-RBA
*Minnesota
*Detroit Lakes
*April 4, 2019
*MNDL1904.04

-Birds mentioned
Snow Goose
Ross's Goose
Greater White-fronted Goose
Canada Goose
Tundra Swan
Wild Turkey
Sandhill Crane
Great Blue Heron
Northern Harrier
Red-tailed Hawk
Rough-legged Hawk
American Three-toed Woodpecker
American Kestrel
Cedar Waxwing
Brambling
Swamp Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Western Meadowlark
-Transcript

Hotline: Minnesota, Detroit Lakes
Date: April 4, 2019
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, April 4,
2019 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

Spring has surely arrived in the northwest this week as evidenced by the
melting snow( all be it slowly), and the increased bird activity in the
region. Horned larks are now pairing up, but still looking for bare
ground for their nests. Many of the fields are now showing some bare
patches, but much snow remains. With freezing temperatures most nights,
the roads are still relatively good, but warmer days and nights
predicted this week will surely change that so caution is advised.
Raptors are the most common migrants this week with rough-legged hawks,
red-tailed hawks, northern harriers, and American kestrels coming into
all area of the northwest. Canada goose and dark-eyed junco numbers are
increasing.

Scott Laudenslauger found an AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKER in the
Beltrami Island State Forest 3.8 miles east of the intersection of the
Faunce Road with the Rapid River Road. Note that the road is getting
muddy and is not safe to drive if it is not frozen.

I was in Roseau yesterday, April 3 where I found a really dark
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, so dark that I at first thought it was a crow. When
it lifted off, I was able to see the beautiful underwing pattern. Also
seen were RED-TAILED HAWKS, additional ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS, NORTHERN
HARRIERS, and AMERICAN KESTRELS.

Here in Pennington County, DARK-EYED JUNCOS have appeared at the
feeders.

Several WILD TURKEYS were seen on March 31 in Norman County.

CEDAR WAXWINGS were seen in Moorhead by Matt Sorum on March 30.

The BRAMBLING that caused so much excitement in the winter, was seen by
Judy Johnson on March 30 at the previous location in Becker County. Beau
Shroyer has only seen it a few times in the last month.

A SWAMP SPARROW was reported by Jason Swelstad in Otter Tail County on
March 31. SANDHILL CRANES, GREAT BLUE HERON, and DARK-EYED JUNCOS were
also reported in that county. Waterfowl is streaming into the county now
that the open water is becoming more widespread. The SNOW GOOSE
migration is coming into Otter Tail County now and included some GREATER
WHITE-FRONTED GEESE. Wayne Perala reported the greater white-fronted
geese south of the Orwell Dam on March 30.

The big SNOW GOOSE migration in Grant County was the big news this week
when tens of thousands of snow geese appeared in northwestern Grant
County. The huge flock included GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, CANADA
GEESE, and ROSS'S GEESE. There are still some of them near or at the N.
Ottawa impoundment, but these geese in spring migration have an urgency
to get to the breeding grounds, so they can be expected to be greatly
reduced in numbers there within a week or two. Already folks are saying
that the huge flocks are not as common. You will have to drive around to
find them as they move a lot, and are pretty jumpy when they see
vehicles. Also there are numerous species of migrating ducks, although
more in the impoundment than not. Also in Grant County can be seen
TUNDRA SWANS, WESTERN MEADOWLARKS, and all the raptors mentioned at the
top of this report.

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 11, 2019.



Jeanie Joppru
Pennington County, MN