[mou] Northwest Minnesota Birding Report- Friday, June 27, 2003

[Jeanie Joppru]

This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Friday, June 27, 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.

There is no shortage of birds in the northwest this week but the
inclement weather has apparently kept the people indoors and the birds
looking for shelter from the rain and wind. Several people have reported
WHITE PELICANS this week from a variety of locations. Most of these
birds are believed to be sub-adults who are spending the summer on local
lakes.

In Becker County, at least one COMMON MOORHEN was seen on Tuesday at
Hamden Slough by Betsy Beneke who is in Minnesota on vacation.=20

Peder Svingen reported finding a DICKCISSEL at Glacial Ridge Project in
Polk County on June 22nd. He and Phil Chu also found ORCHARD ORIOLES in
Polk, Pennington, and Red Lake Counties. LARK SPARROWS were found in
both Red Lake County and in Pennington County along the Pembina Trail.

Pennington County birds reported this week included a HOODED MERGANSER
in the southwestern part of the county on June 21st. 3 SHARP-TAILED
GROUSE in Numedal Township , a pair of SANDHILL CRANES with one colt in
the Pembina Wildlife Management Area , and 6 SHORT-EARED OWLS in Numedal
Township were found on June 22nd. Three NELSON'S SHARP-TAILED SPARROWS
were also seen that day - 2 in Numedal Township and one at the Pembina
WMA.

A WILLET was discovered by Peder Svingen and Phil Chu at Agassiz NWR on
June 21st. The nesting AMERICAN AVOCETS at Thief Bay Pool now have at
least one chick. 2 blue morph SNOW GEESE were seen at Agassiz on Thief
Bay Pool on the same day. A MERLIN was observed at Farmes Pool. The
Little Blue Heron was not refound this week. A shorebird survey this
week at Agassiz NWR showed very small numbers of species and
individuals, but included 57 MARBLED GODWITS. In the southwestern part
of the county north of the Wetlands, Pines, and Prairies Audubon
Sanctuary , I heard several singing UPLAND SANDPIPERS. Other news of
interest: a pair of MERLINS that nested in a yard near Newfolden have
returned this year, and apparently are feeding young.

In Lake of the Woods County, June 26, Betsy Beneke and friends, observed
two broods of SPRUCE GROUSE. One female with at least five young were
seen along the Rapid River Road about a mile from Oaks Corner in the
Beltrami Island State Forest. The other female was seen along the Faunce
Forest Road. She too had chicks, at least two. HERMIT THRUSHES could be
heard throughout the area. Another visiting birder found a BLACK-BACKED
WOODPECKER feeding larger young at the intersection of the Hogsback
Trail and the Butterfield Forest Road on June 17th. A search for this
bird today did not turn up the bird, and it is assumed that the young
may have left the nest already. Warblers reported from the Beltrami
Island State Forest included CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER, BLACK-THROATED
GREEN WARBLER, BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER, BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER, OVENBIRD,
and MOURNING WARBLER.

Thanks to Peder Svingen, Betsy Beneke, Peder Svingen, Phil Chu, Tom
Lufkin, Susan Wiste, and Linda Lindemoen 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, July 4, 2003.