Northwest Birding Report – March 1, 2018

This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Thursday, March 1, 2018 sponsored by the Detroit Lakes Regional Chamber of Commerce.

We are starting to see some evidence of migration now with some reports of horned larks in the north, and further south, some waterfowl are also being reported. The northwest has varying levels of snow cover, but the ditches are full in the Thief River Falls area. Open fields have differing  amounts of snow and a few days will change the landscape quickly. Fewer snowy owls were reported this week, but I note that several barred owls have been reported.

From Becker County, Dave and Betty Hochhalter reported RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER, PINE GROSBEAK, COMMON REDPOLL and a COMMON GRACKLE in their yard in Detroit Lakes this week.

In Polk County, Shelley Steva reported HORNED LARKS on February 24. Two GOLDEN EAGLES  were seen by Terry Johnson two miles south of Sherack on February 24. A SNOWY OWL in Polk County was observed by Allyson Engelstad.

Shelley Steva reported HORNED LARKS also in Red Lake County on March 1. A BARRED OWL was visiting the home of Jenny Stonehouse on February 23.

A BARRED OWL spent the late afternoon of February 24 in our yard east of Thief River Falls, Pennington County. I also had PINE GROSBEAKS and BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS here . Allyson Engelstad observed BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS elsewhere in Pennington County this week as did Shelley Steva. HORNED LARKS were also reported in Pennington County.

Sue Keeler reported a BARRED OWL in Itasca County this week.

From Roseau County Beth Siverhus reported PINE GROSBEAKS and PILEATED WOODPECKER in Warroad. On her way down into the Beltrami Island State Forest, she also saw 6 SNOW BUNTINGS, 4 SHARP-TAILED GROUSE, a NORTHERN GOSHAWK and GRAY JAY. Carol Birkeland observed a WILD TURKEY  between Roseau and Greenbush on February 22.

At Norris Camp in Lake of the Woods County, Gretchen Mehmel listed GRAY JAY, COMMON REDPOLL, HOARY REDPOLL, PINE GROSBEAK and RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH. A half mile west of Faunce , she saw a RED CROSSBILL.

Please report bird sightings to Jeanie Joppru by email, no later than Thursday each week, at ajjoppru@mncable.net <mailto:ajjoppru@mncable.net> OR call the Detroit Lakes Chambers at 218-847-9202. Please include the county where the sighting took place. The next scheduled update of this report is Thursday, March 8, 2018.

 

Jeanie Joppru
Pennington County, MN