Detroit Lakes RBA
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-RBA *Minnesota *Detroit Lakes *April 8, 2004 *MNDL0404.08 -Birds mentioned
Hotline: Minnesota, Detroit Lakes
Date: April 8, 2004
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)
This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Friday, April 9, 2004 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.
In spite of March weather, spring is advancing in the northwest. The ice-free zone is slowly moving north, and new migrants are appearing daily. The snow is gone, at least as of this writing, and on warm days we can sometimes discern a hint of green in the brown landscape.
>From Roseau County, Bob and Adele Powell reported AMERICAN ROBIN on March 29th, and a RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD on April 1st.
Katie Haws reported some TRUMPETER SWANS at Red Lake this week. Other species that she reported from Beltrami County included WOOD DUCK, and COMMON GOLDENEYE. She saw SANDHILL CRANES near Fourtown.
A VARIED THRUSH was seen at the home of Eben Spencer in Oslo, Marshall County, as recently as April 5th. At Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge, Dave Myhrer spotted the first FRANKLIN'S GULLS of the season on April 2nd. Linda Johnson reported an EASTERN BLUEBIRD at Old Mill State Park on April 5th.
The EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE is still visiting the feeder of Grace Mayta in Thief River Falls from time to time. Waterfowl seen recently on the Red Lake River include CANADA GOOSE, WOOD DUCK, and HOODED MERGANSER while the feeders have been busy with DARK-EYED JUNCO, PURPLE FINCH , and the last lingering COMMON REDPOLLS. A NORTHERN FLICKER and a pair of RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS have visited our feeder this week and EASTERN PHOEBES have returned. On April 6th, a group of BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS came to clean up the remaining crabapples in our yard. At the rice paddies in the eastern part of the county, on April 4th, about 200 TUNDRA SWANS were resting in the company of several geese and assorted duck species.
At the Red Lake County rice paddies along the Clearwater River on Sunday, there were swans, and many NORTHERN PINTAILS resplendent in their spring plumage. The RED-TAILED HAWK migration was very evident in that county as up to ten of them were seen soaring over a just burned field, presumably taking advantage of the warm air, and maybe looking for rodents trying to escape the heat. Other raptors seen there included ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, and AMERICAN KESTREL. Several SANDHILL CRANES were also seen.
A little further east, the Polk County rice paddies along CR 27 were the most active. They were hosting hundreds of TUNDRA SWANS. Duck species seen there include RING-NECKED DUCK, REDHEAD, and COMMON GOLDENEYE. Mike and Lori Becker reported from the Wetlands, Pines, and Prairies Audubon Sanctuary that the nesting LONG-EARED OWLS have been seen, and WOOD DUCKS, NORTHERN FLICKERS, and GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS have returned to the sanctuary. There have been recent sightings also of the SHORT-EARED OWL. Randy Chaffee reported that he has seen GREAT BLUE HERON and KILLDEER in Polk County this week.
Katie Haws observed TRUMPETER SWANS in Becker County this week. Species reported by Sally Hausken on April 8th included DARK-EYED JUNCO, and PURPLE FINCH. Mary Wyatt reported that most of the waterfowl have returned to Hamden Slough and there the shallow water is mostly open. There were over 1200 RING-NECKED DUCKS at Hamden Slough NWR on April 5th. EASTERN BLUEBIRDS have returned ; the EASTERN PHOEBE returned on April 4th, the OSPREYS on April 5th.
Otter Tail County birders have been busy lately. Alma Ronningen observed an OSPREY, TREE SWALLOW, and EASTERN BLUEBIRD on April 6th. The GREAT EGRETS and DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS are returning to Lake Alice at Fergus Falls. Dan and Sandy Thimgan reported that, on April 2nd, they observed RED-SHOULDERED HAWK and FOX SPARROW in the county; on the 4th, they saw NORTHERN SHOVELER, LESSER SCAUP, four COMMON LOONS, NORTHERN FLICKER, and VESPER SPARROW.
Benjamin Fritchman reported a GREAT EGRET from Todd County on April 1st. On Lake Osakis, he observed an early FORSTER'S TERN as well as RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, LESSER YELLOWLEGS, and BONAPARTE'S GULLS on April 7th.
Susan Wiste in Douglas County reported a GREAT BLUE HERON on the 4th, and EASTERN PHOEBE on the 5th. A COMMON LOON was seen on Crooked Lake 10 miles west of Alexandria on the 5th also.
Thanks to Gladwyn Lynne, Grace Mayta, Linda Johnson, Susan Wiste, Gary Tischer, Benjamin Fritchman, Bob and Adele Powell, Alma Ronningen, Mary Wyatt, Katie Haws, Randy Chaffee, and Dan and Sandy Thimgan for their reports.
Please report bird sightings to Jeanie Joppru by email, 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. Please include the county where the sighting took place. When reporting by email please put "NW Bird Report" in the subject line of your message. The next scheduled update of this report is Friday, April 16, 2004.
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