Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Thursday, July 13, 2017

This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Thursday, July 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.

True summer weather has been in place this week with the up and down temperatures, and stormy weather. Many people are busy with storm cleanup, and /or the local fairs. Birds , too, are very busy bringing up the young, and now is a good time to confirm nesting when you see the young being fed by their parents.

Shelley Steva observed a MERLIN in downtown Thief River Falls, Pennington County, on July 11 in the courthouse parking lot. Here in the yard east of the city, I found a nest of baby HOUSE WRENS in one of our bird houses yesterday.

The previously reported SAY’S PHOEBE was re-located at Felton Prairie in Clay County by Shawn Goodchild on July 9. The WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE was seen that day as well so I think we can say that it may be nesting at Buffalo River State Park.

In Otter Tail County an ACADIAN FLYCATCHER was seen at Maplewood SP as recently as July 10. Various folks have seen the BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS, GREAT EGRETS, and DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS at Grotto Lake in Fergus Falls this week. Those young birds must be getting close to fledging by now. Aaron Ludwig found a BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO at Prairie Wetlands Learning Center on July 9. A NORTHERN CARDINAL was seen in Oak Grove Cemetery in Fergus Falls. At Glendalough SP, there was GREEN HERON, ORCHARD ORIOLE, GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER among others, and at Maplewood SP, SCARLET TANAGER, and BOBOLINK. Other species seen in Otter Tail County this week included LARK SPARROW, DICKCISSEL, LE CONTE’S SPARROW, and a SWAINSON’S HAWK near Rothsay.

Wayne Perala found another “good” bird at the N. Ottawa Impoundment on July 10- a LEAST BITTERN. Still being seen by various folks are the KING RAILS, COMMON GALLINULE, BLACK-NECKED STILTS, WESTERN KINGBIRD, and a KRIDER’S RED-TAILED HAWK.

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, July 20, 2017.