The influx of northern owls continues in Minnesota, with GREAT GRAY OWLS reported moving south in large numbers into Carlton, Pine, Itasca, Aitkin, and Crow Wing counties. A Great Gray is being seen at the Eagan Post Office, one block south of Lone Oak Road and Lexington Avenue. Another was in Chisago County on January 27th, near the junction of County Road 67 and 420th Street, east of North Branch.
On January 22nd, Tom Bloom reported a SHORT-EARED OWL in the city of Apple Valley. The Owl was seen in a parking lot at the junction of Galaxy Avenue and Dakota County Road 42.
Two HARLEQUIN DUCKS are still present in Two Harbors, in Lake County, and are typically seen along the main breakwater at Agate Bay.
An AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKER and a BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER were relocated on January 24th along the west side of McDavitt Road in the Sax-Zim Bog, rougly 2.3 miles north of Sax Road.
The CAROLINA WREN was relocated on the 26th at the Old Cedar Avenue Bridge area of Bloomington, in Hennepin County. It is seen most often at the top of the access road across from the garden center.
On January 26th, a TOWNSEND’S SOLITAIRE was found in east Duluth at 40th Avenue East and Cooke Street. It has been in the brushy area of the yard, at the southeast corner, and in the cedar tree at the northeast corner. On January 21st, the Townsend’s Solitaire was still at the Ann Lake Campground in Sherburne County at the 1.5 mile mark of the access road.
In Waseca County, a VARIED THRUSH was reported in the city of Waseca on January 26th. To view this bird, begin east of Waseca on U.S. Highway 14, and turn left onto Highway 4. Continue roughly 1 1/2 miles south to County Road 9. Travel west on County Road 9 about four miles and turn south on the curve. The Thrush was seen in this area. And a Varied Thrush can still be seen in Falcon Heights, in Ramsey County. Take Roselawn Avenue to Prior Avenue, and continue 5 blocks to Howell. This Thrush has been seen near this intersection.
And last, many people are reporting NORTHERN SHRIKES. This species seems to be making a good showing in the eastern half of the state, with various reports from Carlton County south to Rice County.