-RBA
*Minnesota
*Detroit Lakes
*April 12, 2018
*MNDL1804.12

-Birds mentioned -Transcript

Hotline: Minnesota, Detroit Lakes
Date: April 12, 2018
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, April 12, 2018 sponsored by the Detroit Lakes Regional Chamber of Commerce. You may also see this report on the Chamber of Commerce website: https://www.visitdetroitlakes.com/birding-report

In spite of the cold temperatures this week, migration continues, although some species are very late due to no open water. In recent days, a few spots have opened up but the northland is still very frozen. There has been a big migration of raptors this week with rough-legged hawks, red-tailed hawks, and northern harriers being reported in most areas. Some Canada geese are winging their way north, but no large flocks are being seen yet in the far northern counties. Hundreds of common redpolls, and dark-eyed juncos are taking advantage of feeder fare in the cold weather.

In Beltrami County, Cassie Block reported PINE SISKINS in Bemidji on April 9. Very large numbers of COMMON REDPOLLS were reported this week by David Harrington, also in Bemidji.

Here in Pennington County, Gary Tischer saw 3 dark-phase ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS along CR3 between 200th and 210th Ave NW on April 9. At home in Thief River Falls, he saw about 40 COMMON REDPOLLS at his feeder.

Andy and I found three SNOWY OWLS still in Polk County on April 7. Also seven BALD EAGLES were seen feeding on a carcass along US 75. Leon Thoreson on April 11 also reported a SNOWY OWL in Polk County. He had a COOPER'S HAWK, AMERICAN ROBINS, BLUE JAYS, HORNED LARKS, and 35 COMMON REDPOLLS in his yard near Climax this week. Gary Tischer found 9 SHARP-TAILED GROUSE dancing on a lek near the intersection of CR 21 and 170th Ave on April 10th.

In Hubbard County, Marshall Howe reported a SNOWY EGRET in the Crow Wing River in Nevis on April 12.

From Todd County, Susan Kroll reported SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, GREAT BLUE HERON, TURKEY VULTURE, GREAT HORNED OWL, COMMON REDPOLLS, and PURPLE FINCH in Todd County this week.

In Otter Tail County, Wayne Perala observed RED-TAILED HAWKS, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS, NORTHERN HARRIER, BALD EAGLE, TRUMPETER SWANS, AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN, AMERICAN KESTREL, many WESTERN MEADOWLARKS, HORNED LARKS, and COMMON REDPOLLS in the Orwell Dam area this week. In Fergus Falls, he mentioned HOODED MERGANSER, COMMON MERGANSER, AMERICAN BLACK DUCK, GREAT EGRET, GREAT BLUE HERON, DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT, GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET, HOUSE FINCH, COMMON REDPOLLS, and DARK-EYED JUNCOS. A variety of other common duck species were also present.

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 numbers 218-847-5743 or 218- 847-9202. Please include the county where the sighting took place. The next scheduled update of this report is Thursday, April 19, 2018.

Jeanie Joppru Pennington County, MN