-RBA *Minnesota *Duluth/North Shore *February 5, 2009 *MNDU0902.05-Birds mentioned
Hotline: Minnesota, Duluth/North Shore
Date: February 5, 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, February 5th, 2009 sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union.
The male BARROW'S GOLDENEYE was relocated by Peder Svingen on the 1st on Lake Superior near 21st Avenue East in Duluth. Peder also found a first-cycle ICELAND GULL, a third- or fourth-cycle GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL, and an adult and two first-cycle GLAUCOUS GULLS behind the WLSSD wastewater treatment plant off 27th Avenue West. He also saw a GADWALL on the 1st at Canal Park. Frank Berdan reported an apparent WHITE-WINGED SCOTER on the 1st along Scenic Highway 61, 0.3 mile southwest of the McQuade Road (CR 33). The TOWNSEND’S SOLITAIRE along the Flynn Road (CR 282) was relocated on the 4th, 0.6 mile east of the McQuade Road.
A BOREAL OWL was found on the 31st west of Two Harbors along the Valley Road (CR 11). Dave Zumeta heard a calling NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL in Carlton County on the 4th at the Cloquet Forestry Center along CR 5. Rebecca Schubert saw a SNOWY OWL on the 31st on an ice floe at Park Point in Duluth.
A NORTHERN HAWK OWL was seen on the 4th along Scenic Highway 61, 0.2 mile west of the Larsmont Road. Another was seen on the 3rd in Two Harbors at the golf course along CR 2. Paul Sundberg found a NORTHERN HAWK OWL on the 1st along MN Highway 61 in Silver Bay at the AmericInn. Kim Eckert found one west of Two Harbors along the Stanley Road (CR 9), 0.7 miles east of the county line. Karen Sussman found one on the 31st north of Chisholm along MN Highway 73 at mile marker 111. Harry Hutchins found a NORTHERN HAWK OWL in Carlton County on the 4th along MN Highway 73 at mile marker 27, just north of Cromwell. It was seen again on the 5th by Shawn Conrad. The NORTHERN HAWK OWL on the Airport Road was relocated by Margaret Rakowski on the 31st, 0.25 mile east of the Haines Road. Debbie Waters and others saw what may have been the same bird on the 31st on the Stebner Road just east of U.S. Highway 53.
Jan Green found a HOARY REDPOLL on the 3rd at her feeders along the Old North Shore Road in Duluth Township. One was seen on the 2nd on the 300 block of 2nd Avenue in Two Harbors. Shawn Conrad saw one on the 30th in Itasca County at the Effie Café near MN Highways 1 and 38. Mike Hendrickson had six HOARY REDPOLLS on the 1st at feeders in the Sax-Zim Bog: two along the Admiral Road (CR 788), one along the Arkola Road (CR 52), one along Owl Avenue (CR 203), and two at the Blue Spruce Road (CR 211).
Most of the other species of interest in the Sax-Zim bog continue to be seen at the usual locations, although GREAT GRAY OWLS have become more difficult to find. Mike Hendrickson found one on the 3rd at Owl Avenue (CR 202) and Correction Line Road (CR 29), and Debbie Waters and others briefly saw one along the McDavitt Road on the 31st. The NORTHERN HAWK OWL along CR 7 within 0.5 mile of the Sax Road (CR 28) continues to be seen, as well as the one along the McDavitt Road, 1.2 miles north of the Sax Road. Both AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKER and BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKERS are still being seen along the McDavitt Road, 3.1 miles north of the Sax Road. BOREAL CHICKADEES and HOARY REDPOLLS are being seen at the feeding station along the Admiral Road (CR 788), 3.8 miles north of the Sax Road. Up to five BOREAL CHICKADEES have been seen at a feeder along the Arkola Road, a mile east of Owl Avenue. EVENING GROSBEAKS are being seen at the feeders along the Blue Spruce Road (CR 211) a mile north of CR 133.
Kim Eckert and others found a SPRUCE GROUSE in Lake County on the 30th along MN Highway 1, 12 miles northwest of CR 2 at mile marker 299.1. They also saw an AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKER along the Spruce Road, 0.6 mile east of MN Highway 1, which was relocated on the 3rd by Mike Hendrickson. Mike also saw four SPRUCE GROUSE on the 3rd along Lake County Road 2, 1.5 miles south of CR 15. Bill Tefft saw a BOHEMIAN WAXWING flock in Ely on the 1st at the west end of Washington Street.
The next scheduled update of this report will be on Thursday, February 12th.
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.