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-RBA *Minnesota *Duluth/North Shore *November 9, 1995 *MNDU9511.09 -Birds mentioned
Hotline: Minnesota Duluth/North Shore
Date: November 9, 1995
Sponsor: Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU)
Reports: (218) 525-5952
Compiler: Kim Eckert
Transcriber: Kirk Jeffrey
This is the Duluth birding report for Thursday, November 9, sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists Union.
Last week's tape reported on a CAROLINA WREN at a Duluth feeder, the first NORTHERN HAWK-OWL of the season along Highway 159 east of Buhl in St. Louis County, two PACIFIC LOONS at Stony Point, and two migrating THREE-TOED WOODPECKERS. But unfortunately, no one has been able to relocate any of these subsequently. There were, however, several other birds of note reported recently in Duluth and northeastern Minnesota, including a HARLEQUIN DUCK, two GYRFALCONS, a LITTLE GULL, the first SNOWY OWL of the season, a GREAT GRAY OWL at a new location, TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE, and the first HOARY REDPOLLS of the season.
The HARLEQUIN DUCK was a female or immature seen in the main harbor at Two Harbors, Lake County, on November 4th; and although it flew off towards the east and could not be relocated that day, it might still be in the area.
One of the GYRFALCONS was identified as a dark-morph adult seen November 2nd just east of Grand Marais in Cook County, and the other was an immature gray-morph seen by Frank Nicoletti flying past the Main Overlook at Hawk Ridge on November 4th. Neither of these migrants, however, has been seen subsequently.
The LITTLE GULL was an adult in winter plumage seen November 4th among a flock of Bonaparte's Gulls at Mille Lacs Lake in Aitkin County. It was seen just northwest of Malmo, but it reportedly could not be relocated the next day.
Unfortunately, the first SNOWY OWL of the season was a bird found dead yesterday at the Port Terminal in the Duluth harbor area. This individual had been banded here last winter by Dave Evans.
Also unfortunate was the injured GREAT GRAY OWL found along Lake County Road 2 about 40 miles north of Two Harbors on November 4th, which was transported to the Raptor Center in St. Paul.
A TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE was seen in Tofte in Cook County, near the Bluefin Bay tennis courts, also on November 4th. And on the same day in Tofte, one or two HOARY REDPOLLS were identified among a flock of COMMON REDPOLLS.
Also of note last weekend were: a few OLDSQUAWS in Good Harbor Bay just west of Grand Marais; WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS (although no Surf or Black Scoters) were also seen in Good Harbor Bay and at Grand Marais, and also at Hovland, which is about 20 miles east of Grand Marais; the first-winter GLAUCOUS GULL and at least four THAYER'S GULLS at Grand Marais among the large flock of Herring Gulls in the harbor, and the two or three LONG-EARED OWLS found roosting in the conifers behind the old Coast Guard station and lighthouse in Two Harbors [or does it say "in the harbor"?].
Several late-lingering migrants were also seen last weekend, including GADWALL, which was somewhat unexpected, in Grand Marais; TURKEY VULTURE, SANDERLING, which was in Grand Marais--and by the way, if the Twin Cities birder is listening who was unaware of its identity and thought it was something else, note that it was indeed a Sanderling - CAPE MAY WARBLER, SAVANNAH SPARROW, and a quite unexpected BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD.
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, November 16. And as always, if you have birds to report, you may either leave a message after the tone or call me [Kim Eckert] directly at 218-525-6930.
Also note for future reference that callers can leave a message if they wish, without having to wait for this birding 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 your message.