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-RBA *Minnesota *Duluth/North Shore *October 31, 1996 *MNDU9610.31 -Birds mentioned
Hotline: Minnesota Duluth/North Shore
Date: October 31, 1996
Sponsor: Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU)
Reports: (218) 525-5952
Compiler: Kim Eckert
Transcriber: Rick and Robyn Schroeder (avsaxman@cp.duluth.mn.us)
This is the Duluth Birding Report for Thursday, October 31st, sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union.
Except for several birds of interest seen up the North Shore last weekend, and a strong flight of raptors at Hawk Ridge this week, the birding recently has continued to be on the slow side, as it has been all fall, with relatively few birds and species being seen in most places.
But four birding groups went up the North Shore to Grand Marais and beyond, last weekend. And even though birds were relatively few and far between, a CATTLE EGRET, two HARLEQUIN DUCKS, OLDSQUAWS, BLACK and WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS, a THAYER'S GULL, BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER, RED-EYED VIREO, a possible PINE WARBLER, a BREWER'S BLACKBIRD, and HOUSE FINCHES were all seen.
The unexpected CATTLE EGRET was at the main harbor in Two Harbors. One of the HARLEQUIN DUCKS was an adult male at Stoney Point, which had first been seen there October 24th. The other was a female, or immature, at the Grand Marais harbor, along with some OLDSQUAWS and the BLACK and WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS.
Late WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS were at the Beaver Bay sewage ponds. The THAYER'S GULL was a first winter immature at Knife River. Also at Knife River was an unexpected Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. A very late RED-EYED VIREO was at Grand Marais, and a probable PINE WARBLER was seen at Croftville, just east of Grand Marais.
A BREWER'S BLACKBIRD was carefully identified at the Highway Department garage just northeast of Silver Bay. There were two HOUSE FINCHES at a Grand Marais feeder.
More birders will again be going up the North Shore this weekend, and it will be interesting to see if any of these birds will be relocated, especially after the arrival of a strong cold front, which blew in yesterday and today. It was this front, along with some favorable west winds a few days ago, which brought through some good hawk flights at Hawk Ridge.
On the 25th the total was 729, including 16 GOSHAWKS, 47 ROUGH-LEGGEDS, and 8 GOLDEN EAGLES. The winds were unfavorable the next day, but on the 27th, 1216 hawks were counted. And the best day this month was October 28th with a total of 2124, including 387 BALD EAGLES, 1472 RED-TAILEDS, 48 ROUGH-LEGGEDS, and 8 GOLDEN EAGLES. Not much was seen the next day, due to rain, but yesterday, the 30th, the count was 1189, and today the total was 1831, including 644 BALD EAGLES, 20 GOSHAWKS, 1090 RED-TAILEDS, 17 GOLDEN EAGLES, and an adult RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, the only one so far this season.
The totals for the month of October have been added up and are as follows:
638 TURKEY VULTURES 27 OSPREYS 2068 BALD EAGLES 86 HARRIERS 4859 SHARP-SHINNEDS 50 COOPER'S 169 GOSHAWKS 177 BROADWINGS 7165 RED-TAILEDS 333 ROUGH-LEGGEDS 54 GOLDEN EAGLES 313 AMERICAN KESTRELS 51 MERLINS 11 PEREGRINES 1 RED-SHOULDERED 1 UNKNOWN
The monthly total is 15,995.
The season totals so far from the main overlook, from August 15th through today, October 31st, are as follows:
1962 TURKEY VULTURE -- A NEW RECORD 496 OSPREY -- ALSO A NEW RECORD 2303 BALD EAGLES -- 2ND HIGHEST COUNT EVER 251 NORTHERN HARRIER -- ON TRACK TO BECOME A RECORD LOW THE PREVIOUS RECORD LOW WAS 274 15,553 SHARP-SHINNED HAWK 167 COOPER'S HAWK 189 NORTHERN GOSHAWK 12,966 BROAD-WINGED HAWK -- 2ND LOWEST EVER 7577 RED-TAILED HAWK 347 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK 55 GOLDEN EAGLE 1451 AMERICAN KESTREL 187 MERLIN 41 PEREGRINE FALCON 3 SWAINSON'S HAWK 1 RED-SHOULDERED HAWK 1 MISSISSIPPI KITE 9 UNIDENTIFIED
The season total so far this fall at the main overlook is 43,558.
Finally, although this bird is outside the normal scope of this tape, it is worth noting that a PYGMY NUTHATCH has been coming to a Fargo, North Dakota, feeder. On occasion is has been seen on the Moorhead side of the Red River, representing a first Minnesota record. For more information and directions, you can call me at 525-6930.
Unless something unusual is seen in the meantime which needs to reported immediately, the next scheduled update of this tape is Thursday, November 7. As always, if you have birds to report, you may leave a message after the tone.
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