Besides the Summer Tanager and Townsend's Solitaire in Two Harbors
being relocated by the Minn Birding Weekends group (as posted on mou-
net on Nov 6; credit to Jeff Stephenson for relocating the tanager on
Saturday), there were a few birds of note seen (and not seen!) this
past weekend on the MBW trip along the North Shore, mostly in Lake and
Cook counties:
- Ross's Goose, 7 Nov, Two Harbors (seen by Craig Mandel and others in
the cemetery along Hwy 61 on the W side of town (probably the same
individual reported last week at the golf course on the E side of Two
Harbors)
- Harlequin Duck, 7 Nov, mouth of the Brule River at Naniboujou Lodge
14 mi E of Grand Marais (spotted by Chuck Krulas; possibly the same
female-plumaged individual seen the previous weekend in Grand Marais)
- all 3 scoters and Long-tailed Ducks, 6-7 Nov, various Cook Co
locations (only 1 Surf found: at mile 121, 11 mi E of Grand Marais)
- Spruce Grouse, 7 Nov, just W of the Gunflint Trail on the Lima
Mountain Rd (thanks to Doug Kieser & Jim Otto for first spotting it)
- Thayer's Gull, 7 Nov, Grand Marais inner harbor (1st-winter bird
spotted by Conny Brunell)
- 2 Black-backed Woodpeckers, 6 Nov in Knife River and 7 Nov in Grand
Marais (both only brief fly-bys)
- Ruby-crowned Kinglet, 5 Nov, Two Harbors
- Savannah Sparrow, 6 Nov, Two Harbors
Overall, however, land birds were relatively scarce, with several of
our stops yielding hardly any birds of any kind during the 3 days. For
example: total of only 2 individual raptors aside from Bald Eagles, 0
Mourning Doves, 1 N Shrike, 1 Gray Jay, 0 Boreal Chickadees, <10 total
Am Robins, a few Bohemian Waxwings (only in Two Harbors), no late-
lingering thrushes or pipits or warblers, no sparrows other than the
Savannah & a few juncoes, 2 blackbird individuals (both Rustys), 1
Pine Grosbeak, 4-5 total White-winged Crossbills, a few Common
Redpolls, and no Purple Finch or Red Crossbills or Evening Grosbeaks.
It's possible that Doug Kieser & Jim Otto, who are spending an extra
day on the North Shore, will have some additional sightings of note.
Kim R Eckert
[email protected]
MBWbirds.com
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