-RBA *Minnesota *Detroit Lakes *February 19, 2009 *MNDL0902.19-Birds mentioned
Hotline: Minnesota, Detroit Lakes
Date: February 19, 2009
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 19, 2009 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.
Spring must be coming - we alternating between +30 degree temperatures and -20 degrees. The weather will settle into a pattern soon, but for now it doesn't seem to be able to make up its mind whether it's winter or spring! In the north we still have a good cover of snow in most places, but the strong sun will change all that as soon as the temperatures warm to the 20's. Best news this week is that, on a trip from Thief River Falls to Fergus Falls on the weekend, Shelley Steva and I saw HORNED LARKS in every county we went through.
Jeff Birchem in Lake of the Woods County saw the NORTHERN HAWK OWL on the Roosevelt Road a couple of miles north of the Faunce-Butterfield Road on February 18. This bird has been there most of the winter. A PILEATED WOODPECKER was also seen there. At the Norris Camp feeder they are seeing GRAY JAYS, PINE GROSBEAKS, and COMMON REDPOLLS.
Dave and Cec Lambeth were in Roseau County on February 13 where they found two NORTHERN HAWK OWLS and one GREAT GRAY OWL along MN 310 north of Roseau. There were also six PINE GROSBEAKS seen along that road, and 20 more were seen south of Roosevelt.
Ben Wieland reported a VARIED THRUSH at Pleasant Lake near Hackensack in Cass County, and a RED-HEADED WOODPECKER near Leader on February 15.
Diana Morkassel north of Warren in Marshall County observed a BALD EAGLE and an AMERICAN CROW a half mile north of the Warren airport on February 13, and DARK-EYED JUNCOS, COMMON REDPOLLS, and a HOUSE FINCH at her feeder nearby.
In Polk County, Donna and Leon Thoreson saw a SNOWY OWL four miles east of Climax on CR 41 on February 14, and along the same road were 15 HORNED LARKS and 10 SNOW BUNTINGS. Along MN 220 north of Climax were two BALD EAGLES and two BLACK-BILLED MAGPIES. John Loegering reported a WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL in Crookston, on February 15. Mike Christopherson, also in Crookston, reported RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, PINE SISKINS, AMERICAN GOLDFINCH, and HOUSE FINCH. Diana Morkassel saw 4 AMERICAN CROWS, 12 HORNED LARKS, and SNOW BUNTINGS on February 15 along US 75 north of Crookston on February 15.
Craig Coleman reported an AMERICAN ROBIN along CR 22 in Becker County on February 6. About 75 COMMON REDPOLLS are visiting his backyard feeder.
In Otter Tail County, Shelley Steva and I saw a lot of TRUMPETER SWANS at the "levee" in Fergus Falls , along with some MALLARDS and COMMON GOLDENEYES on February 15.
Thanks to Ben Wieland, Craig Coleman, Dave and Cec Lambeth, Diana Morkassel, Jeff Birchem, John Loegering, Mike Christopherson, and Donna and Leon Thoreson 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, February 26, 2009.
Jeanie Joppru Pennington County, MN