[mou] Northwest Minnesota Birding Report- Friday, October 10, 2003

[Jeanie Joppru]

This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Friday, October 10,
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.

What a beautiful week it has been in the northwest! After the very cold
weekend that preceded it last weekend's weather was a very pleasant
surprise. The fall colors are nearing peak here, and the migration is
now bringing down new species every day. Even the unusual species are
showing up in various places. Susan Wiste reported from Douglas County
that the AMERICAN ROBINS were migrating through in large flocks on
October 7th.

I have reports of scoters from no less than four locations. Two SURF
SCOTERS were reported by Doug Johnson off Diamond Point on Lake Bemidji,
Beltrami County, on October 4th. Craig Mandel found an immature SURF
SCOTER at the Warren wastewater treatment ponds in Marshall County on
the 6th,  two at Agassiz NWR this week, and one in Kittson County also
on the 6th.

A state record high count of  304 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS was recorded
among the 734 shorebirds counted last weekend at Agassiz NWR in Marshall
County.

Benjamin Fritchman in Todd County reported 3 WESTERN GREBES, 100
PIED-BILLED GREBES, and many FRANKLIN'S GULLS on Lake Osakis, and the
first NORTHERN SHRIKE of the season for the county.

In Grant County, Craig Mandel found 12 CATTLE EGRETS  in a cow pasture
which can be reached from Douglas CR 19 by turning west on Grant CR 54
for one mile , then turning north on Ashby Estates Road for about a
mile.

Kim Eckert's Minnesota Birding Weekend birded in Otter Tail County on
the 4th and 5th, and reported a dilute-plumaged WESTERN GREBE at the
Orwell WMA, a SNOWY EGRET immature on Rush Lake, more than 100 GREATER
PRAIRIE-CHICKENS at Otter Tail Prairie SNA, CAPE MAY WARBLER at Orwell
WMA on the 5th, LE CONTE'S SPARROW , and NELSON'S SHARP-TAILED SPARROW
at Otter Tail Prairie WMA. A total of 16 sparrow species was found in
Otter Tail County on the weekend.

Wilkin County  sightings by Kim's group included a HARLAN'S RED-TAILED
HAWK , a RICHARDSON'S MERLIN , and LE CONTE'S SPARROW at the Rothsay
WMA.

Mary Wyatt reported from Becker County that she saw a RED-SHOULDERED
HAWK fly through the yard on the 3rd, an INDIGO BUNTING on October 4th,
and a FOX SPARROW on the 6th. On the 8th, she saw a BROWN CREEPER and an
EASTERN TOWHEE.

Donna and Leon Thoreson in Polk County reported BALD EAGLE, RED-BELLIED
WOODPECKER, FOX SPARROW, AND RUSTY BLACKBIRD on October 6th.

The first Red Lake County record ROSS'S GOOSE was observed by Peder
Svingen on October 4th. Red  Lake County birds reported by Craig Mandel
included 2 TRUMPETER SWANS, and 100 AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVERS at the Red
Lake Falls wastewater treatment ponds, and a RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER at
Old Treaty Crossing State Wayside. Other sightings in Red Lake County
were 325 SNOW GEESE,  at least 3 OSPREY, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, both
nuthatches, both kinglets, HERMIT THRUSH, BOHEMIAN WAXWING, BLACKPOLL,
and RUSTY BLACKBIRD.=20

Sue Braastad observed a RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER near Thief River Falls in
Pennington County on October 8th. A covey of GRAY PARTRIDGE  has been
seen several times near the Thief River Falls wastewater treatment
ponds, and the number of TUNDRA SWANS there has increased to 16. Craig
Mandel counted over 1000 NORTHERN SHOVELERS there on the 8th. A LE
CONTE'S SPARROW  was near the entrance to the ponds.

In Marshall County, Craig Mandel found a BROWN CREEPER and a WINTER WREN
along the headquarters walking trail at Agassiz NWR on October 8th. Also
on the refuge were most of the common species of migrant sparrows. Other
reported birds at Agassiz include a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK and a GOLDEN
PLOVER.  Two GREAT EGRETS continued to feed at Agassiz on October 4th,
and a MARSH WREN scolded from the cattails. On October 8th, Craig found
a NORTHERN SHRIKE east of Farmes Pool, and two SURF SCOTERS along  CR 7
east of Agassiz headquarters. He found SNOW GEESE, and LAPLAND LONGSPUR
at the Warren wastewater treatment ponds, and SHARP-TAILED GROUSE along
highway 59 at Marshall CR 5.

Kittson County birds reported by Craig Mandel on October 6th include
SNOW GOOSE, SURF SCOTER, RUFFED GROUSE, SPOTTED SANDPIPER, 100 AMERICAN
GOLDEN PLOVERS at the Hallock wastewater treatment ponds, RED-HEADED
WOODPECKER, BOHEMIAN WAXWING, AMERICAN PIPIT, and AMERICAN TREE SPARROW.

Lake of the Woods County birds reported from the Northwest Angle of Lake
of the Woods included 3 AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVERS and a NORTHERN SHRIKE on
October 4th.

Thanks to Craig Mandel, Doug Johnson, Sue Braastad, Peder Svingen,
Benjamin Fritchman, Donna and Leon Thoreson, Sally Hausken, Susan Wiste,
Mary Wyatt, and  Maggie Anderson who reported sightings this week.

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 17, 2003.