-RBA
*Minnesota
*Detroit Lakes
*February 10, 2011
*MNDL1102.10

-Birds mentioned -Transcript

Hotline: Minnesota, Detroit Lakes
Date: February 10, 2011
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 10, 2011 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.

There is no doubt that this is the winter season this week as temperatures have dipped into the double digits below zero several nights, and warmed to barely zero during the days. High humidity in recent days has produced some beautiful photo ops with trees full of sparkly frost in the morning sun.

Brad and Dee Ehlers , reporting from Otter Tail County on February 5 , observed a BARRED OWL and RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH southeast of Otter Tail , SNOW BUNTINGS around Otter Tail Lake, and a DARK-EYED JUNCO near Blanche Lake. About 50 TRUMPETER SWANS are wintering east of Otter Tail.

Shelley Steva saw two HORNED LARKS west of the Pembina WMA along CR 21 in Polk County on February 5. 12 GRAY PARTRIDGE were seen three miles west of Sherack. Sandy Aubol in East Grand Forks observed SHARP-SHINNED HAWK , a GREAT HORNED OWL, and a NORTHERN SHRIKE on February 5. Bruce Flaig reported a BARRED OWL in the southern part of the county on February 10.

In Red Lake County, Shelley Steva saw 2 SHARP-TAILED GROUSE five miles north of Oklee , and 2 LAPLAND LONGSPURS and 120 SNOW BUNTINGS two miles north of Oklee on February 5.

Shelley Steva also reported a GREAT HORNED OWL on a nest just west of St Hilaire in Pennington County along CR 3 on February 5. Maggie Anderson observed a RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER in Thief River Falls on February 10. There are several flocks of BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS still in the Thief River Falls area cleaning up the rest of the crabapples and tree seeds. Hundreds of SNOW BUNTINGS are being seen on these cold and breezy days in all the open parts of the county.

At Agassiz NWR in Marshall County, Maggie Anderson reported that SHARP-TAILED GROUSE, COMMON REDPOLLS, and PINE GROSBEAKS continue to visit the headquarters feeders this week.

Larry Wilebski saw SHARP-TAILED GROUSE on February 5, and GRAY JAYS the next day near his place northwest of Lancaster in Kittson County.

Sandy Aubol found 10 RED CROSSBILLS two -three miles west of Greenbush off CR 11 on February 5. Several NORTHERN HAWK OWLS, and 3 PURPLE FINCHES were seen north of Roseau on February 5; BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS were seen southeast of Roseau along CR 9.

In Lake of the Woods County, Sandy Aubol found a RUFFED GROUSE east of Norris Camp,and a NORTHERN HAWK OWL west of Norris Camp on February 5. At Norris Camp she saw GRAY JAY, PINE GROSBEAK, COMMON REDPOLL, HOARY REDPOLL, and PINE SISKIN.

Thanks to Brad and Dee Ehlers, Bruce Flaig, Larry Wilebski, Maggie Anderson, 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, February 17, 2011.

Jeanie Joppru Pennington County, MN