Rare bird alert

[Steve Foss]

Here are this week's MOU birding reports. Note the gray-crowned rosy finches near Cloquet. Great way to add an unusual species to the life list without having to travel to their native range.

Hotline: Minnesota, Duluth/North Shore

Date: November 30, 2006

Sponsor: Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU)

Reports: (218) 834-2858

Compiler: Jim Lind ([email protected])

This is the Duluth Birding Report for Thursday, November 30th, 2006 sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union.

Three GRAY-CROWNED ROSY-FINCHES were found on the 27th by Mike Schrage at the Fond du Lac Resource Management Division office just west of Cloquet. The birds have been seen every day since, including today, and seem to be easier to find in the early morning. Visitors are welcome to look for the birds, but are reminded to stay in the parking lot, not walk around behind the buildings after hours or on the weekends, and be respectful of employees and visitors. To reach the office, go north on MN Highway 33 from I-35 until you reach Big Lake Road (CR 7). Turn west and go three miles to University Road (CR 5). Go south for one block and the single story blue office building is on the left. The birds have been feeding on old sunflower plants in front of the office.

Jan Green relocated the female SUMMER TANAGER in Silver Bay on the 25th, but I have not heard any reports since. The homeowners are open to having a limited number of visitors, and people interested in looking for the bird should contact Laura Erickson by e-mail at [email protected]

A male VARIED THRUSH has been coming to a feeder in the Kenwood neighborhood of Duluth since at least November 18th. It is at 1807 McFarlane Road, at the first house after turning west off the Howard Gnesen Road. The feeder is visible from the road.

The two female HARLEQUIN DUCKS were relocated by Jan Green and Jim Mattson on the 24th on the south side of the breakwall at Canal Park. Jim also saw five WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS at Park Point. In Two Harbors, Jim found a female AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKER on the 24th at Lighthouse Point, and a female BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER along the snowmobile trail south of the Holiday gas station on the west side of town.

Warren Nelson found a BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER in Aitkin County on the 25th along CR 1, 11.6 miles north of the Mississippi River. Warren also found a BOREAL CHICKADEE, 12 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS, and 20 GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS at the Rabey tree farm along MN Highway 200 between Hill City and Jacobson, near milepost 186.

The Duluth Christmas Bird Count will be held on Saturday, December 16, 2006. Anyone interested in participating should contact compiler Jim Lind at (218) 834-3199 or by e-mail at ([email protected]) for more information.

The Two Harbors Christmas Bird Count will be held the following day on Sunday, December 17, 2006. Please contact compiler Frank Nicoletti ([email protected]) if interested in participating.

The first official Fredenberg Township Christmas Bird Count will be held on Saturday, December 30, 2006. Anyone interested should contact compiler Celeste Kawulok at (218) 591-6076 or by e-mail at [email protected].

The next scheduled update of this report will be on Thursday, December 7th.

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, either write us c/o the Bell Museum, e-mail us at [email protected], or visit the MOU web site at moumn.org.

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Hotline: Minnesota, Detroit Lakes

Date: November 30, 2006

Sponsor: Lakes Area Birding Club, Detroit Lakes Regional Chamber of Commerce

Reports: 1-800-542-3992 (weekdays during business hours)

Compiler: Jeanie Joppru ([email protected])

This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Friday, December 1, 2006 sponsored by the Detroit Lakes Regional Chamber of Commerce. You may also hear this report by calling (218) 847-5743 or 1-800-433-1888.

There is no doubt about the season now - cold temperatures arrived this week along starting with freezing rain which coated the roads and parking lots lightly, then froze hard. It is starting to wear off, but will be with us for awhile if temperatures don't go above freezing. Feeders have been busy this week with all the usual winter visitors. A few snowy owls are being reported - be on the lookout for them. Perhaps we will see a greater number of them this winter due to the abundant prey.

On November 24, Patrick Beauzay found a SNOWY OWL in Hubbard County in a soybean field along the east side of CR 20 about a half mile south of its junction with CR 17 between Park Rapids and Long Lake. At Long Lake there were 400 HOODED MERGANSERS. No doubt these birds are winging their way south by now.

Jesse Audette in Red Lake County east of Red Lake Falls reported a GRAY JAY at his building site there on November 23 and 25. On November 23, he saw a flock of 24 SNOW BUNTINGS near there.

From Marshall County, Cliff Steinhauer reported 26 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS and 9 PINE GROSBEAKS at his home near the west entrance to Agassiz NWR on November 26. At the refuge on November 25, Shelley Steva and I found BALD EAGLES, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS, NORTHERN SHRIKE, LAPLAND LONGSPURS, PINE GROSBEAKS, and WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS. The latter two species were in the interior of the refuge near the northeast corner. In Holt, we found a GRAY JAY, DARK-EYED JUNCOS, and PINE GROSBEAKS at a feeder in the south edge of town. Gary Huschle reported a GREAT BLUE HERON on November 25 in the Moose River below the Moose River impoundment. He also found PINE GROSBEAKS and COMMON REDPOLLS at Huntly WMA west of Middle River on November 26. In the Moose River area there are many BALD EAGLES and ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS, and he reports seeing GRAY JAYS everywhere in Marshall County , both within and outside the refuge.

Pat Rice in Beltrami County heard a BARRED OWL on November 25. She observed a NORTHERN SHRIKE on November 26, and a BALD EAGLE on November 27.

Kittson County sightings sent in by Larry Wilebski included 4 PINE GROSBEAKS on November 25, 5 GRAY JAYS at his cabin northwest of Lancaster on November 26. Other species being seen there include RUFFED GROUSE, PILEATED WOODPECKER, and COMMON REDPOLLS.

From Roseau River WMA in Roseau County, Stan Wood reported a SNOWY OWL near the Pool 2 water control structure on November 25.

Gretchen Mehmel in the Beltrami Island State Forest reported that there are many ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS moving through especially dark phase birds. Two BALD EAGLES were seen on November 29.

Thanks to Cliff Steinhauer, Gary Huschle, Jesse Audette, Larry Wilebski, Patrick Beauzay, Pat Rice, and Stan Wood for their reports.

Please report bird sightings to Jeanie Joppru by email, no later than Thursday each week, at [email protected] OR call the Detroit Lakes Chamber's toll free number: 1-800-542-3992. Detroit Lakes area birders please call 847-9202. Please include the county where the sighting took place. When reporting by email please put "NW Bird Report" in the subject line of your message. The next scheduled update of this report is Friday, December 8, 2006.

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Hotline: Minnesota Statewide

Date: November 30, 2006

Sponsor: Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU) http://moumn.org

Reports: (763) 780-8890

Compiler: Anthony Hertzel ([email protected])

This is the Minnesota Birding Report for Thursday November 30th 2006.

On the 29th, Mike Schrage reported three GRAY-CROWNED ROSY-FINCHES in Cloquet, St. Louis County. Directions from interstate 35 take the Cloquet/Iron Range exit and go north on state highway 33 to the second stoplight in Cloquet. Turn left onto County Road 7 (also called Big Lake Road) and go about three miles to the intersection with County Road 5. Turn left onto University Road and go about 100 yards. Look for the blue building on the left. This is the Fond du Lac Resource Management Division office. The birds have been on the sunflowers on the right side of the building. This is a working office building so birders are asked to please stay in their cars and remain at least 75 feet from the birds.

On November 24th, Patrick Beauzay found a SNOWY OWL along Hubbard County Road 20 about a half mile south of its junction with County Road 17. Stan Wood reported a SNOWY OWL near Pool 2 in the Roseau River WMA in Roseau County on November 25th.

Bill Buins still has a CAROLINA WREN at his feeder in Rochester, Olmsted County. It seems to visit only occasionally, but was reported as recently as the 30th.

A VARIED THRUSH was reported on November 28th from the Kenwood neighborhood of Duluth, though it has been seen since at least the 18th. The feeder is in the front yard and is visible from the street at 1807 McFarlane Road.

Finally, a few callers have reported COMMON REDPOLLS at their feeders, some as far south as the Twin Cities area.

The next scheduled update of this tape is Thursday, December 7th 2006.

[waskawood]

Wow, that was interesting. Thanks for posting. Oh by the way, Happy Birthday!!!