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-RBA *Minnesota *Duluth/North Shore *August 22, 1996 *MNDU9608.22 -Birds mentioned
Hotline: Minnesota Duluth/North Shore
Date: August 22, 1996
Sponsor: Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU)
Reports: (218) 525-5952
Compiler: Kim Eckert
Transcriber: Sr. Donna Schroeder dschroe2@fac1.css.edu
This is the Duluth birding report for August 22 sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union.
Fall migration has now officially started in Duluth, that is the counting and banding of raptors at Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve is now underway and the first morning census of migrants at the Lakewood pumping station took place yesterday.
At Hawk Ridge the migration has been slow but steady as it is every year in mid-August. with the largest day so far apparently being yesterday with about 70 hawks in spite of unfavorable south winds. It is likely there were more hawks today with a shift to northwest winds although I do not have these totals.
Meanwhile at the Lakewood pumping station 328 migrants were counted yesterday during our standard two hour count beginning at dawn. Again the weather was unfavorable for there to be much movement. The count included 250 CEDAR WAXWINGS and 16 EVENING GROSBEAKS but more interesting was the RED CROSSBILL which flew by heading north. the next census day will be tomorrow the 23rd as our coverage will continue on an every-other-day basis through October 20th.
There was a fair movement of COMMON NIGHTHAWKS through Duluth on August 20th with several hundred probably passing through. Terry Wiens made the only actual count as he noted 347 individuals during two and a quarter hours. It is anticipated that the big NIGHTHAWK flight will probably occur within the next few days, possibly even this evening.
Terry also checked the 40th Avenue West Erie Pier area mudflats today and estimated more than 200 shorebirds present with four BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS being the best find among them.
WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS continue to be seen in various locations in Duluth and elsewhere in Northeastern Minnesota with the most recent sighting this week from Tettegouche State Park in Lake County.
There was also a report from Lake County of a male PINE GROSBEAK on August 20 at the Castle Haven resort just southwest of Gooseberry Falls State Park but this would have to be documented since the species does not normally arrive here until October.
Finally there will be a clean-up session at the main overlook at Hawk Ridge on Thursday, August 29th starting at 5:00 p.m. If you could help out for an hour or two, please bring a pair of work gloves plus a garbage bag or two.
The next scheduled update of the tape will also be on Thursday, August 29th and as always if you have birds to report you may leave a message after the tone.
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