-RBA
*Minnesota
*Duluth/North Shore
*September 17, 2009
*MNDU0909.17

• Cackling Goose
• Harlequin Duck
• Red-throated Loon
• Red-necked Phalarope
• Sabine's Gull
• Lesser Black-backed Gull
• Parasitic Jaeger
• Short-eared Owl
• Black-backed Woodpecker
• Blue Jay
• American Pipit
• Pine Warbler
• Connecticut Warbler
• White-crowned Sparrow
• Lapland Longspur

Hotline: Minnesota, Duluth/North Shore
Date: September 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, September 17th, 2009 sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union.

At least 24 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES were seen by Mike Hendrickson and others on the 12th on Lake Superior offshore from Park Point. A SABINE'S GULL, RED-THROATED LOON, four PARASITIC JAEGERS, and five RED-NECKED PHALAROPES were reported from Wisconsin Point on the 16th. At least two of the jaegers were seen again on the 17th, as well as a LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL. Kim Eckert and others saw a total of 25 warbler species on the 12th at Park Point, including three CONNECTICUT WARBLERS and a PINE WARBLER in the woods beyond the Sky Harbor Airport.

Peder Svingen reported a flock of 14 CACKLING GEESE, the first of the season, on the 14th at the 40th Avenue West Erie Pier area. Karl Bardon reported the first AMERICAN PIPIT of the season at Hawk Ridge on the 12th, as well as an impressive total of 3,475 BLUE JAYS.

The female HARLEQUIN DUCK in Grand Marais was relocated by several observers during the past week as recently as the 15th. Cameron Rutt saw a SHORT-EARED OWL flying over Hovland on the 15th, as well as the first WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW of the season. LAPLAND LONGSPURS were reported by several observers this week, with the earliest reports on the 14th near Ely and Silver Bay. A male BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER was seen on the 12th at the west end of Stoney Point Drive.

The next scheduled update of this report will be on Thursday, September 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.