In general, the first half of May is the best time to view warblers and songbirds in their full breeding plumage. Some of the favorites include indigo bunting, scarlet tanager and rose-breasted grosbeak. Towards the end of May, birders have a second opportunity to see these beautiful birds in the far northern regions of Minnesota. Avid and novice birders may also want to check out International Migratory Bird Day at the Prairie Wetlands Learning Center in Fergus Falls, May 14; the Detroit Lakes Festival Of The Birds, May 19-22; and The 6th Annual Bluff Country Birding Fest in southeastern Minnesota’s Historic Bluff Country, May 20-22. Each event offers guided bird walks, special bird activities, displays and demonstrations. More information on these events can be found at www.exploreminnesota.com

The following is a list of recent, significant sightings:

On May 10th, Bob Janssen and Jerry Bonkoski discovered a ROCK WREN in Clay County. The bird was seen atop rock pile #6002, which is located at the gravel mining operation at Felton Prairie. A pair of Rock Wrens were found nesting in this area last year. Also at the Felton Prairie, Bob O’Connor found a LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH on May 9th. The bird was in the woods along the gravel road that forks to the left at the north end of Clay County Road 108. This location is just northwest of the north gate.

On May 8th, Kim and Cindy Risen found an immature BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE on Lake Mille Lacs behind the Harbor Inn & Marina, just north of the town of Garrison on the Crow Wing/Aitkin County line.

Nels Thompson discovered a BLACK-NECKED STILT in Steele County on May 8th, and the bird was still present at least through the morning of the 11th. The bird was seen at Spindler Pond, situated one-half of a mile west of Rice Lake State Park, just east of Owatonna on Rose Street. Three stilts were found in the same location last year.

One of three SUMMER TANAGERS was found in Steele County this past week. Nels Thompson reported this bird at his home which is east of the town of Hope. At Interstate 35, take exit number 32 and travel east for three-quarters of a mile. The bird was seen in this area. Another Summer Tanager was at Hok-si-la Park near Lake City in Goodhue County on the 8th, but no further information is available. And at Wood Lake Nature Center in Richfield, in Hennepin County, a Summer Tanager was found by Bryan McKamey, both at his home and in the park. Within the park, the bird is most often reported in the southeast corner. A HOODED WARBLER has also been seen in the park along the short loop trail just west of the Nature Center building.

A WESTERN TANAGER was found by Julian Sellers at the Senn-Rich Wildlife Management Area in Waseca County on May 10th. It was foraging in the willows at the east end of the wetland, northwest of the entrance. The Senn-Rich Wildlife Management Area is four and one-half miles south of Waseca on State Highway 13. Rose Kneeskern found a LITTLE BLUE HERON east of the Oakwood Cemetery in Mower County on the 10th. This cemetery is at the northeast corner of the intersection of I-90 and 4th Street Northwest in Austin.

On May 8th, Bruce Fall found three CATTLE EGRETS in a field just west of U.S. Highway 52, roughly one-quarter of a mile south of 170th Street in Dakota County.

Kim and Cindy Risen reported a LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL on the western shore of Lake Mille Lacs in Mille Lacs County on May 8th. The bird was at the intersection of County Road 25 and U.S. Highway 169.

Bob Dunlap found a NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD on May 9th in the Gustavus Adolphus Arboretum in St. Peter, in Nicollet County. From U.S. Highway 169 in St. Peter, travel west on College Avenue to a T intersection. Turn left, continue straight past the stop sign, and take an immediate left into the Arboretum parking lot and look for visitor parking. Hike any of the trails into the Arboretum and just past the prairie area look for the large grassy area with scattered trees. The bird was foraging in this area, especially near the old pioneer building. Another Mockingbird was found by Barb and Denny Martin in the northwest corner of Redwood County. To view this bird, begin just south of the Minnesota River on County Road 7, and turn west on 440th Street. Drive west one mile to the large open field. The bird was seen here on both sides of the road.