This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Thursday, February 22, 2018 sponsored by the Detroit Lakes Regional Chamber of Commerce. You may also hear this report by calling (218)847-5743 or 1-800-433-1888.
Some parts of the northwest have received some snow this week, but in the far northwest, so far not much has accumulated. There is little evidence of migration yet, if we don’t consider the snowy owls that are undoubtedly moving north, as we are seeing and hearing of more of them in recent weeks.
This week I have heard of one snowy owl in Pennington, one more in Red Lake, one in Marshall, and one in Kittson County. Hoary redpolls were reported this week in Marshall, Polk and Hubbard counties.
Ben Stubbs reported a BOREAL OWL seen and photographed in Roseau County on February 15. A NORTHERN HAWK OWL and several groups of SNOW BUNTINGS were seen by Shelley Steva and I in the county on February 16.
In Kittson County, Shelley and I found one SNOWY OWL, a NORTHERN SHRIKE and SNOW BUNTINGS on February 16.
John Hess reported a RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD in Marshall County on February 21.
Here in Pennington County, I had a flock of about fifty BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS visit the year on February 18. Most of the fruit is now gone, and the waxwings have moved on.
Shelley Steva found seven GRAY PARTRIDGE near Brooks in Red Lake County on February 21.
Sandy Aubol in East Grand Forks , Polk County, reports DARK-EYED JUNCO and a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW at her feeders.
Perry Brown observed a NORTHERN SHRIKE in his yard in Detroit Lakes, Becker County on February 15.
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 Chamber’s toll free number: 1-800-542-3992.
Detroit Lakes area birders please call 847-9202. Please include the county where the sighting took place. The next scheduled update of this report is Thursday, March 1, 2018.
Jeanie Joppru, Pennington County, MN