Minnesota Birding Report

This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Thursday, October 10, 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.

What a pleasant few days it has been after the miserable weather on Saturday! Increasing yellows and oranges are seen everywhere, and ash leaves lay deep on the ground now after the wind. The yards are full of migrating sparrows, hungry with the long journey looming.

From Grant County, Charlene Nelson reported on October 5, that WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS, WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS, LINCOLN’S SPARROWS, HARRIS’S SPARROWS, and DARK-EYED JUNCOS have arrived in Grant County already, so they won’t be here much longer in the northern counties.

Mike Majeski saw a kettle of 144 SWAINSON’S HAWKS in Otter Tail County near CR 15 south of 130th St on October 2, before the storm.

Kristy May in Mahnomen County reported on October 10 the presence of DARK-EYED JUNCOS, and CHIPPING SPARROWS in Waubun. Several COMMON RAVENS were seen along MN 113 on October 4. 24 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS flew over Waubun ahead of the storm on October 4. Other species seen in the vicinity included RED-TAILED HAWKS, NORTHERN HARRIERS, SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, and BLACK-BILLED MAGPIES.

Sandy Aubol in Polk County saw 300 AMERICAN ROBINS flying N/NE ahead of the storm on Saturday, October 5. As of October 4, she reported 55-60 WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS, some HARRIS’S SPARROWS, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS, and DARK-EYED JUNCOS in the yard in East Grand Forks.

Here near Thief River Falls in Pennington County, I heard a BELTED KINGFISHER along the river yesterday, and have RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER, WHITE-THROATED SPARROW, and PURPLE FINCH in the yard.

Gary Tischer saw BALD EAGLE, RED-TAILED HAWK, and TURKEY VULTURES in Marshall County on October 10 between Newfolden and Karlstad along US 59.

Thanks to Charlene Nelson, Gary Tischer, Kristy May, Mike Majeski, and Sandy Aubol 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, October 17, 2013.