This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Friday, October 19, 2018 sponsored by the Detroit Lakes Regional Chamber of Commerce. You may also see this report on the Chamber of Commerce website:
https://www.visitdetroitlakes.com/birding-report
We had a taste of winter this week, but fall has returned to the northwest with temperatures above 60 yesterday. Migration continues with sparrows moving through in large numbers, being reported at nearly all feeders this week. In particular, white-throated sparrows and dark-eyed juncos are moving in large numbers. Also this week we had a large flight of American robins with the large white eye arcs move in and now they seen to be mostly gone.
At the N. Ottawa Impoundment in Grant County, numerous people have reported BLACK-NECKED STILTS this week. Charlene Nelson also found STILT SANDPIPER, BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON, and AMERICAN TREE SPARROW there.
In Otter Tail County, Wayne Perala reported PINE SISKIN and RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET. Linda Young found EASTERN BLUEBIRD in Fergus Falls.
On October 14th, Becca Engdahl saw a GREEN HERON in Hubbard County. On Garfield Lake this week she observed WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, BLACK SCOTERS, and SURF SCOTERS.
Chris Walker reported a RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET at Tamarac NWR in Becker County on October 16.
From Polk County, Sandy Aubol observed a few BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS by the river in East Grand Forks on October 15. Also seen was AMERICAN TREE SPARROW. Leon Thoreson who lives near Climax, reported a large assortment of sparrows including FOX SPARROW, WHITE-THROATED SPARROW, and CLAY-COLORED SPARROW at his feeders. Also seen were RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, and RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH.
Here at the feeders east of Thief River Falls in Pennington County, I had the usual variety of expected sparrows at this time of year. There were large numbers of DARK-EYED JUNCOS who fed on the suet block in the cold weather. On October 13th, a pair of PILEATED WOODPECKERS came by, and a YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER came to the suet. That day there were six FOX SPARROWS here. At the wastewater treatment ponds, I found a good variety of duck including RUDDY DUCKS, and BUFFLEHEAD and was surprised to see there a COMMON LOON on October 14th.
In Beltrami County, Laura Erickson reported WESTERN GREBE and EASTERN PHOEBE at the Mississippi entrance to Lake Bemidji on October 17th.
Beth Siverhus in Roseau County observed the first SNOW BUNTING and BOHEMIAN WAXWING of the season, and reported all the fall sparrows mentioned above 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 numbers 218-847-5743 or 218- 847-9202. Please include the county where the sighting took place. The next scheduled update of this report is Thursday, October 25, 2018
Jeanie Joppru
Pennington County, MN