[mou] Northwest Minnesota Birding Report- Friday, September 26, 2003

[Jeanie Joppru]

This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Friday, September 26,
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 week we know for sure that fall has arrived. Cool temperatures, and
strong winds have started the leaves falling, and the first light frost
arrived on Wednesday night in the north. The adverse weather has kept
many birders inside, and south winds have seemingly stalled the
migration. The wind has  changed however, and we can expect migration to
proceed quickly now.

Pat Rice reported several sightings from Beltrami County. On September
19th she saw a RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD and a PALM WARBLER,  on the
22nd an EASTERN PHOEBE, and on the 23rd, SAVANNAH SPARROW, VESPER
SPARROW, and AMERICAN GOLDFINCH.

Polk County sightings at Glacial Ridge Project on Saturday September
20th included a TURKEY VULTURE, a SWAINSON'S HAWK, and two CASPIAN
TERNS.

Peder Svingen found a first county record WHITE-WINGED SCOTER at the Red
Lake Falls wastewater treatment ponds in Red Lake County on Saturday,
September 20th, and also a SWAINSON'S HAWK in Equality township of Red
Lake County.

In Pennington County, on September 19th several WOOD DUCKS were seen on
the Red Lake River, and a RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD  came to our feeder.
September 23rd found many migrating NORTHERN FLICKERS, AMERICAN ROBINS,
and CEDAR WAXWINGS feeding on crabapples in our yard.

In Marshall County the weekly shorebird survey  at Agassiz NWR on
Sunday, September 21, revealed that the numbers were down again from
last week with 434 individuals of 14 species being counted. Among them
was a WILLET on Thief Bay Pool, a WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER at Parker Pool,
and a late juvenile SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER at Middle CCC Pool. Water
levels have risen at Agassiz, and some shorebird habitat has
disappeared. The raptors were well represented there however and may
have accounted for some of the decrease in numbers of shorebirds as the
waders were moving around a lot. Several BALD EAGLES, several NORTHERN
HARRIERS,  a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, COOPER'S HAWK, two MERLINS, and at
least two PEREGRINE FALCONS were cruising over the shorebirds in various
locations. A CASPIAN TERN was feeding at Parker Pool.=20

A NORTHERN GOSHAWK was observed in Kittson County along County Road 10
about 3.5 miles east of Highway 59 on the 21st. Also seen that day in
that county were TENNESSEE WARBLER, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER,
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, PALM WARBLER, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, EASTERN
TOWHEE, WHITE-THROATED SPARROW, and WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW.

Thanks to those who sent in reports 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 3, 2003.