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Other Hotlines: Minnesota Statewide | Detroit Lakes

-RBA
*Minnesota
*Duluth/North Shore
*May 31, 2000
*MNDU0005.31

-Birds mentioned

• Red-throated Loon
• Pacific Loon
• Sharp-tailed Grouse
• Yellow Rail
• Great Gray Owl
• Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
• Alder Flycatcher
• Boreal Chickadee
• Connecticut Warbler
• Mourning Warbler

Hotline: Minnesota, Duluth/North Shore
Date: May 31, 2000
Sponsor: Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU)
Reports: (218) 525-5952
Compiler: Kim Eckert (kreckert@cp.duluth.mn.us)
Transcriber: Kim Eckert (kreckert@cp.duluth.mn.us)
Re-transcriber: David Cahlander (dac@skypoint.com)

This is the Duluth Birding Report for Wednesday, May 31, sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union.

This report is being updated a day early again this week, this time to report on today's sightings of both a PACIFIC LOON and a large flock of RED-THROATED LOONS in Duluth.

The Pacific Loon, which was in alternate (breeding) plumage, was first seen on May 29 on L Superior in the vicinity of Lakewood Rd, and about noon today what was undoubtedly this same individual was relocated about 2 mi to the SW of Lakewood at the mouth of the Lester R. A search of this area later in the afternoon was unsuccessful, but it is possible this loon is still present somewhere in the vicinity.

And this morning, a flock of about 30 Red-throated Loons was reported on the lake out from Park Point just north of the Recreation Area. If this count is accurate, it would probably represent the largest number of Red-throated Loons ever reported in Minn. Two Red-throateds were also seen from the Recreation Area May 28, and 12 were reported here as well last week.

Also of interest today was the GREAT GRAY OWL seen in the Sax-Zim Bog along Owl Ave (really!), or St Louis Co Rd 202, just S of Co Rd 980. To reach this location, where there have been several Great Gray sightings since early April, follow Co Rd 29 N from Meadowlands for 3 mi, then jog W to Owl Ave and continue N for 2 more miles. Along this same road YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHERS, ALDER FLYCATCHERS, BOREAL CHICKADEES, CONNECTICUT WARBLERS, MOURNING WARBLERS and several other boreal forest birds are also present.

Elsewhere in the Sax-Zim area, look for SHARP-TAILED GROUSE in the lek in the field SW of the jct of Co Rds 52 and 208, and listen for YELLOW RAILS where one was heard May 20 along Co Rd 319, 1.5 mi E of Co Rd 7. Yellow Rails are also back in their traditional McGregor marsh area in Aitkin Co; some were heard here last weekend along Minn Hwy 65, just S of Hwy 210.

Unless something unusual is seen in the meantime which needs to be reported immediately (and note this has occurred several times this spring), the Duluth Birding Report is normally updated once a week on Thursdays, so that the next scheduled update will be on June 8. The phone number is (218) 525-5952, and callers can leave a message if they wish after the tone at the end of the tape. Also note that a message can be left without having to wait for the birding report to end: after the tape starts playing, push 5 on a touch-tone phone, the tape will then stop, the tone will sound and you can leave your message.

The Duluth Birding Report is sponsored and funded by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU), the state bird club, as a service to its members. For more information on the MOU, either write us c/o the Bell Museum of Natural History, 10 Church Street S E, Minneapolis MN 55455, or visit the MOU web site at .

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