This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Thursday, December 19, 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.

After a brief warm-up, we are back into the deep freeze again in the northwest. Sightings are few as most folks are staying inside. Feeders have been somewhat busy with the local resident species stoking up against the cold.

Katie Haws in Beltrami County has a NORTHERN CARDINAL and a RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER coming to her feeder on Blackduck Lake. A NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen there on December 13.

Gary Huschle saw a NORTHERN HAWK OWL and also a SNOWY OWL in Elm Lake WMA in Marshall County on December 11. On December 19, Gary Tischer reported 5 flocks of SHARP-TAILED GROUSE ranging from two to about 18 each along the railway tracks between Thief River Falls and Karlstad. Cliff Steinhauer, who lives just west of Agassiz NWR, also reported SHARP-TAILED GROUSE and a COMMON RAVEN on December 19.

At Hamden Slough in Becker County, Steve Midthune found a SNOWY OWL along CR 12 a half mile east of the intersection of CR 12 and CR 13 on December 14.

Thanks so Katie Haws, Gary Huschle, Gary Tischer, and Steve Midthune 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.