[mou] Northwest Minnesota Birding Report- Friday, May 28, 2004

[Jeanie Joppru]

This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Friday, May 28, 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.

Reluctantly, spring is coming to the northwest. The leaves are nearly
out on most of the trees, making the warblers harder to see in the
canopy, but the temperatures have brought them to the feeders and the
ground, so many are getting the best ever looks at them.

Susan Wiste reported from Douglas County that GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER,
INDIGO BUNTING, and BOBOLINKS have returned to that county.

Both INDIGO BUNTINGS, and ORCHARD ORIOLES have returned to Otter Tail
County as reported by Roland Jordahl.

The Detroit Lake Festival of Birds reported that 200 birders attended
the festival, and 160 species were reported.  Some highlights follow.=20

Sightings  from the Itasca State Park field trip included NORTHERN
GOSHAWK, COMMON TERN, BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER, PHILADELPHIA VIREO, and
twenty species of warblers.=20

The Rothsay field trip saw RED-NECKED GREBE, BROAD-WINGED HAWK, GREATER
PRAIRIE-CHICKEN, LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE, and SWAINSON'S THRUSH among others.

In Becker County, the festival participants found GREATER
PRAIRIE-CHICKENS and AMERICAN BITTERN at Hamden Slough. At Tamarac NWR
they reported FORSTER'S TERN, and 24 species of warblers including
GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER, and MOURNING WARBLER.

The field trip to the Felton/Ulen area of Clay County reported MARBLED
GODWIT, UPLAND SANDPIPER, and CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPUR.

Ann Geiszler reported SCARLET TANAGER at the cabin on Big Toad Lake in
Becker County. Luke Pechmann reported INDIGO BUNTING, and RUBY-THROATED
HUMMINGBIRD.=20

Mel and Elaine Bennefeld in Clay County reported a LAZULI BUNTING and a
SCARLET TANAGER at the Ponderosa Golf Club on May 25th. A RED-HEADED
WOODPECKER and an ORCHARD ORIOLE were reported  by Sue Fitzpatrick ,
also in Clay County.

Pat Rice observed CASPIAN TERNS at the Longville wastewater treatment
ponds on May 25th. Fifteen species of warblers were seen that day on the
Wood Tick Trail in Cass County.

In Beltrami County, Pat reported an ORCHARD ORIOLE at her feeder  on May
24th. Pat DeWenter had several warblers in her yard, Beltrami County,
and also a RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD.

Gladwynn Lynne  saw a flock of 17 AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVERS near Sherack,
Polk County, on May 25th. Ross Hier reported that the SCARLET TANAGERS
have returned to Polk County also. Bruce Flaig observed a RED-BELLIED
WOODPECKER in SE Polk County on the 23rd. An INDIGO BUNTING  was
reported at Maple Bay by Mike Christopher on May 22nd. Donna and Leon
Thoreson have had 30-35 TENNESSEE WARBLERS at their grape jelly feeders.
Other species seen at the feeders included RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD,
NASHVILLE WARBLER, YELLOW WARBLER, CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER, CAPE MAY
WARBLER, ORCHARD ORIOLE, and BALTIMORE ORIOLE. At Rydell NWR, Alex
Wendorf included TRUMPETER SWAN, EASTERN KINGBIRD, GREAT CRESTED
FLYCATCHER, eleven species of warblers, INDIGO BUNTING,  and SCARLET
TANAGER in this week's report.

Here in Pennington County, I have a RED-HEADED WOODPECKER coming to the
feeder daily.

Diana Morkassel reported that the SCARLET TANAGERS have come to Marshall
County as well, and Beth Siverhus also saw them in Roseau County. Maggie
Anderson at Agassiz NWR reported that GREEN HERONS have been spotted
near the headquarters, and dancing WESTERN GREBES can be seen on
Headquarters Pool. A GREAT GRAY OWL is being seen from time to time
along CR 7 near the east boundary. Roads in the interior of the refuge
are not in good shape due to the recent wet weather, but the Auto Tour
is open.

Thanks to Kelly Blackledge, Beth Siverhus, Susan Wiste, Roland Jordahl,
Diana Morkassel, Gladwyn Lynne, Sue Fitzpatrick, Ross Hier, Bruce Flaig,
Pat DeWenter, Luke Pechmann, Mike Christopher, Ann Geiszler, Alex
Wendorf, Mel and Elaine Bennefeld, Donna and Leon Thoreson , and Pat
Rice for sending in their 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, June 4, 2004.