-RBA
*Minnesota
*Detroit Lakes
*January 2, 2014
*MNDL1401.02

-Birds mentioned
Ruffed Grouse
Spruce Grouse
Sharp-tailed Grouse
Northern Goshawk
Great Horned Owl
Snowy Owl
Great Gray Owl
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Northern Shrike
Gray Jay
Common Raven
Black-capped Chickadee
American Robin
Lapland Longspur
Snow Bunting
Dark-eyed Junco
Purple Finch
Red Crossbill
Pine Siskin
American Goldfinch
-Transcript

Hotline: Minnesota, Detroit Lakes
Date: January 2, 2014
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, January 2,
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.

It has been a frigid week in the northwest with temperatures rarely
getting above zero. This has kept some folks indoors, but there have
been many reports of SNOWY OWLS as folks go to and fro with their daily
activities. The three northern CBC's found it very quiet and birds were
hard to come by. Very cold temperatures made it a challenge to keep
warm. Numbers of individuals and species were way down.

The Beltrami Island CBC found 15 species on count day, December 29.
Included were 8 RED CROSSBILLS, only one GRAY JAY, and 4 RUFFED GROUSE.
No other finches were seen, but a GREAT HORNED OWL, rarely seen there,
was found at sunset. During count week a SPRUCE GROUSE and a NORTHERN
GOSHAWK were seen.

The best birds seen on the Baudette CBC on December 30 were the NORTHERN
SHRIKE spotted by Marshall Howe on his way home from the Beltrami Island
CBC along MN11 just west of Baudette, and two GREAT GRAY OWLS seen by
Martin Kehoe just at dusk. One was along CR 3 southwest of Baudette and
one a bit further west. Most numerous species reported were COMMON
RAVENS, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES, and SNOW BUNTINGS.

The Roseau CBC was held on December 28, arguably the most difficult day
of the weekend with dropping temperatures , snow, and high winds. A
number of SHARP-TAILED GROUSE, a RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER in Roseau, and
some SNOW BUNTINGS were the highlights before the winds made visibility
drop to near zero.

In Marshall County this week , the story was largely of SNOWY OWLS
reported by Heidi Hughes but originally seen by others. Two were on
Marshall CR 19 south of Argyle, one was 4 miles north of Alvarado on CR
10 , then 1.5 miles east on CR 20. On January 1, I found a flock of 250
SNOW BUNTINGS along CR 2 west of US 59.

A NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL was seen by David Jadeke at Highlanding east of
Thief River Falls on December 25. On December 31, 4 female PURPLE
FINCHES showed up at our feeder, the only finches I have seen here for
quite some time. Also at the feeder was a RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER . I
found a small flock of 16 LAPLAND LONGSPURS about 10 miles east of Thief
River Falls on January 1.

More SNOWY OWLS were reported in Polk County. Heidi Hughes reported one
on US 59 between Winger and Bejou on December 31. Another was seen on CR
20 north of CR 23 on January 1. Sandy Aubol found three - one on 380th
Ave SW south of CR 21, one on CR 20 south of Sherack, and one on CR 19
just east of 380th Ave SW , all on New Year's Day. Emily Hutchins
reported DARK-EYED JUNCO, a PINE SISKIN, and several AMERICAN
GOLDFINCHES in Crookston on December 29. Leon Thoreson reported 14
AMERICAN ROBINS at his place near Climax on December 27. A GREAT HORNED
OWL was at the Agassiz Audubon Sanctuary on December 27.

Scott and Connie Jo Dirks found a SNOWY OWL 3.7 miles north of Osakis on
CR 3 in Douglas County on December 30.

Thanks to all who sent in their sightings this week . Keep on reporting
those snowy owls with specific locations as we are keeping track of the
numbers.

Please report bird sightings to Jeanie Joppru by email, no later than
Thursday each week, at [log in to unmask]
<mailto:[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, January 9, 2014.

Jeanie Joppru
Pennington County, MN