Minnesota Birding Report

This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Thursday, May 29, 2014 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 have gone directly into summer in the northwest. This has brought in the remainder of the birds, and even sent a few over our heads straight to the nesting areas. Humans as well as birds and plants are struggling to cope with the sudden heat. That being said, it was a good week for birding. All the expected warblers have been reported from somewhere in the northwest this week.

The MOU birding weekend lead by Kim Eckert had a banner weekend with sightings of 186 species. Highlights were a SNOWY EGRET at the Agassiz Impoundment on the Marshall/ Polk County line near Warren on May 26, a RED KNOT in basic plumage along Roseau CR 3 near 340th St. 7.5 miles north of Badger on May 25, and a GREAT GRAY OWL on a nest in northeastern Kittson County on May 24. GRAY PARTRIDGE were seen on May 26 in Warren , Marshall County, and in Polk County at the Crookston wastewater treatment ponds. A LEAST BITTERN was found at Twin Lakes in Kittson County on May 25. GREATER PRAIRIE-CHICKENS were seen in both Roseau and Kittson Counties. 25 shorebird species were seen including HUDSONIAN GODWITS, RUDDY TURNSTONES, RED-NECKED PHALAROPES and WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS. Twenty-two warbler species were seen including GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER, MOURNING WARBLER, CAPE MAY WARBLER, BAY-BREASTED WARBLER, and CANADA WARBLER. Best locations were Lake Bronson State Park and Roseau City Park and Campground.

Doug Kieser discovered a WHIMBREL and several MARBLED GODWITS in a flooded area on the west side of CR 7 just south of I-94 in Douglas County on May 26.

From Hubbard County, Marshall Howe reported HERRING GULL, and OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER on May 22; RED-EYED VIREO, YELLOW-THROATED VIREO, GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER, and CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER on May 23. A large number of species arrived on May 24 including COMMON NIGHTHAWK, WARBLING VIREO, 10 species of warbler including CONNECTICUT WARBLER,and INDIGO BUNTING. May 25 brought BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO, YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER, and SCARLET TANAGER.

Linda Schumann reported a NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD at Rainbow Resort in Becker County on May 24.

A male CINNAMON TEAL was observed by Andy Forbes in a puddle on the east side of MN 9 just south of Ada in Norman County on May 24. The bird was flushed by traffic going by , and flew northeast.

On May 22, Sandy Aubol reported GREAT HORNED OWL, SEDGE WREN, INDIGO BUNTING, and BOBOLINK in East Grand Forks in Polk County. Warbler migration has been steady in the Red River Valley this week. On May 25, Sandy had a BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO in her yard.

Steve Dahl reported two SCARLET TANAGERS that came to feed on a half grapefruit in his yard near Plummer in Red Lake County on May 26.

Zeann Linder reported two MERLINS in Thief River Falls, Pennington County this week. WARBLING VIREO, RED-EYED VIREO, YELLOW-THROATED VIREO, and GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER arrived a day or so ago here in the yard.

Beth Siverhus reported ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, GREAT-CRESTED FLYCATCHER, ALDER FLYCATCHER, WARBLING VIREO, HERMIT THRUSH, CEDAR WAXWING, and GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER among others on Luxemberger Lake Road in the Roseau County part of the Beltrami Island State Forest on May 28. Kim Eckert’s group found a good variety of shorebirds in the mudflats along CR 3 including AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER, and BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER.

Thanks to all who sent in their sightings this week.

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, June 5, 2014.