Hello: I and several other local guides been busy guiding folks this past week. I have today and tomorrow off and I thought I give a complete run down of what bird species has been seen lately and more importantly exactly where they were seen. I'll be back out later this everyday till Winter Bird Festival then back out every day till about March 10th. I personally feel its more important to share bird locations versus links of photos taken in the field. This helps people who never been to many of these locations and also help people who are planning birding trips to northeastern Minnesota. Plus sharing bird sightings and locations is part of the joy of birding.
*Harlequin Duck: * That was found on January 11th at the Silver Bay marina, in Silver Bay, MN. has not been seen since and its presume to have left the area. *Thayer's Gulls, Iceland Gull and Glaucous Gull: * With all this below temp weather Duluth has been getting this year the gull scene at Canal Park has dropped significantly to where its common to not see any gulls at Canal Park this winter and the only times birders reported any gulls are on days with the weather in upper 20's or mid 30's. The only place to observe gulls is at the Superior Landfill located on Mocassin Mike Rd off Hwy 53/2. The landfill is off limits to birders but you are allowed to park outide of the gate and watch the gulls circling over head. January 20th I observed 5 Glaucous Gulls among about 200-300 gulls at the landfill. *Sharp-tailed Grouse:* There has not been any sightings this week in the Sax-Zim Bog area and the best roads to look for them in the Sax-Zim Bog area would be CR 29 north of CR 133 up near Correction Line Rd, Owl Avenue from Correction Line Rd to Arkola Rd, Stickney Road from Arkola Rd (CR 52) to about 2 miles north of CR 52. *Ruffed Grouse:* Sax-Zim Bog area is a real good place to find these grouse. The best time to look for them is dawn and dusk feeding in the bushes and decidous trees. Nichols Lake Road (CR 232) is a great road to look for them. From CR 7 to where the road bends around Nichols Lake I have seen up to 11 along this section of road. *Northern Goshawk: * In the Sax-Zim Bog area several have been reported recently. There have been at least several sightings of a immature Goshawk along CR 133 from Pine Rd ( recycling center road ) to CR 7. The other roads to check in the Sax-Zim Bog area is along Admiral Rd, Stickney Rd and McDavitt Rd and also watch for them along CR 7. *Sharp-shinned Hawk: * Seen eating a Starling in Duluth off 27th Avenue West and near the WLSSD ( sewer waste facility plant ) this week. *Merlin: * Seen in Duluth on Saturday by Andy Nyhus at the WLSSD plant probably hunting the Starlings. *Great Horned Owl: * Jason Mandich found this owl in Sax-Zim Bog on January 18th off Admiral Rd on the Sand Pit Road which is the road that cuts through the sand pit area on the west side of the Admiral Rd that connects to the McDavitt Rd. This is road only for those with high clearance and with a 4X4. This road is not plowed regularly. So please use caution. *Snowy Owl: * Lots of places and locations in Duluth and in Sax-Zim Bog. There are now two Snowy Owls ( immature male and immature female ) in Sax-Zim Bog that were discovered by Jason Mandich on January 17th and the second bird was discovered on January 18th by Jason as well. The location is off CR 7 north of the Byrne's Greenhouse. There are two residential homes north of the Greenhouse and the owls are seen perched on the sheds and pull barns on their property. The last sighting that I know of was yesterday Jan. 20th at the second home north of the greenhouse. The Snowy Owl ( immature male ) is still being seen and hunting actively at dusk on the Riley Road off the Jean Duluth Rd in Duluth, MN. While in Duluth there is a immature female (tagged) hanging around the Port Terminal area. A number of Snowy Owls have been found in Superior, Wisconsin at the Bong Regional Airport, Superior Middle School and Calumet Gas Refinery. The best times to look for these owls in WI is dawn and dusk hours. The Middle School is located at the end of Hammond Avenue after you get off the Blatnick Bridge, The Bong Regional Airport is located on the south end of Tower Avenue across the road from Menards Home Improvement store and the Calumet Gas Refinery is located along Stinson Street. Take the road through the Bong Regional Airport and at the stop sign take a left on Stinson Street. Look for owls on power poles, buildings and tanks off Hill Avenue and also Bardon Avenue both of these roads have a lot of traffic so watch the road and where you park. The security guards at Calumet Gas Refinery are pleasant people and they ask people who are looking for owls to check in with them at their office which is I believe is at Gate 2 or 3 off Stinson Street. *Northern Hawk Owl:* Sax-Zim Bog area: The most consistent Hawk Owl is along Owl Avenue between Arkola Rd (CR 52) and the first bend of Owl Avenue. There has been sightings along Stone Lake Rd (CR 319) about a mile east of CR 7 at the open marsh area, check the tree line on the south side of CR 319. Also along CR 7 in the same area as Snowy Owls. Along CR 133 just east of CR 7 ( 1-2 miles east of CR 7) seen on Jan. 9th by Tanya Beyer. In Superior, WI there has been another consistent Northern Hawk Owl along N. 28th Street and Hammond Avenue ( Heritage Park ) and also check along N. 28th Street to the RR tracks in front of Superior High School. *Great Gray Owl:* Sax-Zim Bog area: Best viewing times is dawn and dusk hours. Most consistent owl is along Admiral Rd north or south of the Admiral Rd feeders. This is about 3.5 miles north of Cranberry Rd along Admiral Rd. Watch for owl as you cross under the power lines to Admiral Rd sand pits. Other roads worth checking is CR 27 (Zim Rd) just west of Highway 83 Rd. Jason Mandich on Jan. 18th had one .3 miles west of Hwy 83 Rd and another 1/2 mile west of Hwy 83 Rd. at dusk. On January 19th Sparky Stensaas and I watched Great Gray Owl with our groups along the Nichols Lake Rd about 2 miles east of CR 7 at dusk and another Great Gray Owl was spotted on Nichols Lake Rd about 2 miles west of Hwy 53 by Frank Nicoletti on January 18th at dawn. CR 133 between CR 7 and Pine Rd is another good location to look for them at dusk or dawn. On January 18th at dawn a Great Gray Owl was spotted just north of Two Harbors on Lake County Rd 2 and another Great Gray Owl ( which sounds like a consistent owl ) was spotted at dusk in Schroeder, MN near the power plant on January 18th along Highway 61. *Black-backed Woodpecker:* Sax-Zim Bog area: Best spot seems to be the corner of the south logging road and McDavitt Rd which is about 2.5 miles north of Sax Rd. Woodpeckers consistently been seen on east side of road. There is a foot path on both sides of old logging road. Walk these paths and listen for them. The other area is the Admiral Rd just south of the Admiral feeders. Look for workings on the tree barks and listen for them. Lake County: Sawbill Landing Road is not plowed this year and access to the old burn site is not avail for birders. No Black-backed Woodpeckers as far as I know have not been reported in Lake County this year. *Boreal Chickadee: * Sax-Zim Bog area at the Admiral Rd feeders. There are up to 3 chickadees and this site is by far the best site in Minnesota to observe these chickadees. *Townsend Solitaire* that was reported on the MOU Duluth RBA has not been seen by anyone despite numerous searches. 50th Avenue East and Oakley Street in Duluth, MN (Lakeside neighborhood in Duluth). *Bohemian Waxwing:* Best spot in the state is in Ely, MN. Watch for them along Miners Rd and Washington Street. Seen on January 18th by a tour led by Paul Trunk. *Snow Buntings: * Sax-Zim Bog area along CR 7 from the Byrn's Greenhouse to Stone Lake Rd is the best area to see them but they are extremely spooky and getting close to them for viewing is tough! Aitkin County along CR 1 north of Aitkin, MN near CR 22 is a great place to view them and not as spooky. Try birding CR 22 going west and also CR 1 going north of CR 22. *Pine Grosbeak: * Sax-Zim Bog area check Friends of Sax-Zim Bog feeders located on Owl Avenue and also check in the town of Meadowlands off CR 133 and search for crab apple trees as they were reported today by Sparky Stensaas this morning. Also seen in Winton, MN along Front Street and also off Hwy 1 just east of Forest Service Station there is home with a feeder that has dozen Pine Grosbeaks coming to it and birders are welcome to view the feeders. This is just a mile or so west of Isabella. *Winter Finches* ( Purple Finch, Pine Siskin, Common Redpoll, Hoary Redpoll, White-winged Crossbill and Red Crossbill ) practically absent in the state of Minnesota this year. Worst I seen it in all my life birding! *Evening Grosbeak:* Sax-Zim Bog area: CR 444 is the most consistent place to observe them. The home owner is pleasant and doesn't mind birders parking along CR 444 to observe the birds at her feeders. To get there take CR 27 (Zim Rd) west to Hwy 5 and then cross over Hwy 5 to the intersection of CR 444. Take a right and its the first house on the left side as you travel north of CR 444. Winton, MN ( Just NE of Ely, MN ) take Front Street and the north end of Main Street and look for the Evening Grosbeaks feeding on crab apple trees and bird feeders. Other Winter birds like Northern Shrike can be found basically anywhere in NE Minnesota near open areas and Grays Jays are easily found at the Admiral Rd feeders and the Friends of Sax-Zim Bog feeders off Owl Avenue. *Watch the roads in Sax-Zim Bog *as I have seen some cars stuck in the ditches. The ditches are at time covered over by the snow plows and you may think its ok to drive on the shoulders but your car can fall off the road into the ditch. If you get stuck in the ditch here is number of the local towing service for this area:* 218-348-4555* and also try his home number at *218-428-5222* I hope this helps birders coming to the area or birders planning trips to the area and knowing what is around and what is not around this winter. Mike *Mike Hendrickson* *Mike Hendrickson Guiding <http://mikehendricksonguiding.com>* *Sax-Zim Bog <http://www.sax-zimbog.com>* ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
