This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Thursday, December 26, 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.

It has been a cold week in the northwest, but at least there has so far been no bad snowstorms to spoil the holiday fun. Reports are somewhat scarce, and the word seems to be that there are few if any northern finches visiting the feeders.

In Douglas County Lynn Glesne reported a SNOWY OWL about six miles north of Osakis on CR 3 on December 20. Benjamin Eckhoff reported the following species seen near Lake Carlos this week – BALD EAGLE, BARRED OWL, BROWN CREEPER, PURPLE FINCH, and AMERICAN GOLDFINCH.

Gary and Marian Otnes in Otter Tail County saw a SNOWY OWL just south of their place near Fergus Falls on December 22. Seen in their yard were NORTHERN FLICKER, RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER, PILEATED WOODPECKER, a pair of NORTHERN CARDINALS, AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS and 24 PURPLE FINCHES. 12 WILD TURKEYS were also seen in the area.

Benjamin Eckhoff in western Todd County had a grey morph EASTERN SCREECH OWL roosting in his yard a mile or two north of Lake Osakis near 145th Ave on December 21.

Three northern CBC’s are set for this coming weekend – Roseau is on Saturday, December 28, Beltrami Island on December 29, and the Baudette count is on Monday , December 30. If you are interested, contact me and I will get the details to you if I can. You will need to contact me tonight or tomorrow night as I will be leaving early on Saturday for the Roseau count.

Thanks to Benjamin Eckhoff, Gary Otnes, and Lynn Glesne 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.