-RBA *Minnesota *Detroit Lakes *February 23, 2012 *MNDL1202.23-Birds mentioned
Hotline: Minnesota, Detroit Lakes
Date: February 23, 2012
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 23, 2012 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.
Here in the northwest we are having a little taste of winter, though not what we are used to having. We got a few inches of snow earlier this week, but every day the mild temperatures erode a bit of it. More is forecast for late in the weekend.
From Otter Tail County, Wayne Ronningen reported 30 TRUMPETER SWANS in Pelican Rapids on February 22.
Marshall Howe in Hubbard County saw 250 TRUMPETER SWANS in a corn field near the town of Hubbard on February 23. Other species seen in the county included COMMON REDPOLLS and two PINE SISKINS. Ron Erpelding and Herb Dingmann found some WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS in Hubbard County, and GRAY JAYS on the north side of CR 93 west of MN 64 and also along CR 95 a quarter mile east of CR 4 on February 19.
Heidi Hughes observed a TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE in the parking lot at the Agassiz Audubon Center in Polk County near Warren on February 18. Other species seen there that day included COMMON REDPOLL, and HOARY REDPOLL. Shelley Steva saw two small flocks of HORNED LARKS along CR 252 on February 19. The NORTHERN CARDINAL and two HARRIS'S SPARROWS continue to be seen in East Grand Forks at Sandy Aubol's feeder.
In Marshall County , Jim Graham saw 5 PINE GROSBEAKS at the headquarters area at Agassiz NWR on February 16. Heidi Hughes saw some GREATER PRAIRIE-CHICKENS in a tree near the Agassiz Valley Flood Control Impoundment southeast of Warren on February 21. A GOLDEN EAGLE was seen by Ron Erpelding and Herb Dingmann along CR 3, a half mile south of CR 20. Also seen in Marshall County was a NORTHERN SHRIKE.
In Kittson County on February 18 and 19, Ron and Herb saw a female NORTHERN CARDINAL at Larry Wilebski's cabin and BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS in Lake Bronson. 13 SHARP-TAILED GROUSE were seen on the north side of CR 8 east of US 59.
BLACK-BILLED MAGPIES, COMMON RAVENS , and SHARP-TAILED GROUSE were seen in Polk, Marshall, and Kittson Counties on the weekend.
Thanks to Heidi Hughes, Jim Graham, Marshall Howe, Herb Dingmann, Ron Erpelding, 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 1, 2012.
Jeanie Joppru Pennington County, MN