Duluth RBA

Previous reports: July 9 , August 3 6 20 27 , September 10 20 .
Other Hotlines: Minnesota Statewide
-RBA
*Minnesota
*Duluth/North Shore
*September 20, 1998
*MNDU9809.20

-Birds mentioned
-Transcript

Hotline: Minnesota Duluth/North Shore
Date: September 20, 1998
Sponsor: Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU)
Reports: (218) 525-5952
Compiled and written by: Kim Eckert kreckert@cp.duluth.mn.us
Transcriber: Barb Adams, MnBird Volunteer badams@.css.edu
Re-transcriber: David Cahlander (dac@skypoint.com)

This is the Duluth Birding Report for Sunday, September 20, sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union.

With a couple hundred birders in town for our annual Hawk Weekend activities, it had been hoped that some rarities would be found here. Although a few birds of interest were seen, they were primarily species seen previously and reported on last week's tape -- namely LITTLE GULL, PARASITIC JAEGER and WHIMBREL.

The adult LITTLE GULL, which was first seen on Mille Lacs Lake in Aitkin County Sept. 14, was relocated yesterday afternoon, the 19th. The location was along the north shore of Mille Lacs, at the Wealthwood public access on Minnesota Highway 18.

At Park Point, at least one PARASITIC JAEGER, and possibly two, was seen again on the 19th on the Lake Superior side of the Point. Most of the sightings were either at the Superior entry breakwaters at the southern tip of Park Point or farther south at Wisconsin Point.

And that WHIMBREL at Park Point, which was also reported on last week's tape, was still present both yesterday and today near the north end of the Sky Harbor Airport runway.

Other species of note reported over the weekend were a GRAY JAY Sept. 18, and a WESTERN KINGBIRD today -- both of these at the Main Overlook at Hawk Ridge; and the first HARRIS'S SPARROW and RUSTY BLACKBIRD of the season -- these were in Two Harbors.

There were also unconfirmed reports yesterday of a NORTHERN SHRIKE in Lake County and of a THAYER'S GULL or GLAUCOUS GULL at Canal Park in Duluth, but both these species do not normally arrive here until mid- or late October, and they would require documentation before they could be accepted.

Finally, despite northwest winds today (which are also in the forecast for tomorrow) the hawk flight at Hawk Ridge was not especially significant, although a SWAINSON'S HAWK was recorded. Yesterday, the 19th, the count was even lower with northeast winds, but no fewer than 9 PEREGRINE FALCON were seen. Seven PEREGRINES were counted Sept. 17 at the Ridge, along with 52 OSPREYS -- which is the second highest one-day total for that species ever at Hawk Ridge.

Unless something unusual is seen in the meantime which needs to be reported on immediately, the next scheduled update of this tape will be on Thursday, September 24. 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]




Return to Home Page