This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Friday, August 2, 2019 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
A typical late July week in the northwest has brought both hot and cool temperatures and a few storms to the area. In the far northwest, not a lot of rain has fallen and some areas are getting dry now. A yard is hosting many young birds and now is the time to work on identifying the young of the various species. It is also a good time to watch their behavior.
Shorebird migration is going on now, and a WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER was found at the Ada WTP in Norman County by Shawn Goodchild on July 29th.
In Becker County, Bob Dunlap found an EASTERN MEADOWLARK at Becker Wet along CR 29 north of Frazee on July 27th.
The most exciting find was a BLUE GROSBEAK found on July 27th by Bob Dunlap at the Breckenridge WTP in Wilkin County. It was located in the compost area adjacent to the shooting range on the NW corner of the WTP. It was still being reported on August 1st. Milton Blumberg observed a PURPLE FINCH at Riverside Cemetery, south of Breckenridge.
If you are looking to study shorebirds, then the N. Ottawa Impoundment in Grant County is the place to go. There are large mudflats in the western cells hosting thousands of shorebirds at last report. These will change daily now, so if you don’t find the ones you want to see, then go back another day, but watch the weather and be careful of road conditions. Bob Dunlap also found FRANKLIN’S GULLS and AMERICAN AVOCETS there. Milton Blumberg reported a singing NELSON’S SPARROW between the NW and SW cells, as well as interesting shorebirds such as BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, many SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, RUDDY TURNSTONE, and BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER on July 31st. Wayne Perala found a number of AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS and many GREAT EGRETS there on July 28th. Scopes are recommended.
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 Friday, August 9, 2019.
Jeanie Joppru
Pennington County, MN