Minnesota Birding Report

This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Thursday, September 12, 2013 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.

With the up and down weather, and the cooler temperatures, it appears that migration has begun. A few yellow leaves are beginning to be visible on the trees and shrubs, and hundreds of yellow goldfinches are starting to lose their luster.

In Grant County, Charlene Nelson in Elbow Lake reported that there were a few lingering BALTIMORE ORIOLES in her yard on September 9.

A EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE was seen by Beau Shroyer in Ulen, Clay County on September 1.

Sandy Aubol in Polk County reported a BROAD-WINGED HAWK that flew over her yard in East Grand Forks on September 7. On the 8th, she reported a nice wave of migrants including 20 RING-BILLED GULLS, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, SWAINSON’S THRUSH, GRAY CATBIRD, and ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK. Warblers seen that day included OVENBIRD, BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER, TENNESSEE WARBLER, NASHVILLE WARBLER, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, AMERICAN REDSTART, BAY-BREASTED WARBLER, YELLOW WARBLER, CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER, PALM WARBLER, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, and WILSON’S WARBLER. On September 11, Sandy reported a RED-HEADED WOODPECKER on the Minnesota side of the Red River Greenway. Heidi Hughes observed a HARRIS’S SPARROW at the Audubon Center on September 11, and reported that SANDHILL CRANES are gathering at the Brandt Angus impoundment. Two SNOW GEESE were seen at the Agassiz Valley impoundment and two TRUMPETER SWANS at the Parnell impoundment. Emily Hutchins saw an OVENBIRD under her birdfeeder in Crookston on September 11, and reported that BLACK-BILLED MAGPIES are flocking up.

Shelley Steva has been seeing flocks of CANADA GEESE and RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS in Pennington County this week. She also found 10 adult BALD EAGLES, 2 immature eagles, and 5 COMMON RAVENS feeding on a deer carcass near the intersection of Pennington County roads 3 and 24 on September 12. I saw a lone COMMON NIGHTHAWK catching insects over a yard west of Thief River Falls on September 10, and here at home on the 11th , there was a RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER, NORTHERN FLICKER,YELLOW-THROATED VIREO, many EASTERN BLUEBIRDS, some still with spotted breasts, CEDAR WAXWINGS, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS ,and many AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES. A group of WOOD DUCKS swam by on the river.

Thanks to Beau Shroyer, Charlene Nelson, Heidi Hughes, Sandy Aubol, 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, September 19, 2013.