-RBA
*Minnesota
*Detroit Lakes
*February 25, 2010
*MNDL1002.25

-Birds mentioned -Transcript

Hotline: Minnesota, Detroit Lakes
Date: February 25, 2010
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, February 25, 2010 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.

With lengthening days and warming sun, there seems to be more activity in the yards and feeders this week. Weather has been very pleasant this week, except for a brief return to very cold temperatures which promise to warm up again in coming days. With wind at a minimum, and frequent small snowfalls, the snow is pristine white, making it much more easy to see the members of the grouse family on the snowy fields.

Rick Gjervold found 7 SHORT-EARED OWLS in the Lawndale are of Wilkin County on February 16, but by the 18th, he saw only one. There was a flock of 15 GRAY PARTRIDGE on the shoulder of CR 19 southwest of Rothsay on February 18. Two flocks of SNOW BUNTINGS were also seen.

Cleone Stewart saw a BALD EAGLE near Frazee in Otter Tail County on February 23.

Sandy Aubol in Polk County reported two possible GOLDEN EAGLES east of East Grand Forks on February 20, a SNOWY OWL on a telephone pole along CR 55 a mile east of the CR 13 intersection, and 9 GRAY PARTRIDGES along CR 13. Karen Suldahl saw a PILEATED WOODPECKER in Climax on February 23. On February 24, she saw some COMMON REDPOLLS and one AMERICAN ROBIN in the cemetery at East Grand Forks.

Shelley Steva saw twelve SHARP-TAILED GROUSE in Red Lake County on February 19, feeding on crabapples three miles north of Oklee.

A GREAT HORNED OWL was reported in Thief River Falls, Pennington County, by Shelley Steva on February 19.

Doug Johnson reported from Beltrami County on February 15. He observed 120 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS, a NORTHERN SHRIKE, and over 50 PINE GROSBEAKS in Blackduck. There were COMMON REDPOLLS in southern Beltrami County at Three Island County Park near the Turtle River. He sent a belated report of 20 EVENING GROSBEAKS near Gilstad Lake the second week of February, the most that anyone has reported this season in the northwest. A MOURNING DOVE south of Blackduck and an AMERICAN ROBIN were also seen.

Larry Wilebski found a NORTHERN HAWK OWL at St Vincent in far northern Kittson County on February 19. The bird was still there on Sunday, February 21. A second NORTHERN HAWK OWL was found on Sunday at the intersection of CR 34 and MN 175 between Hallock and the Red River. Larry Wilebski also reported GRAY PARTRIDGE at Humboldt, and BLACK-BILLED MAGPIES at his cabin northwest of Lancaster.

Carol Parker had a pair of PINE GROSBEAKS at her house in Warroad, Roseau County on February 15. She also reported a large flock of BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS and a PILEATED WOODPECKER in Warroad last week.

On February 18, Gretchen Mehmel in Lake of the Woods County reported a NORTHERN HAWK OWL following the bulldozers at a shear site northeast of the east end of East Hiwood Road which goes east from Dick's Parkway.

Thanks to Carol Parker, Cleone Stewart, Doug Johnson, Gretchen Mehmel, Karen Suldahl, Larry Wilebski, Rick Gjervold, 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, March 4, 2010.

Jeanie Joppru Pennington County, MN