This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Thursday, April 9, 2015 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 mixed weather week, with a little snow, a few clouds, and some wonderful sunshine. Migration is picking up, and with the ice disappearing, the waterfowl are coming in. Small numbers of most of the ducks are being reported with, of course, more of the traditional early migrants like mergansers and wood ducks.

Alice Martin in Otter Tail County reported COMMON LOON, AMERICAN WIGEON, and RING-NECKED DUCK on April 5 near Perham.

From Hubbard County, Marshall Howe observed a GOLDEN EAGLE, RING-BILLED GULL, FOX SPARROW, and PINE SISKIN  on April 5,  TURKEY VULTURE on April 6, COMMON LOON, RING-NECKED DUCK, COMMON MERGANSER, and SONG SPARROW  on April 7, and BUFFLEHEAD on April 9.

In Clay County, Matt Mecklenburg reported about 30 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE  amid a group of dancing GREATER PRAIRIE-CHICKENS. Other species seen included SANDHILL CRANE and MERLIN.

Sandy Aubol saw a male SNOWY OWL  in Polk County on April 4 near the intersection of CR 23 with CR 20.  In the area of the  impoundments in Polk County she saw RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, TUNDRA SWAN, NORTHERN PINTAIL, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, WOOD DUCK, RING-NECKED DUCK, NORTHERN HARRIER,  SANDHILL CRANE, AMERICAN KESTREL, BREWER’S BLACKBIRDS, RUSTY BLACKBIRD, and  YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS.

Shelley Steva found a pair of SANDHILL CRANES  looking as if they will nest along Red Lake CR 1 on April 7.

In Pennington County, I saw two COMMON MERGANSERS, FOX SPARROW, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, and AMERICAN TREE SPARROW  on April 3. A MERLIN  took a BOHEMIAN WAXWING  in our yard on April 5, and several RING-NECKED DUCKS  appeared on the Red Lake River on April 7.

Sandy Aubol  found COMMON MERGANSER, COMMON GOLDENEYE, and NORTHERN PINTAIL  in Marshall County near the Agassiz Valley impoundments on April 4.  On April 9, Gary Tischer saw a TURKEY VULTURE  south of Newfolden, SHARP-TAILED GROUSE, and a KILLDEER.

In the area around Itasca State Park this week, Connie Cox reported HOODED MERGANSER, WOOD DUCK, GREAT BLUE HERON, SANDHILL CRANE, SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, RED-TAILED HAWK , AMERICAN KESTREL, RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER, PURPLE FINCH, and RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD.

Beth Siverhus saw a male SNOWY OWL  one mile west of Warroad in Roseau County on April 6. Other species seen in the county included RUFFED GROUSE, AMERICAN WOODCOCK, NORTHERN SHRIKE, AMERICAN KESTREL, MERLIN, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, DARK-EYED JUNCO, PURPLE FINCH, and RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD.

Thanks to Alice Martin, Beth Siverhus, Connie Cox, Gary Tischer, Marshall Howe, Matt Mecklenburg, 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 April 16, 2015.