-RBA
*Minnesota
*Duluth/North Shore
*October 15, 1998
*MNDU9810.15

-Birds mentioned

• Pacific Loon
• Harlequin Duck
• Oldsquaw
• Surf Scoter
• Sharp-shinned Hawk
• Red-shouldered Hawk
• Spruce Grouse
• Semipalmated Plover
• Lesser Black-backed Gull
• Bohemian Waxwing
• Northern Shrike
• Smith's Longspur
• Snow Bunting
• Red Crossbill
• Common Redpoll

Hotline: Minnesota, Duluth/North Shore
Date: October 15 (and 18), 1998
Sponsor: Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU)
Reports: (218) 525-5952
Compiled and written by: Kim Eckert
Transcriber: Beverly Raway, MNBird Volunteer
Re-transcriber: David Cahlander (dac@skypoint.com)

Thursday, October 15th, sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union. Since last week's tape the birding in Duluth and northern Minnesota has continued to be productive, although nothing especially unusual has been found. Some of the highlights were two PACIFIC LOONS at Mille Lacs Lake, more reports of all three SCOTERS, two HARLEQUIN DUCKS, OLDSQUAW, SPRUCE GROUSE, LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, some additional reports of BOHEMIAN WAXWING, RED CROSSBILL and SMITH"S LONGSPUR, and the first reports of the season of NORTHERN SHRIKE, SNOW BUNTING and COMMON REDPOLL.

Tony Hertzel of the Twin Cities saw two PACIFIC LOONS on Mille Lacs Lake on October 11. One of these, along with a SURF SCOTER, was at the town of Garrison at the northwestern part of the lake, and the other, presumably the same individual that was found October 5, was seen south of Wigwam Bay Resort about 3.5 miles down Mille Lacs County Road 35 on the west side of the lake.

All three SCOTERS were seen again this week at Park Point. A SURF SCOTER was still being seen as of at least October 11 on the bay side at 33rd Street. And today, both Black and White-winged Scoters were on the bay side of the Recreation Area along with an OLDSQUAW. Also at Park Point today were a late SEMIPALMATED PLOVER at the Recreation Area and several SNOW BUNTINGS along the Sky Harbor Airport runway. The first of the season had been seen here on October 11th.

Karl Bardon of the Twin Cities found a LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL yesterday at the Superior Entry breakwaters at the southern tip of Park Point. It was a second-winter immature and it was relocated late this afternoon at this same location today. Apparently, this is only the second record of this species in Duluth. The first was also Minnesota's first state record at Park Point also in October about 15 years ago. Also on the Wisconsin side of the Superior Entry this afternoon were two HARLEQUIN DUCKS.

BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS appeared in several locations in Duluth October 9, including at Hawk Ridge, near Marshall High School and at the Lakewood Pumping Station. BOHEMIANS were also seen at Paradise Beach near Grand Marais in Cook County October 8, but none have been reported again since the 9th.

On October 10 RED CROSSBILLS were seen at two locations in Duluth: near Chester Bowl and at Hawk Ridge, but there have apparently been no reports since then. And after SMITH'S LONGSPUR had been seen at the 40th Avenue West area in Duluth two to three weeks ago, two individuals were seen by various observers in Grand Marais, Cook County, on both October 9 and 10 at various locations around the harbor. The first COMMON REDPOLLS of the season were reported yesterday, the 14th, at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Duluth. And in Lake County on County Road 2, between 35 and 40 miles north of Two Harbors, the first NORTHERN SHRIKE of the season was seen October 9, and on the same day in the same area a SPRUCE GROUSE was seen along the road.

Finally, at Hawk Ridge, the only significant count day recently was the 10th when a season high 1,256 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS went over. There was also a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK seen at the Ridge October 11. And unfortunately, it doesn't look promising for hawks or other migrants the next few days with precipitation and east or south winds in the forecast through the weekend.

Unless something unusual is seen in the meantime which needs to be reported on immediately, the next update of this tape will be on Thursday, October 22. As always, if you have birds to report you may leave a message after the tone. Also note for future reference that callers can leave a message if they wish without having to wait for this birding report to end. To do this, after the tape starts playing, push "5" on your touch tone phone., the tape will then stop, the tone will sound and you can then leave your message.

[October 18 Duluth Birding Report:

With so many interesting birds seen over the weekend, there was an update of this tape Sunday evening. A short summary follows; all were seen on one or more days Oct. 16-18, and for more information call the tape:

3 Pacific Loons -- lake side of Park Point at 12th Street Harlequin Duck -- Superior Entry, plus two possibles at the Park Point Recreation Area (hereafter, PPRA) Oldsquaw and all 3 scoters -- PPRA and the Grand Marais area possible Gyrfalcon -- flying past Lester River probable Red Phalarope -- Friday only at the Superior Entry Parasitic Jaeger -- PPRA Lesser Black-backed Gull -- Superior Entry Glaucous Gull -- Grand Marais Forster's Tern -- Two Harbors Short-eared Owl -- Hawk Ridge Black-backed Woodpecker -- Beaver Bay sewage ponds unidentified swallow (either Purple Martin or N. Rough-winged) -- Hawk Ridge Townsend's Solitaire -- corner of Peary St & 95th Ave West in Duluth Bohemian Waxwings -- Grand Marais area Black-throated Green Warbler -- Two Harbors Summer Tanager -- along South Ave between 1st and 3rd Streets (still present Oct 19) Smith's Longspur -- PPRA]

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