Previous reports: June 12 19 26 , July 3 10 17 24 , August 1 .
Other Hotlines: Minnesota Statewide | Minnesota Duluth/North Shore

-RBA
*Minnesota
*Detroit Lakes
*August 14, 2003
*MNDL0308.14

-Birds mentioned

• Horned Grebe
• Red-necked Grebe
• American Bittern
• Great Egret
• Tundra Swan
• Trumpeter Swan
• Snow Goose
• Blue-winged Teal
• Bald Eagle
• Merlin
• Sharp-tailed Grouse
• Common Moorhen
• Sandhill Crane
• Semipalmated Plover
• Upland Sandpiper
• Pectoral Sandpiper
• Buff-breasted Sandpiper
• Long-billed Dowitcher
• Red-necked Phalarope
• Western Kingbird
• Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
• Dickcissel

Hotline: Minnesota, Detroit Lakes
Date: August 14, 2003
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, August 15, 2003 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.

Shorebird migration is in full swing now and there is some evidence that other species are preparing to leave. Large groups of swallows are being seen as they mass together just before leaving. A few warblers are being reported on the listserves here and there- none reported to me in this area yet, but of course we are seeing the ones that nest here as the breeding season winds up.

Since there was no report last week I will mention briefly some of the birds reported by observers then.

A BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER was reported by Dennis Martin in Old Mill State Park, Marshall County, at the picnic area on August 2nd. That is the second such sighting in the northwest this summer- the other being in Pennington County. Dare we hope that they are going to be regulars here soon? At Warren, also in Marshall County, the SNOW GOOSE was still present on August 2nd at the wastewater treatment ponds.

In Roseau County, Dennis Martin found a HORNED GREBE at the Warroad wastewater treatment ponds on the 3rd.

The Becker County COMMON MOORHENS at Hamden Slough NWR have produced 6 young. They are at the same location as reported previously- east from the headquarters past the lake, turn left at the first corner, then 0.7 miles to the small pond on the right hand side of the road. These birds were seen as recently as last Monday, and the babies are still very small so will be around for awhile.

>From Douglas County, Benjamin Fritchman observed two RED-NECKED PHALAROPES on August 3rd at the Osakis wastewater treatment ponds.=20

Carol Schumacher was in Wilkin County on the weekend of the 2nd and reported AMERICAN BITTERN, WESTERN KINGBIRD, and DICKCISSEL from the Rothsay area. =20 At Hamden Slough, Becker County, Carol found an UPLAND SANDPIPER on the same weekend. On the 11th, I observed a GREAT EGRET, 8 TRUMPETER SWANS, and a BALD EAGLE there also. Mary Wyatt reported a brood of RED-NECKED GREBES also. Several wetlands are drawn down, but are already too dry for many shorebirds although small numbers still remain.

Shelley Steva found four SHARP-TAILED GROUSE on August 6th near Oklee in Red Lake County.

Tom Lufkin reported three pairs of SANDHILL CRANES in the Pembina WMA along County Road 10 in Pennington County on August 3rd.

Marshall County news this week is largely about shorebirds, but the TUNDRA SWAN reported earlier is still at Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge as of last weekend. On August 7th a BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER was reported on Thief Bay Pool. GREAT EGRETS were also seen there on August 9th. 2530 individuals of 18 species of shorebirds were tallied at Agassiz on August 9th including LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, and the first juvenile SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, and PECTORAL SANDPIPERS. Also on the 9th, a total albino BLUE-WINGED TEAL was seen on Thief Bay Pool. A MERLIN was reported near the east boundary on August 12th, and the TRUMPETER SWAN brood was spotted with all 6 cygnets on August 13th.=09

Kittson County birds seen by Dennis Martin during the first week of August included a RED-NECKED PHALAROPE at the Karlstad wastewater treatment ponds.

Thanks to Dennis Martin, Shelley Steva, Carol Schumacher, Tom Lufkin, Mary Wyatt, and Benjamin Fritchman 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, August 22, 2003.

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