Detroit Lakes RBA
Detroit Lakes RBA
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-RBA *Minnesota *Detroit Lakes *February 24, 2005 *MNDL0502.24 -Birds mentioned
Hotline: Minnesota, Detroit Lakes
Date: February 24, 2005
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, February 25, 2005 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.
With a week of more normal temperatures, little snow or wind, this has been a pleasant winter week in the northwest, and the number of folks sending in reports shows that many have been out birding. Owls are still the most common species reported, but here in the prairie areas of northwestern Minnesota, they are more challenging to find, and all the more satisfying when they are found.
Jenny Moorman reported from Lake of the Woods County that all the common feeder birds are present in the county. BLACK-BILLED MAGPIES have been spotted along MN 11 west of Baudette, RUFFED GROUSE at a bird feeder in Williams, and SHARP-TAILED GROUSE at Zippel Bay State Park.
In Roseau County, Diana Morkassel spotted a GREAT GRAY OWL between Roseau and Greenbush on February 23rd. A dead owl was found by Barbara and Dennis Martin in Roseau County on the 21st. BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS were sighted in Greenbush on February 21st.
In Kittson County, Barbara and Dennis Martin reported BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS in Karlstad on the 21st. Diana Morkassel saw a GREAT GRAY OWL along CR 7 east of Halma.
Pat Rice in Beltrami County had the great good fortune to have a visit from a BOREAL OWL in her yard on February 18th. Pat also reported two CANADA GEESE at the Mississippi River outlet in Bemidji, and PINE GROSBEAKS in the yard.
Among birds reported in Clearwater County, Barbara and Dennis Martin mentioned BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS in Gonvick, and a RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER at a feeder just south of Ebro.
Ryan Sansness of Old Mill State Park in Marshall County reported a GREAT GRAY OWL that has been seen regularly just south of the park office in recent days. Other birds seen at the park include SHARP-TAILED GROUSE, and PINE SISKINS. Alice Sather reported a GREAT GRAY OWL along Marshall County 117 on February 22nd.
A GREAT GRAY OWL is being seen regularly in Pennington County along US 59 about 2-2.5 miles north of the intersection of MN 59 and CR 3. Several observers have reported this owl during the last week. Another was seen by Russell Anderson along the Red Lake River this week. A large flock of BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS is moving around Thief River Falls in search of winter food. This flock also has several CEDAR WAXWINGS among their numbers. The PILEATED WOODPECKER still visits our feeder just east of Thief River Falls.
In Polk County, several observers have relocated the GREAT GRAY OWL along CR 12 two miles south of CR 41 northeast of Fertile. Bruce Flaig reported SHARP-SHINNED HAWK in his backyard, and RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER at his feeder. Nathaniel Emery saw CEDAR WAXWINGS in Crookston, and a PILEATED WOODPECKER at the site of the Great Gray Owl. Barbara and Dennis Martin found two GREAT GRAY OWLS in Polk County. Both were in the eastern part of the county a few miles south of Gully. One was along CR2 4.5 miles south of MN 92, and one along CR 3 one half mile east of CR 2. Rebecca Eckstein reported from Glacial Ridge NWR and Rydell NWR this week and among the species found there were GREATER PRAIRIE-CHICKEN, SHARP-TAILED GROUSE, NORTHERN FLICKER, COMMON GRACKLE, and PINE GROSBEAK. A NORTHERN GOSHAWK was spotted by Shelley Steva and I just north of the Wetland, Pines, and Prairies Audubon Sanctuary on February 20th.
Barbara and Dennis Martin observed BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS in Mahnomen, Norman, and Roseau Counties as well as the other counties mentioned above, HORNED LARKS everywhere, large numbers of COMMON REDPOLLS in most counties, and SNOW BUNTINGS in many counties.
Mel and Elaine Bennefeld found some birds in Norman County on February 24th. They include ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK and NORTHERN HAWK OWL four miles west of Syre along CR 39, and a BALD EAGLE, and PILEATED WOODPECKER in Twin Valley.
>From Becker County, the Martin's reported a GREAT GRAY OWL along CR 127 at Brietback Road. Duane and Marilyn Olson reported a NORTHERN SHRIKE on February 18th. Kay Hartness reported that the GREAT GRAY OWLS are still in the area of the Tamarac NWR. She also reported three WILD TURKEYS north of MN 34 near Toad Lake. Joe Gartner reports that there were HORNED LARKS along US 10 between Perham and Hawley on February 24th.
This week several owls that were previously reported were relocated. These included the NORTHERN HAWK OWL reported earlier near Bluffton in Otter Tail County, the GREAT GRAY OWL along CR 19 near Wadena in Wadena County, and the NORTHERN HAWK OWL along MN 87 in Hubbard County. Also in Hubbard County, a GREAT GRAY OWL was found in Badoura Township along CR 32 2.2 miles east of the Becker County line.
Thanks to Barbara and Dennis Martin, Diana Morkassel, Pat Rice, Ryan Sansness, Alice Sather, Duane and Marilyn Olson, Nathaniel Emery, Bruce Flaig, Shelley Steva, Maggie Anderson, Kim Tunheim, Steve Dahl, Kay Hartness, Rebecca Eckstein, Mel and Elaine Bennefeld, Joe Gartner, and Jenny Moorman 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, March 4, 2005.
