Minnesota Minnesota Statewide RBA
Minnesota Minnesota Statewide RBA
Minnesota Minnesota Statewide RBA
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Previous reports: February 22, March 1 8 15, April 5, March 29 22.
Other Hotlines: Minnesota Duluth/North Shore | Detroit Lakes
-RBA *Minnesota *Minnesota Statewide *April 5, 2007 *MNST0704.05-Birds mentioned
Hotline: Minnesota Statewide
Date: April 5, 2007
Sponsor: Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU) http://moumn.org
Reports: (763) 780-8890
Compiler: Anthony Hertzel (axhertzel@sihope.com)
This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Friday, April 6, 2007 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.
It has been back to winter this week, but it has brought many birds into feeders. AMERICAN ROBINS are seemingly everywhere, as the migration was halted with many of them in our towns, cleaning up the remaining fruit. They were ecstatic over the melt water puddles last week, but that has all ended for now, and the singing has become muted.
Gary Otnes in Otter Tail County reported an opportunistic SNOW BUNTING at his feeder after the snow. Other species there included RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER, AMERICAN TREE SPARROW, FOX SPARROW, SONG SPARROW, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD, BREWER'S BLACKBIRD, and BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD. On March 31, Dan and Sandy Thimgan found a COMMON LOON on Deer Lake near where the Otter Tail River enters. On April 2 they reported TURKEY VULTURE, RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, and one Oregon race DARK-EYED JUNCO. On April 5, a NORTHERN FLICKER appeared.
Bob O'Connor was birding in Clay County around Felton Prairie on March 31, and reported TRUMPETER SWANS at Hotsie Lake, COMMON MERGANSER, HOODED MERGANSER, GREATER PRAIRIE-CHICKEN, SANDHILL CRANE, COMMON SNIPE, and NORTHERN SHRIKE. North Dakota birder Gary Nielson heard an EASTERN PHOEBE on the Moorhead side of the Red River on March 31.
On March 25, Connie Cox reported a GREAT BLUE HERON southwest of Osage in Becker County on March 25.
On March 30, Bob Williams was birding in Mahnomen County where he found SNOW GOOSE, TUNDRA SWAN, GREATER PRAIRIE-CHICKEN, COOPER'S HAWK, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, and SHORT-EARED OWL at the Rush WMA. MERLIN, COMMON RAVEN, and RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER were spotted at the Conservation Club on CR 29 at Twin Valley.
Shelley Steva reported a NORTHERN FLICKER in Pennington County on March 30. Ducks seen on the Red Lake River at Thief River Falls this week included MALLARD, WOOD DUCK, and HOODED MERGANSER. A SHARP-SHINNED HAWK has been utilizing our bird feeder this week - not for the seeds of course. At least one MERLIN has returned to Thief River Falls.
Gary Tischer reporting from Agassiz NWR in Marshall County mentioned PIED-BILLED GREBE, GREEN-WINGED TEAL , AMERICAN COOT, and HERRING GULL on April 2, BLUE-WINGED TEAL on April 3, and EASTERN PHOEBE on April 4. There are about 50 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS on the refuge as well as BALD EAGLES, an increasing number of SANDHILL CRANES, and a few WESTERN MEADOWLARKS . Small numbers of most waterfowl are back. All the pools have now re-frozen.
Connie Cox reported that the VARIED THRUSH reported earlier in the winter was seen as recently as March 25 at her place six miles north of Itasca State Park. Other species seen in Clearwater County included TRUMPETER SWAN, WOOD DUCK, MALLARD, and HOODED MERGANSER. A BALD EAGLE pair is nesting near the north entrance to Itasca State Park.
From Beltrami County, Pat Rice reported a NORTHERN HARRIER on March 31. At Kolkin's pond on April 1 she saw GADWALL, AMERICAN WIGEON, NORTHERN PINTAIL, CANVASBACK, HOODED MERGANSER, AMERICAN KESTREL, and PECTORAL SANDPIPER. On April 5, she had a FOX SPARROW at her home northeast of Bemidji.
Lyle and Sally Lauber reported AMERICAN TREE SPARROW, DARK-EYED JUNCO, and PURPLE FINCH at Dixon Lake in western Itasca County on April 3.
In Roseau County on March 30, Beth Siverhus reported NORTHERN HARRIER, AMERICAN KESTREL, MERLIN, RING-BILLED GULL, GREAT HORNED OWL, BARRED OWL, LONG-EARED OWL, and NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL .
Larry Wilebski in Kittson County on April 1 saw WILD TURKEY, SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, HERRING GULL, and EASTERN BLUEBIRD. Most surprising was a sighting of a SNOWY OWL on April 4, one mile west of Orleans in northern Kittson County.
Thanks to Beth Siverhus, Bob O'Connor, Bob Williams, Connie Cox, Dan and Sandy Thimgan, Gary Nielson, Gary Otnes, Gary Wilebski, Lyle and Sally Lauber, Pat Rice , Gary Tischer,and Shelley Steva 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, April 13, 2007.
Jeanie Joppru Pennington County
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