Minnesota Detroit Lakes RBA
Minnesota Detroit Lakes RBA
Minnesota Detroit Lakes RBA
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Previous reports: February 21 28, March 6 13 20 27, April 3.
Other Hotlines: Minnesota Statewide | Minnesota Duluth/North Shore
-RBA *Minnesota *Detroit Lakes *April 10, 2008 *MNDL0804.10-Birds mentioned
Hotline: Minnesota, Detroit Lakes
Date: April 10, 2008
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, April 10, 2008 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 migration is in full swing this week as the first wave of passerines is flooding in, raptor migration continues, and the waterfowl migration is winding down. Open water in the northwest is increasing, but still much ice remains so the migrants are concentrated in the few open areas and the field melt water. The latter is not very widespread as we have had little precipitation in the far northwest and the melt is sinking into the ground and evaporating with the strong winds that have been common within the last weeks.
On April 1, Brad and Dee Ehlers reported a FOX SPARROW in Otter Tail County. On April 3 there were SNOW GEESE flying over Hoot Lake, and on the 7th, both a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK and a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK came to look for lunch in their yard. Amy Drake reported a TREE SWALLOW on April 4, AMERICAN COOT, and a PURPLE FINCH among many other species on April 6. Dan and Sandy Thimgan observed GREAT EGRET on April 5, DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT, HERRING GULL and BELTED KINGFISHER on April 8, and 65 TUNDRA SWANS on April 9.
A GREAT EGRET was seen in Hubbard County on April 3 along MN 71/200 west of CR 3 by Phil and Laurie Bauerly.
Beau Shroyer in Becker County reported BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS in Detroit Lakes on April 5, and a FOX SPARROW on April 6.
Mel and Elaine Bennefeld at Buffalo River State Park in Clay County on April 9 saw a WOOD DUCK, GOLDEN EAGLE, GREAT BLUE HERON, and EASTERN BLUEBIRD. While driving through Clay County north of Moorhead on April 5, Zeann Linder saw a large migrating flock of geese and ducks just west of Kragnes. Included in the many thousands of birds were CANADA GEESE, CACKLING GEESE, many GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, SNOW GEESE , and several species of ducks including NORTHERN PINTAIL. As we watched a GOLDEN EAGLE flushed a large group of the waterfowl.
Kelly Larson was in Polk County on April 5 where she reported many species of raptors including TURKEY VULTURE. There was an EASTERN BLUEBIRD at Oak Lake, GREATER PRAIRIE-CHICKENS on leks at Glacial Ridge. Mike Christopherson reported a pair of MERLINS at his home in Crookston on April 3. Nate Emery observed a SHORT-EARED OWL flying over Pankratz Prairie SNA on April 7.
In Red Lake County, Shelley Steva reported 20 TUNDRA SWANS, RED-TAILED HAWK, MERLIN, SANDHILL CRANES, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD and WESTERN MEADOWLARK on April 10.
A GREAT HORNED OWL was seen on April 7 along MN 1 west of Thief River Falls in Pennington County. Shelley Steva reported 20 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS near her home in Thief River Falls on April 10.
From Agassiz NWR Maggie Anderson reported RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS on April 4. On that day an albino female MALLARD was seen on the refuge. Three TRUMPETER SWANS returned to the refuge on April 4. Other species on the 4th included one RING-BILLED GULL and a YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD. 15 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS returned on April 7. A GREAT EGRET was seen on April 8, a SHORT-EARED OWL was reported on Westgate Road on April 9, while a COOPER'S HAWK and a MERLIN came to headquarters on April 10.
In Clearwater County, Kelly Larson reported PURPLE FINCH and FOX SPARROW on April 4, and SANDHILL CRANE, AMERICAN WOODCOCK, and BARRED OWL on April 7 among the many species she saw this week at her place near Bagley.
In Beltrami County, Kelly Larson included TRUMPETER SWAN, several species of ducks, PIED-BILLED GREBE, BELTED KINGFISHER, EASTERN PHOEBE, and RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD in the list of species seen on April 8 at the Mississippi River outlet, and BUFFLEHEAD among the ducks at the inlet. Dave Carman and Steve Patterson both reported a MERLIN in Bemidji this week.
Larry Wilebski in Kittson County observed MOURNING DOVE, EASTERN BLUEBIRD, and FOX SPARROW on April 5 , and SANDHILL CRANES on April 9.
From throughout the area, there were reports this week of most species of goose, both swans, WOOD DUCK, GADWALL, MALLARD, BLUE-WINGED TEAL, NORTHERN SHOVELER, NORTHERN PINTAIL, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, CANVASBACK, REDHEAD, RING-NECKED DUCK, BUFFLEHEAD, COMMON GOLDENEYE, HOODED MERGANSER, COMMON MERGANSER, BALD EAGLE, NORTHERN HARRIER, RED-TAILED HAWK, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, AMERICAN KESTREL, MERLIN, SANDHILL CRANE, KILLDEER, BELTED KINGFISHER, EASTERN PHOEBE, EASTERN BLUEBIRD, AMERICAN ROBIN, DARK-EYED JUNCO, FOX SPARROW, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD, WESTERN MEADOWLARK and COMMON GRACKLE.
Thanks to all the folks who sent in reports 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. The next scheduled update of this report is Thursday, April 17, 2008
Jeanie Joppru Pennington County, MN
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