Other than Jim Lind’s 31 January Duluth Birding Report, there has been nothing reported on mou-net from the Duluth-Two Harbors area since mid-January. However, besides the birds mentioned in that report, there have been several recent sightings by various observers which would be of interest to birders coming here this weekend or during the upcoming birding festival:
- Two male Spruce Grouse were seen at dawn this morning on Lake CR 2 at the traditional area N of Two Harbors, 1/4 mi N of the Sand River; we also found Black-backed Woodpeckers at 3 sites, 1 on the Tomahawk Trail and 2 on CR 2. - As reported by Sparky Stensaas and others at http://saxzim.org <http://saxzim.org/>, Sharp-tailed Grouse continue to be seen along CR 29 at Racek Rd, 1/2 mi E and 2 mi N of Meadowlands; look for them especially around 9:00 or so at the feeders and in the field behind the house NE of the intersection. - The Jan 31 birding report mentioned that a good variety of gulls can be seen at Canal Park in Duluth, but note there are some days when few if any gulls appear: none at all were seen there yesterday in the early afternoon, and today there were only about a dozen Herring Gulls there in the afternoon. Note that a Long-tailed Duck (present since December) continues to be seen there among the goldeneye flock. - In addition to a few places in the Sax-Zim Bog, Great Gray Owls have been seen by various observers this week along Hwy 61, especially in Lake Co: e.g., Jim Lind spotted 9 individuals early this evening between Castle Danger and Split Rock Lighthouse. There are also recent indications that a few Boreal Owls may possibly begin to appear as well along the North Shore in the coming days. For those looking for Snowy Owls, the only consistent reports have been around the Superior, WI municipal airport and at various sites in Aitkin Co. And there are still no recent reports of any N Hawk Owls except in NW Minnesota. - The previously reported Townsend’s Solitaire at 2nd Ave and 2nd St in Two Harbors was seen again yesterday and today. - The best place to look for Bohemian Waxwings is NE of Duluth along W Knife River Rd, just W of Homestead Rd, where several hundred (possibly 1,000 or more) have been seen this week, as recently as yesterday afternoon. - The Eurasian Tree-Sparrow, which has been present in Two Harbors since December, disappeared for a couple weeks but was seen again yesterday and today; look for it with House Sparrows in the birdseed spread on the ground in the alley off Waterfront St behind Do North Pizza. - As reported on the Jan 31 birding report, the Golden-crowned Sparrow at Jeff Newman’s feeder in Duluth was seen as recently as Jan 25, but it now appears it may now be gone since Jeff told me today that he has not seen it since the 25th. Hope this helps…. Kim Eckert, Duluth ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
