This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Thursday, May 7, 2015  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.

The warm weather we had earlier this week has brought in more migrants. Most counties reported OSPREY, PURPLE MARTIN, BALTIMORE ORIOLE, and most of the sparrows. As far north as Polk County, warblers seen in one or more northwest counties included PINE WARBLER, PALM WARBLER, BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH, YELLOW WARBLER, NORTHERN PARULA, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, and  NASHVILLE WARBLER.

Steve Midthune reported a WHITE-WINGED DOVE  in his yard in Detroit Lakes at 15368 Sunset Hill Drive on May 1.

In Clay County, Jesse Ellis reported that a SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER  was seen and photographed by Kara Susag, who was unable to relocate the bird which was last seen flying north.

At Thief River Falls wastewater treatment ponds, Sandy Aubol found an AMERICAN AVOCET on May 1.

From Otter Tail County, Dan and Sandy Thimgan reported PURPLE MARTIN, and  FIELD SPARROW  on May 1, BALTIMORE ORIOLE  on May 3, GRAY CATBIRD  and WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW  on May 4, FORSTER’S TERN on May 5, and AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN and ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK  on May 6.  Alma Ronningen  added HOUSE WREN on May 5, and AMERICAN REDSTART and RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD  on May 7.

Marshall Howe in Hubbard County observed BROAD-WINGED HAWK, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, and BARRED OWL  on May 1, BARN SWALLOW, BROWN THRASHER, and WESTERN MEADOWLARK  on May 3, LINCOLN’S SPARROW  on May 4, and HOUSE WREN and HARRIS’S SPARROW  on May 7 among others.

From Becker County, Sandy Aubol reported many species of warblers already at Tamarac NWR on May 3. Other species seen included FORSTER’S TERN, SWAINSON’S THRUSH,  HARRIS’S SPARROW, and WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW. Steve Midthune reported there were shorebirds at Hamden Slough NWR on May 4, and he also observed several GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE.

Patrick Beauzay reported an EASTERN WHIP-POOR-WILL  in Clay County on May 4.

In Polk County, Gary Tischer reported on May 7 that there are still 400 -500 TUNDRA SWANS  still at the rice paddies along the Clearwater River in the eastern part of the county. Sandy Aubol found an UPLAND SANDPIPER  along US 2 at the western edge of Glacial Ridge NWR on May 3. She also spotted an OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER  in the East Grand Forks greenway on May 4. She saw a BLUE-HEADED VIREO  in the yard on May 5, LINCOLN’S SPARROW, HARRIS’S SPARROW, and WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW  on May 7. Bruce Flaig had BALTIMORE ORIOLE  and ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK  in the southern part of the county on May 5.

In addition to the AMERICAN AVOCET, Sandy Aubol found EARED GREBE, HORNED GREBE, and WILSON’S PHALAROPE  at the Thief River Falls wastewater treatment ponds in Pennington County on May 1. Jeff Lannoye reported PURPLE MARTIN  in Thief River Falls on May 4. A LINCOLN’S SPARROW  showed up at our feeders on May 3, and WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW  on May 6. A NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH  and BALTIMORE ORIOLE  arrived today, May 7.

From Itasca State Park, Connie Cox reported SWAINSON’S THRUSH, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, VESPER SPARROW , and many other migrants this week.

Jim Strommer in Bemidji, Beltrami County, saw two HARRIS’S SPARROWS  at the RV Park there on May 4.
Beth Siverhus in Roseau County reported BUFFLEHEAD , FRANKLIN’S GULL,  BELTED KINGFISHER, PURPLE MARTIN, BROWN THRASHER, BROWN CREEPER, and PINE SISKINS, and many other migrants this week. An EVENING GROSBEAK  visited her feeders in Warroad on May 3. Kris Guggisberg saw a GREAT GRAY OWL  northeast of Roseau this week. On May 4, a CACKLING GOOSE  was present at the Warroad city park. BALTIMORE ORIOLE  arrived on May 5.

In Lake of the Woods County, Gretchen Mehmel reported that a NORTHERN HAWK OWL  had been seen just north of McDonagh’s Corner on the East Moose River Road on April 30.

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, May 14, 2015.