-RBA
*Minnesota
*Detroit Lakes
*February 16, 2012
*MNDL1202.16

-Birds mentioned
Trumpeter Swan
Spruce Grouse
Bald Eagle
Northern Harrier
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Rough-legged Hawk
Merlin
Snowy Owl
Great Gray Owl
Black-billed Magpie
Common Raven
Horned Lark
Brown Creeper
American Robin
Snow Bunting
Eastern Towhee
Harris's Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Redpoll
Hoary Redpoll
Pine Siskin
-Transcript

Hotline: Minnesota, Detroit Lakes
Date: February 16, 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
16, 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.

As the days lengthen, the sun is gaining power and temperatures have
been very mild this week. Spring fever is common among both people and
birds.

Beth Siverhus observed a SPRUCE GROUSE getting grit along MN 72 in Lake
of the Woods County . A ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was seen near Williams along
MN 11.

In Beltrami County , Beth saw a GREAT GRAY OWL on MN 72 between Waskish
and Keliher on February 12.

Lynda Knutsen reported an adult BALD EAGLE at Agassiz Pool at Agassiz
NWR in Marshall County this week. A SNOWY OWL was seen by Gregg Knutsen
on CR 6 a half mile west of Middle River. Two AMERICAN ROBINS were
observed at the junction of CR 54 and Moose River Road. ROUGH-LEGGED
HAWKS are still being seen at Agassiz NWR.

Here in Pennington County, there were twelve AMERICAN ROBINS taking
shelter along the bank of the Red Lake River on February 11.

Shelley Steva reported 50 SNOW BUNTINGS five miles north of Plummer in
Red Lake County, and another 100 two miles north of Oklee on February
10.

Shawn Conrad and I visited the Audubon Sanctuary near Warren on February
11 where we saw BLACK-BILLED MAGPIES, a BROWN CREEPER, a female
RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD, COMMON REDPOLLS, and one HOARY REDPOLL. A PINE
SISKIN has also been seen at the sanctuary. Sandy Aubol in East Grand
Forks reported that the EASTERN TOWHEE, two HARRIS'S SPARROWS, and a
NORTHERN CARDINAL are still coming to her feeders. A SHARP-SHINNED HAWK
was also seen nearby. On February 15, a MERLIN was seen in East Grand
Forks. Many ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS can be seen in western Polk, Pennington,
and Marshall Counties at this time.

Mark Otnes reported a COMMON RAVEN about two miles west of the
intersection of Minnesota highways 10 and 9 in Clay County on February
11.

Beau Shroyer saw a MERLIN in Detroit Lakes, Becker County, on February
15.

In Otter Tail County, Brad and Dee Ehlers reported COMMON REDPOLLS, and
a PINE SISKIN at Fergus Falls on February 11. About 30 TRUMPETER SWANS
are on the river in Fergus Falls. On February 12, 550 TRUMPETER SWANS
could be seen on McGowan Lake at the outlet of Rush Lake on the
Ottertail River between Perham and Ottertail. HORNED LARKS have been
seen this week near Battle Lake, and a NORTHERN HARRIER was at the
intersection of CR 71 and CR 78.

Thanks to Beau Shroyer, Beth Siverhus, Brad and Dee Ehlers, Lynda
Knutsen, Mark Otnes, 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
23, 2012.


Jeanie Joppru
Pennington County, MN