Minnesota Duluth/North Shore

*MNDU9507.20

This is the Duluth birding report for Thursday, July 20, sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union.

Very few reports have been received since the last update of this tape two weeks ago. So, unfortunately, this will be a relatively brief report.

The most interesting news comes from Ben Yokel, who has apparently been birding the Sax-Zim Bog frequently this summer, as recently as July 16, when he saw GREAT GREY OWLS at two locations along with BOREAL CHICKADEES and BLACK BILLED MAGPIES.

One of the GREAT GREY spots is on County Road 207 about a half mile north of County Road 52 where he saw two or possibly three juveniles. And these are undoubtedly the same juveniles which had been seen there in late June. 207 turns north off of 52 nine miles west of Cotton or seven miles east of Toivola.

The other GREAT GREY location is along County Road 52 just east of County Road 203 where Ben saw two adult GREAT GREYS. 203 turns south off of 52 two and one half miles west of the 207 intersection.

Ben also found some BOREAL CHICKADEES at their traditional location on County Road 203 about a half mile south of County Road 52, and some BLACK BILLED MAGPIES along 52 four and a half miles west of Cotton.

I just received a report this evening from Earl Rosenwinkle of Duluth who has been hearing on several mornings what he believes to be a singing male BLUE WINGED WARBLER. To check out this report, the location is on First Street between 12 and 13th Avenues West.

And the only other report comes from Janet Green who found a flock of six RED CROSSBILLS on Stony Point on July 9.

The next scheduled update of this tape will be on Thursday, July 27 when hopefully, there will be more to report on. Perhaps for example, some shorebirds at the 40th Avenue West Erie Pier area or an early Parasitic Jaeger or Buff Breasted Sandpiper at the Park Point Recreation Area.

As always, if you have birds to report you may leave a message after the tone. And also note for future reference that callers can leave a message if they wish without having to wait for this report to end. To do so, after the tape starts playing, push 5 on your touch tone phone, the tape will then stop, the tone will sound, and you can then leave your message. BEEP