-RBA *Minnesota *Duluth/North Shore *November 4, 2016 *MNDU1611.04 -Birds mentioned Greater White-fronted Goose Surf Scoter White-winged Scoter Black Scoter Long-tailed Duck Western Grebe Sabine's Gull Franklin's Gull Great Black-backed Gull Red-throated Loon Cattle Egret Northern Mockingbird Red Crossbill White-winged Crossbill -Transcript Hotline: Minnesota, Duluth/North Shore Date: November 4, 2016 Sponsor: Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU) Reports: (218) 834-2858 Compiler: Jim Lind ([log in to unmask]) This is the Duluth Birding Report for November 4th, 2016 sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union. A NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD was found on the 3rd in downtown Two Harbors west of the brewery, at the far western end of the alley that runs between 1st and 2nd Avenues. The bird was relocated by Susan Barnes and others on the 4th, possiblY with a second bird. A CATTLE EGRET was seen by several observers on the 1st in the Grand Marais municipal campground. Another CATTLE EGRET was seen on the 1st and 2nd along Lake County Road 3, 1.2 miles east of the Silver Bay Airport. A SABINE'S GULL was briefly seen on the 29th at the McQuade Road public access, but it could not be relocated. A flock of 63 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE was seen flying over Hawk Ridge on 31st. A WESTERN GREBE was seen by Jan and Larry Kraemer on the 29th at 13th Street on Park Point, and the bird was still relocated on the 4th by Susan Schumacher. Bob Myers and Mike Steffes relocated the RED-THROATED LOON at Agate Bay in Two Harbors on the 2nd, along with a SURF SCOTER and several LONG-TAILED DUCKS. Small numbers of scoters were reported at several locations during the past week. WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS were seen at Burlington Bay in Two Harbors, Taconite Harbor (five birds), Grand Marais harbor, Paradise Beach, and Grand Portage in Cook County. SURF SCOTERS were seen at 37th Street on Park Point, Burlington Bay in Two Harbors, and the Grand Marais harbor. BLACK SCOTERS were seen at 13th Street on Park Point and Brighton Beach in Duluth, and in Grand Marais. LONG-TAILED DUCKS have been reported from McQuade Road, Agate Bay and Burlington Bay in Two Harbors, and Good Harbor Bay, Grand Marais, Five-Mile Rock, and Grand Portage in Cook County. Mike Hendrickson saw a 1st cycle FRANKLIN'S GULL, two GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULLS, and three THAYER’S GULLS on the 2nd on the Minnesota side of the Superior Entry. Dave Benson saw six RED CROSSBILLS on the 3rd at the White Pine Wayside Rest in Lake County. Small numbers of RED CROSSBILLS and WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS have also been reported recently from Sax-Zim, Hawk Ridge, Stoney Point, Knife River, Two Harbors and Isabella. The next scheduled update of this report will be on or about Thursday, November 10th. This report is compiled from MOU-net postings, local eBird checklists, various Facebook group pages (some of which may require joining), and personal contacts. Please follow the links below for the most up-to-date information: MOU-net: http:[log in to unmask] eBird: http://ebird.org/ebird/places Facebook group pages: Minnesota Ornithologists Union: https://www.facebook.com/groups/moumn.group/ Minnesota Birding: https://www.facebook.com/groups/mnbirding/ Minnesota Rare Bird Alert: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1570731239835376/ Northeast Minnesota Birding: https://www.facebook.com/groups/177159692431348/ Sax-Zim Bog: https://www.facebook.com/groups/saxzimbog/ Duluth Phenology: https://www.facebook.com/groups/duluthphenology/ 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.