This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Thursday, January 9, 2020 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

This part of the state did not participate fully in the recent snowfall, but we got enough to keep us busy for a few days. Cold temperatures right after heavy wet snow fell caused the snowbanks to get very firm, making the shoveling quite a bit harder. Also most of that snow has remained where it blew in at the time of the storm, so rural roads cannot be trusted to be open. Many are in good winter driving condition, but do not be deceived by the first quarter mile being open as a large drift may lurk further on. Not many reports have come in this week, but I do have the highlights of several of the recent CBC’s.

The Pelican Rapids CBC in Otter Tail County on January 4th found 29 species and surprisingly had high counts on 18 of the 29 species. Species seen included GREAT HORNED OWL, COMMON RAVEN, PILEATED WOODPECKERRED-BELLIED WOODPECKER, 40 WILD TURKEYS, 46 EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES, HORNED LARK,  34 DARK-EYED JUNCOS, 2 NORTHERN CARDINALS, and 8 NORTHERN SHRIKES, but no finches.

In Clay County on December 28th, the Bluestem Prairie found 32 species including BOHEMIAN WAXWING, NORTHERN CARDINAL, BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE, GREATER PRAIRIE-CHICKEN, 19 WILD TURKEYS, NORTHERN SHRIKE, PURPLE FINCH, BELTED KINGFISHER, AMERICAN KESTREL, and in count week, a NORTHERN GOSHAWK.

On the Polk County side of the Grand Forks/ East Grand Forks CBC on December 15th, species seen included AMERICAN KESTREL, CEDAR WAXWING, PINE SISKIN, 10 SNOW BUNTINGS, AMERICAN TREE SPARROW, and 5 NORTHERN CARDINALS. Joanne and Terry Johnson found 3 SNOWY OWLS in the Sherack area on January 4th.

Nancy Wasik reported flocks of AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES and a PILEATED WOODPECKER in Eckles Township of Beltrami County on January 9th.

There were two CBC’s in Lake of the Woods County last weekend. On the Beltrami Island CBC species seen included 3 GREAT GRAY OWLS, NORTHERN HAWK OWL, BARRED OWL, SPRUCE GROUSE, PINE SISKIN, RED CROSSBILL, WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL, BOREAL CHICKADEE, NORTHERN SHRIKE, DARK-EYED JUNCO, AMERICAN GOLDFINCH, and PURPLE FINCH. The Baudette CBC recorded 4 NORTHERN HAWK OWLS, NORTHERN SHRIKE, HORNED LARK, RED CROSSBILL, RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER, and CANADA JAY. No grosbeaks or redpolls were seen.

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 Friday, January 16, 2020.

 Jeanie Joppru

Pennington County, MN