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Other Hotlines: Minnesota Statewide | Minnesota Duluth/North Shore

-RBA
*Minnesota
*Detroit Lakes
*November 27, 2003
*MNDL0311.27

-Birds mentioned

• Trumpeter Swan
• Common Merganser
• Bald Eagle
• Rough-legged Hawk
• Golden Eagle
• Gray Partridge
• Spruce Grouse
• Ruffed Grouse
• Great Gray Owl
• Long-eared Owl
• Red-bellied Woodpecker
• Three-toed Woodpecker
• Black-backed Woodpecker
• Pileated Woodpecker
• Gray Jay
• Northern Cardinal
• Common Grackle
• Pine Grosbeak
• Common Redpoll
• Evening Grosbeak

Hotline: Minnesota, Detroit Lakes
Date: November 27, 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, November 28, 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.

Since last week, the snow has left us and returned again, so we are seeing birds against a white backdrop. Temperatures have been moderate, and wildlife has not been stressed so far.

In the category of misplaced news from last week is a report from Martin Kehoe, who sent in some interesting sightings from the Red Lake Wildlife Management Area in Lake of the Woods County. These included an immature GOLDEN EAGLE on November 8th, 7 SPRUCE GROUSE on the 14th, two GREAT GRAY OWLS on the 12th, and one LONG-EARED OWL on the Pitt Grade one mile north of the Bankton Trail. Other birds seen there included BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER, THREE-TOED WOODPECKER, a few PINE GROSBEAKS, COMMON REDPOLL, and EVENING GROSBEAK. Gretchen Mehmel reported RUFFED GROUSE in that county also. These sightings bode well for winter birding in that area.

There were several reports from Polk County this week. Nearly everyone reported COMMON REDPOLLS, in numbers as high as 150 to 200 in a group. Heidi Hughes reported a GOLDEN EAGLE northeast of Crookston on November 22nd, while Mike Christopher had a BALD EAGLE near the East Grand Forks sugar beet plant on that day. On the 23rd , Heidi Hughes saw 5 BALD EAGLES, and 6 GRAY PARTRIDGES east of Crookston. Lori Becker also reported GRAY PARTRIDGE along the Marshall /Polk County border on Highway 75 on November 25th. Ross Hier found numerous ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS along Highway 102 on November 26th. Donna and Leon Thoreson still have a PILEATED WOODPECKER and a COMMON GRACKLE coming to their feeder near Climax.

Becker County birds reported this week by Joan Burke included five COMMON MERGANSERS on Lake Lizzie. Carolyn and Luther Johnson had a RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER, a PILEATED WOODPECKER, and a female NORTHERN CARDINAL visit their feeder this week.

Roland Jordahl reported from Otter Tail County that he saw TRUMPETER SWANS this week in the county. A surprise visitor to his feeder was a GRAY JAY on November 26th.

Thanks to Martin Kehoe, Gretchen Mehmel, Heidi Hughes, Donna and Leon Thoreson, Mike Christopher, Joan Burke, Carolyn and Luther Johnson, Lori Becker, Ross Hier, and Roland Jordahl 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, December 5, 2003.

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