[mou] Northwest Minnesota Birding Report- Friday, January 16, 2004

[Jeanie Joppru]

This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Friday, January 16,
2004 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.

Some of the more exciting observations come from the far northern
counties this week. Martin Kehoe reported from Lake of the Woods County
that he  found a pair of THREE-TOED WOODPECKERS one mile north of
Gustafson Camp SNA in the Beltrami Island State Forest. He also reported
that he saw BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKERS on most of the days in the last two
weeks in the forest.

Carol Parker from Warroad in Roseau County reported that an AMERICAN
ROBIN has been showing up at her thistle feeder with the COMMON REDPOLLS
starting about January 12th. Carol also reported seeing a RED-BELLIED
WOODPECKER in Warroad. Adele Powell saw a BARRED OWL above their bird
feeder between Swift and Roosevelt on January 10th. Other winter
visitors at this time include PILEATED WOODPECKER, RED-BREASTED
NUTHATCH, WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH, PINE GROSBEAK, and EVENING GROSBEAK.
Zeann Linder spotted a NORTHERN HAWK OWL along Highway 310 north of
Roseau on Saturday, January 10th. A flock of COMMON REDPOLLS numbering
nearly 1000 was seen along Highway 89 north of Highway 11, and a
NORTHERN SHRIKE was also seen north of Roseau along  Highway 310. A
GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET was heard in the woods to the west of Highway 310
on January 10th also.

Marshall County sightings on January 10th included ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK and
several flocks of SNOW BUNTINGS.

>From Polk County, Dan Svedarsy reported no less than seven SHORT-EARED
OWLS south of Crookston about 30 minutes before dark  on January 9th. To
reach the area, go south about a mile on CR46 from US Highway 2 . The
birds were spotted from there on for about a mile south and a half mile
east. Donna and Leon Thoreson reported that they are still seeing a
flock of 50-60 SNOW BUNTINGS in their yard near Climax, and  40 COMMON
REDPOLLS, and a dozen AMERICAN GOLDFINCH are visiting their feeders.
Elsewhere in the county, they report  a NORTHERN SHRIKE one-half a mile
north of the intersection of 380th street and US Highway 75 north of
Climax. Lori Becker from the Wetlands, Pines, and Prairies Audubon
Sanctuary in the northern part of Polk County reported GREAT HORNED OWL,
BLACK-BILLED MAGPIES, DARK-EYED JUNCO, and COMMON REDPOLL  at the
sanctuary. 29 GREATER PRAIRIE-CHICKENS were seen at Glacial Ridge on
January 10th. Randy Chaffee reported twelve DARK-EYED JUNCOS, and eight
AMERICAN GOLDFINCH among his feeder birds.

Rick Gjervold observed a BARRED OWL in Clay County across from Fargo's
Edgewood Golf Course on the 13th. 18 WILD TURKEYS were seen north of the
Crystal Sugar plant in north Moorhead. Tim Kjos observed a mature BALD
EAGLE on January 8th in Eglon Township of Clay County.

Thanks to Martin Kehoe, Tim Kjos, Carol Parker, Rick Gjervold, Dan
Svedarsky, Lori Becker, Adele Powell,  Donna and Leon Thoreson and Randy
Chaffee 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, January 23, 2003.