-RBA
*Minnesota
*Duluth/North Shore
*April 16, 2015
*MNDU1504.16

-Birds mentioned -Transcript

Hotline: Minnesota, Duluth/North Shore
Date: April 16, 2015
Sponsor: Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU)
Reports: (218) 834-2858
Compiler: Jim Lind ([log in to unmask])

This is the Duluth Birding Report for April 16th, 2015 sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union.

Migration is in full swing, with several reports of big movements of birds in the Duluth area. Karl Bardon counted more than 34,000 AMERICAN ROBINS along the Duluth-Superior lakeshore on April 12th, as well as hundreds of RUSTY BLACKBIRDS, COMMON GRACKLES, PINE SISKINS, PURPLE FINCHES, and NORTHERN FLICKERS. Karl also counted big numbers of raptors on the 12th, including 1,083 RED-TAILED HAWKS, 676 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS, 442 TURKEY VULTURES, and a SWAINSON'S HAWK. Large numbers of waterfowl have been staging on Lake Superior in recent days, including RED-NECKED GREBE, AMERICAN WIGEON, REDHEAD, NORTHERN PINTAIL, SCAUP, BLUE-WINGED TEAL, and others.

John Kelsey saw a very early PALM WARBLER on the 16th along the Western Waterfront Trail in Duluth. Three LONG-TAILED DUCKS were seen on the 16th at Burlington Bay in Two Harbors. SANDHILL CRANES have been seen at several spots along the North Shore including Duluth Township, Two Harbors, and Tofte.

Other recent new arrivals in the area include YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER on the 9th, BLUE-WINGED TEAL, OSPREY, YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, WINTER WREN, WHITE-THROATED SPARROW, and EASTERN MEADOWLARK on the 11th, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, NORTHERN SHOVELER, GADWALL, AMERICAN WIGEON, HORNED GREBE, BELTED KINGFISHER, EASTERN PHOEBE, TREE SWALLOW, HERMIT THRUSH, SWAMP SPARROW, BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD, and BREWER'S BLACKBIRD on the 12th, BARN SWALLOW on the 13th, and CANVASBACK on the 14th.

The next scheduled update of this report will be on April 23rd.

Information about bird sightings may be sent to the Duluth Rare Bird Alert at [log in to unmask]

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, write us c/o the Bell Museum, e-mail us at [log in to unmask], or visit the MOU web site at moumn.org.