Previous reports: February 10 17 24, March 3 10 17 24.
Other Hotlines: Minnesota Statewide | Minnesota Duluth/North Shore

-RBA
*Minnesota
*Detroit Lakes
*March 31, 2011
*MNDL1103.31

• American Wigeon
• Northern Pintail
• Red-breasted Merganser
• Pied-billed Grebe
• Great Blue Heron
• Sharp-shinned Hawk
• Merlin
• Peregrine Falcon
• Sandhill Crane
• American Woodcock
• Mourning Dove
• Eastern Screech-Owl
• Eastern Bluebird
• American Robin
• Bohemian Waxwing
• Dark-eyed Junco
• Northern Cardinal
• Western Meadowlark
• Common Redpoll

Hotline: Minnesota, Detroit Lakes
Date: March 31, 2011
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 31, 2011 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 seems to be on the way, and snow is slowly melting, lakes are appearing where there were none, and folks are anxiously watching the weather forecast hoping that no more precipitation falls. So far the melt has gone well, but as the weather warms that could change. There is still a lot of snow in the northwest, although flat fields in the open are rapidly turning brown. Most of the first wave of migrants has arrived, and now we await the opening up of the rivers and lakes for the ducks to arrive. All of the common raptors were reported this week in many counties of the northwest.

A MERLIN was seen in Thief River Falls, Pennington County, as recently as tonight on my way home from work, and on March 29 a small flock of BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS flew over our yard. On March 30, I heard the first singing AMERICAN ROBIN in the yard.

Sandy Aubol in Polk County at East Grand Forks reported a lone COMMON REDPOLL still coming to the feeder on March 26. 25 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS and a NORTHERN CARDINAL were seen on March 26, MERLIN, SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, and MOURNING DOVE on March 29, and a PIED-BILLED GREBE on the 30th.

Matt Mecklenburg was birding in Clay County on March 27 where he saw all the usual raptors including a PEREGRINE FALCON. At the Moorhead wastewater treatment ponds there was a great variety of waterfowl including NORTHERN PINTAIL and AMERICAN WIGEON.

As might be expected, Otter Tail County had the most sightings, being among the most southerly counties of the northwest. Gary Otnes saw an AMERICAN WOODCOCK along his driveway on March 28. Steve Millard had a visit from a red phase EASTERN SCREECH OWL to his yard on March 29. Alma Ronningen reported SANDHILL CRANES on March 27, AMERICAN KESTREL,MOURNING DOVES and DARK-EYED JUNCO on March 29. Brad and Dee Ehlers reporting on March 28, observed RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, GREAT BLUE HERON, EASTERN BLUEBIRD, and WESTERN MEADOWLARK on March 28.

Thanks to Alma Ronningen, Brad and Dee Ehlers, Brian Nelson, Connie Cox, Gary Otnes, Gary Tischer, Matt Mecklenburg, Sandy Aubol, and Steve Millard 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 7, 2011.

Jeanie Joppru Pennington County, MN

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