[mou] Northwest Minnesota Birding Report- Friday, October 3, 2003

[Jeanie Joppru]

This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Friday, October 3,
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.

Leaves are starting to fall, color is appearing , and the first hard
frost came this week to the northwest. Migration is proceeding, and new
species for the season are appearing daily.

The weekly survey of shorebirds at Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge on
Saturday, September 27th revealed that many shorebirds have left on
their journey. A total of 108 birds of six species was tallied, the
lowest count since June. Included in that were KILLDEER, GREATER
YELLOWLEGS, LESSER YELLOWLEGS, PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, STILT SANDPIPERS,
and WILSON'S SNIPE.

A ROSS'S  GOOSE was found on Sunday, September 28th at the Thief River
Falls wastewater treatment ponds in Pennington County. Also there were a
few SNOW GEESE in various plumages. By Monday, the number of Snow Geese
had grown to about 35. Elsewhere in Pennington County, a SHARP-SHINNED
HAWK was seen in our yard on the 28th; a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH ,
GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, SWAINSON'S THRUSH, PALM
WARBLER, NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH, WHITE-THROATED SPARROW,  WHITE- CROWNED
SPARROW and PINE SISKIN, were observed  in and about Thief River Falls
on Saturday, September 27th.

Red Lake County birds seen on Saturday included TURKEY VULTURE, OSPREY,
BALD EAGLE, SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, KESTREL, MERLIN, PEREGRINE FALCON,
GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, and seven species of
sparrows including SAVANNAH SPARROW, SONG SPARROW, LINCOLN'S SPARROW,
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW, HARRIS'S SPARROW, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, and
DARK-EYED JUNCO.

In Beltrami County, Pat Rice reported DARK-EYED JUNCO on the 25th,
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER on the 26th, and a RING-NECKED PHEASANT on the
25th.

Rick Gjervold found a BROWN CREEPER near the Hjemkomst Center in
Moorhead , Clay County on Thursday. He also saw a pair of TRUMPETER
SWANS along CR 26 two miles west of Clay County 33 west of Hitterdahl.

Alma Ronningen reported a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH from Ottertail County on
the 29th, as well as many of the birds mentioned by viewers in other
counties. Roland Jordahl sent in a report of birds in his backyard in
Ottertail County which included GREAT EGRETS, a BARRED OWL, many EASTERN
BLUEBIRDS, and several species of migrating sparrows.

Susan Wiste reported her first DARK-EYED JUNCOS of the season from
Douglas County on Friday September 26th about 10 miles west of
Alexandria.

Thanks to Pat Rice, Rick Gjervold, Alma Ronningen, Roland Jordahl, and
Susan Wiste 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, October 10, 2003.