In general, shorebirds are migrating through Minnesota on their way to wintering grounds during the month of August. These birds can often be seen in shallow wetlands and mudflats. August is also an excellent time to view sandhill crane families leaving their nests in the marshes for adjacent wetlands and mudflats.
The following is a list of recent, significant sightings:
Three immature MISSISSIPPI KITES were reported from two locations on the 9th. Two birds flew past Frank Nicoletti at the 1500 block of East London Road in Duluth, and another was seen over Lake of the Isles in Minneapolis by Terry Brashear.
Two YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS have been in Madison Township, in Lac Qui Parle County since the 31st of July. The birds were seen at a small pothole near U.S. Highway 75, just southeast of its intersection with County Road 59. Both birds were seen as recently as August 6th.
At the Jirik Sod Farm, situated south of the intersection of Dakota County Roads 66 and 79, birders have recently found AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER, BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER, SOLITARY SANDPIPER, PECTORAL SANDPIPER, and RED-NECKED PHALAROPE. At the nearby 180th Marsh, Jim Mattsson found SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, STILT SANDPIPER, PECTORAL SANDPIPER, LEAST SANDPIPER, SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER, and WILSON’S PHALAROPE.
At the western end of Lake Byllesby in Dakota County, a CATTLE EGRET was seen standing on a snag over the lake on the 8th.
Bill Bruins had a CAROLINA WREN in his backyard in Rochester, in Olmsted County on August 10th.
Chet Meyers reported seven species of warblers on August 11th at the lakes area of Minneapolis, including MOURNING WARBLER, BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER, TENNESSEE WARBLER, NASHVILLE WARBLER, and BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER.
Related Articles:
- Minnesota Birding Report – Aug. 5, 2005 In general, shorebirds are migrating through Minnesota...
- Minnesota Birding Report – May 6, 2005 In general, the first half of May...
- Minnesota Birding Report – April 8, 2005 As of April 1st, the gray-morph GYRFALCON...
- Birding Report – 7-29-05 In general, July is an excellent time...
- Birding Report – 7/1/05 In general, July is an excellent time...
