-RBA *Minnesota *Detroit Lakes *December 20, 2018 *MNDL1812.20-Birds mentioned
Hotline: Minnesota, Detroit Lakes
Date: December 20, 2018
Sponsor: Lakes Area Birding Club, Detroit Lakes Regional Chamber of Commerce
Reports: 218-847-5743 or 218-847-9202
Compiler: Jeanie Joppru ([log in to unmask])
This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Thursday, December 20, 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
What pleasant weather we have been having in the northwest, although some of us would like a little more snow. There is promise of a weather change soon when we will get some more. Bird activity at the feeders has been up and down in the past days, and in most cases , restricted to those species that usually overwinter with us. That said, we seem to be having somewhat of a mini irruption of varied thrushes within the last two weeks as I know of sightings in at least four counties in the northwest- Pennington, Becker, Todd, and Clay, along with Hennipen and Lake Counties.
A NORTHERN CARDINAL was observed by Jack Fritz in east Otter Tail County on December 18.
From Todd County, Rob Freeman reported a VARIED THRUSH near Long Prairie on December 19.
GRAY CATBIRD and CANADA JAY were seen by Alex Burchard in Hubbard County on December 15.
Another VARIED THRUSH was tallied on the Detroit Lakes CBC in Becker County , and Ron Erpelding found RED CROSSBILLS at Tamarac NWR on December 19. Lee Kensinger saw a BARRED OWL in his yard in Detroit Lakes on December 16.
A FOX SPARROW and a CHIPPING SPARROW are still coming to the feeder of Sandy Aubol in East Grand Forks, Polk County.
In Pennington County, a VARIED THRUSH was reported by Avis Frazer in her yard in Goodridge. This bird was still there as of yesterday.
The Itasca State Park CBC on December 17 reported 32 species including RUFFED GROUSE, WILD TURKEY, RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER, no less than 14 PILEATED WOODPECKERS, two NORTHERN SHRIKES, 5 CANADA JAYS, 90 RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, 5 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS, PINE GROSBEAKS, and EVENING GROSBEAKS.
In Beltrami County, Alex Burchard saw RING-NECKED DUCK and PIED-BILLED GREBES in Bemidji on December 15.
Larry Wilebski observed a MOURNING DOVE at Lancaster , Kittson County on December 15.
Beth Siverhus reported RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS, COMMON GRACKLE, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD, and PINE GROSBEAKS all in Warroad this week. In the surrounding countryside there were BALD EAGLE and ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK.
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, December 27, 2018.
Jeanie Joppru Pennington County, MN