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-RBA *Minnesota *Duluth/North Shore *May 3, 1996 *MNDU9605.03 -Birds mentioned
Hotline: Minnesota Duluth/North Shore
Date: Friday, May 3, 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 Friday, May 3rd sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union.
In the two weeks since the last update of this tape while I was out of town, the most interesting birding news in Duluth and Northeastern Minnesota involves all those reports of AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS which have been noted by many observers at various locations. Tom M. first reported a flock of 70 on April 20th flying over Two Harbors in Lake County and the next day the 21st what was probably the same flock was seen in Park Point, Duluth. Smaller groups of pelicans have also been reported several times from either Lakeside, downtown, West Duluth and the Gary, New Duluth, and Fond-du-Lac areas with the most recent report yesterday May 2nd from downtown Duluth.
Other species of note reported in the past two weeks include: YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD up in Two Harbors seen by Tom M. on April 20th and another YELLOW-HEADED reported yesterday by Marie G. near Duluth. The GREAT GRAY OWL seen by Julie C. April 19th on 16th Street on Park Point. This individual or another GREAT GRAY had also been reported here last winter. The GLAUCOUS GULL seen April 20th at Park Point by Terry Wiems. A RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER reported by Bob P. seen on April 22nd in his yard on the 2400 block of East 5th Street. Bob had also seen a red-bellied there last Fall. The GREEN HERON at the Beaver Pond at Hartley Field seen by Bill M. on April 29th and the adult GOLDEN EAGLE which flew over Cathy N.'s yard on Jean Duluth Road April 30th.
Also noteworthy recently were the number of late COMMON REDPOLLS and BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS reported by several observers. The last redpoll report was April 26th and Mike Hendrickson identified a HOARY REDPOLL at his feeder on April 20th. Terry Wiens reported the last BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS, on May 2nd at Park Point along with a flock of SNOW BUNTINGS there the same day. Terry also saw a late NORTHERN SHRIKE on April 19th.
While hawk migration is a routine event in Duluth in the Fall, few Spring counts of hawks are made. Of interest, therefore, were the modest counts made at Park Point during a few hours of coverage by Terry Wiems. On April 21st he saw 1 OSPREY, 2 NORTHERN HARRIERS, 4 TURKEY VULTURES, 10 SHARP-SHINNEDS, 1 GOSHAWK, 10 REDTAILEDS, 2 BROAD-WINGEDS, 2 KESTRELS, 1 MERLIN, and yesterday, May 2nd he had 9 SHARP-SHINNEDS, 8 OSPREYS, 8 BROAD-WINGEDS, 1 KESTREL, 1 NORTHERN HARRIER, 1 MERLIN, 3 BALD EAGLES, and 1 RED-TAILED HAWK.
Of final note, Steve W. recently checked that potential BOREAL OWL nest cavity at Greenwood Lake along Lake County Road 2 where a pair had been observed in early April. But unfortunately, the cavity was empty.
Final plans are now well under way for our tenth annual Hawk Ridge Bird-a-thon and St. Louis County Big Day which will take place on Saturday, May 18th. For more information on this important fund- raising event for the benefit of Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve, that is if you would like to form or join one of the birding teams who will be out that day or to make a pledge based on the number of species they find, give Terry Wiens a call 525-6158.
The next scheduled update of this tape will be on Thursday, May 9th and as always if you have birds to report you may leave a message after the tone.... Beep.