Previous reports: November 2 8 15 22 29, December 6 13.
Other Hotlines: Minnesota Statewide | Minnesota Duluth/North Shore

-RBA
*Minnesota
*Detroit Lakes
*December 20, 2007
*MNDL0712.20

• Tundra Swan
• Gray Partridge
• Sharp-tailed Grouse
• Bald Eagle
• Sharp-shinned Hawk
• Mourning Dove
• Great Horned Owl
• Red-bellied Woodpecker
• Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
• American Three-toed Woodpecker
• Black-backed Woodpecker
• Pileated Woodpecker
• Northern Shrike
• Gray Jay
• Black-billed Magpie
• Brown Creeper
• Bohemian Waxwing
• Snow Bunting
• Northern Cardinal
• Purple Finch
• Red Crossbill
• Hoary Redpoll
• Pine Siskin

Hotline: Minnesota, Detroit Lakes
Date: December 20, 2007
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 Thursday, December 20, 2007 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.

Weather and roads have remained in good condition throughout December in the northwest. We have good snow cover, enough to make walking on ungroomed trails a little harder, but not enough to make it impossible. Christmas Bird Counts are beginning, and conditions seem to be excellent for a good count.

Ryan Sansness in Douglas County at Lake Carlos State Park reported that many PINE SISKINS were at the park feeders on December 18, and many flocks of SNOW BUNTINGS could be seen in the Miltona area.

Two AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKERS were seen in Cass County by Dale Yerger on December 17. They were not relocated on December 18. The birds were seen along Cass CR 8 six miles north of the bridge at Federal Dam in the tamarack bog on the east side of the road. On December 18, Ben Wieland reported a HOARY REDPOLL along CR 8, 2 BLACK-BILLED MAGPIES along CR 19, and 3 TUNDRA SWANS on the Crow Wing River below the Sylvan Dam.

Doug Johnson reported on the Itasca State Park CBC where the count was held on December 16. Among the species seen were BALD EAGLE, SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, BROWN CREEPER, NORTHERN SHRIKE, NORTHERN CARDINAL. 3 BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKERS and 5 GRAY JAYS were seen in Hubbard County,while nine RED CROSSBILLS were found in Clearwater County. 70 EVENING GROSBREAKS were found at Lake Alice in Hubbard County, and some also in Clearwater County.

Mary Lou Marchand in Beltrami County reported a pair of NORTHERN CARDINALS at her feeder in Bemidji on December 18.

Here in Pennington County, there have been BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS in Thief River Falls all week. A very late immature YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER showed up at our feeder accompanied by a RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER on December 15. Anita Vettleson observed a GREAT HORNED OWL along US 59 in the very southern part of Pennington County on December 19.

Maggie Anderson reported that Becky Carlson saw a MOURNING DOVE at the feeder at Agassiz NWR on December 20, and Greg Knutson observed BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS at headquarters also.

Larry Wilebski in Kittson County sent a report on December 15 in which he reported 8 GRAY PARTRIDGE, 15 SHARP-TAILED GROUSE, PILEATED WOODPECKER, a NORTHERN SHRIKE, one GRAY JAY, and a PURPLE FINCH. On December 16, he saw BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS in the county.

Thanks to Anita Vettleson, Ben Wieland, Carolyn Towler, Dale Yerger, Doug Johnson, Larry Wilebski, Maggie Anderson, Mary Lou Marchand, and Ryan Sansness 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. The next scheduled update of this report is Thursday, December 27, 2007.

Jeanie Joppru Pennington County, MN

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