Duluth RBA
Duluth RBA
Duluth RBA
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-RBA *Minnesota *Duluth/North Shore *December 16, 2004 *MNDU0412.16 -Birds mentioned
Hotline: Minnesota, Duluth/North Shore
Date: December 16, 2004
Sponsor: Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU)
Reports: (218) 728-5030
Compiler: David R. Benson (drbenson@cpinternet.com)
Transcriber: David R. Benson (drbenson@cpinternet.com)
This is the Duluth Birding Report for Thursday, December 16, 2004, sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union.
Mike Hendrickson reported a BOREAL OWL hunting during daylight on the 14th just north of the intersection of Maxwell and Elm. To my knowledge the bird has not been seen since. To reach this location, from Glenwood St go north on Jean Duluth Rd about 3 miles to W Tischer Rd, then go east 1.4 miles to Maxwell, then south to Elm. This sighting follows the development of the first icy crust on the snow.
Mary Houtanen reported the first SNOWY OWL in Duluth this season along Piedmont Ave, seen on the 9th but not since then.
GREAT GRAY OWLS and NORTHERN HAWK OWLS continue to be easy to see in the area. This week a hawk owl was seen by many observers along Woodland Ave in Duluth near the entrance to Hartley Nature Center. In spite of all the roadkills, and though owls are now being seen as far south as St. Paul and in Stearns Cty, the number of owls has not diminished noticeably here. Many observers continue to have good luck along Cty Rd 7 in the Sax-Zim area north of Duluth. It is usually possible to get excellent looks from your vehicle; remember to pull well off the road when stopping. Please continue to report sightings with locations and dates.
Bill Maier reported a possible TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE from the corner of Martha and E 7th St yesterday. Stefan Schlick found 200 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS along Cty Rd 229 north of 133 in Sax-Zim. There are also flocks in Two harbors. COMMON REDPOLLS are now abundant around northeastern Minnesota. This week there were reports of three HOARY REDPOLLS, but none were at feeders where they would be likely to be refound. Four flocks of RED CROSSBILLS were reported from Hwy 46 east of Kerrick in Pine Cty.
Sharon Lind found a TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE at Grand Portage on Hwy 61 on the 11th. There were also 108 LONG-TAILED DUCKS between Paradise Beach and Hovland that day. Josh Watson reported a VARIED THRUSH at a feeder along the Old Ski Hill Rd, which turns west off the Gunflint Trail at mile marker 210. The bird has been visiting the feeder periodically since Nov. 27.
A tour group from Iowa reported both BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER and AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKER from the Spruce Rd, which turns north off Hwy 1 northwest of the jct. with Lake Cty Rd 2. They found BOREAL CHICKADEES along this road too. They also saw a SPRUCE GROUSE from Cty Rd 2, 2.5 miles north of the Sand River.
The best spot for gulls in our area is the Superior, WI landfill, where this week there were reports of three THAYER'S GULLS, two ICELAND GULLS, eight GLAUCOUS GULLS, a second winter LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, and a GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL. A first winter THAYER'S GULL was seen again this week in Two Harbors, MN.
The next scheduled update of this report will be on Sunday, December 19 to report on Christmas Bird Counts held on the 18th.
The telephone number of the Duluth Rare Bird Alert is 218-728-5030. Information about bird sightings may be left following the recorded 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 to mou@cbs.umn.edu, or visit the MOU web site at mou.mn.org.
