-RBA
*Minnesota
*Duluth/North Shore
*February 5, 2010
*MNDU1002.05

-Birds mentioned
Gadwall
Greater Scaup
White-winged Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Sharp-tailed Grouse
Horned Grebe
Ring-billed Gull
Thayer's Gull
Northern Hawk Owl
Great Gray Owl
Boreal Owl
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Bohemian Waxwing
Cedar Waxwing
Fox Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
-Transcript

Hotline: Minnesota, Duluth/North Shore
Date: February 5, 2010
Sponsor: Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU)
Reports: (218) 834-2858
Compiler: Jim Lind ([log in to unmask])

This is the Duluth Birding Report for Friday, February 5th, 2010
sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union.

NORTHERN HAWK OWLS are still widespread and numerous across the region.
Six were seen on the 3rd along the North Shore at five locations
including Flood Bay, Gooseberry State Park, a mile east of Little
Marais, Cook County Road 7, 1.5 miles north of MN 61, and two a mile
east of Sugar Loaf Cove. One was seen on the 31st along Lake County Road
2, one mile south of Forest Highway 11, and another was along the Stony
River Forest Road near the railroad tracks. One was reported on the 30th
near the Two Harbors airport.

Recent NORTHERN HAWK OWL locations in the Sax-Zim Bog include CR 7 just
north of the Sax Road (CR 28), CR 7 at CR 133, CR 7 a mile north of CR
133, and along the Stone Lake Road 1.25 miles east of CR 7. Individuals
have also been reported along US Highway 53 at Cotton, and at mile
marker 51 about 10 miles north of Cotton. Beau Shroyer saw a NORTHERN
HAWK OWL in Aitkin County on the 29th along MN Highway 200 east of mile
marker 184, about 10 miles east of Hill City. Warren Nelson saw one on
the 30th along US Highway 169, 0.75 mile south of CR 18, and two more
along CR 18, 0.6 mile west of Pietz's Road and 0.7 mile west of CR 5.

Joshua and Peter Yokel saw a BOREAL OWL on the 1st in their yard in
Cotton, but it has not been seen since. Dave Gilbertson heard a NORTHERN
SAW-WHET OWL on the 29th at his home in Lakewood Township. Jan Green
heard one on the 1st along Old North Shore Road (CR 290) in Duluth
Township. Al Schirmacher saw a GREAT GRAY OWL in Aitkin County on the
30th along CR 18, 0.5 mile west of Pietz's Road. Al also saw five
SHARP-TAILED GROUSE along Kestrel Avenue 3 miles north of Tamarack, and
three a mile south of Tamarack.

An adult RING-BILLED GULL was seen on the 4th at Agate Bay in Two
Harbors. A GREATER SCAUP was seen on the 1st on Burlington Bay in Two
Harbors and it was still present on the 4th. Two LONG-TAILED DUCKS were
seen at Burlington Bay on the 1st and one was seen on the 4th at Agate
Bay. Two LONG-TAILED DUCKS were found on the 3rd at Father Baraga's
Cross in Schroeder. Three HORNED GREBES were at the mouth of the Stewart
River on the 3rd.

Mike Hendrickson saw an adult THAYER'S GULL on the 31st at Canal Park.
Frank Berdan reported a WHITE-WINGED SCOTER on the 1st at 9327 Scenic
Highway 61, about 10 miles northeast of Duluth. Michael Furtman saw a
GADWALL on the 31st along the Lakewalk near Canal Park, as well as a
SCAUP on the 3rd. Michael had a FOX SPARROW on the 3rd at his feeders in
Hunter’s Park, and Pat Thomas had a RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD on the 4th at
her feeders along East Superior Street.

Many large flocks of BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS were seen along MN Highway 61 in
Cook County on the 3rd. A mixed flock of about 260 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS and
CEDAR WAXWINGS is still being seen along South Avenue in Two Harbors. A
flock of BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS was still being seen near Miner's Lake in Ely
as of the 1st.

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