This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Thursday, October 11, 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
Winter is pushing out fall throughout the state. For those in the northwest that has meant several inches of snow, and howling winds. Feeders are extremely busy today especially. Migration is rapidly coming to an end with a large movement of sparrows this week. The expected fall sparrows are being reported in all areas- white-throated, white crowned, fox, and Harris’s sparrows. Red-breasted nuthatches seem to be everywhere. Red-tailed hawks could be seen on perches along all the area roads and highways before the weather got nasty.
A leucistic AMERICAN ROBIN was reported by Beth Siverhus in Warroad, Roseau County, and this week. In addition to the aforementioned sparrows, Beth reported RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS, TENNESSEE WARBLER, PINE SISKIN, PIED-BILLED GREBE, RED-NECKED GREBE, and BROWN CREEPER in Roseau County this week.
Several birders found a SURF SCOTER at Lake Bronson State Park in Kittson County on October 8th .
On October 9th, a SURF SCOTER was seen at Agassiz NWR by several birders. MARSH WREN and a RED-NECKED PHALAROPE were also found.
In our yard in Pennington County east of Thief River Falls, a RUSTY BLACKBIRD briefly visited our feeder on October 10. Species seen at or near the feeder on October 11th included EASTERN BLUEBIRD, HERMIT THRUSH, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, FOX SPARROW, WHITE-THROATED SPARROW, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, AMERICAN TREE SPARROW, and PURPLE FINCH.
From Clay County, Hebe Shipp in Moorhead reported FOX SPARROW, WHITE-THROATED SPARROW, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, CHIPPING SPARROW, HOUSE FINCH, DARK-EYED JUNCO, and AMERICAN GOLDFINCH on October 10th.
Near Tamarac NWR in Becker County, many observers saw a LEWIS’S WOODPECKER as recently as Sunday, October 7th. It may well be still around, but no one has reported it since then. Other species seen in the area include WILD TURKEY, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER, LINCOLN’S SPARROW, PIED-BILLED GREBE, and DARK-EYED JUNCO. A PILEATED WOODPECKER flew across our path on our way out of Becker County on Sunday.
Becca Engdahl found a SURF SCOTER in Hubbard County on October 10th, and on the 11th, a PINE WARBLER at Kabekona Lake.
A small flock of about 20 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were reported by Cathy Clayton near Dead Lake in Otter Tail County on October 10. Other species seen in Otter Tail County this week included NORTHERN CARDINAL, EASTERN BLUEBIRD, and GREAT BLUE HERON.
Charlene Nelson in Grant County found a HARRIS’S SPARROW at Hodgson Lake, and at their Elbow Lake farm were FOX SPARROW, and WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW on October 6th.
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, October 18, 2018.
Jeanie Joppru
Pennington County, MN