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*MNDU9510.19
Hotline: Minnesota Duluth/North Shore
Date: October 19, 1995
Sponsor: Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU)
Reports: (218) 525-5952
Compiler: Kim Eckert
Transcriber: Joan Morrison
This is the Duluth Birder'd report for Thursday, Oct. 19.sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologist's Union.
Unfortunately, that GROOVE-BILLED ANI reported on last Sunday's unscheduled update could not be located by other observers subsequently. It was found late in the afternoon of Oct.15 at the Lutsen sewage pond in Cook County and several observers looked for it unsucessfully on Monday. There are now about 10 records for the species in Minnesota, most of these in October, and this is the third for the North Shore of Lake Superior.
Also of note recently from the North Shore was a very early BOREAL OWL which was found dead by Ben Yokel on Oct. 16 along Highway 61 between Knife River and Two Harbors in Lake County. The bird had apparently been hit by a car and this may represent the earliest fall record for the species ever found off its breeding ground. And this, hopefully, may indicate a good winter for this and other northern species.
Also in Lake County the winter plummage PACIFIC LOON in the main harbor at Two Harbors which was first spotted Oct. 7, was relocated on Oct. 15. And in Cook County Oct. 14, a first winter THAYER'S GULLwas found in the harbor at Grand Marais and a TOWNESEND'S SOLITAIRE was also seen in a campground at Grand Marais on the north side of the harbor.
And also in Cook County, a probable LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE was identified at Lutsen Oct. 15.
Meanwhile, back in Duluth, a VESPER'S SPARROW was seen along Superior St. near Brighton Beach Oct. 13 and a PARASITIC YEAGER, or possibly two of them, was spotted at the Superior entry at the south end of Park Point on Oct. 14.
A BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER was seen again Oct. 15 near the beginning of the Pinewood Trail at Hawk Ridge. The Pinewood Trail begins off Skyline Parkway 7/10th of a mile beyond the overlook. And a good number of GRAY JAYS and BOREAL CHICKADEES continue to migrate through Duluth as evidenced by the 12 GRAY JAYS seen yesterdayfrom the Lakewood Pumping Station during the two-hour census of migrants there and by the seven BOREAL CHICADEES which passed by the main overlook at Hawk Ridge Oct. 15.
Also at Hawk Ridge recently, the banders banded no fewer than 116 SAW-WHET OWLS the night of Oct. 15 along with 11 LONG-EAREDS and two unexpected BARRED OWLS. On the 14th, what appeared to be a pure white RED-TAILED HAWKS with no visible dark pigment was seen at Hawk Ridge, and what had to be the same individual was also seen the next day along the northshore near Lakewood road.
Two HARLAN'S HAWKS were also seen at Hawk Ridge on the 18th. (that was yesterday)
The hawk flight has been relatively slow the last few days the Ridge. It was good Oct. 11 through the 15th with about 1,000 hawks seen each day, with the best day so far this month, Oct. 14 when 1, 645 were counted which included 993 RED-TAILED HAWKS, 53 BALD EAGLES and 14 GOSHAWKS..
Meanwhile, at the Lakewood Pumping Station, the best day so far this season wason Oct. 12 when over 13,000 migrants were counted in two hours, including over 11,600 Robins. On the 14th at Lakewood, the total was about 5,000 which included about 3,000 ROBINS, 1,300 BLACKBIRDS, 215 DARK-EYED JUNCOS, 2 GOSHAWKS, and mixed flocks of BOHEMIAN and CEDAR WAXWINGS.
The count on Oct. 16 and 18 were under 1,000 migrants but on the 16th, a very late CHIMNEY SWIFT flew by, the first COMMON REDPOLL of the season arrived and a flock of 11 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS, 5 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS and 2 BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKERS were also seen. While yesterday, the 18th, another BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER flew by as did a NORTHERN SHRIKE.,.
Unless something unusual is seen in the meantime which needs to be reported on immediately, the next scheduled update will be on Thursday, Oct. 26 and, as always, if you have birds to report, please be sure to leave a message after the tone, especially since several out-of-town birders will be here this weekend for our annual October Duluth Birding Weekend for field trips and other activities.