Minnesota Detroit Lakes RBA
Minnesota Detroit Lakes RBA
Minnesota Detroit Lakes RBA
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Previous reports: March 13 20 27, April 3 10 17 24.
Other Hotlines: Minnesota Statewide | Minnesota Duluth/North Shore
-RBA *Minnesota *Detroit Lakes *May 1, 2008 *MNDL0805.01-Birds mentioned
Hotline: Minnesota, Detroit Lakes
Date: May 1, 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, May 1, 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.
This was an eventful weather week with warm temperatures followed by a late spring blizzard which dropped up to 18 inches of snow in parts of the northwest. It grounded lots of migrants, and birding was excellent on Sunday after the weather calmed - if you could get to them. Vehicles with all-wheel drive were the most popular choice. The weather has improved and temperatures have rebounded after the cold.
In Kittson County, Larry Wilebski reported COMMON LOON and OSPREY new for the season at his property near Lancaster.
Several species of ducks, A GREAT BLUE HERON, and EASTERN PHOEBE were observed by Arlene Johnson and Michael Hedemark at the Roseau River WMA in Roseau County on April 29.
In Clearwater County, Kelly Larson observed many birds sheltering from the storm on April 26 including SWAMP SPARROW, and many blackbirds , mostly RUSTY BLACKBIRDS.
On Sunday, Shelley Steva and I had a close encounter with a SORA at Agassiz NWR at the viewing platform at Parker Pool. The first HERMIT THRUSH was also seen nearby. Arlene Johnson and Michael Hedemark near Gatzke, observed TURKEY VULTURE, MARBLED GODWIT, AMERICAN WOODCOCK, FRANKLIN'S GULL, CHIPPING SPARROW, and many blackbirds most of which were RUSTY BLACKBIRDS during the storm on April 26.
Here in Pennington County, I was able to identify 10 COMMON LOONS, 4 PIED-BILLED GREBES, 2 HORNED GREBES, 2 RED-NECKED GREBES, 6 EARED GREBES, 2 WESTERN GREBES, and 198 DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS on the river at the 8th St. bridge in Thief River Falls. At our feeder an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER and FOX SPARROW made a brief appearance, while on the river bank there was a WILSON'S SNIPE. A TURKEY VULTURE, and MARBLED GODWIT were seen on April 27, and ,on April 28, a BELTED KINGFISHER arrived along the Red Lake River. Arlene Johnson and Michael Hedemark found most common species of ducks present at the Thief River Falls WTP on April 29.
In Red Lake County, Shelley Steva saw 2 WILD TURKEYS two miles north of Plummer on the east side of US 59 on April 24. A few MARBLED GODWITS, and 220 BREWER'S BLACKBIRDS were observed on April 27.
Alyssa De Rubeis found a CINNAMON TEAL at the Crookston WTP on April 26 with Kim Eckert's MOU Polk County weekend trip. Note that special arrangements must be made for access as the ponds are locked. Other great sightings on that trip included GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, CACKLING GOOSE, GREATER SCAUP, GRAY PARTRIDGE, SHARP-TAILED GROUSE, GREATER PRAIRIE-CHICKEN, PEREGRINE FALCON, and early DUNLIN, SHORT-EARED OWL, LARK SPARROW, and LAPLAND LONGSPUR among the over 90 species seen in spite of the bad weather. A GREATER YELLOWLEGS was seen by Shelley Steva on April 27 at the rice paddies in eastern Polk County.
The MOU weekend trip while in Norman County saw most of those same species , and added a few more including GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET and ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER.
Clay County sightings included BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, and WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW seen by Rick Holbrook on April 29 at Buffalo River SP and a YELLOW WARBLER that Dennis Weisenborn saw fly across the river into Clay County from Fargo on April 30. Connie Norheim found GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, and a YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD at Lake Maria, and at the MSUM Science Center, a BROAD-WINGED HAWK on May 1.
Beau Shroyer observed NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW, PINE WARBLER, PALM WARBLER, and RUSTY BLACKBIRD in Becker County on April 28. Michael Ossler reported SAVANNAH SPARROW and HARRIS'S SPARROW on May 1.
Milton Blomberg reported RUDDY DUCK, CLARK'S GREBE, 104 WESTERN GREBES, SORA, and SHORT-EARED OWL among others seen on Lake Osakis in Todd County on April 23.
In Otter Tail County, Tom Smith saw COMMON LOON, GREAT EGRET, PURPLE MARTIN, and YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD on April 24. Brad and Dee Ehlers included GREATER PRAIRIE-CHICKEN, BROWN THRASHER, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, and 30 WHITE-THROATED SPARROW in their yard list on April 24. Alma Ronningen reported a LINCOLN'S SPARROW on April 27. Teresa Jaskiewicz reported a LARK SPARROW in Elizabeth on April 30; at the Prairie Wetlands Learning Center she saw three AMERICAN WOODCOCKS and a GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH. Dan and Sandy Thimgan reported a NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH on May 1.
From Douglas County, John Ellis reported WILSON'S PHALAROPES and OVENBIRD on April 27.
Other species mentioned by nearly all the observers included all the common ducks, raptors such as BALD EAGLE, NORTHERN HARRIER, RED-TAILED HAWK, and KESTREL, the first shorebirds such as GREATER YELLOWLEGS, MARBLED GODWIT, and AMERICAN WOODCOCK, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, and sparrows such as AMERICAN TREE SPARROW, CHIPPING SPARROW, SONG SPARROW, WHITE-THROATED SPARROW, FOX SPARROW, and DARK-EYED JUNCO, and FINCHES such as PURPLE FINCH.
Thanks to all who reported sightings 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, May 8, 2008.
Jeanie Joppru Pennington County, MN
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