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-RBA *Minnesota *Detroit Lakes *March 24, 2005 *MNDL0503.24 -Birds mentioned
Hotline: Minnesota, Detroit Lakes
Date: March 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, March 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.
Spring is surely advancing on the northwest. There are many reports from the southern part of the region of returning migrants, including raptors, waterfowl, and at least one shorebird species. Everyone is getting spring fever, and the ground is showing bare patches. A few small streams are opening up, and even some rivers farther south.
Mark Chase observed a MOURNING DOVE north of Blackduck in Beltrami County along MN 72 on March 20th. Gretchen Mehmel found an injured BARRED OWL on March 23rd along MN 89 just south of the Red Lake Indian Reservation; a GREAT GRAY OWL was also seen there. Other species seen in Beltrami County were BALD EAGLE, RED-TAILED HAWK, and ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK. Pat Rice reported COMMON GOLDENEYE, and PINE SISKIN on March 24th.
A quick trip to Kittson County on March 20th revealed that the GREAT GRAY OWLS have not left the area. Five of them were found within an hour along MN 11 or along county roads nearby a few miles west of Karlstad.
Gary Tischer, reporting from Agassiz NWR in Marshall County, mentioned a big movement of CANADA GEESE on March 20th. Other species that have reappeared on the refuge or nearby include the first MALLARD to return on March 23rd, 2 pairs of BALD EAGLES , and NORTHERN HARRIER.
Near the Pennington/Polk County line along Pennington CR 3, Caron Alten reported a BALD EAGLE on March 20th.
In Red Lake County, a RED- SHOULDERED HAWK was seen soaring over the Red Lake River on March 20th. A GREAT GRAY OWL was found near Huot along CR 17 .
Nathaniel Emery reports that a pair of MERLINS are back on the campus of MSU at Crookston. Karen Hart saw six WILD TURKEYS near Gentilly on March 22nd. In Norman County, she found two BALD EAGLES near Halstad.
The most exciting Clay County species reported this week was RED-SHOULDERED HAWK. At least two were seen, one near Glyndon, and one near the Red River across from Trefoil Park. These two hawks were seen by several birders. Benjamin Fritchman reported a variety of migrants in Moorhead on March 21st including WOOD DUCK, BLUE-WINGED TEAL, COMMON MERGANSER, HOODED MERGANSER, BELTED KINGFISHER, RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER, and many AMERICAN ROBINS. On the 23rd, he added CACKLING GOOSE, TRUMPETER SWAN, NORTHERN SHOVELER, RING-NECKED DUCK, LESSER SCAUP, NORTHERN HARRIER, AMERICAN KESTREL, and MERLIN. A flock of 25 longspur sp. was seen near Barnesville. Rick Gjervold reported six GREATER PRAIRIE-CHICKENS near Felton Prairie on March 16th. Matt Mecklenburg found a BARRED OWL at the Barnesville WMA on March 20th. Both RED-TAILED HAWK and ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK were seen there as well as an AMERICAN TREE SPARROW.
The first KILLDEER reported this season was seen by Marlene Wiley on the fairgrounds at Detroit Lakes in Becker County on March 23rd. Mike Murphy reported that the RED-SHOULDERED HAWK has returned to the old nest site on the west side of Eagle Lake near Frazee. 14 GREATER PRAIRIE-CHICKENS are being seen on a lek near Hamden Lake at Hamden Slough NWR. BALD EAGLE and RED-TAILED HAWK have been seen at the refuge. Kay Hartness reported a MOURNING DOVE at the feeder on March 24th. At Tamarac NWR, Wayne Brininger reported that a GREAT GRAY OWL was seen 1/4 mile south of the headquarters on March 23rd. Other species being seen there include TRUMPETER SWAN, HOODED MERGANSER, RED-TAILED HAWK, and AMERICAN KESTREL.
John Ellis reported 5 SHORT-EARED OWLS near Rothsay in Wilkin County on March 19th. On the 20th, he found 68 GREATER PRAIRIE-CHICKENS on the lek at the Rothsay WMA. Raptors reported included BALD EAGLE, NORTHERN HARRIER, RED-TAILED HAWK, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, and MERLIN. Bill Unzen reported a MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD about a mile south of Rothsay, and a GOLDEN EAGLE a few miles south of Breckenridge both seen on March 12th.
The NORTHERN HAWK OWL was relocated by several observers near Bluffton in Otter Tail County this week. Alma Ronningen saw a TURKEY VULTURE, AMERICAN KESTREL, KILLDEER, AMERICAN TREE SPARROW, DARK-EYED JUNCO, and RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD in that county this week. Dan and Sandy Thimgan saw the first big flock of RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS and COMMON GRACKLES this week. On March 19th, they spotted TRUMPETER SWAN, COMMON GOLDENEYE, and RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER.
New species seen in Douglas County this week by Susan Wiste included RED-TAILED HAWK, NORTHERN HARRIER, and RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD. Beau Shroyer reported AMERICAN ROBIN on March 24th.
Thanks to those too numerous to mention individually who sent in reports this week. Please keep up the good work. Your reports are greatly appreciated even if not all the species can be mentioned in the report.
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, April 1, 2005.
