Duluth RBA
Duluth RBA
Duluth RBA
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-RBA *Minnesota *Duluth/North Shore *December 30, 2004 *MNDU0412.30 -Birds mentioned
Hotline: Minnesota, Duluth/North Shore
Date: December 30, 2004
Sponsor: Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU)
Reports: (218) 728-5030
Compiler: David R. Benson (drbenson@cpinternet.com)
Transcriber: David R. Benson (drbenson@cpinternet.com)
This is the Duluth Birding Report for Thursday, December 30, 2004, sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union.
GREAT GRAY OWLS and NORTHERN HAWK OWLS continue to be seen by the dozen around northeastern Minnesota. Easy places to look are on back roads between Duluth and Two Harbors (especially for Great Grays) and in the Sax-Zim area north of Duluth. The severe ice storm we are experiencing today will certainly not be good for the owls, and it will also make birding treacherous for several days. Birders should be careful about where they stop. With the large number of visitors here to look for owls, it would be helpful if birders minimized time stopping near dwellings and were extra courteous when driving and stopping to look. Along busy roads, flushing an owl may increase its chances of being hit by another car; please consider owling on quieter roads and observe from a distance.
On the 26th Janet Riegle found a TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE on the Lakewalk in Duluth below 26th Ave East. Bill Schmoker and Urs Geiser each reported two HARLEQUIN DUCKS in Two Harbors along the east side of the breakwater in Agate Bay on the 29th. A LONG-TAILED DUCK is still with the large flock of goldeneyes in the ship channel at Canal Park in Duluth.
Jesse and John Ellis reported SHARP-TAILED GROUSE at four locations in the Sax-Zim area: on Owl Avenue at Mottinen Road they found two individuals close to the road. A single bird was approx. 2 mi. south of Kelsey on St. Louis Cty Rd 7. One bird was on Arkola Rd (Cty Rd 52) 1 mile east of 7 and another single bird was 4.5 mi. E of 7 on Arkola.
On the 23rd Mike Hendrickson reported a SPRUCE GROUSE from mile marker 303 along Hwy 1 in Lake Cty. He also saw WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS along the Spruce Rd off Hwy 1. Small groups of BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS have been seen at various locations. Two Harbors may be the easiest spot to look for them.
The best spot for gulls in our area is the Superior, WI landfill, where in recent weeks there were reports of three THAYER'S GULLS, two ICELAND GULLS, as many as eight GLAUCOUS GULLS, a second winter LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, and a GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL.
The next scheduled update of this report will be on Thursday, January 6.
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.
