Detroit Lakes RBA
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-RBA *Minnesota *Detroit Lakes *October 16, 2003 *MNDL0310.16 -Birds mentioned
Hotline: Minnesota, Detroit Lakes
Date: October 16, 2003
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 Friday, October 17, 2003 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 is no doubt that it is indeed fall here now- the leaves came down all at once and lie in great drifts in all of our yards- all except those whose owners stayed at home last weekend to do the cleanup instead of going birding. Fortunately for this report, lots of birders chose not to do that!
For the second week in a row, there are reports of SURF SCOTERS. On October 10th , Craig Mandel found two at the Thief River Falls wastewater treatment ponds in Pennington County; these were relocated on Sunday, October 12th. The two found last week at Agassiz NWR in Marshall County were seen again on Headquarters Pool on Saturday, October 11th.
A BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER was observed by Josh Watson in Roseau County on the 13th, 7 miles north and 10 miles west of Greenbush. This would put the location almost on the Kittson County line. Other species reported by Josh in Roseau County included COOPER'S HAWK, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, SHARP-TAILED GROUSE, AMERICAN WOODCOCK, BONAPARTE'S GULL, LONG-EARED OWL, GRAY JAY, MARSH WREN, LAPLAND LONGSPUR, and a single SNOW BUNTING.
The weekend shorebird survey at Agassiz NWR included a surprising record high count for the refuge of 36 AMERICAN AVOCETS, the count of 312 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS set a new state record high count for the second week in a row. A total of 593 individuals of 12 species were counted . Two GREAT EGRETS were still there, a single ROSS'S GOOSE, and the two Surf Scoters were also noted at the refuge.
Craig Mandel found two coveys of GRAY PARTRIDGE in Pennington County on October 10th- one near the Thief River Falls wastewater treatment ponds, one along highway 32 just south of Thief River Falls. GREATER SCAUP were among the ducks seen at the wastewater treatment ponds.
Peder Svingen reported two GREATER PRAIRIE-CHICKENS in Lake Pleasant township of Red Lake County on Monday, October 13th. He also spotted a COMMON LOON and an AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER near the Red Lake Falls wastewater treatment ponds the same day. Many SNOW GEESE were seen in the county on the 11th.
A ROSS'S GOOSE was found by Craig Mandel at the East Grand Forks wastewater treatment ponds in Polk County on October 10th. Donna and Leon Thoreson reported AMERICAN PIPITS in a harvested sugar beet field on October 10th.
Mahnomen County birds reported by Craig Mandel included 6 TRUMPETER SWANS, SNOW GEESE, and two NORTHERN SHRIKES. He also found RUSTY BLACKBIRD, and BREWER'S BLACKBIRD.
A CATTLE EGRET was at the Barnesville wastewater treatment ponds in Clay County on October 10th. On the 13th Rick Gjervold found a GREAT EGRET along CR 18 at the Buffalo River crossing . At Bicentennial Prairie east of Felton, he was startled by a MERLIN chasing a flock of sparrows as it passed about three feet away from him. Other birds seen there included GREATER PRAIRIE-CHICKENS, AMERICAN TREE SPARROW, HARRIS'S SPARROW, and WESTERN MEADOWLARK.
In Becker County, Mary Wyatt reported a BROWN CREEPER on October 12, a AMERICAN TREE SPARROW at Tamarac NWR on the 14th, and a FOX SPARROW on the 15th.Sally Hausken had four EASTERN BLUEBIRDS in her birdbath on the south shore of Detroit Lake on October 10th.
A SMITH'S LONGSPUR was observed by Craig Mandel one mile south of the Rothsay WMA in Wilkin County on October 12th. A RED-NECKED GREBE was at the Barnesville wastewater treatment ponds, and a SHORT-EARED OWL was spotted at 7pm at the intersection of CR 15 and CR 30.
In Otter Tail County, Craig found 3 ROSS'S GEESE 2 miles north of Highway 210 on the west side of Otter Tail County Road 21. The SNOWY EGRET was relocated on the south side of Rush Lake, and a late CLIFF SWALLOW was seen at the Rothsay WMA. Other species seen in the county included GREATER PRAIRIE-CHICKEN, SORA, AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER, and AMERICAN PIPIT. Alma Ronningen reported a RED-HEADED WOODPECKER at their feeder on the 11th. Nancy Jackson found four LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS at the corner of CR 150 and CR 50 on Wednesday, and a SNOW BUNTING at the Henning wastewater treatment ponds on October 16th.
Thanks to Gretchen Mehmel, Josh Watson, Pat Rice, Craig Mandel, Donna and Leon Thoreson, Rick Gjervold, Peder Svingen, Sally Hausken, Nancy Jackson, Mary Wyatt, and Alma Ronningen for their reports.
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. When reporting by email please put "NW Bird Report" in the subject line of your message. The next scheduled update of this report is Friday, October 24, 2003.
