-RBA *Minnesota *Detroit Lakes *April 16, 2009 *MNDL0904.16-Birds mentioned
Hotline: Minnesota, Detroit Lakes
Date: April 16, 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, April 16, 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.
A massive migration has taken place this week with the advent of the warmer weather. The early wave has arrived in force. Species that have arrived in large numbers are several species of goose, nearly all the common ducks are finding some open water, and many raptors, a few early shorebirds, and all the early passerines are arriving. Nearly all the counties in the northwest have reported large movements of all of these species. Please understand that not all of the sightings can be reported here due to the large number of reports. Large bodies of still water are still ice covered, but all the flooded fields, and shallower bodies of water, and all the rivers are ice free now. Roads are drying up so travel is much easier.
Maggie Anderson saw a TURKEY VULTURE along MN 72 in Lake of the Woods County on April 10.
Beth Siverhus in Roseau County on April 12 reported a GREAT BLUE HERON, six ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS northwest of the intersection of CR13 and CR 12, and a NORTHERN SHRIKE along CR 12 five miles west of CR 5. Other species reported by Beth included SANDHILL CRANE, BARRED OWL, SONG SPARROW, and FOX SPARROW. Pat Roth reported an egret species north of Roseau on April 13.
Larry Wilebski reported HOODED MERGANSER in Kittson County on April 15. Lance Crandall reported that the lake at Lake Bronson State Park is starting to open up letting COMMON LOON , DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS, and many species of ducks find water. Other species arriving included NORTHERN FLICKER, and PURPLE FINCH.
Kelly Larson reported an OSPREY on the nest along CR 14 west of Bemidji. Other species seen included AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN, and EASTERN PHOEBE.
In Clearwater County, Kelly Larson reported SANDHILL CRANE, WILSON'S SNIPE, and AMERICAN WOODCOCK on April 12.
A BELTED KINGFISHER was seen by Beth Siverhus on April 12 north of Grygla in Marshall County. Maggie Anderson at Agassiz NWR reported that there was a major influx of waterfowl to the refuge on the weekend including several TRUMPETER SWANS, all the common ducks, 3 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, and one FRANKLIN'S GULL among many other species. Headquarters pool still had ice on it when I went through last weekend, but shallower pools are opening up.
The first COMMON LOON appeared in the Red Lake River at Thief River Falls on April 16 as reported by Maggie Anderson. Here at home, today I had BROWN CREEPER, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, and FOX SPARROW.
Shelley Steva saw a NORTHERN FLICKER along US 75 bypass at Crookston in Polk County on April 14. Bruce Flaig observed WOOD DUCK, EASTERN PHOEBE, and SONG SPARROW on April 12. Nathaniel Emery found an early MARBLED GODWIT along MN 32 in the Glacial Ridge area on April 12. Other species seen at Glacial Ridge included booming GREATER PRAIRIE-CHICKENS, SANDHILL CRANES, and SHORT-EARED OWLS.
Scott Kahan, reporting from Hamden Slough NWR in Becker County mentioned seeing 25 GREATER PRAIRIE-CHICKENS dancing on the ice at the refuge on April 10. Other species seen there included HOODED MERGANSER, GREAT BLUE HERON, and AMERICAN KESTREL.
Kim Eckert's Minnesota Birding Weekend found a flock of about 2500 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE on April 10 along Otter Tail County CR 1. Tom Smith reported AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN, TURKEY VULTURE, AMERICAN COOT, KILLDEER, RING-BILLED GULL, and a long list of waterfowl on April 13. Brad and Dee Ehlers reported the first YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER of the season on April 16. Also mentioned were DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS, and GREAT EGRETS. Dan and Sandy Thimgan saw both RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, and GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS on April 16, also EASTERN PHOEBE and TREE SWALLOW.
In Wilkin County the MOU birding Weekend found a ROSS'S GOOSE flying over CR 26 four miles west of Rothsay on April 11. On the 12th, a flock of over 3000 TUNDRA SWANS were seen just west of the Otter Tail County line, 2.5 miles north of Wilkin CR 4. Several MARBLED GODWITS and a SHORT-EARED OWL were seen along Wilkin CR 26 on April 11. Both LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE and NORTHERN SHRIKE were seen together, a rare sighting indeed, on April 11 along 190th St. a half mile east of Wilkin CR 15.
Susan Wiste in Douglas County near Alexandria reported NORTHERN FLICKER, NORTHERN CARDINAL, and FOX SPARROW on April 16.
Species reported in nearly all the counties include CANADA GOOSE, TUNDRA SWAN, TRUMPETER SWAN, all the common ducks, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS, RED-TAILED HAWK, AMERICAN KESTREL, MERLIN, SANDHILL CRANE, KILLDEER, AMERICAN WOODCOCK, NORTHERN FLICKER, and SONG SPARROW.
Thanks to all who sent in reports 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, April 23, 2009.
Jeanie Joppru Pennington County, MN