A Barrow's Goldeneye and Arctic Tern (among other birds of note) were found this afternoon at Park Point in Duluth.
The goldeneye was a male in "eclipse" plumage, or possibly in transition to winter/breeding plumage, and identified primarily by its smaller/stubbier bill and more vertical or less sloping forehead profile. These features were especially evident since there was direct comparison with a male Common Goldeneye (in similar plumage) nearby. The location was on the bay side of Park Point near the rowing club building at about 38th Street, and just S of them in the bay were several Surf Scoters and one female-plumaged Black Scoter. (White-winged Scoters were also seen elsewhere along the Point today.) The Arctic Tern was a sub-adult individual, possibly a juvenile, seen well in flight over L Superior out from the Recreration Area. This individual was primarily identified by a combination of a broad and contrasting area of white on the upper wing surface on the secondaries, which extended somewhat on to the secondary coverts and inner primaries, and by the absence of any sign of a carpal bar. Other observers at Park Point today reported Red-throated Loon and Sabine's Gull (both on the lake out from the Recreation Area) and a Whimbrel (on the beach at the far S end of Park Point). However, to my knowledge, no jaegers were reported by anyone today, despite strong 20+ mph NE winds. The high temperature today, by the way, was only around 50, only 40 degrees cooler than the 90 degrees I saw reported in Red Wing! The forecast for Sunday is for morning fog, warmer temperatures, and light S winds shifting to W in the afternoon. One additional comment on the large falcon seen at Park Point yesterday and last weekend. In my view, its ID as a Gyrfalcon (a gray-morph juvenile male) is only tentative at this time, since it appears to have some characteristics of a Prairie Falcon. It may even prove to be an intergrade between Gyrfalcon and Prairie Falcon; note that falconers and other raptor researchers have been known to cross-breed large falcons in captivity. - Kim Eckert
