Minnesota Duluth/North Shore

*MNDU9508.10

This is the Duluth birding report for Thursday, August 10th, sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union.

Tom Martin of Two Harbors reported seeing a PRAIRIE FALCON on July 31 along Highway 51 in Lake County near mile post 23. No description of the bird was given, but if correctly identified, this would represent only about the fifth record of this species in northeast Minnesota. Also of note along the North Shore recently was the RED NECKED GREBE seen by Dan Bursba(?) along Stony Point on the 30th. Dan also reported seeing both BUFF BREASTED and BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS at Agate Bay at the main harbor in Two Harbors on July 29.

Back in Duluth, STILT SANDPIPERS and other shorebirds were seen by Rick Schroeder on July 31 at both the 40th Avenue West Erie Pier area and at the mud flats in the bay between Interstate 35 and the sewage treatment plant on 27th Avenue West. To reach the 40th Avenue west area take the 40th Avenue West exit off of Interstate 35, cross over to the bay side of the freeway, and just beyond the frontage road take the gravel road which leads to the right to the dikes and pool and mud flats. At the beginning of this road is a yellow gate, if closed it is only about a five minute hike to the mud flats. If the gate is open, it is O.K. to drive in, but use care and common sense if you do so, because the gate could be locked without notice.

Also of interest in the Duluth Harbor area was the unexpected sighting of an adult blue morph SNOW GOOSE on August 4 at Canal Park. And this is undoubtedly the same individual which had first been seen there back in November of 1994.

The previous tape reported on EVENING GROSBEAKS migrating down the North Shore in late July and they have still on the move this week. Other migrants have also been seen as well, including several GREAT BLUE HERONS seen by Terry Weins moving down the North Shore August 3. And Terry had a good wave of WARBLERS on August 6 and 7 at the Recreation area on Park Point including a GOLDEN WINGED WARBLER.

Now that my spring and summer tours scheduled out of state is over, this tape can now get back to regular schedule of once a week Thursday updates. Therefore, unless something unusual is seen in the meantime which needs to be reported on immediately, the next scheduled update of this tape will be on Thursday, August 17. And as always if you have birds to report, you may still leave a message after the tone, or call me directly at 525-6930. 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 this, 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 a message. BEEP