Yesterday morning, Oct 26, an Am 3-toed Woodpecker was briefly seen along the Croftville Rd just E of Grand Marais, but it quickly flew off to the east towards the Devil Track River and was not relocated.
There were just a few other highlights seen during our so-called Muffin Run which we do annually along the North Shore on the last weekend of October. Also seen by at least part of the group were: White-winged Scoter (Two Harbors), Black Scoters (Two Harbors & Grand Marais), Long-tailed Duck (Taconite Harbor), a late Spotted Sandpiper (Grand Marais), Orange-crowned Warbler & Western Meadowlark (both Grand Marais), and White-winged Crossbills (several flocks migrating down the North Shore, especially at Stoney Point). Denny & Barb Martin, who are staying an extra day in Cook Co, also called to report they relocated a Harlequin Duck yesterday afternoon at the Grand Portage sewage ponds which another birder had found on Saturday (sorry: I don't know who he was) and they had Surf Scoter at Paradise Beach. But that's about it, as the migration this fall (especially of land birds) continues to be mostly slow and disappointing in NE Minnesota, and few winter-type specialties have been reported so far. We'll see if the strong cold front currently passing though the state will bring any changes. Kim Eckert
