Duluth RBA

Duluth RBA phone number: 218-525-5952

Previous reports: December 21 28 , January 4 11 18 25 , February 1 3 15 .
Other Hotlines: Minnesota Statewide | Detroit Lakes


-RBA
*Minnesota
*Duluth/North Shore
*February 22, 2001
*MNDU0102.22

-Birds mentioned
-Transcript

Hotline: Minnesota, Duluth/North Shore
Date: February 22, 2001
Sponsor: Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU)
Reports: (218) 525-5952
Compiler: David Benson (drbenson@cpinternet.com)
Transcriber: David Benson (drbenson@cpinternet.com)
Re-transcriber: David Cahlander (dac@skypoint.com)

This is the Duluth Birding Report for Thursday, February 22, sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union.

BOREAL OWLS continue to be seen in this area. There have been several new reports of small owls, with some of these correctly identified as NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS, and other owls whose ID is in doubt. Some of these owls are also dying of starvation. The most recent report was on Wednesday the 21st from Knife River, across from Emily's Restaurant, near where the TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE is being seen. On Monday the 19th, Jim Lind saw three birds along Scenic Hwy 61 between Duluth and Two Harbors, including one at Brighton Beach, one at the Lake Breeze Motel, and one .1 mile south of the Sannes Road. Lacking a stake-out, the best areas to check seem to be Knife River, Two Harbors, and Scenic 61 at dusk.

GREAT GRAY OWLS have become more difficult to find than they were earlier this winter. They were seen this week on Lake County Rd 2 near the School of Log Building, in Aitkin County, and today at Flood Bay north of Two Harbors north of the highway, and in Knife River on Hawk Hill Road.

A THREE-TOED WOODPECKER was seen again on February 16th and 17th near the gate at the beginning of the Endless Waters Rd, which turns off the Spruce Rd, 0.4 mi from Minn Hwy 1. Please note this is a PRIVATE ROAD which is OK to walk on, but under no circumstances are birders allowed to drive on it even if the gate is open; and, of course, don't park where you would be blocking the road whether or not the gate is open. Another bird was reported from the Stewart River and Highway 2.

A BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER was seen on the Spruce Road last weekend, and Frank Nicoletti reported a female from County Road 319 in the Sax-Zim area. A male WOOD DUCK is still hanging on in the open water along 319 as well.

The adult male BARROW'S GOLDENEYE found Feb 3 continues to be seen among a flock of Common Goldeneyes in the shipping channel at Canal Park in Duluth.

The Gray-crowned Rosy-finch that was present in the harbor has not been seen since February 4th, so we no longer have permission to bird anywhere on Cargill property. Our thanks to Superintendent Roger Juhl of Cargill, who generously allowed many birders the chance to look for this bird during the time it was present.

BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS have become very difficult to find. Please report any sightings this week.

A flock of HORNED LARKS has turned up the in the Duluth harbor near the Soo Line yards.

That adult gray-morph GYRFALCON was still present in the Duluth harbor this week, still seen most often by the Cargill elevator. Also being seen in the harbor area are an adult PEREGRINE FALCON and a few SNOWY OWLS -- Snowys are also still present along Aitkin Co Rd 1 a few mi N of Aitkin, and near the jct of U S Hwys 53 and 169 in Virginia. SPRUCE GROUSE were seen this week in Lake Co at 2 locations along Minn Hwy 1 between Co Rd 2 and the Spruce Rd. And a YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER is still surviving this week at feeders on the 8200 block of Congdon Blvd.

NORTHERN HAWK OWLS continue to be reported at numerous locations in N E Minn, as they have been all winter. Look especially in the vicinity of Sax and the jct of Co Rds 7 & 319 in the Sax-Zim Bog, and in Aitkin Co. A BOREAL OWL was also seen in Aitkin County this week, but it has not been relocated (for more information, call Warren Nelson in Aitkin at 218-927-2458).

Unless something unusual is seen in the meantime which needs to be reported immediately, this report is normally updated once a week on Thursdays, so that the next scheduled update will be on March 1st. The phone number for the Duluth Birding Report is (218) 525-5952, and callers can report bird sightings if they wish after the tone at the end of each tape. Messages can also be left without having to wait for the report to end: to do this, after the tape starts playing push 5 on a touch-tone phone, the tape will stop, the tone will sound, and you can then leave your message.

The Duluth Birding Report is sponsored and funded by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU) as a service to its members. For more information on the MOU, either write us c/o the Bell Museum of Natural History,10 Church Street SE, Minneapolis MN 55455; or send an e-mail to ; or visit the MOU web site at .




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