Duluth RBA
Duluth RBA
Duluth RBA
|
-RBA *Minnesota *Duluth/North Shore *December 16 1997 *MNDU9712.16 -Birds mentioned
Hotline: Minnesota Duluth/North Shore
Date: December 16, 1997
Sponsor: Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU)
Reports: (218) 525-5952
Compiler: Kim Eckert
Transcriber: Sr. Pam Kern SRPAMKERN@juno.com, SRPAMKERN@aol.com
Re-transcriber: David Cahlander (dac@skypoint.com)
This is the Duluth birding report for Tuesday, December 16, sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union. This tape is being updated two days early primarily to report on a presence of a second winter GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL which has been seen the past few days either on the Minnesota side of the Superior entry breakwater from Wisconsin Point or at the nearby Superior landfill. A first winter GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL, two ICELAND GULLS, a first winter immature and a third winter bird, plus several GLAUCOUS GULL and THAYER'S GULLS have also been seen.
The GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL was discovered December 13 by Karl Bardon and Pedar Svingen at the Superior entry, which is the channel separating the south end of Park Point from the north end of Wisconsin Point. Along with a GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL at the same location, although neither of these gulls were seen at the landfill that day or at either location on Sunday the fourteenth. But yesterday the fifteenth, a group of us saw the GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL, twice in the afternoon at the landfill, and the Great-Black-Backed Gull was also seen there briefly along with the two ICELAND GULLS and several GLAUCOUS GULL and THAYER'S GULLS. No gulls of any consequence were found yesterday at the Superior entry.
To reach these locations, take Highways 2 and 53 south all the way through Superior to the south edge of town and there turn east at the sign which reads Moccasin Mike Road and Wisconsin Point. This road ends at the landfill and at about a mile and the road to the Superior entry turns left just before the dump.
Otherwise, the birding in Duluth and northeastern Minnesota continues to be decidedly on the dull side, as the warm temperatures and lack of snow are resulting in birds not being concentrated in town or at feeders which would normally be the case this time of year. So, they are harder to find.
On the other hand, the mild weather is encouraging some birds to linger later then normal. With such things as COMMON LOON, CANADA GOOSE, several MALLARDS, probably other species of ducks, BALD EAGLE and RING-BILLED GULL still in the harbor. And with two WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS, one or two FOX SPARROWS and a HARRIS' SPARROW reported recently at various feeders, and lone MERLINS noticed this past weekend at the Port terminal and Lester Park. Another MERLIN was reported last week in the general vicinity of 24th Avenue east between 4th Street and Woodland Avenue. There were also reports last week of a EASTERN TOWHEE and a RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER at feeders. And on Sunday, a TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE was seen by Molly Evans in her yard on the 2900 block of Greysolon Road.
However, in spite of these birds, the prospects of this Saturday's Duluth Christmas bird count don't seem very promising considering the general lack of birds. For example, the following species have not been reported by anyone at all in Duluth this month, even though they are normally seen on most Duluth counts: Red-breasted Merganser, Northern Goshawk, Snowy Owl, Grey Jay, Boreal Chickadee, Cedar Waxwing, Northern Cardinal, and Common Grackle. And the following birds have only been reported occasionally this month and therefore could easily be missed here on the 20th: Common Merganser, Thayer's and Glaucaus Gulls, Great Horned and Barred Owl, Brown Creeper, American Robin, Bohemian Waxwing, Northern Shrike, both Purple and House Finches, both Red and White-winged Crossbills and American Goldfinch.
Therefore, if you see any of these species or other rarities between now and count day, give me a call at 525-6930, so special efforts can be made to find these on Saturday. And if any of these are seen on our count day on Saturday itself, please be sure to report them to 728-0105, which is the phone number where we will be compiling the day's results that evening. Feeder watchers are also asked to call 728-0105 for the count of what they see in their yard on the 20th. The best time to call would be between 5:00 and 7:00 p.m.
The Duluth Christmas bird count circle is centered at Hawk Ridge. And it extends up the North Shore to the French River, north to Eagle Lake on Jean Duluth Road, West to Wild Rice Lake and the Airport and to the harbor area as far as 27th Avenue West and to 43rd Street on Park Point.
It should also be noted that our compilation on Saturday evening will be at a potluck supper, that location will be at 2602 East 4th Street and everyone is welcome, whether or not they participate in the day's birding. For more information on the potluck, feeder report or the species we are looking for in particular, give me a call at 525-6930 or leave a message after the tone.
Note as well that there are two other local Christmas bird counts coming up. On Saturday, rather on Sunday the 21st, will be the new Two harbors Count. On Monday the 22nd the annual Sax-Zim Bog count will take place. For more information on these, you could also give me a call. The next update of this tape will be on Sunday, December 21 which will give the results of Saturday's Duluth count. beep
