This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Thursday, June 15, 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.
Summer seems to have arrived in the northwest, along with the severe storms and high winds. Birds are settling down to the business of raising young.
The big news is from the North Ottawa Impoundment in Grant County this week. Shorebirds and other waders seem to be making a stop there this year due to better conditions than other areas. Within the last two weeks, SNOWY EGRETS, GLOSSY IBIS, CATTLE EGRET, HUDSONIAN GODWITS, LITTLE BLUE HERON, RUDDY TURNSTONE, SNOWY PLOVER, and many other shorebirds were seen there. Many are still there. RED-NECKED PHALAROPE was seen on June 10. Wayne Perala found a KING RAIL and two BLACK-NECKED STILTS there on June 15.
In Clay County, A WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE was found at Buffalo River SP on June 6. On June 5, a WHIMBREL and RED-NECKED PHALAROPE were found at the wetland north of Ulen. At Felton Prairie on June 10, GREATER PRAIRIE-CHICKEN, GRAY PARTRIDGE, LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE, WESTERN KINGBIRD, LE CONTE’S SPARROW, and CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPUR were seen.
A MUTE SWAN was seen at Twin Valley WTP in Norman County on June 14 .
Here in Pennington County, Shelley Steva saw two SANDHILL CRANE families with two colts along CR 7 just south of Thief River Falls. MARBLED GODWITS were also seen.
Due to the fact that most of these birds were reported by multiple individuals this week, I have not always mentioned names of the reporters, and have not always included sightings that are more than 10 days old, but all have been noted and appreciated.
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, June 22, 2017