This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Thursday , August 24, 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.
We are still dry in the far northwest, but a few spots got a little rain this week. After that, the temperatures dropped, and now it feels like fall in the mornings. We are hoping it will warm up as we are not ready for the cold. Birds , however, are surely getting the message that it is time to migrate. Notable species seen migrating this week included common nighthawks, Franklin’s gulls, and a large variety of warblers. Swallows are slowly disappearing from the northern part of the area, but are being reported in greater numbers further south in Minnesota. There is an irruption of red crossbills which are being seen in most counties in the central and north central part of the state, but likely partly due to the smaller numbers of birders, there are few reports of them in the far northwest.
Beth Siverhus in Roseau County reported dozens of COMMON NIGHTHAWKS and FRANKLIN’S GULLS catching dragonflies on August 17.
In Red Lake County, Allyson Engelstad reported a late BARN SWALLOW nest with dependent nestlings on August 21.
In East Grand Forks, Polk County , on August 23, Sandy Aubol observed TENNESSEE WARBLER, NASHVILLE WARBLER, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, AMERICAN REDSTART, MAGNOLIA WARBLER, and YELLOW WARBLER in her yard. Two RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS also visited, and at least five young COOPER’S HAWKS also watched the feeder within the last two weeks.
RED CROSSBILLS were seen by Ron Erpelding in southwestern Clay County at the Clara Lutheran Cemetery on August 20. A RED-SHAFTED FLICKER was seen by Beau Shroyer a half mile east of MN 32 north of Hitterdahl on August 24. The WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE at Buffalo River SP, and the SAY’S PHOEBE at Felton Prairie were both seen on August 20.
Tamarac NWR in Becker County reported RED CROSSBILLS there on August 17.
From Hubbard County, Marcella Chester observed 25 COMMON LOONS and a MERLIN in the Park Rapids area on August 21. Marshall Howe reported a mixed flock of warblers including eleven species on August 21. Fifty-three COMMON NIGHTHAWKS were seen there on August 23.
In Fergus Falls, Otter Tail County, Mark Otnes found some RED CROSSBILLS on August 18.
RED CROSSBILLS were seen by Herb Dingmann in Wilkin County near the intersection of CR 11 and 200th Street on August 22. A FERRUGINOUS HAWK was found on the west side of US 75 south of CR 50. Craig Mandel reported LEAST SANDPIPER, PECTORAL SANDPIPER, SPOTTED SANDPIPER, LESSER YELLOWLEGS, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, RED-NECKED PHALAROPE, BLACK TERN, and WESTERN KINGBIRD at the Breckenridge WTP on August 18. OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER was seen at the Brown WPA. A variety of warblers , a FIELD SPARROW, and DICKCISSEL were among the other species seen in Wilkin County that day.
A FOX SPARROW was reported at Lake Carlos SP in Douglas County by Corey Erickson on August 23.
In Grant County, the KING RAIL was seen as recently as August 19 at the N. Ottawa impoundment. Other species seen there on August 22 included AMERICAN BITTERN, 12 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS, 13 CATTLE EGRETS, a SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, and a GREAT HORNED OWL. Charlene Nelson observed two COMMON NIGHTHAWKS and a juvenile TURKEY VULTURE near Elbow Lake on August 18. Craig Mandel located RED CROSSBILLS at Wheaton Cemetery in Traverse County, and at Pine Ridge Park in Grant County. He also reported a variety of warblers, and an OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER in Grant County on August 17.
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 31, 2017.