This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Thursday, September 25, 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.

The last of the big groups of passerines are moving through now, and the bulk of them this week have been YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS, NORTHERN FLICKERS , RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, and YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS. Leaves are turning and starting to fall, and it has been reported that the colors are a little under peak now. That will change rapidly when the cooler temperatures arrive during the next week or so.

A GREAT EGRET was reported by Paul Clay along the river near Hallock, Kittson County, on September 22.

Last weekend, a large group of RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS were seen in our yard east of Thief River Falls in Pennington County. HERMIT THRUSH, SWAINSON’S THRUSH, RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER, WOOD DUCK and a few warblers were seen on September 21. Today I spotted a BALD EAGLE soaring over the town, and in the yard there were numerous YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS, NORTHERN FLICKERS, and YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS. A family of EASTERN BLUEBIRDS came to the bird bath.

From Polk County, Emily Hutchins reported DARK-EYED JUNCOS and WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS on September 25. Russ Wilber saw 4 BROAD-WINGED HAWKS and two TURKEY VULTURES soaring over the campground in East Grand Forks on September 22, and a BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE on September 23. Sandy Aubol reported a large flight of migrating FRANKLIN’S GULLS over East Grand Forks on September 20. That day she observed in her yard 32 WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS and the numbers grew to over 70 by September 21. She also saw 3 HARRIS’S SPARROWS, two WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS, DARK-EYED JUNCO, and YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS. On September 22 there were LINCOLN’S SPARROW, FOX SPARROW, and PINE SISKINS, and she saw a BAY-BREASTED WARBLER on September 24.

Alma Ronningen echoed the reports above on September 25 as she reported numbers of migrating YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS and NORTHERN FLICKERS in Dent, Ottertail County.

Charlene Nelson reported RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS in Grant County on September 23.

Thanks to Alma Ronningen, Charlene Nelson, Emily Hutchins, Paul Clay, and Russ Wilber 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 , October 2, 2014