Duluth and statewide birding reports

[Steve Foss]

I get these weekly from the Minnesota Ornithologists Union. Thought it would be good to post them here. First, the statewide one, then the Duluth one.

This is the Minnesota Birding Report for Thursday September 28th 2006.

A juvenile PURPLE SANDPIPER was found by Ben Wieland on the 27th along the south shore of Lake Winnibigoshish in Cass County. The location was about a hundred yards west of Denny's Resort, which is just east of the gas station in the town of Bena. Check the beach and sandbars between Denny's and the NoDak Resort to the west. This is a potential fifth state record -- the first since 1991 -- a first Cass County record, and a record-early date by more than a month.

As many as sixteen jaegers were reported over Lake Superior in Duluth last weekend. Most of these were PARASITIC JAEGERS but there were also two POMARINE JAEGERS and a report of a LONG-TAILED JAEGER as well. Most of these were seen from the end of Park Point but also from the 31st Street access. Four SABINE'S GULLS, several LITTLE GULLS, two ARCTIC TERNS, and a RED-THROATED LOON were also seen from the 31st Street access between the 21st and the 26th.

On the 26th, Bill Unzen reported two SABINE'S GULLS at two different locations in Lac Qui Parle County. The first was an adult at the Big Stone NWR main east pool. The second was a juvenile seen flying over Lac Qui Parle State Park on five occasions at various locations as it associated with large numbers of FRANKLIN'S GULLS.

LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, THAYER'S GULL, and several COMMON LOONS are being seen at Lake Harriet in Minneapolis, Hennepin County. I also have other reports of ROSS'S GOOSE, WHITE-WINGED SCOTER, and SURF SCOTER.

The next scheduled update of this tape is Thursday, October 5th 2006.

This is the Duluth Birding Report for Thursday, September 28th, 2006 sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union.

A juvenile PURPLE SANDPIPER was found by Ben Wieland on the 26th along the south shore of Lake Winnibigoshish in Cass County. It was found about a hundred yards west of Denny's Resort, which is just east of the gas station in the town of Bena along U.S. Highway 2. Check the beach and sandbars between Denny's and the NoDak Resort to the west. The bird was still present as of noon today. This is a potential fifth state record, the first since 1991, and a first Cass County record.

Strong east winds on the 22nd and 23rd and the presence of several groups of birders in the area led to as many as sixteen jaegers sightings over Lake Superior in Duluth last weekend. Most were PARASITIC JAEGERS but there were also reports of two POMARINE JAEGERS as well as a LONG-TAILED JAEGER. Most of these were seen at Park Point from the 31st Street access at Lafayette Square, the 12th Street access, or from the Superior Entry.

At least four SABINE'S GULLS, several LITTLE GULLS, and two ARCTIC TERNS were also seen from Lafayette Square at Park Point over the weekend. Mike Hendrickson relocated two ARCTIC TERNS and saw a WHITE-WINGED SCOTER at Lafayette Square on the 26th. Mike also found a RED-THROATED LOON here on the 24th, and saw a different individual at the same location on the 27th. Kim Eckert and others saw an adult RED-THROATED LOON at Lafayette Square today, as well as a juvenile LITTLE GULL and an unidentified JAEGER.

Matt Mecklenberg found a FIELD SPARROW on the 23rd at the Park Point recreational area near the bath house. A SHORT-EARED OWL was found injured at Park Point on the 27th and was taken to a rehabilitator. Dee Kuder found four SURF SCOTERS on Crane Lake in northern St. Louis County on the 27th.

A RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER was seen today in the Woodland neighborhood of Duluth, although I do not have a specific location.

The next scheduled update of this report will be on Thursday, October 5th.

The telephone number of the Duluth Rare Bird Alert is 218-834-2858. 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, go to www.moumn.org.

[buzzsaw]

Me too! Here's the Hawk ridge info.

Below are excerpts from the HAWK RIDGE NEWS. You can read the full report

plus the Bander's Journal at http://www.hawkridge.org/about/news.html.

Bird Business…

… We're up to 42,590 raptors counted so far this fall. Check out our daily

raptor numbers (and observation notes) at www.hawkridge.org. Click on the

Raptor Count button near the bottom of the home page. We’re also adding a

daily forecast so folks can check to see what the migration may hold for the

next day or so. Corrie has been doing a fantastic job getting the numbers

posted on a daily basis—thanks, Corrie!

… Owls are on the move, folks! The guys at the station banded about 140

Northern Saw-whet Owls last night. We’ve added a new public program this

year—“Strangers of the Night” is an owl program held on Friday nights now

through the end of October. It starts at 9:30pm at the main overlook, and

we’ll be bringing up banded owls for adoption—very similar to our hawk

adoptions during the daytime. The program is free and registration is not

necessary; adoption amounts vary from $30 to $100.

Raptor Forecast…

… As usual, we rely on the weather forecasters for our flight predictions.

Blame them, not us! Friday there is a 40% chance of rain, winds out of the

south switching to southwest in the late afternoon. For Saturday they’re

predicting a 10% chance of rain with west or northwest winds up to 9mph.

Sunday is going to be the best day (my personal opinion) of the weekend:

partly sunny, northwest winds up to 6mph switching to west in the afternoon.

I’ve put up a handy-dandy link to the Duluth current weather & forecast on

our home page. Look for the rainbow. Right below that you’ll find info on

what makes a good bird day at the Ridge.

HRBO Happenings…

Meet at the main overlook. FREE. Dress for the weather.

Strangers of the Night

Friday, September 29

9:30 p.m.

Not only does Hawk Ridge band hawks, they band owls, too! Come and learn

about owl migration as well as get to see everything from the biggest and

baddest owls to the smallest ones with attitude. Keep your eyes and ears

alert for these strangers of the night coming to your neighborhood—and to

Hawk Ridge.

Raptor Conservation

Saturday, September 30

1 p.m.

What can humans do to protect raptors and their habitat? This presentation

will highlight the issues and their solutions. We will also discuss the

role that raptors play in the natural world and why they are important to

humans.

Eyes on the Skies

Sunday, October 1

11 a.m.

Hawk watching for beginners! Join us at the Hawk Ridge Main Overlook to

uncover the mysteries of identifying hawks in flight. Over 90,000 raptors

fly over Hawk Ridge each fall…don’t miss this opportunity! We'll discuss

the basics of raptor identification, as well as provide up-close views of

live raptors.

Hawk Ridge Past & Present

Sunday, October 1

1 p.m.

Hawk Ridge has a fascinating history, from glaciers to fires to

hawkwatching.

See you at the Ridge!