-RBA
*Minnesota
*Detroit Lakes
*December 24, 2009
*MNDL0912.24

-Birds mentioned
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Merlin
Barred Owl
Black-backed Woodpecker
Boreal Chickadee
American Robin
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
White-throated Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Snow Bunting
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Pine Grosbeak
Red Crossbill
White-winged Crossbill
Evening Grosbeak
-Transcript

Hotline: Minnesota, Detroit Lakes
Date: December 24, 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, December
24, 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 prepare this report, the first winter blizzard is pounding
Minnesota, but here in the north, we are not getting the worst of it,
and Christmas Eve dawned calm and pleasant with light snow falling. All
is beautiful for a white Christmas, but more is forecast, and the
situation may change. Feeders are active as normal in the winter, but I
don't see any great increase in activity as is usual before a large
storm.

Beth Siverhus in Warroad had 60 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS in her yard
today.She also reported a BARRED OWL at the home of Bill Boyd just east
of Warroad.

Larry Wilebski in Kittson County reported a DARK-EYED JUNCO of the
Oregon race on December 20 at his feeders at the cabin northwest of
Lancaster. The first PINE GROSBEAKS and an AMERICAN ROBIN showed up
there on December 23.

Connie Cox at Itasca State Park on December 18, reported that DARK-EYED
JUNCOS, and one SNOW BUNTING were seen at the park on December 16. A
flock of 30 RED CROSSBILLS was found on the East Entrance road on
December 14. Doug Johnson reported that both RED CROSSBILLS and
WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS were found on the Itasca SP CBC on December 20.
Other species seen that day included BARRED OWLS, two BLACK-BACKED
WOODPECKERS, one BOREAL CHICKADEE at Lake Alice, a WHITE-THROATED
SPARROW along Clearwater CR 2 at the Mississippi River bridge four miles
north of the park, and several EVENING GROSBEAKS.

In Beltrami County, Doug Johnson reported that a ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK
has been coming to the Lake Bemidji SP entrance station feeder for about
a week.

Shelley Steva saw 5 CEDAR WAXWINGS and some EUROPEAN STARLINGS at Oklee
in Red Lake County on December 18.

Sandy Aubol in Polk County reported a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, a MERLIN, and
a flock of CEDAR WAXWINGS at East Grand Forks on December 23.

Thanks to Beth Siverhus, Connie Cox, Doug Johnson, Larry Wilebski, Sandy
Aubol, and Shelley Steva 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, December
31, 2009.



Jeanie Joppru
Pennington County, MN