Previous reports: April 5 11 19 25 , May 3 10 17 20 24 .
Other Hotlines: Minnesota Statewide | Detroit Lakes

-RBA
*Minnesota
*Duluth/North Shore
*May 31, 2001
*MNDU0105.31

-Birds mentioned

• Ross's Goose
• Surf Scoter
• White-winged Scoter
• Northern Hawk Owl
• Great Gray Owl
• Three-toed Woodpecker
• Black-backed Woodpecker
• Northern Mockingbird
• Loggerhead Shrike
• Black-throated Blue Warbler
• White-winged Crossbill

Hotline: Minnesota, Duluth/North Shore
Date: May 31, 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 31, sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union.

The SURF SCOTER, LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE and NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD, which were mentioned on last week's Report, were all still present at Park Point earlier this week. The Surf Scoter along with a WHITE-WINGED SCOTER were seen on the 29th on the bay side near the Duluth Rowing Club; at this same location the shrike was seen through at least the 27th; and the mockingbird, which had been at the Recreation Area through the 26th, was relocated on May 27 at 33rd St. There was also a good fallout of at least 20 species of warblers in the rain and fog at the Recreation Area on May 26.

In Lake Co yesterday, the 30th, a THREE-TOED WOODPECKER, 3 BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKERS and WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS were all seen. The Three-toed Woodpecker was 0.4 mi up the Spruce Rd, which turns N off Minn Hwy 1 about 14 mi NW of Co Rd 2. (Note that there is a gated private side road at this location, Endless Waters Rd, and birders are asked not to drive down this road or to park in front of the gate if it is closed.)

The Black-backeds were at 3 locations: on Co Rd 2 just S of Greenwood Cr, about 33 mi N of Two Harbors; at the Sand R on Co Rd 2, which is 41.5 mi N of Two Harbors; and at the snowmobile trail crossing on the Spruce Rd, 3.5 mi from Hwy 1. A pair of White-winged Crossbills was on 2, just N of the Greenwood L public access; crossbills were also reported on Co Rd 2 earlier this week just N of the first RR crossing N of Two Harbors. (And that previously reported NORTHERN HAWK OWL nest on 2 was still active yesterday, but again to avoid disturbance the location cannot be given out.)

Mike Steffes reports that BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLERS are back in good numbers along the Superior Hiking Trail in Lake and Cook Co's; last weekend he found a good concentration of them at Moose Mt near Lutsen.

In Aitkin Co on the 29th, Warren Nelson identified a ROSS'S GOOSE about 3.5 mi W of Aitkin on Co Rd 15, or the Cedarbrook Rd; this is the same road where good numbers of shorebirds had been present last week. There was also a GREAT GRAY OWL seen May 29 along Aitkin Co Rd 18 just E of Pietz' Rd.

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 June 7. 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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