[mou] Northwest Minnesota Birding Report- Friday, August 22, 2003

[Jeanie Joppru]

This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Friday, August 22,
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.

Finally, the heat wave has broken, and we can expect to see  some new
"faces" after the migration was somewhat stalled by the heat. Several
interesting sightings were reported in this area this week.

Two EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES were sighted in Thief River Falls on Sunday,
August 17th. They were in the area of 3rd St. ( Hwy 59) and Kinney
Avenue near where the lone dove was discovered earlier. Both were
calling. This area is close to the railroad tracks near the arena.

8 GREAT EGRETS were found at Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge this week.
The shorebird survey done this week revealed lower numbers of birds, due
probably to drier conditions especially at Dahl, Lower CCC, and Thief
Bay Pools. More birds were seen at Parker Pool along the county road as
conditions remained muddy there. The first WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER of the
fall season was seen, and juvenile birds of several species were
identified. There were no Marbled Godwits and no Long-billed Dowitchers.
One interesting sighting was a black bear with two cubs near Dahl Pool.
Kari Odefey reported that more RED-TAILED HAWKS and BROAD-WINGED HAWKS
are being seen on the refuge also. Many species of shorebirds, and other
waterfowl can now be observed from County Road 7.

>From Beltrami County , Pat and Bob DeWenter reported seeing a flock of
50 migrating COMMON NIGHTHAWKS circling over the city of Bemidji.

In Pennington County, on Sunday, August 17th, we found 8 SHARP-TAILED
GROUSE along highway 1 east of Carpenter's Corner, and saw a GREATER
PRAIRIE-CHICKEN in Numedal Township. On Saturday, August 16th, there was
a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH here in our yard near Thief River Falls, and our
neighbor, Shelley Steva, saw a BALD EAGLE flying over Thief River Falls
on August 20th. She also had two PILEATED WOODPECKERS playing tag in her
yard.

A SHARP-TAILED GROUSE was reported from Terrebonne Township of Red Lake
County on August 18th. A TURKEY VULTURE was also spotted in that county
as well as BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO, and  OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER.

A BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO was also observed at the Glacial Ridge Project in
Polk County on August 18th, along with an ORCHARD ORIOLE.

The COMMON MOORHENS with six chicks were seen by several people this
week at Hamden Slough in Becker County at the previously reported
location. Also at Hamden NWR, Mary Wyatt reported baby PIED-BILLED
GREBES, RUDDY DUCKS, and AMERICAN COOTS. Both EARED GREBE and HORNED
GREBES, and a variety of raptors were also observed there this week. A
NELSON'S Sharp-TAILED SPARROW was reported from the south side of Bisson
Lake south of County Road 14. Mary also had an immature COOPER'S HAWK
take a bath in her birdbath. Mary reports that she has seen 13 species
of warblers  in the last week, indicating that the migration is in full
swing for those species also. Included in that total were GOLDEN-WINGED
WARBLER, CERULEAN WARBLER, and CANADA WARBLER.

Surprise finds at Felton Prairie, Clay County, on August 17th were a
COMMON RAVEN, and a late CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPUR .

In Todd County, Benjamin Fritchman reported 3-4 CLARK-S GREBES on August
19th.

Thanks to Mary Wyatt, Benjamin Fritchman, Jim Lind, Peder Svingen,
Shelley Steva,  Bob and  Pat DeWenter, and Kari Odefey 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.