This weekend, Nov 3-4, the Minn Birding Weekends group observed several species of interest between Duluth and Grand Marais, In addition to the Inca Dove in Two Harbors, the highlights were:
- only 2 scoter individuals: 1 Surf Scoter in Grand Marais harbor and 1 Black Scoter in Hovland - Long-tailed Duck - several between Five Mile Rock and Hovland - late Double-crested Cormorant in Grand Marais harbor - first-winter Thayer's Gull in Grand Marais harbor - only 2 Black-backed Woodpeckers, both in Grand Marais campground area - Am Three-toed Woodpecker not seen by MBW group, but seen at Hawk Ridge by Bob Ekblad, Diane Anderson, and others along the Pinewoods Tr, 0.7 mi E of Main Overlook - Boreal Chickadees at Hawk Ridge, Stoney Pt, and Grand Marais campground - 2 Mountain Bluebirds still present around the main parking lot on the E side of the Grand Marais harbor - modest numbers of Bohemian Waxwings at various locations, most of them in Grand Marais - only 2-3 Yellow-rumped Warblers - N Cardinal in Grand Marais - a few groups of Red Crossbills migrating down the Shore at Stoney Pt - 2 Hoary Redpolls carefully IDed among a small group of Com Redpolls in the Grand Marais campground Note, however, that the birding overall was very quiet between Two Harbors and Grand Marais, with hardly any late-lingering migrants, low numbers of waterbirds on L Superior, almost no sparrows, and few winter finches.