[mou] Northwest Minnesota Birding Report- Friday, August 15, 2003

[Jeanie Joppru]

This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Friday, August 15,
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.

Shorebird migration is in full swing now and there is some evidence that
other species are preparing to leave. Large groups of swallows are being
seen as they mass together just before leaving. A few warblers are being
reported on the listserves here and there- none reported to me in this
area yet, but of course we are seeing the ones that nest here as the
breeding season winds up.

Since there was no report last week I will mention briefly some of the
birds reported by observers then.

A BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER was reported by Dennis Martin in Old Mill State
Park, Marshall County, at the picnic area on August 2nd. That is the
second such sighting in the northwest this summer- the other being in
Pennington County. Dare we hope that they are going to be regulars here
soon? At Warren, also in Marshall County, the SNOW GOOSE was still
present on August 2nd at the wastewater treatment ponds.

In Roseau County, Dennis Martin found a HORNED GREBE at the Warroad
wastewater treatment ponds on the 3rd.

The Becker County 	COMMON MOORHENS at Hamden Slough NWR have
produced 6 young. They are at the same location as reported previously-
east from the headquarters past the lake, turn left at the first corner,
then 0.7 miles to the small pond on the right hand side of the road.
These birds were seen as recently as last Monday, and the babies are
still very small so will be around for awhile.

>From Douglas County, Benjamin Fritchman observed  two RED-NECKED
PHALAROPES on August 3rd at the Osakis wastewater treatment ponds.=20

Carol Schumacher was in Wilkin County on the weekend of the 2nd and
reported AMERICAN BITTERN, WESTERN KINGBIRD, and DICKCISSEL from the
Rothsay area.
=20
At Hamden Slough, Becker County, Carol found an UPLAND SANDPIPER on the
same weekend. On the 11th, I observed a GREAT EGRET, 8 TRUMPETER SWANS,
and  a BALD EAGLE there also. Mary Wyatt reported a brood of RED-NECKED
GREBES also. Several wetlands are drawn down, but are already too dry
for many shorebirds although small numbers still remain.

Shelley Steva found four SHARP-TAILED GROUSE on August 6th near Oklee in
Red Lake County.

Tom Lufkin reported three pairs of SANDHILL CRANES in the Pembina WMA
along County Road 10 in Pennington County on August 3rd.

Marshall County news this week is largely about shorebirds, but the
TUNDRA SWAN  reported earlier is still at Agassiz National Wildlife
Refuge as of last weekend. On August 7th a BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER was
reported on Thief Bay Pool. GREAT EGRETS were also seen there on August
9th. 2530 individuals of 18 species of shorebirds were tallied at
Agassiz on August 9th including LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, and the first
juvenile SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, and PECTORAL SANDPIPERS. Also on the 9th,
a total albino BLUE-WINGED TEAL was seen on Thief Bay Pool. A MERLIN was
reported near the east boundary on August 12th, and the TRUMPETER SWAN
brood was spotted with all 6 cygnets on August 13th.=09

Kittson County birds seen by Dennis Martin during the first week of
August included  a RED-NECKED PHALAROPE at the Karlstad wastewater
treatment ponds.

Thanks to Dennis Martin, Shelley Steva, Carol Schumacher, Tom Lufkin,
Mary Wyatt, and Benjamin Fritchman 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, August 22, 2003.