Northwest Birding Report – April 19, 2018

This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Thursday, April 19, 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

Spring has finally arrived in northwest Minnesota, robins are singing, and people are smiling. We continue to get reports of large numbers of common redpolls, and there are two reports of HOARY REDPOLLS, one in Polk County, and one in Becker County this week. Raptors are streaming in. Many rough-legged hawks can be seen coursing over the grasslands; a few red-tailed hawks, and American kestrels were reported in several locations.

Migrating songbirds are still uncommon, but a few are starting to trickle in. With the warm temperatures forecast, we can expect to see more in the coming days. American robins are here in good numbers and can be heard singing every morning.

The North Ottawa Impoundment in Grant County has started to attract migrants. Wayne Perala reported an AMERICAN AVOCET, a GREATER YELLOWLEGS and RING-BILLED GULL there on April 19. A variety of ducks were also there. He also observed a COMMON LOON and one SNOWY OWL on the way to the impoundment, likely in Otter Tail County, although he did not say.

In Fergus Falls in Otter Tail County on April 15, Wayne found a EURASIAN WIGEON on the Otter Tail River. Marion Otnes reported RING-BILLED GULL, two HERRING GULLS and TREE SWALLOWS  on April 13.

In Polk County, Leon Thoreson observed MOURNING DOVE, AMERICAN ROBIN, BROWN CREEPER and 50 COMMON REDPOLLS in his yard on April 14, COOPER’S HAWK and two WILD TURKEYS on April 17,  and BALD EAGLE, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, AMERICAN KESTREL, SHARP-SHINNED HAWK and KILLDEER on April 18. ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS are now in large numbers in the grasslands of western Polk County.

On April 17, I saw 8 TURKEY VULTURES soaring over the Red Lake River in Pennington County. A female NORTHERN HARRIER and a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK were seen in Pennington County northeast of Thief River Falls on April 18. I found HOODED MERGANSERS in the river south of the dam this afternoon, and a GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET was seen and heard in Greenwood trails natural area. A SHARP-SHINNED HAWK visited our bird feeder this morning.

In Marshall County, on April 18, I saw 7 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS between the Marshall County line and the east edge of Agassiz NWR. Other species seen included two NORTHERN HARRIERS, two BALD EAGLES, and a RED-TAILED HAWK. Four TRUMPETER SWANS were found in the fields just south of the refuge and four more were seen on the east side of  headquarters pool.

Connie Cox reported a KILLDEER in Itasca State Park this week. On April 17 a NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen near the visitor center. A YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER was observed on April 18.

From Roseau County, Beth Siverhus reported BALD EAGLE, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, 30 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS, AMERICAN ROBIN and PURPLE FINCH this week. Mike Thiele observed SANDHILL CRANES and TRUMPETER SWANS by the Warroad Airport this week.

In Lake of the Woods County, Beth Siverhus saw two pairs of SANDHILL CRANES south of Baudette. Other species seen in the county included ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, TURKEY VULTURE, NORTHERN HARRIER, AMERICAN KESTREL and BALD EAGLE.

Please report bird sightings to Jeanie Joppru by email, no later than Thursday each week, at ajjoppru@mncable.net 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 26, 2018.

Jeanie Joppru
Pennington County, MN