This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Thursday, April 4, 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.
The first big wave of migrants has arrived. I have reports from nearly all of the northwest counties of CANADA GEESE, BALD EAGLES nesting, RED-TAILED HAWK, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, NORTHERN HARRIER, GREAT BLUE HERONS, SANDHILL CRANES, KILLDEER, MOURNING DOVES, AMERICAN KESTRELS, MERLINS, HORNED LARKS, AMERICAN ROBINS, DARK-EYED JUNCOS and the first AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS and several WESTERN MEADOWLARKS. SHARP-TAILED GROUSE seem to be everywhere starting to form groups on the leks. Spring is in the air but there is little if any open water in the northern part of the region.
Beth Siverhus reported four NORTHERN HAWK OWLS along MN 72 on March 30 in Lake of the Woods County.
In Roseau County, Beth reported one GREAT GRAY OWL still to be found east of Roseau, and a MERLIN in Roseau on March 30.
NORTHERN HAWK OWL and one GREAT GRAY OWL were seen along MN 72 in Beltrami County on March 30.
Kelly Larson reported that a few ducks have found their way to the Clearwater River in Clearwater County as she found COMMON MERGANSER, HOODED MERGANSER, and COMMON GOLDENEYE there on March 29.
Beth Siverhus was surprised to find several HOARY REDPOLLS in western Itasca County on the weekend.
In Marshall County, Heidi Hughes reported a NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL roosting in an evergreen near Radium on April 4.
Gary Tischer called this evening to report a BARRED OWL calling tonight about three miles east of Thief River Falls in Pennington County near the Red Lake River.
From Polk County, Emily Hutchins observed a NORTHERN SHRIKE along CR 45 west of MN 32 on March 28. Sandy Aubol saw a PEREGRINE FALCON on the East Grand Forks water tower on April 3. AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS were seen near Fisher on April 3- wonder where they would find water. Sandy Aubol also saw a TURKEY VULTURE and COOPER’S HAWK near East Grand Forks on April 3.
At Tamarac NWR in Becker County, Kelly Blackledge reported the first YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER and a BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD on March 27. At Rainbow Resort, Linda Schumann reported that 12 EVENING GROSBEAKS showed up again at the feeder on April 4. Among the other species seen there were NORTHERN CARDINAL and NORTHERN SHRIKE. Cleone Stewart reported that the OSPREY has returned to the nest site along MN 10 in Becker County.
Hubbard County sightings by Marshall Howe included 4 RED CROSSBILLS near Dorset on March 25.
Teresa Jaskiewicz in Otter Tail County sent in observations of AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS, and RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS this week at the Prairie Wetlands Learning Center near Fergus Falls. Gary and Marion Otnes observed LESSER SCAUP, BUFFLEHEAD, WILD TURKEYS, TURKEY VULTURES, COMMON GRACKLE, and WESTERN MEADOWLARK in Otter Tail County on April 2. AMERICAN GOOT and GREAT BLUE HERON were mentioned by Judy Doll.
John Ellis saw a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK at Lake Carlos SP in Douglas County on March 30. Benjamin Eckhoff saw a HOODED MERGANSER on the Long Prairie River on March 30, and on March 31, flocks of AMERICAN ROBINS in the area. EASTERN BLUEBIRD was seen on April 2.
Thanks to all, too numerous to name, who sent in sightings this week. Your sightings will all go into the record even if they could not be mentioned here.
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 11, 2013
