On August 30th, an immature LARK BUNTING was seen by Carol and Jim Tveekrem along State Highway 61 at the Minnesota Department of Transportation gravel pit in the town of Schroeder, in Cook County. When found, the bird was feeding in the weeds at the west edge of the clearing.

There is a secondhand report of a possible NEOTROPIC CORMORANT at a home near Big Cormorant Lake in Becker County. To learn more, you may call Steve Stromstad at 218/439-6588.

A probable hybrid ROSS’S GOOSE was found by Jim Mattsson in late August. The bird was seen on Sand Point, across the Mississippi River from the boat landing in Hastings, in Dakota County.

A CAROLINA WREN has been visiting a home in Beltrami County since August 22nd. Birders are welcome to visit. For further information, please call Pat at 218/751-0137. Another Carolina Wren was at Bob Janssen’s feeder in Chanhassen, in Carver County, on the 29th, but the bird was only present for a few minutes.

Two YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS have been in Madison Township, in Lac Qui Parle County since the 31st of July. The Night-Herons were found at a small pothole near U.S. Hwy 75, just southeast of its intersection with County Road 59. Both birds were seen as recently as August 13th.

A possible LITTLE BLUE HERON was reported from Auto Tour Road at Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge in Sherburne County. The last report was of a small heron in the dead trees at Bergeson Pool on August 15th.

At the Jirik Sod Farm near the town of Empire in Dakota County, five BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS were reported by Steve Weston on the 15th.

And finally, on the morning of August 13th, Chet Meyers and Steve Carlson found a singing CAROLINA WREN in the red cedar meadow at the northeast end of Cedar Lake in Minneapolis. A second wren was banded at Hawk Ridge in Duluth on the 15th.

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.

The following is a list of recent, significant sightings:

Three BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS were found by Kim Eckert at Mud Lake in Traverse County on July 30th. To view these birds, begin at the junction of State Highways 117 and 27, and travel one-quarter of a mile on 117. Take the first right along Mustinka River and follow this road north for about one mile to the flooded field adjacent Mud Lake. One of the Buff-Breasted Sandpipers was found here, and the two others were just north of here.

On August 3rd, Jim Mattsson reported numerous shorebirds at a Dakota County wetland along 180th Street, one-half mile west of Goodwin Avenue. Among the species found were SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, LESSER YELLOWLEGS, STILT SANDPIPER, and PECTORAL SANDPIPER.

On August 1st, Rick Pertilly found a NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD in Minneapolis along the walking trail that runs along the north side of Betty Crocker Drive, between U.S. Highway 169 and General Mills Boulevard.

The following is a list of recent, significant sightings:

The BROWN PELICAN has been present throughout the week at Little Spirit Lake in southern Jackson County, which is just north of the Iowa border and southwest of the town of Jackson. The bird has been present at the north end of Spirit Lake in Iowa just south of Jackson County Road 2 since July 14th, but seems to be more commonly seen at the Little Spirit Lake location. The best place to view the pelican is from the boat launch at the north end of Little Spirit Lake. At the dock, look southward to where the bird has often roosted just off the peninsula.

Also of note is the BLACK-HEADED GULL that has been seen at both locations.

At least one CLARK’S GREBE was still at Lake Osakis in Todd County on July 21st.

Shorebirds have been reported in small numbers from Walker in Cass County, and the Crane Creek area near New Germany in Carver County. Species found include SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER, LEAST SANDPIPER, BAIRD’S SANDPIPER, SOLITARY SANDPIPER, PECTORAL SANDPIPER, and STILT SANDPIPER.

Two EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES were in the town of Otter Tail in Otter Tail County on July 24th. Jeff Schultz reported them at the feeders in the vicinity of Lake Boulevard.

Kiki Sonnen found a NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD on the 26th. The bird was seen along Mississippi River Boulevard at the bridge between Huron and Dartmouth streets in southeast Minneapolis.

And in Cook County, Mike Steffes found four BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLERS on Moose Mountain on July 28th.

The following is a list of recent, significant sightings:

The BROWN PELICAN mentioned on Monday’s unscheduled update of this report has been present throughout the week in southern Jackson County. Peder Svingen and Anthony Hertzel first found it on July 16th at Little Spirit Lake just north of the Iowa border and southwest of the town of Jackson. The bird had been present at the north end of Spirit Lake in Iowa just south of Jackson County Road 2 since the 14th, but seems to be more commonly seen at the Little Spirit Lake location. The best place to view the pelican is from the boat launch at the north end of Little Spirit Lake. At the dock, look southward to where the bird has often roosted just off the penninsula.

Also of note is the BLACK-HEADED GULL that has been seen at both locations. Though found in this general vicinity on eleven previous occasions, this is the first summer occurrence.

Two CAROLINA WRENS were found by Bruce Fall on July 17th at Murphy-Hanrehan Park in Scott County. The birds were about 175 yards southwest of Trail Marker #16.

And there was an unusual sighting of a BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE on July 16th by Jay Hamernick at 149th Street and Lexington Avenue in southern Anoka County.

A potential first state record BROWN PELICAN was discovered in southwestern Minnesota on July 16th, and the bird was still present all day Sunday, July 17th. Peder Svingen and Anthony Hertzel found it at Little Spirit Lake,just north of the Iowa border and southwest of the town of Jackson. The bird was first seen July 14th by Ed Thelen at the north end of Spirit Lake in Iowa, just south of Jackson County Road 2. Recently, it has more consistently been seen at the Little Spirit Lake location. The best place to view the pelican is from the boat launch at the north end of Little Spirit Lake. At the dock, look southward to where the bird has often roosted just off the penninsula. If necessary, you can also check from the home of Linda Fries who lives on the east side of Little Spirit Lake. At the point where Jackson County Road 2 turns north from the Iowa border on the southeast side of the lake, continue west a short distance to the first road that branches to the north. Turn here and drive north about one-half mile to Fire Call #70423 on the left. You may park in the driveway but stay well off to side. Walk around the house to the right and out on the dock. The bird has been seen roosting on the rocks about 200 yards to the west.

Also of note was the BLACK-HEADED GULL that has been seen at both locations. Though found in this general vicinity on eleven previous occasions, this is the first summer occurrence.

A WHITE-WINGED DOVE appeared at the Watson’s family farm in Grand Marais, in Cook County, on July 10th and it has been present every day since. Specific directions have not been provided, so please contact the Watsons for further information at 218-387-1484. There have been six accepted records of White-Winged Dove in Minnesota dating back to 1985, and this is the second report this year.

Shorebirds reported by Steve Weston on July 7th included LESSER YELLOWLEGS, SOLITARY SANDPIPER, SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER, and SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER. These birds were seen at Mud Lake along the Ravena Trail just southeast of Hastings, in Dakota County.

A pair of WILLETS was seen by Craig Mandel on July 12th at the Hills Sewage Ponds, located along Rock County Road 6, one mile south of Highway 270.

Jesse Ellis reported a mated pair of CLARK’S GREBES with their young on July 5th. The birds were on the Douglas County side of Lake Osakis, at the boat launch along Douglas County Road 10, roughly two miles east of County Road 3.

There was an interesting sighting of a SOLITARY SANDPIPER reported by Craig Mandel over the July 4th weekend. He found it at the Big Falls sewage ponds in Koochiching County.

On July 5th, Chris Benson found a EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE near the First National Bank in the town of Plainview, in Wabasha County. The bird was easily seen from the car wash at the corner of West Broadway and 1st Street.

On July 6th, Jim Ryan reported a possible NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD in St. Paul, in Ramsey County, at the northwest corner of the Cretin/Vandalia exit off Interstate 94.

And on the 4th, Emily Hutchins reported a possible GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE northeast of Mazaska Lake in Rice County, which is one-half mile south of the intersection of Fairbanks Avenue and 135th Street West. Denny Martin reported a Great-Tailed Grackle at the Somsen Wildlife Management Area, at the junction of State Highway 14 and Brown County Road 12, just west of New Ulm. Another was at the Rosenau-Lambrecht Wildlife Management Area roughly two miles west of this location on Highway 14.

The following is a list of recent, significant sightings:

The ROCK WREN is still being seen at Felton Prairie in Clay County. Chet Meyers most recently saw the wren on June 25th. From Felton, travel south on State Highway 9, east to the end of the pavement on Clay County Road 108, and then turn left at the gravel pit entrance. Look for the wren near rock pile #6002.

The PRAIRIE WARBLER was still present at Ritter Farm Park near Lakeville in Dakota County as of June 28th according to Dan & Sandy Thimgan.

On June 28th, the following shorebirds were reported by Ben Fritchman from Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge in Marshall County: one very late WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER, LEAST SANDPIPER, DUNLIN, LESSER YELLOWLEGS, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, and MARBLED GODWIT. These birds were in a field one mile south of Marshall County Road 7, and roughly six miles east of the headquarters building.

In Aitkin County, Butch Ukura found a GREAT GRAY OWL about two miles west of Jacobson on State Highway 200 on June 26th.

On the 25th, John Hockema reported a HENSLOW’S SPARROW from Chester Woods, a county park along U.S. Highway 14, about five miles east of Rochester in Olmsted County. Watch for the bird from the trail that travels northeast from the parking area near the fishing pier. Henslow’s Sparrows were also found June 26th by Pete Hoeger at Schaefer’s Prairie south of U.S. Highway 212 in southern McLeod County.