[mou] Duluth RBA 3/31/05

[David Benson]

This is the Duluth Birding Report for Thursday, March 31, sponsored by 
the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union.

The telephone number of this report will change on around April 14 to 
218-834-2858.

Robbye Johnson and Shawn Putz found a 3rd-winter GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL 
near the Superior, Wisconsin landfill on the 26th; no reports of the 
bird since then.

Scott Wolfe reported a small group of HOODED MERGANSERS at Minnesota 
Point on the 27th, and today, at the flooded soccer field at the 
recreation area, there were also 12 NORTHERN SHOVELERS, 2 GADWALL, and 
2 AMERICAN WIGEONS. Jim Lind saw an EASTERN BLUEBIRD in Two Harbors on 
the 27th and a KILLDEER on the 25th.

Frank Nicoletti reported that the West Skyline Hawk Count tallied 684 
BALD EAGLES on the 28th for a season total of 1910 so far. On the same 
day, he saw a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK. On the 26th, he saw two SANDHILL 
CRANES, and on the 28th, two GREAT BLUE HERONS.

Molly Hoffman reported that three HARLEQUIN DUCKS, including a male in 
breeding plumage, are still around Grand Marais. Cathy Winkler reported 
CEDAR WAXWINGS from Lester Park on the 25th.

GREAT GRAY OWLS are still abundant in Aitkin Cty, particularly along 
Cty Rd 16 south of the town of Tamarack. Also along this road, Sparky 
Stensaas found 5 SHARP-TAILED GROUSE, 2.5 miles north of Lawler, on the 
24th. John Anderson reported a SNOWY OWL from along Hwy 65, 7 miles 
south of the jct. with Hwy 210. Cindy Butler Risen found a BOREAL OWL 
along Aitkin Cty Rd 31, 2.5 miles west of Cty Rd 6.

Ben Yokel had a HOARY REDPOLL at his feeders near Melrude, and Kim 
Eckert reported that a Hoary is still coming to the feeder along the 
Stanley Rd (Cty Rd 9) west of Two Harbors and just north of Hwy 61. 
Both an AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKER and BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKERS are 
still being seen along McDavitt Rd in Sax-Zim.


The next scheduled update of this report will be on Thursday, April 7.

The telephone number of the Duluth Rare Bird Alert is currently 
218-728-5030. However, my last regular compilation of the report will 
be next week, April 7, and then Jim Lind will take over at 
218-834-2858. Information about bird sightings may be left following 
the recorded 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 to
mou@cbs.umn.edu, or visit the MOU web site at mou.mn.org.