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-RBA *Minnesota *Duluth/North Shore *January 4, 1996 *MNDU9601.04 -Birds mentioned
Hotline: Minnesota Duluth/North Shore
Date: January 4, 1996
Sponsor: Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU)
Reports: (218) 525-5952
Compiler: Kim Eckert
Transcriber: Sr. Beverly Raway braway@fac1.css.edu
This is the Duluth birding report for Thursday, January 4th sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union.
Again this week there are still lots of GREAT GREY OWLS and several NORTHERN HAWK OWLS being seen in Duluth and vicinity. But perhaps more interesting, is yesterday's sighting of an immature grey morph GYRFALCON in Lake County. Two birding parties independently reported it at two locations....[info edited out]. An attempt to relocate it this afternoon was unsuccessful, so it may have just been passing through. But it is also possible it was still present and was simply perched out of sight at the time. By the way, in the event that this gyrfalcon is still present, it would be best if its location is not publicized too widely on the Internet... for example, since there is always the chance of a falconer hearing about it and trying to trap it. I doubt if many falconers call this tape, but it is possible that a posting on the internet might reach some of them. [Note: specific location was edited out... Call Duluth Hotline for specifics on location if you are interested in finding this bird.]
In the main harbor at Two Harbors two female or immature HARLEQUIN DUCKS continue to be seen, at least through last weekend. And there was also an unconfirmed report of a WHITE WINGED SCOTER there January 2nd.
In other non-owl news, SPRUCE GROUSE were seen at dawn yesterday morning on Lake County Road 2 and on Minnesota Highway 1 in Lake County, but the exact locations were not reported by the observer. It is assumed, however, that the County Road 2 location was just north of the Sand River about 4 miles south of the Highway 1 intersection.
The only recent report of BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS that I am aware of was a large flock seen January 2nd at the Pine Plantation at Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve which is most easily reached from the top of Seven Bridges Road.
The only recent BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER report was last weekend in the Sax-Zim bog area along St. Louis County Road 319 just east of County Road 7. As mentioned on previous tapes, a map of the roads in the Sax-Zim bog can be found on page 220 of A Birder's Guide to Minnesota. And again this week that is where may of the most reliable GREAT GREY and NORTHERN HAWK OWLS continue to be seen. According to Ben Yokel of Melrude who birds that area more than anyone else, about a dozen or so GREAT GREYS were still present there with several of these along County Road 133 between US Highway 53 and County Road 5, especially between County Road 7 and Meadowlands. At least two GREAT GREYS are also being seen in that Black-backed Woodpecker area along County Road 319. And at least four (4) NORTHERN HAWK OWLS are still consistently being seen in that area along Highway 53 about 1 mile north of County Road 133 near the intersection of county Road 52 and 207 which is 9 miles west of Cotton, and two individuals along County Road 7 between Sax and the County Road 319 intersection. For further information on these and other great grey and hawk owls in that area you can call Ben or Heidi Yokel at 482-3264 which is a local call from Duluth. Ben also suggests that Great Greys at least in Sax-Zim have been easier to find hunting along road-sides at dawn rather than in the late afternoon. Note also that two of three birding parties report being unable to find any Great Greys on recent trips to Sax-Zim bog, although this may be because they were looking at the wrong time of day.
Elsewhere GREAT GREYS have also recently been seen at Stoney Point up the north shore, especially along the Alseth Road, where two were seen again this afternoon. Just northwest of there today a GREAT GREY was also relocated west of Homestead Road about 1 mile north of Highway 61. Just north of Duluth near the intersection of Jean-Duluth and Beyer Road another was seen yesterday. A GREAT GREY was seen last weekend by the Duluth Wal-Mart Store along Highway 53. Several observers have seen a GREAT GREY this week along Arlington Road in Duluth about a half mile to a mile south of Central Entrance Road.
As far as HAWK OWLS away from the Sax-Zim bog area are concerned, there is still one present near the intersection of Highway 53 and Haines Road just beyond the Miller Hill Mall. And another was seen this week in Itasca County near milepost 172 which is between Grand Rapids and Deer River.
Finally, with all the Great Greys and Northern Hawk Owls around, one might assume that Snowy Owls and Boreal Owls might also be easy to find, but such is not the case. Only one SNOWY OWL is present that I am aware of and that continues to be seen in the Duluth Harbor area at the Port Terminal. And there have been no recent Boreal Owl reports, although a total of 13 individuals had been reported in December, but again none of them have apparently been relocated.
Unless something unusual is seen in the meantime which needs to be reported immediately the next scheduled update of this tape will be on Thursday, January 11th. And as always if you have birds to report you may either leave a message after the tone at the end of this tape or now that I am back in town, finally, you could call me directly at 525-6930. Your reports of owls and other northern Minnesota specialties are especially important now and in the coming weeks since there are a lot of out-of-town birders coming to Duluth this winter. Also note for future reference that callers can leave a message if they wish without waiting having to wait for this birding report to end. To do this after the tape starts playing, push "5" on your touch-tone phone, the tape will then stop, the tone will sound and you can then leave your message.... Beep....
[Note: Duluth Bird Hotline number is 218-525-5952]