-RBA *Minnesota *Detroit Lakes *August 15, 2019 *MNDL1908.15-Birds mentioned
Hotline: Minnesota, Detroit Lakes
Date: August 15, 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, August 15, 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
The weather has cooled, and now feels like fall already, although there is still more heat that will surely come. Birds are even now starting to move around, flock up, and generally get ready for that fall journey. Some species are definitely on the move, including turkey vultures which have been seen in many places in the last two weeks. That said, exciting birding is by no means over for the season. Blue grosbeaks are showing up all over the state, though not many in the northern half of the state. The first red crossbills have been reported from several locations.
In Grant County at the North Ottawa Impoundment, shorebirds such as SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, and SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS are among the many species being reported this week. Wayne Perala found a WILLET there on August 14. Frank Fabbro observed a PRAIRIE FALCON overlooking cell C on August 9th.
A BLUE GROSBEAK was seen several days at the Breckenridge WTP in Wilkin County since August 4th. I have not seen any reports in the last few days.
An AMERICAN TREE SPARROW was reported from Otter Tail County on August 8th. WOOD DUCK and BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON were observed in Fergus Falls by Wayne Perala this week, and James McCoy found a COMMON MERGANSER along CR 20 on August 11th.
A RED CROSSBILL was seen by Scott Dirks in Todd County on August 11th.
In Polk County, Russ Wilbur reported more than 80 AMERICAN CROWS on the Polk County side of the south pedestrian bridge over the Red River on August 15th. Sandy Aubol reported the first RED CROSSBILL at her feeder in East Grand Forks on August 10th, and two more had joined it the next day. Ron Fischer reported that the East Grand Forks BALD EAGLE nest has fledged two young eaglets. The first BROAD-WINGED HAWK of the season was observed by Sandy Aubol on August 7th.
Here in Pennington County, I saw two TURKEY VULTURES along Johnson Drive on August 11th, and a COMMON RAVEN in the town of Thief River Falls that day.
At Old Mill State Park in Marshall County, Judy and Tim Walker reported a SCARLET TANAGER on August 10th. At Agassiz NWR, they observed several YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS.
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, August 22, 2019.
Jeanie Joppru Pennington County, MN