The influx of northern owls continues in northeastern Minnesota, with GREAT GRAY OWLS and NORTHERN HAWK OWLS being fairly easy to find in the vicinity of Duluth and along the north shore of Lake Superior. Both species of owls are most abundant in the Sax Zim Bog area along St. Louis County Roads 52 and 7. The Sax Zim Christmas Bird Count (CBC) on December 20th recorded a North American CBC record of 70 Great Gray Owls and 42 Northern Hawk Owls. On the 19th, the Two Harbors CBC found 56 Great Gray Owls and 4 Northern Hawk Owls. And on the 18th, the Duluth CBC reported 23 Great Gray Owls and a single Northern Hawk Owl.
A HARLEQUIN DUCK was seen on the lakeside of the break wall of Agate Bay in Two Harbors in Lake County on December 19th. Another was in Duluth on the 23rd behind the Convention Center in Canal Park.
There was an interesting report of a very late GREEN HERON in the city of Shakopee in Hennepin County on December 17th. It was found in the Shakopee RV Campground situated immediately north of the Perkins Restaurant. The Heron was standing on the edge of the small creek that runs through the campsite about 50 yards upstream from the Minnesota River.
On December 23rd, a first-winter GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL was on the ice at the east outflow of Black Dog Lake in Dakota County.
Two EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES were in the south end of the city of Appleton in Swift County on December 15th. They were seen on the utility wires near the grain elevators along State Highway 7.
On December 17th, Al Gens reported two CAROLINA WRENS near the entrance to the Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park in Anoka County.
And in Grand Marais, Cook County, two TOWNSEND’S SOLITAIRES and a VARIED THRUSH were seen on December 18th. Another Varied Thrush was in Roseville in Hennepin County on the 19th, at the home of Rick Schlosser, along the 2900 block of Northview Street.
Related Articles:
- Minnesota Birding Report – Dec. 17, 2004 GREAT GRAY OWLS and NORTHERN HAWK OWLS...
- Minnesota Birding Report – Nov. 12, 2004 The northern owl invasion occurring in northern...
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