Previous reports: February 5 12 19 26, March 5 12 19.
Other Hotlines: Minnesota Statewide | Minnesota Duluth/North Shore

-RBA
*Minnesota
*Detroit Lakes
*March 26, 2009
*MNDL0903.26

• Trumpeter Swan
• Wood Duck
• American Wigeon
• Mallard
• Northern Pintail
• Lesser Scaup
• Common Goldeneye
• Hooded Merganser
• Common Merganser
• Sharp-tailed Grouse
• Common Loon
• Bald Eagle
• Northern Harrier
• Sharp-shinned Hawk
• Red-tailed Hawk
• Rough-legged Hawk
• American Kestrel
• Merlin
• Sandhill Crane
• Killdeer
• American Woodcock
• Ring-billed Gull
• Snowy Owl
• Barred Owl
• Belted Kingfisher
• American Crow
• American Robin
• American Tree Sparrow
• Chipping Sparrow
• Fox Sparrow
• Song Sparrow
• Dark-eyed Junco
• Red-winged Blackbird
• Rusty Blackbird
• Common Grackle
• Brown-headed Cowbird
• Purple Finch
• Hoary Redpoll

Hotline: Minnesota, Detroit Lakes
Date: March 26, 2009
Sponsor: Lakes Area Birding Club, Detroit Lakes Regional Chamber of Commerce
Reports: 1-800-542-3992 (weekdays during business hours)
Compiler: Jeanie Joppru (ajjoppru@q.com)

This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Thursday, March 26, 2009 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 has been the main topic in the northwest this week, as the latest spring storm drags its way across the area, causing havoc everywhere. There is hardly a spot in the whole northwest where high water and icy roads are not an issue as I write this. This latest weather event has not stopped the bird migration however. There are now reports from most regions of all the common raptors - BALD EAGLES, NORTHERN HARRIERS, RED-TAILED HAWKS, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS, AMERICAN KESTRELS, and MERLINS are returning to the area daily. Other species reported frequently include AMERICAN CROW, and COMMON GRACKLE.

A HOARY REDPOLL visited the backyard of Dan and Sandy Thimgan in Otter Tail County on March 23, a KILLDEER on March 24, and both SONG SPARROW and FOX SPARROW on March 25. On March 20, Tom Smith reported RED-TAILED HAWK, and NORTHERN HARRIER near Otter Tail Lake, and AMERICAN TREE SPARROW, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS, and COMMON GRACKLE in Fergus Falls. Alma Ronningen reported 4-5 FOX SPARROWS and two RUSTY BLACKBIRDS on March 22. On the 24th, she saw a MERLIN, the first SANDHILL CRANES, BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD, and PURPLE FINCH, while a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK showed up in the yard on March 26. Brad and Dee Ehlers added COMMON LOON, 8 COMMON MERGANSERS, and CHIPPING SPARROW on March 25.

Dave Lambeth saw an adult RED-TAILED HAWK in Polk County south of East Grand Forks on March 21. Shelley Steva and I observed SHARP-TAILED GROUSE, MALLARDS and 15 AMERICAN ROBINS in Polk County on March 22, in addition to the raptors reported by nearly everyone.

Shelley Steva had an AMERICAN WOODCOCK fly over the road two miles east of Plummer in Red Lake County on March 23. On March 24, she saw a BELTED KINGFISHER near Oklee.

On March 22, Shelley and I noticed AMERICAN CROW numbers have increased in Pennington County. Shelley saw three immature BALD EAGLES and one RING-BILLED GULL in Pennington County on March 23.

Maggie Anderson reported from Agassiz NWR in Marshall County on March 26. Representatives of the following species have returned to the refuge: TRUMPETER SWAN, AMERICAN WIGEON, MALLARD, NORTHERN PINTAIL, LESSER SCAUP, COMMON GOLDENEYE, COMMON MERGANSER, HOODED MERGANSER, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, and DARK-EYED JUNCOS.

On March 22, Shelley and I saw an AMERICAN KESTREL in Clearwater County. Kelly Larson on March 24 saw a RED-TAILED HAWK south of Shevlin. A BALD EAGLE, and a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK were also seen. At the farm south of Bagley, Kelly reported three BARRED OWLS, AMERICAN ROBIN, and DARK-EYED JUNCO among others on March 26.

In Beltrami County on March 24, Kelly Larson reported WOOD DUCK, COMMON GRACKLE, and RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD.

Larry Wilebski in Kittson County, reported that one SNOWY OWL remained on March 20 between Orleans and Humboldt. Other raptors such as NORTHERN HARRIER, RED-TAILED HAWK, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, and MERLIN have reached Kittson County this week.

Thanks to Brad and Dee Ehlers, Dave Lambeth, Kelly Larson, Larry Wilebski, Maggie Anderson, Alma Ronningen, Shelley Steva, Dan and Sandy Thimgan, and Tom Smith for their reports.

Please report bird sightings to Jeanie Joppru by email, no later than Thursday each week, at ajjoppru@q.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 2, 2009.

Jeanie Joppru Pennington County, MN

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