This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Thursday, January 2, 2020

This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Thursday, January 2, 2020 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

Last weekend’s snowstorm has really whitened up the area. Reasonable temperatures have made the Christmas Bird Counts quite pleasant, and a few interesting species have been reported lately. The weatherman promises an end, at least temporarily, to the mild temperatures with below zero temperatures forecast for the weekend and beyond.

On December 27, Dawn Stromquist reported a flock of BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS north of Badger in Roseau County, and Beth Siverhus found some in Warroad also. She also reported a PILEATED WOODPECKER that day, and two SHARP-TAILED GROUSE were seen on January 2.

Larry Wilebski in Kittson County found six SNOWY OWLS in the county on December 16. Those have likely moved on by now. PURPLE FINCH and PINE SISKINS were seen on December 24, and RUFFED GROUSE  on December 31st. Larry reported AMERICAN TREE SPARROW  on January 2nd.

In Beltrami County, on December 22nd, Beth Siverhus reported a NORTHERN HAWK OWL along Hwy 72. Two RUFFED GROUSE and a BALD EAGLE were also seen. A GREAT GRAY OWL, a NORTHERN HAWK OWL, BALD EAGLE, BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE, AMERICAN CROW, COMMON RAVEN, and RUFFED GROUSE were observed on January 1st.

Bruce Flaig reported a NORTHERN GOSHAWK  in southern Polk County on December 23rd. Joanne Johnson found a SNOWY OWL  in western Polk County on December 26th.

A NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL was found by Matt Sorum in Moorhead on December 23rd. A  BALD EAGLE was reported in Moorhead by Kathy Bresee on December 30th. Patrick Beauzay observed an AMERICAN KESTREL in Moorhead on January 1st.

Matt Jacobson found a NORTHERN SHRIKE in Becker County on December 27th.

From Hubbard County, Debbie Center reported a PILEATED WOODPECKER at Nevis on December 26th.

PILEATED WOODPECKER was reported by several people in Otter Tail County since Christmas. Wayne Perala observed a SNOWY OWL in Otter Tail County on Christmas Day. A BARRED OWL was seen by Margene Newton near Orwell Dam on December 27th. TRUMPETER SWANS were reported by Cathie Fredrickson north of Battle Lake on December 30th.

Two SNOWY OWLS were reported by Keith Fisher on December 31st in Wilkin County.

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 Wednesday, January 15, 2020.

 Jeanie Joppru

Pennington County, MN