-RBA
*Minnesota
*Detroit Lakes
*February 3, 2011
*MNDL1102.03

-Birds mentioned
Barred Owl
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Varied Thrush
Snow Bunting
Rusty Blackbird
Common Redpoll
Pine Siskin
American Goldfinch
-Transcript

Hotline: Minnesota, Detroit Lakes
Date: February 3, 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 3,
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.

It has been a cold week in the northwest, and the snow is deep. As I
compile this report, however, temperatures are moderating, and we are
hoping that we won't get any of the "possible" freezing rain that is
forecast. The depth of the snow must be making it more difficult for
raptors such as owls to find rodents, and nesting season is fast
approaching for them, as several reports of owls have been turned in
this week. All of them, however , are owls that nest locally in the
spring.

I have a credible report of a VARIED THRUSH that has apparently been in
Thief River Falls, Pennington County, since the New Year's and maybe
before that. There was a report right after the first of the year, but I
was not able to confirm, and on Sunday, we searched for it again, as
Carol Naverud reported that it was visiting her feeder regularly.
Shelley Steva and I saw a bird briefly last week that could have been
the bird, but neither of us has been able to track it down. I believe
that the report is valid and will continue to look for it.

Bruce Flaig in southern Polk County reported that he observed a BARRED
OWL on February 3, 2011.

Anne Schumann reported a NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL in northern Becker County
a resort 30 miles east of Waubun on January 27.

In Becker County, Dave and Betty Hochhalter reported a BARRED OWL at
their place in Detroit Lakes on January 27. Kelly Blackledge at Tamarac
NWR observed a RUSTY BLACKBIRD at the refuge feeders on January 28.
Other species seen there include RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER, RED-BREASTED
NUTHATCH, BROWN CREEPER, PINE SISKIN, and COMMON REDPOLLS.

Jim and Rita Loftness in Otter Tail County observed a NORTHERN SAW-WHET
OWL along Clitherall Lake last week. Alma Ronningen in Dent reported 25
-30 SNOW BUNTINGS on February 2, and several COMMON REDPOLLS and two
AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES on February 3.

Thanks to Alma Ronningen, Anne Schumann, Bruce Flaig, Carol Naverud,
Dave and Betty Hochhalter, Jim and Rita Loftness, Karen Suldahl, and
Kelly Blackledge 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
10, 2011.



Jeanie Joppru
Pennington County, MN