This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Thursday, March 28, 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 coming of warmer weather, the migrants are starting to return to the northwest this week. The snow is starting to erode and a few patches of brown are coming into view.
Brad and Dee Ehlers reported COMMON MERGANSERS in the Ottertail River in Fergus Falls, Otter Tail County on March 23. On the 24th, they observed BALD EAGLES feeding young on the west end of Brown Lake along CR 1; MERLINS and MOURNING DOVES were seen south of Fergus Falls on March 28.
Joel Arndt saw a SNOWY OWL and a NORTHERN CARDINAL in Becker County on March 26. CANADA GOOSE, BALD EAGLE and SNOW GOOSE were spotted by Kristy May along US 59 on March 27.
A BOREAL OWL was seen by Rick Gjervold south of Felton Prairie in Clay County on March 23. Brad and Dee Ehlers reported a BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE at the intersection of I-94 and CR 10 east of Moorhead on March 23.
Kristy May found RING-NECKED PHEASANTS east of Flom on CR 113 in Norman County on March 24. On the 28th she saw a NORTHERN HARRIER on the same road.
A PINE GROSBEAK was seen in Waubun, Mahnomen County, on March 25, and on the 28th Kristy May found six SANDHILL CRANES southwest of Mahnomen.
From Polk County, Heidi Hughes reported a GOLDEN EAGLE working on a deer carcass at the edge of the Audubon Center prairie on March 24. There were many HORNED LARKS and 7 GRAY PARTRIDGE also in the area. Donna and Leon Thoreson reported 150 SNOW BUNTINGS and 75 COMMON REDPOLLS still feeding in their yard near Climax on March 23. Also there were three GRAY PARTRIDGE. Sandy Aubol reported two MERLINS in East Grand Forks, along with NORTHERN SHRIKE , and 100 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS on March 26. Cory and Angie Floden observed two SNOW BUNTINGS and one LAPLAND LONGSPUR in their yard near Euclid on March 28.
Here in Pennington County, Maggie Anderson saw a NORTHERN SHRIKE in eastern Thief River Falls on March 22, and I saw one tonight, March 28 along Barzen Ave, on the west side of the city.
From Marshall County, at Agassiz NWR, Jim Graham saw a BOREAL OWL in a tree at headquarters on March 24. On March 22, a GREAT GRAY OWL was seen by Gregg Knutsen along CR 7 four miles west of headquarters, and a CANADA GOOSE was reported by Dave Myhrer at Parker Pool on March 27. Several BALD EAGLES were seen in the county this week including the pair at Parker Pool, one two miles east of Middle River, and one seen by Jennifer Audette near Viking.
Beth Siverhus reported a NORTHERN HAWK OWL a few miles south of the Lake of the Woods border in Beltrami County along MN 72 on March 23.
In Roseau County there is a secondhand report of a BOREAL OWL hanging around bird feeders in Roseau this week. GREAT GRAYOWL sightings are greatly decreased this week as only two have been reported in Roseau County this week by Beth Siverhus. A NORTHERN HAWK OWL has been hanging around the area of the Hay Creek Bridge east of the intersection of MN 11 and CR 9 near Salol. The first CANADA GOOSE was seen on March 28.
In Lake of the Woods County, Beth Siverhus reported four NORTHERN HAWK OWLS this week , most along MN 72. A GREAT GRAY OWL was seen along MN 72 eight miles south of Baudette on March 23.
Thanks to all who sent in reports 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, April 4, 2013.