[mou] Duluth RBA 11/3/05

[Jim Lind]

This is the Duluth Birding Report for Thursday, November 3rd, 
sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union.

Several interesting birds were found over the weekend in and around 
Grand Marais, with several groups of birders visiting the area.  A 
CATTLE EGRET was found by Bruce Stahly on the 29th on the inner 
breakwall near the North House Folk School in the Grand Marais 
harbor.  It was still present on the 30th.  A late PINE WARBLER was 
found on the 30th by Dennis and Barb Martin along 8th Avenue in the 
Grand Marais campground.  Late CAPE MAY WARBLERS, ORANGE-CROWNED 
WARBLER, and GRAY CATBIRD were also seen in and around town.  

A SUMMER TANAGER was found on the 30th by Dennis and Barb Martin 
along Highway 61 a quarter mile west of the west end of the 
Croftville Road.  On the same day, Cindy Edwardson found a WESTERN 
KINGBIRD at the Colville fire department building along Highway 61 
northeast of Grand Marais, near mile marker 118.  A late SWAINSON'S 
THRUSH was also seen here.

LONG-TAILED DUCKS, SURF SCOTERS, WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, and BLACK 
SCOTERS were also seen at various locations along the North Shore 
last weekend, with all four species found together along Highway 61 
northeast of Grand Marais near mile marker 116.  Other locations 
included Good Harbor Bay, Grand Marais, Paradise Beach, Tofte, and 
Two Harbors.  

Mike Hendrickson found a PACIFIC LOON on October 30th at Lake 
Superior at Park Point at 31st Street, and a BLACK SCOTER here on the 
1st.  Mike also relocated the first-winter THAYER'S GULL at Knife 
River on the 31st.  The PACIFIC LOON in Two Harbors was relocated on 
the 29th by Peder Svingen and Tony Hertzel near 1st Street and South 
Avenue.

The first COMMON REDPOLLS of the season were reported from Hawk Ridge 
on the 26th and a TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE was seen on the 27th.  Ten 
GOLDEN EAGLES have been seen at Hawk Ridge since the 27th, and one 
was seen on the 29th along Highway 61 near the Silver Creek tunnel in 
Lake County.  A SPRUCE GROUSE was seen today by Dave Grosshuesch 
along the Stoney River Forest Road, near the junction of the Whyte 
Road.

A BOREAL CHICKADEE was seen along the McDavitt Road in Sax-Zim on the 
2nd, about 3 miles north of the Sax Road.  Frank Nicoletti reports 
that up to three NORTHERN HAWK OWLS were seen in the Sax-Zim bog 
between October 21st and 25th, including one bird along County Road 
788, although none have been relocated.  Frank and others have also 
banded five BOREAL OWLS since October 9th in Lakewood Township, 
northeast of Duluth.  

A SNOWY OWL was found on October 28th in Saginaw at the junction of 
US Highway 2 and Highway 194.  Unfortunately, it was extremely 
emaciated and had to be brought to a wildlife rehabilitator.

The next scheduled update of this report will be on Thursday, 
November 10th.

The telephone number of the Duluth Rare Bird Alert is 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 moumn.org.