-RBA
*Minnesota
*Detroit Lakes
*March 22, 2012
*MNDL1203.22

-Birds mentioned -Transcript

Hotline: Minnesota, Detroit Lakes
Date: March 22, 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, March 22, 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.

Spring proceeds in the northwest, and now it begins to look as if the coldest and snowiest of weather may be over for this winter. That does not mean that the weather gods may not yet play a trick on us, but it sure looks good for the next week or so.

The first big wave of migrants is in with reported sightings of TUNDRA SWANS, CANADA GOOSE, CACKLING GOOSE, many duck species, GREAT BLUE HERON, BALD EAGLES, RED-TAILED HAWK, NORTHERN HARRIER, SANDHILL CRANES, KILLDEER, MOURNING DOVES, EASTERN BLUEBIRDS, AMERICAN ROBINS, SONG SPARROW, DARK-EYED JUNCO, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS, COMMON GRACKLES, and PURPLE FINCH from many observers throughout the area.

In Wilkin County, Ron Erpelding and Herb Dingmann reported GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, LAPLAND LONGSPUR, and AMERICAN WOODCOCK among the many species they found there on March 20.

Alma Ronningen reported SANDHILL CRANES in Otter Tail County on March 16. TUNDRA SWANS, RED-TAILED HAWK, KILLDEER, SONG SPARROW were among the species reported by Teresa Jaskiewicz this week.

HOODED MERGANSERS were seen by Marshall Howe in Hubbard County on March 15, and on March 18, he saw KILLDEER, COMMON MERGANSER, RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, and RING-BILLED GULL. Connie Cox at Itasca State Park reported TUNDRA SWAN, WILD TURKEY, RED-TAILED HAWK, GREAT BLUE HERON, AMERICAN WOODCOCK, WOOD DUCK, WINTER WREN, AMERICAN TREE SPARROW , and EVENING GROSBEAK in Hubbard County on March 21.

Steve Midthune reported three LESSER YELLOWLEGS at Bisson Lake in Becker County on March 20, along with COMMON MERGANSER, BUFFLEHEAD,and SANDHILL CRANES; on March 21, he added WILSON'S SNIPE, and EASTERN PHOEBE. Ron Erpelding and Herb Dingmann found GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, SNOW GOOSE, BROWN CREEPER, LAPLAND LONGSPUR, and RUSTY BLACKBIRD in the county on March 20.

Rick Gjervold reported SNOW GOOSE, and GREATER PRAIRIE-CHICKEN among the species he found in southern Clay County on March 17.

Pastor Kristy reported three EASTERN BLUEBIRDS in Norman County on March 22.

Heidi Hughes in Polk County heard a LONG-EARED OWL hooting at the Aububon Center on March 22. She also reported GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, SANDHILL CRANE, and FOX SPARROW in Polk County on March 22. Sandy Aubol in East Grand Forks observed PURPLE FINCH and HOUSE FINCH.

Shelley Steva saw an EASTERN BLUEBIRD in Thief River Falls , Pennington County , on March 18. Here along the Red Lake River, COMMON GOLDENEYE, HOODED MERGANSERS , AND WOOD DUCKS have been seen this week.

Lynda Knutsen at Agassiz NWR in Marshall County reported RED-BREASTED MERGANSER on Headquarters Pool, RED-TAILED HAWK, and NORTHERN FLICKER on the refuge this week. At the Eckvoll camping area at the east edge of the refuge a NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL was seen on March 21. I found two FOX SPARROWS in headquarters woods on Sunday.

Katie Haws reported that the rice paddies in eastern Clearwater County are filling up , and many hundreds of waterfowl were already there on March 16.

In Beltrami County on March 16, Katie reported AMERICAN BLACK DUCK, COMMON MERGANSER, and AMERICAN COOT.

In Roseau County, Beth Siverhus observed RUFFED GROUSE, and GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET, and on March 19, MERLIN, KILLDEER, and PURPLE FINCH.

Lake of the Woods County sightings by Jeff Birchem included RUFFED GROUSE, and TRUMPETER SWANS in the Beltrami Island State Forest on March 19.

Thanks to all the folks who sent in their sightings this week. Sorry I could not get all of them into the report.

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 29, 2012.

Jeanie Joppru Pennington County, MN