This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Thursday, May 28, 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.
We have had the first week of summer weather this week in the northwest. It has become increasingly obvious that migration is almost over. New arrivals are way down, and the local nesters are very busy and noisy now.
From Lake of the Woods County, Gretchen Mehmel reported a COMMON RAVEN nesting at the Norris Camp picnic grounds, a BELTED KINGFISHER nest at the Norris Camp pond, GRAY JAY nestlings at the Norris Camp feeders, HERMIT THRUSHES and WHIP-POOR-WILLS being heard in the area.
In Roseau County, Mike Thiele reported HOUSE WREN on May 18, and a WHIP-POOR-WILL on May 22 in Warroad.
Sandy Aubol found RUDDY TURNSTONES and MARBLED GODWIT on the Marshall County side of the Agassiz Impoundment on May 27. UPLAND SANDPIPER was reported by Gary Tischer in Marshall County on May 24.
In Pennington County, Gary Tischer reported that Beth Iliff had a YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD in her yard in Thief River Falls on May 25, and an INDIGO BUNTING showed up on May 28 . I had a RED-EYED VIREO and RED-HEADED WOODPECKER in the yard on May 22; a YELLOW-THROATED VIREO , RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER, and CEDAR WAXWING were here on May 25. Also on May 25, I went to Hickory Township where I found GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLERS where they have nested for several years. Other species seen there included CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER , BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER, YELLOW-THROATED VIREO, VEERY, and OVENBIRD. On May 28, I heard a COMMON NIGHTHAWK go over the yard. The RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS have excavated a new hole and appear to be nesting in our yard this year.
In Polk County, Russ Wilbur reported EASTERN KINGBIRD in East Grand Forks on May 24. At Rydell NWR, he saw COMMON LOON, RED-NECKED GREBE, and CEDAR WAXWINGS. On May 22, Maggie Anderson observed BOBOLINKS near East Grand Forks. Sandy Aubol reported RED-HEADED WOODPECKER in East Grand Forks on May 26. An INDIGO BUNTING was seen there by Sandy Martens on May 26. On May 27, Sandy Aubol found several species if shorebirds at the Agassiz Valley Impoundment on the Polk County side. They included RUDDY TURNSTONES, WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER, SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER, SPOTTED SANDPIPER, WILLET, SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, and BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER. She also saw AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN, FORSTER’S TERN, and BLACK TERN.
Jesse Ellis reported a CLARK’S GREBE on Lake Osakis in Todd and Douglas County this week.
From Otter Tail County, Julian Sellers reported WESTERN KINGBIRD, EASTERN KINGBIRD, and AMERICAN WOODCOCK at Maplewood State Park on May 19.
Charlene Nelson observer MAGNOLIA WARBLER in Elbow Lake, Grant County, on May 22 and INDIGO BUNTING on May 23.
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, June 4, 2015.
