Despite above-normal temperatures this morning, October 6, NW winds
produced a strong movement of passerines along the North Shore of Lake
Superior. Between 8:30 and 10:30 am I was birding between Brighton
Beach in Duluth and Knife River in Lake Co and witnessed a non-stop
flight of primarily Am Robins.
Also on the move in good numbers were Blue Jays, E Bluebirds, Dark-
eyed Juncos, Rusty Blackbirds, Purple Finches, Pine Siskins, and Am
Goldfinches, but robins were by far more numerous than anything else.
After taking some sample counts and doing some extrapolation, I
estimate that a minimum of 6,000 robins passed by in that 2-hour
period. This flight was essentially over by 10:45 am.
Curiously, I did not note any Gray Jays this morning, which seemed to
be starting an early movement through Duluth during the past week.
Also, it did not seem that many Yellow-rumpeds or other warblers were
migrating this morning, although it's possible that they were moving
before I was out. (Note that I didn't get started until >1 hour after
sunrise.)
I hope Cameron Rutt and others were doing their roof-top passerine
count in the Lakeside neighborhood this morning, and, if so, I look
forward to their report.
Kim R Eckert
[email protected]
MBWbirds.com
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