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*MNDU9509.08
Hotline: Minnesota Duluth/North Shore
Date: September 8, 1995
Sponsor: Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU)
Reports: (218) 525-5952
Compiler: Kim Eckert
Transcriber: Sr. Beverly Raway braway@fac1.css.edu
This is the Duluth birding report for Thursday, September 7th sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union.
A report of a possible female plumage BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS was received yesterday, but so far this bird's identity has not been confirmed. It was seen September 6th at the feeder located at 5718 Main Street in Duluth, which is just south of Interstate 35 near the paper mill. This feeder is reportedly most visible from the 58th Avenue West side of the house. While almost all such reports previously in Minnesota in late summer have actually turned out to be immature male rose-breasteds rather than female black-headed, the observer said the bird's under wing linings looked yellow rather than pink suggesting that it might actually be a black- headed grosbeak. If the bird is seen again, and if it proves to be a black-headed this tape would be updated as soon as possible with that information.
Since last weekend several other birds of note were also seen in Duluth. On September 2nd a WESTERN KINGBIRD was seen at Park Point along the 2800 block. A DICKSISSEL was seen and heard by hawk counter Frank Nicolletti as it flew past the Main Overlook. A WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL flew over the Lakewood Pumping Station and a lone AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN was seen flying over the UMD area of Duluth. On the 3rd, another WESTERN KINGBIRD was seen, this time at the Main Overlook at Hawk Ridge, another WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL was found at the Recreation Area at Park Point, and still another WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL was seen on September 5th near the Coast Guard Station on Park Point, and on the same day that amazing BLUE MORPH SNOW GOOSE which has been present since last Fall was seen again on the bay side of Park Point near Canal Park. And then yesterday, the 6th, a totally unexpected adult PARASITIC JAEGER flew past the counters at the Lakewood Pumping Station. It came from the Northwest or inland side of Lakewood and flew southeast out over Lake Superior.
Also noted last weekend in Duluth was perhaps the largest flight of SWAINSON'S THRUSHES ever seen in Minnesota. Literally hundreds of thrushes possibly thousands were seen by various observers, most of them concentrated on Park Point on September 3rd, although just as many may have been present on the 2nd and the 4th as well. Virtually all of these were Swainson's with only isolated sightings of VEERY, HERMIT or GREY-CHEEKED among them. Good numbers of other migrant's were also seen at the same time, especially WARBLERS, with no fewer than 22 species seen September 3rd on Park Point. The only regularly occurring warblers not found that day, all rare in Fall migrations, were Golden-winged, Black-throated Blue, Pine and Connecticut.
Because of generally unfavorable winds which have been prevailing so far this fall there hasn't been much to report on from Hawk Ridge. Even today's strong cold front was accompanied by Northeast winds rather than more favorable Northwest winds. So far the biggest flight was on September 3rd when a modest 517 hawks were counted which included over 400 SHARP-SHINS and two PEREGRINES were also seen that day. Single SWAINSON'S HAWKS were also seen over the Ridge on September 1st and September 6th.
It looks like it could be a good weekend coming up for hawk watching with colder than normal temperatures in the forecast and with Southwest winds which often result in a good hawk flight forecast for tomorrow. Of course it is hoped that there will be a good flight during the following weekend September 15th, 16th and 17th to coincide with our annual Hawk Weekend activities. Evening programs on both Friday and Saturday the 15th and 16th will take place at UMD's Bohannon Hall Room 90 starting at 8:00 pm with registration and refreshments starting at 7:00 pm. Birding field trips will meet at 7:00 am both Saturday and Sunday the 16th and 17th at the 40th Avenue West Perkins Restaurant parking lot to bird the 40th Avenue West Erie Pier area mud flats and nearby Indian Point; at the main parking lot at the Park point Recreation Area; and at the Visitor Information Booth near the mouth of the Lester River to bird the north shore as far as Stony Point. Also on Saturday only, there will be a field trip to Wisconsin Point meeting at the corner of Highways 2 and 53 and Moccasin Mike Road at the south edge of Superior. At Hawk Ridge itself geology and flora nature hikes will also be scheduled along with visits to the observation blind at the banding station. And as usual we will have our annual "Guess the Number of Hawks Contest". National Camera Exchange of Golden Valley will have an optics display there and the Raptor Center of St. Paul will be bringing up some live raptors that are in their collection. If you have any questions about our September Hawk Weekend feel free to give me a call at 525-6930.
Unless something unusual is seen in the meantime which needs to be reported on immediately, the next scheduled update of this tape will be on Thursday, September 14th, and as always if you have birds to report, you may leave a message after the tone......