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-RBA *Minnesota *Duluth/North Shore *August 29, 1996 *MNDU9608.29 -Birds mentioned
Hotline: Minnesota Duluth/North Shore
Date: August 29, 1996
Sponsor: Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU)
Reports:(218)525 5952
Compiler: Kim Eckert
Transcriber: Barb Adams badams@fac1.css.edu
This is the Duluth Birding Report for Thursday August 29th sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union.
The shore birding last weekend at the 40th Avenue West Erie pier area mud flats was about the best there's ever been there. Although by Sunday afternoon the number of birds decreased considerably. But between August 23 and 24th, no fewer than 20 species of shorebirds were seen by various observers, including no fewer than nine RED KNOTS, at least 25 BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS, and about 120 STILT SANDPIPERS. And all of these totals may be record highs for this part of the state. Also found were an unexpected WILLET, BLACK-BELLIED and AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS, RUDDY TURNSTONES, DUNLINS, SANDERLINGS, and SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER. This area will definitely continue to be worth checking during the rest of the Fall. For those unfamiliar with the location, take the 40th Ave. West exit off of I-35, cross over to the Bay side of the freeway, park by the yellow gate just beyond the frontage road and then hike down the gravel road that leads to the water impoundment.
There was a good assortment of shorebirds at Agate Bay in Two Harbors on August 24th, including a BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER. Even more interesting was a report on the same day of a pair of RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS with an immature bird with them in Two Harbors on the 1700 and 1800 blocks of 7th Avenue. This pair has been present since at least July and it therefore appears that they nested in that area.
CROSSBILLS also made news last weekend, with WHITE-WINGED seen near U.M.D., at the Lakewood pumping station, and at the Sax-Zim Bog. RED CROSSBILLS were found at Hawk Ridge, and unexpectedly at a feeder at the Anchor Lake tourist Information booth on U.S. Hwy 53 just south of Eveleth.
There have now been five two-hour counts of migrants this season at the Lakewood pumping station. The best day so far was the 23rd with a total of 2049 migrants, including 1080 WARBLERS, about 800 CEDAR WAXWINGS and 15 GREAT BLUE HERONS. On the 25th the count was 1044, including 770 BLACKBIRDS, mostly RED-WINGEDS, 3 MOURNING WARBLERS, 2 unexpectedly early SANDHILL CRANES, and 2 HOUSE FINCHES. There were only 329 migrants counted August 27th, but among them was an immature male PEREGRINE FALCON. And today's count at Lakewood was about 1000 with including about 800 CEDAR WAXWINGS.
Meanwhile this month at Hawk Ridge there hasn't been much in the way of favorable northwest or west winds, but still there were over 100 RAPTORS counted on Aug. 23, 25, 26 and 27. And today, in spite of East winds, the count was over 300 including a NORTHERN GOSHAWK and an unexpected total of 11 COOPER'S HAWKS.
As mentioned on previous tapes, don't forget that this year's annual Hawk Weekend activities will take place on September 13, 14, and 15. For more information about registration, evening programs at U.M.D., the birding field trips, and the variety of activities at Hawk Ridge itself, give me a call at 525-6930.
Unless something unusual is seen that needs to be reported immediately, the next scheduled update of this tape will be on Thursday, Sept. 5. As always if you have birds to report you may leave a message after the tone. 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 the touch tone phone, the tape will then stop, the tone will sound and you can then leave your message.