[mou] Northwest Minnesota Birding Report- Friday, March 10, 2006
Jeanie Joppru
ajjoppru@wiktel.com
Thu, 9 Mar 2006 21:32:10 -0600
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This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Friday, March 10,
2006 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.
Spring is slowly working its way north, and the last week has featured
warm temperatures, melting snow, heavy wet snow, rain, sleet, and other
spring weather events. The result has been often slippery roads, but as
of this writing, roads are clear and dry. Most sightings this week have
featured Gray Partridge, Sharp-tailed Grouse, and Greater
Prairie-Chickens which seem to be coming "out of the woodwork" in the
northwest this week.
GRAY PARTRIDGE were reported this week from Kittson, Pennington,
Marshall, Clay, and Wilkin counties. In Kittson County, Larry Wilebski
found some at his place near Lancaster, while Gary Tischer reported a
covey of 5 along CR 12 five miles north of Thief River Falls, and 4 more
along the same road, Pennington CR 20 three - four miles north of Thief
River Falls. Ben Fritchman found 5 GRAY PARTRIDGE in Clay County on
March 5 near the intersection of MN 9 and 57th Ave four miles north of
US 10. John Ellis reported 10 of them just north of the intersection of
250th St and 310 Ave. southwest of Rothsay on March 4.
SHARP-TAILED GROUSE were seen in Beltrami, Pennington, Red Lake, Polk,
and Wilkin counties. Shelley Steva and Zeann Linder sent in separate
reports of SHARP-TAILED GROUSE along US 59 in Pennington County near the
Red Lake County line south of Thief River Falls this week. One GREATER
PRAIRIE-CHICKEN was among them. Shelley reported SHARP-TAILED GROUSE
along Red Lake County Road 5 on March 8. Zeann Linder was in Polk County
in and around the Glacial Ridge NWR on March 4 where she reported many
SHARP-TAILED GROUSE and GREATER PRAIRIE-CHICKENS easily visible along
the roadsides and fields nearby. Ben Fritchman found GREATER
PRAIRIE-CHICKENS in Wilkin County on March 5 near Rothsay, and many near
Gary in Norman County. In short, if you wish to see any of these
species, this is the time to look in almost any of the prairie areas or
CRP fields of the northwest.
Several NORTHERN HAWK OWLS were seen in Lake of the Woods County on
March 4, along CR 77 and MN 72 near the Beltrami County line.=20
Katie Haws reported a NORTHERN HAWK OWL along MN 72 in Beltrami County
this week. Kelly Larson found six BALD EAGLES, a NORTHERN SHRIKE, and
PINE GROSBEAKS in Beltrami County on March 6. Gretchen Mehmel reported a
NORTHERN HAWK OWL just south of the Red Lake WMA boundary along Dick's
Parkway north of Fourtown.
In Clearwater County on March 6, Kelly Larson found BALD EAGLE, BLUE
JAY, BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE, AMERICAN CROW, and COMMON RAVEN.=20
In Marshall County, Gary Tischer reported a dark immature SNOWY OWL on
March 6, a quarter mile west of the Thief River bridge along CR 7. This
is immediately west of the entrance to Agassiz NWR. The NORTHERN HAWK
OWL that has over wintered at Agassiz NWR was seen at the intersection
of CR 7 and the Airport Road within Agassiz on March 6. Gary Huschle
reported that the first BALD EAGLE of the year at Agassiz NWR appeared
on March 2.
Shelley Steva reported a BALD EAGLE in Red Lake County on March 1. Anita
Vettleson saw a CANADA GOOSE flying near US 59 in Brooks on March 9.
Polk County sightings reported by Donna and Leon Thoreson included a
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK along CR 44, and a GYRFALCON 2.5 miles west of MN 32
along CR 45. The Thoreson's are still feeding about 25 SNOW BUNTINGS at
their home near Climax.
In Norman County on March 5, Ben Fritchman found BLACK-BILLED MAGPIES,
and 15 AMERICAN ROBINS , 5 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS, and 100 CEDAR WAXWINGS in
Twin Valley. Donna and Leon Thoreson relocated the GREAT GRAY OWL one
mile west of MN 32 along CR 151 on March 9. A NORTHERN SHRIKE was also
see in the county.
Susan Wiste had a visit from a BROWN CREEPER in Douglas County near
Alexandria on March 4. John Ellis saw twenty WILD TURKEYS, a dark
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, and a NORTHERN CARDINAL in that county on March 4.
Katie Haws reported a NORTHERN HAWK OWL along MN 64 south of the Badoura
Nursery in Hubbard County this week.
Shar Legenhausen in Becker County saw 3 TRUMPETER SWANS on the Buffalo
River on March 7. Other species seen in the county included a BALD EAGLE
and two AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS.
In Wilkin County, Ben Fritchman saw lots of GREATER PRAIRIE-CHICKENS and
a lone LESSER SCAUP in flight. John Ellis reported a SNOWY OWL 3 miles
SW of Lawndale northwest of the intersection of 280th Ave. and 170th St.
where CR 15 curves to the east. He also reported four NORTHERN HARRIERS,
and two ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS in the county.
In Otter Tail County, John Ellis reported many TRUMPETER SWANS in
Fergus Falls on March 4.
Thanks to Gretchen Mehmel, Susan Wiste, Larry Wilebski, Shelley Steva,
Ben Fritchman, John Ellis, Zeann Linder, Kelly Larson, Gary Tischer,
Shar Legenhausen, Katie Haws, and Anita Vettleson 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, March 17, 2006.
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<P><FONT FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">This is the Northwest Minnesota =
Birding Report for Friday, March 10, 2006 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.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">Spring is slowly working its way =
north, and the last week has featured warm temperatures, melting snow, =
heavy wet snow, rain, sleet, and other spring weather events. The result =
has been often slippery roads, but as of this writing, roads are clear =
and dry. Most sightings this week have featured Gray Partridge, =
Sharp-tailed Grouse, and Greater Prairie-Chickens which seem to be =
coming "out of the woodwork" in the northwest this =
week.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT COLOR=3D"#0000FF" FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">GRAY =
PARTRIDGE</FONT> <FONT FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">were reported this =
week from Kittson, Pennington, Marshall, Clay, and Wilkin counties. In =
Kittson County, Larry Wilebski found some at his place near Lancaster, =
while Gary Tischer reported a covey of 5 along CR 12 five miles north of =
Thief River Falls, and 4 more along the same road, Pennington CR 20 =
three - four miles north of Thief River Falls. Ben Fritchman found 5 =
</FONT><FONT COLOR=3D"#0000FF" FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">GRAY =
PARTRIDGE</FONT> <FONT FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">in Clay County on =
March 5 near the intersection of MN 9 and 57th Ave four miles =
north of US 10. John Ellis reported 10 of them just north of the =
intersection of 250th St and 310 Ave. southwest of Rothsay on March =
4.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT COLOR=3D"#0000FF" FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">SHARP-TAILED =
GROUSE</FONT> <FONT FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">were seen in Beltrami, =
Pennington, Red Lake, Polk, and Wilkin counties. Shelley Steva and =
Zeann Linder sent in separate reports of </FONT><FONT COLOR=3D"#0000FF" =
FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">SHARP-TAILED GROUSE</FONT> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">along US 59 in Pennington County near the =
Red Lake County line south of Thief River Falls this week. One =
</FONT><FONT COLOR=3D"#0000FF" FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">GREATER =
PRAIRIE-CHICKEN</FONT> <FONT FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">was among =
them. Shelley reported </FONT><FONT COLOR=3D"#0000FF" =
FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">SHARP-TAILED GROUSE</FONT> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">along Red Lake County Road 5 on March 8. =
Zeann Linder was in Polk County in and around the Glacial Ridge NWR on =
March 4 where she reported many </FONT><FONT COLOR=3D"#0000FF" =
FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">SHARP-TAILED GROUSE</FONT><FONT =
FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi"> and </FONT><FONT COLOR=3D"#0000FF" =
FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">GREATER PRAIRIE-CHICKENS</FONT> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">easily visible along the roadsides and =
fields nearby. Ben Fritchman found </FONT><FONT COLOR=3D"#0000FF" =
FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">GREATER PRAIRIE-CHICKENS</FONT> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">in Wilkin County on March 5 near Rothsay, =
and many near Gary in Norman County. In short, if you wish to see any of =
these species, this is the time to look in almost any of the prairie =
areas or CRP fields of the northwest.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">Several </FONT><FONT =
COLOR=3D"#0000FF" FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">NORTHERN HAWK =
OWLS</FONT> <FONT FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">were seen in Lake of the =
Woods County on March 4, along CR 77 and MN 72 near the Beltrami County =
line. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">Katie Haws reported a =
</FONT><FONT COLOR=3D"#0000FF" FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">NORTHERN =
HAWK OWL</FONT> <FONT FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">along MN 72 in =
Beltrami County this week. Kelly Larson found six </FONT><FONT =
COLOR=3D"#0000FF" FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">BALD EAGLES</FONT><FONT =
FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">, a </FONT><FONT COLOR=3D"#0000FF" =
FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">NORTHERN SHRIKE</FONT><FONT =
FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">, and </FONT><FONT COLOR=3D"#0000FF" =
FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">PINE GROSBEAKS</FONT> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">in Beltrami County on March 6. Gretchen =
Mehmel reported a </FONT><FONT COLOR=3D"#0000FF" FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic =
Demi">NORTHERN HAWK OWL</FONT> <FONT FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">just =
south of the Red Lake WMA boundary along Dick's Parkway north of =
Fourtown.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">In Clearwater County on March 6, =
Kelly Larson found </FONT><FONT COLOR=3D"#0000FF" FACE=3D"Franklin =
Gothic Demi">BALD EAGLE, BLUE JAY, BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE, AMERICAN =
CROW,</FONT> <FONT FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">and </FONT><FONT =
COLOR=3D"#0000FF" FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">COMMON RAVEN</FONT><FONT =
FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">In Marshall County, Gary Tischer =
reported a dark immature </FONT><FONT COLOR=3D"#0000FF" FACE=3D"Franklin =
Gothic Demi">SNOWY OWL</FONT> <FONT FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">on =
March 6, a quarter mile west of the Thief River bridge along CR 7. This =
is immediately west of the entrance to Agassiz NWR. The </FONT><FONT =
COLOR=3D"#0000FF" FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">NORTHERN HAWK OWL</FONT> =
<FONT FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">that has over wintered at Agassiz =
NWR was seen at the intersection of CR 7 and the Airport Road within =
Agassiz on March 6. Gary Huschle reported that the first </FONT><FONT =
COLOR=3D"#0000FF" FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">BALD EAGLE</FONT> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">of the year at Agassiz NWR appeared on =
March 2.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">Shelley Steva reported a =
</FONT><FONT COLOR=3D"#0000FF" FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">BALD =
EAGLE</FONT> <FONT FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">in Red Lake County on =
March 1. Anita Vettleson saw a </FONT><FONT COLOR=3D"#0000FF" =
FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">CANADA GOOSE</FONT> <FONT FACE=3D"Franklin =
Gothic Demi">flying near US 59 in Brooks on March 9.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">Polk County sightings reported by =
Donna and Leon Thoreson included a </FONT><FONT COLOR=3D"#0000FF" =
FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK</FONT> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">along CR 44, and a </FONT><FONT =
COLOR=3D"#0000FF" FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">GYRFALCON</FONT><FONT =
FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi"> 2.5 miles west of MN 32 along CR 45. The =
Thoreson's are still feeding about 25 </FONT><FONT COLOR=3D"#0000FF" =
FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">SNOW BUNTINGS</FONT> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">at their home near Climax.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">In Norman County on March 5, Ben =
Fritchman found </FONT><FONT COLOR=3D"#0000FF" FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic =
Demi">BLACK-BILLED MAGPIES</FONT><FONT FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">, =
and 15 </FONT><FONT COLOR=3D"#0000FF" FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic =
Demi">AMERICAN ROBINS</FONT> <FONT FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">, 5 =
</FONT><FONT COLOR=3D"#0000FF" FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">BOHEMIAN =
WAXWINGS</FONT><FONT FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">, and 100 =
</FONT><FONT COLOR=3D"#0000FF" FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">CEDAR =
WAXWINGS</FONT> <FONT FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">in Twin Valley. =
Donna and Leon Thoreson relocated the </FONT><FONT COLOR=3D"#0000FF" =
FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">GREAT GRAY OWL</FONT> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">one mile west of MN 32 along CR 151 on =
March 9. A </FONT><FONT COLOR=3D"#0000FF" FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic =
Demi">NORTHERN SHRIKE </FONT> <FONT FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic =
Demi">was also see in the county.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">Susan Wiste had a visit from a =
</FONT><FONT COLOR=3D"#0000FF" FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">BROWN =
CREEPER</FONT> <FONT FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">in Douglas County =
near Alexandria on March 4. John Ellis saw twenty </FONT><FONT =
COLOR=3D"#0000FF" FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">WILD TURKEYS</FONT><FONT =
FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">, a dark </FONT><FONT COLOR=3D"#0000FF" =
FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK</FONT><FONT =
FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">, and a </FONT><FONT COLOR=3D"#0000FF" =
FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">NORTHERN CARDINAL</FONT> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">in that county on March 4.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">Katie Haws reported a =
</FONT><FONT COLOR=3D"#0000FF" FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">NORTHERN =
HAWK OWL</FONT> <FONT FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">along MN 64 south of =
the Badoura Nursery in Hubbard County this week.</FONT>
</P>
<P><FONT FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">Shar Legenhausen in Becker =
County saw 3 </FONT><FONT COLOR=3D"#0000FF" FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic =
Demi">TRUMPETER SWANS</FONT> <FONT FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">on the =
Buffalo River on March 7. Other species seen in the county included a =
</FONT><FONT COLOR=3D"#0000FF" FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">BALD =
EAGLE</FONT> <FONT FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">and two</FONT><FONT =
COLOR=3D"#0000FF" FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi"> AMERICAN TREE =
SPARROWS</FONT><FONT FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">In Wilkin County, Ben Fritchman =
saw lots of </FONT><FONT COLOR=3D"#0000FF" FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic =
Demi">GREATER PRAIRIE-CHICKENS</FONT> <FONT FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic =
Demi">and a lone</FONT><FONT COLOR=3D"#0000FF" FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic =
Demi"> LESSER SCAUP</FONT> <FONT FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">in =
flight. John Ellis reported a </FONT><FONT COLOR=3D"#0000FF" =
FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">SNOWY</FONT><FONT FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic =
Demi"> OWL 3 miles SW of Lawndale northwest of the intersection of 280th =
Ave. and 170th St. where CR 15 curves to the east. He also reported four =
</FONT><FONT COLOR=3D"#0000FF" FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">NORTHERN =
HARRIERS</FONT><FONT FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">, and two =
</FONT><FONT COLOR=3D"#0000FF" FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic =
Demi">ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS</FONT> <FONT FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">in =
the county.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">In Otter Tail County, John Ellis =
reported many </FONT><FONT COLOR=3D"#0000FF" FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic =
Demi">TRUMPETER SWANS </FONT> <FONT FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic =
Demi">in Fergus Falls on March 4.</FONT>
</P>
<P><FONT FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">Thanks to Gretchen Mehmel, Susan =
Wiste, Larry Wilebski, Shelley Steva, Ben Fritchman, John Ellis, Zeann =
Linder, Kelly Larson, Gary Tischer, Shar Legenhausen, Katie Haws, and =
Anita Vettleson for their reports.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT FACE=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi">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, March =
17, 2006.</FONT></P>
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