This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Thursday, April 10, 2014 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.
Spring has finally arrived and we are hoping that there won’t be a relapse! Birds are streaming north in large numbers especially raptors such as bald eagles, red-tailed hawks, northern harriers, rough-legged hawks, and American kestrels. Ducks are also following the water that is opening up and the melt water in the flooded fields. Songbirds mentioned by nearly all reporters included American robins, eastern bluebirds, dark-eyed juncos, western meadowlarks, common grackles, and brightening American goldfinches.
Barb and Denny Martin reported that the LEWIS’S WOODPECKER is still visiting the feeders in Roosevelt on the Roseau – Lake of the Woods county line as of April 9.
In Roseau County, Barb and Denny saw a PRAIRIE FALCON flying over the intersection of MN 11 and 190th St a mile south of Greenbush on April 10.
Gary Tischer observed 20 swans four miles west of Karlstad in Kittson County on April 6.
Connie Cox, reporting from southern Clearwater County, mentioned EASTERN MEADOWLARK on April 5, SANDHILL CRANE, AMERICAN WOODCOCK, and SHARP-SHINNED HAWK on April 6, MOURNING DOVE on April 7, and TURKEY VULTURE on April 10 in addition to most of the species listed at the top of this report.
Christine Herwig saw a TURKEY VULTURE east of Lake Bemidji in Beltrami County on April 7. On the 10th she saw a ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK , and EASTERN BLUEBIRD, and on Lake Bemidji, there were COMMON GOLDENEYES.
In Pennington County, Shelley Steva saw SANDHILL CRANES on April 4. Gary Tischer reported COMMON GRACKLE in Thief River Falls on April 9. A SHARP-SHINNED HAWK flew through our yard east of Thief River Falls tonight April 10.
Shelley Steva reported a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK in Oklee in Red Lake County on April 6 and a GREAT BLUE HERON on April 8 north of Oklee. Gary Tischer saw a MOURNING DOVE south of Plummer on April 6.
On April 8, Sandy Aubol found CANADA GEESE, a few GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, and MALLARDS in a flooded field north of East Grand Forks in Polk County. Species visiting her yard included AMERICAN TREE SPARROW and COOPER’S HAWK on April 8. Along the Grand Marais River , she found HOODED MERGANSERS, RING-NECKED DUCKS, and COMMON GOLDENEYES on April 9. Many RING-BILLED GULLS came north this week. Other ducks included NORTHERN PINTAIL, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, and LESSER SCAUP. She also reported AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN, NORTHERN FLICKER, and RUSTY BLACKBIRD in the county on April 10. Joanne Johnson saw MOURNING DOVE and KILLDEER near Fisher on April 7. Barb and Denny Martin reported about 2000 swans at the Polk County rice paddies along the Clearwater River on April 10.
Dennis Weisenborn saw a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK flying over the Red River at Moorhead in Clay County on April 8. Matt Mecklenburg reported an adult GOLDEN EAGLE near the entrance to Buffalo River SP on April 6. Barb and Denny Martin saw 5 SHORT-EARED OWLS harassing 24 GREATER PRAIRIE-CHICKENS at Hamden Slough on April 8.
From Hubbard County, Marshall Howe reported 5 HOODED MERGANSERS and PURPLE FINCH on April 4; and FOX SPARROW on April 8. He saw a TURKEY VULTURE on April 10 in Park Rapids.
Marion Otnes in Otter Tail County on April 8 reported TUNDRA SWAN, GREATER PRAIRIE-CHICKEN, SHORT-EARED OWL, GREAT EGRET, RING-BILLED GULL, eleven species of ducks, KILLDEER, EASTERN PHOEBE, and YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD among others.
From Douglas County, Benjamin Eckhoff reported BROWN CREEPER on April 8, TURKEY VULTURE , 2 RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS , COOPER’S HAWK, BARRED OWL, YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER, EASTERN BLUEBIRD, EASTERN PHOEBE, and BROWN CREEPER among others this week.
Thanks to all who sent in their sightings 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 17, 2014.