Duluth RBA
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-RBA *Minnesota *Duluth/North Shore *May 20, 2001 *MNDU0105.20 -Birds mentioned
Hotline: Minnesota, Duluth/North Shore
Date: May 20, 2001
Sponsor: Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU)
Reports: (218) 525-5952
Compiler: Kim Eckert (kreckert@cp.duluth.mn.us)
Transcriber: Kim Eckert (kreckert@cp.duluth.mn.us)
This is the Duluth Birding Report for Sunday, May 20, sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union.
This Report is being updated today to report on the results of the May 19 Hawk Ridge Birdathon and St. Louis Co Big Day. Although there was virtually no migration taking place yesterday (the absence of shorebirds and migrant warblers was especially noticeable), the birding teams recorded an unofficial composite total of 190 species. This is close to the average for this event, and there are still a couple of teams which have yet to report in.
Among the species of interest found were BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON, TUNDRA SWAN, TRUMPETER SWAN, GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, OLDSQUAW, SURF SCOTER, SHARP-TAILED GROUSE, WILSON'S PHALAROPE, LITTLE GULL, GREAT GRAY OWL, WHIP-POOR-WILL, RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER, FIELD SPARROW, and WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL.
The Black-crowned Night-Heron and a late Gr White-fronted Goose were both present at the 40th Ave W Erie Pier area.
A late Tundra Swan was carefully identified in the St Louis R at Grassy Pt, which is at the base of the old U S Hwy 2 bridge. And the Trumpeter Swan was in its now-traditional area in the vicinity of Minn Hwy 194 and Canosia Rd -- look either in the gravel pit ponds just N of this jct or in the wetland about 1/2 mi S.
Four Oldsquaws were at Stoney Pt, while the Surf Scoter was on the bay side of Park Point near the Duluth Rowing Club. Also note at this latter location today a LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE was found this afternoon; this rarity was not reported by any of the teams on the 19th.
A few Sharp-tailed Grouse were seen in the Sax-Zim Bog at their traditional lek site along the S side of Co Rd 52, just W of Co Rd 208.
Unexpected were the Wilson's Phalaropes found in the N part of the county at the former Embarrass rice paddies. (In all, very few individual shorebirds were present, and only 14 species were reported -- about 10 species fewer than normal.)
The best find of the day was probably the adult Little Gull seen in the morning at Hearding Island, which is visible on the bay side of Park Point from 19th St; unfortunately it was apparently present only a short time and could not be relocated in the afternoon.
Great Gray Owls were found at 4 locations in the Sax-Zim Bog: around the jct of Co Rds 319 and 7; along Co Rd 7 between Sax and 319; along Co Rd 213 about 1 mi N of Co Rd 28; and along Co Rd 52 just E of Owl Ave. Also of note was the Whip-poor-will heard along Co Rd 52 about half way between Cotton and Co Rd 7.
A Red-bellied Woodpecker was relocated at a feeder in Proctor, and an unexpected Field Sparrow was at Leif Brush's feeder on the 2900 block of Jefferson St in Duluth.
Finally, a flock of White-winged Crossbills was along Co Rd 213 in Sax-Zim near the power line corridor.
Unless something unusual is seen in the meantime which needs to be reported immediately, the next scheduled update will be on Thursday, May 24. The phone number for the Duluth Birding Report is (218) 525-5952, and callers can report bird sightings if they wish after the tone at the end of each tape. Messages can also be left without having to wait for the report to end: to do this, after the tape starts playing push 5 on a touch-tone phone, the tape will stop, the tone will sound, and you can then leave your 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 of Natural
History,10 Church Street SE, Minneapolis MN 55455; or send an e-mail to
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