This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Thursday, July 27, 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.
The heat has arrived, and while , the birds seem to be carrying on as usual, the people are not. There hasn’t been much incentive to get out away from the air conditioning. At the feeders, we are seeing a lot of juveniles just learning how to get a free meal. The real bright spot has been the flowers, both domesticated and wild, which are quite lovely this year. With the dry weather, there have also been few mosquitos, so get out there and look for some birds. We are starting to see a very few warblers that might be wandering south already.
In Marshall County, Sandy Aubol found a BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER at the Warren Wastewater Treatment Ponds on July 22.
In Clay County, Noah Kuck observed a LEAST BITTERN, several VIRGINIA RAILS, and a PEREGRINE FALCON at the marsh behind the Hornbacher’s store in Moorhead. A KRIDER’S RED-TAILED HAWK was seen by Alex Sundvall at Felton Prairie on July 24, and he also re-located the WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE at Buffalo River State Park .
Niki and Greg Johnson had a GOLDEN EAGLE visit their yard at Becida in Hubbard County on July 20.
In Otter Tail County, Wayne Perala reported BROAD-WINGED HAWK, INDIGO BUNTING, SCARLET TANAGER, RED-EYED VIREO, EASTERN PHOEBE, CEDAR WAXWING, and two SANDHILL CRANES on July 22.
In Grant County, the KING RAIL was seen as recently as July 21, but I have no reports since then. Also at the N. Ottawa Impoundment, Wayne Perala observed two WESTERN KINGBIRDS, BAIRD’S SANDPIPER, STILT SANDPIPER, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, LEAST SANDPIPER, more than fifty GREAT EGRETS, ten GREAT BLUE HERONS, 30 WESTERN GREBES, and SORA on July 25. Dick Bierman saw BLACK-NECKED STILT there on July 26. Charlene Nelson reported WILD TURKEYS at Elbow Lake, and last week, she had an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER in her yard.
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 3, 2017.