[mou] Northwest Minnesota Birding Report- Friday, April 4, 2003

[Jeanie Joppru]

This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Friday, April 4, 2003
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.

Just as we were getting used to the idea that spring is here, that
notion has been knocked down by snow and cold, but the birds continue to
come anyway.

There were many reports this week of migrating raptors with BALD EAGLES,
NORTHERN HARRIERS, RED-TAILED HAWKS, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS, and AMERICAN
KESTRELS reported from a variety of counties throughout the region. As
water opens up, many species of ducks are also moving north. SANDHILL
CRANES were seen as far north as Marshall and Pennington Counties, and
GREAT BLUE HERONS were noted in Ottertail, Becker, and Norman Counties.
AMERICAN WOODCOCKS were seen in Ottertail and Clay Counties. Another
change of note is that the AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES are starting to show
more and more yellow in their plumage.

The EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE  that is in the town of Herman in Grant
County was seen as recently as March 29th by Bob O'Connor. It was at the
corner of 2nd St. E and Hanover Ave. S about 2 1/2 blocks northeast of
the St. Charles Church.

Mary Broten reported from Marshall County this week that she saw a
WESTERN MEADOWLARK east of Old Mill State Park on March 25th, and
SANDHILL CRANES on the 30th. At Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge, Maggie
Anderson wrote of 60 BALD EAGLES on the west side of the refuge on March
26th feasting on dead fish. Many have left already as migration
continues. Maggie also reported ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, MERLIN, and SANDHILL
CRANES at the refuge.

Three TRUMPETER SWANS were seen by Zeann Linder and me at the rice
paddies along the Clearwater River in eastern Pennington County on March
29th. Many  CANADA GEESE, and small numbers of  MALLARDS, NORTHERN
PINTAIL, COMMON GOLDENEYE, HOODED MERGANSER, and COMMON MERGANSER were
also there. On April 1st, a female MERLIN  was seen by Shelley Steva
near Thief River Falls.

A possible GOLDEN EAGLE was seen by Pat Fischer north of Red Lake Falls
in Red Lake County on April 2nd.=20

On March 30th Donna and Leon Thoreson found a SHORT-EARED OWL hunting
over a field one mile west of Highway 9 along Polk County Road 45. Other
birds seen in the county included NORTHERN HARRIER, AMERICAN KESTREL,
and WESTERN MEADOWLARK. On April 1st Shelley Steva observed 3
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS, SANDHILL CRANES, a BALD EAGLE near a probable nest,
and 20 LAPLAND LONGSPURS also in Polk County. She also saw a NORTHERN
SHRIKE near East Grand Forks along CR 21.

The Thoreson's went to Norman County also on March 30th and found GREAT
BLUE HERONS and a pair of TUNDRA SWANS southwest of Fertile.

Shelley Steva saw a  RING-NECKED PHEASANT on March 31st in Mahnomen
County just south of Bejou.

At Buffalo River State Park in Clay County, Rick Gjervold observed WOOD
DUCKS, MALLARDS and two AMERICAN WOODCOCKS.

A GREAT BLUE HERON was seen by Shar Legenhausen, and Jan Campbell
reported several large flocks of CEDAR WAXWINGS in her neighborhood in
Detroit Lakes, Becker County. A PEREGRINE FALCON  was spotted by Shelley
Steva on March 31st just south of Ogema along Highway 59.

Dan and Sandy Thimgan reported from Ottertail County this week. In their
yard  they report a new arrival today, April 3rd-  a GOLDEN-CROWNED
KINGLET. At Glendalough State Park, they observed TUNDRA SWAN, WOOD
DUCK, BLUE-WINGED TEAL, COMMON MERGANSER, RED-BREASTED MERGANSER,
AMERICAN WOODCOCK, EASTERN PHOEBE, EASTERN BLUEBIRD, FOX SPARROW, and
SONG SPARROW. Three immature BALD EAGLES  were seen by Roland Jordahl at
Maplewood State Park  on March 31st.

In Wilkin County, the Thimgan's found 7 GREATER PRAIRIE CHICKENS, and
two GRAY PARTRIDGE  in the Rothsay area. Other birds seen there include
WOOD DUCK, GADWALL, RED-TAILED HAWK, NORTHERN HARRIER, AMERICAN KESTREL,
KILLDEER, RUSTY BLACKBIRD, WESTERN MEADOWLARK, and  SONG SPARROW. All of
these sightings occurred on Sunday, March 30th.

Thanks to Maggie Anderson, Donna and Leon Thoreson, Shelley Steva, Mary
Broten, Pat Fischer, Shar Legenhausen, Jan Campbell, Roland Jordahl, Dan
and Sandy Thimgan, Bob O'Connor, and Rick Gjervold 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 11, 2003.