Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Thursday, August 17, 2017
This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Thursday, August 17, 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.
It is starting to look and feel like fall here in the northwest. Grain is being harvested, and the drought we are experiencing has made the flowering plants look tired and ready to be done. Some rain was received this week, but it was very spotty. Here in eastern Thief River Falls, our rain gauge showed less than a quarter inch. Our lawns are turning brown, and even the potted plants are showing the drought. Whole families of young birds are coming to the feeders, and we are starting to see subtle signs of the fall migration starting. There seems to be an irruption of red crossbills in the southern part of the state, but I have yet to receive a report of any in the far northwest.
In Grant County, a small flock of RED CROSSBILLS are being seen at Pine Ridge Park. WHITE-FACED IBIS are being seen at the N. Ottawa impoundment, and the KING RAIL was seen quite recently. In fact a juvenile king rail was also reported, so it is likely that they nested there. Alex Sundvall was there on August 13 and reported many species of ducks, WESTERN GREBES, EARED GREBES, GREAT BLUE HERONS, GREAT EGRET, BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS, AMERICAN BITTERN, WHITE-FACED IBIS, SORA , and 13 species of shorebirds. It continues to be a hot spot.
Charlene Nelson reported a pair of COMMON NIGHTHAWKS at Alexandria in Douglas County on August 14.
Steve Midthune reported RED CROSSBILLS at Tamarac NWR on August 15. A LINCOLN’S SPARROW was reported by Shawn Goodchild and Heather Hundt also at Tamarac NWR on August 15.
The WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE continues to be reported from Buffalo River SP in Clay County as recently as August 13.
On August 14 along the Red Lake and Red Rivers, Sandy Aubol found four OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHERS, BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER, NASHVILLE WARBLER, TENNESSEE WARBLER, BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER, YELLOW WARBLER, 3 COMMON NIGHTHAWKS, 15 CHIMNEY SWIFTS, CEDAR WAXWINGS, and a RED-HEADED WOODPECKER.
At Huot at the Old Treaty Crossing in Red Lake County on August 12 , three of us found TENNESSEE WARBLER, NASHVILLE WARBLER, AMERICAN REDSTART, YELLOW WARBLER, and YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER. Other species seen included TURKEY VULTURE, OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE and many EASTERN KINGBIRDS.
Here in Pennington County, in our yard we have 15-20 PINE SISKINS eating at our feeders. Before late last month, these are the most we have seen here in over a year .
From Marshall County, Sandy Aubol found two BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS at the Agassiz Valley Impoundment in Marshall County on August 12. In addition we found SANDHILL CRANE, nine species of shorebirds, two CASPIAN TERNS, many DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS, and AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS there.
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, August 24, 2017.