Return to Home Page
-RBA *Minnesota *Duluth/North Shore *February 3, 1997 *MNDU9702.03 -Birds mentioned
Hotline: Minnesota Duluth/North Shore
Date: February 3, 1997
Sponsor: Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU)
Reports: (218) 525-5952
Compiler: Kim Eckert kreckert@cp.duluth.mn.us
Transcriber: Donna Schroeder
Re-transcriber: David Cahlander dac@skypoint.com
This is the Duluth Birding Report for February 1st sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union.
This tape has been out of service for a few days since the telephone answering machine had to be sent in for service but thanks to Tony Hertzel, the MOU's back-up machine has been delivered which will hopefully work until the other machine is repaired. Although this particular machine is also known for having problems of running at an uneven speed like the other one.
As has been mentioned on previous tapes, this continues to be a better than average winter for birding in northeastern Minnesota although both REDPOLLS are still virtually non-existent. BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS continue to be in low numbers, difficult to find.
Neither Black-backed nor three-toed Woodpeckers have been seen in a couple of weeks. The only GYRFALCONS being seen are in Thunder Bay, Ontario and the only reliable BOREAL OWL continues to be that surprisingly cooperative bird at Springbrook Nature Center down in the Twin City suburb of Fridley.
However, SPRUCE, SHARP-TAILED and RUFFED GROUSE, GLAUCOUS GULL, GREAT GRAY OWL and NORTHERN HAWK OWL, SNOWLY OWL, BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE, BOREAL CHICKADEE, VARIED THRUSH, NORTHERN SHRIKE, HARRIS' SPARROW, PINE and EVENING GROSBEAK, and both RED and WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS have all been seen this week.
SPRUCE GROUSE were seen again this morning on Lake County Road 2, three miles south of the Minnesota Highway 1 intersection or about 43 miles north of Two Harbors and this is the same location where this species has been seen a few times in January.
Warren Nelson reports that SHARP-TAILED GROUSE are being consistently seen in Aitkin Countly west of Duluth, especially early in the morning. To reach this location go north on County Road 5 from Minnesota Highway 210 for 3.6 miles and then turn east along the north side of Jenkins Lake. Warren saw four individuals there at 9:00 this morning about a quarter mile up this road on the north side.
Six GLAUCOUS GULLS were seen yesterday at the Superior, Wisconsin landfill at the south end of Wisconsin Point along with about 30 HERRING GULLS.
GREAT GRAY OWLS continue to be seen at several locations which are literally to numerous to mention, with birds seen this weekend in Duluth along Scenic Highway 61 about one mile northeast of Lakland Road, just northeast of Duluth along the Homestead road about half-mile north of Highway 61, on the Sax-Zim Bog on county Road 7 two miles north of Sax, and at several locations in Aitkin County. For more information on these you can call Warren Nelson. Warren can also provide you with specific directions to both NORTHERN HAWK OWLS and SNOWY OWLS which continue to be seen along County Road 1 between three and ten and one-half miles north of Aitkin.
Elsewhere, NORTHERN HAWK OWLS were seen this weekend in Superior on Hammond Avenue a couple of blocks south of 28th Street, just northeast of Duluth on Birquist Road, 1.6 miles north of Highway 61 near the intersection of Lismore road, and in the Sax-Zim Bog on County Road 28, two miles west of Sax.
Also watch for SNOWY OWLS at various locations in the Duluth-Superior Harbor area and especially near the Hospital in superior on Tower Avenue.
In the Sax-Zim Bog, watch for BLACK-BILLED MAGPIES at the north end of County Road 211, which turns north off of County Road 133, three miles east of Meadowlands. Also watch for BOREAL CHICKADEES near the south end of 211 or northwest of here in the vicinity of the junction of County road 52 and 23, four and one half miles from Toivola.
The VARIED THRUSH is still at Pat Thomas' feeder in Duluth on east Superior Street. Birders have permission to walk up the driveway and around to the back door and look especially for the THRUSH by the cedars behind the garage. Also, Jeanette Lang reported another VARIED THRUSH this week in her yard at 2320 East Third Street and this would be visible from the alley between Second and Third Street.
HARRIS' SPARROWS are now present at two feeders in Duluth. One is at Dave Kirkorion's feeder by the sauna behind his house which is beyond the French River Fish Hatchery on Scenic Highway 61, and Viola Adams on Lyons Street has a probable HARRIS at her feeder by her front door. Both Dave and Viola have said that birders are welcome to look for these sparrows but please use common sense and courtesy if you do so.
Finally, about the best place to see both RED and WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS and both PINE and EVENING GROSBEAKS continues to be in Lake County, especially along the last three or four miles of County Road 2 and along Highway 1 between County Road 2 and Isabella. The next scheduled update of this tape will be on Thursday, February 6th and as always if you have birds to report, you may leave a message after the tone.