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NORMAN & CLAY COUNTIES MBW SUMMARY
JUNE 19 - 20 - 21, 2009
Well, I think we made the right choice by going birding rather than to the Kenny Chesney concert! (See below for an incident involving someone from Ada; thanks to ace investigative reporters Dan & Sandy for this news item.) Of course, the MBW's highlight was our experience at Gary Pines Wayside with that apparent hybrid family group of wood-pewees, which seemed to include at least one "pure" Western! (Other observers there through yesterday concurred with this identification, but we'll have to see what MOURC has to say.) It's just too bad the weather then was counterproductive so that more of you weren't able to see and hear all that Ron, George and I did by staying later.
Otherwise, the weather was pretty cooperative all three days, considering it wasn't too hot or windy, and many of us were treated to an especially pleasant Saturday evening. And there were several other birds of note, especially those Gray Partridges, still-booming prairie-chickens, baby loons and grebes, good looks at rails, several cuckoos, a surprising Barred Owl by day, a vireo nest and Scarlet Tanager together on that devious county line, Lark and Le Conte's sparrows, and those good-looking Chestnut-collareds at Felton.
Bird List:
• N = June 19 in Norman Co. (96 species + 2 in Clay Co. on June 19)
• C = June 20-21 in Clay Co. (108 species + 2 in Otter Tail Co. on June 21)
• O = June 21 in Otter Tail Co. only (2 species)
Canada Goose NC
Trumpeter Swan NC
Wood Duck NC
Gadwall NC
Mallard NC
Blue-winged Teal NC
Northern Shoveler NC
Green-winged Teal NC
Canvasback NC
Ring-necked Duck NC
Hooded Merganser NC
Gray Partridge C (a pair at Felton spotted by Doug)
Ring-necked Pheasant NC
Greater Prairie-Chicken NC (some unexpectedly still booming in both counties)
Common Loon NC (incl a pair with young at Home Lake)
Pied-billed Grebe NC
Red-necked Grebe C (incl a pair with 3 babies at Hitterdal – aw!)
Western Grebe N (a lone adult at Home Lake)
American White Pelican C
Double-crested Cormorant NC
Great Blue Heron NC
Great Egret C
Green Heron NC
Turkey Vulture NC
Northern Harrier NC
Cooper's Hawk C
Red-tailed Hawk NC
American Kestrel NC
Merlin N (at the Norman Motel in Ada)
Virginia Rail NC
Sora NC (nice, close views of both rails)
American Coot NC
Sandhill Crane N
Killdeer NC
Spotted Sandpiper C
Upland Sandpiper NC
Marbled Godwit NC
Wilson's Snipe NC
Wilson's Phalarope NC
Black Tern NC
Rock Pigeon NC
Mourning Dove NC
Black-billed Cuckoo NC (best looks at Twin Valley sewage ponds and Felton
Prairie)
Great Horned Owl C
Barred Owl N (a daytime surprise just south of Frenchman's Bluff)
Chimney Swift NC
Ruby-throated Hummingbird C
Belted Kingfisher NC
Red-bellied Woodpecker O (heard-only just south of the county line on Sunday)
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker NC
Downy Woodpecker NC
Hairy Woodpecker NC
Northern Flicker NC
Pileated Woodpecker NC
Eastern Wood-Pewee NC
[Western Wood-Pewee N (1 or 2 – or maybe none? – at Gary Pines Wayside)]
Alder Flycatcher NC
Willow Flycatcher NC (best view at Felton Prairie)
Least Flycatcher NC
Eastern Phoebe NC
Great Crested Flycatcher NC
Western Kingbird C (pair at Starlite Motel parking lot)
Eastern Kingbird NC
Yellow-throated Vireo NC (plus one on a nest on the Otter Tail/Clay Co. line spotted
by George)
Warbling Vireo NC
Red-eyed Vireo NC
Blue Jay NC
American Crow NC
Horned Lark NC
Purple Martin N
Tree Swallow NC
Northern Rough-winged Swallow C
Bank Swallow NC
Cliff Swallow NC
Barn Swallow NC
Black-capped Chickadee C
White-breasted Nuthatch C
House Wren NC
Sedge Wren NC
Marsh Wren NC
Eastern Bluebird NC
Veery NC
American Robin NC
Gray Catbird NC
Brown Thrasher NC
European Starling NC
Cedar Waxwing NC
Yellow Warbler NC
American Redstart NC
Common Yellowthroat NC
Scarlet Tanager O (or was it in Clay Co?)
Chipping Sparrow NC
Clay-colored Sparrow NC
Field Sparrow C
Vesper Sparrow NC
Lark Sparrow NC (Frenchman's Bluff and Felton Prairie)
Savannah Sparrow NC
Grasshopper Sparrow C (incl one on the south side of the Norman Co line)
Le Conte's Sparrow NC (best views in Norman Co)
Song Sparrow NC
Swamp Sparrow NC
Chestnut-collared Longspur C (as handsome as ever at Felton)
Rose-breasted Grosbeak C
Indigo Bunting C
Bobolink NC
Red-winged Blackbird NC
Western Meadowlark NC
Yellow-headed Blackbird NC
Brewer's Blackbird NC
Common Grackle NC
Brown-headed Cowbird NC
Orchard Oriole NC (once in Norman Co at Twin Valley sewage ponds; several in
Clay Co)
Baltimore Oriole NC
House Finch NC
American Goldfinch NC
House Sparrow NC
* * *
* * *
BECKER - CLAY COUNTIES MBW SUMMARY
July 6 - 7 - 8, 2018
Well, I picked a fine time to lose my hat and neglect to get a haircut. Saturday's high of around 90 degrees coupled with high humidity (the dewpoint was in the mid-70s) resulted in a heat index of 100 or so, and along with sustained 25+ mph winds it made for some birding difficulties. No wonder I was unable to spot that Say's Phoebe with hair blowing across my eyes. But no one else could find it either during the MBW, although Tod had photographed it early Friday evening, and the phoebe appeared for Rick early Sunday afternoon after his 45-minute vigil – and a few of you saw the family group in Traverse Co on the way home.
At least the weather was much more pleasant for those on Friday's pre-MBW (in the 70s with light winds), while on Sunday morning the wind had moderated and the MBW adjourned before the heat returned in the afternoon. So we still managed to find a respectable total of 132 species in all, with around 110 in both Becker (better weather, more woods birds) and in Clay (where we had more time and more grasslands).
Among the highlights, there were Eurasian Collared-Doves, Lark Sparrows, and Dickcissels found in both counties. On Friday, some of Becker's more notable birds were Red-necked Grebes, a "fall" migrant Lesser Yellowlegs, Sharp-shinned Hawk (usually breeds farther north), Merlin, great looks at a LeConte's Sparrow, and both Northern Parula and Pine Wabler at Tamarac NWR. And in Clay County: a serendipidous pair of Gray Partridge, an unexpected Ruffed Grouse drumming (heard by some), several adult and young Greater Prairie-Chickens at Felton, a pair of Eared Grebes, a high-wire act by a blowin'-in-the-wind Upland Sandpiper, a mama Marbled Godwit with young, migrant Least Sandpipers and Greater Yellowlegs in a modest mudhole, Western Kingbirds and 3 Loggerhead Shrikes at Felton, and Blue-gray Gnatcachers and a singing Eastern Towhee at Buffalo River State Park (both rare in Clay).
...And, sadly enough, this MBW may have been a part of Minnesota ornithological history: we documented the apparent demise of the decades-old tradition (since at least the 1950s) of Chestnut-collared Longspurs nesting at Felton Prairie. Although there was a handful of sightings in May of a lone individual, so far this marks the first summer ever when there have been no reports at all of this species. Unless something turns up later this summer or perhaps next year, one of the few quintessential specialties of Minnesota birding is now history. (I still remember the DNR survey I did in July 1980 when I counted 65 singing male Chestnut-collareds here...)
Bird List
B = Becker County, July 6 (110 species)
C = Clay County, July 7-8 (108 species)
Canada Goose BC
Trumpeter Swan BC
Wood Duck BC
Blue-winged Teal BC
Northern Shoveler C
Mallard BC
Green-winged Teal C
Canvasback C
Ring-necked Duck BC
Hooded Merganser B
Ruddy Duck BC
Gray Partridge C
Ring-necked Pheasant BC
Ruffed Grouse C
Greater Prairie-Chicken C
Wild Turkey B
Pied-billed Grebe BC
Red-necked Grebe B
Eared Grebe C
Rock Pigeon BC
Eurasian Collared-Dove BC
Mourning Dove BC
Chimney Swift BC
Ruby-throated Hummingbird BC
Sora BC
American Coot B
Sandhill Crane B
Killdeer BC
Upland Sandpiper C
Marbled Godwit C
Least Sandpiper C
Wilson’s Snipe BC
Spotted Sandpiper C
Lesser Yellowlegs B
Greater Yellowlegs C
Ring-billed Gull C
Black Tern B
Forster’s Tern B
Common Loon BC
Double-crested Cormorant BC
American White Pelican BC
Great Blue Heron BC
Great Egret B
Green Heron BC
Black-crowned Night-Heron B
Turkey Vulture BC
Osprey B
Bald Eagle BC
Northern Harrier BC
Sharp-shinned Hawk B
Cooper’s Hawk C
Broad-winged Hawk BC
Red-tailed Hawk BC
Belted Kingfisher C
Red-bellied Woodpecker B
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker BC
Downy Woodpecker BC
Hairy Woodpecker C
Northern Flicker BC
Pileated Woodpecker BC
American Kestrel BC
Merlin B
Eastern Wood-Pewee BC
Alder Flycatcher B
Least Flycatcher BC
Eastern Phoebe BC
Great Crested Flycatcher BC
Western Kingbird C
Eastern Kingbird BC
Loggerhead Shrike C
Yellow-throated Vireo BC
Warbling Vireo BC
Red-eyed Vireo BC
Blue Jay BC
American Crow BC
Common Raven B
Horned Lark BC
Purple Martin BC
Tree Swallow BC
Northern Rough-winged Swallow BC
Bank Swallow BC
Cliff Swallow BC
Barn Swallow BC
Black-capped Chickadee BC
Red-breasted Nuthatch B
White-breasted Nuthatch BC
Brown Creeper B
House Wren BC
Sedge Wren BC
Marsh Wren BC
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher C
Eastern Bluebird BC
Veery BC
Hermit Thrush B
American Robin BC
Gray Catbird BC
Brown Thrasher C
European Starling BC
Cedar Waxwing BC
House Sparrow BC
House Finch BC
Purple Finch B
American Goldfinch BC
Eastern Towhee C
Chipping Sparrow BC
Clay-colored Sparrow BC
Field Sparrow B
Vesper Sparrow BC
Lark Sparrow BC
Savannah Sparrow BC
Grasshopper Sparrow BC
LeConte’s Sparrow B
Song Sparrow BC
Swamp Sparrow BC
Yellow-headed Blackbird BC
Bobolink BC
Western Meadowlark BC
Orchard Oriole C
Baltimore Oriole BC
Red-winged Blackbird BC
Brown-headed Cowbird BC
Brewer’s Blackbird BC
Common Grackle BC
Ovenbird BC
Common Yellowthroat BC
American Redstart BC
Northern Parula B
Yellow Warbler BC
Pine Warbler B
Rose-breasted Grosbeak BC
Indigo Bunting BC
Dickcissel BC
The last Chestnut-collared Longspur departs from Felton Prairie?
(Brian Gibbons photo)
The 2018 and 2009 MBW summaries follow the summary of the 2021 MBW;
Note that Becker County was included on the 2018 MBW,
which will not be part of the 2024 MBW.
__________
Clay County MBW Summary
June 25 - 26 - 27, 2021
Nancy tried her best, but that Laughing Gull she had found a couple days earlier in Detroit Lakes failed to reappear for our pre-MBW; and no one was able to relocate it since the day before. But the Northern Mockingbird in Randy and Sue Ness’s yard northwest of Hawley appeared right away for us on Friday afternoon, with arrangements for our visit made possible by Pat Beauzay. We were even able to watch its curious “ant-ics” for several minutes. We next went on to hear an unexpected Alder Flycatcher, followed by a Red-necked Grebe at Flora Lake.
But our luck ran out the next morning at Felton Prairie, as we had to admit that Chestnut-collared Longspurs are no longer nesting there or anywhere else in MN – a big loss in the history of Minnesota ornithology. The Say’s Phoebe was also a no-show, nor were there any shrikes to be seen (another potentially extirpated MN breeding species?). And where were the godwits? Meanwhile, a misleading warning light in Jeff’s vehicle led to a nearly flat tire, as he had to run all the way back to Fargo to get that repaired.
At least there were several positives during our visit to Felton, as our only Western Kingbird was spotted by Linda S in its preferred grove of trees, two groups of Greater Prairie-Chickens flew by as we drove up the former longspur road, Grasshopper Sparrows were singing everywhere, a pair of Upland Sandpipers put on quite a distraction display that certainly caught our attention, and the local Lark Sparrow was found twice.
Things predictably slowed down a bit in the afternoon, although we found a group of Sandhill Cranes (a couple was distantly seen earlier at Felton), and Linda M briefly heard a LeConte’s Sparrow (Deb and I probably heard it too), though it refused to respond for the rest of the group.
Sunday’s highlights included a heard-only Yellow-billed Cuckoo that sounded off for part of the group at the state park, and a briefly-seen Black-billed at Bluestem Prairie. But we also had decent looks at a few prairie-chickens in a cropfield, excellent views of another Upland Sandpiper doing its best to distract us, and Dickcissels continued to sing in several places as they had the previous two days.
We finished this MBW with a respectable 113 species, with all but 2 of these in Clay County (Forster’s Tern and Purple Martin were Becker-only birds). Part of this success was due to the favorable weather, since the temperatures were moderate, we basically avoided any rain while birding, and the prairie winds were curiously conspicuous by their absence. (That makes 3 consecutive MBWs with favorable weather, so those signed up for the Mankato and Fergus MBWs – beware.)
Bird List
Canada Goose
Trumpeter Swan
Wood Duck
Blue-winged Teal
Gadwall
Mallard
Ring-necked Duck
Hooded Merganser
Ring-necked Pheasant
Greater Prairie-Chicken (at Felton and Bluestem Prairie)
Wild Turkey
Pied-billed Grebe
Red-necked Grebe (Flora Lake)
Rock Pigeon
Eurasian Collared-Dove (Ulen)
Mourning Dove
Yellow-billed Cuckoo (heard-only by half the group at the state park)
Black-billed Cuckoo (fly-by and perched only briefly at Bluestem)
Chimney Swift
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Virginia Rail
Sora
Sandhill Crane (twice)
Killdeer
Upland Sandpiper (distraction flights at Felton and Bluestem Prairie)
Spotted Sandpiper
Franklin’s Gull (a few with Ring-billeds high over the landfill)
Ring-billed Gull
Black Tern
Forster’s Tern (Becker Co. only)
Common Loon
Double-crested Cormorant
American White Pelican
Great Blue Heron
Green Heron
Turkey Vulture
Osprey (nesting on the tower en route to the mockingbird)
Northern Harrier
Cooper’s Hawk
Bald Eagle
Broad-winged Hawk (a molting immature near the landfill)
Red-tailed Hawk
Great Horned Owl
Belted Kingfisher
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
American Kestrel
Great Crested Flycatcher
Western Kingbird (at the “usual spot” at Felton)
Eastern Kingbird
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Alder Flycatcher (unexpected singing male at Hatchet Lake WPA)
Willow Flycatcher (mostly heard by Felton’s interpretive sign)
Least Flycatcher
Eastern Phoebe
Yellow-throated Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Common Raven (leader-only bird flew too soon)
Horned Lark
Bank Swallow
Tree Swallow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Purple Martin (Becker Co. only)
Barn Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
White-breasted Nuthatch
House Wren
Sedge Wren
Marsh Wren
Eastern Bluebird
Veery
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher
Northern Mockingbird (thanks to Pat, Randy, and Sue!)
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
House Sparrow
House Finch
American Goldfinch
Grasshopper Sparrow (lots singing, especially at Felton)
Lark Sparrow (2 spots at Felton)
Chipping Sparrow
Clay-colored Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Vesper Sparrow
Leconte’s Sparrow (heard-only by Linda M, and possibly Deb & me)
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Bobolink
Western Meadowlark
Orchard Oriole
Baltimore Oriole
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Brewer’s Blackbird
Common Grackle
Common Yellowthroat
American Redstart
Yellow Warbler
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting (singing from the parking lot just after everyone else left for home)
Dickcissel (lots during this irruption year)
PHOTO GALLERY
Jeff Stephenson photo
Roy Zimmerman photo
Lynn Glesne photo
Jeff Stephenson photo
Jeff Stephenson photo
Jeff Stephenson photo
Jeff Stephenson photo
Roy Zimmerman photo