-RBA *Minnesota *Detroit Lakes *March 12, 2009 *MNDL0903.12-Birds mentioned
Hotline: Minnesota, Detroit Lakes
Date: March 12, 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, March 12, 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.
This week has been an unpleasant reminder that winter is still with us, but we are promised spring-like weather by Sunday. Most of the area was blanketed with a thick coating of snow this week, so most bare spots are gone, and minimum maintenance roads are mostly impassible. However the spring migration of HORNED LARKS and SNOW BUNTINGS continues.
Deb Johnson in Douglas County reported AMERICAN ROBIN, MOURNING DOVE, COMMON REDPOLL, and PINE SISKINS near Alexandria on March 11.
Brad and Dee Ehlers observed a COMMON LOON in the Otter Tail River in Fergus Falls, Otter Tail County, on March 10. Tom Smith saw nearly a dozen RED-TAILED HAWKS on a journey from the Twin Cities to Fergus Falls on March 9, some as far north as Otter Tail County. He also reported both COMMON REDPOLLS, and HOARY REDPOLLS at his feeder.
Mark Otnes saw a COMMON RAVEN near the MSUM Science Center in Clay County on March 7.
In Polk County, Tim Driscoll spotted a female EVENING GROSBEAK and 15 AMERICAN ROBINS in the northern part of East Grand Forks. Shelley Steva and I found a HOARY REDPOLL at the feeders at the Wetlands, Pines, and Prairies Audubon Sanctuary in the northern part of Polk County on March 8. Other species seen in the county included BALD EAGLE, DARK-EYED JUNCO, COMMON REDPOLL, PINE SISKIN, and AMERICAN GOLDFINCH.
Dave Myhrer saw a CANADA GOOSE fly over Thief River Falls in Pennington County on March 8.
At Agassiz NWR in Marshall County, Gary Tischer reported that the pair of BALD EAGLES have returned to the nest at Parker Pool along CR 7 as of February 23. On March 8, Shelley Steva and I saw a RING-NECKED PHEASANT; and there were SHARP-TAILED GROUSE and HORNED LARKS everywhere in the county.
Stan Wood in Roseau County reported that MALLARDS and a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was sighted there on February 14, while a few CANADA GEESE and MALLARDS showed up on March 4.
Martin Kehoe reported from the Beltrami Island State Forest on March 7 the sighting of a NORTHERN HAWK OWL on a remote beaver pond. Nine SPRUCE GROUSE were seen this week, and there were three sightings of BOREAL CHICKADEES.
Thanks to Brad and Dee Ehlers, Dave Myrher, Deb Johnson, Gary Tischer, Mark Otnes, Martin Kehoe, Stan Wood, Tim Driscoll, and Tom Smith 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, March 19, 2009.
Jeanie Joppru Pennington County, MN