-RBA
*Minnesota
*Detroit Lakes
*October 11, 2012
*MNDL1210.11

• Tundra Swan
• Wood Duck
• Great Blue Heron
• Bald Eagle
• Sharp-shinned Hawk
• Red-tailed Hawk
• American Coot
• Sandhill Crane
• Caspian Tern
• Red-bellied Woodpecker
• Golden-crowned Kinglet
• Ruby-crowned Kinglet
• American Robin
• Fox Sparrow
• White-throated Sparrow
• Harris's Sparrow
• Dark-eyed Junco
• Brewer's Blackbird
• Purple Finch
• Pine Siskin

Hotline: Minnesota, Detroit Lakes
Date: October 11, 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, October 11, 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. The weather has settled down into more typical fall weather, but still remains on the cool side. We are hoping for a slight warm up to finish the fall work around the yards. The last of the sparrows and some finches are coming through now, and most other songbirds have departed. Brad and Dee Ehlers in Otter Tail County reported 50 DARK-EYED JUNCOS, three FOX SPARROWS, one HARRIS'S SPARROW, and four WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS in their yard on October 5. A RED-TAILED HAWK made a pass over the yard also. On October 10 , they reported a flock of 200 AMERICAN ROBINS on the north side of Otter Tail Lake, and a GREAT BLUE HERON along CR 1 a mile east of Fergus Falls. From Hubbard County, Marshall Howe reported RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET, FOX SPARROW, WHITE-THROATED SPARROW, and many DARK-EYED JUNCOS in the yard. On October 11, a flock of 200 BREWER'S BLACKBIRDS was seen in Dorset, and the first PINE SISKIN was also seen. Dave and Betty Hochhalter in Detroit Lakes, Becker County, reported RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER, DARK-EYED JUNCOS, WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS, and PURPLE FINCH on October 7. Thousands of AMERICAN COOTS were seen on Detroit Lake along with five WOOD DUCKS. Lynda Knutsen reported a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK seen at Agassiz refuge headquarters on October 9. She also mentioned that the numbers of TUNDRA SWANS at the refuge are increasing while there are still many SANDHILL CRANES and numerous ducks and geese there. Heidi Hughes at the Audubon Center observed a possible CASPIAN TERN at the impoundments north of the center on October 3. Kelly Gillund , also in Marshall County, saw three BALD EAGLES in her yard on October 9 - two immatures and one white-headed adult. Thanks to Brad and Dee Ehlers, Dave and Betty Hochhalter, Heidi Hughes, Kelly Gillund, Lynda Knutsen, and Marshall Howe 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, October 18, 2012.

Jeanie Joppru Pennington County, MN