Detroit Lakes RBA

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

Previous reports: February 2 9 16 23 , March 2 9 16 23 30 .
Other Hotlines: Minnesota Statewide | Minnesota Duluth/North Shore


-RBA
*Minnesota
*Detroit Lakes
*April 5, 2006
*MNDL0604.05

-Birds mentioned
-Transcript

Hotline: Minnesota, Detroit Lakes
Date: April 5, 2006
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 7, 2006 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.

Spring has indeed come to the northland. Rivers are free flowing now, and even some lakes are starting to open up. Migrants are flooding in and in addition to raptors and waterfowl , now there are passerines appearing. There are many reports of American Robins, several species of sparrow, including hundreds of Dark-eyed Juncos, and American Goldfinches.

Larry Wilebski in Kittson County reported on April 1 that RED-TAILED HAWK, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, AMERICAN KESTREL, EASTERN BLUEBIRD, and AMERICAN ROBINS have returned to the county while COMMON REDPOLLS are still being seen. Mary Broten found a WESTERN MEADOWLARK in that county on March 31.

Pat Rice in Beltrami County on April 1 reported TRUMPETER SWANS, PIED-BILLE GREBE, EASTERN BLUEBIRD, COMMON GRACKLE, and 6 EVENING GROSBEAKS.

In Cass County , Pat saw two WOOD DUCKS, a GREAT EGRET, and 18 GREAT BLUE HERONS on the south side of US 2 across from Cass Lake on April 1.

In Marshall County on March 31, Mary Broten reported AMERICAN ROBIN, and MOURNING DOVE. Maggie Anderson , reporting from Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge mentioned returning migrants such as SNOW GOOSE , and WOOD DUCK on March 30, two NORTHERN SHOVELERS , 20 COMMON GOLDENEYE, and 6 HOODED MERGANSERS on March 31. Alice Sather in western Marshall County reported GREAT BLUE HERON, and RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD on April 1; many large groups of SANDHILL CRANES arrived on April 5.

Here in Pennington County, 35 TUNDRA SWANS flew north over the area on April 2. Other returning migrants this week included a few WOOD DUCKS, KILLDEER, and EASTERN BLUEBIRD.

Anita Vettleson has been hearing GREAT HORNED OWLS at their place along MN 92 in Red Lake County.

Bruce Flaig in Polk County reported SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, AMERICAN KESTREL, and KILLDEER on April 1, and AMERICAN WOODCOCKS on April 2. On the 5th, he saw COMMON LOON, SANDHILL CRANE, BROWN CREEPER, and AMERICAN TREE SPARROW. Benjamin Bartos reported both CEDAR WAXWINGS and BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS in East Grand Forks on April 1.

Patrick Beauzay in Clay County on April 3 observed 50 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, 100 TUNDRA SWANS, WOOD DUCK, GADWALL, CANVASBACK, RING-NECKED DUCK, GREATER SCAUP, LESSER SCAUP, HOODED MERGANSER, COMMON GOLDENEYE, RED-NECKED GREBE, GREAT BLUE HERON, KILLDEER, AMERICAN TREE SPARROW, LAPLAND LONGSPUR, and RUSTY BLACKBIRD among others.

In both Becker and Hubbard counties Patrick Beauzay found TUNDRA SWANS on April 3.

Dan and Sandy Thimgan reporting from Otter Tail County on April 2 mentioned BUFFLEHEAD, COMMON GOLDENEYE, COMMON MERGANSER, HOODED MERGANSER, WILD TURKEY, COMMON LOON, RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, and BELTED KINGFISHER. Tom Smith saw 68 TUNDRA SWANS on April 3.

Thanks to Tom Smith, Patrick Beauzay, Bruce Flaig, Alice Sather, Dan and Sandy Thimgan, Benjamin Bartos, Larry Wilebski, Pat Rice, Maggie Anderson, Mary Broten, Bruce Flaig, and Anita Vettleson 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 regularly scheduled update of this report is Friday, April 21, 2006. There will be no regular report next week, April 14 as I will not be at home. If you see anything of great interest , I urge you to call the statewide hotline at 800-657-3700 and report your sightings. Please continue to send regular sightings to the usual address above where I will process them on my return.




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