This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Thursday, April 13, 2017 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.
This has been a pleasant weather week in the northwest, and migrants have increased in numbers. Every day brings a couple of new species, but so far not a great number of them this week- just more of the same ones reported last week. Purple finches, red-winged blackbirds, and western meadowlarks have increased this week.
From Grant County, Charlene Nelson observed GREAT EGRET on Worm Lake and EASTERN PHOEBE at Elbow Lake; on the 8th she saw BELTED KINGFISHER, and at Barrett ,NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW .
Wayne Perala reported NORTHERN HARRIER in Otter Tail County on April 8, and on April 11 a SANDERLING at the Orwell Dam. Two MARBLED GODWITS were seen on April 12 in Otter Tail County. Gary and Marion Otnes observed a COMMON LOON on their lake near Fergus Falls on April 8.
Becca Engdahl reported that a LONG-TAILED DUCK was still at the Akeley WTP in Hubbard County on April 12, and several GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were at the Park Rapids WTP. A HORNED GREBE was found at Kabekona Lake. Also on the 12th, she reported that a LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE ,originally found by Ron Erpelding and Mark Junghans is still there.
In Clay county, Shawn Goodchild found a BONAPARTE’S GULL at Anderson Lake on April 9.
Bruce Flaig reported a COMMON LOON in the southwest part of Polk County on April 8. Leon Thoreson reported 7 GREATER PRAIRIE-CHICKENS, 2 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS, one SNOW BUNTING, and many HORNED LARKS east of Climax on April 8. At Rydell NWR on April 11, Ed Olson found AMERICAN KESTREL, LESSER SCAUP, and HOODED MERGANSER.
Here along the Red Lake River, in Pennington County, we had COMMON MERGANSER, NORTHERN FLICKER, EASTERN BLUEBIRD, FOX SPARROW, and WESTERN MEADOWLARK on April 8. GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET showed up on April 9, two COMMON GOLDENEYES were on the river on April 11, and on April 12 an EASTERN PHOEBE was singing in the yard. That night I heard an EASTERN SCREECH OWL calling nearby.
In Beltrami County, Doug Johnson reported a probable ROSS’S GOOSE on April 13. TREE SWALLOW was seen over Lake Bemidji on April 13 by Brian Hiller.
Per Larry Wilebski, the SANDHILL CRANES are dancing in Kittson County as of April 8.
Thanks to all who sent in sightings this week.
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 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, April 20, 2017.