This is the Duluth Birding Report for Thursday, March 17, 2005, sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union.
Josh Watson found a BOREAL OWL on the 14th at mile marker 101 on Hwy 61 near the entrance to Cascade River State Park on the North shore. On the 15th, Larry Ronning found another near mile marker 14 on the north side of the Hwy 61 expressway near Knife River. Dave Carman saw a GREAT GRAY OWL in Hermantown, north of Duluth at the intersection of the Morris Thomas Rd (St. Louis Cty Rd 56) and Ugstad Rd on the 16th. Many observers continued to see many Great Grays and a few NORTHERN HAWK OWLS in Aitkin Cty, especially along Cty Rd 1 north of Aitkin and along Cty Rd 5 south of Hwy 210. The owls are by no means, however, restricted to these roads. Many owls are still in Pine and Carlton Counties, and it appears that some owls may be heading north again through St. Louis Cty. On the 15th, Kim Eckert reported seeing the male THREE-TOED WOODPECKER and a female BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER on the McDavitt Rd in Sax-Zim, 2.6 miles north of the Sax Rd. He also found SHARP-TAILED GROUSE out in the open at midday at a corner on Cty Rd 29, 4 miles west of Cty Rd 7 and 2 miles north of Correction Line Rd. Kim also saw two SNOW BUNTINGS along Cty Rd 7, four miles north of Sax. At least one HARLEQUIN DUCK is still in Two Harbors. It might be necessary to check both bays. A HOARY REDPOLL is still coming to the feeder on Cty Rd 9 (Stanley Rd), just north of the expressway west of Two Harbors. Chris Elmgren also had a Hoary Redpoll in Gnesen Township. Jay Gilliam found SPRUCE GROUSE in Lake Cty on the 13th. Two were at the traditional spot near the Sand River on Cty Rd 2, and another was near mile market 302 on Hwy 1. He also saw RED CROSSBILLS along Cty Rd 2. The next scheduled update of this report will be on Thursday, March 24. The telephone number of the Duluth Rare Bird Alert is 218-728-5030. Information about bird sightings may be left following the recorded message. The Duluth Birding Report is sponsored and funded by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU) as a service to its members. For more information on the MOU, either write us c/o the Bell Museum to m...@cbs.umn.edu, or visit the MOU web site at mou.mn.org.
