On a trip north to visit family in Hibbing, my wife Sara and I had time to do some birding in a few locations in the north country. Highlights follow:
Thursday, Jan 14th - Aitkin Cty. Rd.18 & 320th Pl (Pietz's Road) - 3 Northern Hawk Owls - 2 seen simultaneously on Hwy 18, 3/4 miles west of 320th (1 close to road on north side, 1 across field on south side); 3rd owl on 320th, 1/2 mile north of Hwy 18. There were definitely 3 different owls, as we first saw the 2 birds on 18, then the 320th bird, and returned to 18 where the initial 2 owls were still present - NO Great Gray Owls Saturday, Jan 16th - Sax-Zim bog - Northern Hawk Owl - McDavitt Rd (same bird as reported previously) - White-winged Crossbills - McDavitt Rd - Boreal Chickadees (2) - Admiral Rd. feeder Monday, Jan 18th - Bohemian Waxwings (18-20) at 4143 W. Tisher Rd on the north side of Duluth (just west of Howard Gnesen Rd). These birds were found very easily as we drove up, as they perched atop the trees directly bordering Tisher Rd. on the north side. Thanks to those who previously shared this great find! (Mike Hendrickson & also the Regelmann's). There was also a good sized flock of White-winged Crossbills at this location. After 4 visits to northern Minnesota (mostly Sax-Zim area) in the last 3 winters, we have yet to find a Great Gray Owl. Our visits have seemed to correspond to when previously staked out Great Grays go M.I.A. for rest of the winter. Oh well... maybe better luck next time! Scott Loss St. Paul ---- Join or Leave mou-net:http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives:http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
