This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Thursday, May 14, 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.
What a cold windy and rainy week this has been! We were dry, and the recent rains have in some measure alleviated that. It has been hard on the birds however, as the temperatures have not been above the low fifties and high forties all week. That said, migration is proceeding, and today with south winds, there was a large migration.
Reported this week in northwestern counties were RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS, RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD, most of the swallows, SONG SPARROW, CLAY-COLORED SPARROW, SAVANNAH SPARROW, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, WHITE-THROATED SPARROW,HARRIS’S SPARROW, LINCOLN’S SPARROW, LARK SPARROW, and many PINE SISKINS. Warblers observed this week, mostly yesterday and today , included YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, YELLOW WARBLER, NASHVILLE WARBLER, BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER, AMERICAN REDSTART, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, OVENBIRD, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER, TENNESSEE WARBLER, CAPE MAY WARBLER, BAYBREASTED WARBLER, BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER, NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH, BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER, CONNECTICUT WARBLER, GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER, and WILSON’S WARBLER.
Beth Siverhus reporting from Roseau County mentioned RUFFED GROUSE, AMERICAN BITTERN, GRAY CATBIRD, BROWN THRASHER, and YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD. At the Warroad docks were FORSTER’S TERN, COMMON TERN, and FRANKLIN’S GULL.
Peter Grecinger in Goodland , Itasca County had a PAINTED BUNTING visiting his feeders on May 8 and May 9. Let me know and I can put you in contact with him.
Gary Tischer saw a GREAT BLUE HERON in Marshall County on May 12.
Here in Pennington County east of Thief River Falls I had 8 species of warblers in the yard today, May 14. RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD, SWAINSON’S THRUSH, and LEAST FLYCATCHER arrived also today also. Gary Tischer reported that he had a report of 2 pairs of CANADA GEESE with goslings on the Red Lake River this week. An EASTERN TOWHEE was seen by Tony Hoglo a half mile north of the Smiley Bridge southeast of the city.
In Polk County, Sandy Aubol reported a RED-HEADED WOODPECKER on May 8 in East Grand Forks. BARN SWALLOW, BANK SWALLOW, CLIFF SWALLOW, and ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, were seen there on May 8. On the 9th, SOLITARY SANDPIPER, SPOTTED SANDPIPER, PURPLE MARTIN, and LARK SPARROW were observed. A PEREGRINE FALCON was spotted on May 11 on the East Grand Forks water tower. Many species of warblers are being seen along the Red River in the greenway. Sandy had a SCARLET TANAGER and two ORCHARD ORIOLES in her yard on May 14. Sandy Martens reported a HOUSE WREN and BROWN THRASHER on May 9, and a NORTHERN CARDINAL visiting daily in the point area of East Grand Forks.
Matt Mecklenburg saw a late ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK south of the Magneson WMA in Clay County on May 12.
In Becker County, Linda Schuman at the Rainbow Resort reported RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD, CAPE MAY WARBLER, and PINE SISKINS this week. On May 11, Dave and Betty Hochhalter saw a ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK in Detroit Lakes.
Marshall Howe in Hubbard County reported GREEN HERON, VEERY, and OVENBIRD on May 8, SWAINSON’S THRUSH, BLUE-HEADED VIREO, GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER, BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER, EASTERN TOWHEE, and SWAMP SPARROW on May 9, and CASPIAN TERN on May 11.
In Otter Tail County, Kassie Pesch, reported on eBird a CONNECTICUT WARBLER near Perham on May 8. A WESTERN TANAGER also was reported on e-Bird by Meredith Lindsey near Wadena on May 10. A RED-HEADED WOODPECKER being seen at the Pickle Factory 8 miles outside of Vergas was reported by Pam Lanz.
From Douglas County, John Ellis reported WARBLING VIREO, YELLOW-THROATED VIREO, and SEDGE WREN on May 9 in addition to several species of sparrows and warblers.
Thanks to all who sent in their sightings this week.
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, May 21, 2015.