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-RBA *Minnesota *Duluth/North Shore *January 23, 1997 *MNDU9701.23 -Birds mentioned
Hotline: Minnesota Duluth/North Shore
Date: January 23, 1997
Sponsor: Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU)
Reports: (218)525-5952
Compiler: Kim Eckert
Transcriber: Deb Savageau mdebbrdr@aol.com
Re-transcriber: David Cahlander dac@skypoint.com
This is the Duluth Birding Report for January 23rd sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union.
There were a lot of birders in town last weekend and accordingly several birds of interest were found in Duluth and vicinity as reported in last week's tape, including GLAUCOUS GULLS and a possible GYRFALCON in Superior, SPRUCE GROUSE and both BLACK-BACKED and THREE-TOED WOODPECKERS in Lake County, VARIED THRUSH at two Duluth feeders, a recently arrived HARRIS' SPARROW and REDPOLLS at another Duluth feeder plus the usual GREAT GRAY, HAWK and SNOWY OWLS along with a few BOREAL OWLS that unfortunately didn't stay long enough in one place to be relocated.
On January 17th a grand total of 5 individual GULLS were seen at the Superior landfill at the south end of Wisconsin Point. But, strangely four of these five were GLAUCOUS GULLS. On the same day a distant RAPTOR was seen flying by the dump which suggested a possible GYRFALCON but it was too far away to positively identify. On the 20th no GULLS of any kind were seen at the landfill but yesterday about 50 GULLS returned there including 2 GLAUCOUS.
SPRUCE GROUSE were seen in Lake County on both January 18th and the 22nd but none could be found there between those two dates. On the 18th five were seen at dawn in the road on County Rd 2, 3 miles south of Minnesota Hwy 1 or 43 miles north of Two Harbors. And later in the morning, 2 were on County Rd 2 at the School of Log building, 40 miles north of Two Harbors.
Then yesterday, a lone SPRUCE GROUSE was relocated on County Rd 2 about 3 miles south of Hwy 1 and another was seen on Hwy 1 about 5 miles east of County Rd 2.
Both BLACK-BACKED and THREE-TOED WOODPECKERS were found January 19th in Lake County although attempts to relocate them later have been unsuccessful. The BLACK-BACKED was found on County Rd 2 about 3 miles south of Hwy 1 and the THREE-TOED was just about 4 miles up the Spruce Rd which turns north off Hwy 1, 14 miles northwest of County Rd 2.
A cooperative VARIED THRUSH continues to come to Pat Thomas' feeder and the equally cooperative Thomas' have been permitting birders to walk up their driveway and stand behind the house to view the feeders. Look especially at the feeder under the spruce trees behind the garage. Another VARIED THRUSH in Duluth was also reported at a feeder at the corner of 22nd avenue east and first street, but the caller did not leave her name or the exact address.
A HARRIS' SPARROW and a flock of COMMON REDPOLLS appeared at a feeder this week on North Shore Drive just northeast of the French River. This is about the only report of REDPOLLS I've recieved this month in northeastern MN.
Several GREAT GRAY OWLS are still being seen this week but many of them are not staying in one place for more than a day. And are difficult to relocate. The most recent sightings have been in Duluth at the unlikely location of 8th Ave E. & 10th St., also at Park Point near 25th St. was the same individual being seen previously in the vicinity of the recreation area, on Scenic Hwy 61 just northeast of the Shorecrest Supper Club and on the 19th a dead GREAT GRAY was found just southwest of the Shorecrest Supper Club; in Lake County on Hwy 61 just northeats of Two Harbors; in the Sax-Zim Bog on St Louis Cnyy Rd 2, 3 miles west of Cotton and in Aitkin Cnty where GREAT GRAYS have been easiest to find, most recently on Cnty Rd 18, 1/2 mile east of Cnty Rd 5; on Cnty Rd 10, 1 mile north of Cnty Rd 18; on Cnty Rd 5, 1&1/4 miles south of Palisade; on the north-south Rd west of Dunn Lake, 3 miles south, 3 miles west and 1 mile south of Palisade and on the South Pine Lake Rd which turns west off of U.S. Hwy 169 about 11 miles south of Aitkin.
NORTHERN HAWK OWLS are generally easier to find than GREAT GRAYS and about 50 individuals have been reported in MN so far this season making this the second biggest invasion ever in the state. The most recent report has been in Duluth at the corner of Glenwood St and Skyline Prkwy; along Hwy 61 about 1 mile northeast of the Lester River; just northeast of Duluth on Ryan Rd, 3 miles north of Hwy 61 near Lismore Rd; in Lake Cnty on the southwest edge of Two Harbors on Hwy 61. Also on Hwy 61 about 1 mile southwest of Split Rock Lighthouse SP at mile marker 45; in Superior Wisc. on Hammond Ave just south of 28th St.; in the Sax- Zim Bog on Cnty Rd 7 between 3 and 4 miles north of Sax; and in Aitkin Cnty where 3 individuals on Cnty Rd 1 between 6&1/2 miles and 10&1/2 miles north of Aitkin and aalso on Aitkin Cnty Rd 18 a half mile east of Cnty Rd 5.
SNOWY OWLS are probably most easy to find in Aitkin Cnty with 5 individuals on Cnty Rd 1 between 1 mile and 7&1/2 miles north of Aitkin. Also watch for them in the late afternoon in Duluth along interstate 535 in the harbor area and in Superior at various locations, especially near the hospital on Tower Ave.
At least 7 or 8 BOREAL OWLS turned up in Duluth and vicinity since last week's tape but some of these were birds found dead and none of the live ones could be relocated the next day. At least 40 BOREAL OWLS have been found in northeastern MN so far this season and most of these were found dead from apparent starvation.
Finally, BOREAL CHICKADEES, BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS, NORTHERN SHRIKES, SNOW BUNTINGS, PINE GROSBEAKS and both CROSSBILLS have also been seen at various locations this week and for more info on these you could give me a call.
The next scheduled update of this tape is on Thursday January 30th and as always if you have birds to report you may leave a message after the tone.