This is the Northwest Minnes
ota Birding Report for Thursday, June 11, 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.
This has been a wet week in parts of the northwest. Heavy rains came down on two different days, and several other days we received smaller showers. Today, however , the weather straightened out and temperatures were pleasant with little wind.
Gretchen Mehmel reported last week that there is a BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER nest at Norris Camp in Lake of the Woods County. Also in that county, Wayne Bell found a WILLOW FLYCATCHER along the Butterfield Forest Road.
In Roseau County, Mike Thiele reported a WHIP-POOR-WILL near Warroad on June 4. Beth Siverhus sent a long list of sightings in Roseau County this week . Included are 8 TUNDRA SWANS, COMMON NIGHTHAWK, BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER, OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET, twelve species of warbler, three WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS, BROWN THRASHER, and SCARLET TANAGER. RED CROSSBILLS were found feeding in the charred pines from the Bemis Hill fire earlier this year. Wayne Bell found a PHILADELPHIA VIREO along the River Forest Road on June 7.
In Clearwater County, Marshall Howe found a female BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER at Itasca SP as well as 14 species of warbler this week. He is going to search for the woodpecker’s nest as he saw the male last week.
In Marshall County, on June 11, I found a TURKEY VULTURE on the ground along CR 12.
Wayne Bell reported HORNED GREBES at the Thief River Falls WTP in Pennington County on June 8. Beth Mickelson observed a female NORTHERN CARDINAL in her yard next to ours east of Thief River Falls on June 8. On June 10, I heard a BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO in the yard.
Sandy Aubol reported 8 TURKEY VULTURES over East Grand Forks on June 5. They must have been moving through as Russ Wilbur saw seven on June 6. Sandy also saw COMMON NIGHTHAWKS, and at the East Grand Forks WTP, WESTERN GREBES and EARED GREBES. Scott Meyer reported two LOGGERHEAD SHRIKES near the junction of 300 St NW and 160 Ave NW in the Glacial Ridge area.
In Clay County, Pete Makousky found all the expected species at Felton Prairie, including two CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPURS which are nesting there. Kim Eckert advises care if you go as the nest is cleverly hidden in the grass and vulnerable to being stepped on. Location is near a large rock pile by the fence along the west side of the road between the second cattle gate and the top of the hill.
Brian Pendleton reported RED CROSSBILLS near the visitor center at Tamarac NWR in Becker County on June 9.
In Hubbard County, Marshall Howe reported still some PINE SISKINS and GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER at Dorset this week.
Charlene Nelson in Battle Lake in Otter Tail County observed several CHIMNEY SWIFTS on June 10.
Thanks to all who sent in 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 18, 2015.
