-RBA
*Minnesota
*Detroit Lakes
*February 23, 2017
*MNDL1702.23

-Birds mentioned
Greater White-fronted Goose
Snow Goose
Ross's Goose
Cackling Goose
Canada Goose
Trumpeter Swan
Greater Scaup
Sharp-tailed Grouse
Bald Eagle
Northern Harrier
Northern Goshawk
Rough-legged Hawk
Golden Eagle
Great Horned Owl
Snowy Owl
Northern Hawk Owl
Great Gray Owl
Merlin
Northern Shrike
Gray Jay
Horned Lark
Eastern Bluebird
Bohemian Waxwing
Purple Finch
Common Redpoll
Pine Siskin
Lapland Longspur
Snow Bunting
American Tree Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
Rusty Blackbird
-Transcript

Hotline: Minnesota, Detroit Lakes
Date: February 23, 2017
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, February
23, 2017 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.

With all the warm weather and melting, birds have been on the move, and
the first wave of early spring waterfowl are starting to come in. A few
stragglers are appearing in the north, but larger flocks of CANADA
GEESE, TRUMPETER SWANS, and other waterfowl are being reported in the
southern part of the area. Also HORNED LARKS and LAPLAND LONGSPURS are
increasing in numbers. Northern owls are still being reported, and SNOWY
OWLS seem to be increasing here in the north, suggesting that they are
now on the move north to their breeding areas. The first flocks of
RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS are being observed in the southern part of our
area.

BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS were reported in Roseau and Roosevelt in Roseau County
by Doug Kieser and others on February 20. Tim Driscoll was in Roseau
County on February 18 where he found several NORTHERN HAWK OWLS and two
GREAT GRAY OWLS in locations where they have been previously reported.
He also found an immature NORTHERN GOSHAWK on the Sprague Creek Road
north of Roseau. Other species seen included NORTHERN SHRIKE,
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, GRAY JAY, and SHARP-TAILED GROUSE.

A MERLIN was found by the Doug Kieser group along MN 11 in Kittson
County at CR 5. Matt Mecklenburg found four adult male SNOWY OWLS not
far from Donaldson on February 20. Kurt Ellwanger reported that the BALD
EAGLE nest along CR 11 east of Karlstad is now occupied.

In Beltrami County, the Doug Kieser group found a pair of NORTHERN HAWK
OWLS north of Upper Red Lake, and PINE SISKINS, PURPLE FINCH, and COMMON
REDPOLLS in Kelliher on February 20.

In Pennington County, Doug Kieser found a pair of GREAT HORNED OWLS
about two miles west of St Hilaire on February 20.

Emily Hutchins reported several small flocks of CANADA GEESE and
increasing numbers of TRUMPETER SWANS in southern Polk County on
February 21. A GOLDEN EAGLE was found along MN 32 a little north of
Fertile on February 22 by Doug Kieser's group. Terry Johnson saw a
MERLIN near East Grand Forks on February 19, and reported SNOW BUNTINGS,
HORNED LARKS and LAPLAND LONGSPURS in the area. SNOWY OWLS are still
being reported from western Polk County.

From Clay County, Kara Susag reported that the RUSTY BLACKBIRD reported
earlier has returned to her yard in Moorhead.

Many ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS were still at Hamden Slough in Becker County on
February 21. Matt Mecklenburg reported two SNOWY OWLS along CR 14 in
Becker County on February 23.

In Otter Tail County, Alma Ronningen reported an influx of AMERICAN TREE
SPARROWS, adding to the few that have overwintered. Doug Kieser's group
found GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE in the southwestern part of the county
on February 21. GREATER SCAUP, LAPLAND LONGSPURS, NORTHERN HARRIER, and
BALD EAGLES were observed by Wayne Perala in the Fergus Falls area this
week. An EASTERN BLUEBIRD was found at the Orwell reservoir on February
21.

In Grant County, a great variety of waterfowl was reported by Doug
Kieser at the North Ottawa impoundment including CANADA GEESE, CACKLING
GEESE, four ROSS'S GEESE, 10 SNOW GEESE, 250 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED
GEESE, and a large variety of ducks.

Thanks to all who sent in sightings this week.

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, March 2,
2017.



Jeanie Joppru
Pennington County, MN