[mou] NE Minnesota Birding - Spruce Grouse

[Joel Claus]

Spent part of the weekend birding St Louis and Lake counties.  The highlight 
was lots of Spruce Grouse!  There were 10 on Lake Cty Rd 2 this morning at 
dawn (ran into Linda Sparling there), and 4 more on Hwy 1, 1/4 mile east of 
377 (Tomahawk Rd) at 9:15 AM.  Unfortunately, the 4 male Spruce Grouse were 
strolling around the body of a fifth that apparently had been hit by a car 
just moments before judging from the blood that was still flowing.

Other sightings:
Boreal Chickadee and White-winged Crossbills (short look) along Lake Cty 2

Male Three-toed Woodpecker working a Tamarack right on the edge of Hwy 1, .4 
mile west of mile marker 313.  There were good numbers of Common Redpolls, 
Pine Siskins, and Pine Grosbeaks in the Isabella area.

I visited Silver Bay and had a great look at the male Varied Thrush at 12:15 
PM.  The Catbird and White-throated sparrow that have been reported 
previously were present as well.

100 plus Bohemian Waxwings were on the north side of the Hwy 61 expressway 
at Larsmont Rd at 2:00 PM.

Saturday - Duluth Northern Hawk Owl was across the street from the coffee 
shop at 3:30 PM.  The White-winged Scoter and Long-tailed duck reported at 
Canal Park were still present as well.

I also stopped by Carlos Avery on the way home this evening but found it 
very quiet between 5 and 6 PM.  No SE Owls to be seen and only one Harrier 
for raptors.

A non-bird note; I came across a cow and calf moose crossing Hwy 1 between 
Isabella and Finland.  The cow was sporting a tracking collar around her 
neck.

Joel Claus
Eden Prairie