Duluth RBA

Previous reports: July 9 , August 6 20 27 .
Other Hotlines: Minnesota Statewide 
-RBA
*Minnesota
*Duluth/North Shore
*September 3, 1998
*MNDU9808.03

-Birds mentioned
-Transcript

Hotline: Minnesota Duluth/North Shore
Date: Sept. 3, 1998
Sponsor: Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU)
Reports: (218) 525-5952
Compiler: Kim Eckert (kreckert@cp.duluth.mn.us)
Transcriber: Barb Adams, MnBird Volunteer
Re-transcriber: David Cahlander (dac@skypoint.com)

This is the Duluth Birding Report for Thursday, September 3, sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union.

For the second consecutive week the birding in Duluth and vicinity has been quite interesting - - highlighted by such species as RED-NECKED GREBE, AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN, SANDHILL CRANE, BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER, RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS, RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS, WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL, and, most interesting of all, a LARK SPARROW.

Jim Lind found a LARK SPARROW near his home on the 900 block of 9th Avenue in Two Harbors in Lake County on August 31. It was still there the next day, but Jim was unable to relocate it yesterday, September 2.

Jim also saw a RED-NECKED GREBE along with a HORNED GREBE August 31, along the North Shore between the French River and Stoney Point. Another HORNED GREBE was also seen on the lake near downtown Duluth August 28.

And, Jim Lind also saw a flock of 34 WHITE PELICANS flying over Gooseberry Falls State Park in Lake County, about 10:30 a.m. on August 29. And, interestingly enough, Terry Wiens saw a flock of 25 PELICANS from Hawk Ridge on the same day. It is thought that they could have been part of the same Gooseberry Falls flock.

Frank Nicoletti arrived back for his eighth year as counter at Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve on September 1. And on his first day, three SANDHILL CRANES migrated by, which is a bit early for this species.

Jim Lind reported yet another interesting sighting in Lake County when he saw three BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS among other shorebirds on the North Shore Mining Co. property in Silver Bay August 29.

And speaking of shorebirds, although the main pool at the 40th Avenue West Erie Pier area in Duluth is still apparently dry (which is hopefully only a temporary condition), as of last weekend there were still some water and some shorebirds in a smaller pond which is on the southwest, or Bong Bridge, side of the main pool.

While counting at Hawk Ridge on August 28, Dave Benson saw a RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER fly past the Main Overlook, and on the 31 he saw a RED-HEADED WOODPECKER there.

Other interesting migrants seen at the Ridge recently include a YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER on August 31 and a GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH on September 1.

There were apparently no Red Crossbills reported in Duluth or vicinity this week, as there were last week, but WHITE-WINGEDS were reported three times: at Hawk Ridge both on August 28 and September 2, and on August 30 in Lake County, about 15 miles north of Two Harbors.

Finally, the totals for the month of August from the Hawk Ridge Main Overlook have been added up and an above average total of 1,761 hawks was counted. These included: 7 TURKEY VULTURE 25 OSPREY 5 BALD EAGLE 29 NORTHERN HARRIER 711 SHARP-SHINNED HAWK 4 COOPER'S HAWK 1 NORTHERN GOSHAWK 711 BROAD-WINGED HAWK 48 RED-TAILED HAWK 204 AMERICAN KESTREL 11 MERLIN and 5 unidentifieds

The biggest flight day so far this season was on August 30, with a total of 622.

Unless something unusual is seen in the meantime that needs to be reported on immediately, the next scheduled update of this tape will be on Thursday, September 10. And, as always, if you have birds to report you may leave a message after the tone.

[Send your rare and unusual Minnesota sightings to our electronic hotline: MnRBA. To learn more, send a message (the message being these two words: info end) to mnrba-request@linux.winona.msus.edu

Sightings can be called in directly to the tape, (218) 525-5952, by leaving a message after the tone at the end of the tape]



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