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-RBA *Minnesota *Duluth/North Shore *November 30, 1995 *MNDU9511.30 -Birds mentioned
Hotline: Minnesota Duluth/North Shore
Date: November 30, 1995
Sponsor: Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU)
Reports: (218) 525-5952
Compiler: Kim Eckert
Summarized by Steve Deger
****THIS IS A SUMMARY, NOT A TRANSCRIPTION****
This is the Duluth birding report for Thursday, November 30, sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union.
Unseasonably cold temperatures have prevailed throughout November, resulting in few lingering fall migrants. Recently reported birds seem more indicative of winter. These include the fifth NORTHERN HAWK OWL of the season reported by Joel Hessen on Nov. 24th. The bird was seen in Lake County on Highway 61, a few hundred yards southwest of the entrance to Gooseberry Falls State Park. The bird was still being seen on the 25th, and may still be present. To the best of my knowledge, the four other NORTHERN HAWK OWLS reported this season are no longer being seen.
A GREAT GRAY OWL was seen in the Sax-Zim Bog in St. Louis County on the 25th, near the interesection of County Roads 52 and 203. This is the same area where birds have been reported earlier this season.
Mike Steffes and Mike Hendrickson saw several SPRUCE GROUSE in their traditional location along Lake County Road 2, just past the Sand River, 42 miles north of Two Harbors. Up to four birds were present on the 24th, but one of these was later hit by a logging truck.
Mike H. also reportes seeing THREE-TOED WOODPECKERS in two locations along the Spruce Road, which is reached by turning north of Highway 1 fourteen miles north of the County Road 2 intersection. The birds were seen 4/10ths of a mile and 3.7 miles up from Highway 1.
A GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL was seen in the Grand Marais harbor on the 25th. Also present, along with 4 to 5,000 HERRING GULLS, were three GLACOUS GULLS and three THAYER'S GULLS. These birds have been attracted to the area by an ongoing fish processing operation that should last yet another week.
A flock of 30 HOUSE FINCH was reported in Duluth from a yard in Lakeside, possibly the largest flock ever reported in NE Minnesota.
A blue morph SNOW GOOSE was seen near Canal Park on two occasions, this is likely the same individual that has been present since November 1994.
Lingering birds include a late COMMON LOON, RUSTY BLACKBIRD, RED-NECKED GREBE and WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW.
The CAROLINA WREN and HARLEQUIN DUCKS reported on previous tapes have not been relocated.
The Duluth Christmas Bird Count is December 16th, call Kim Eckert for more info or listen to next week's tape.
*****END of SUMMARY****