-RBA *Minnesota *Detroit Lakes *December 18, 2008 *MNDL0812.18-Birds mentioned
Hotline: Minnesota, Detroit Lakes
Date: December 18, 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 18, 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.
There is no doubt, Mother nature has finished teasing us and has brought winter for real now. Cold temperatures in the northwest have followed the blizzard of last weekend, feeders are more active, and birder's are contenting themselves with preparing for the holiday season rather than venturing out in the cold.
Kenneth Garrahan at the Prairie Wetlands Learning Center at Fergus Falls in Otter Tail County reported that lots of COMMON REDPOLLS are visiting the feeders there this week.
From Clearwater County, Kelly Larson reported 250 SNOW BUNTINGS on the south side of CR 26 between MN 92 and 201st Ave on December 14. At the farm south of Bagley there were many finches including PURPLE FINCH, COMMON REDPOLL, PINE SISKINS, and AMERICAN GOLDFINCH. Other species seen included RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER, NORTHERN SHRIKE, and DARK-EYED JUNCO.
Katie Haws in Beltrami County observed a GREAT GRAY OWL near Hines between Blackduck and Tenstrike on December 11. Frank Nicolletti and Dave Alexander were owling along MN 72 in Beltrami and Lake of the Woods Counties this week between December 16 and December 18. Seven NORTHERN HAWK OWLS were found in this area. Five of them were along MN 72 between Lake of the Woods CR 77 and Waskish in Beltrami County. One was on Shoreline Drive north of Upper Red Lake, and one was along Beltrami CR 40 northeast of Waskish. RING-NECKED PHEASANTS were seen along Beltrami CR 40.
A GREAT HORNED OWL was seen by Frank and Dave near Baudette in Lake of the Woods County. Gretchen Mehmel reported that a NORTHERN HAWK OWL is being consistently seen two miles north of the Faunce-Butterfield Road along the Roosevelt Road.
In Roseau County, Frank Nicolletti and Dave Alexander found four NORTHERN HAWK OWLS north of Roseau - three were along MN 310, one on the Sprague Creek Road. A GREAT GRAY OWL was seen along MN 310, and lots of Black-backed Woodpecker signs were seen in the bog. Other species seen in Roseau County included SHARP-TAILED GROUSE, RUFFED GROUSE, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS, PILEATED WOODPECKER, GRAY JAYS, NORTHERN SHRIKES, and SNOW BUNTINGS. Beth Siverhus had an AMERICAN ROBIN in their yard in Warroad on December 13.
Larry Wilebski also reported an AMERICAN ROBIN in Lancaster, Kittson County , on December 14. Lance Crandall at Lake Bronson State Park reported that the park feeders are hosting a variety of species including BLUE JAYS, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES, and WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCHES.
Thanks to Beth Siverhus, Dave Alexander, Frank Nicoletti, Gretchen Mehmel, Katie Haws, Kelly Larson, Kenneth Garrahan, Lance Crandall, and Larry Wilebski 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 25, 2008.
Jeanie Joppru Pennington County, MN