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-RBA *Minnesota *Duluth/North Shore *July 18, 1996 *MNDU9607.18 -Birds mentioned
Hotline: Minnesota Duluth/North Shore
Date: August 8, 1996
Sponsor: Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU)
Reports: (218) 525-5952
Compiler: Kim Eckert
Transcriber: Deb Savageau mdebbrdr@cp.duluth.mn.us
The good news is that this tape can now for the rest of this summer and through the fall get back to its regular schedule once a week update each Thursday, now that I am back in town with all of my out of state tours over until next winter. The bad news however is that for now there still is very little birding news to report on.
Among the few new species reported recently include BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT- HERON near Grand Marais in Cook County on July 28th. Also in Cook County some RED CROSSBILLS were seen earlier this month in Grand Portage.
In the Sax-Zim Bog area northwest of Duluth on August 1st, BLACK-BILLED MAGPIES were found a mile south of Meadowlands on St. Louis County Rd 5. And also on the 1st, an out-of-state birder reported what he felt was a possible BREWSTER'S type hybrid warbler in Douglas County Wisconsin along the Rush Lake Rd which turns east off state highway 27 a few miles south of U.S. Highway 2.
Also note that WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS continue to be seen in Duluth and northeastern Minnesota with recent reports from St. Louis County Rd 133 just east of Meadowlands, & from St. Louis County Rd 11 just east of Hoyt Lakes. And just today Terry Wiens saw some at Hawk Ridge. Terry also did an hour and a half of hawk counting at the main overlook at the ridge and started off the 1996 season today with 9 individuals of 7 species including TURKEY VULTURE, NORTHERN HARRIER, SHARP-SHINNED, BROAD-WINGED, RED-TAILED HAWK, MERLIN and AMERICAN KESTREL. Terry was at the 40th Ave. West Erie Pier area mud flats as well today but as other observers noted the water levels there were too high with all of our recent rains for there to be many shorebirds. He did at least note some ducks there including BUFFLEHEAD and HOODED MERGANSERS and it is thought that if there are any shorebirds at 40th they would be along the far back side of the levy.
With hawk migration officially underway as of today note that there will again be a count of non-raptors this fall as they migrate past the Lakewood Pumping Station along the North Shore. This systematic count is scheduled to start on August 21st.
Also note that it is not too early to start thinking about our annual September Hawk Weekend activities scheduled for September 13th, 14th, & 15th. For more information about that weekend you can also call me.
Unless something unusual is seen in the meantime that needs to be reported on immediately, the next scheduled update of this tape will be on August 15th and as always, if you have birds to report you may leave a message at the tone.