[mou] Three-toed Woodpecker in Cook Co

[Kim R Eckert]

Yesterday morning, Oct 26, an Am 3-toed Woodpecker was briefly seen  
along the Croftville Rd just E of Grand Marais, but it quickly flew  
off to the east towards the Devil Track River and was not relocated.

There were just a few other highlights seen during our so-called  
Muffin Run which we do annually along the North Shore on the last  
weekend of October. Also seen by at least part of the group were:  
White-winged Scoter (Two Harbors), Black Scoters (Two Harbors & Grand  
Marais), Long-tailed Duck (Taconite Harbor), a late Spotted Sandpiper  
(Grand Marais), Orange-crowned Warbler & Western Meadowlark (both  
Grand Marais), and White-winged Crossbills (several flocks migrating  
down the North Shore, especially at Stoney Point).

Denny & Barb Martin, who are staying an extra day in Cook Co, also  
called to report they relocated a Harlequin Duck yesterday afternoon  
at the Grand Portage sewage ponds which another birder had found on  
Saturday (sorry: I don't know who he was) and they had Surf Scoter at  
Paradise Beach.

But that's about it, as the migration this fall (especially of land  
birds) continues to be mostly slow and disappointing in NE Minnesota,  
and few winter-type specialties have been reported so far. We'll see  
if the strong cold front currently passing though the state will bring  
any changes.  Kim Eckert