2010 & 2007 Southwest Minnesota MBWeekends
[Note: There have been several other spring-summer MBWeekends in southwestern Minn since 1990; for summaries of these MBWs, contact eckertkr@gmail.com.]
ROCK-PIPESTONE CO'S I SUMMARY / MAY 15-16, 2010
The weather all weekend was just about as pleasant as it could be, with moderate temperatures, no rain, and light winds. On the other hand, though, I have to admit the weather wasn't that conducive to grounding or encouraging many migrants. Still, we somehow came up with an impressive composite list of species, as evidenced by no fewer than 18 species each of shorebirds and warblers.
Our morning in Pipestone County may have been on the quiet side, but Rock County had a very nice mix of species, with Blue Mounds especially productive for warblers (17 species) and other passerines (including an unexpected gnatcatcher). Quite surprising as well were the 2 singing Le Conte's Sparrows in Luverne, and our Saturday evening excursion was better than expected. Not only were the screech-owls still there after 35+ years, but a woodcock and Whip-poor-will were heard as well.
Indeed, veteran county listers (myself included) were not disappointed. As always, thanks for coming! - Kim Eckert
BIRD LIST (141 species)
R = Rock County (127 species, all but 1 of these on May 15)
P = Pipestone County (94 species on May 16)
Snow Goose P (probably injured)
Canada Goose RP
Wood Duck RP
Gadwall R
Mallard RP
Blue-winged Teal RP
Northern Shoveler RP
Green-winged Teal R
Redhead P
Lesser Scaup P
Ruddy Duck R
Ring-necked Pheasant RP
Wild Turkey P (so, to be consistent, why didn't we count those Mute Swans?)
Pied-billed Grebe P
American White Pelican R
Double-crested Cormorant RP
Great Blue Heron R
Great Egret R
Green Heron R
Black-crowned Night-Heron R
Turkey Vulture RP
Bald Eagle R (unexpected on a Rock River snag)
Cooper's Hawk R
Broad-winged Hawk R
Swainson's Hawk P (nice view low overhead E of Holland)
Red-tailed Hawk RP
American Kestrel RP
Virginia Rail RP (a cooperative bird out in the open)
Sora RP
American Coot RP
Killdeer RP
Spotted Sandpiper RP
Solitary Sandpiper R
Greater Yellowlegs R
Lesser Yellowlegs RP
Upland Sandpiper RP (the lone Sunday-only Rock Co species)
Sanderling RP
Semipalmated Sandpiper RP
Least Sandpiper R
White-rumped Sandpiper R
Baird's Sandpiper R
Pectoral Sandpiper R
Dunlin RP
Stilt Sandpiper R
Short-billed Dowitcher R
Wilson's Snipe P (in display flight E of Holland)
American Woodcock R (heard-only in Saturday evening)
Wilson's Phalarope RP (= 18 shorebird species)
Black Tern RP
Forster's Tern RP
Rock Pigeon RP
Eurasian Collared-Dove RP
Mourning Dove RP
Eastern Screech-Owl R (2 seen Saturday at the "usual spot"!)
Whip-poor-will R (heard-only at the screech-owl site)
Chimney Swift RP
Belted Kingfisher RP
Red-headed Woodpecker R
Red-bellied Woodpecker R
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker RP
Downy Woodpecker RP
Northern Flicker RP
Least Flycatcher RP
Eastern Phoebe P
Eastern Kingbird RP
Yellow-throated Vireo R
Blue-headed Vireo RP
Warbling Vireo RP
Philadelphia Vireo P (singing at Pipestone National Monument)
Red-eyed Vireo R
Blue Jay RP
American Crow RP
Horned Lark P
Purple Martin R
Tree Swallow RP
Northern Rough-winged Swallow RP
Bank Swallow R
Cliff Swallow P
Barn Swallow RP
Black-capped Chickadee RP
White-breasted Nuthatch R
House Wren RP
Sedge Wren RP
Marsh Wren RP (heard-only)
Ruby-crowned Kinglet RP
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher R (new for my county list at Blue Mounds)
Eastern Bluebird RP
Veery R
Gray-cheeked Thrush RP
Swainson's Thrush RP
Wood Thrush R
American Robin RP
Gray Catbird RP
Brown Thrasher RP
European Starling RP
Cedar Waxwing P
Golden-winged Warbler R (mostly heard)
Tennessee Warbler RP
Orange-crowned Warbler RP
Nashville Warbler RP
Yellow Warbler RP
Chestnut-sided Warbler P
Magnolia Warbler R
Cape May Warbler R (also new for my county list)
Yellow-rumped Warbler RP
Blackburnian Warbler RP
Palm Warbler RP
Blackpoll Warbler R
Black-and-white Warbler R
American Redstart RP
Ovenbird R
Northern Waterthrush R
Common Yellowthroat RP
Wilson's Warbler RP (= 18 warbler species)
Chipping Sparrow RP
Clay-colored Sparrow RP
Field Sparrow RP
Vesper Sparrow RP
Savannah Sparrow RP
Grasshopper Sparrow R
Le Conte's Sparrow R (2 heard-only, but another new county bird)
Song Sparrow RP
Lincoln's Sparrow R
Swamp Sparrow P
White-throated Sparrow R
Harris's Sparrow RP (several seen)
White-crowned Sparrow RP
Scarlet Tanager R (male at Blue Mounds)
Northern Cardinal R (admiring itself in Jeff's mirror)
Rose-breasted Grosbeak RP
Bobolink RP
Red-winged Blackbird RP
Western Meadowlark RP
Yellow-headed Blackbird RP
Common Grackle RP
Brown-headed Cowbird RP
Orchard Oriole R (one pair at Blue Mounds)
Baltimore Oriole RP
House Finch RP
American Goldfinch RP
House Sparrow RP
* * *
ROCK-PIPESTONE CO'S II MBW SUMMARY / MAY 22-23, 2010
[Here's Craig's summary of your MBW. Despite some bad luck with the wind, your group actually did pretty well. While the MBW there the previous week may have had 22 more species (141), you had several that we missed, and I marked these below with a + . - Kim Eckert]
The weather all weekend was about as windy as I have ever experienced in western Minnesota. With sustained winds of 30 to 40 miles an hour and gusts reported to 55 miles per hour, it really made a difference in our afternoon birding. It was also a challenge at times just to stand still, and looking through the spotting scopes was also difficult. The morning rains were no help either. Yet, we were still able to turn up a lot of exciting birds. It was fun to see some of the species associated with southwestern Minnesota, like the two male Blue Grosbeaks, lots of Orchard Orioles, and the cooperative Upland Sandpiper.
We observed a good number of species that the first group missed and many species in a different county than observed during the first MBW. It was very surprising that the 2 singing Le Conte's Sparrows were still in Luverne, and a third was heard at Pipestone National Monument. We gave it a good try for the Eastern Screech-Owls at their usual spot just northeast of Luverne, but with the strong winds they were unresponsive.
I would like to thank you all for joining me on this SW Minnesota MBW, and I hope to see you on another one sometime soon. - Craig Mandel
BIRD LIST (119 species)
R = Rock County (98 species on May 22)
P = Pipestone County (87 species on May 23)
+ = species not seen on the May 15-16 MBW
Snow Goose R - single migrant observed in flight at Blue Mounds
Canada Goose RP
Wood Duck RP
Mallard RP
Blue-winged Teal RP
Northern Shoveler P
Redhead P
Lesser Scaup RP
+ Hooded Merganser P
Ruddy Duck P
Ring-necked Pheasant RP
Wild Turkey R - observed by some of the group just north of Luverne
Pied-billed Grebe RP
+ Eared Grebe P - very nice looks at a pair at the Pipestone sewage ponds
American White Pelican P
Double-crested Cormorant RP
Great Blue Heron RP
Great Egret R
Turkey Vulture RP
Bald Eagle R - an adult was observed by some of the group on Saturday evening near the gravel pits
Swainson's Hawk R - pair observed near the entrance to Blue Mounds
Red-tailed Hawk RP
American Kestrel P - leader-only
Virginia Rail RP - heard-only
Sora RP - heard-only
American Coot P
+ Semipalmated Plover R
Killdeer RP
Spotted Sandpiper RP
Lesser Yellowlegs R
Upland Sandpiper R
Sanderling P - nice close looks at this and all of the peeps at the Pipestone sewage ponds.
Semipalmated Sandpiper P
Least Sandpiper RP
White-rumped Sandpiper RP
Wilson's Phalarope P
+ Red-necked Phalarope P - great spotting by Carl to note that the second phalarope was actually a Red-necked, which gave us nice side-by-side comparisons with the Wilson's
+ Franklin's Gull RP
+ Ring-billed Gull R
Black Tern RP
Forster's Tern R
Rock Pigeon RP
Eurasian Collared-Dove RP
Mourning Dove RP
+ Black-billed Cuckoo P - this bird was initially heard by Kelly and then observed by Michelle, and eventually the entire group got some good looks throught the spotting scope
+ Common Nighthawk RP
Chimney Swift RP
+ Ruby-throated Hummingbird R
Belted Kingfisher RP
Red-headed Woodpecker R
Red-bellied Woodpecker R - heard-only
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker P - observed at Pipestone National Monument
Downy Woodpecker RP
+ Hairy Woodpecker R
Northern Flicker RP
+ Willow Flycatcher P - nice close singing bird at Pipestone National Monument
Least Flycatcher RP
Eastern Phoebe RP
+ Western Kingbird P - only one bird observed in flight at the wetlands on Pipestone CR 8
Eastern Kingbird RP
Yellow-throated Vireo R
Warbling Vireo RP
Philadelphia Vireo R - nice looks by some of the group by the beach at Blue Mounds
Red-eyed Vireo P
Blue Jay RP
American Crow RP
Horned Lark R
Purple Martin P
Tree Swallow RP
Northern Rough-winged Swallow R
Bank Swallow RP
Cliff Swallow RP
Barn Swallow RP
White-breasted Nuthatch R
House Wren RP
Sedge Wren RP
Marsh Wren R
Eastern Bluebird R
Swainson's Thrush RP
American Robin RP
Gray Catbird RP
Brown Thrasher R
European Starling RP
Cedar Waxwing RP
Tennessee Warbler RP
Orange-crowned Warbler R
Nashville Warbler RP
+ Northern Parula RP
Yellow Warbler RP
Chestnut-sided Warbler R
+ Black-throated Green Warbler P
Blackpoll Warbler R - it would have been interesting if all of warblers were as cooperative as the male Blackpoll we observed
American Redstart RP
Common Yellowthroat RP
Wilson's Warbler R
Chipping Sparrow RP
Clay-colored Sparrow RP
Field Sparrow RP
Vesper Sparrow R
Savannah Sparrow R
Grasshopper Sparrow P
Le Conte's Sparrow RP - 2 heard-only near Luverne and 1 heard-only at Pipestone National Monument
Song Sparrow RP
Swamp Sparrow P
Northern Cardinal R
Rose-breasted Grosbeak R
+ Blue Grosbeak R - 2 males observed just west of the beach at Blue Mounds
+ Indigo Bunting R
Bobolink RP
Red-winged Blackbird RP
Western Meadowlark RP
Yellow-headed Blackbird RP
Common Grackle RP
Brown-headed Cowbird RP
Orchard Oriole RP
Baltimore Oriole RP
House Finch RP
American Goldfinch RP
House Sparrow RP
* * *
SOUTHWESTERN MINN MBW SUMMARY / May 26-27-28, 2007
"Blowin' in the Wind"
If the wind had stopped blowing, it looks like that Black-necked Stilt would probably have fallen over. And that pretty much sums up the two biggest highlights of the MBW: a 13th state record (spotted by Linda), and two out of three days with high wind difficulties. But at least the weather on Sunday was just about ideal, and we came up with a respectable 128 species (plus 4 more added by Craig and 8 of the participants at Williams Nature Center near Mankato late Monday afternoon: Blue-winged and Kentucky warblers, Ovenbird, and Eastern Towhee).
Besides the wind, the disappointments for me were that my beloved Blue Mounds wasn't able to produce any real rarities or waves of migrants, and that Great Horned Owls appear to have eliminated my screech-owl spot which had been so consistent since the 1970s. But these setbacks were more than offset by our nice list of shorebirds (especially at Hills!), Gold 'N Plump's Cattle Egret (they probably taste just like chicken!), some remote, beautiful, but longspur-less pastures in Pipestone Co, Herb's Great-tailed Grackle spot, that handsome and cooperative young male Blue Grosbeak at Blue Mounds, and other highlights.
Thanks to David Smith at the Luverne Chamber of Commerce & the Gold 'N Plump folks for arranging access to those ponds; thanks to Nelvina for coming along on Saturday, for calling to arrange permission to enter Pipestone's sewage ponds, and for hosting us on Monday; thanks of course to Craig for his able assistance (I only had to fire him once); and thanks to all of you for your patience with the slow service at the Magnolia Steak House (but still an hour & 20 minutes short of my all-time record, and the dinner at the Pizza Ranch worked out just fine), and for being a part of another unique MBW!
- Kim (please note new e-mail address: eckertkr@gmail.com)
R = seen/heard in Rock Co (mostly on May 26)
P = seen/heard in Pipestone Co (mostly on May 27)
M = seen/heard in Murray Co (mostly on May 28)
Canada Goose RPM
Wood Duck RPM
Gadwall PM
Mallard RPM
Blue-winged Teal RPM
Northern Shoveler RPM
Green-winged Teal R
Redhead PM
Lesser Scaup P
Hooded Merganser M
Ruddy Duck RPM
Gray Partridge PM (seldom seen any more on MBWs)
Ring-necked Pheasant RPM
"Wild" Turkey P (well, I'm counting it as new on MY Pipestone Co list!)
Pied-billed Grebe P
American White Pelican M
Double-crested Cormorant RPM
Great Blue Heron RPM
Great Egret M
Cattle Egret R (quite unexpected at the Luverne/Gold 'N Plump ponds)
Green Heron P
Turkey Vulture RM
Bald Eagle R
Northern Harrier PM
Broad-winged Hawk RP
Swainson’s Hawk PM
Red-tailed Hawk RPM
American Kestrel RPM
Virginia Rail PM (seen by Craig's group on Monday; also heard by all on Sunday)
American Coot RPM
Killdeer RPM
Black-necked Stilt R (#348 for the all-time MBW list)
Lesser Yellowlegs R
Spotted Sandpiper RPM
Upland Sandpiper RPM
Hudsonian Godwit R (2 back-lit birds in the puddle below the escarpment)
Sanderling R (quite uncommon there)
Semipalmated Sandpiper R
Least Sandpiper RP
White-rumped Sandpiper R
Baird’s Sandpiper P (3 late migrants)
Pectoral Sandpiper R
Stilt Sandpiper R (with the other Stilt at Hills)
Wilson’s Phalarope RP
Franklin’s Gull PM (also seen in Nobles Co)
Forster’s Tern PM
Black Tern RPM
Rock Pigeon RPM
Mourning Dove RPM
Great Horned Owl R (subsisting on screech-owls?)
Common Nighthawk RPM
Chimney Swift RP
Belted Kingfisher RP
Red-headed Woodpecker RPM
Red-bellied Woodpecker R (seen by Audrey & Nancy on Monday at Blue Mounds)
Downy Woodpecker RPM
Hairy Woodpecker M
Northern Flicker RPM
Olive-sided Flycatcher R (seen by Nelvina & Diana at Blue Mounds)
Eastern Wood-Pewee R
Alder Flycatcher RM (vocalizing late migrants)
Willow Flycatcher RP (best looks & listens at Blue Mounds)
Least Flycatcher RPM
Eastern Phoebe RP
Great Crested Flycatcher R
Western Kingbird RPM
Eastern Kingbird RPM
Warbling Vireo RPM
Philadelphia Vireo P (seen by a few at the Monument)
Red-eyed Vireo RPM
Blue Jay RPM
American Crow RPM
Horned Lark RM
Purple Martin RPM
Tree Swallow RPM
Northern Rough-winged Swallow RP
Bank Swallow R
Cliff Swallow RP
Barn Swallow RPM
Black-capped Chickadee RP
House Wren RPM
Sedge Wren RPM (good looks)
Marsh Wren PM (ditto)
Eastern Bluebird RP
Veery P
Swainson’s Thrush RPM
American Robin RPM
Gray Catbird RPM
Brown Thrasher RPM
European Starling RPM
Cedar Waxwing RPM
[Blue-winged Warbler / Williams Nature Center]
Tennessee Warbler P
Nashville Warbler P
Yellow Warbler RPM
Chestnut-sided Warbler RP
Magnolia Warbler P
Blackburnian Warbler P
Black-and-white Warbler M
American Redstart RPM
[Ovenbird / Williams Nature Center]
[Kentucky Warbler / Williams Nature Center]
Common Yellowthroat RPM
Wilson’s Warbler P
Canada Warbler P
Scarlet Tanager P (seen by Craig's group)
[Eastern Towhee / Williams Nature Center]
Chipping Sparrow RP
Clay-colored Sparrow RP
Field Sparrow RP
Vesper Sparrow RPM
Savannah Sparrow RPM
Grasshopper Sparrow RP
Song Sparrow RPM
Swamp Sparrow PM
Northern Cardinal RP
Rose-breasted Grosbeak M
Blue Grosbeak R (the blue-headed immature male was seen especially well)
Indigo Bunting RM
Dickcissel RP (also seen in Nobles Co)
Bobolink RPM (also seen in Nobles Co)
Red-winged Blackbird RPM
Western Meadowlark RPM
Yellow-headed Blackbird PM
Common Grackle RPM
Great-tailed Grackle P (thanks to a tip from Herb Dingmann)
Brown-headed Cowbird RPM
Orchard Oriole RP
Baltimore Oriole RPM
House Finch RP
American Goldfinch RPM
House Sparrow RPM
