-RBA
*Minnesota
*Duluth/North Shore
*December 17, 2009
*MNDU0912.17

-Birds mentioned
Harlequin Duck
Long-tailed Duck
Sharp-tailed Grouse
Horned Grebe
Ring-billed Gull
Thayer's Gull
Iceland Gull
Slaty-backed Gull
Glaucous Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Snowy Owl
Northern Hawk Owl
Great Gray Owl
Bohemian Waxwing
Evening Grosbeak
-Transcript

Hotline: Minnesota, Duluth/North Shore
Date: December 17, 2009
Sponsor: Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU)
Reports: (218) 834-2858
Compiler: Jim Lind ([log in to unmask])

This is the Duluth Birding Report for Thursday, December 17th, 2009
sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union.

The third-cycle SLATY-BACKED GULL was relocated on the 13th at Canal
Park in Duluth. Several observers saw three GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULLS,
three ICELAND GULLS, at least three GLAUCOUS GULLS, a THAYER'S GULL and
a late-lingering RING-BILLED GULL on the 16th at Canal Park. A SNOWY OWL
was seen earlier in the week at the Port Terminal, but I don’t have the
exact location or date.

A male HARLEQUIN DUCK was seen on the 16th on Lake Superior at the mouth
of the French River east of Duluth. In Lake County, four HORNED GREBES
were seen on the 17th out from the mouth of the Stewart River and three
more were seen at Burlington Bay in Two Harbors. Three LONG-TAILED DUCKS
were also seen at Burlington Bay on the 17th.

Two GREAT GRAY OWLS were seen by several observers in Aitkin County on
the 12th along CR 18 between 0.25 and 0.6 mile west of the Pietz's Road
(320th Place). Another GREAT GRAY OWL was seen on the 12th along the
Hedbom Road 3.5 miles east of CR 36. Cindy Risen reported EVENING
GROSBEAKS at her feeders in Tamarack on the 12th, as well as 15
SHARP-TAILED GROUSE and a GREAT GRAY OWL north of Tamarack.

Bill Tefft reported a NORTHERN HAWK OWL on the 12th along the Stony
River Forest Road, 1 mile north of the Whyte Road.

Flocks of BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS continue to be reported from throughout the
area including McGregor, Cromwell, Two Harbors, and Bovey.

The Duluth Christmas Bird Count will be held on Saturday, December 19,
2009. The Two Harbors Christmas Bird Count will be held on Sunday,
December 20. Anyone interested in participating in either count should
contact compiler Jim Lind at (218) 834-3199 or by e-mail at
[log in to unmask]

The next scheduled update of this report will be on Thursday, December
24th.

The telephone number of the Duluth Rare Bird Alert is 218-834-2858.
Information about bird sightings may be left following the recorded
message.

The Duluth Birding Report is sponsored and funded by the Minnesota
Ornithologists' Union (MOU) as a service to its members. For more
information on the MOU, either write us c/o the Bell Museum, e-mail us
at [log in to unmask], or visit the MOU web site at moumn.org.