Previous reports: June 11 18 25, July 2 9 23 30.
Other Hotlines: Minnesota Statewide | Minnesota Duluth/North Shore

-RBA
*Minnesota
*Detroit Lakes
*August 6, 2009
*MNDL0908.06

• Sharp-tailed Grouse
• Greater Prairie-Chicken
• Pied-billed Grebe
• Red-necked Grebe
• American Bittern
• Great Blue Heron
• Northern Harrier
• Yellow Rail
• American Coot
• Sandhill Crane
• Caspian Tern
• Short-eared Owl
• Western Kingbird
• Black-billed Magpie
• Common Raven
• Bobolink

Hotline: Minnesota, Detroit Lakes
Date: August 6, 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, August 6, 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.

There are definite signs of approaching fall in the northwest, as there are already a few yellowish leaves on the trees and birds are beginning to form flocks preparatory to leaving for the south. In particular, swallows are near to leaving, bobolinks no longer sport their beautiful breeding plumage and have stopped singing, and more and more groups of young birds of all species are being seen .

Marshall Howe reported a CASPIAN TERN at Little Sand Lake in Hubbard County on July 30.

Nate Emery saw several pairs of WESTERN KINGBIRDS along CR 13 in Polk County on August 3. On July 31 at Glacial Ridge NWR, he found a YELLOW RAIL still calling but reported that the BOBOLINKS are forming flocks, and broods of GREATER PRAIRIE-CHICKENS and SHARP-TAILED GROUSE are being seen. Other species seen within the week at the refuge included BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE and COMMON RAVEN.

Here in Pennington County, I found eight SHORT-EARED OWLS in and around the northeast quarter of Smiley township on August 1. At least two were young of the year.

Tonight, Thursday, there were six SANDHILL CRANES along CR 7 just west of Agassiz NWR in Marshall County, two of which were this year's nearly grown young. At Farmes Pool, I found a nice variety of shorebirds as the pool is drawn down for maintenance of the control structure. This pool is accessible from the township road and viewing was good in the evening. A NORTHERN HARRIER was seen harassing the shorebirds, and young PIED-BILLED GREBES, RED-NECKED GREBES, and AMERICAN COOTS were also present. An AMERICAN BITTERN and a GREAT BLUE HERON flew off over the marsh while I was there.

Thanks to Marshall Howe and Nate Emery 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, August 13, 2009.

Jeanie Joppru Pennington County, MN

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