This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Thursday, November 21, 2013 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.
We are just now getting a taste of the cold ahead. Very little snow has fallen in the northwest but in recent days, a little has brightened the landscape. Not many birds are being reported, perhaps due to the available natural food that is not yet covered by snow.
The LEWIS’S WOODPECKER was still at the previously reported location in Roosevelt in Roseau County as of November 19.
In Marshall County , Cliff Steinhauer reported 34 waxwings in his yard on November 21. He was unable to identify which species. Last week he saw a PILEATED WOODPECKER and five BLACK-BILLED MAGPIES.
Shelley Steva observed a NORTHERN SHRIKE on November 15, four miles east of the Seven Clans Casino south of Thief River Falls in Pennington County.
In Red Lake County, Shelley saw two SHARP-TAILED GROUSE a mile east of Plummer on November 15.
Kristy May in Mahnomen County reported four TRUMPETER SWANS in a field north of Waubun this week. On November 21, she saw a NORTHERN HARRIER and two BLACK-BILLED MAGPIES.
On November 16, Kristy May saw a RED-TAILED HAWK north of Detroit Lakes in Becker County . On the 17th, a PILEATED WOODPECKER was seen there. Linda at Rainbow Resort reported BLUE-WINGED TEAL, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, RING-NECKED DUCK, REDHEAD, and COMMON GOLDENEYE where there was still open water that may be frozen now.
Ben Eckhoff in Douglas County reported from Lake Carlos State Park where on November 16, SHARP-SHINNED HAWK and NORTHERN SHRIKE were seen; on November 20 he reported TRUMPETER SWAN and BROWN CREEPER. On the 21st, he saw 25 -30 CEDAR WAXWINGS and 40-50 SNOW BUNTINGS.
Thanks to Ben Eckhoff, Cliff Steinhauer, Kristy May, Pat Roth, Rainbow Resort, and Shelley Steva for their reports.
Please report bird sightings to Jeanie Joppru by email, no later than Thursday each week, at ajjoppru@mncable.net 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. The next scheduled update of this report is Thursday, November 28, 2013.
