Duluth RBA
Duluth RBA
Duluth RBA
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-RBA *Minnesota *Duluth/North Shore *September 4 1997 *MNDU9709.04 -Birds mentioned
Hotline: Minnesota Duluth/North Shore
Date: September 4, 1997
Sponsor: Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU)
Reports: (218) 525-5952
Compiler: Kim Eckert
Transcriber: Sr. Pam Kern SRPAMKERN@aol.com
Re-transcriber: David Cahlander (dac@skypoint.com)
This is the Duluth Birding report for Thursday, September 4, sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union.
Although the Hawk Flight at Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve has been relatively uneventful so far this season, there have been several other interesting birds seen in Duluth recently including a RED-THROATED LOON, SANDHILL CRANE, RED-NECKED PHALAROPE, a PARASITIC JAEGER and both species of CROSSBILLS. Unfortunately, none of these birds have apparently been relocated by anyone after they were first found.
Paul Budde and some other Twin Cities birders found a RED-THROATED LOON at Stony Point on September 1. This species is a rare but regular migrant here in spring but in fall it is only casual at best. The previous day at Stony Point, August 31, both RED-NECKED and HORNED GREBES were also reported.
Two SANDHILL CRANES were seen by Frank Nicholetti September 2 as they flew over Hawk Ridge, and these were also spotted a few minutes later by Mike Hendrickson as they passed by the UMD campus.
Three RED-NECKED PHALAROPES were seen August 30 on the Lake Superior side of Park Point near the Superior entry breakwaters at the south end of the point. One of these individuals appeared to have an injured wing and had difficulty flying and so it still may be in the area. This species is only casual in Northeastern Minnesota.
Lanelle Hanson identified a light-morphed PARASITIC JAEGER September 1 as she was on a boat on Lake Superior out from the recreation area at Park Point. This is the first JAEGER report of the season so far, but hopefully there will be several others in the coming weeks.
And lone individuals of both species of CROSSBILLS were spotted recently. A RED CROSSBILL flew over Hawk Ridge August 29 and the next day the 30th the first WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL of the season flew over my house on the 8200 block of Congdon Boulevard.
The biggest news of Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve perhaps is Dave Grossage's continued success with passerine banding. So far, he has netted nearly 900 individuals including 21 species of warblers and among these there have been no fewer than 36 MOURNING WARBLERS.
Meanwhile, the hawk flight at the Ridge has been only average at best this season since counting started in mid August. The best day has been September 2 with a total of 526 which included 375 SHARP-SHINS plus a NORTHERN GOSHAWK and a PEREGRINE FALCON. A PEREGRINE was also counted on September 1 and today another GOSHAWK was seen at the Ridge.
During August the overall total from the main overlook was 990 individuals which is about average for the month although there were only 3 August days with counts over 100. The species count for August which included 16 days of counting were: 9 TURKEY VULTURES, 34 OSPREY, 25 BALD EAGLES, 51 NORTHERN HARRIERS, 532 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS, 1 COOPER'S HAWK, 211 BROAD-WINGED HAWKS, 25 RED-TAILED HAWKS, 90 AMERICAN KESTRELS, 11 MERLINS and 1 PEREGRINE FALCON.
Hopefully, the migration will pick up soon, at least in time for our annual Hawk Weekend festivities which will take place on September 12, 13 and 14. There will be programs at UMD's Bohanan Hall room 90 both Friday and Saturday evenings starting at 8:00 p.m. with refreshments and registration starting at 7:00 p.m..
There will be three birding field trips both Saturday and Sunday morning which all meet at 7:00 a.m. One trip will meet at the parking lot at the 40th Avenue West Perkins Restaurant and then proceed to the 40th Avenue West Erie Pier area mud flats to look for shorebirds and other water birds. Another trip will meet at the main parking lot at the recreation area at Park Point. Then the third field trip up the north shore, at least to Stony Point, will meet at the Lester River visitor's information booth.
Nature hikes and other activities will also take place during the day at Hawk Ridge itself on both Saturday and Sunday and for more information on any of this feel free to call me at 525-6930.
And finally there will be a free hawk identification program scheduled at the main overlook at Hawk Ridge this Sunday September 7 starting at 1:00 p.m.. This is the first of four such sessions being offered this fall by Dave Benson and for more information on these you can call Dave at 728-5812.
The next scheduled update of this tape will be on Thursday, September 11 and as always, if you have birds to report, you may leave a message after the tone. beep
