2010 HMANA Conference - 15-18 Apr 2010
But before I dive into our birding escapades I want to express my admiration and sincerest appreciation to all those wonderful folks at HMANA (Julie Tilden, HMANA Monitoring Site Coordinator, Ernesto Ruelas, Raptor Population Index Project Coordinator, Vic Berardi, Conference Coordinator) and Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory (Janelle Long, Director of HRBO, Debbie Waters, tour guide and HRBO Education Coordinator, and Julie O’Connor, HRBO Conference Coordinator), volunteer staff, HRBO counters Karl Bardon and Andrew Longtin, and those who gave presentations during the 3-day event. Special props go to Julie O’Connor, who seemed to be everywhere at once, providing direction, organizing field trips, answering millions of inquiries, and just being plain gracious and wonderful the whole time. The conference MVP award goes to her!
15 Apr 2010 – Duluth, MN
Will and I arrived in Duluth shortly after 1pm. Skies were clear, and temps were in the mid 70’s. We grabbed our rental car and drove to the Radisson Harbor View. Will had a board meeting to attend, so I grabbed the scope and drove a short distance to Rice’s Point where today’s HRBO Hawk Watch was being conducted. There I met Karl Bardon and Andrew Longtin, HRBO’s spring hawk counters. During the morning hours the pair had recorded dozens of Bald Eagles, Rough-legged Hawks, Turkey Vultures and Broad-winged Hawks. But this afternoon the birds were nowhere to be found. West winds were blowing strong at 30-35 mph and preventing birds from crossing the bay from Wisconsin into Minnesota.
We saw two flocks of American White Pelicans struggle to get across the bay, but having to put down somewhere to await calmer skies.
After an evening social, a group of us (David Brandes, HMANA Board Member, Alan Hale, HMANA Vice-Chair, Will, Ernesto, Aldo Reyes, Veracruz Hawk Watch, and me) headed downtown for dinner.
Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve, St. Louis, Minnesota, US
Apr 15, 2010 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Protocol: Stationary
Checklist Comments: Will Weber and I
3 species
American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) 21
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) 1
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) 1
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S4
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
16 Apr 2010 – Sax-Zim Bog
Up at 4:45 am for a field trip leaving at 5:40 am. We headed north of Duluth to the Sax-Zim Bog, Minnesota’s heralded winter hotspot for boreal bird spp. We were hoping to see a Great Gray Owl, or even a Northern Hawk Owl. Unfortunately, per our guide Sparky Stensaas, neither bird had been seen since late January.
Apr 15, 2010 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Protocol: Stationary
Checklist Comments: Will Weber and I
3 species
American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) 21
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) 1
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) 1
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S4
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
16 Apr 2010 – Sax-Zim Bog
Up at 4:45 am for a field trip leaving at 5:40 am. We headed north of Duluth to the Sax-Zim Bog, Minnesota’s heralded winter hotspot for boreal bird spp. We were hoping to see a Great Gray Owl, or even a Northern Hawk Owl. Unfortunately, per our guide Sparky Stensaas, neither bird had been seen since late January.
First birds of the morning were a pair of American Kestrels courting in a tree next to the road. Belted Kingfisher and Northern Flickers were spotted in several locations.
We made a first stop to see two adult and two juvenile Sandhill Cranes feeding in farm field some 50 yds away. I managed a couple of keeper digiscoped images from next to the van, but winds were howling this morning and conditions were poor for digiscoping.
From there we continued on to a known Sharp-tailed Grouse lek. Sure enough, we saw six birds far out in a field displaying and feeding in the open. Again, we were too far away for even acceptable digiscoping. Blowing winds made for a bitingly cold morning. Still, it was great to scope the birds, and actually see the purple air sacs showing on the displaying males.
Continuing on we spotted several more Sharp-tailed Grouse feeding atop trees and flying across the road in front of us. Northern Harriers were also visible, with several gray-ghost males soaring low over the fields. We would see only one other raptor all day, a Red-tailed Hawk.
At one point we stopped for a few minutes to get out of the van. I walked over to a small stand of trees and found a half-dozen Brewer’s Blackbirds. Unable to get a clean photo through the trees, I walked to a nearby bluebird box and found several Tree Swallows fighting to stay out of the wind. One bird perched at the opening, and I’m guessing it was there strictly to avoid the wind. Another pair of birds flattened themselves atop the roof of the box so that the wind would blow over them.
Someone spotted a nice male Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, so I ran over and tried to digiscope it. I managed a couple of keepers of the bird as it fed among the birch trees.
We then headed to a feeder station with the hopes of seeing a Gray Jay or Boreal Chickadee. Pine Siskins, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Hairy Woodpeckers, Dark-eyed Juncos, Red-breasted Nuthatches, and Black-capped Chickadees all provided good looks and nice photos. We were able to entice a couple of Boreal Chickadees to call from the distance, but they refused to come into view. The Ruby-crowned Kinglets put on a nice show with several males showing their bright red caps. A Fox Sparrow made a brief appearance, as did a Snowshoe Hare! Alas, no Gray Jays.
A stop at a nearby lake yielded numerous Bufflehead, a Green-winged Teal, Ring-necked Ducks, American Wigeon, Wood Ducks and Mallard. A passing Common Raven provided a few flight shots.
As we started heading back a Northern Harrier passed right by the van. I managed a photo of the gray male through the bus window just as it passed by – I almost gave Will a bloody nose by swinging the camera past his face.
Sax-Zim Bog, St. Louis, Minnesota, US
Apr 16, 2010 5:40 AM - 9:40 AM
Protocol: Traveling
20.0 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Field Trip w/ HMANA Conference attendees. Bus trip.
25 species
Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) 2
American Wigeon (Mareca americana) 2
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 1
Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca) 2
Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris) 2
Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) 2
Sharp-tailed Grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus) 6
Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis) 2
Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius) 3
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) 2
Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) 1
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) 1
Hairy Woodpecker (Dryobates villosus) 1
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) 2
American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) 2
Common Raven (Corvus corax) 1
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) 2
Boreal Chickadee (Poecile hudsonicus) 2
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) 2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula) 2
Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) 2
Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus) 2
Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca) 1
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) 2
Brewer's Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus) 6
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S4
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
We returned to the Radisson just in time for the afternoon talks. Julie Tilden gave a talk about an upcoming HMANA field trip to Costa Rica for migrating raptors. Janice Sweet (Illinois Beach Hawk Watch) gave a nice presentation on teaching children about raptors. Susan Fogleman gave an important talk about hazards of hawkwatching – most importantly effects of UV exposure on the eyes and skin of hawk watchers.
The highlight talk of the afternoon was Vic Berardi’s talk about photographing raptors in flight. Some truly stunning raptor photos were shown and Vic got everyone buzzing about his work. The evening banquet was highlighted by Dr. Scott Lanyon’s talk about potential changes to avian field guides as a result of new DNA testing methodologies. New discoveries regarding evolutionary relationships and the Tree of Life are being made that could affect future classification of birds. For instance, Peregrine Falcons may have to renamed “Angry Parrots” while Scarlet Tanagers may be closer related to Northern Cardinals. Neat stuff. Hah, and Will just wasted good money on a new field guide….
17 Apr 2010 – Wisconsin Point
Another 6 am field trip took us to this six-mile sandspit connecting Wisconsin and Minnesota. Our tour guide Lars Benson took us for a 2-hour run through this region of Duluth Harbor to look for migrating birds and waterfowl. Skies were clear, and the winds have finally slowed to a mere 5-10 mph.
Our first stop at an isolated by yielded a large raft of Greater Scaup, American Wigeon, Canvasback, Redhead, Lesser Scaup, Wood Duck, Bufflehead, and Green-winged Teal. I set up the camera to digiscope a short video of the ducks, which were a bit too far for any good digiscoping. In the early light the group scanned the far shore for a Northern Harrier, a pair of Trumpeter Swans, and a passing Bald Eagle.
Apr 16, 2010 5:40 AM - 9:40 AM
Protocol: Traveling
20.0 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Field Trip w/ HMANA Conference attendees. Bus trip.
25 species
Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) 2
American Wigeon (Mareca americana) 2
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 1
Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca) 2
Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris) 2
Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) 2
Sharp-tailed Grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus) 6
Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis) 2
Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius) 3
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) 2
Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) 1
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) 1
Hairy Woodpecker (Dryobates villosus) 1
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) 2
American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) 2
Common Raven (Corvus corax) 1
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) 2
Boreal Chickadee (Poecile hudsonicus) 2
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) 2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula) 2
Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) 2
Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus) 2
Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca) 1
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) 2
Brewer's Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus) 6
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S4
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
We returned to the Radisson just in time for the afternoon talks. Julie Tilden gave a talk about an upcoming HMANA field trip to Costa Rica for migrating raptors. Janice Sweet (Illinois Beach Hawk Watch) gave a nice presentation on teaching children about raptors. Susan Fogleman gave an important talk about hazards of hawkwatching – most importantly effects of UV exposure on the eyes and skin of hawk watchers.
The highlight talk of the afternoon was Vic Berardi’s talk about photographing raptors in flight. Some truly stunning raptor photos were shown and Vic got everyone buzzing about his work. The evening banquet was highlighted by Dr. Scott Lanyon’s talk about potential changes to avian field guides as a result of new DNA testing methodologies. New discoveries regarding evolutionary relationships and the Tree of Life are being made that could affect future classification of birds. For instance, Peregrine Falcons may have to renamed “Angry Parrots” while Scarlet Tanagers may be closer related to Northern Cardinals. Neat stuff. Hah, and Will just wasted good money on a new field guide….
17 Apr 2010 – Wisconsin Point
Another 6 am field trip took us to this six-mile sandspit connecting Wisconsin and Minnesota. Our tour guide Lars Benson took us for a 2-hour run through this region of Duluth Harbor to look for migrating birds and waterfowl. Skies were clear, and the winds have finally slowed to a mere 5-10 mph.
Our first stop at an isolated by yielded a large raft of Greater Scaup, American Wigeon, Canvasback, Redhead, Lesser Scaup, Wood Duck, Bufflehead, and Green-winged Teal. I set up the camera to digiscope a short video of the ducks, which were a bit too far for any good digiscoping. In the early light the group scanned the far shore for a Northern Harrier, a pair of Trumpeter Swans, and a passing Bald Eagle.
Heading across the road to the beach we then proceeded to scan the choppy lake front for Horned Grebes. I managed to spot three Red-necked Grebes far out on the lake, and passed several rafts of Horned Grebes trying to keep the scope on the Red-necks. Oh, yes, we also saw a giraffe skulking along the shoreline!
From there we headed to the end of Wisconsin Point, where Will found a Glaucous Gull among the mostly Ring-billed Gulls. I headed up the beach and was able to get some decent digiscoped images of the all-white bird while it was being backlit by the rising sun. It flew briefly out onto the water, which gave me an opportunity to catch it in flight.
We then headed across the road where we found several Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Black-capped Chickadees, an Eastern Phoebe, and an early Lincoln’s Sparrow (seen by me and Lars). While the group was scooping a pair of Sandhill Cranes far out over the water I grabbed a couple quick photos of a pair of passing Canada Geese.
Park Point--Pine Forest SNA, St. Louis, Minnesota, US
Apr 17, 2010 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Protocol: Traveling
2.0 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: HMANA Tour to Wisconsin Point
20 species
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) 2
Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator) 2
Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) 2
American Wigeon (Mareca americana) 2
Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca) 2
Canvasback (Aythya valisineria) 2
Redhead (Aythya americana) 2
Greater Scaup (Aythya marila) 2
Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis) 2
Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) 2
Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus) 2
Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena) 3
Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis) 2
Glaucous Gull (Larus hyperboreus) 1
Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius) 1
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) 1
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) 1
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) 2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula) 2
Lincoln's Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii) 1 early sighting! Lars ? and I spotted in underbrush while scanning for phoebes and chickadees near point. Brown sparrow with Buffy chest and necklace, Buffy face.
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S4
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
The focus of today’s talks was reports from several of the Hawk Watch Sites attending the conference. Will and I gave a summary of the Detroit River Hawk Watch, while others from Iowa, Thunder Cape, Hawk Ridge, Illinois Beach, and Pembina Valley gave summaries of their efforts. The evening banquet was highlighted by a silent auction, award ceremony, and featured speaker David Mech presenting 50 years of Wolf Research. What I found stunning was seeing Mongolian hunters using Golden Eagles to track and take down wolves on the tundra.
Apr 17, 2010 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Protocol: Traveling
2.0 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: HMANA Tour to Wisconsin Point
20 species
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) 2
Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator) 2
Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) 2
American Wigeon (Mareca americana) 2
Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca) 2
Canvasback (Aythya valisineria) 2
Redhead (Aythya americana) 2
Greater Scaup (Aythya marila) 2
Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis) 2
Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) 2
Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus) 2
Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena) 3
Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis) 2
Glaucous Gull (Larus hyperboreus) 1
Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius) 1
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) 1
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) 1
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) 2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula) 2
Lincoln's Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii) 1 early sighting! Lars ? and I spotted in underbrush while scanning for phoebes and chickadees near point. Brown sparrow with Buffy chest and necklace, Buffy face.
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S4
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
The focus of today’s talks was reports from several of the Hawk Watch Sites attending the conference. Will and I gave a summary of the Detroit River Hawk Watch, while others from Iowa, Thunder Cape, Hawk Ridge, Illinois Beach, and Pembina Valley gave summaries of their efforts. The evening banquet was highlighted by a silent auction, award ceremony, and featured speaker David Mech presenting 50 years of Wolf Research. What I found stunning was seeing Mongolian hunters using Golden Eagles to track and take down wolves on the tundra.
The huge highlight of the day was the morning trip to Sax-Zim Bog. Alex Lamoreaux, a Penn State Student, got photos of a Great Gray Owl on the tour’s first stop of the morning! They also found two Northern Hawk Owls. Congratulations, Alex! Guess where Will and I are going tomorrow morning.
18 Apr 2010 – Sax-Zim Bog
With our flight home this afternoon we had time for some birding this morning. So Will, Dr. David Hussell (winner of the Maurice Broun Award), and I headed back to Sax-Zim to see if we could relocate the Great Gray. Though we cruised the location where the owl was seen yesterday we were unable to see the bird. Others were out, as well, and failed to find the bird. We did see an immature Bald Eagle in the area but otherwise found no evidence of the owl. But the morning was not a disappointment. We did find a small number of Brewer’s Blackbirds along the railroad tracks.
18 Apr 2010 – Sax-Zim Bog
With our flight home this afternoon we had time for some birding this morning. So Will, Dr. David Hussell (winner of the Maurice Broun Award), and I headed back to Sax-Zim to see if we could relocate the Great Gray. Though we cruised the location where the owl was seen yesterday we were unable to see the bird. Others were out, as well, and failed to find the bird. We did see an immature Bald Eagle in the area but otherwise found no evidence of the owl. But the morning was not a disappointment. We did find a small number of Brewer’s Blackbirds along the railroad tracks.
We returned to the feeder station and found a Gray Jay perched high atop a tree. The bird gave us great looks as it perched in the morning sunlight.
Continuing on we saw several Snowshoe Hare on the road in front of us, and picked up the usual Black-capped Chickadees, Red-breasted Nuthatches, Ruby- and Golden-crowned Kinglets, Pine Siskins, and Juncos. We passed a cooperative Hermit Thrush, and heard several Sandhill Cranes bugling somewhere in the distance.
A stop at the end of the road where the bog opened up brought us out of the car. Wilson’s Snipe were winnowing in all directions and we desperately tried to locate them in flight. Another male Northern Harrier passed nearby.
As we drove back southward we passed the morning’s tour bus, which was parked next to the road where one of the Northern Hawk Owls was seen yesterday. Sure enough, a bird was perched high atop a power line pole and the group was watching it.
The hawk owl was severely backlit, so I walked up the road hoping to get some digiscoped images. I took several images from the road, and then hiked down the side of the road to get a bit closer. As I crouched low in the grass the owl flew down and perched on the sign directly across the ditch from me. It stayed for several minutes looking for voles, and then took off across the road to the power lines on the other side of the tracks.
With better lighting I was able to get some nice digiscoped images of the owl.
After several minutes it took off again, this time farther down the road. Instead of chasing it, Will and I headed back toward the car. We did not want the owl to fly back and forth across the busy road.
As we chatted with the others, the hawk owl took off for the woods nearby, and then returned to the power lines near us. We could hear it chattering much like a squeaking mouse or a Tree Swallow, and then watch it fly to another perch. It returned to its original perch atop the power pole, so several of us went back to our locations next to the road. It was neat to sit and hear the owl chattering while Wilson's Snipe were winnowing somewhere in the fields (during mid-morning).
I took a short video of the owl and caught it hacking up a pellet. But it refused to fly any closer, so Will and I packed up and headed back to the airport. Nice way to end the trip. And a grand finale to winter birding!
Sax-Zim Bog, St. Louis, Minnesota, US
Apr 18, 2010 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Protocol: Traveling
12.0 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Will Weber, David Hussell and I looking for Great Gray Owl found by Alex Lamoreaux (dipped).
14 species
Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis) 2
Wilson's Snipe (Gallinago delicata) 6 winnowing from nearby field. Wonderful!
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) 1
Northern Hawk Owl (Surnia ulula) 1 Continuing. We and another group enjoyed it for an hour or so.
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) 6
Canada Jay (Perisoreus canadensis) 1
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) 2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula) 2
Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa) 2
Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) 2
Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) 1
Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus) 2
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) 2
Brewer's Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus) 4
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S4
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
Apr 18, 2010 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Protocol: Traveling
12.0 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Will Weber, David Hussell and I looking for Great Gray Owl found by Alex Lamoreaux (dipped).
14 species
Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis) 2
Wilson's Snipe (Gallinago delicata) 6 winnowing from nearby field. Wonderful!
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) 1
Northern Hawk Owl (Surnia ulula) 1 Continuing. We and another group enjoyed it for an hour or so.
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) 6
Canada Jay (Perisoreus canadensis) 1
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) 2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula) 2
Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa) 2
Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) 2
Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) 1
Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus) 2
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) 2
Brewer's Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus) 4
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S4
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
