-RBA
*Minnesota
*Minnesota Statewide
*February 17, 2012
*MNST1202.17

-Birds mentioned -Transcript

Hotline: Minnesota Statewide
Date: February 17, 2012
Sponsor: Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU) http://moumn.org
Reports: (763) 780-8890
Compiler: Anthony Hertzel ([log in to unmask])

This is the Minnesota Birding Report for February 16th, 2012.

The NORTHERN HAWK OWL is still being seen near Gooseberry Falls State Park in Lake County. Check along state highway 61 about a mile northeast of the Gooseberry River.

Both AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKER and BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER are being seen in Lake County on the east side of the Sawbill Landing Road, a quarter of a mile north of forest road 172.

There was a second-hand report of a MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD from the 16th near Tofte in Cook County, across the highway from the grocery store, but I have no further information.

On the 12th, Milton Blomberg found a TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE at the Warner Lake County Park near Clearwater in Stearns County. Directions are to park at the Nature Center building, walk the trail over the bridge and around the west side of the lake for about a quarter of a mile to the stand of cedars on the left.

The VARIED THRUSH which has been seen in Duluth since last December was still visiting the feeders at 6219 East Superior Street. Birders are welcome to stop by, but are asked to stay between the driveway and the back door and not walk into the backyard. And the VARIED THRUSH — first seen January 17th in Hasting Dakota County at 17774 Blackbird Trail — was still present today.

Very early was the February 12th report of calling SANDHILL CRANES at Lake Rebecca Park Reserve in Hennepin County. This is more than a month earlier than the species' typical spring arrival date. Other spring migrants that have begun to show up include AMERICAN KESTREL, HORNED LARK, EASTERN BLUEBIRD, and AMERICAN ROBIN.

The next scheduled update of this tape is February 23rd, 2012.