Minnesota Birding Report Friday, October 10
In general, October offers a wonderful opportunity to see the migration of birds of prey along Hawk Ridge in Duluth. This location is an excellent vantage point for birders wanting to see sharp-shinned and broad-winged hawks, peregrine falcons, and other raptors.
The following is a list of recent, significant sightings:
Both a Harlequin Duck and a Black Scoter were at Paradise Beach in Cook County on October 4. This location is roughly 14 miles up the North Shore of Lake Superior from Grand Marais. Two White-Winged Scoters and two Long-Tailed Ducks were at Park Point in Duluth on October 7, and six Surf Scoters were there on October 6. Two Surf Scoters were at Taconite Harbor in Cook County on October 9.
There is a secondhand report of a Pacific Loon found October 8 on Shagawa Lake in Ely, in Cook County.
An adult Parasitic Jaeger was seen toward the end of Park Point flying over Lake Superior on October 5.
A Great Gray Owl was reported along the Red Lake River east of Thief River Falls in Pennington County on October 3, however no further information is available about the specific location. This is a very unusual record.
Over the last week, many people have reported migrant American Pipits, Dark-Eyed Juncos, White-Throated Sparrows, and Lapland Longspurs. Most of these birds have been seen in the northern and eastern parts of the state.
Information in this statewide birding report is provided by and financially supported by the Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union (MOU), Minnesota’s oldest and largest bird club. The report is composed from reports submitted by MOU members and other birders throughout the state. You can support this weekly birding update by submitting your bird reports to Anthony Hertzel at axhertzel@sihope.com or by calling the hotline directly at 763-780-8890 and leaving a detailed message. MOU members receive the organization’s quarterly journal “The Loon,” and the bi-monthly magazine, “Minnesota Birding.” For membership information, send an e-mail message to our membership secretary at membership@moumn.org
“The information in this report is provided courtesy of the Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union and Explore Minnesota Tourism.”
