-RBA *Minnesota *Duluth/North Shore *December 4, 2008 *MNDU0812.04-Birds mentioned
Hotline: Minnesota, Duluth/North Shore
Date: December 4, 2008
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 4th, 2008 sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union.
GREAT GRAY OWLS were found in several spots in north-central St. Louis County during the past week. Ben Yokel saw one on the 4th southeast of the Hibbing airport along CR 16, 0.75 mile east of CR 5. Ben also found one on the 29th along West Melrude Road (CR 59) about 0.75 mile east of U.S. Highway 53, and it was relocated on the 2nd. On the 30th Ben saw two GREAT GRAY OWLS along the Nichols Lake Road (CR 232) between 2.0 and 2.3 miles east of CR 7, another along CR 7 four miles south of the Arkola Road (CR 52), and another along the McDavitt Road (CR 213) 3.7 miles south of the Zim Road (CR 28).
The NORTHERN HAWK OWL along US Highway 53 two miles south of Cotton was still present on the 30th. Tom Sopoci found one on the 30th at US Highways 169 and 53 north of Virginia. Greg Cook also found one on the 30th in Lake County at the Sand Lake Road, 40 miles north of Two Harbors along CR 2.
Jan and Larry Kraemer saw a SNOWY OWL on the 30th on the ice in the Duluth harbor at the Park Point Recreation Area. Erik Bruhnke and Karl Bardon saw two ICELAND GULLS, a GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL, three GLAUCOUS GULLS, and several THAYER'S GULLS on the 2nd at Wisconsin Point.
A VARIED THRUSH was found at a feeder in Ely on the 29th at 1220 East Main Street and it was still present as of the 4th. Probably the same bird has also been a block away at a feeder at 1252 East Washington Street. Another VARIED THRUSH was seen on the 30th at a home along Lake Vermilion near Cook, but I do not have any other details at this time.
The Duluth Christmas Bird Count will be held on Saturday, December 20, 2008. The Two Harbors Christmas Bird Count will be held on Sunday, December 14. 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 11th.
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.