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*MNDU9510.12
Hotline: Minnesota Duluth/North Shore
Date: October 12, 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, October 12th sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union.
Unfortunately, that SABINE'S GULL and RED-THROATED LOON mentioned on LAST Friday's update of this tape could not be re-located again after Friday, but at least there is still one winter plumage PACIFIC LOON being seen this week and possibly as many as three. It again sounds like there may be two individuals in the vicinity of Stony Point with the most recent sitings on October 10th ... one of these from the west side of Stoney Point and the other a mile and a half southwest of Stoney that is just beyond the Shorecrest Supper Club. And on October 7th, there was yet another PACIFIC LOON reported, this one from Agate Bay in Two Harbors in Lake County seen by Molly Evans and Sarah Kohlbry.
Other species of interest seen recently include a BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER seen for one day only on October 7th at Hawk Ridge along the Pine Woods Trail (but it could not be relocated on subsequent days), a VESPER SPARROW found at Stoney Point October 8th, and today, all at the main overlook at Hawk Ridge, the first NORTHERN SHRIKE and BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS of the season flew by and a SHORT- EARED OWL was also seen. More than the usual number of BLACK- CAPPED CHICKADEES continue to migrate through Duluth this Fall and among them a few BOREAL CHICKADEES have also been seen this week, with most sightings at Hawk Ridge and at the Lakewood Pumping Station. Migrant GREY JAYS have also been appearing here in higher numbers than usual in recent days as evidenced by the 11 individuals which flew past the Lakewood Pumping Station during this morning's two hour count of migrants. In all this morning over 13,000 migrants were counted at Lakewood, the largest two-hour total so far this season. This total included over 11,600 AMERICAN ROBINS.
Meanwhile at Hawk Ridge, in spite of warmer than normal temperatures recently, the hawk flight has been good on each day since last weekend except for one, with west and southwest winds prevailing. On both October 7th and 8th over 800 hawks were counted with 501 RED-TAILS, 30 BALD EAGLES, and a GOLDEN EAGLE seen on the 7th and seven NORTHERN GOSHAWKS on the 8th. Less than a hundred hawks were seen on the 9th due to rain and east winds, but on the 10th nearly 700 were counted. Over 900 hawks were counted yesterday including 30 BALD EAGLES, 11 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS, a GOLDEN EAGLE, and a PEREGRINE FALCON. And today, although I don't have the final totals, at least 800 hawks were seen, including a good flight of NORTHERN HARRIERS, which had been conspicuous by their absence this Fall and another late PEREGRINE FALCON. And with a strong cold front forecast to arrive tomorrow, the hawk watching should continue to be good into this weekend.
Unless something unusual in the meantime is seen which needs to be reported on immediately, the next scheduled update of this tape will be on Thursday, October 19th. And as always if you have birds to report, you may either leave a message after the tone or call me directly at 525-6930. Also note for future reference, callers can leave a message, if they wish, without having to wait for this birding report to end. To do this, after the tape starts playing, push 5 on your touch-tone phone, the tape will then stop, the tone will sound, and you can then leave your message. ... Beep.