-RBA *Minnesota *Detroit Lakes *September 10, 2009 *MNDL0909.10-Birds mentioned
Hotline: Minnesota, Detroit Lakes
Date: September 10, 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, September 10, 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.
Our week of summer this year arrived this week on the heels of a night of storms and rain. Weather since has been warm, almost hot, and windy, but surely welcome after the cold wet summer we have had. The mosquitoes love it, so bring the repellent if you come this way. Migration is proceeding, but it has been difficult to find waves as the winds have been largely southerly.
Lake of the Woods County sightings by Kim Eckert's Minnesota Birding Weekend included BONAPARTE'S GULL and COMMON TERN. Ted Dick made a loop through the Beltrami Island State Forest and observed RUFFED GROUSE, SPRUCE GROUSE, SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, AMERICAN WOODCOCK, COMMON NIGHTHAWK, and BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER among others on September 7.
In Roseau County, Kim's group had great looks at SHARP-TAILED GROUSE, found an AMERICAN AVOCET at the Roseau Wastewater treatment ponds, and 145 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES at the Warroad wastewater treatment ponds. Some other species observed by the group in Roseau County included EARED GREBE at Badger Wastewater treatment ponds, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER, BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER, OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, BROWN CREEPER, and several species of warbler.
In Kittson County , a WILSON'S PHALAROPE was seen at the Karlstad Wastewater treatment ponds.
The MOU Minnesota Birding Weekend group found RED-NECKED GREBE, GREEN HERON, BROAD-WINGED HAWK, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, and PHILADELPHIA VIREO among many other species in Clearwater County on September 4.
At Agassiz NWR in Marshall County, the MOU group found a SNOWY EGRET among a group of GREAT EGRETS at Parker Pool along CR 7. Other sightings included VIRGINIA RAIL, GREAT HORNED OWL, YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER, YELLOW-THROATED VIREO, PHILADELPHIA VIREO, and several species of warbler.
Bob Ekblad discovered two BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS in eastern Polk County on September 7. The birds were in a remnant muddy patch in a field near the northeastern corner of Red Lake County, about a half mile from both Pennington and Red Lake Counties. The location was along a diagonal road, the southern end of which was the intersection of 370th Ave SE and 170th St. NE. Don't be deceived if the numbering in the atlas is 100 off, and some of them are incorrect. The roads are correct even if the numbers are wrong. After the rain came through, it is doubtful if they are still there. Bruce Flaig reported RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, and BALTIMORE ORIOLE still in his yard in southern Polk County on Monday.
The Minnesota Birding Weekend saw 152 species in all including 18 species of shorebirds and 16 species of warblers over four days in five counties.
Thanks to Bob Ekblad, Bruce Flaig, Kim Eckert, and Ted Dick 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, September 17, 2009.
Jeanie Joppru Pennington County, MN