins, Kelly Larson, Marshall
Howe, Mel Bennefeld, Sandy Aubol, and Shelley Steva for their reports.
Please report bird sightings to Jeanie Joppru by email, no later than
Thursday each week, at ajjoppru@mncable.net OR call the Detroit Lakes
Chamber's toll free number: 1-800-542-3992. Detroit Lakes area birders
please call 847-9202. Please include the county where the sighting took
place. The next scheduled update of this report is Wednesday December
28, 2011.
Jeanie Joppru
Pennington County, MN
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-RBA
*Minnesota
*Detroit Lakes
*December 22, 2011
*MNDL1112.22
-Birds mentioned
- Canada Goose
- Ruffed Grouse
- Sharp-tailed Grouse
- Greater Prairie-Chicken
- Sharp-shinned Hawk
- Rough-legged Hawk
- Snowy Owl
- Northern Shrike
- Black-billed Magpie
- Common Raven
- Brown Creeper
- Varied Thrush
- Eastern Towhee
- Harris's Sparrow
- Northern Cardinal
- Common Redpoll
- Hoary Redpoll
- Evening Grosbeak
-Transcript
Hotline: Minnesota, Detroit Lakes
Date: December 22, 2011
Sponsor: Lakes Area Birding Club, Detroit Lakes Regional Chamber of Commerce
Reports: 1-800-542-3992 (weekdays during business hours)
Compiler: Jeanie Joppru (ajjoppru@q.com)
This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Thursday,December 22, 2011 sponsored by the Detroit Lakes Regional Chamber of Commerce. You may also hear this report by calling (218)847-5743 or 1-800-433-1888.
Still there is no snow in the northwest, and we are seeing evidence that it will change the species lists for the Christmas Bird Counts in the area. Some commonly seen species are fewer and there will be some surprise laggards from the summer populations. It should be an exciting year for the CBC.
The Bemidji CBC in Beltrami County was held on December 17 and 34 species were seen. Highlights included a VARIED THRUSH at a private residence on the east side of Lake Plantagenet. Other species seen included SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, NORTHERN SHRIKE, BROWN CREEPER, NORTHERN CARDINAL , HOARY REDPOLL, and EVENING GROSBEAK.
Shelley Steva reported that as of December 19 two ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS continued to be seen near Plummer in Red Lake County.
In Polk County, Sandy Aubol reported on December 21 that the EASTERN TOWHEE and two HARRIS'S SPARROWS continue to come daily to her feeders in East Grand Forks. Emily Hutchins was in Polk County from December 9- December 12 where she found a SNOWY OWL on December 12 along MN 9 south of US 2. Other species she mentioned were SHARP-TAILED GROUSE, GREATER PRAIRIE-CHICKENS, RUFFED GROUSE , BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE, and more than 12 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS in and around the Chicog WMA.
Mel Bennefeld found a COMMON RAVEN on the Pondorosa Golf Course in Clay County on December 20.
From Hubbard County, Marshall Howe observed a NORTHERN SHRIKE east of Lake George along MN 71 on December 21. On the 20th, he saw ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE, COMMON REDPOLL, and one HOARY REDPOLL in Hubbard County.
Brad and Dee Ehlers reported on December 17 that 8000 CANADA GEESE are using the Orwell Reservoir in Otter Tail County southwest of Fergus Falls.
Thanks to Brad and Dee Ehlers, Emily Hutchins, Kelly Larson, Marshall Howe, Mel Bennefeld, Sandy Aubol, and Shelley Steva for their reports.
Please report bird sightings to Jeanie Joppru by email, no later than Thursday each week, at ajjoppru@mncable.net OR call the Detroit Lakes Chamber's toll free number: 1-800-542-3992. Detroit Lakes area birders please call 847-9202. Please include the county where the sighting took place. The next scheduled update of this report is Wednesday December 28, 2011.
Jeanie Joppru
Pennington County, MN
--====1324608914====--
=========================================================================
Date: Fri, 23 Dec 2011 11:07:13 -0700
Reply-To: Bob Dunlap
Sender: Rare Bird Alert
From: Bob Dunlap
Subject: [mou-net] Glaucous-winged Gull rebound at Canal Park noon 12/23
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Mike Hendrickson just refound the bird sitting on the water out from the
breakwall at Canal Park with Herring Gulls.
Bob Dunlap
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=========================================================================
Date: Fri, 23 Dec 2011 12:07:29 -0600
Reply-To: Peder Svingen
Sender: Rare Bird Alert
From: Peder Svingen
Subject: Re: [mou-net] Glaucous-winged Gull, Duluth
X-To: Karl Bardon
In-Reply-To:
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Lars Benson just called to report that the adult Glaucous-winged Gull has
been refound at Canal Park.
Peder Svingen
Duluth
On Dec 22, 2011 3:02 PM, "Karl Bardon" wrote:
> Beginning at 9:43 this morning, I have been studying an apparent adult
> Glaucous-winged Gull at Canal Park, Duluth, St. Louis County. I say
> apparent because of the many complications inherent in identifying large
> gulls, especially this species. Since Glaucous-winged Gull forms hybrid
> swarms with multiple other species of gulls (including Glaucous, Western
> and Herring), where the majority of some local populations are actually
> hybrids, great must be taken when identifying this species out of range.
> For now I have posted a single photo on MOU recently seen, but will include
> a more in depth analysis on my pbase gull pages (www.pbase.com/karlbardon
> ).
>
> Karl Bardon
> Duluth, MN
>
> ----
> Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net
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>
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Lars Benson just called to report that the adult Glaucous-winged Gull ha=
s been refound at Canal Park.
Peder Svingen
Duluth
On Dec 22, 2011 3:02 PM, "Karl Bardon"=
<
rba@moumn.org> wrote:
Beginning at 9:43 this morning, I have been studying an apparent adult Glau=
cous-winged Gull at Canal Park, Duluth, St. Louis County. I say apparent be=
cause of the many complications inherent in identifying large gulls, especi=
ally this species. Since Glaucous-winged Gull forms hybrid swarms with mult=
iple other species of gulls (including Glaucous, Western and Herring), wher=
e the majority of some local populations are actually hybrids, great must b=
e taken when identifying this species out of range. For now I have posted a=
single photo on MOU recently seen, but will include a more in depth analys=
is on my pbase gull pages (www.pbase.com/karlbardon).
=A0
Karl Bardon
Duluth, MN
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=========================================================================
Date: Fri, 23 Dec 2011 17:11:08 -0700
Reply-To: Alex Cruz
Sender: Rare Bird Alert
From: Alex Cruz
Subject: [mou-net] Snowy owl, downtown Minneapolis, Hennepin Co
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Just had a Snowy Owl fly over when Glenwood Ave crosses 394 in DT Minneapoli=
s at 1750! Been driving in area near here and Twins stadium, have not reloca=
ted--was on 394 when this huge white owl flew right over my car!
Looking up (luckily),
Alex Cruz
Hennepin Co
Sent from Alex's iPhone.=
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Date: Fri, 23 Dec 2011 19:53:20 -0700
Reply-To: Jesse Ellis
Sender: Rare Bird Alert
From: Jesse Ellis
Subject: Re: [mou-net] Glaucous-winged Gull, Duluth
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Hey all-
I'm not out to rain on anyone's parade, but I might. I'd be really
interested to hear the opinions of some West-coast gull-meisters on this
individual. From all of the photos I've seen, the color patterns are
(obviously) good for Glaucous-winged Gull, but a lot of the structure is
iffy. My chops in terms of gull ID aren't great, but I birded for a year or
two in the Seattle area, and spent many winters in Ithaca NY gulling.
However it's been a few years since I have put a lot of time into gulls
(Madison doesn't get many unless you go to the dump.)
All that said, here's my take on these photos. Every time I look at them, I
feel weird about the head shape. This includes two aspects. One is the bill
and the other is the crown. The bill just doesn't seem heavy enough for a
Glaucous-winged. While it's rather stout, there are a number of photos
where it seems too short and too even. Glaucous-winged Gulls generally have
honkin' huge bills that are long and have a very heavy tip. This bird's
bill seems short and fairly even. There are a few pictures that seem closer
in line to expected for Glaucous-winged Gull, but the best photos (like
this one: http://www.pbase.com/karlbardon/image/140493686) show a short,
even bill. The other issue well-illustrated in this photo is the steep
forehead. In my experience, and perusing lots of photos around,
Glaucous-winged Gulls have a flat head and flat forehead sloping slowly
down to the bill, even moreso than the similar feature on a Herring Gull.
This bird looks more Thayer's-like in that aspect.
Another issue is the wing pattern, but this isn't quite as annoying to me.
Most of the photos and guides I've looked at say that p10 should have a
large white mirror, while p9 will lack a mirror or show a small mirror.
This bird has a big mirror. Additionally, most guides and photos show
Glaucous-winged Gulls with very little white tongues/moons on p8 and not a
ton on p7 (see this photo:
http://columbiariverimages.com/Birds/Images09Feb/portland_glaucous-winged_g=
ull_flying_02-16-09.jpg
).
I want to be clear, here. These are things about the photos that bother me,
given my personal experience with Glaucous Gulls. I'm not calling an ID one
way or another on this bird from 9 photos. I hope I'm wrong! I just have a
few doubts. I'll probably be up to Duluth to check it out on Monday, if it
stays. I'm throwing this out there to get some discussion going, which, I
think, is traditional for gulls...
Karl, and anyone else who's seen the bird, what do you think about this?
Have any western gull folks looked at the photos accumulating? Anyone else
who's seen Glaucous-winged Gulls have opinions?
Jesse Ellis
Madison WI (and currently Saint Paul, MN)
On Thu, Dec 22, 2011 at 2:59 PM, Karl Bardon wrote:
> Beginning at 9:43 this morning, I have been studying an apparent adult
> Glaucous-winged Gull at Canal Park, Duluth, St. Louis County. I say
> apparent because of the many complications inherent in identifying large
> gulls, especially this species. Since Glaucous-winged Gull forms hybrid
> swarms with multiple other species of gulls (including Glaucous, Western
> and Herring), where the majority of some local populations are actually
> hybrids, great must be taken when identifying this species out of range.
> For now I have posted a single photo on MOU recently seen, but will inclu=
de
> a more in depth analysis on my pbase gull pages (www.pbase.com/karlbardon
> ).
>
> Karl Bardon
> Duluth, MN
>
> ----
> Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=3Dmou-net
> Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
>
--=20
Jesse Ellis
Post-doctoral Researcher
Dept. of Zoology
University of Wisconsin - Madison
Madison, Dane Co, WI
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=========================================================================
Date: Fri, 23 Dec 2011 19:56:49 -0700
Reply-To: Jim Lind
Sender: Rare Bird Alert
From: Jim Lind
Subject: Duluth RBA 12/23/11
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-RBA
*Minnesota
*Duluth/North Shore
*December 23, 2011
*MNDU1112.23
-Birds mentioned
Lesser Scaup
Common Goldeneye
Hooded Merganser
Spruce Grouse
Horned Grebe
Black-legged Kittiwake
Thayer's Gull
Iceland Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Glaucous Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Snowy Owl
Red-bellied Woodpecker
American Three-toed Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Black-billed Magpie
Townsend's Solitaire
Varied Thrush
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Chipping Sparrow
Hoary Redpoll
-Transcript
Hotline: Minnesota, Duluth/North Shore
Date: December 23, 2011
Sponsor: Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU)
Reports: (218) 834-2858
Compiler: Jim Lind (jslind@frontiernet.net)
This is the Duluth Birding Report for December 23rd, 2011 sponsored by
the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union.
A GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL was found by Karl Bardon on the 22nd at Canal
Park and was relocated on the 23rd. The BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE was
relocated briefly by Karl during the Duluth Christmas Bird Count on the
17th at Canal Park. ICELAND GULLS, GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULLS, GLAUCOUS
GULLS, and THAYER'S GULLS continue to be seen in relatively high numbers
at Canal Park. The male BARROW’S GOLDENEYE, two COMMON GOLDENEYE X
HOODED MERGANSER hybrids, and a late LESSER SCAUP were still present at
Canal Park on the 21st. SNOWY OWLS continue to be reported from Duluth’s
Port Terminal area.
A total of 63 species were seen on the Duluth Christmas Bird Count on
the 17th. In addition to the previously mentioned birds, a VARIED THRUSH
was found by Pat Thomas at her feeders at 6219 East Superior Street, and
the bird has been seen daily though at least the 22nd. Birders are
welcome to look for the bird, but are asked to stay between the driveway
and the back door and not venture beyond the back of the house while
looking for the bird. A TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE was also found on the 17th
at the 2300 block of 5th Street East. Another TOWNSEND’S SOLITAIRE was
found on the 18th on the 4200 block of McCulloch Street in the Lakeside
neighborhood. A BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE was seen along the Riley Road (CR
280) off Jean-Duluth Road (CR 37) on count day, and a NORTHERN FLICKER
was seen along West Skyline Drive at 6th Avenue West. In the Woodland
neighborhood, RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS were seen along Wabasha Street and
along Mygatt Street, and two HOARY REDPOLLS were seen along Allendale
Avenue near Fryberger Arena.
Highlights from the Two Harbors Christmas Bird Count on the 18th
included an AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKER at the Flood Bay wayside
rest, a late YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER and a HORNED GREBE at the mouth of
the Stewart River, and a late CHIPPING SPARROW along 16th Street on the
west side of Two Harbors.
Mike Hendrickson and Andrew Nyhus saw a SPRUCE GROUSE on the 21st along
Lake County Road 2, 1.5 miles south of MN Highway 1. A SNOWY OWL was
seen on the 19th during the Sax-Zim Christmas Bird Count along CR 19,
about a mile north of CR 133.
The next scheduled update of this report will be on Thursday, December
29th.
The telephone number of the Duluth Rare Bird Alert is 218-834-2858.
Information about bird sightings may be left following the recorded
message.
The Duluth Birding Report is sponsored and funded by the Minnesota
Ornithologists' Union (MOU) as a service to its members. For more
information on the MOU, either write us c/o the Bell Museum, e-mail us
at mou@moumn.org, or visit the MOU web site at moumn.org.
--====1324695409====
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-RBA
*Minnesota
*Duluth/North Shore
*December 23, 2011
*MNDU1112.23
-Birds mentioned
- Lesser Scaup
- Common Goldeneye
- Hooded Merganser
- Spruce Grouse
- Horned Grebe
- Black-legged Kittiwake
- Thayer's Gull
- Iceland Gull
- Glaucous-winged Gull
- Glaucous Gull
- Great Black-backed Gull
- Snowy Owl
- Red-bellied Woodpecker
- American Three-toed Woodpecker
- Northern Flicker
- Black-billed Magpie
- Townsend's Solitaire
- Varied Thrush
- Yellow-rumped Warbler
- Chipping Sparrow
- Hoary Redpoll
-Transcript
Hotline: Minnesota, Duluth/North Shore
Date: December 23, 2011
Sponsor: Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU)
Reports: (218) 834-2858
Compiler: Jim Lind (jslind@frontiernet.net)
This is the Duluth Birding Report for December 23rd, 2011 sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union.
A GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL was found by Karl Bardon on the 22nd at Canal Park and was relocated on the 23rd. The BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE was relocated briefly by Karl during the Duluth Christmas Bird Count on the 17th at Canal Park. ICELAND GULLS, GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULLS, GLAUCOUS GULLS, and THAYER'S GULLS continue to be seen in relatively high numbers at Canal Park. The male BARROW’S GOLDENEYE, two COMMON GOLDENEYE X HOODED MERGANSER hybrids, and a late LESSER SCAUP were still present at Canal Park on the 21st. SNOWY OWLS continue to be reported from Duluth’s Port Terminal area.
A total of 63 species were seen on the Duluth Christmas Bird Count on the 17th. In addition to the previously mentioned birds, a VARIED THRUSH was found by Pat Thomas at her feeders at 6219 East Superior Street, and the bird has been seen daily though at least the 22nd. Birders are welcome to look for the bird, but are asked to stay between the driveway and the back door and not venture beyond the back of the house while looking for the bird. A TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE was also found on the 17th at the 2300 block of 5th Street East. Another TOWNSEND’S SOLITAIRE was found on the 18th on the 4200 block of McCulloch Street in the Lakeside neighborhood. A BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE was seen along the Riley Road (CR 280) off Jean-Duluth Road (CR 37) on count day, and a NORTHERN FLICKER was seen along West Skyline Drive at 6th Avenue West. In the Woodland neighborhood, RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS were seen along Wabasha Street and along Mygatt Street, and two HOARY REDPOLLS were seen along Allendale Avenue near Fryberger Arena.
Highlights from the Two Harbors Christmas Bird Count on the 18th included an AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKER at the Flood Bay wayside rest, a late YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER and a HORNED GREBE at the mouth of the Stewart River, and a late CHIPPING SPARROW along 16th Street on the west side of Two Harbors.
Mike Hendrickson and Andrew Nyhus saw a SPRUCE GROUSE on the 21st along Lake County Road 2, 1.5 miles south of MN Highway 1. A SNOWY OWL was seen on the 19th during the Sax-Zim Christmas Bird Count along CR 19, about a mile north of CR 133.
The next scheduled update of this report will be on Thursday, December 29th.
The telephone number of the Duluth Rare Bird Alert is 218-834-2858. Information about bird sightings may be left following the recorded message.
The Duluth Birding Report is sponsored and funded by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU) as a service to its members. For more information on the MOU, either write us c/o the Bell Museum, e-mail us at mou@moumn.org, or visit the MOU web site at moumn.org.
--====1324695409====--
=========================================================================
Date: Sat, 24 Dec 2011 07:19:47 -0700
Reply-To: Anthony Hertzel
Sender: Rare Bird Alert
From: Anthony Hertzel
Subject: MOU RBA 24 December 2011
Mime-Version: 1.0
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-RBA
*Minnesota
*Minnesota Statewide
*December 24, 2011
*MNST1112.24
-Birds mentioned
Barrow's Goldeneye
Thayer's Gull
Iceland Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Glaucous Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Snowy Owl
Carolina Wren
Townsend's Solitaire
Yellow-rumped Warbler
-Transcript
Hotline: Minnesota Statewide
Date: December 24, 2011
Sponsor: Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU) http://moumn.org
Reports: (763) 780-8890
Compiler: Anthony Hertzel (rba@moumn.org)
This is the Minnesota Birding Report for December 22nd, 2011.
In Duluth, Karl Bardon reports that a probable GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL is
being seen at Canal Park, along with at least four GREAT BLACK-BACKED
GULLS, five ICELAND GULLS, eighteen THAYER'S GULLS, and fourteen
GLAUCOUS GULLS. A male BARROW'S GOLDENEYE, was still present here on the
21st. Betsy Beneke reported a BARROW'S GOLDENEYE on the 21st, from the
boat ramp at the Municipal Park in Sauk Rapids, Benton County.
On December 23rd, a SNOWY OWL was reported by Alex Cruz in Minneapolis
near the junction of Glenwood Avenue and I-394.
A CAROLINA WREN was still at the feeders at the Visitor Center at Wild
River State Park in Chisago County on the 20th.
A TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE was found on the 17th along the 2300 block of
East 5th Street in Duluth and another was along the 4200 block of
McCulloch Street in the Lakeside neighborhood of Duluth on the 18th. A
Townsend's Solitaire was in Sherburne County on the 17th, along
Sherburne County Road 5, about four-and-a-half miles south of the
Prairie's Edge Wildlife Drive.
And in Minneapolis, a YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER was seen on the 19th feeding
on cedar berries on the south side of Lake Nokomis.
The next scheduled update of this tape is December 29th, 2011.
--====1324736387====
Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1"
-RBA
*Minnesota
*Minnesota Statewide
*December 24, 2011
*MNST1112.24
-Birds mentioned
- Barrow's Goldeneye
- Thayer's Gull
- Iceland Gull
- Glaucous-winged Gull
- Glaucous Gull
- Great Black-backed Gull
- Snowy Owl
- Carolina Wren
- Townsend's Solitaire
- Yellow-rumped Warbler
-Transcript
Hotline: Minnesota Statewide
Date: December 24, 2011
Sponsor: Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU) http://moumn.org
Reports: (763) 780-8890
Compiler: Anthony Hertzel (rba@moumn.org)
This is the Minnesota Birding Report for December 22nd, 2011.
In Duluth, Karl Bardon reports that a probable GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL is being seen at Canal Park, along with at least four GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULLS, five ICELAND GULLS, eighteen THAYER'S GULLS, and fourteen GLAUCOUS GULLS. A male BARROW'S GOLDENEYE, was still present here on the 21st. Betsy Beneke reported a BARROW'S GOLDENEYE on the 21st, from the boat ramp at the Municipal Park in Sauk Rapids, Benton County.
On December 23rd, a SNOWY OWL was reported by Alex Cruz in Minneapolis near the junction of Glenwood Avenue and I-394.
A CAROLINA WREN was still at the feeders at the Visitor Center at Wild River State Park in Chisago County on the 20th.
A TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE was found on the 17th along the 2300 block of East 5th Street in Duluth and another was along the 4200 block of McCulloch Street in the Lakeside neighborhood of Duluth on the 18th. A Townsend's Solitaire was in Sherburne County on the 17th, along Sherburne County Road 5, about four-and-a-half miles south of the Prairie's Edge Wildlife Drive.
And in Minneapolis, a YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER was seen on the 19th feeding on cedar berries on the south side of Lake Nokomis.
The next scheduled update of this tape is December 29th, 2011.
--====1324736387====--
=========================================================================
Date: Sat, 24 Dec 2011 08:49:46 -0700
Reply-To: douglas chapman
Sender: Rare Bird Alert
From: douglas chapman
Subject: Re: [mou-net] Glaucous-winged Gull, Duluth
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
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I have sent the photos to my friends Alan in Seattle. He is probably =
busy doing family Christmassy things (family in Florida no doubt), but =
will get back to me soon I'm sure.
Doug Chapman
Sioux Falls, SD
On Dec 23, 2011, at 8:53 PM, Jesse Ellis wrote:
> Hey all-
>=20
> I'm not out to rain on anyone's parade, but I might. I'd be really
> interested to hear the opinions of some West-coast gull-meisters on =
this
> individual. =46rom all of the photos I've seen, the color patterns are
> (obviously) good for Glaucous-winged Gull, but a lot of the structure =
is
> iffy. My chops in terms of gull ID aren't great, but I birded for a =
year or
> two in the Seattle area, and spent many winters in Ithaca NY gulling.
> However it's been a few years since I have put a lot of time into =
gulls
> (Madison doesn't get many unless you go to the dump.)
>=20
> All that said, here's my take on these photos. Every time I look at =
them, I
> feel weird about the head shape. This includes two aspects. One is the =
bill
> and the other is the crown. The bill just doesn't seem heavy enough =
for a
> Glaucous-winged. While it's rather stout, there are a number of photos
> where it seems too short and too even. Glaucous-winged Gulls generally =
have
> honkin' huge bills that are long and have a very heavy tip. This =
bird's
> bill seems short and fairly even. There are a few pictures that seem =
closer
> in line to expected for Glaucous-winged Gull, but the best photos =
(like
> this one: http://www.pbase.com/karlbardon/image/140493686) show a =
short,
> even bill. The other issue well-illustrated in this photo is the steep
> forehead. In my experience, and perusing lots of photos around,
> Glaucous-winged Gulls have a flat head and flat forehead sloping =
slowly
> down to the bill, even moreso than the similar feature on a Herring =
Gull.
> This bird looks more Thayer's-like in that aspect.
>=20
> Another issue is the wing pattern, but this isn't quite as annoying to =
me.
> Most of the photos and guides I've looked at say that p10 should have =
a
> large white mirror, while p9 will lack a mirror or show a small =
mirror.
> This bird has a big mirror. Additionally, most guides and photos show
> Glaucous-winged Gulls with very little white tongues/moons on p8 and =
not a
> ton on p7 (see this photo:
> =
http://columbiariverimages.com/Birds/Images09Feb/portland_glaucous-winged_=
gull_flying_02-16-09.jpg
> ).
>=20
> I want to be clear, here. These are things about the photos that =
bother me,
> given my personal experience with Glaucous Gulls. I'm not calling an =
ID one
> way or another on this bird from 9 photos. I hope I'm wrong! I just =
have a
> few doubts. I'll probably be up to Duluth to check it out on Monday, =
if it
> stays. I'm throwing this out there to get some discussion going, =
which, I
> think, is traditional for gulls...
>=20
> Karl, and anyone else who's seen the bird, what do you think about =
this?
> Have any western gull folks looked at the photos accumulating? Anyone =
else
> who's seen Glaucous-winged Gulls have opinions?
>=20
> Jesse Ellis
> Madison WI (and currently Saint Paul, MN)
>=20
> On Thu, Dec 22, 2011 at 2:59 PM, Karl Bardon =
wrote:
>=20
>> Beginning at 9:43 this morning, I have been studying an apparent =
adult
>> Glaucous-winged Gull at Canal Park, Duluth, St. Louis County. I say
>> apparent because of the many complications inherent in identifying =
large
>> gulls, especially this species. Since Glaucous-winged Gull forms =
hybrid
>> swarms with multiple other species of gulls (including Glaucous, =
Western
>> and Herring), where the majority of some local populations are =
actually
>> hybrids, great must be taken when identifying this species out of =
range.
>> For now I have posted a single photo on MOU recently seen, but will =
include
>> a more in depth analysis on my pbase gull pages =
(www.pbase.com/karlbardon
>> ).
>>=20
>> Karl Bardon
>> Duluth, MN
>>=20
>> ----
>> Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=3Dmou-net=
>> Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
>>=20
>=20
>=20
>=20
> --=20
> Jesse Ellis
> Post-doctoral Researcher
> Dept. of Zoology
> University of Wisconsin - Madison
> Madison, Dane Co, WI
>=20
> ----
> Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=3Dmou-net
> Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
>=20
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=========================================================================
Date: Sat, 24 Dec 2011 09:54:31 -0700
Reply-To: Terence Brashear
Sender: Rare Bird Alert
From: Terence Brashear
Subject: Re: [mou-net] Glaucous-winged Gull, Duluth
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
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I forwarded the link to Karl's photos to my friend Stan Walens in San D=
iego. He is also taking a look at them.
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=========================================================================
Date: Sat, 24 Dec 2011 13:17:34 -0700
Reply-To: douglas chapman
Sender: Rare Bird Alert
From: douglas chapman
Subject: Re: [mou-net] Glaucous-winged Gull, Duluth
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Here is Alan Knue's assessment.
> From: AJ Knue
> Subject: Re: GWGU ID needed
> Date: December 24, 2011 12:19:23 PM CST
> To: douglas chapman
>=20
> I'm in Florida so I haven't had a chance to really study the pics, but =
first look it structurally looks wrong. The bill and head shape look =
very atypical for Glaucous-winged. It also looks smaller than the =
Herring in some of the pics. I bet this is a bird with Kumlien's =
genes...maybe Herring x Kumlien's? Maybe I'll have time to look closer =
later this evening. AJ
>=20
>=20
> -----
> Sent from mBox Mail
> Hotmail for iPhone and iPod Touch
> http://www.fluentfactory.com/mboxmail
>=20
> ________________________
On Dec 24, 2011, at 10:54 AM, Terence Brashear wrote:
> I forwarded the link to Karl's photos to my friend Stan Walens in San =
Diego. He is also taking a look at them.
>=20
> From: douglas chapman ;=20
> To: ;=20
> Subject: Re: [mou-net] Glaucous-winged Gull, Duluth=20
> Sent: Sat, Dec 24, 2011 3:49:40 PM=20
>=20
> I have sent the photos to my friends Alan in Seattle. He is probably =
busy doing family Christmassy things (family in Florida no doubt), but =
will get back to me soon I'm sure.
>=20
> Doug Chapman
> Sioux Falls, SD
>=20
> On Dec 23, 2011, at 8:53 PM, Jesse Ellis wrote:
>=20
> > Hey all-
> >=20
> > I'm not out to rain on anyone's parade, but I might. I'd be really
> > interested to hear the opinions of some West-coast gull-meisters on =
this
> > individual. =46rom all of the photos I've seen, the color patterns =
are
> > (obviously) good for Glaucous-winged Gull, but a lot of the =
structure is
> > iffy. My chops in terms of gull ID aren't great, but I birded for a =
year or
> > two in the Seattle area, and spent many winters in Ithaca NY =
gulling.
> > However it's been a few years since I have put a lot of time into =
gulls
> > (Madison doesn't get many unless you go to the dump.)
> >=20
> > All that said, here's my take on these photos. Every time I look at =
them, I
> > feel weird about the head shape. This includes two aspects. One is =
the bill
> > and the other is the crown. The bill just doesn't seem heavy enough =
for a
> > Glaucous-winged. While it's rather stout, there are a number of =
photos
> > where it seems too short and too even. Glaucous-winged Gulls =
generally have
> > honkin' huge bills that are long and have a very heavy tip. This =
bird's
> > bill seems short and fairly even. There are a few pictures that seem =
closer
> > in line to expected for Glaucous-winged Gull, but the best photos =
(like
> > this one: http://www.pbase.com/karlbardon/image/140493686) show a =
short,
> > even bill. The other issue well-illustrated in this photo is the =
steep
> > forehead. In my experience, and perusing lots of photos around,
> > Glaucous-winged Gulls have a flat head and flat forehead sloping =
slowly
> > down to the bill, even moreso than the similar feature on a Herring =
Gull.
> > This bird looks more Thayer's-like in that aspect.
> >=20
> > Another issue is the wing pattern, but this isn't quite as annoying =
to me.
> > Most of the photos and guides I've looked at say that p10 should =
have a
> > large white mirror, while p9 will lack a mirror or show a small =
mirror.
> > This bird has a big mirror. Additionally, most guides and photos =
show
> > Glaucous-winged Gulls with very little white tongues/moons on p8 and =
not a
> > ton on p7 (see this photo:
> > =
http://columbiariverimages.com/Birds/Images09Feb/portland_glaucous-winged_=
gull_flying_02-16-09.jpg
> > ).
> >=20
> > I want to be clear, here. These are things about the photos that =
bother me,
> > given my personal experience with Glaucous Gulls. I'm not calling an =
ID one
> > way or another on this bird from 9 photos. I hope I'm wrong! I just =
have a
> > few doubts. I'll probably be up to Duluth to check it out on Monday, =
if it
> > stays. I'm throwing this out there to get some discussion going, =
which, I
> > think, is traditional for gulls...
> >=20
> > Karl, and anyone else who's seen the bird, what do you think about =
this?
> > Have any western gull folks looked at the photos accumulating? =
Anyone else
> > who's seen Glaucous-winged Gulls have opinions?
> >=20
> > Jesse Ellis
> > Madison WI (and currently Saint Paul, MN)
> >=20
> > On Thu, Dec 22, 2011 at 2:59 PM, Karl Bardon =
wrote:
> >=20
> >> Beginning at 9:43 this morning, I have been studying an apparent =
adult
> >> Glaucous-winged Gull at Canal Park, Duluth, St. Louis County. I say
> >> apparent because of the many complications inherent in identifying =
large
> >> gulls, especially this species. Since Glaucous-winged Gull forms =
hybrid
> >> swarms with multiple other species of gulls (including Glaucous, =
Western
> >> and Herring), where the majority of some local populations are =
actually
> >> hybrids, great must be taken when identifying this species out of =
range.
> >> For now I have posted a single photo on MOU recently seen, but will =
include
> >> a more in depth analysis on my pbase gull pages =
(www.pbase.com/karlbardon
> >> ).
> >>=20
> >> Karl Bardon
> >> Duluth, MN
> >>=20
> >> ----
> >> Join or Leave mou-net: =
http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=3Dmou-net
> >> Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
> >>=20
> >=20
> >=20
> >=20
> > --=20
> > Jesse Ellis
> > Post-doctoral Researcher
> > Dept. of Zoology
> > University of Wisconsin - Madison
> > Madison, Dane Co, WI
> >=20
> > ----
> > Join or Leave mou-net: =
http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=3Dmou-net
> > Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
> >=20
>=20
> ----
> Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=3Dmou-net
> Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
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=========================================================================
Date: Sat, 24 Dec 2011 13:36:02 -0700
Reply-To: Sandy Aubol
Sender: Rare Bird Alert
From: Sandy Aubol
Subject: [mou-net] Polk County Snowy Owl
Mime-Version: 1.0
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Early this afternoon, my husband and I observed a juvenile Snowy Owl just o=
n the eastern edge of East Grand Forks (Polk County), kitty-corner across H=
wy 2 from American Crystal Sugar. It was perched on a small lift station.=
=0A=A0=0AJust north of the Crystal Sugar lagoons, a Bald=A0Eagle was perche=
d in a tree overlooking 25-30 jackrabbits. It then flew over the lagoons an=
d stirred up several thousand Canada geese with what looked like a few Cack=
ling geese mixed in. =0A=A0=0AWe saw a Rough-legged Hawk about 14-15 miles =
east of East Grand Forks late this morning, at the intersection of 300th Av=
e SW and 150th St. SW.=A0 =0A=A0=0AAn Eastern Towhee and 2 Harris's Sparrow=
s continue to feed in my yard in East Grand Forks.=0A=A0=0ASandy Aubol=0AEa=
st Grand Forks, MN=0APolk County
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=========================================================================
Date: Sat, 24 Dec 2011 14:19:08 -0700
Reply-To: Brian Wisconsin
Sender: Rare Bird Alert
From: Brian Wisconsin
Subject: [mou-net] Townsend's Solitaire at CNC 12/24
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Saw the Solitaire on 12/24 at Carpenter Nature Center around 2:00. It was =
above the first bench past the observation point on the Savanna Trail. =20
It was the most helpful bird. I heard its call as it perched in the same s=
pot roughly 15 feet off the ground for maybe one minute=2C giving me a grea=
t view. It did not seem the least concerned about me.
Brian
=
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=========================================================================
Date: Sat, 24 Dec 2011 16:07:23 -0700
Reply-To: Jenn Gillen
Sender: Rare Bird Alert
From: Jenn Gillen
Subject: [mou-net] Dakota County Snowy Owl (Black Dog Lake)
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Saw a Snowy Owl sitting on the easternmost shoreline (near 77) of Black Dog=
=20
Lake around 3:30 this afternoon. If you drive toward the power plant on=20
Black Dog road the owl was visible along the shore from the bridge at the=20
outlet. We got a clear view without crossing the No Tresspassing signs.
Also seen on the lake: lots of Common Mergansers, one Red-breasted=20
Merganser, and one Ruddy Duck.
On the other side of black dog lake accessed off of the 35W and Black Dog=20
Road exit, the previously reported Glaucous Gull was sitting on the ice on=
=20
the Minnesota River, at lake outlet.
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=========================================================================
Date: Sun, 25 Dec 2011 09:22:20 -0700
Reply-To: Jesse Ellis
Sender: Rare Bird Alert
From: Jesse Ellis
Subject: [mou-net] Old Cedar Avenue - Glaucous Gull
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Hey MN -
Yesterday some of my family and I took a short walk at Old Cedar Avenue in
the MN Valley Natl Wildlife Refuge at around 1:30 yesterday. It was very
quiet in terms of passerines, but there's a lead of open water which was
productive, visible from the boardwalk platform. There were about 75
Herring Gulls and a handful of Ring-billed Gulls, and a single 1st-cycle
Glaucous Gull on the ice. There were about 10 Trumpeter Swans, some Canada
Geese, and a few Common Mergansers, Goldeneye and Mallards. Further west in
the glare of the sun were many more waterfowl, probably also geese and
swans.
--=20
Jesse Ellis
Post-doctoral Researcher
Dept. of Zoology
University of Wisconsin - Madison
Madison, Dane Co, WI
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=========================================================================
Date: Sun, 25 Dec 2011 21:29:04 -0700
Reply-To: Jesse Ellis
Sender: Rare Bird Alert
From: Jesse Ellis
Subject: Re: [mou-net] Glaucous-winged Gull, Duluth
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Hey all-
For the record, while a few folks have suggested other possibilities, quite
a few experienced gull folk out there have said that the individual in
Karl's photos is consistent with a small female Glaucous-winged Gull. I
therefore have to second Miek Hendrickson and say this one's for the
records committee. Here's hoping! If anyone else has seen it this weekend
I'd love to hear about it. My dad and I will be looking tomorrow.
Happy Holidays to all,
Jesse Ellis
On Sat, Dec 24, 2011 at 10:54 AM, Terence Brashear wrot=
e:
> I forwarded the link to Karl's photos to my friend Stan Walens in San
> Diego. He is also taking a look at them.
>
> ----
> Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=3Dmou-net
> Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
>
--=20
Jesse Ellis
Post-doctoral Researcher
Dept. of Zoology
University of Wisconsin - Madison
Madison, Dane Co, WI
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=========================================================================
Date: Mon, 26 Dec 2011 07:53:19 -0700
Reply-To: Joel Claus
Sender: Rare Bird Alert
From: Joel Claus
Subject: [mou-net] MSP Airport Snowy Owl
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Decided to check the airport on the way home from Christmas festivities yes=
terday. We found a young Snowy Owl perched on a red runway/taxiway light a=
long Cargo Road at 4:40 PM. The bird was on the south side of the road and=
just past the first tunnel. It was on the closest set of lights to the ro=
ad. While we were watching it flew over by the Humphrey Terminal and ended=
up on some very tall light poles.
=20
Joel Claus
Eden Prairie =
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=========================================================================
Date: Mon, 26 Dec 2011 14:44:49 -0600
Reply-To: "John P. Ellis"
Sender: Rare Bird Alert
From: "John P. Ellis"
Subject: GWGU@ 27th Ave 12:30
Mime-Version: 1.0 (1.0)
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Briefly on ice, flew west. Also 12 GLGU, 1 ICGU, 2 GBBG , 2 THGU, goshawk.
Sent from my iPhone
=========================================================================
Date: Mon, 26 Dec 2011 16:00:25 -0700
Reply-To: Scott Mehus
Sender: Rare Bird Alert
From: Scott Mehus
Subject: [mou-net] Freeborn county snowy owl
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On Christmas day I thought it would be nice to show my mother a snowy owl, =
and thought we would head up to Albert Lea to try and relocate the snowy ow=
l by Love's Truck Stop that Al Batt had reported earlier in the week. We h=
ad just gotten out of my hometown of Glenville along HWY 65 when we are abl=
e to spot a juvenile male snowy on a power line pole. My mother and boys w=
ere able to get great looks at this snowy which was about 2 miles north of =
the town of Glenville. We were unable to relocate the Truck Stop owl thoug=
h.
Of the ten snowy owls that I have seen this winter, this was one of the dar=
kest yet.
THANK YOU,
Scott A. Mehus
Education and Eagle Research Director
NATIONAL EAGLE CENTER
50 Pembroke Avenue
Wabasha Minnesota 55981
651-565-5357 - Fax
651-565-4989 ext. 101
Email scott@nationaleaglecenter.org
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=========================================================================
Date: Tue, 27 Dec 2011 07:32:58 -0700
Reply-To: MARK OTNES
Sender: Rare Bird Alert
From: MARK OTNES
Subject: [mou-net] MOU Records Committee - Ferruginous Hawk Accepted 6-1
Mime-Version: 1.0
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I appreciated seeing the proceedings of the MOU records committee in the
latest issue of the Loon. I find the reasons for records turned down and
dissents (2 or greater, I guess) to be very informative. I would also
like to see the reasons for dissent on those records that are accepted on a
6 to 1 vote. In particular, I would love to read the one dissent on the
Ferruginous Hawk seen and photographed (shown in the Loon) in Lac Qui Parle
County on 10-25-2010. I'm not an ace birder, particularly when it comes to
raptors, so I would like to see that reasons that that raptor pictured in
the Loon might not have been a Ferruginous Hawk.
Mark Otnes
Fargo ND
701-241-4194
markotnes@cableone.net
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=========================================================================
Date: Tue, 27 Dec 2011 08:32:41 -0700
Reply-To: Steve Weston
Sender: Rare Bird Alert
From: Steve Weston
Subject: Re: [mou-net] MOU Records Committee - Ferruginous Hawk Accepted
6-1
Mime-Version: 1.0
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I agree. I fear that the vote against the Ferruginous Hawk has nothing to
do with data (in this case a clear photo), but has to do with either of two
factors:
- a prejudice against the data gather. I do not believe that such
prejudices should not be part of the process and that if the data can not
be impartially analyzed then the committee's processes are tainted and
should be modified. I, for one, would prefer that the records be
submitted to the committee without identifying the observer. By the way, I
do not feel that I am personally affected by this prejudice.
- a predisposition against what birds are expected to be observed. An
example was the dismissal of an observation of several cowbirds
overwintering in Dakota County years ago by a well respected,
birder/ornithologist, and committee member, as not being likely. We now
know that cowbirds regularly overwinter at large feed lots in Dakota County.
So, why isn't this a Ferruginous Hawk?
--=20
Steve Weston
sweston2@comcast.net
On Tue, Dec 27, 2011 at 8:32 AM, MARK OTNES wrote:
> I appreciated seeing the proceedings of the MOU records committee in the
> latest issue of the Loon. I find the reasons for records turned down and
> dissents (2 or greater, I guess) to be very informative. I would also
> like to see the reasons for dissent on those records that are accepted on=
a
> 6 to 1 vote. In particular, I would love to read the one dissent on the
> Ferruginous Hawk seen and photographed (shown in the Loon) in Lac Qui Par=
le
> County on 10-25-2010. I'm not an ace birder, particularly when it comes =
to
> raptors, so I would like to see that reasons that that raptor pictured in
> the Loon might not have been a Ferruginous Hawk.
>
> Mark Otnes
> Fargo ND
> 701-241-4194
> markotnes@cableone.net
>
> ----
> Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=3Dmou-net
> Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
>
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=========================================================================
Date: Tue, 27 Dec 2011 09:15:42 -0700
Reply-To: Robin LaFortune
Sender: Rare Bird Alert
From: Robin LaFortune
Subject: [mou-net] Townsend's Solitaire Western Henn Co
Mime-Version: 1.0
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Hi,
I found a Townsend's Solitaire on Sun and Mon at Lake Rebecca Park =
Reserve near Delano. This was the same area that I found a Solitaire =
twice on 2 separate years(but not last year). The location is directly =
east of Rattail Lake, south of the hiking trail and west of Co Rd 92. I =
can't give very good directions as I was walking off trail thru the =
pines close to 92 and south of the hiking trail
Also in the area, I flushed a GHO and saw a couple of Brown Creepers and =
Red-breasted Nuthatches. No winter finches, and otherwise pretty quiet.
Robin LaFortune
Delano, MN
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=========================================================================
Date: Tue, 27 Dec 2011 18:38:38 -0700
Reply-To: Refsnider
Sender: Rare Bird Alert
From: Refsnider
Subject: [mou-net] Aitkin County Great Gray Owl
Mime-Version: 1.0
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Thanks to previous posts, at noon today we were able to refind the great
gray owl on Hwy. 18 in Aitkin County. It was perched in a tree right
along the roadside ditch 2.8 miles east of Hwy. 169. Previous posts had
noted it at 2.9 and 4.6 miles east of 169.
Our thanks to the folks who continue to post the locations of wintering
owls. The great gray owl was a lifer for two members of our group, so
the previous posts were greatly appreciated.
Near that location on 18 we also observed 12-15 white-winged crossbills
(a lifer for one of us) and several common redpolls.
On the way back to the Cities we make a quick stop at Cedar Creek to
check on the red-headed woodpeckers reported by Steve Weston. We easily
spotted 6-8 individuals from the public hiking trail from the parking
lot at the north end of Durant. This, too, was a lifer for one of our
group.
A very good day of birding, due to the kindness of previous posters.
Thanks again.
Ron Refsnider
Coon Rapids
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Date: Wed, 28 Dec 2011 10:20:45 -0700
Reply-To: Carl Greiner
Sender: Rare Bird Alert
From: Carl Greiner
Subject: Re: [mou-net] MOU Records Committee - Ferruginous Hawk Accepted
6-1
Mime-Version: 1.0
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Thanks for your input. I appreciate any suggestions and opportunities =
for
improvement to make the MOU better. The Minnesota Ornithologists Union
Records Committee (MOURC) provides a very valuable function to the MOU. =
By
peer-reviewing official state records, they confirm and validate those
records so that everyone may have a high degree of confidence that our
records are accurate. The MOURC members are all accomplished in bird
identification and graciously volunteer a considerable amount of time
serving on this Committee. It is a thankless job. If they are too =
stringent,
they are criticized for not accepting someone's record; whereas, if they =
are
too lenient, they would be criticized because your records would be
meaningless.
The MOURC operates under defined rules
(http://moumn.org/mourc/bylaws.php ); however, bird identification is =
too
complex to be completely objective (refer to the recent discussions on =
the
presumed Glaucous-winged Gull). Because of the subjectivity and the
requirement that the records that are approved are as accurate as =
possible,
there occasionally will be situations where the submitter or some of the =
MOU
membership does not agree with the way a MOURC member votes. This is ok,
that is why the MOURC is a committee and does not require a unanimous =
vote
to approve a record, even a first state record. Much like a jury, the =
MOURC
weighs the available evidence and makes an informed decision based on =
such
evidence. This process helps to insure that the MOU records and archive =
are
as accurate as possible. In addition, if new evidence comes to light =
after
a record has been voted that might change the outcome of the original =
vote,
a new vote will take place if a majority of the Committee approves. This
provides an additional safeguard for records that may have been =
incomplete
or inaccurate when initially submitted or when new knowledge about a
particular species is subsequently discovered.
In this case, the Ferruginous Hawk was approved. In my opinion, it
would be extremely unproductive to micromanage individual votes or to =
make
suppositions concerning an individual's motive for voting one way or the
other, especially without the evidence that was made available to the =
MOURC.
While I welcome public review of the MOU's policies and procedures, if =
you
have questions or concerns about a particular individual or vote, please
contact Tom Tustison (the MOURC Chairman) or myself rather than in a =
public
forum.=20
I think this case illustrates that the system works. I want to =
thank
the MOURC for performing this very challenging and unrewarding job and
including a description of the Committee's decision of records that were =
not
accepted in the Loon. We can all learn from the descriptions of why the
MOURC did not accept a record. I don't agree that we should have each =
member
of the Committee write an explanation of every vote or even every =
negative
vote. That is just too burdensome for people who are already =
volunteering a
large amount of time.=20
Thanks,
Carl
Carl Greiner=20
President,=20
Minnesota Ornithologists=92 Union
=A0
1616 Hill St. S.W.
Chatfield, MN. 55923
507-271-8286
cgreiner@mchsi.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Minnesota Birds [mailto:MOU-NET@LISTS.UMN.EDU] On Behalf Of Steve
Weston
Sent: Tuesday, December 27, 2011 9:33 AM
To: MOU-NET@LISTS.UMN.EDU
Subject: Re: [mou-net] MOU Records Committee - Ferruginous Hawk Accepted =
6-1
I agree. I fear that the vote against the Ferruginous Hawk has nothing =
to
do with data (in this case a clear photo), but has to do with either of =
two
factors:
- a prejudice against the data gather. I do not believe that such
prejudices should not be part of the process and that if the data can =
not
be impartially analyzed then the committee's processes are tainted and
should be modified. I, for one, would prefer that the records be
submitted to the committee without identifying the observer. By the =
way, I
do not feel that I am personally affected by this prejudice.
- a predisposition against what birds are expected to be observed. An
example was the dismissal of an observation of several cowbirds
overwintering in Dakota County years ago by a well respected,
birder/ornithologist, and committee member, as not being likely. We now
know that cowbirds regularly overwinter at large feed lots in Dakota =
County.
So, why isn't this a Ferruginous Hawk?
--=20
Steve Weston
sweston2@comcast.net
On Tue, Dec 27, 2011 at 8:32 AM, MARK OTNES =
wrote:
> I appreciated seeing the proceedings of the MOU records committee in =
the
> latest issue of the Loon. I find the reasons for records turned down =
and
> dissents (2 or greater, I guess) to be very informative. I would =
also
> like to see the reasons for dissent on those records that are accepted =
on
a
> 6 to 1 vote. In particular, I would love to read the one dissent on =
the
> Ferruginous Hawk seen and photographed (shown in the Loon) in Lac Qui
Parle
> County on 10-25-2010. I'm not an ace birder, particularly when it =
comes
to
> raptors, so I would like to see that reasons that that raptor pictured =
in
> the Loon might not have been a Ferruginous Hawk.
>
> Mark Otnes
> Fargo ND
> 701-241-4194
> markotnes@cableone.net
>
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Date: Wed, 28 Dec 2011 11:09:23 -0700
Reply-To: Laura Erickson
Sender: Rare Bird Alert
From: Laura Erickson
Subject: Re: [mou-net] MOU Records Committee - Ferruginous Hawk Accepted
6-1
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I am not and have never served on any state records committee, but for
a few years I was the spring seasonal reports editor for the Wisconsin
Society for Ornithology, and as such had to make decisions about
sightings that weren't significant enough to warrant review by the
state records committee. Over the years, especially when I was out
birding all the time before getting too darned busy writing about
birds to have time to watch them, I've had a handful of rare bird
sightings accepted in Wisconsin and Minnesota, and I've had a handful
of rare bird sightings rejected in both states. I'm also sort of a
photographer, and have spent thousands of hours scrutinizing my own
photos and helping people to identify birds in their photos in my
capacity answering some email inquiries to for a national
ornithological institution.
I can think of a few reasonable explanations for why a knowledgeable
committee member might reject a sighting, even one supported by a
photo. (As Carl noted, consider the debate with regard to the
Glaucous-winged Gull.) In the case of an exceptional hawk, even when
identification is unquestionable, there is always the possibility that
a bird escaped from a falconer rather than being a true vagrant.
Birders naturally want all our reports to be accepted, both for our
sense of validation as competent birders and because our lists depend
on it., and MOURC serves as our referee or umpire. But MOURC's more
important role is scientific. As the Glaucous-winged Gull discussion
shows, there can be differences of opinion even among experts
regarding the identification of a bird shown clearly in photos, and
there can also be differences of opinion as to the likelihood of the
origin of vagrants/escapees.
In the case Steve mentioned of the cowbirds, I think the committee
acted in a perfectly reasonable way, rejecting a sighting that seemed
fundamentally improbable until further information came to light. I
can remember when a MOURC member recommended taking Anhingas off the
state list, including his own record of one, after discovering some
interesting soaring behaviors in cormorants that hadn't been taken
into account in the reports.
Theoretically, in a perfect world, open discussion of a single
dissenting committee member's vote could be enlightening, but seems
far more likely to open up these hard working individuals to personal
attack. I know that there are always suspicions that this or that
committee member is making a decision based on personalities rather
than evidence, but despite my own history of involvement in various
controversies in Minnesota birding, I've never ever felt that any
committee member was likely to decide on a vote for any except
legitimate reasons involving accurate identification and reasonable
expectation that a bird was a true vagrant rather than an escapee.
Allowing one dissenting vote on a committee of seven recognizes both
the difficulties involved in making determinations of significant
records and the importance of a scientific committee being
conservative.
At any given moment, the Minnesota Checklist is our best understanding
of the status of birds in our state, and thanks to this conscientious
committee, our list is ever evolving. I am very proud to live in a
state with such a fine records committee.
--=20
Laura Erickson
Duluth, MN
For the love, understanding, and protection of birds
There is symbolic as well as actual beauty in the migration of birds.
There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of
nature--the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after
the winter.
=A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =97Rachel Carson
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Date: Wed, 28 Dec 2011 13:17:47 -0700
Reply-To: Jesse Ellis
Sender: Rare Bird Alert
From: Jesse Ellis
Subject: Re: [mou-net] MOU Records Committee - Ferruginous Hawk Accepted
6-1
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Hey all-
As I understand it, another serious issue can be the quality of the report
(as opposed to the photo). I have no idea if this is true with the
Ferruginous Hawk record or not. But I've heard of issues where only a
photograph is submitted, with no other information or documentation. While
the photo may indeed be of the species in question, without other
corroborating information, the record is incomplete in in some cases
useless. I think in many cases if we give the records committees the
respect of time put into completely documenting our sightings, we will
often be rewarded with acceptance; they're already doing a lot of work for
us, and the least we can do is make accepting the record easy for them.
As noted, too, one can always resubmit with better explanations of how (for
instance) a hybrid was or could be ruled out, even if that information was
not in the original report.
Jesse Ellis
Madison WI
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Date: Wed, 28 Dec 2011 14:53:10 -0700
Reply-To: Laura Erickson
Sender: Rare Bird Alert
From: Laura Erickson
Subject: Re: [mou-net] MOU Records Committee - Ferruginous Hawk Accepted
6-1
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One thing that several states do, which seems like a good idea, is to
keep all the documentation and the Records Committee comments and
votes in a file that is archived and open for public inspection in a
secure location. For example, New York archives their committee
records at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. If MOU were to do this, I'd
presume the Bell Museum would be the right place for maintaining the
archives. Of course, for all I know, this may already be the protocol.
But again, as someone who is utterly burned out after serving on
various boards and committees, I do not see any value in adding to the
workload of people on MOURC. And I think it's both unkind and
destructive of a cohesive birding community to engage a whole listserv
in criticizing an important committee, and specifically questioning
one person's vote on that committee, when we never seem to engage the
listserv in pointing out the huge contribution that this committee
makes in maintaining our state, national, and international
ornithological standing. I would much rather see the committee members
feeling free to vote their concerns on a record than be pressured into
making votes unanimous when legitimate questions may exist about a
particular record.
Laura Erickson
Duluth, MN
For the love, understanding, and protection of birds
There is symbolic as well as actual beauty in the migration of birds.
There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of
nature--the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after
the winter.
=A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =97Rachel Carson
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Date: Wed, 28 Dec 2011 16:45:42 -0700
Reply-To: Paul Budde
Sender: Rare Bird Alert
From: Paul Budde
Subject: [mou-net] Snowy Owl and gulls in Hennepin/Dakota
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A heavily marked immature Snowy Owl was visible far to the south from the p=
arking lot on the south side of Cargo Rd just west of the first tunnel. A s=
cope was essential as the bird was near the warehouse-like structure with m=
any "garage doors". Seen today at 4:30 PM.=20
At Black Dog there was a large collection of gulls at the east end of the e=
ast pond (nearest Hwy 77). The Franklin's Gull was still present, along wit=
h 4 Glaucous Gulls, a few Ring-billeds and hundreds of Herrings.=20
Paul
Paul Budde | Aon Benfield
Aon Benfield Analytics
t: +1 952.886.8119
m: +1 612.810.3172
e: paul.budde@aonbenfield.com
(Sent from BlackBerry)=
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Date: Wed, 28 Dec 2011 18:45:06 -0700
Reply-To: Jeanie Joppru
Sender: Rare Bird Alert
From: Jeanie Joppru
Subject: Northwest Minnesota Birding Report- Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="====1325123106===="
--====1325123106====
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-RBA
*Minnesota
*Detroit Lakes
*December 28, 2011
*MNDL1112.28
-Birds mentioned
Canada Goose
Bald Eagle
Rough-legged Hawk
Merlin
Snowy Owl
Northern Flicker
Brown Creeper
Golden-crowned Kinglet
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
Eastern Towhee
White-throated Sparrow
Harris's Sparrow
-Transcript
Hotline: Minnesota, Detroit Lakes
Date: December 28, 2011
Sponsor: Lakes Area Birding Club, Detroit Lakes Regional Chamber of Commerce
Reports: 1-800-542-3992 (weekdays during business hours)
Compiler: Jeanie Joppru (ajjoppru@q.com)
This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Wednesday, December
28, 2011 sponsored by the Detroit Lakes Regional Chamber of Commerce.
You may also hear this report by calling (218)847-5743 or
1-800-433-1888.
This report will be a day early so that this reporter can participate in
the Christmas Bird County in the Beltrami Island State Forest. It
appears to be a rather quiet week both with the weather and the birds.
From Polk County, Sandy Aubol reported a large flock of over 2000 CANADA
GEESE that flew over the city of East Grand Forks on December 23. An
EASTERN TOWHEE, WHITE-THROATED SPARROW, and two HARRIS'S SPARROWS were
still coming to her feeder that day. A juvenile SNOWY OWL was found on
the east edge of East Grand Forks across from the American Crystal Sugar
plant, and a BALD EAGLE could be seen just north of the Crystal Sugar
lagoons. A ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was seen about 15 miles east of the city of
East Grand Forks. The Grand Forks-East Grand Forks CBC found a MERLIN, 2
GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS, 10 AMERICAN ROBINS, and several CEDAR WAXWINGS
on the Minnesota side of the Red River.
Here is Pennington County, a NORTHERN FLICKER visited our feeder east of
Thief River Falls early on Christmas morning. Linda Johnson reported a
BROWN CREEPER in her yard in Thief River Falls on December 26.
Thanks to Dave Lambeth, Linda Johnson, and Sandy Aubol for their
reports.
Please report bird sightings to Jeanie Joppru by email, no later than
Thursday each week, at ajjoppru@mncable.net OR call the Detroit Lakes
Chamber's toll free number: 1-800-542-3992. Detroit Lakes area birders
please call 847-9202. Please include the county where the sighting took
place. The next scheduled update of this report is Thursday, January 4,
2012.
Jeanie Joppru
Pennington County, MN
--====1325123106====
Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1"
-RBA
*Minnesota
*Detroit Lakes
*December 28, 2011
*MNDL1112.28
-Birds mentioned
- Canada Goose
- Bald Eagle
- Rough-legged Hawk
- Merlin
- Snowy Owl
- Northern Flicker
- Brown Creeper
- Golden-crowned Kinglet
- American Robin
- Cedar Waxwing
- Eastern Towhee
- White-throated Sparrow
- Harris's Sparrow
-Transcript
Hotline: Minnesota, Detroit Lakes
Date: December 28, 2011
Sponsor: Lakes Area Birding Club, Detroit Lakes Regional Chamber of Commerce
Reports: 1-800-542-3992 (weekdays during business hours)
Compiler: Jeanie Joppru (ajjoppru@q.com)
This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Wednesday, December 28, 2011 sponsored by the Detroit Lakes Regional Chamber of Commerce. You may also hear this report by calling (218)847-5743 or 1-800-433-1888.
This report will be a day early so that this reporter can participate in the Christmas Bird County in the Beltrami Island State Forest. It appears to be a rather quiet week both with the weather and the birds.
From Polk County, Sandy Aubol reported a large flock of over 2000 CANADA GEESE that flew over the city of East Grand Forks on December 23. An EASTERN TOWHEE, WHITE-THROATED SPARROW, and two HARRIS'S SPARROWS were still coming to her feeder that day. A juvenile SNOWY OWL was found on the east edge of East Grand Forks across from the American Crystal Sugar plant, and a BALD EAGLE could be seen just north of the Crystal Sugar lagoons. A ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was seen about 15 miles east of the city of East Grand Forks. The Grand Forks-East Grand Forks CBC found a MERLIN, 2 GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS, 10 AMERICAN ROBINS, and several CEDAR WAXWINGS on the Minnesota side of the Red River.
Here is Pennington County, a NORTHERN FLICKER visited our feeder east of Thief River Falls early on Christmas morning. Linda Johnson reported a BROWN CREEPER in her yard in Thief River Falls on December 26.
Thanks to Dave Lambeth, Linda Johnson, and Sandy Aubol for their reports.
Please report bird sightings to Jeanie Joppru by email, no later than Thursday each week, at ajjoppru@mncable.net OR call the Detroit Lakes Chamber's toll free number: 1-800-542-3992. Detroit Lakes area birders please call 847-9202. Please include the county where the sighting took place. The next scheduled update of this report is Thursday, January 4, 2012.
Jeanie Joppru
Pennington County, MN
--====1325123106====--
=========================================================================
Date: Thu, 29 Dec 2011 05:58:28 -0700
Reply-To: MARK OTNES
Sender: Rare Bird Alert
From: MARK OTNES
Subject: Re: [mou-net] MOU Records Committee - Ferruginous Hawk Accepted
6-1
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I appreciate all of the feedback on this post. My intention in posting was
not to attack the committee or anyone on it, but was due to genuine
curiosity on why one member thought that the bird should not be accepted. =
A
contrarian view sometimes becomes the dominant view and I just wanted to
know what that view was in this case. It=92s kind of like the Supreme Cour=
t
where there=92s always a dissenting opinion that spells out why certain
members didn=92t sign on to the majority opinion. It can be useful and mak=
e
you think and make you reexamine what you believe, all of which can be
healthy. Anyway, that=92s why I posted what I did.
Mark Otnes
On Wed, Dec 28, 2011 at 3:53 PM, Laura Erickson <
chickadee.erickson@gmail.com> wrote:
> One thing that several states do, which seems like a good idea, is to
> keep all the documentation and the Records Committee comments and
> votes in a file that is archived and open for public inspection in a
> secure location. For example, New York archives their committee
> records at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. If MOU were to do this, I'd
> presume the Bell Museum would be the right place for maintaining the
> archives. Of course, for all I know, this may already be the protocol.
>
> But again, as someone who is utterly burned out after serving on
> various boards and committees, I do not see any value in adding to the
> workload of people on MOURC. And I think it's both unkind and
> destructive of a cohesive birding community to engage a whole listserv
> in criticizing an important committee, and specifically questioning
> one person's vote on that committee, when we never seem to engage the
> listserv in pointing out the huge contribution that this committee
> makes in maintaining our state, national, and international
> ornithological standing. I would much rather see the committee members
> feeling free to vote their concerns on a record than be pressured into
> making votes unanimous when legitimate questions may exist about a
> particular record.
>
> Laura Erickson
> Duluth, MN
>
> For the love, understanding, and protection of birds
>
> There is symbolic as well as actual beauty in the migration of birds.
> There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of
> nature--the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after
> the winter.
>
> =97Rachel Carson
>
> Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail.
>
> ----
> Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=3Dmou-net
> Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
>
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=========================================================================
Date: Thu, 29 Dec 2011 12:25:42 -0700
Reply-To: james otto
Sender: Rare Bird Alert
From: james otto
Subject: [mou-net] dakota county townsend's solitaire
Mime-Version: 1.0
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Today at 12:15 Mark Junghans and I saw a Townsend's Solitaire at the Castle=
Rock Cementry in Dakota County.This is located on Dakota County 53N (Alver=
no ave) north of Dakota County 80S about quarter of a mile. This is betwee=
n Mn State 3 and County 79.
Jim Otto
=
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=========================================================================
Date: Thu, 29 Dec 2011 17:01:56 -0700
Reply-To: Heidi Hughes
Sender: Rare Bird Alert
From: Heidi Hughes
Subject: [mou-net] A Harrier, Snowy Owl and Brown Creeper
Mime-Version: 1.0
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I spotted a male Northern Harrier feeding on a rodent late this afternoon
on the berm of the Agassiz Valley flood control impoundment on 190th St. at
270th Ave NW in Warren. We've had a Brown Creeper on the black willows
near feeders at the Audubon Center all week and we are still seeing lots of
Rough-legged Hawks in local CRP lands. Only one Snowy Owl report - east of
Crookston on Hwy 2 near Sherack.
--=20
Heidi Hughes
Agassiz Audubon Society
27391 190th Street NW
Warren MN 56762
218.745.5663
http://AgassizAudubon.blogspot.com
http://OnLakeAgassiz.blogspot.com
Visit the Audubon Center of the Red River Valley
& Omdahl Arboretum!
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Date: Thu, 29 Dec 2011 21:24:19 -0700
Reply-To: Malcolm Gold
Sender: Rare Bird Alert
From: Malcolm Gold
Subject: [mou-net] Wadena Golden Eagle
Mime-Version: 1.0
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While visiting my in-laws this week my wife and I have taken the
opportunity to get out and explore with kids enjoying their time with
grandparents. Our winter highlights include the following along with
expected birds.
6 Rough-legged Hawks & 3 Male Northern Harriers (along HWY 71 and County 66
north of Wadena)
1 Golden Eagle (Flying north along 71 north of Wadena)
12 Common Redpolls (Kent Sheer's private park behind Kals Kars)
- Malcolm Gold (Winona MN)
http://mcmdgold.blogspot.com/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/malcolmgold/
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=========================================================================
Date: Fri, 30 Dec 2011 10:09:27 -0700
Reply-To: Paul Budde
Sender: Rare Bird Alert
From: Paul Budde
Subject: [mou-net] dakota county townsend's solitaire
Mime-Version: 1.0
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Jim and Mark's solitaire was still present this morning, calling and feedin=
g up the hill in the southwest corner of the cemetery. Also present was a P=
urple Finch.=20
Paul
Paul Budde | Aon Benfield
Aon Benfield Analytics
t: +1 952.886.8119
m: +1 612.810.3172
e: paul.budde@aonbenfield.com
(Sent from BlackBerry)
----- Original Message -----
From: james otto [mailto:jlotto1@MSN.COM]
Sent: Thursday, December 29, 2011 01:25 PM=0A=
To: MOU-NET@LISTS.UMN.EDU
Subject: [mou-net] dakota county townsend's solitaire
Today at 12:15 Mark Junghans and I saw a Townsend's Solitaire at the Castle=
Rock Cementry in Dakota County.This is located on Dakota County 53N (Alver=
no ave) north of Dakota County 80S about quarter of a mile. This is betwee=
n Mn State 3 and County 79.
Jim Otto
=20
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Date: Fri, 30 Dec 2011 12:18:21 -0700
Reply-To: Jim Lind
Sender: Rare Bird Alert
From: Jim Lind
Subject: Duluth RBA 12/30/11
Mime-Version: 1.0
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--====1325272701====
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-RBA
*Minnesota
*Duluth/North Shore
*December 30, 2011
*MNDU1112.30
-Birds mentioned
Thayer's Gull
Iceland Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Glaucous Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Varied Thrush
Yellow-rumped Warbler
-Transcript
Hotline: Minnesota, Duluth/North Shore
Date: December 30, 2011
Sponsor: Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU)
Reports: (218) 834-2858
Compiler: Jim Lind (jslind@frontiernet.net)
This is the Duluth Birding Report for December 30th, 2011 sponsored by
the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union.
The apparent GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL was still present in the Duluth harbor
as of the 29th. It has been seen by several observers at Canal Park and
at WLSSD near the mouth of Miller Creek at 27th Avenue West. ICELAND
GULLS, GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULLS, GLAUCOUS GULLS, and THAYER'S GULLS
continue to be seen at both locations.
The VARIED THRUSH at Pat Thomas's feeders at 6219 East Superior Street
was seen as recently as the 25th. Birders are welcome to look for the
bird, but are asked to stay between the driveway and the back door and
not venture beyond the back of the house while looking for the bird.
Dudley Edmundson saw a late-lingering YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER in Duluth on
the 29th below London Road between 15th and 16th Avenue East.
The next scheduled update of this report will be on Thursday, January
5th.
The telephone number of the Duluth Rare Bird Alert is 218-834-2858.
Information about bird sightings may be left following the recorded
message.
The Duluth Birding Report is sponsored and funded by the Minnesota
Ornithologists' Union (MOU) as a service to its members. For more
information on the MOU, either write us c/o the Bell Museum, e-mail us
at mou@moumn.org, or visit the MOU web site at moumn.org.
--====1325272701====
Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1"
-RBA
*Minnesota
*Duluth/North Shore
*December 30, 2011
*MNDU1112.30
-Birds mentioned
- Thayer's Gull
- Iceland Gull
- Glaucous-winged Gull
- Glaucous Gull
- Great Black-backed Gull
- Varied Thrush
- Yellow-rumped Warbler
-Transcript
Hotline: Minnesota, Duluth/North Shore
Date: December 30, 2011
Sponsor: Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU)
Reports: (218) 834-2858
Compiler: Jim Lind (jslind@frontiernet.net)
This is the Duluth Birding Report for December 30th, 2011 sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union.
The apparent GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL was still present in the Duluth harbor as of the 29th. It has been seen by several observers at Canal Park and at WLSSD near the mouth of Miller Creek at 27th Avenue West. ICELAND GULLS, GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULLS, GLAUCOUS GULLS, and THAYER'S GULLS continue to be seen at both locations.
The VARIED THRUSH at Pat Thomas's feeders at 6219 East Superior Street was seen as recently as the 25th. Birders are welcome to look for the bird, but are asked to stay between the driveway and the back door and not venture beyond the back of the house while looking for the bird. Dudley Edmundson saw a late-lingering YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER in Duluth on the 29th below London Road between 15th and 16th Avenue East.
The next scheduled update of this report will be on Thursday, January 5th.
The telephone number of the Duluth Rare Bird Alert is 218-834-2858. Information about bird sightings may be left following the recorded message.
The Duluth Birding Report is sponsored and funded by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU) as a service to its members. For more information on the MOU, either write us c/o the Bell Museum, e-mail us at mou@moumn.org, or visit the MOU web site at moumn.org.
--====1325272701====--
=========================================================================
Date: Fri, 30 Dec 2011 14:00:41 -0700
Reply-To: Robert Burmaster
Sender: Rare Bird Alert
From: Robert Burmaster
Subject: [mou-net] Hennepin County - MSP Airport - Cargo Road - Snowy Owl
- 12/30/2011 - with Photos
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Hi -
I live 5 minutes from MSP and have regularly been touring Cargo Road in hop=
es of spotting a Snowy Owl. My persistence (obsession) finally paid off tod=
ay.=20
Snowy Owl spotted just south of the second tunnel entrance and just west of=
Cargo Road. First sitting on the taxiway adjacent to the North/South runwa=
y. He then jumped up to a taxiway sign. I watched it for about 20 minutes b=
efore a plane came through the taxiway and flushed it to another taxiway si=
gn the west side of the runway. He probably would have sat where he was muc=
h longer if not for the plane that went by on the taxiway.
Here are a bunch of the best photos I caught.http://www.flickr.com/photos/r=
burmaster/sets/72157628640126835/
Kindest regards=2CBob Burmasterrburmaster@hotmail.comMinneapolis
=
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Date: Fri, 30 Dec 2011 15:28:04 -0700
Reply-To: Howard Towle
Sender: Rare Bird Alert
From: Howard Towle
Subject: [mou-net] Townsend's Solitaire - Sherburne Co
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I found a single Townsend's Solitaire this afternoon at the Ann Lake =
location in Sherburne Co described by Pastor Al in an earlier post =
(11/29). The bird was approximately 1/4 mile south of the parking lot, =
alternating between feeding in the cedars and perching atop the =
deciduous trees.
Howard Towle
Golden Valley, MN=
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Date: Fri, 30 Dec 2011 17:40:33 -0700
Reply-To: Dave Bartkey
Sender: Rare Bird Alert
From: Dave Bartkey
Subject: [mou-net] Wabasha Co. Snowy Owl
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Hi everyone=2C
After participating in the Red Wing CBC today=2C we left Lake City and de=
cided to head west through our section on a road we weren't able to cover e=
arlier and we were rewarded with what is probably a juvenile male Snowy Owl=
. It was located along the south side of Wabasha CR 15 about a quarter mile=
east of where it intersects with CR 82. The bird was perched atop a teleph=
one pole and seemed to be in good health. Interesting too was the Great-hor=
ned Owl atop another pole about 5-7 miles west of here in Goodhue County.
Good birding!
Dave Bartkey
Faribault=2CMN
=
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Date: Fri, 30 Dec 2011 22:19:36 -0600
Reply-To: Peder Svingen
Sender: Rare Bird Alert
From: Peder Svingen
Subject: Glaucous-winged Gull images and videos from Duluth
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The adult Glaucous-winged Gull was seen at Canal Park, Duluth, in the late
afternoon yesterday (12/29) between 2:40 and 2:57 PM and all afternoon
today (12/30) until 3:00 PM when all of the gulls departed Canal Park.
Other observers have reported finding the gull on ice floes in the Duluth
harbor or at WLDDS (27th Ave West), but Canal Park has been the most
consistent location since its discovery by Karl Bardon on the 22nd.
I uploaded four short HD video clips taken yesterday under overcast skies
which gives an accurate rendering of mantle shade. One of the clips shows
the bird surrounded by American Herring Gulls for direct comparison of
size, bill characteristics, and mantle shade. Other clips show the bird
bathing and flapping its wings.
http://youtu.be/hhpbPSDVT-I
http://youtu.be/hZG1z8fY5mM
http://youtu.be/b3QGNrHL68E
http://youtu.be/-1zeZL8OEBs
A series of images taken 25 December 2011 can be found at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cochon/sets/72157628573959635/
Informed comments on this bird are most welcome. Thanks for your interest
and best wishes for good birding in 2012!
--
Peder H. Svingen
Duluth, MN
psvingen@gmail.com
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The adult Glaucous-winged Gull was seen at Canal Park, Dulu=
th, in the late afternoon yesterday (12/29) between 2:40 and 2:57 PM and al=
l afternoon today (12/30) until 3:00 PM when all of the gulls departed Cana=
l Park. Other observers have reported finding the gull on ice floes in the =
Duluth harbor or at WLDDS (27th Ave West), but Canal Park has been the most=
consistent location since its discovery by Karl Bardon on the 22nd.=A0
I uploaded four short HD video clips taken yesterday under =
overcast skies which gives an accurate rendering of mantle shade. One of th=
e clips shows the bird surrounded by American Herring Gulls for direct comp=
arison of size, bill characteristics, and mantle shade. Other clips show th=
e bird bathing and flapping its wings.=A0
http://youtu.be/hhp=
bPSDVT-I
http://youtu.be/hZG=
1z8fY5mM
http://youtu.be/b3Q=
GNrHL68E
http://youtu.be/-1z=
eZL8OEBs
A series of images taken 25 December 2011 can be found at:<=
/p>
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cochon/sets/72157628573959635/
Informed comments on this bird are most welcome.=A0Thanks f=
or your interest and best wishes for good birding in 2012!
--
Peder H. Svingen
Duluth, MN
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Date: Sat, 31 Dec 2011 08:22:54 -0700
Reply-To: Anthony Hertzel
Sender: Rare Bird Alert
From: Anthony Hertzel
Subject: MOU RBA 31 December 2011
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-RBA
*Minnesota
*Minnesota Statewide
*December 31, 2011
*MNST1112.31
-Birds mentioned
Barrow's Goldeneye
Thayer's Gull
Iceland Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Glaucous Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Townsend's Solitaire
Varied Thrush
-Transcript
Hotline: Minnesota Statewide
Date: December 31, 2011
Sponsor: Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU) http://moumn.org
Reports: (763) 780-8890
Compiler: Anthony Hertzel (rba@moumn.org)
This is the Minnesota Birding Report for December 30th, 2011.
In Duluth, that GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL is still being seen daily at Canal
Park but also occasionally at 27th Avenue West, Other gulls in the area
include GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL, ICELAND GULL, THAYER'S GULL, and
GLAUCOUS GULL.
I have a secondhand report of a BARROW'S GOLDENEYE, seen on the 26th on
the Mississippi River at the state highway 61 pull-out north of Reads
Landing in Wabasha County.
Howard Towle reported a TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE on the 30th at the Ann Lake
campground in Sherburne County, about a quarter of a mile south of the
parking lot. Another was reported on the 29th by Jim Otto at the Castle
Rock cemetery, which is along Alverno Avenue about a quarter of a mile
north of Dakota County Road 80. And on the 25th, Robin LaFortune found
one at Lake Rebecca Park Reserve near Delano in Hennepin County. The
location is east of Rattail Lake, south of the hiking trail and west of
County Road 92. That TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE which has been at Carpenter
Nature Center in Washington County since November 27th was seen again on
December 24th.
Steve Millard reports that both TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE and VARIED THRUSH
were seen on the Fergus Falls CBC in Otter Tail County on the 17th. In
Duluth, a VARIED THRUSH is visiting the feeders 6219 East Superior
Street, and it was last reported on the 25th.
The next scheduled update of this tape is January 5th 2012.
--====1325344974====
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-RBA
*Minnesota
*Minnesota Statewide
*December 31, 2011
*MNST1112.31
-Birds mentioned
- Barrow's Goldeneye
- Thayer's Gull
- Iceland Gull
- Glaucous-winged Gull
- Glaucous Gull
- Great Black-backed Gull
- Townsend's Solitaire
- Varied Thrush
-Transcript
Hotline: Minnesota Statewide
Date: December 31, 2011
Sponsor: Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU) http://moumn.org
Reports: (763) 780-8890
Compiler: Anthony Hertzel (rba@moumn.org)
This is the Minnesota Birding Report for December 30th, 2011.
In Duluth, that GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL is still being seen daily at Canal Park but also occasionally at 27th Avenue West, Other gulls in the area include GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL, ICELAND GULL, THAYER'S GULL, and GLAUCOUS GULL.
I have a secondhand report of a BARROW'S GOLDENEYE, seen on the 26th on the Mississippi River at the state highway 61 pull-out north of Reads Landing in Wabasha County.
Howard Towle reported a TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE on the 30th at the Ann Lake campground in Sherburne County, about a quarter of a mile south of the parking lot. Another was reported on the 29th by Jim Otto at the Castle Rock cemetery, which is along Alverno Avenue about a quarter of a mile north of Dakota County Road 80. And on the 25th, Robin LaFortune found one at Lake Rebecca Park Reserve near Delano in Hennepin County. The location is east of Rattail Lake, south of the hiking trail and west of County Road 92. That TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE which has been at Carpenter Nature Center in Washington County since November 27th was seen again on December 24th.
Steve Millard reports that both TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE and VARIED THRUSH were seen on the Fergus Falls CBC in Otter Tail County on the 17th. In Duluth, a VARIED THRUSH is visiting the feeders 6219 East Superior Street, and it was last reported on the 25th.
The next scheduled update of this tape is January 5th 2012.
--====1325344974====--
=========================================================================
Date: Sat, 31 Dec 2011 10:10:05 -0700
Reply-To: Sid Stivland
Sender: Rare Bird Alert
From: Sid Stivland
Subject: [mou-net] Fw: [NEBirds] Snowy Owl Summary - Update
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Maybe not new news but the Nebraska folks are up to 83 Snowies so far.
Sid Stivland
Plymouth, MN
From: Jorgensen, Joel=20
Sent: Saturday, December 31, 2011 10:56 AM
To: mailto:NEBirds@yahoogroups.com=20
Subject: [NEBirds] Snowy Owl Summary - Update
=20
Good morning:
With the media coverage, additional reports of Snowy Owls have come in. =
The statewide total for Nebraska as of end of business yesterday was =
EIGHTY-THREE (83). Reports that come in are vetted and I am doing my =
best not to duplicate birds. Nebraska does have a higher total than Iowa =
(76) at this time. Not that it is a competition, but Iowa reports are =
lacking from the northeast part of the state just as reports are lacking =
for Nebraska in the west. It appears the invasion is centered roughly on =
the Missouri River valley.
Some information about the most recent reports in case anyone wants to =
go chasing in the wind (and possibly confirming some of these reports).
* Gage (?) County: E. Pickrell Rd. and had just crossed 608 Ave., =
between Pickrell and Tecumseh on 27 December. Observer was taking a walk =
and reported it on the ground and thought it was merely a plastic bag =
until she got closer and then realized it was a creature. I am unable to =
find where 608 Ave is?
* Hall County: 5 miles east of Shelton, NE along Burmood Rd, 29 =
December. Minimal description, requested additional details.
* Hitchcock County: County road southeast of Trenton. Photographed.
* Holt County: 1 miles south of the Niobrara River, found dead. Carcass =
photographed.
* Dodge County: Platte River sandbar 1 mile west of North Bend. Folks =
out on ATVs. Decent description of bird and behavior.
* Nuckolls County: An injured bird was picked up, but subsequently died.
Ross Silcock reported seeing the bird near Overton yesterday, but it if =
remember correctly the bird was a half mile south of Highway 30.
Finally, the bird reported previously from Valparaiso was actually found =
INSIDE a grain bin full of corn (I received some pictures to back this =
up). Perhaps it dropped down in it chasing a mouse? Anyways, the farmer =
left the top open and the Snowy Owl did get out, which I thought was a =
little surprising given the size of the openings at the top of a grain =
bin.
Happy New Year!
- Joel
Joel Jorgensen | Nongame Bird Program Manager
Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
2200 N. 33rd St. | Lincoln, NE 68503
mailto:joel.jorgensen%40nebraska.gov | 402.471.5440
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