Minnesota Birding Report

This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Thursday, August 28, 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.

Migration is definitely underway this week. There have been many reports of migrating COMMON NIGHTHAWKS, increased numbers of BALTIMORE ORIOLES, and of migrating warblers. Most of the warbler reports have come from the Red River Valley along the river.

On a day trip to Roseau County, I found GREATER YELLOWLEGS, LESSER YELLOWLEGS, and a few BLACK TERNS at the Roseau WTP. One COMMON NIGHTHAWK was hawking insects with the terns there. An OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, CEDAR WAXWINGS and one BOHEMIAN WAXWING were seen in the Roseau Bog along MN 310. Warblers seen in the county included TENNESSEE WARBLER, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, AMERICAN REDSTART, BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER, YELLOW WARBLER, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, and CANADA WARBLER.

Cliff Steinhauer reported a pair of RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD with two young, BARN SWALLOWS, and a SHARP-TAILED GROUSE with only one young at his place near the west boundary of Agassiz NWR on August 23.

Shelley Steva reported a TENNESSEE WARBLER in one of her flower pots in Thief River Falls in Pennington County on August 16. This week I had BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER, TENNESSEE WARBLER, MOURNING WARBLER, AMERICAN REDSTART, WILSON’S WARBLER, and BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLERS in the yard. Many BALTIMORE ORIOLES are cleaning out the jelly feeders, and the RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS are busy at the nectar. On August 24, I witnessed the interaction of a BALD EAGLE and an OSPREY over the river. A pair of RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS have brought several young to introduce them the suet feeder. Yesterday a COMMON RAVEN was heard from the yard, and a GRAY CATBIRD was in the yard again.

Sandy Aubol reported the migration in her yard in East Grand Forks, Polk County this week. Included in her list of sightings were COOPER’S HAWK, COMMON NIGHTHAWKS, RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS, CHIMNEY SWIFT, CEDAR WAXWING, YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER, BROWN THRASHER, GRAY CATBIRD, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS, and BALTIMORE ORIOLES. Warblers included MOURNING WARBLER, NASHVILLE WARBLER, TENNESSEE WARBLER, WILSON’S WARBLER, and YELLOW WARBLER. Emily Hutchins also reported from Polk County that COMMON NIGHTHAWKS are moving through. Also mentioned were SPOTTED SANDPIPER, HOODED MERGANSER, and four RED-TAILED HAWKS.

Marshall Howe reported over 100 COMMON NIGHTHAWKS moving through Hubbard County on August 21. On August 27, he reported BLUE-HEADED VIREO, GREAT-CRESTED FLYCATCHER, 25 COMMON NIGHTHAWKS, and PINE WARBLER. On the 28th, he saw PHILADELPHIA VIREO, ALDER FLYCATCHER, OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, and TENNESSEE WARBLER.

Charlene Nelson reported 15- 20 COMMON NIGHTHAWKS in Perham in Otter Tail County on August 27, and 5 were seen in Douglas County over Lake Carlos. She saw a raft of 30 COMMON LOONS on Lake Carlos on August 27.

Thanks to Charlene Nelson , Cliff Steinhauer, Emily Hutchins, Marshall Howe, Sandy Aubol, and Shelley Steva 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. 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, September 4, 2014