Northwest Birding Report – August 30, 2018
This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Thursday, August 30, 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
There are signs of fall everywhere in the northwest now, not the least of which were the several shivery, cold mornings this week. It has warmed slightly, but it still feels like fall here today. Feeders are very busy, as the birds stoke up for their long journeys. A few ruby-throated hummingbirds remain with us, and Baltimore orioles are here also, but in decreased numbers. A few common nighthawks are seen migrating from time to time. Rain that arrived this week has greened things up except in the more sandy areas.
From Elbow Lake in Grant County, Charlene Nelson reported an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER coming to the jelly feeder this week. She also has many BALTIMORE ORIOLES gobbling down jelly. On August 24, she reported a WINTER WREN. At the North Ottawa Impoundment on August 24, she found thousands of blackbirds and a few sandpipers in the surrounding fields; at the impoundment, she reported hundreds of AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS and DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS.
In addition, many people have reported several SNOWY EGRETS and many GREAT EGRETS there.
Charlene Nelson visited Tamarac NWR in Becker County on August 29 where she counted more than 70 TRUMPETER SWANS and eight COMMON LOONS. Also observed were RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, an EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE, YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER, two OVENBIRDS, AMERICAN REDSTART, BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER and PINE SISKIN.
Here in Pennington County, Allyson Engelstad reported SHARP-TAILED GROUSE, RED-TAILED HAWK and SEDGE WREN on August 29 in the southern part of the county. On several days this week I saw a few migrating COMMON NIGHTHAWKS east of Thief River Falls. An EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE and PILEATED WOODPECKER were seen on August 26, and today I spotted two TURKEY VULTURES soaring over the area. We still have RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS and BALTIMORE ORIOLES coming to the jelly and nectar. Several PURPLE FINCHES show up from time to time at the sunflower feeder.
The manager of the Roseau River WMA reported late last week that the Roseau River is in drawdown. I do not know if that has resulted in shorebird habitat. Most areas around here are too dry for the shorebirds, in sharp contrast to the normal year when most areas are too wet!
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, September 6, 2018.
Jeanie Joppru
Pennington County, MN