This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Friday, December 26, 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 really damp, gray week in the northwest, and we have only seen daylight through the fog and mist a few times. Today, December 26, a glimpse of the sun was seen by a few as colder weather settles in.

Steve Midthune reported a male VARIED THRUSH  along Merry Meadow Lane in Detroit Lakes, Becker  County, on December 21.

The Fargo-Moorhead CBC counted a few waterfowl at the Moorhead WTP including CACKLING GOOSE, SNOW GOOSE, WOOD DUCK, GADWALL, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, NORTHERN PINTAIL, and LESSER SCAUP on December 23. Also in Clay County that day, Tim Lamey observed a SNOWY OWL  one mile south of Georgetown on the west side of US 75 .

Terry and Joanne Johnson in East Grand Forks, Polk County, reported that by December 24, their feeders were busy with DARK-EYED JUNCOS, and HOUSE FINCHES. A SNOWY OWL  was reported on December 26 along US 2 a half mile from the US 75 junction. Today , December 26, I saw a pure white adult male and a heavily barred immature SNOWY OWL along Polk CR 21 within the two miles stretch east of Sherack. The two were about a mile apart.

A ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK  along Marshall CR 12 just north of the intersection with  CR 46 on December 24.

Thanks to Keith Corliss, Steve Midthune, Terry and Joanne Johnson, and Tim Lamey 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.