2010 Southeast Minnesota MBWeekend

[Note: There have been several other spring MBWeekends in southeastern Minn since the 1980s; for summaries of these MBWs, contact eckertkr@gmail.com.]

GOODHUE-HOUSTON-WINONA CO'S MBW SUMMARY

April 2-3-4, 2010

With all the migrant geese and Tundra Swans long gone after our ridiculously warm March, and most of the land birds yet to arrive, this first MBW of our 25th season was mostly caught in the middle with fewer birds around than we had hoped. Still, there were several sightings which highlighted the weekend: especially lots of ducks to sort out among all those coots, an eagle in relentless pursuit of an Osprey's fish, memorably close views of a woodcock at the very first spot we tried, a Barred Owl by day along our first Goodhue Co back road and another by spotlight in La Crescent, no fewer than 3 Tufted Titmouse locations (the loop road S of Mound Prairie SNA, in Kyle Suzanne Moore's yard E of Caledonia, and in Reno), brief flashes of crown colors on both kinglets, and some nice studies of singing Rusty Blackbirds.

In addition, we almost had MBW species #356 at Treasure Island Casino's sewage ponds, but Roy kept us honest with his phone call and learned that the Mute Swans were uncountably tame. By the way, since we never got around to compiling Friday's and Sunday's lists, be sure to let me know if you notice any errors or omissions in the following species list. Thanks to all for coming, and I especially thank Fred for showing a bunch of Lily-livered Lollygagging Listers around the Houston Co portion of the Lesher Lansing Loop!  - Kim          

Bird List

G = April 2 in Goodhue Co (79 species, incl 2 in Wabasha Co only)

H = April 3 in Houston Co (70 species)

W = April 4 in Winona Co (66 species, incl 1 in Wabasha Co only)

Total = 92 species

Canadian Honker     GHW

[Mute Swan     G (almost!)]

White Starling     GW

Wood Duck     GHW

Gadwall     GHW

American Wigeon     GHW

American Black Duck     Wabasha/Sunday only

Mallard     GHW

Blue-winged Teal     GHW

Northern Shoveler     GHW

Northern Pintail     G (at the Curlew Sandpiper spot)

Green-winged Teal     GHW

Canvasback     GHW

Redhead     GHW

Ring-necked Duck     GHW

Greater Scaup     GH

Lesser Scaup     GHW

Bufflehead     GHW

Common Goldeneye     HW

Hooded Merganser     GH

Common Merganser     H

Ruddy Duck     H

Ring-necked Pheasant     W

Wild Turkey      GW (but none in H)

Common Loon     G (3 flying in from Wabasha)

Pied-billed Grebe     GHW

American White Pelican     GW

Double-crested Cormorant     GH

Great Blue Heron     GHW

Great Egret     HW (a bit early)

Turkey Vulture     GHW

Osprey     GW

Bald Eagle     GHW (incl nests)

Northern Harrier     H

Sharp-shinned Hawk     GH

Cooper's Hawk     GHW (incl a nest in La Crescent)

Red-tailed Hawk     GHW

American Kestrel     GH

Peregrine Falcon      W (seen by Dick en route from La Crosse)

American Coot     GHW

Sandhill Crane     GHW (still increasing in SE Minn)

Killdeer     GHW

Wilson's Snipe     W (at the White Ibis spot)

American Woodcock     H (most cooperative Saturday evening!)

Bonaparte's Gull     G

Ring-billed Gull     GHW

Herring Gull     Wabasha/Friday, H 

Rock Pigeon     GHW

Mourning Dove     GHW

Barred Owl     GH (delayed cooperation both times) 

Belted Kingfisher     HW

Red-bellied Woodpecker     GHW

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker     GHW

Downy Woodpecker     GHW

Hairy Woodpecker     GHW

Northern Flicker     GHW

Pileated Woodpecker     GHW

Eastern Phoebe     GHW

Blue Jay     GHW

American Crow     GHW

Horned Lark     G

Tree Swallow     GHW

Black-capped Chickadee     GHW

Tufted Titmouse     H (found at 3 locations!)

Red-breasted Nuthatch     GW

White-breasted Nuthatch     GHW

Golden-crowned Kinglet     Wabasha/Friday, H

Ruby-crowned Kinglet     GHW

Eastern Bluebird     GHW

American Robin     GHW

European Starling     GHW

Cedar Waxwing     GH

American Tree Sparrow     G (why so few?)

Chipping Sparrow     GW

Field Sparrow     GH

Vesper Sparrow     G (leader-only, heard-only)

Fox Sparrow     GHW

Song Sparrow     GHW

White-throated Sparrow     W

Dark-eyed Junco     GHW

Northern Cardinal     GHW

Red-winged Blackbird     GHW

Eastern Meadowlark     G

Yellow-headed Blackbird     G (only one)

Rusty Blackbird     GHW (lots of them)

Brewer's Blackbird     G

Common Grackle     GHW

Brown-headed Cowbird     GHW

Purple Finch     G (leader-only, heard-only)

House Finch     GHW

Pine Siskin     GW

American Goldfinch     GHW

House Sparrow     GHW