Previous reports: March 23 30 , April 5 14 20 27 , May 4 11 .
Other Hotlines: Minnesota Statewide | Minnesota Duluth/North Shore

-RBA
*Minnesota
*Detroit Lakes
*May 18, 2006
*MNDL0605.18

-Birds mentioned

• Western Grebe
• American Bittern
• Trumpeter Swan
• Cinnamon Teal
• Eurasian Wigeon
• Turkey Vulture
• Peregrine Falcon
• Virginia Rail
• Lesser Yellowlegs
• Willet
• Marbled Godwit
• Dunlin
• Wilson's Phalarope
• Franklin's Gull
• Black Tern
• Eurasian Collared-Dove
• Snowy Owl
• Ruby-throated Hummingbird
• Red-headed Woodpecker
• Pileated Woodpecker
• Least Flycatcher
• Cliff Swallow
• Swainson's Thrush
• Cape May Warbler
• Black-and-white Warbler
• Prothonotary Warbler
• Spotted Towhee
• Lark Sparrow
• Henslow's Sparrow
• White-throated Sparrow
• White-crowned Sparrow
• Harris's Sparrow
• Baltimore Oriole

Hotline: Minnesota, Detroit Lakes
Date: May 18, 2006
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, May 19, 2006 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.

This has been a tantalizing week with the weather - just a teaser of sunshine and warmth, then back into the gloom and cold wind. The same has been true of migrants - one day a few turn up, the next they are gone and there is nothing new. Only the vegetation seems to say spring is here.

A EURASIAN WIGEON was discovered in northern Beltrami County on May 17 by Jerry Bonkoski and Bob Janssen on Rice Paddy Road off CR 40. To get to the location take CR 112 from Waskish to CR 40. Pat Rice, on May 17 , reported nine species of warblers including BLUE-WINGED WARBER.

At Agassiz NWR in Marshall County, Gary Tischer reported that on May 16, WESTERN GREBES were sighted on Headquarters Pool , WILSON'S PHALAROPES on Pool 21, the first CLIFF SWALLOWS and LEAST FLYCATCHERS were seen at the refuge. On May 17, a PEREGRINE FALCON, many VIRGINIA RAILS, WILLETS, DUNLINS, 8 BLACK TERNS , CAPE MAY WARBLER, BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER, and BALTIMORE ORIOLE were seen. Elsewhere in the county, Steve Broten reported a PILEATED WOODPECKER.

In Pennington County, Steve Broten reported seeing a TURKEY VULTURE near the Thief River Falls airport. In our yard this week we have finally seen a total of 7 warbler species, and still have several WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS, and HARRIS'S SPARROWS.

Five LESSER YELLOWLEGS and a MARBLED GODWIT were found in southern Red Lake County on May 14, and over 100 FRANKLIN'S GULLS were seen at the Red Lake Falls wastewater treatment ponds.

In Polk County, Bruce Flaig reported a PROTHONOTARY WARBLER at his home south of Maple Lake. Unfortunately, the bird has not been relocated since the 16th. The same can be said of the SPOTTED TOWHEE that visited the home of Donna and Leon Thoreson southwest of Climax from May 9- May 11. Bruce Flaig also reported the first RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD also arrived on May 16. Donna and Leon Thoreson also reported SWAINSON'S THRUSH, LARK SPARROW, WHITE-THROATED SPARROW, and WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW.

Connie Norheim found a HENSLOW'S SPARROW along the longspur road at Feltron Prairie in Clay County on May 12. The bird was relocated by Patrick Beauzay on the 16th a half mile north of the northernmost wind generator on the west side of the road. On May 14, Dennis and Barbara Martin relocated the SNOWY OWL first seen by Bob O'Connor on May 12. This time the bird was near the wind generators at Felton Prairie. Connie Norheim also reported a RED-HEADED WOODPECKER in Moorhead on May 16. Peder Svingen found two calling TRUMPETER SWANS near Hitterdahl on the weekend.

Dan and Sandy Thimgan reported three EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES in the town of Otter Tail in Otter Tail County on May 13. Other species seen in the county included AMERICAN BITTERN, VIRGINIA RAIL, WILLET, and ten WILSON'S PHALAROPES.

In Todd County, Benjamin Fritchman observed a probable hybrid CINNAMON TEAL at the Eagle Bend wastewater treatment ponds on May 12.

Thanks to Ben Fritchman, Bruce Flaig, Connie Norheim, Dan and Sandy Thimgan, Dennis and Barbara Martin, Donna and Leon Thoreson, Jerry Bonkoski, Pat Rice, Gary Tischer, Peder Svingen, Steve Broten, and Patrick Beauzay 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, May 26, 2006.

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