[mou] Duluth area update

[Kim R Eckert]

As of this morning, 25 Jan, here are some of the more significant=20
sightings I'm aware of from the past few days. My apologies for=20
duplicating any information already posted by others.  - Kim Eckert


Gadwall - male presumably still overwintering with the Mallard/Am Black=20=

Duck flock along the Lakewalk just N of Canal Park (though I haven't=20
looked since last week's cold wave).

Harlequin Duck - pair still present in Two Harbors; usually seen along=20=

the main breakwater at Agate Bay.

Spruce Grouse - no sightings I'm aware of in the past few days, but=20
seen several times earlier in Jan along Minn Hwy 1 between mile markers=20=

306-301 (=3D 5-10 mi NW of Co Rd 2); only a couple of reports all winter=20=

in the usual area along Co Rd 2.

Sharp-tailed Grouse - few if any reported recently in Sax-Zim; probably=20=

best looked for now in Aitkin Co =96 e.g., seen last week along Co Rd =
16,=20
0.5 - 1.0 mi S of Tamarack.

(Yellow-billed Loon - to my knowledge, not seen since Jan 11)

Gyrfalcon - Ryan Brady of Ashland WI send the following report last=20
weekend of a Gyr which had been seen somewhat consistently in Dec: "The=20=

adult gray Gyrfalcon in Ashland was seen on Sat Jan 15 chasing pigeons=20=

at the power plant along the lakefront at 1:30 pm. The bird was seen=20
(and photographed) again today (Fri Jan 21) from 2:30 to 4:30 pm on the=20=

oredock in Ashland." Nothing consistent in Minn, with possible reports=20=

(mostly unconfirmed & second-hand) from Two Harbors and the Duluth=20
airport. Note there have been a Peregrine and Red-tailed Hawks recently=20=

in the Duluth-Superior harbor area, and these are have been mistaken=20
for Gyrs in the past. Also note that Gyrfalcon is currently classified=20=

as a Casual Minn species, with documentation needed for all sightings.

gulls - still possible to see fly-by Glaucous and Thayer's (adult seen=20=

last week) from the road outside the Superior landfill gate (no recent=20=

Iceland Gull reports I'm aware of); again, as previously reported,=20
birders are no longer allowed to drive or walk into the landfill since=20=

a litigious birder fell there a few weeks ago and threatened to sue.

Snowy Owl - two individuals probably still present in the Duluth=20
airport area =96 e.g., male seen at dusk on 22 Jan perched on the fence=20=

at the W end of the runway along Stebner Rd across from the Federal=20
Prison Camp. Stebner Rd turns E from U S Hwy 53 at the first stoplight=20=

N of Arrowhead Rd; also scan the runway from the parking lots at the=20
old airport terminal and at Cirrus Design along Stebner, and from the=20
observation windows on the second level of the main airport terminal.=20
And if you see the wing-tagged female, please try to see & report the=20
number. (No reports recently from the Proctor railroad yards or the=20
Duluth-Superior harbor.)

Great Gray / N Hawk Owls - as others have reported, Great Grays now=20
easiest to find in Aitkin Co, but N Hawk Owls are still easily seen in=20=

Sax-Zim, especially along Arkola Rd / Co Rd 52 a few miles W of Co Rd=20
7, and along Co Rd 7 between Arkola Rd and Zim.

Boreal Owl - most recent sightings have been in Two Harbors, especially=20=

on the E side of town between 4th & South Avenues. If you find one, be=20=

sure to approach quietly and not too closely to avoid unduly stressing=20=

the bird; also do not pass on specific locations to other birders=20
unless you are sure they will exercise similar caution.

Am Three-toed Woodpecker - male relocated on 22 and 24 Jan (too windy=20
on 23 Jan) along the W side of McDavitt Rd in Sax-Zim; look especially=20=

along the trail through the snow which goes into the woods opposite the=20=

red post/blue ribbon, 2.3 mi N of Sax Rd.

Black-backed Woodpecker - also seen at this same spot, plus additional=20=

Black-backeds last week another 3/4 mi N, near the N end of the=20
tamarack bog.

(Clark's Nutcracker - to my knowledge, not seen after it was initially=20=

reported on 15 Jan)

Boreal Chickadee - difficult to find recently in Sax-Zim. Warren Nelson=20=

recommends the Rabey Tree Farm on Hwy 200 in Aitkin Co; one is still=20
coming to the suet feeders in Isabella in Lake Co across from the cafe.

Bohemian Waxwing - flocks still elusive & unpredictable, but still=20
present today on the W side of Two Harbors: the flock around 18th-20th=20=

St along 7th Ave moved farther W to just S of the T-intersection at the=20=

end of 7th. Also seen at 4 locations over the weekend in Duluth: corner=20=

of Triggs & Toledo (i.e., N of St Scholastica / W of Kenwood Ave / S of=20=

Arrowhead Rd); along Jean Duluth Rd at Riley Rd; farther N on Jean=20
Duluth at Strand Rd; and at jct of Hwy 61 and Homestead Rd.

Snow Bunting - still scarce; most recent sightings along Co Rd 7=20
between Sax and Zim, and in Aitkin Co just S of Tamarack.

crossbills - both species still scarce; White-wingeds seen last week in=20=

Sax-Zim along Blue Spruce Rd just N of Co Rd 133, and Reds seen last=20
week near Meadowlands on Co Rd 29 just S of 133.

Hoary Redpoll - more than usual this winter among redpoll flocks at=20
feeders and along roadsides. As others have reported, first ask=20
permission before viewing any feeders in Sax-Zim =96 but do not ask or=20=

stop at the feeder on Co Rd 7, 1 mi N of Arkola, since the residents=20
yesterday asked birders not to stop there. And, as previously reported,=20=

do not stop to bird on any paved roads in Sax-Zim unless they have a=20
full-width shoulder =96 with so many birders, some local residents have=20=

lost patience with cars stopped partially in the road.

Evening Grosbeak - still scarce; seen recently at a few feeders in St=20
Louis & Lake Co's, but none consistently. Probably best looked for at=20
feeders in Aitkin Co.