Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Thursday, March 2, 2017

This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Thursday, March 2, 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.

There has been a break in the thaw, we are back to winter temporarily in the northwest, but there is a promise of a return to the mild temperatures for the weekend. Birds that migrate on day length are coming back, and waterfowl are following the open water. Many CANADA GEESE and lots of other early returning ducks are being reported from Otter Tail County. There are even a few Canada goose scouts being seen in Pennington County this week.

Wayne Perala reported from Fergus Falls , Otter Tail County that HOODED MERGANSERS, COMMON MERGANSERS, COMMON GOLDENEYE, and many hundreds of CANADA GEESE have arrived in the area this week. HORNED LARKS and CEDAR WAXWINGS are also being seen.

From East Grand Forks in Polk County, Sandy Aubol reported a single COMMON REDPOLL at her feeder on March 1. Very few have been seen in this area this winter.

Beth Siverhus reported two WILD TURKEYS, a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, PURPLE FINCH, EVENING GROSBEAKS, and PINE SISKINS in western Itasca County on the weekend near Dixon Lake.

In Beltrami County, Beth found one NORTHERN HAWK OWL , a NORTHERN SHRIKE, and a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK along Shoreline drive, and a pair of BALD EAGLES in Waskish on February 26. Becca Engdahl found a BARRED OWL near Bemidji on March 1.

In Roseau County, Beth Siverhus reported about 100 PINE SISKINS coming to the feeder in Warroad, along with 10 COMMON REDPOLLS and a PURPLE FINCH. A FEMALE CARDINAL is visiting her yard sporadically. A RUFFED GROUSE was also seen in the county.

A GYRFALCON was observed along MN 11 in Lake of the Woods County on February 23, but searches by several other birders have not been able to relocate the bird, so it is assumed to have moved on. A NORTHERN HAWK OWL was seen by Beth Siverhus along the Roosevelt Road a few miles north of the Faunce-Butterfield Road in the Beltrami Island State Forest. An AMERICAN KESTREL was seen near Pitt 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, March 9, 2017