Duluth RBA
Duluth RBA
Duluth RBA
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-RBA *Minnesota *Duluth/North Shore *December 25 1997 *MNDU9712.25 -Birds mentioned
Hotline: Minnesota Duluth/North Shore
Date: December 25, 1997
Sponsor: Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU)
Reports: (218) 525-5952
Compiler: Kim Eckert
Transcriber: Blaine Seeliger (BCSBIJOU@aol.com)
Re-transcriber: David Cahlander (dac@skypoint.com)
"This is the Duluth Birding Report for Thursday, December 25th, sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union.
There is essentially nothing new to report on regarding last Saturday's Duluth Christmas Bird Count with our species total still standing at 60 species as reported on Sunday's tape. Therefore, the most significant news this week again comes from the Superior, Wisconsin landfill where that second winter GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL, which had been reported on previous tapes, was relocated by Peder Svingen December 22nd. This bird had also been seen at the dump on December 15th and on the Minnesota side of the Superior Entry Breakwater December 13th, and this represents only the second or third record for Wisconsin and Minnesota.
Also seen at the landfill on the 22nd were two first winter GREAT BLACK- BACKED GULLS, only one had been seen here earlier this month; at least two ICELAND GULLS, one first winter immature and a third winter bird, which had also been seen here previously; plus many GLAUCOUS GULL and several THAYER'S GULLS. To reach the Superior landfill, take Hwy. 2 to 53 through Superior to the south edge of town and turn east at the sign reading Moccasin Mike Road and Wisconsin Point. This road ends in about a mile at the dump and just before the end of this road, you could also turn left or north to the Superior entry breakwater.
The first ever Two Harbors Christmas Bird Count was held December 21st and among their 36 species, the best find were a quite unexpected and very late RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, a good assortment of gulls at Knife River including a first winter GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL, GLAUCOUS and THAYER'S GULLS, and these were probably the same individuals which had been seen on the previous day on the Duluth Count; and late RUSTY BLACKBIRDS and SONG SPARROWS.
Then on Monday the 22nd, the Sax Zim Bog Christmas Bird Count took place and the best finds there were a GREAT GRAY OWL, a very unexpected LONG-EARED OWL, SHARP-TAILED GROUSE, and HOARY REDPOLLS at two feeders. The GREAT GRAY OWL was found on Owl Avenue or County Road 203 just south of County Road 52, 4-1/2 miles east of Toivola or 11-1/2 miles west of Canyon. Tony Hertzel both heard and saw the LONG-EARED OWL on County Road 211, 1.4 miles north of County Road 133. 211 or Blue Spruce Road turns north off of 133, 3 miles east of Meadowlands. Two SHARP-TAILED GROUSE were spotted on County Road 52, 3-1/2 miles east of Toivola or a mile west of Owl Avenue. One of the HOARY REDPOLL feeders was located on County Road 83, 5-1/4 miles up from County Road 52. 83 turns north off of 52, 2 miles east of Toivola. The other redpoll feeder is on County Road 213, 2 miles west and 6/10ths of a mile north of Sax.
Nancy Jackson of Aurora-Hoyt Lakes in northern St. Louis County reports that a NORTHERN HAWK OWL was seen on their Christmas Bird Count on Saturday the 20th, but unfortunately the location was not given and and it is not known if this bird is remaining in one place.
And that's about it as far as northern owls are concerned, this one HAWK OWL and the one GREAT GRAY in the Sax Zim Bog. There hasn't even been a single Snowy Owl report anywhere in northeastern Minnesota this month.
To repeat the highlights of the Saturday, December 20th Duluth Christmas Bird Count for those who didn't hear them on last Sunday's tape, two COMMON LOONS, a WOOD DUCK, and a NORTHERN PINTAIL were all lingering in the Duluth Harbor. A first winter GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL was along the North Shore among the gull flocks, about a half-mile southwest of the French River. A BOREAL CHICKADEE was along the May Farm Road which turns left off the Ryan Road about a half mile north of Hwy. 61. Two TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE were found, one of these on the Lester River Road side of Lester Park, and the other near the intersection of 28th Avenue E. and Superior Street. Both an EASTERN TOWHEE (RUFOUS-SIDED) and a HARRIS' SPARROW were at a feeder on the 2900 block of Jefferson Street. Another HARRIS' SPARROW was at the Wild Birds Unlimited store feeder near the Miller Hill Mall, and a HOARY REDPOLL was found at Park Point.
We're still hoping that someone will call in a belated report of a MERLIN, a NORTHERN CARDINAL, FOX SPARROW, or COMMON GRACKLE which were all seen within a few days of the count day but not on December 20th itself. We are also hoping that the identity of a possible LONG-EARED OWL can be confirmed. The observer had only a brief glimpse of it on the Kruger Road just east of Haines Road which is a half-mile south of the airport.
The next update of this tape will be on Friday, January 2nd, and as always, if you have birds to report, you may leave a message after the tone.
