-RBA *Minnesota *Detroit Lakes *May 18, 2017 *MNDL1705.18-Birds mentioned
Hotline: Minnesota, Detroit Lakes
Date: May 18, 2017
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, May 18, 2017 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 calendar says it is spring in the northwest, but the cold north wind says otherwise. Migration is proceeding, but not as fast as we would like, especially away from the Red River Valley. Most of the early species have been seen, and I think everyone has reported the much awaited colorful species such as Baltimore orioles, rose-breasted grosbeaks, and ruby-throated hummingbirds. Migration has seemed slow in much of the northern areas, or maybe we are being too impatient.
From Grant County, Ann Luloff reported a BLACK-NECKED STILT at the North Ottawa Impoundment on May 12. On May 15, Wayne Perala observed 25 WILSON'S PHALAROPES, 25 MARBLED GODWITS, 20 HUDSONIAN GODWITS, 6 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, 50 DUNLINS, 20 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, and the aforementioned stilt there. On May 17, Charlene Nelson found 10 BLACK TERNS there.
In Otter Tail County, Alma Ronningen reported NORTHERN CARDINAL on May 15, GRAY CATBIRD on May 18, and GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER, and YELLOW WARBLER on May 19 in Dent. Jann Kline reported RED-HEADED WOODPECKER and ORCHARD ORIOLE on May 17.
From Becker County, Dave and Betty Hochhalter reported RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER, BALTIMORE ORIOLE, ORCHARD ORIOLE, INDIGO BUNTING, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, and PURPLE FINCH among others.
Kimberly Onnen in Barnesville, Clay County, reported a EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE on May 15. Noah Kuch found GREATER PRAIRIE-CHICKENS, GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS, and BOBOLINKS at Felton Prairie among other species on May 12.
In Polk County on May 14, Sandy Aubol found GREATER PRAIRIE-CHICKENS, MARBLED GODWITS, SEDGE WRENS, LE CONTE'S SPARROW, and BOBOLINK at Pankratz Prairie; at Glacial Ridge she observed SORA, OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, CLIFF SWALLOW, OVENBIRD, YELLOW WARBLER, PALM WARBLER, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER and a GREAT HORNED OWL with owlets; at Rydell NWR she picked up RUFFED GROUSE, VEERY, GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH, GRAY CATBIRD, and BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER. At the Erskine WTP she found 18 CASPIAN TERNS, FORSTER’S TERNS, and W ILSON’S PHALAROPES. At the Brandt-Angus impoundment there were AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS, GREAT EGRETS, and AMERICAN BITTERN, and at the East Grand Forks WTP there was SNOW GOOSE, EARED GREBE, and WILSON’S PHALAROPE.
Jonathan Earkes with The Nature Conservancy found EASTERN WHIP-POOR-WILL , WOOD THRUSH, and EASTERN MEADOWLARK at the Wallace Dayton Conservation area in Kittson County on May 12.
In Lake of the Woods County, Gretchen Mehmel reported a NORTHERN HAWK OWL 1.5 miles north of the Norris Fire Tower on May 10, and a NORTHERN SHRIKE two miles north of that in the Beltrami Island State Forest on May 8. A NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL was seen at Norris Camp and WHIP-POOR-WILL was heard.
Thanks to all who sent in their 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 Wednesday, May 24, 2017.
Jeanie Joppru Pennington County, MN