-RBA
*Minnesota
*Detroit Lakes
*May 21, 2009
*MNDL0905.21

-Birds mentioned
Greater Scaup
Sharp-tailed Grouse
Wild Turkey
Great Egret
Red-shouldered Hawk
Golden Eagle
Merlin
Sandhill Crane
Black-bellied Plover
American Avocet
Hudsonian Godwit
Sanderling
Caspian Tern
Common Tern
Forster's Tern
Red-headed Woodpecker
Great Crested Flycatcher
Western Kingbird
Barn Swallow
House Wren
Veery
Wood Thrush
Northern Mockingbird
Summer Tanager
Scarlet Tanager
Western Tanager
Eastern Towhee
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting
Painted Bunting
Bobolink
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Baltimore Oriole
-Transcript

Hotline: Minnesota, Detroit Lakes
Date: May 21, 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, May 21,
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.

As I compile this report, we are starting to see the end of the cold
weather we hope, with temperatures forecast to reach into the 70's in
the coming days. Hopefully the winds will subside now, so that birds
will be more visible. Most of the summer residents are back now, and
warblers are streaming in.

Interesting this week has been an influx of tanagers. From May 12 to at
least May 18, a SUMMER TANAGER has been visiting the feeders at Bert's
Cabins in Itasca State Park. Several WESTERN TANAGERS have been reported
this week. One was seen by Muriel and Donovan Olson a few miles south of
Warroad in Roseau County on the weekend of May 10, another appeared at
Beth Siverhus's feeder in Warroad on May 19; still another was reported
by Pam Wockenfuss at the Wetlands, Pines , and Prairies Audubon
Sanctuary near Warren in Marshall County on May 19, one appeared in
Kittson County at Larry Wilebski's cabin feeder on May 20 and on May 21,
Gregg Knutsen saw one at his home one mile east of Middle River,
Marshall County, just south of CR 6.

From Otter Tail County, Amy Drake reported BARN SWALLOW, HOUSE WREN,
VEERY, several warblers, and many others.

Beau Shroyer reported that SANDERLINGS were still on the beach at
Detroit Lakes, Becker County as of May 15. Dave and Betty Hochhalter
observed WILD TURKEY, SCARLET TANAGER, and NORTHERN CARDINAL among
others.

The Detroit Lakes festival of birds tallied 172 species for the weekend
including 21 species of shorebirds, CASPIAN TERN, 5 species of
flycatcher, all the swallows, WOOD THRUSH, 21 species of warbler, and 13
sparrow species in northwest Minnesota.

Connie Norheim reported a PAINTED BUNTING at a home in Moorhead, Clay
County on May 20. The bird was spotted at 438 Birch Lane. Homeowner
Kathy Bresee has given permission for people to come see the bird from
the street. From Main Ave, turn east at Oak Way by the hockey arena, and
take the first left onto Birch Lane. Ben Fritchman reported tonight that
the bird was seen again today.

Bruce Flaig in Polk County reported GREAT EGRET,SWAINSON'S THRUSH,
INDIGO BUNTING, and SCARLET TANAGER on May 17 and a BOBOLINK on May
20.Kelly Larson visited the rice paddies in the eastern part of the
county along CR 2 where she found 9 species of ducks, 4 AMERICAN AVOCETS
and 3 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS on May 19. Eve Freeburg saw 50 HUDSONIAN
GODWITS just west of the sugar beet plant in a flooded field on May 20.

In Pennington County, on May 17, an INDIGO BUNTING survived a crash into
our window. I discovered a SHARP-TAILED GROUSE lek about 5 miles east of
Thief River Falls, and one mile south of MN 1. On May 19 an EASTERN
TOWHEE was heard singing in the town of Thief River Falls, near where we
have found a MERLIN pair nesting. A RED-HEADED WOODPECKER came to our
feeder on May 15.

In Marshall County, Shelley Steva saw a WESTERN KINGBIRD near Old Mill
State Park on May 15. Herb Dingmann discovered a NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD
along CR 38 at the driveway of the house marked 26547.

Kelly Larson saw a WILD TURKEY along MN 200 in Clearwater County a half
mile west of Stockyard Road.

Katie Haws reported that an injured GOLDEN EAGLE was turned in at Park
Rapids in Hubbard County on May 13 and taken to the Raptor Center in the
Twin Cities.

Steve Patterson in Beltrami County reported a nesting MERLIN in his
backyard. Doug Johnson saw a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK on Pincherry Road 1/3
mile south of CR 20.

Larry Wilebski in Kittson County reported a GREAT EGRET, and a NORTHERN
MOCKINGBIRD at his cabin northwest of Lancaster on May 16 in addition to
the WESTERN TANAGER on May 21.

Beth Siverhus in Roseau County reported many species returning to the
area including GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER, and a nice selection of
warblers. Other sightings included GREATER SCAUP, COMMON TERN, FORSTER'S
TERN , and YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD.

Susan Olin at Zippel Bay State Park in Lake of the Woods County reported
SANDHILL CRANES south of CR 8, and ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK and BALTIMORE
ORIOLE at Zippel Bay State Park on May 18.

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, May 28,
2009.


Jeanie Joppru
Pennington County, MN