This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Thursday, February 9, 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.
After a few mild thawing days, we are temporarily back in the cold in the northwest, but the forecast is for a rapid rise in temperature starting tonight. Conditions on the roads are pretty good with some patchy ice. Be careful of trying minimum maintenance roads, as there has been much drifting in the past days, and what looks great at the intersection may rapidly deteriorate a half mile later.
A female NORTHERN CARDINAL visited the feeder of Beth Siverhus in Warroad, Roseau County, on February 8. Gary and Phyllis Lund also in Roseau County, observed a covey of SHARP-TAILED GROUSE eating buds in one of their trees. Several NORTHERN HAWK OWLS have been observed in the Roseau area during the past week. If you find one, listen quietly, and you may hear one singing as they are getting ready to nest at this time. Shelley Steva and I found three RUFFED GROUSE eating buds in a tree along MN 310 on February 4. Olaf Danielson saw four coveys of GRAY PARTRIDGE in Roseau County on February 3.
In Kittson County, Larry Wilebski had 75 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS in his yard in Lancaster on February 4.
John Hess reported a SNOWY OWL west of Warren in Marshall County on February 6. Shelley Steva and I saw a BALD EAGLE, some SHARP-TAILED GROUSE, and SNOW BUNTINGS in the county on February 4.
Up to ten SNOWY OWLS have been seen in the past week in western Polk County. Most of them have been adult males. Shelley Steva and I found eleven GRAY PARTRIDGE southwest of Sherack on February 4. Several SNOW BUNTINGS were also seen. Sandy Aubol reported the first HORNED LARKS along CR 19 on February 3. A GREAT HORNED OWL was spotted by Sandy on her neighbor’s fence on February 3.
In Clay County, Kathy Bresee reported that the FOX SPARROW reported earlier was still in her yard in Moorhead on February 3.Other species seen there included RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH , one AMERICAN ROBIN and two EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES.
Becca Engdahl observed a few COMMON REDPOLLS in Hubbard County on February 8, and reported that a LINCOLN’S SPARROW has been there all winter.
Thanks to all who sent in their 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, February 16, 2017.