After blanking out on 4 different days for Spruce Grouse (once NW of Chisolm, once W and SW of Cook and twice around the MN 1, Lake County 2 intersection) I took heart from the recent postings (thanks to all!) and this morning my luck changed. At 7:05 there was 1 skittish F. Spruce Grouse .8 miles south of MN 1 (West side) on Lake County 2. After driving south a ways and turning around again, I saw 8 Spruce Grouse (6F and 2M) 2.2 miles north of the Sand River. I watched this group for 15-20 minutes (7:30-7:50) before they exited to the West. Both males were displaying and briefly accosting each other while the hens ignored them and picked grit. The tails assume a three dimensional shape when fanned with a double row (inverted U-shaped) of white spots on the back. On the way back to Two Harbors I came upon 11 more (1M and 10F) at 8:56 AM, again on Lake County 2, 1.5 miles N of the signs indicating the border between Silver Creek and Stoney River townships. (This is 3.3 m. N of Upland Trail and about 4 miles North of the White Pines Picnic Area.) I think this is further south than most SGrouse are reported. Had a N. Saw-Whet calling on the Sawbill Trail (Friday Night) somewhat South of where FR170 goes west off the Trail. Had None along the Grade between the Sawbill and the Caribou between 9 PM and 10:30) Saw 6 Long-Tailed Ducks (2M and 6F) in winter plumage off the point East from the Water Treatment Plant in Two Harbors on Friday late afternoon and 25 more this morning (5M and 20F) about 50 yards outside the breakwater by the harbor/lighthouse about 10:30 AM. Didn't see Bohemians in Two Harbors either yesterday or this morning but saw 8 on Friday along the road west of Homestead that Jim posted on Thursday. Its starting to be a Pretty Big Year!
John Ellis-St. Paul<BR><BR><BR>**************************************<BR> AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at http://www.aol.com.</HTML>