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-RBA *Minnesota *Duluth/North Shore *November 7, 1996 *MNDU9611.07 -Birds mentioned
Hotline: Minnesota Duluth/North Shore
Date: November 7, 1996
Sponsor: Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU)
Reports: (218) 525-5952
Compiler: Kim Eckert
Transcriber: S.Donna Schroeder
This is the Duluth Birding Report for Thursday, November 7, sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union.
There was an unscheduled update of this tape last Sunday to report on a female immature KING EIDER found by our Minnesota Birding Weekend's group on Lake Superior on November 2, Cook County. The location was at the Ray Bergland Wayside Rest, halfway between mile markers 86 and 87, which is between Tofte and Lutsen. It is not known if this bird is still in the area. We rechecked this location on the 3rd and had a distant view of what we thought might have been the same eider near mile marker 86, but we were too far away from it to make a positive identification. This is the fourth KING EIDER seen in Cook County in the last eight years. The other three were also in late fall and all were in Grand Marais.
Other highlights last weekend were a subadult male HARLEQUIN DUCK at Paradise Beach which is located about thirteen miles east of Grand Marais. OLDSQUAWS were seen at Good Harbor Bay, Grand Marais and Hovland.
Two SURF SCOTERS, also at Hovland which is located about 20 miles east of Grand Marais, WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS on the Grand Marais Harbor and also in Duluth on the Lake Superior side of Park Point south of the recreation area.
Our late SPOTTED SANDPIPER at Knife River and an equally late WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER still at the Beaver Bay sewage pond.
Our first winter's THAYER'S GULL in the Grand Marais Harbor, another THAYER'S GULL, an adult, was also found there November 4th, and a first winter THAYER'S was also seen closer to Duluth yesterday on Laker Superior about a half-mile southwest of the French River.
A SNOWY OWL at Artist's Point on the east side of the Grand Marais Harbor and another SNOWY on one of the Lockey Islands off Paradise Beach, and since then two more SNOWYS were seen in Duluth, both of these today. One on the 4100 block of Park Point and the other was a bird apparently weakened from starvation found on the Normana Road. It was sent to the Raptor Center in St. Paul.
A SHORT-EARED OWL flying west over Laker Superior out from the Grand Marais Harbor. BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS at Knife River near the marina. A very late COMMON YELLOWTHROAT in Two Harbors behind the light house and both species of CROSSBILLS. The RED in a residential area in Knife River, the WHITE-WINGED in some spruce at Paradise beach.
Other birds of note reported since last weekend were a GREAT GRAY OWL seen late this afternoon in Tim Dawson's yard which is located on the Arnold Road about a half mile north of Lismore Road just north of Duluth.
A late MARSH WREN, November 2nd, at Stony Point. An equally late SOLITARY VIREO in Duluth on the same day. Off the Lake was the PECTORAL SANDPIPER at Brighton Beach, November 3rd, and an unexpected FIELD SPARROW identified by Mike Hendrickson yesterday near Knife River.
Meanwhile at Hawk Ridge, the biggest news is that an immature GOLDEN EAGLE was netted at the banding station today. This is only the seventh individual of this species ever banded at Hawk Ridge and the first since 1984. Also of note were the four adult RED-SHOULDRED HAWKS counted November 1st from the main overlook.
Last week's strong hawk flight should continue into this weekend since northwest winds and colder temperatures in the 20s are in the forecast.
Unless something else unusual is seen in the meantime which needs to be reported on immediately, the next scheduled update of the tape will be on Thursday, November 14 and as always if you have birds to report to me, leave a message after the tone.