[mou] Northwest Minnesota Birding Report- Friday, December 19, 2003

[Jeanie Joppru]

This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Friday, December 19,
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.

This has obviously been a busy week here in the northwest as the
shoppers and cooks went about their business, so birding reports have
been somewhat sparse. A little more snow has made the area look really
Christmassy, and has brought all the regulars to the feeders.

One exciting find was sent in by Gretchen Mehmel- she saw three GREAT
GRAY OWLS in Beltrami County on December 18th. Two were in the
reservation along Highway 89, and one was at the intersection of Dick's
Parkway and the Moose River Road.=20

Wayne Brininger reported on the Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge CBC
held on December 15th. The best sighting by far was a BLACK-BACKED
WOODPECKER found along East Round Lake Road about 1/8 of a mile from
Becker CR 35 on the northwest side of the refuge. Among the other
species counted were two WILD TURKEYS, three BARRED OWLS, a RED-BELLIED
WOODPECKER, and three NORTHERN SHRIKES. During count week both PINE
GROSBEAKS and EVENING GROSBEAKS were seen.

In Otter Tail County, Roland Jordahl found some TRUMPETER SWANS and
reported the usual feeder birds in his yard. These included PILEATED
WOODPECKER, AMERICAN TREE SPARROW, DARK-EYED JUNCO, and COMMON REDPOLLS.

Rick Gjervold reported a NORTHERN SHRIKE in Moorhead near the Red River
in Clay County on December 15th.

Randy Chaffee reported a GREATER PRAIRIE-CHICKEN along Hwy 75 north of
Hendrum in Norman County on the 18th.=20

>From Clearwater and Hubbard Counties, Doug Johnson, reported that the
Itasca State Park Christmas Bird Count found GRAY JAYS, A HOARY REDPOLL
and 50 COMMON REDPOLLS north of the park, and about 20 WHITE-WINGED
CROSSBILLS by Lasalle Creek at the northeast corner of the park.
Seventeen RED CROSSBILLS were found on Highway 133 along the southern
edge of the park. This count took place on December 14th.

In Polk County, Dan Svedarsky observed a SHORT-EARED OWL near the
Pembina Trail SNA along County Road 45 on December 11th, and a group of
GRAY PARTRIDGE  south of Pancratz Prairie on the 13th. On Friday,
Nathaniel Emery saw the MERLIN which has been reported on the Crookston
Campus of MSU. Mike Christopher had a PILEATED WOODPECKER at the feeder
in Crookston on the 14th. Lori Becker in the northwest part of the
county found a BALD EAGLE at the entrance to the Wetlands, Pines, and
Prairies Audubon Sanctuary on December 12th. Finally , from Polk County,
Shelley Steva reported two ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS along CR 21 two or three
miles west of the Pembina WMA.

Pennington County birds reported this week included RUFFED GROUSE and
PILEATED WOODPECKER seen by Loren Race in rural Goodridge. PINE
GROSBEAKS came to the yard of Sue Braastad near Thief River Falls on
December 11th. A RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER continues to make regular visits
to our feeder near the city of Thief River Falls.

Gretchen Mehmel reported a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK in Beltrami County along
Dick's Parkway. In Lake of the Woods County, she has GRAY JAYS and PINE
GROSBEAKS near Norris Camp.

Thanks to all who sent in reports this week. A Merry Christmas to all!

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, December 26, 2003.