Duluth RBA
Duluth RBA
Duluth RBA
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-RBA *Minnesota *Duluth/North Shore *January 2 1998 *MNDU9801.02 -Birds mentioned
Hotline: Minnesota Duluth/North Shore
Date: January 2, 1998
Sponsor: Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU)
Reports: (218) 525 5952
Compiler: Kim Eckert
Transcriber: Barb Adams badams@.css.edu
Re-transcriber: David Cahlander (dac@skypoint.com)
This is the Duluth Birding Report for Friday, January 2, 1998, sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union.
As indicated on previous tapes, this winter's birding situation in northeastern Minnesota has definitely been on the dull side so far. There is a general lack of Northern owls and other specialties which is probably due in part to the warm, and snowless weather. However, on the positive side, there have been reports this week of a NORTHERN HAWK OWL, three GREAT GRAY OWLS, a SNOWY OWL, some BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS, a VARIED THRUSH, and the continued presence of a GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL, and other gulls at the Superior, Wisconsin landfill.
Ken LaFond of the Twin Cities reported seeing both a HAWK OWL and a GREAT GRAY OWL yesterday in Koochiching county northwest of Duluth. The HAWK OWL was in the southeastern part of the county near mile marker 228 on Minnesota Highway 65. The GREAT GRAY was along US highway 71 between mile markers 379 and 380. Unfortunately the location of these mile markers, in relation to a town, was not given.
Last week's tape reported on another HAWK OWL in Hoyt Lakes in Northern St. Louis County seen on December 20, though it has not been seen again since then. The location was at the golf course Pro Shop on the east side of town.
Warren Nelson of Aitkin reports that a GREAT GRAY OWL was also seen December 31st in Aitkin County west of Duluth. The location was along the Pietz's Road, which is the dead-end road which turns North off of County Road 18, 4 miles east of US Highway 169.
The other GREAT GRAY was in Douglas County, Wisconsin, also on December 31st in Brule; the location was only reported as near the intersection of Brule River Road and Clay Avenue.
Dave Evans reports that a SNOWY OWL finally showed up last week in the Duluth Harbor and it was seen again as recently as this morning on the bay ice between the Port Terminal and Park Point.
BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS have been seen for the past few weeks in the town of Ironton, in Crow Wing County, west of Duluth. Look for them especially in the vicinity of the High School. This species has been very hard to find so far this season.
A VARIED THRUSH was recently reported just North of Duluth at a feeder on the Fish Lake Dam Road. However, I have not yet talked to the home owner, so I don't know if visiting birders would be able to come and look for it.
And finally, the second-winter GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL was seen again on December 27th at the Superior, Wisconsin Landfill. Most of the sightings of this gull have been in the early afternoon.
Also, relocated there on the 27th were a first-winter GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL, two first-winter ICELAND GULLS, plus several GLAUCOUS GULL and THAYER'S GULLS among an estimated 3000 HERRING GULLS. To reach the landfill, take Highway 2 and 53 South all the way through Superior to the south edge of town and turn East at the sign which read Moccasin Mike Road and Wisconsin Point. In about a mile this road ends at the landfill.
Unless something unusual is seen in the meantime that needs to be reported immediately, the next scheduled update of this tape will be on Thursday, January 8. And as always, if you have birds to report, you may leave a message after the tone.
