This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Friday, February 22, 2019.

This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Friday, February 22, 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

The north has received more snow this week. The wind’s artistry has made the open fields look like freshly frosted cake full of soft folds which sparkle blindingly white in the sun. We are starting to get more reports of early spring species like white-throated sparrows, and a few hardy blackbirds. Pine Grosbeaks are being reported in many locations this winter. Waterfowl continues to be seen in a small amount of open water in Bemidji, Beltrami County, and in Fergus Falls in Otter Tail County.

A GREAT HORNED OWL was sighted in the Beltrami Island State Forest in Lake of the Woods County this week.

From Roseau County, Beth Siverhus reported a pair of RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS and a COMMON GRACKLE still coming to her feeder in Warroad. Also in Warroad she saw a NORTHERN CARDINAL, PILEATED WOODPECKER, PINE GROSBEAK, COMMON REDPOLLS, PINE SISKINS, and PURPLE FINCHES. In Roseau there were BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS, and WILD TURKEY was spotted at Hayes Lake. On February 21, I saw two AMERICAN ROBINS in Roseau.

Todd Sorenson in Kittson saw a EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE in Hallock on February 20. Other species seen in the county included BALD EAGLE, COMMON RAVEN, and AMERICAN CROW.

In northwestern Itasca County, Beth Siverhus saw PINE GROSBEAKS and EVENING GROSBEAKS on the weekend.

On February 19th, Cliff Steinhauer saw RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, COMMON REDPOLL, PINE GROSBEAK, PILEATED WOODPECKER, and SNOW BUNTINGS among others at his place near Agassiz NWR. Two WILD TURKEYS crossed the road in front of me on my way through Marshall County on February 21st.

Allyson Engelstad reported PILEATED WOODPECKER and PINE GROSBEAKS in Pennington County on February 17th.

Two NORTHERN GOSHAWKS visited the yard of Bruce Flaig in southern Polk County on February 14th. FOX SPARROW and HOARY REDPOLL continue to visit the feeders of Sandy Aubol in East Grand Forks this week.

In Clay County, Patrick Beauzay found RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD, RUSTY BLACKBIRD, and COMMON GRACKLE on February 17th. A GOLDEN EAGLE was observed by Becca Engdahl in Clay County on February 21st.

The Becker County brambling appears to have left as it has not been seen since February 14th. Shawn Goodchild reported a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW in Becker County, and Becca Engdahl also saw one in Hubbard County this week.

A RING-NECKED PHEASANT was seen by David Wittrock near the Orwell Dam in Otter Tail County. Waterfowl continues to be reported from the open water in Fergus Falls this week, as Jason Swelstad found an AMERICAN BLACK DUCK there on February 18th.

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, February 28, 2019.

Jeanie Joppru

Pennington County, MN