This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Thursday, July 24, 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.
This has been a very quiet period here in the northwest during the past two weeks. Perhaps it is the coming of summer weather finally , summer vacations, or maybe the weather events of the past week. Whatever the reason, there are few reports, but many young birds to watch none the less. From 2 -5 inches of rain a few days ago has brought out the bugs, and the flycatchers are very busy.
Emily Hutchins reported a HUDSONIAN GODWIT seen by Rich Peet on the east side of Marcoux Corner in Polk County on July 12. That is the intersection of MN 32 and US 2.
On July 23 , a COOPER’S HAWK was chased out of our yard in Pennington County by the two resident EASTERN KINGBIRDS. A RED-HEADED WOODPECKER and a RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER continue to make sporadic visits to the suet feeder. Many AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES, HOUSE FINCHES, and lately young BALTIMORE ORIOLES are also coming regularly. From time to time, the GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHERS have a spat in the yard. I had no idea that the family would be so noisy until conditions this year caused them to stick around the yard during the nesting season.
On July 19 , I spotted several TURKEY VULTURES in Marshall County, and also in both Roseau and Kittson Counties.
Judy Meredith was birding in Roseau County this week and at the Roseau Wastewater Treatment Ponds on July 20, she found 10-12 WILSON’S PHALAROPES, a LESSER YELLOWLEGS, SPOTTED SANDPIPERS, KILLDEER, and a HOODED MERGANSER with young. In wetlands in the area were 4 MARBLED GODWITS, 12 SANDHILL CRANES and some BOBOLINKS. I was at the Roseau River WMA and elsewhere in the county on July 19, and found 2 COMMON LOONS, a RED-NECKED GREBE, and a DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT with a catch at the WMA, and there and other places, I found SPOTTED SANDPIPERS, SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER, one STILT SANDPIPER, WILSON’S SNIPE, BLACK TERNS, MARSH WRENS, LE CONTE’S SPARROW, many CEDAR WAXWINGS, and a singing WHITE-THROATED SPARROW.
In Kittson County just south of Lake Bronson along US 59 I found a pair of SANDHILL CRANES with one colt on the east side along the railroad tracks.
Thanks to Emily Hutchins, and Judy Meredith for their reports. Please keep those reports coming in as what may not be important to you may be just what someone else wants to see.
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, July 31, 2014.