[mou] Duluth RBA 2/24/05

[David Benson]

This is the Duluth Birding Report for Thursday, February 24, 2005, 
sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union.

Warren Nelson found an EASTERN SCREECH-OWL at Blind Lake in Aitkin Cty 
on the 17th. The bird was on Cty Rd 24 at the jct with 430th Place on 
the west side of the lake. No one has reported refinding the bird.

Aitkin County continues to be a popular place to view the northern owl 
irruption, with many observers finding multiple GREAT GRAY OWLS. 
Several observers reported owls along the Blind Lake Rd, and along Cty 
Rd 22. Warren Nelson found 26 Great Grays in one field along Cty Rd 1 
just north of the diversion channel. Both Great Grays and Northern Hawk 
Owls are still present at many locations across northern and central 
Minnesota.

A BOREAL OWL stayed put along the Hwy 61 Expressway to Two Harbors this 
week. The bird was southwest of the Berquist Rd on the north side of 
the road. At least two Boreal Owls were found along the expressway this 
week.

Several observers had unpleasant confrontations with officials near the 
Duluth International Airport along Stebner Rd while trying to view 
SNOWY OWLS there. Some were asked to spread the word the the area was 
no longer open.

Mike Hendrickson reported BOREAL CHICKADEES from along the Spruce Rd 
off Hwy 1 in northern Lake Cty, and from along McDavitt Rd in Sax-Zim; 
and at least one bird is still coming to the feeder across from the 
cafe in isabella. At least one HOARY REDPOLL is still coming to a 
feeder on the Stanley Rd (Cty Rd 9) just west of Two Harbors and north 
of Hwy 61. The HARLEQUIN DUCKS are still at Agate Bay in Two Harbors.

BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKERS continue to be seen on the west side of 
McDavitt, 2.6 miles north of the Sax Rd. A THREE-TOED WOODPECKER was at 
the same location on the 19th.

A large flock of BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS (1200+) birds was seen near the 
intersection of 46th and Cooke in East Duluth on the 19th. Waxwings 
were also reported from the Lakewood neighborhood east of Duluth, from 
Two Harbors, from Grand Marais, and from Ely. There are also apparently 
EVENING GROSBEAKS coming to feeders in Ely, but I don't have precise 
details.

Mark Alt found a HORNED LARK in Aitkin Cty on the 21st.


The next scheduled update of this report will be on Thursday, March 3rd.

The telephone number of the Duluth Rare Bird Alert is 218-728-5030.
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.