[mou] Duluth RBA 1/27/05

[David Benson]

This is the Duluth Birding Report for Thursday, January 27, 2005, 
sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union.

As recently as Monday, a TOWNSENDS' SOLITAIRE was present at 40th and 
Cooke.

Two SNOWY OWLS have been seen at the Duluth International Airport; some 
observers have seen them from the observation area inside the terminal; 
others have succeeded in seeing the owls from Stebner Rd. However, 
today a birder was confronted by law enforcement and asked to leave 
this area. It might be best to try the terminal first, and if you do 
try Stebner Rd, stay by your vehicle.

GREAT GRAY OWLS continue to be abundant throughout Northeastern and 
East Central Minnesota. Good roads to try include Cty Rd 7 in Sax-Zim 
and Cty Rd 4 in Carlton Cty. Great Grays were seen in Duluth this week 
on the beach at Minnesota Pt. near the recreation area, along E. 7th 
St., near Ordean School on 40th Ave East and Superior St., and at 
Brighton Beach.

Two Harbors is probably the best spot to search for Boreal Owls and 
Bohemian Waxwings.

A NORTHERN HAWK OWL has been consistent along Rice Lake Rd just north 
of Arrowhead Rd. This is near the entrance to Snowflake Ski Center.

BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKERS were seen again this week along McDavitt Rd in 
Sax-Zim 2.6 miles north of the Sax Rd. An AMERICAN THREE-TOED 
WOODPECKER was seen on the trail that heads west from near this point 
(opposite a red-and-white post).

HOARY REDPOLLS are being seen at a feeder along Cty Rd 9 just west of 
Two Harbors and at a feeder in the town of Isabella along Hwy 1 in Lake 
Cty, across from the Moose Ridge Cafe. A BOREAL CHICKADEE has been 
coming to suet feeders here.

Two HARLEQUIN DUCKS continue to be seen at Agate Bay in Two Harbors, 
and Peder Svingen reported 2 LONG-TAILED DUCKS there on Monday.

Warren Nelson reported two SHORT-EARED OWLS a mile east of Tamarack in 
Aitkin Cty along Hwy 210. Steve Millard found a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK 2 
miles west of Aitkin on 210.

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

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.