Minnesota Detroit Lakes RBA

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-RBA
*Minnesota
*Detroit Lakes
*October 18, 2007
*MNDL0710.18

-Birds mentioned -Transcript

Hotline: Minnesota, Detroit Lakes
Date: October 18, 2007
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 Thursday, October 18, 2007 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.

We are definitely in transition to winter now in the northwest - rains are cold, winds high, and skies are often gloomy, punctuated by occasional magical sunny warm days that make us forget how unpleasant some fall weather can be. Migration is winding down with only a few new species being seen now.

The big news this week is a WHITE-WINGED DOVE reported by Dan and Sandy Thimgan in Otter Tail County 10 miles north of Fergus Falls at the home of Marilyn Sanchez. She has agreed to allow birders to visit and can be reached at 218-736-6420 for updates and directions.

Ben Fritchman reported 5 SURF SCOTERS, and 2 BLACK SCOTERS on Lake Osakis in Todd County on October 14, and John Kroll found two LONG-TAILED DUCKS there on October 16 when he went to look for the scoters.

In Greenbush, Roseau County, on October 15, Russ Reisz saw a BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER in his yard, along with a number of BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES, GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS, and BROWN CREEPERS.

Larry Wilebski in Kittson County reported a SNOW BUNTING on October 14 and a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK on October 15.

On October 13 Andrew Birch reported a LONG-TAILED DUCK on Leech Lake in Cass County 3 miles north of Pelican Island, and a SURF SCOTER in front of Huddle's Resort on Leech Lake. On the 16th, Dale Yerger saw two adult LITTLE GULLS with the BONAPARTE'S GULLS at the Cass Lake WTP.

Russ Reisz , in Marshall County on October 15 reported BLUE-WINGED TEAL at Thief Lake WMA, and on the 19th, he saw WESTERN GREBE, GREAT EGRET, and SNOW BUNTINGS there. The October 14 shorebird survey at Agassiz NWR found 458 individuals of 11 species including 13 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, a melanistic AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER, and 214 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS scattered all over the refuge with most at Tamarac Pool and Webster Pool. Other species seen included SNOW GOOSE, COMMON GOLDENEYE, and a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK. Gary Tischer mentioned the first ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, and 100 SNOW BUNTINGS seen on October 10. A pair of TRUMPETER SWANS with 6 cygnets were found near Thief Bay Pool that day also. Gary reported the presence of 400 TUNDRA SWANS, and 10000 AMERICAN COOTS currently at the refuge among a good variety of ducks.

Mel and Elaine Bennefeld in Clay County reported RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH and PURPLE FINCH at the Ponderosa Gold Club near Buffalo River State Park on October 16.

Dan and Sandy Thimgan reported that sparrows were many in Otter Tail County on October 11, including all the common late fall migrants; at Battle Lake WTP there was a variety of ducks and some BONAPARTE'S GULLS. Kim Eckert's Minnesota Birding Weekend group found many species including GREAT EGRET, BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER, DUNLIN, RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER, NORTHERN SHRIKE, BROWN CREEPER, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, MARSH WREN, both kinglets, AMERICAN PIPIT, LINCOLN'S SPARROW, and LAPLAND LONGSPUR. Teresa Jaskiewicz mentioned AMERICAN TREE SPARROW, and PINE SISKINS also in Otter Tail County.

The Minnesota Birding Weekend group in Wilkin County found 2 SURF SCOTERS at the Breckenridge WTP. Other species seen on the weekend in Wilkin County included 2 EARED GREBES, PILEATED WOODPECKER, an unusual number of BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES, both kinglets, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, HERMIT THRUSH, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, LE CONTE'S SPARROW, and FOX SPARROW among many other species.

Thanks to Andrew Birch, Ben Fritchman, Dale Yerger, Mel and Elaine Bennefeld, Gary Tischer, Larry Wilebski, Kim Eckert, Russ Reisz, Teresa Jaskiewicz, 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. The next scheduled update of this report is Thursday, October 25, 2007.

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