-RBA
*Minnesota
*Detroit Lakes
*December 1, 2016
*MNDL1612.01

• Canada Goose
• Trumpeter Swan
• Mallard
• Ruffed Grouse
• American Coot
• Ring-billed Gull
• Bald Eagle
• Northern Harrier
• Sharp-shinned Hawk
• Red-tailed Hawk
• Rough-legged Hawk
• Snowy Owl
• Red-bellied Woodpecker
• Pileated Woodpecker
• Black-billed Magpie
• Common Raven
• Brown Creeper
• Purple Finch
• Red Crossbill
• American Goldfinch
• American Tree Sparrow
• Northern Cardinal
• Rusty Blackbird

Hotline: Minnesota, Detroit Lakes
Date: December 1, 2016
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, December 1, 2016 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 dark , gray , foggy week in the northwest. We are craving some sunshine up here. Feeder birds are busy , and there are hundreds of Canada geese flying back and forth still. Most of the rest of the waterfowl have left the area.

Benjamin Eckhoff at Lake Carlos State Park in Douglas County reported that the park feeders are currently hosting a wide variety of species, including PILEATED WOODPECKER, RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER, AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS, BROWN CREEPER, NORTHERN CARDINAL, and PURPLE FINCH. BALD EAGLES, RED-TAILED HAWKS, and SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS are being seen, and a few waterfowl can still be found including MALLARDS, CANADA GEESE, AMERICAN COOTS, and RING-BILLED GULLS.

In Hubbard County, Becca Engdahl reported RED CROSSBILLS on November 27.

Connie Cox, in southern Clearwater County reported BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE, RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER, PURPLE FINCH, and AMERICAN GOLDFINCH. At Itasca SP she reported TRUMPETER SWANS, BALD EAGLE, and PILEATED WOODPECKER.

Here in Pennington County, Keith Wheeler reported a large flock of blackbirds, mostly RUSTY BLACKBIRDS, but probably including other blackbirds also, that visited his yard this past weekend. This week, a RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER has visited the feeder every day, and hundreds of CANADA GEESE have been seen flying around every day.

In Marshall County today, I saw a male NORTHERN HARRIER, a dark phase ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, and a BALD EAGLE- all along US 59.

In Kittson County, Brent Pearson reported two SNOWY OWLS a few miles straight west of Lancaster for the past week or so. On November 27, Larry Wilebski observed a RUFFED GROUSE displaying. The warm weather seems to have confused the grouse. Today, I did not find the snowy owls, but did see several BALD EAGLES, a few ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS, COMMON RAVENS, and a BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE in Kittson County.

Thanks to all who reported sightings this week.

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, December 8, 2016.

Jeanie Joppru Pennington County, MN