What has been tentatively identified as a RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD has been visiting the backyard feeder of Laura Erickson in Duluth since November 16th. Laura lives at 4831 Peabody Street, at the corner of 49th Avenue East, five blocks from Superior Street. Birders are welcome to look from her backyard.

At Lake Calhoun in Minneapolis, the first-winter CALIFORNIA GULL continues to be present during late afternoon hours on the west side of the lake. The Gull was seen as recently as November 15th.

NORTHERN HAWK OWLS are still easy to find in northern Minnesota. One of the best sites to view these Owls is along St. Louis County Road 7, as well as the roads that intersect it. Also check along U.S. Highway 53 near the town of Cotton, between Mile Markers 43 and 45.
GREAT GRAY OWLS are also being reported in very high numbers. More than 140 have been seen, mostly in St. Louis, Lake, and Cook counties, since the end of August. Birds are most easy to find in the Sax Zim Bog area of St. Louis County. This is a large region about 40 minutes north-northwest of Duluth, bounded on the south by St. Louis County Road 133, and on the east by County Road 7.

On November 13th, a SNOWY OWL was found near the Grand Marais Harbor in Cook County. The Owl was near the water along the inner side of the eastern break wall.

TUNDRA SWANS are gathering on Pool #8 of the Mississippi River near Brownsville in Houston County. Roughly ten thousand Swans were estimated to be here on November 15th. And a WHITE-WINGED SCOTER was found at Peterson Lake in Wabasha County on the 13th.

At Lake Byllesby in Dakota County, two DUNLIN and one PECTORAL SANDPIPER were seen on November 13th.

An AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKER was reported in the Sax Zim Bog, just west of the railroad tracks on Kolu Street.

And last, a TOWNSEND’S SOLITAIRE was reported on November 16th from Sherburne County. It was on 253rd Avenue, about one and one-half miles east of County Road 5.