[mou] Northwest Minnesota Birding Report- Friday, May 21, 2004

[Jeanie Joppru]

This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Friday, May 21, 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.

Warmer temperatures arrived this week and with them the beginning of the
warbler waves. Particularly in the southern half of the northwest
region, I have reports of many people seeing 20 or more warbler species
in a single day. The shorebird picture is less encouraging as some of
the key spots got too dry early, and although the water levels have
recovered, it appears that the invertebrates that the birds feed on may
not have survived in many places. As a result, shorebirds are scattered
about throughout the area in potholes in farm fields, and around farm
ponds- in short you have to work for them.=20

A PAINTED BUNTING was visiting a yard south of Detroit Lakes in Becker
County for a few days, but it appears that the bird has left as no one
has seen it in the last few days. However, another ( or the same)
PAINTED BUNTING has turned up in Moorhead in Clay County at the feeders
at Rich Pemble's house. Directions to that site are as follows: take I
94 to the Route 75 exit (the last exit before crossing into North
Dakota), go north on 75 (8th St. S.) to the stoplight at  24th Avenue
S., the street just north of Sunmart, and turn left (west) toward the
Red River.  At the end of 24th, where you'll see a double-headed arrow,
turn left and park.  Rich's house is the second on the right.  His
instructions are to walk around the south side of the garage and watch
either from the wooden deck or the yard sloping toward the river.=20

A male HOODED WARBLER was reported by Dan and Sandy Thimgan and Eddy and
Judy Edwards at Black's Grove Park (west of the town of Wadena) just off
State Hwy 29 in east-central Otter Tail County on May 15th. From the
parking lot go beyond the covered picnic shelter and take the trail
where the orange bridge crosses the creek (note:  this is NOT the
smaller orange bridge that you can see from the old log cabin).  Follow
the meandering grass trail, which has been scalped to bare dirt, until
you reach a "T," then turn left.  Travel approximately 100 yards to
where the trail takes a sharp turn right. The bird was seen in this
area.

A WESTERN TANAGER was reported by John Loegering a few miles north of
Crookston in Polk County. Directions are: From the US2/US75 corner north
of Crookston and bordering the University of Minnesota Crookston, travel
2-4 miles North on US 75. Turn East (right) on Polk County 252, travel
1.2 miles to a yellow house on the south side of the road.  Blue fire
number on the south side of the road is 25045, mailbox on the north side
of the road displays the sign Crookston FD715. The homeowner has
consented to have birders visit, but requested that you stay in the car
and observe from the shoulder of the road. The bird visits the feeders
and also feeds on the driveway with other species.

A BLACK SCOTER was observed at the Thief River Falls wastewater
treatment ponds by Dennis and Barbara Martin on May 14th. I searched on
Tuesday and did not relocate the bird. Other species observed at these
ponds in Pennington County on May 20 included one COMMON LOON, two
RED-NECKED GREBES, 11 WESTERN GREBES, and 358 WILSON'S PHALAROPES.

>From Agassiz NWR in Marshall County, Maggie Anderson reported that Tom
Nelson and Jim Hughes saw a CATTLE EGRET on the headquarters lawn last
weekend. Also seen at the refuge were two  GREAT GRAY OWLS- one in the
wilderness area a few days ago, and one along CR 7 near the east
boundary on May 17th. A SHORT-EARED OWL was seen last evening just west
of the refuge along CR 7.

Pat Rice reported from Beltrami County that she had observed 20 species
of warblers on May 16th including BLUE-WINGED WARBLER, GOLDEN-WINGED
WARBLER, and NORTHERN PARULA. A RED-HEADED WOODPECKER has been seen at a
feeder in that county.

Mike Christopherson saw three ORCHARD ORIOLES in the city of Crookston
in Polk County on the 19th. At the Wetlands, Pines, and Prairies Audubon
Sanctuary , Lori Becker reported that there is a nesting COOPER'S HAWK,
and also  a nesting LONG-EARED OWL.

Mel and Elaine Bennefeld saw an UPLAND SANDPIPER, and an INDIGO BUNTING
at the Ponderosa Golf Club in Clay County on May 18th.

A WILD TURKEY was seen by Shelley Steva near Dunvilla. Kay Hartness
reported an EVENING GROSBEAK in Becker County on May 18th, and an
ORCHARD ORIOLE on the 20th. Many species of warblers and other
passerines were reported this week from Becker County as well, too
numerous to list here.

A RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was reported in Otter Tail County by Colleen
Nelson. Dave Sorgen reported  a GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH, and BLACK-BILLED
CUCKOO , the first report I have had of either species this migration.

45 GREAT EGRETS were reported by Susan Wiste in Douglas County a few
miles west of Alexandria on a farm pond about a mile north of Highway
27.=20

Don't forget the Detroit Lakes Festival of Birds May 21-23 in Detroit
Lakes. See you there.

Thanks to all the birders who sent in their sightings this week. Space
prevents me from listing them all here, and also from mentioning each
and every bird. I hope you all will understand.

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, May 28, 2004.

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