Duluth RBA
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-RBA *Minnesota *Duluth/North Shore *January 25, 2001 *MNDU0101.25 -Birds mentioned
Hotline: Minnesota, Duluth/North Shore
Date: January 25, 2001
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)
This is the Duluth Birding Report for Thursday, January 25, sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union.
In addition to the continued presence of the GYRFALCON and GRAY-CROWNED ROSY-FINCH in the Duluth harbor area, a HARLEQUIN DUCK on L Superior, good numbers of GREAT GRAY OWLS, NORTHERN HAWK OWLS and SNOWY OWLS at several locations, and a TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE still in Knife River, there were new reports recently of a probable PACIFIC LOON, LONG-TAILED DUCK, SPRUCE GROUSE, both NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS and BOREAL OWLS, and a possible THREE-TOED WOODPECKER.
The Pacific Loon was only seen briefly Jan 20 along the North Shore on the 9100 block of Congdon Blvd, but it could not be relocated subsequently by anyone. At the same location a RED-NECKED GREBE was seen the same day.
On the 20th, a Long-tailed Duck (or Oldsquaw) was reported in Burlington Bay on the E side of Two Harbors. However, there have been no reports in over a week in Two Harbors of either that King Eider or Western Grebe, both of which had been present for some time.
Spruce Grouse were found Jan 21 in the traditional area on Lake Co Rd 2, about 1 mi N of the Sand R, or about 42 mi N of Two Harbors. And speaking of grouse, several observers have been finding SHARP-TAILED GROUSE in recent days in Aitkin Co along Twp Rd 380, which turns W off Co Rd 5, 4.6 mi N of Minn Hwy 210 or 3 mi S of Palisade. Most of the observations have been between 8:30 and 9:30 a.m.
A N Saw-whet Owl was found at roost yesterday morning along Congdon Blvd or Scenic Hwy 61, 1.1 mi NE of where it turns off from the main highway. It had first been seen hunting the previous evening here, and it was still present yesterday afternoon, but no one apparently was able to find it again today. More interesting were the 2 Boreal Owls reported today. Don Kienholz saw one hunting by his bird feeders in his front yard at 4574 Martin Rd, which is 0.3 mi W of Rice Lake Rd, at 4:30 p.m. today. A short time later it flew N across Martin Rd and out of sight, but by 7 p.m. it was back hunting in Don's yard. And today a report of another Boreal was received from Tim Dawson who saw one yesterday in his yard on the 5900 block of Arnold Rd, which is about 1/2 mi N of Lismore Rd. However, Tim could not find the owl again today.
There was a second-hand report of a Three-toed Woodpecker received recently, but the observer, date and exact location are not known. It was apparently seen somewhere along or near the Spruce Rd in Lake Co, which turns N off Minn Hwy 1 about 14 mi NW of Co Rd 2. And BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKERS have been unusually easy to find in recent weeks at various locations. Since last weekend they were seen at 2 locations along Lake Co Rd 2 -- at 2 mi S and 1.2 mi S of Hwy 1; two were found along the side road which turns off the Spruce Rd, 0.4 mi from Hwy 1; and another was in the Sax-Zim Bog on Co Rd 133, 2 mi E of Co Rd 7 or 4 mi W of U S Hwy 53.
The Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch was still being seen last weekend, on both Jan 20 and 21, at the Cargill grain elevator off Garfield Ave in the Duluth harbor. Note that most of -- if not all -- the sightings have been in the morning or early afternoon, and the best place to look is in the spilled grain at the base of the tallest part of the elevator with the green-and-white Cargill logo on the side. It has often been seen as well roosting with House Sparrows about 100 yards to the N near the Cargill office building.
Permission has again been granted for birders to enter the property to look for the bird this weekend ONLY, on Jan 27-28; birders are asked to park by the No Trespassing sign next to the railroad tracks, and to WALK -- not drive -- the 200 yards or so to the elevator. Birders are NOT allowed to enter the property Monday-Friday at any time of day, and next week's Birding Report will mention if birder access will again be permitted the following weekend, Feb 3-4.
That adult gray-morph Gyrfalcon is still present in the harbor area, with most sightings around noon and in early afternoon at the same Cargill elevator; however, there have also been sightings in the railroad yards along I-535 and near the I-535 high bridge. Note that an adult PEREGRINE FALCON is also still being seen in the harbor area as well, along with a few RED-TAILED HAWKS -- and these raptors have been mistaken for the Gyr by some observers. And, of course, there are still a few Snowy Owls in the harbor area -- look especially between I-535 and the sewage treatment plant, and near the Port Terminal.
The adult male Harlequin Duck is still present and was seen by many observers Jan 20-22 at 2 locations along the N Shore: at the original spot along the 5100 block of Scenic Hwy 61, and at the mouth of the French R about 1 mi farther NE. At this latter location a hybrid Mallard X Am Black Duck is present -- and being misidentified -- in the Mallard flock, but there is a pair of actual AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS on L Superior between downtown Duluth and Canal Park.
Northern owls are still being reported at many locations, which are still literally too numerous to mention. Both Great Gray and N Hawk Owls can still be found in the Sax-Zim Bog (especially along Co Rds 133, 7 and 319), in Lake Co along the last few mi of Co Rd 2, and at various locations in Aitkin Co (again, for more information on these, call Warren Nelson in Aitkin at 218-927-2458). And speaking of Aitkin Co, there are 2 Snowy Owls present on Co Rd 1 -- at 2.5 mi N and 6.5 mi N of Aitkin; at this latter location there has also been a consistent flock of SNOW BUNTINGS.
The Townsend's Solitaire has been relatively easy to find recently in Knife River, where it has been present for several weeks; look for it near Emily's Cafe, especially in the crabapple tree by the yellow house. A lone BOHEMIAN WAXWING was seen with it this week, and small flocks of Bohemians were also reported recently in Two Harbors, in Duluth on 16th Ave E, along the Strand Rd, and near the jct of Congdon Blvd and Hwy 61, and in Ely in N St Louis Co.
Finally, a few COMMON REDPOLLS are still being seen in Lake Co along Co Rd 2, Hwy 1 and the Spruce Rd; look for RED CROSSBILLS and WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS in this same area. White-winged Crossbills have also been seen in the Sax-Zim Bog along Co Rd 52 E of Owl Ave, and at the jct of Co Rds 7 and 319.
Unless something unusual is seen in the meantime which needs to be reported immediately, this report is normally updated once a week on Thursdays, so that the next scheduled update will be on Feb 1. The phone number for the Duluth Birding Report is (218) 525-5952, and callers can report bird sightings if they wish after the tone at the end of each tape. Messages can also be left without having to wait for the report to end: to do this, after the tape starts playing push 5 on a touch-tone phone, the tape will stop, the tone will sound, and you can then leave your message.
The Duluth Birding Report is sponsored and funded by the Minnesota
Ornithologists' Union (MOU) 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 SE, Minneapolis MN 55455; or send an e-mail to
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