This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Thursday, July 4, 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
It has been a pleasant summer week in the northwest, with the usual summer thunderstorms mixed in. Birds have been very busy raising families, and the sound of young birds is everywhere. Rain has been coming in both large and small amounts depending on where you are, with the southern part of the area receiving the most. That has resulted in glorious flowers, both domestic and wild.
Many people have visited the N. Ottawa Impoundment in Grant County this week, and the place continues to be worth a visit. Be aware of roads that may be impassible if you go. Wayne Perala and others have reported SNOWY EGRET, AMERICAN BITTERN, LEAST BITTERN, and a few shorebirds. They report that a large cell has been drawn down creating a large mudflat for shorebirds so you will see a changing collection of them as the summer goes on. Charlene Nelson reported a SEMIPALMATED PLOVER there on June 29th.
At Breckenridge WTP in Wilkin County, Ben Douglas found a COMMON MERGANSER on July 3rd.
In Otter Tail County, Wayne Perala reported a MARBLED GODWIT near the Orwell Dam. He also found GREAT HORNED OWLS in the county. Hebe Shipp saw a pair of PURPLE FINCHESat Maplewood State Park on June 29th.
Sean Fitzgerald found a CASPIAN TERN at Tamarac NWR in Becker County on June 29th.
In Clay County, Sean found a SAY’S PHOEBE at Felton Prairie on June 29th. A HENSLOW’S SPARROW was discovered by Matt Mecklenburg at Bluestem Prairie SNA on July 2nd.
A GREEN HERON was seen northwest of Warroad in Roseau County by Beth Siverhus this week. She has also seen a GREAT EGRET in Roseau County. On some of her BBS routes she saw BOBOLINK, MARBLED GODWIT, and HORNED LARKS. She reports that OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHERS and MOURNING WARBLERS seem to be more common this year in the area. EASTERN BLUEBIRDS and INDIGO BUNTINGS were also seen.
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 218-847-5743or 218- 847-9202. Please include the county where the sighting took place. The next scheduled update of this report is Thursday, July 11, 2019.
Jeanie Joppru
Pennington County, MN