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-RBA *Minnesota *Duluth/North Shore *March 5, 1996 *MNDU9603.05 -Birds mentioned
Hotline: Minnesota Duluth/North Shore
Date: March 5, 1996
Sponsor: Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU)
Reports: (218) 525-5952
Compiler: Kim Eckert
Transcriber: Kirk Jeffrey
This is the Duluth birding report for Tuesday, March 5th, sponsored by the MOU.
Even though cold and snowy weather is forecast to continue all week, after so many weeks of reporting on all the winter specialties that have been and still are present, it's nice for a change to report on some early signs of spring.
First of all, three NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS were reported last week: in Ely in northern St. Louis County; at Hartly Field in Duluth; and on the Pequot Lake Road just north of Duluth. And these are all likely to be early migrants rather than overwintering birds. Also note, therefore, that any small owl seen now might also be a Saw-whet as well as a Boreal owl.
However, this winter's invasion of BOREAL OWLS is still continuing, with three new individuals reported--two of these still alive. One was seen hunting at dusk on March 2nd in Knife River in Lake County. It was in a yard at the end of the street which turns right one block north of Emily's general store. The other Boreal Owl was seen today just west of Procter on North Cloquet Road. This owl is on private property, so more specific directions cannot be given at this time. But it has been seen sporadically since February 20th; and if it is still present next week, perhaps some procedure can be worked out for birders to see it then. The other Boreal Owl unfortunately was one found dead today on Roslyn Avenue, Duluth.
Another sign of spring was the MERLIN seen today by on the 5700 block of Juniata Street, and it was chasing a large flock of BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS. More Waxwing reports have also been received recently--another indication of early spring migration. In addition to the Bohemians seen today, they have also been seen since last weekend at the corner of Glenwood St. and 43rd Ave. E.; at Juniata Street and 54th Ave. E.; on the 1100 block of 40th Ave. E.; and up the North Shore near the intersection Highway 61 and Ryan Road.
Other possible signs of early spring reported recently include: An adult BALD EAGLE seen near Cook in northern St. Louis County, which probably did not overwinter as did the one currently being seen at the Duluth-Superior Harbor; increased numbers of PINE SISKINS at various feeders; and the COMMON REDPOLL flocks, which seem to be on the move now. Some are disappearing from feeders where they had recently been seen. For instance, those at my feeder last week, which included two HOARY REDPOLLS, are no longer being seen. On the other hand, Redpolls are appearing in numbers at feeders which did not have them previously. Also note that Cathy Nelson, who has had one or two Hoary Redpolls at her feeder earlier this winter, reported today that they are still present.
As far as other winter birds are concerned, the gray-morph GYRFALCON is still being seen in the Duluth Harbor--again, most often near the Cargill grain elevator during the afternoon hours. SPRUCE GROUSE were seen again at dawn on March 1st on Lake County Road 2, 1 1/2 miles north of the Sand River, or about 43 miles north of Two Harbors. However, other birders who checked this area on subsequent days were unsuccessful.
Also in Lake County, a BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER was relocated today at the end of the Spruce Road, where one had been seen earlier by various observers. The Spruce Road turns north off of Minnesota Highway 1, 14 miles northwest of the County Road 2 intersection.
At least one NORTHERN HAWK OWL was still present last weekend in the Sax-Zim Bog area, that is, along County Road 319 1 mile east of County Road 7. Also last weekend, a Hawk Owl was found just west of Cloquet in Carlton County, along County Road 114, 1/2 mile west of County Road 113.
And, since last weekend, several GREAT GRAY OWLS continue to be seen, although in the Sax-Zim Bog only one was reported. That was at the intersection of Country Roads 52 and 207, 3 miles west of County Road 7 where a Hawk Owl seen in February. Other Great Grays reported recently were one in Lester Park along the ski trail, where a dead Great Gray had been found in February; one was relocated today in the Duluth Harbor area near the UPS building where one was first seen in February. On the 5500 block of the North Cloquet Road west of Procter; and along Lake County Road 2, a mile and a half south of the Highway 1 intersection.
The next scheduled update of this tape will be on Thursday, March 14; and as always, if you have birds to report, you may leave a message after the tone.