Previous reports: March 22 29 , April 5 11 19 25 , May 3 10 .
Other Hotlines: Minnesota Statewide | Detroit Lakes

-RBA
*Minnesota
*Duluth/North Shore
*May 17, 2001
*MNDU0105.17

-Birds mentioned

• Red-throated Loon
• Great Egret
• Greater White-fronted Goose
• Long-tailed Duck
• White-winged Scoter
• MISSISSIPPI KITE
• Whimbrel
• Ruby-throated Hummingbird
• Red-bellied Woodpecker
• Least Flycatcher
• Blue-headed Vireo
• Warbling Vireo
• Red-eyed Vireo
• Black-throated Blue Warbler
• Connecticut Warbler
• Scarlet Tanager
• Rose-breasted Grosbeak
• Blue Grosbeak
• Grasshopper Sparrow
• Bobolink
• Yellow-headed Blackbird
• Baltimore Oriole

Hotline: Minnesota, Duluth/North Shore
Date: May 17, 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, May 17, 2001, sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union.

A MISSISSIPPI KITE was seen on the 16th by Frank Nicoletti and Dave Carman at the Enger Tower overlook.

A GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was at the 40th Ave West/Erie Pier area on the 16th.

The most recent report of a RED-THROATED LOON was a single bird seen by Rick Schroeder on the 11th on Lake Superior. On the 16th there were LONG-TAILED DUCKS and WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS on the Lake out from the Two Harbors water treatment plant. Janet Riegle reported a WHIMBREL on Minnesota Point on the 12th.

On May 13, a BLUE GROSBEAK was reported from State Line Road, the border between MN and WI, .375 miles north of North Markville Road. This location is north of Danbury, Wisconsin.

Mike Steffes, who has been keeping records of BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLERS for a number of years, reported that he heard one this year on the 12th on the West Castle Danger Road, not far from Gooseberry Falls Park. This is several days earlier than the old early date for the North Shore.

Jim Lind reported a GRASSHOPPER SPARROW and GREAT EGRET from the Flood Bay Wayside north of Two Harbors on the 13th, plus a YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD at his feeders in Two Harbors on the 12th.

Julie O'Connor has been seeing a RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER at her home in Proctor for several weeks. SCARLET TANAGERS, a relatively unusual bird within the city of Duluth, were seen on the 14th on 16th Ave E, and on the 16th at Indian Point.Rebecca Stouffer reported a BOBOLINK from her feeder near Finland, Minnesota on the 15th.

Many summer resident species are in and on territory already. Species that have been seen this week that may not have been mentioned on prior updates include CONNECTICUT WARBLER, RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD, BALTIMORE ORIOLE. ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, BLUE-HEADED VIREO, WARBLING VIREO, RED-EYED VIREO, and LEAST FLYCATCHER.

Finally, a reminder that the annual Hawk Ridge Birdathon and St Louis County Big Day will take place this Saturday, May 19. Terry Wiens is again organizing this event, and for more information about joining one of the teams or making a pledge give Terry a call at 525-6158. Birding teams have been soliciting pledges based on the number of birds they find on the 19th, with all the proceeds for the benefit of Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve. There will also be a compilation potluck brunch starting at 9 AM on Sunday, May 20, at the Lakewood Community Center at the corner of Strand and N Tischer Rds, and all are welcome whether or not they were out birding on Saturday.

Unless something unusual is seen in the meantime which needs to be reported immediately, this Report is normally updated once a week on Thursdays, but due to the Birdathon, the report will be updated on the telephone report only on Friday the 18th with stake-out information for participating teams, and then it will be updated again on the 20th with the results of the birdathon.

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 ; or visit the MOU web site at .

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