A male BARROW’S GOLDENEYE is being seen along the Mississippi River between the city of Hastings in Dakota County, and Prescott, Wisconsin. The best way to view this bird is to begin in Prescott, and turn right off U.S. Highway 10 at Jefferson Street. Take the first right onto Orange Street, and then the first left onto River Front Street. After a short distance, take the first right to a parking area next to an apartment building. The bird can be found associating with a large flock of COMMON GOLDENEYE. A LONG-TAILED DUCK has been seen about half a mile south of this location.

The influx of northern owls continues in northeastern Minnesota, with GREAT GRAY OWLS and NORTHERN HAWK OWLS being fairly easy to find in the vicinity of Duluth and along the north shore of Lake Superior. The most likely location to view these owls is the Sax Zim Bog area along St. Louis County Roads 52 and 7. One Northern Hawk Owl was seen along Interstate 35, two miles north of Cloquet on Christmas Day.

A Great Gray Owl has been seen north of Chaska, in Carver County since December 28th. The owl is at the marsh found at the junction of Bavaria Road and Engler Boulevard. This is just west of State Highway 41. The first-winter GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL is still present at Black Dog Lake in Dakota County. It was reported as recently as the 29th.

An amazing flock of 15 EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES was in downtown Benson, in Swift County, on December 27th. The doves were seen just southwest of the intersection of U.S. Highway 12 and State Highway 9.

Bill Stauffer reported a CAROLINA WREN at his home in Minneapolis on December 24th. Bill lives near 47th Street and France Avenue.

The VARIED THRUSH is still being seen in Falcon Heights, in Ramsey County. Check the area between 1900 & 2000 West Summer Street. Another was in Becker County on December 26th at the home of Ruth Bergquist, along Many Point Boy Scout Road in Ponsford. And on the 29th, a Varied Thrush was seen in Bloomington, in Hennepin County, at the corner of Sheridan and 110th Street.