Detroit Lakes RBA
Detroit Lakes RBA
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-RBA *Minnesota *Detroit Lakes *October 24, 2002 *MNDL0210.24 -Birds mentioned
Hotline: Minnesota, Detroit Lakes
Date: October 24, 2002
Sponsor: Lakes Area Birding Club, Detroit Lakes Regional Chamber of Commerce
Reports: 1-800-542-3992 (weekdays during business hours)
Compiler: Jeanie Joppru (ajjoppru@wiktel.com)
This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Friday,October 25,2002 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.
With the cold weather and snow over part of this area this week the birds were really on the move. Shelley Steva travelled to the Twin Cities on the weekend and on Saturday, October 19th she saw over 500 BREWER'S BLACKBIRDS in Mahnomen County near Waubun, over 200 AMERICAN ROBINS in Pelican Rapids and a mixed flock of 600 RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS and COMMON GRACKLES near Erhard in Ottertail County.
A SURF SCOTER was found at the Thief River Falls sewage lagoons on Sunday, October 20th. It was on the center cell with 500 or more other ducks of many species. The bird was refound about noon on Monday, but could not be relocated later in the day. It is to be noted that many of the ducks had left the lagoon by afternoon. Three WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS were seen by Peder Svingen on Lake Winnibigoshish in Cass County near the Richard's townsite.
The ibis that was at Hamden Slough in Becker County was not relocated this week.
A PRAIRIE FALCON was found by Peder Svingen in Polk County near the Pembina Trail Preserve on October 19th.
Eddy and Judy Edwards reported from Ottertail County this week that many migrants were downed by the snowstorm, and the shelter belts were filled with mixed flocks of sparrows including AMERICAN TREE SPARROW, SAVANNAH SPARROW, FOX SPARROW, SONG SPARROW, LINCOLN'S SPARROW, WHITE-THROATED SPARROW, HARRIS'S SPARROW, and DARK-EYED JUNCO. 76 AMERICAN PIPITS were on the ice searching for food near Rush Lake and Neumann WPAs on Monday, October 21st. Also seen were GREATER YELLOWLEGS, HORNED LARKS, SNOW BUNTINGS, and LAPLAND LONGSPURS. GREATER SCAUPS have been taken in larger numbers by hunters in Ottertail County this year so Eddy recommends scanning rafts of scaups carefully. Roland Jordahl reported a BALD EAGLE soaring over Maplewood State Park, and 27 TRUMPETER SWANS were in a slough near Cormorant Village. All the migrating sparrows and the resident woodpeckers including RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER frequented his yard in Ottertail. Alma Ronningen had a NORTHERN SHRIKE in her yard on October 22nd. Nancy Jackson reported that at Glendalough State Park on the 19th, there were ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, and WESTERN MEADOWLARKS in the mix of birds there. BONAPARTE'S GULLS were also seen.On the 21st, there were kinglets and EASTERN BLUEBIRDS also. The same day on West Battle Lake she saw a COMMON LOON, RED-NECKED GREBES, and RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS.
A ROSS'S GOOSE and a YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD were also see by Eddy Edwards at Mud Lake in Grant County.
Becker County birds reported this week included two SPOTTED TOWHEES at Joyce Holter's yard in Detroit Lakes. Nancy Moulden saw 10 TRUMPETER SWANS on the south side of Big Detroit Lake. Kay Hartness on Cotton Lake also reports trumpeter swans, a mix of sparrows , a RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER , BELTED KINGFISHER, and a BROWN CREEPER. Wayne Brininger of Tamarac NWR reports that COMMON GOLDENEYE and SNOW BUNTINGS are showing up.
Shelley Steva saw a MERLIN perched on a wildlife sign in the Waterfowl Production Area in Mahnomen County.
On October 19th Norman County birds included LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, and NORTHERN SHRIKE reported by Peder Svingen; in Polk County he saw AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER, more LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, and AMERICAN PIPITS .
The Thoreson's in Polk County have a white-headed junco- could it be the weather that makes him white-headed? They had a long list of birds that included GRAY PARTRIDGE, GREAT HORNED OWL, LARK SPARROW, LINCOLN'S SPARROW, FOX SPARROW, and RUSTY BLACKBIRD. It seems that their feeding stations were really popular in the cold weather.
Shelley Steva reported GREATER YELLOWLEGS in Red Lake County, and in Pennington County on the 21st near the River Road Casino, a NORTHERN SHRIKE. On Sunday, October 20th, I found a flock of about 40 SNOW GEESE in a mixed flock of all plumages at the Thief River Falls sewage lagoons. Also there were a few BONAPARTE'S GULLS amid the many ducks.A surprising MARSH WREN tried out its voice in the cattails along the road. Included among the ducks were four COMMON GOLDENEYES spotted by Shelley on Monday, October 21st. A number of small short-necked CANADA GEESE were also there. Because of their size and necks we know that they were migrants and not the locals which are the greater Canadas. One SOLITARY SANDPIPER was seen and an AMERICAN PIPIT.
At the Warren lagoons in Marshall County on October 20th were a WESTERN GREBE and two RED-NECKED GREBES, along with a considerable number of shorebirds including both yellowlegs and LEAST SANDPIPER.
Pat DeWenter in Beltrami County reported three flocks of TUNDRA SWANS flying over, and BROWN CREEPER and HARRIS'S SPARROW in the yard. She noted an apparent absence of pine siskins and evening grosbeaks this year. I have no reports of either, but maybe they will show up for winter feeding.
Lake of the Woods County birds seen this week included a BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER and a PILEATED WOODPECKER east of Norris Camp.
Thanks to the many folks who submitted sightings for this week's reports.
Please report bird sightings to Jeanie Joppru by e-mail, 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. When reporting by e-mail please put "NW Bird Report" in the subject line of your message. The next scheduled update of this report is Friday,November 1, 2002.
