This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Thursday, August 21, 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.
Migration has begun in the northwest, as the landscape starts to turn to brown and gold more slowly than usual due to the timely rains.
Charlene Nelson reported that AMERICAN AVOCETS were still present at the North Ottawa Impoundment as recently as August 15. Other shorebirds present there included MARBLED GODWIT, SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, and WILSON’S PHALAROPE as well as BLACK TERNS. Tony Lau reported 8 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES, and 400 FRANKLIN’S GULLS there on August 8.
Wadena County birds reported by Herb Dingmann and Craig Mandel included MERLIN, and GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLERS at Yaeger Lake WMA.
In Hubbard County Marshall Howe reported migration starting. On August 12 he saw a TENNESSEE WARBLER, and by the 14th he saw PINE WARBLER, GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER, and SCARLET TANAGER. August 16 brought an OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, and YELLOW-THROATED VIREO, and the 20th were WILSON’S WARBLER, BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER, BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER, CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER, and about 100 COMMON NIGHTHAWKS .
Herb Dingmann found RED-NECKED PHALAROPES and a TENNESSEE WARBLER at the Ada WTP in Norman County on August 13. In Mahnomen County, he found those two species at the Waubun WTP.
Recent Polk County sightings by Sandy Aubol included RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS feeding young, MERLIN, RED-TAILED HAWK, and INDIGO BUNTING at East Grand Forks on August 3. There were shorebirds at the Parnell impoundment on August 9 including SPOTTED SANDPIPER, SOLITARY SANDPIPER, both yellowlegs, LEAST SANDPIPER, PECTORAL SANDPIPER, SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER, SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, and WILSON’S SNIPE. Sandy reported BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER, WILSON’S WARBLER, YELLOW WARBLER, TENNESSEE WARBLER, and COMMON YELLOWTHROAT in East Grand Forks on August 16. On the 17th, she reported BROAD-WINGED HAWK, PEREGRINE FALCON, 5 COMMON NIGHTHAWKS, and OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER among others.
Herb Dingmann and Craig Mandel found EARED GREBE, OSPREY, and RED-NECKED PHALAROPES at the Red Lake Falls WTP in Red Lake County on August 14. Other species seen in the county included PURPLE MARTIN, 7 RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS, TENNESSEE WARBLER, NASHVILLE WARBLER, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER, MOURNING WARBLER, and WILSON’S WARBLER.
In Pennington County they found BROAD-WINGED HAWK, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, and a similar list of warblers.
Shelley Steva and Zeann Linder saw AMERICAN BITTERN, and two SHORT-EARED OWLS near Agassiz NWR on August 17.
In Beltrami County, Christine Herwig reported two BONAPARTE’S GULLS on the north end of Lake Bemidji on August 12.
In Lake of the Woods County, Gretchen Mehmel observed a NORTHERN HAWK OWL in a remote area 6 miles west of the Faunce Rangeline road in the Red Lake WMA on August 20.
Thanks to all those who sent in their sightings in the last two weeks.
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, August 28, 2014.
