This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Friday, September 7, 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
Cooler weather conditions and very cool mornings have certainly reminded us of fall this week. Migration is in full swing for passerines, also. Most of the warbler species usually seen in this area are moving through, and vireos and flycatchers are also on the move. Red-breasted nuthatches are also visiting yards again. Red-tailed hawks are everywhere it seems, while juvenile northern harriers are also common. Yards are getting that tired look that heralds fall, but some shots of rain have greened things up. A few hummingbirds are still around, and Baltimore orioles have greatly decreased in numbers.
Thirteen species of warblers were seen by Ron Erpelding in Roseau County on September 2nd including NORTHERN PARULA, BAY-BREASTED WARBLER, BLACKPOLL, PALM WARBLER and YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER.
Lake Bronson State Park in Kittson County yielded sixteen species of warblers with the addition of OVENBIRD, NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH, GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER, BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER and WILSON’S WARBLER on September 3. Four species of vireo including YELLOW-THROATED VIREO and BLUE-HEADED VIREO were seen.
Here in Pennington County, a large number of NORTHERN FLICKERS came through this week. I have also seen several TURKEY VULTURES, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, WILSON’S WARBLER, and ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER.
Ron Erpelding found a CANADA WARBLER in Red Lake County near Huot on September 1.
The Minnesota Birding Weekend led by Kim Eckert saw BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS at the Agassiz impoundment on the Marshall-Polk County line on September 1st. Also seen there were RED-NECKED GREBE, EARED GREBE, WESTERN GREBE and BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER.
At the Crookston WTP in Polk County, the group found SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, RED-NECKED PHALAROPE and PEREGRINE FALCON. They found a EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE in Fertile. At the Parnell impoundment they found a late DICKCISSEL. There were also warblers in the woods surrounding the Crookston WTP.
In Mahnomen County, Ron Erpelding reported BAIRD’S SANDPIPER, STILT SANDPIPER, WILSON’S PHALAROPE and RED-NECKED PHALAROPE at the Mahnomen WTP. FRANKLIN’S GULL and CASPIAN TERN were seen along MN 113 east of Waubun.
An ORCHARD ORIOLE was observed by Jason Swelstad in southern Otter Tail County on September 1. Ron Erpelding found a CANADA WARBLER at Maplewood SP on the weekend.
Charlene Nelson in Grant County reported up to seven RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS at the feeders this week. Warblers included BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, NASHVILLE WARBLER, MAGNOLIA WARBLER, CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER, WILSON’S WARBLER and AMERICAN REDSTART. EASTERN PHOEBE, RED-EYED VIREO, PHILADELPHIA VIREO, VEERY, LEAST FLYCATCHER, YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER and GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER were also seen at her home near Elbow Lake. On September 5, large flocks of BREWER’S BLACKBIRDS and COMMON GRACKLES came through the area. One COMMON NIGHTHAWK was seen, as well as a COOPER’S HAWK this week. At the North Ottawa Impoundment Ise Varghese reported LEAST BITTERN and SNOWY EGRET on September 3.
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 13, 2018
Jeanie Joppru
Pennington County, MN