[mou] Northwest Minnesota Birding Report- Friday, July 2, 2004

[Jeanie Joppru]

This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Friday, July 2, 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.

Suddenly we are in mid-summer conditions here in the northwest- the
singing is winding down, replaced by the high-pitched calls of young
birds and young humans, as the temperatures rise and it becomes more
tempting to be outside. Now it is fun to watch the antics of the young
as the parents struggle to keep all alive through hazards not yet
perceived by their young.

An unusual number of 216 BONAPARTE'S GULLS was observed by Peder Svingen
on June 27 in the flooded fields along the Roseau River in Roseau
County. About 2000 FRANKLIN'S GULLS were also in the area. Five YELLOW
RAILS were found near the intersection of Roseau CR 118 and CR 123. Note
that CR 123 is still closed due to flood damage, and other roads are not
in the best condition so be very careful if you decide to bird there.
Elsewhere in Roseau County, I found a WINTER WREN singing on territory
in the Lost River State Forest north of Roseau. Seven species of
warblers including NASHVILLE WARBLER, YELLOW WARBLER, BLACK-THROATED
GREEN WARBLER, BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER, OVENBIRD, MOURNING WARBLER, and
COMMON YELLOWTHROAT were also found there, and WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS
were singing all through that area on June 27th.

The GREAT GRAY OWL was relocated along Beltrami County 42 about 4.9
miles east of the Marshall County line on June 27th. Five species of
warblers were also heard singing near that county road in the adjoining
woods.

A pair of RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS is still visiting our feeders in
Pennington County, and we are eagerly awaiting the appearance of their
young. A family of HAIRY WOODPECKERS has come to the feeder, and it is
fun to watch them learn to use the suet feeder. On Thursday the
RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER came for suet.

In Red Lake County, Peder Svingen found a YELLOW RAIL and three NELSON'S
SHARP-TAILED SPARROWS in Terrebonne Township on June 27th.

Among the species reported by Alex Wendorf at Rydell NWR in Polk County
this week were RED-NECKED GREBE, WHITE PELICAN, and COOPER'S HAWK.

Kim Eckert found a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT at Felton Prairie in Clay County
on Saturday, June 26th while leading a VENT tour. The bird was not
refound by Bob Janssen on Monday. If you wish to look for it, directions
are: From Felton go south two miles to CR Rd 108, then east two miles
toward the Rock Wren area.  When the road splits (left goes toward the
Rock Wren) turn south or right toward the longspur area for about a half
mile.  After the gravel pits on your left and just before you get to the
S curve area through the ravine there is a gully and thicket area on
your right that has WILLOW FLYCATCHERS singing in it.  The chat was in
this area. The ROCK WRENS at Felton Prairie have apparently nested as
reported by Sparky Stensaas who observed them carrying food to an
apparent nest site on June 30th. Kim Eckert observed a GREATER
PRAIRIE-CHICKEN still displaying on June 26th on the south side of CR108
1.7 miles east of MN Hwy 9. More than twenty other non-displaying birds
were seen foraging in a field on the north side of CR 26 about one mile
east of Hwy 9. Doug Johnson found several UPLAND SANDPIPERS, and WESTERN
KINGBIRDS in the Felton Prairie area. Peder Svingen observed a NELSON'S
SHARP-TAILED SPARROW at the Flickertail WPA on Sunday.

>From Otter Tail County, Bob Janssen found the HENSLOW'S SPARROWS at
Glendalough State Park on June 28th. Kim Eckert reported that he found
LE CONTE'S SPARROWS there also and noted that birders looking for the
Henslow's Sparrows should be aware that their skulking behavior is
similar.=20

Thanks to Kim Eckert, Doug Johnson, Bob Janssen, Sparky Stensaas, and
Alex Wendorf 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 9, 2004.