[mou] Duluth RBA 5/18/06

[Jim Lind]

This is the Duluth Birding Report for Thursday, May 18th, 2006 
sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union.

A WESTERN TANAGER has been coming to a feeder in Embarrass, St. Louis 
County since the 10th, and was seen as recently as the 16th.  Anyone 
interested in trying for the bird should call Judy Stecker at 218-984-
3433.  Another WESTERN TANAGER was seen in Grand Rapids from the 11th 
through at least the 13th at 13028 River Road.  I have not heard any 
additional information about the Western Tanager reported near Grand 
Marais, Cook County on the 10th.

Two WILSON'S PHALAROPES were seen on the 17th with a flock of LEAST 
SANDPIPERS and SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS in a farm field northeast of 
Grand Marais, Cook County.  The field is along CR 60, about two miles 
east of the Gunflint Trail.  A LE CONTE'S SPARROW was also heard 
here, and flocks of LAPLAND LONGSPURS, AMERICAN PIPITS, and HORNED 
LARKS were present.  Three AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS were seen flying 
overhead along Highway 61, eight miles northeast of Grand Marais.

Two NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRDS were seen in Cook County on the 17th.  One 
was at the Grand Marais municipal campground and the other seen in a 
horse pasture along CR 14, about 1.5 mile north of Highway 61.  
Another NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD was found on the 17th in Cloquet, 
Carlton County by Cindy Edwardson at Veteran's Park off Carlton 
Avenue.

Uwe Kausch had SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS on the 14th at his ponds off 
the Wildwood Road, a mile west of the Homestead Road.  Janet Riegle 
also reported SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS on the 14th at 40th Avenue West 
in Duluth, along with two WILLETS and a DUNLIN.  A VESPER SPARROW was 
seen on the 15th at the junction of the Bergquist Road and the 
Lismore Road.

Jan Green found five WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS on the 12th in the Duluth 
harbor at Park Point.  Six LONG-TAILED DUCKS were seen at Burlington 
Bay in Two Harbors on the 12th, and small flocks were seen at several 
locations in Cook County on the 17th.

Recent spring arrivals in the area include ALDER FLYCATCHER, EASTERN 
KINGBIRD, and SWAINSON'S THRUSH on the 17th, PURPLE MARTIN on the 
16th, and WILSON'S WARBLER on the 12th.

This report will be updated on Friday by 6:00 pm on the phone line 
only with stakeouts for the Hawk Ridge Birdathon.  It will be updated 
again on Sunday with results from the birdathon.

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.