-RBA
*Minnesota
*Duluth/North Shore
*August 6, 1998
*MNDU9808.06

-Birds mentioned

• Osprey
• American Dipper
• Western Tanager

Hotline: Minnesota Duluth/North Shore
Date: August 6, 1998
Sponsor: Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU)
Reports: (218) 525-5952
Compiled and written by Kim Eckert and compiled by Rick Schroeder Re-transcriber: David Cahlander (dac@skypoint.com)

This is the Duluth Birding Report for Thursday, August 6, 1998, sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union.

Since the last update of this tape two weeks ago, the birding in Duluth and northeastern Minnesota has continued to be as uneventful as it was in July, although there was at least one noteworthy report, that of a possible WESTERN TANAGER in northern St. Louis County. The bird was reported by Bill Conroy of Minneapolis on July 31, while he was canoeing on the Elbow River in northern St. Louis County. However, the exact location was not given, and no description was provided so that it is not known if it was identified as a male or female.

[August 8 addendum: No mention was made on the Aug. 6 tape of the AMERICAN DIPPER reported on the internet last week from the Brule River in Cook Co., since neither the described behavior, size or coloration of the bird was consistent with that species.]

Virtually nothing else of interest has been reported lately, although an OSPREY was seen flying down the North Shore yesterday in a manner that suggested it might have been an early fall migrant, and last night at least one observer heard the call notes of south-bound migrant fall WARBLERS.

There have been no recent reports of SHOREBIRDS at the 40th Avenue West/Erie Pier mud flats, although it is likely there are still some present there. This location should be productive throughout August. One bird to watch for in particular this month at 40th, or at Park Point, is the Buff-breasted Sandpiper, which occurs here in small numbers each year in August and early September.

[August 8 addendum: Yesterday Mike Hendrickson informed me that the last time he was at 40th the main pool was almost entirely dried up. Whether this is a temporary or permanent situation is not known at this time -- if permanent, this will certainly have a profound negative impact on the birding in Duluth!]

And speaking of Park Point, August and September are the best months to watch for jaegers on Lake Superior, especially on days like we've had this week when the winds have been from the east or northeast.

The counting for the season at Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve will be starting next week on a part-time basis, and as part of the preparations to get the Ridge ready for our visitors there will be a cleanup session next Thursday, August 13, starting at 5:00 p.m. If you'd like to help us out for an hour or two, meet us at the Main Overlook and bring a pair of work gloves and a trash bag or two.

Finally, it is not too early to start thinking about our annual Hawk Weekend activities on September 18-19-20, which are always scheduled on the second weekend after Labor Day each year. If lodging is needed that weekend it is recommended that reservations be made soon since every motel in Duluth is normally filled that weekend.

The next update of this tape will either be on Thursday, August 13, or on Thursday, August 20 if there is no birding news next week.

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