-RBA
*Minnesota
*Duluth/North Shore
*September 24, 2009
*MNDU0909.24

-Birds mentioned -Transcript

Hotline: Minnesota, Duluth/North Shore
Date: September 24, 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 24th, 2009 sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union.

At least six PARASITIC JAEGERS were seen by several observers at Wisconsin Point on the weekend of the 19th. A possible LONG-TAILED JAEGER was also reported on the 18th, as well as an adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL on the 19th. Cameron Rutt saw a first-cycle FRANKLIN'S GULL and two unidentified JAEGERS on the 18th at the Park Point Recreational Area.

Cameron and Peder Svingen counted an impressive total of 135 YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS at Park Point on the 23rd. Cameron also found a WESTERN GREBE in the Duluth Harbor at the Sky Harbor Airport on the 23rd, and a VESPER SPARROW on the 21st at the 40th Avenue West Erie Pier area. He found another VESPER SPARROW on the 17th in Cook County along the Caribou Trail (CR 4), and a flyby BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER at Lutsen.

Jan and Larry Kraemer had a FIELD SPARROW in their yard along Maple Grove Road in Duluth on the 23rd. Frank Nicoletti saw a GRAY JAY and BOREAL CHICKADEE on the 24th in Moose Valley in Lakewood Township. Cameron Rutt had a BOREAL CHICKADEE on the 20th along the Superior Hiking Trail at Castle Danger, and Heidi Seeland had three just off Highway 61 near the Lafayette Tunnel northeast of Two Harbors.

Two ROSS'S GEESE flew past the Hawk Ridge overlook on the 23rd, and a BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER was seen on the 21st. Fourteen SANDHILL CRANES were counted on the 19th.

New fall arrivals to the area during the past week include WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, HARRIS'S SPARROW, and RUSTY BLACKBIRD.

The next scheduled update of this report will be on Thursday, October 1st.

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.