Detroit Lakes RBA

Detroit Lakes RBA phone number: 1-800-433-1888

Previous reports: August 3 9 15 27 29 , September 5 12 19 27 .
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-RBA
*Minnesota
*Detroit Lakes
*October 3, 2002
*MNDL0210.03

-Birds mentioned
-Transcript

Hotline: Minnesota, Detroit Lakes
Date: October 3, 2002
Sponsor: Lakes Area Birding Club, Detroit Lakes Regional Chamber of Commerce
Reports: 1-800-542-3992 (weekdays during business hours)
Compiler: Jeanie Joppru (ajjoppru@wiktel.com)
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This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Friday,October 4, 2002 sponsored by the Detroit Lakes Regional Chamber of Commerce. You may also hear this report by calling (218) 847-5743 or 1-800-433-1888.

This week the southward movement of Sandhill Cranes, and Canada Geese was particularly noticeable. The leaves are beginning to turn and the frosts of the last two nights will hasten the process.

A NORTHERN FLICKER has turned up in Bob O'Connor's yard in Moorhead, Clay County on Oct 3rd.

In Ottertail County this week, Dan and Sandy Thimgan have flocks of CEDAR WAXWINGS and EASTERN BLUEBIRDS in their yard. Roland Jordahl has DARK-EYED JUNCOS in his yard for the first time this fall.

>From her tent last weekend just east of Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge in Becker County, Zeann Linder listened to the hooting of BARRED OWLS, and she also reported seeing large and frequent flocks of migrating CANADA GEESE during the day. Other Becker County birds reported by Kay Hartness included 4 TRUMPETER SWANS on Davis Pond, and 6 TURKEY VULTURES on the ground near Detroit Lakes.

In Red Lake County, Shelley Steva saw 12 STILT SANDPIPERS by the Clearwater River near Plummer on the 26th.

Shelley also noticed about 250 RING-BILLED GULLS flying over Thief River Falls in Pennington County, and the local MERLINS were also seen. In our yard just outside of Thief River Falls, there are numbers of AMERICAN ROBINS, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS, DARK-EYED JUNCOS, and PURPLE FINCHES.

Most notable on a quick drive through Marshall County on Sunday, September 29 was the large flock of about 400-500 SANDHILL CRANES in a plowed field on the north side of Marshall CR 6 about a mile east of Gatzke. Other groups of the cranes totaling about 150 were seen along the west side of Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge. A COOPER'S HAWK surprised us in Thief Lake Wildlife Refuge. Other Marshall County birds were WHITE-THROATED SPARROW, HARRIS'S SPARROW and DARK-EYED JUNCO. Mary Broten reported from Marshall County that there were lots of YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS in the sugarbeet fields as the beets were being harvested- perhaps looking for the insects stirred up by the equipment. She also saw a SHORT-EARED OWL in the county, as well as most of the other migrants reported in other counties.

Gretchen Mehmel saw a SPRUCE GROUSE in Lake of the Woods County on September 27 just east of Norris Camp. Other birds in Lake of the Woods County were a BELTED KINGFISHER, and several BLACK-BILLED MAGPIES.

Thanks to Bob O'Connor, Mary Broten, Kay Hartness, Roland Jordahl, Gretchen Mehmel, Shelley Steva, and Zeann Linder for their reports.

Please report bird sightings to Jeanie Joppru by e-mail, no later than Thursday each week, at: ajjoppru@wiktel.com OR call the Detroit Lakes Chamber's toll free number: 1-800-542-3992. Detroit Lakes area birders please call 847-9202. When reporting by e-mail please put "NW Bird Report" in the subject line of your message. The next scheduled update of this report is Friday,October 11, 2002.




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