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-RBA *Minnesota *Duluth/North Shore *November 2, 1995 *MNDU9511.02 -Birds mentioned
Hotline: Minnesota Duluth/North Shore
Date: November 2, 1995
Sponsor: Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU)
Reports: (218) 525-5952
Compiler: Kim Eckert
Transcriber: Joan Morrison
Though nothing quite as unexpected as that HOODED WARBLER reported on last week's tape has been seen this last week, the birding has still been quite eventful, with reports of a CAROLINA WREN, the first NORTHERN HAWK OWL of the season, two additional GREAT GREY OWL sightings, two migrating THREE-TOED WOODPECKERS, and the continued presence of two PACIFIC LOONS at Stoney Point.
That CAROLINA WREN was seen by Patty.Munsen-Geer (?).at her feeder on the 1500 block of 9th Ave. E. in Duluth. But unfortunately it was only present for a short time on the morning of Oct. 31 and it apparently has not been seen since. If it does return, however, this tape would be updated as soon as possible with the information. Though a rare, regular species of southern Minnesota, the CAROLINA WREN, to my knowledge, has only been reported twice in northeastern Minnesota. Once at Hawk Ridge and once at Park Point in Duluth.
Ken Lafol(?) of the Twin Cities reported the first NORTHERN HAWK OWL of the season on the 31st. It was seen on the Iron Range in St. Louis County along US Highway 169 near Milepost 356, which is about two miles east of the town of Bule. Last winter, HAWK OWLS were conspicuous by their absence in Minnesota, but hopefully this sighting is another sign that this winter could be good for northern owls.
Speaking of owls, that GREAT GREY OWL mentioned on last week's tape, was seen again last weekend by Sam Yokel. Again, the location, is on St. Louis County Road 203, 1 mile south of County Rd 52. 203 turns south off of 52, 11.5 miles west of Cotton.
And Dan Bersaw (??) of Two Harbors saw another GREAT GREY, this one in Central Lake County. about 4 miles up the Stoney River Forest Road.To reach this location, go north from Two Harbors on County Rd 2 for about 26 miles and then turn east of Forest Road 11, the Stoney River Road turns north off 11 after about a mile.
On Oct. 29, THREE-TOED WOODPECKERS were seen flying by the main overlook at Hawk Ridge and Stoney Point. Both individuals have migrated on and have not been relocated. And speaking of Stoney Point, two winter plummage PACIFIC LOONS were seen again there last weekend, from the West end of the Point for the stone wall overlook. Remarkably, at least one PACIFIC LOON, sometimes two individuals, have been present in the area off and on since Sept. 21.
Also of note recently were the OLD SQAW BLACK AND WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS seen in the vicinity of Grand Marais and Cook County last weekend. And a SURF SCOTER was seen yesterday in Duluth on the bay side of Park Point. Also last weekend in Grand Marais, a first winter THAYER'S GULL and a first winter GLAUCOUS GULL were seen in the harbor among the large flock of HERRING GULLS there. A late PECTORAL SANDPIPER, GREY CATBIRD and a CAPE MAY WARBLER were also seen up the North Shore last weekend along with a few migrating BLACK BACKED WOODPECKERS, GREY JAYS, BOREAL CHICKADEES, BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS (mostly in Grand Marais) NORTHERN SHRIKES and both WHITE WINGED and RED CROSS BILLS plus good numbers of PINE GROSBEAKS and COMMON RED POLLS, which are now moving through Duluth on a daily basis.
Even more signficant last weekend were the unprecedented numbers of BLACK CAPPED CHICKADEES migrating down the North Shore. None of us had ever seen anything quite like it as flocks of CHICKADEES, many of them flying high overhead in the manner of migrating winter finches, were seen continually, all weekend long. Unfortunately, no count of them was taken, but certainly several hundred, perhaps thousands, were migrating through on Oct. 28-29.
Meanwhile, at Hawk Ridge, the banding station continues to band NORTHERN SAW WHET OWLS in record numbers. Through the night of Oct. 30, 1432 SAW WHETS were banded, more than 300 more than the previous season high. Two more BOREAL OWLS were also banded, one each on the night of Oct. 25 and Oct. 29 for a total of three so far this season. A total of 59 LONG EARED OWLS and three BARRED OWLS have also been banded so far.
At the main overlook, Frank Nicoletti continues his daily count of hawks. Though most of his daily totals recently have been on the low side, he did tally nine GOLDEN EAGLES on Oct. 28 and seven other GOLDEN EAGLES on the 31st. 129 ROUGH LEGGED HAWKS on Oct. 29 and 127 BALD EAGLES on Oct 31.
And finally the hawk totals for the month of October have now been added up and in all, 14,450 hawks were seen from the main overlook for a season total of just under 80,000. The individual species totals during October were: 279 TURKEY VULTURES 12 OSPREYS 766 BALD EAGLES 172 NORTHERN HARRIERS 5,839 SHARAP SHINNED HAWKS 45 COOPER'S HAWKS 161 NORTHERN GOSHAWKS 89 BROADWINGED HAWKS 6,391 RED TAILED HAWKS 426 ROUGH LEGGED HAWKS 35 GOLDEN EAGLES 148 AMERICAN KESTRELS 73 MERLINS 6 PEREGRINE FALCONS 4 RED SHOULDERED HAWKS 4 UNIDENTIFIED
The next scheduled update of this tape will be Thursday, Nov. 9 and, as always, if you have birds to report you may leave a message after the tone.