This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Thursday, December 11, 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.

This has been a mild week in the northwest and some areas have some slippery roads, but warming temperatures may have all but solved that problem.

Barb and Denny Martin found a BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE  in Todd County on December 5. Location was along 280th St a half mile east of CR 11.

Kay Hartness reported on December 9 that the VARIED THRUSH  was still visiting her yard along the Pelican River in Detroit Lakes, Becker County.

In Polk County, Sandy Aubol reported a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK  that has taken up perching in her yard in East Grand Forks, leading to a noted absence of many other birds. Shelley Steva saw an adult male SNOWY OWL near Sherack on December 10, and two bald eagles near East Grand Forks.

Gretchen Mehmel reported the sighting of a NORTHERN HAWK OWL just west of Dick’s Parkway and the Blue Kettle Trail on December 8. A NORTHERN GOSHAWK  has been spotted twice this week about a half mile west of the Faunce Tower on the Faunce-Butterfield Road. Both sightings in the Beltrami Island State Forest.

Thanks to Barb and Denny Martin, Gretchen Mehmel, Kay Hartness, 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, December 18, 2014.