-RBA
*Minnesota
*Detroit Lakes
*December 4, 2008
*MNDL0812.04

-Birds mentioned
Canada Goose
Gray Partridge
Bald Eagle
Northern Harrier
Red-tailed Hawk
Great Horned Owl
Snowy Owl
Northern Hawk Owl
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Northern Shrike
American Robin
White-throated Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Pine Grosbeak
Purple Finch
Red Crossbill
White-winged Crossbill
Common Redpoll
Pine Siskin
-Transcript

Hotline: Minnesota, Detroit Lakes
Date: December 4, 2008
Sponsor: Lakes Area Birding Club, Detroit Lakes Regional Chamber of Commerce
Reports: 1-800-542-3992 (weekdays during business hours)
Compiler: Jeanie Joppru ([log in to unmask])

This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Thursday, December 4,
2008 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.

Winter is definitely here, even if the snow is not. Temperatures have
dipped into single digits the last few nights, and the wind has a real
bite. Migration is all but over, and the winter residents are the only
species seen.

That said, of course there is an exception as Brad and Dee Ehlers are
reported a NORTHERN FLICKER in Otter Tail County on November 29.

From Douglas County on December 4, Deb Johnson reported RED-TAILED HAWK,
RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER, NORTHERN SHRIKE, AMERICAN ROBIN, WHITE-THROATED
SPARROW, PURPLE FINCH, and PINE SISKIN.

Jerry Bonkowski reported COMMON REDPOLLS in Becker County on December 1.
Other counties where this species was seen on December 1 and 2 were
Itasca, Clearwater, and Beltrami counties.

Mel and Elaine Bennefeld found 4 BALD EAGLES in Clay County on November
29. Three were seen at Buffalo River State Park and one was flying over
the Red River in Moorhead.

Jim Hoffmann had a female NORTHERN CARDINAL at his feeder in Erskine,
Polk County on November 30.

Shelley Steva reported a SNOWY OWL in Red Lake County 1.5 miles south of
the Pennington County line along US 59. This is likely the same
individual reported last week about two miles north of there. A GREAT
HORNED OWL was also seen two miles east of Plummer. Both sightings were
on December 4.

Maggie Anderson at Agassiz NWR in Marshall County reported a lone CANADA
GOOSE and a NORTHERN HARRIER along CR 7 in the refuge on December 4.

In Beltrami County, Jerry Bonkowski found WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS on
December 1 and 2nd.

Jerry was also in Itasca County where he saw both WHITE-WINGED
CROSSBILLS and RED CROSSBILLS, and PINE GROSBEAKS at the Lost Forty SNA
and along CR 39.

Kelly Bengtson observed a SNOWY OWL and a large covey of GRAY PARTRIDGE
near his place two miles southwest of Hallock in Kittson County on
December 3.

Gretchen Mehmel reported that the NORTHERN HAWK OWL reported last week
along the Roosevelt Road north of the Faunce Butterfield Road is still
there. A SNOWY OWL is being seen east of Cecil's Landing on the
Roosevelt Road.

Thanks to Brad and Dee Ehlers, Deb Johnson, Gretchen Mehmel, Jerry
Bonkowski, Jim Hoffmann, Kelly Bengtson, Maggie Anderson, Mel and Elaine
Bennefeld, and Shelley Steva for their reports.

Please report bird sightings to Jeanie Joppru by email, no later than
Thursday each week, at [log in to unmask] 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, December
11, 2008.

Jeanie Joppru
Pennington County, MN