This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Thursday, August 26, 2010 sponsored by the Detroit Lakes Regional Chamber of Commerce. You may also hear this report by calling (218)847-5743 or 1-800-433-1888.

This has been a quiet week as far as sightings go, and the weather has been extremely variable like most transition seasons. We escaped frost once or twice this week, so perhaps we can hope for a couple more weeks  frost free. Migration seems to be slowly gathering speed, but surely isn't in full swing yet.

John Ellis reported seeing flocks of migrating COMMON NIGHTHAWKS in Douglas County last weekend. Among the warblers he spotted were a juvenile CERULEAN WARBLER, as well as TENNESSEE WARBLER, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, NASHVILLE WARBLER, YELLOW WARBLER, AMERICAN REDSTART, WILSON'S WARBLER, and COMMON  YELLOWTHROAT. Among the flycatchers he saw was an OLIVESIDED FLYCATCHER. A few hundred FRANKLIN'S GULLS were also seen.

Sandy Aubol in Polk County reported RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD, AMERICAN REDSTART, and WILSON'S WARBLER on August 23 at her home in East Grand Forks.

Here in Pennington County east of Thief River Falls, an OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER stopped in our yard for a few minutes, the first I have noticed in the yard in 23 years.

Thanks to John Ellis and Sandy Aubol for their reports.

Please report bird sightings to Jeanie Joppru by email, no later than Thursday each week, at ajjoppru@q.com OR call the Detroit Lakes Chamber's toll free number: 1-800-542-3992. Detroit Lakes area birders please call 847-9202. Please include the county where the sighting took place. The next scheduled update of this report is Thursday, September 2, 2010.

This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Thursday, August 12, 2010 sponsored by the Detroit Lakes Regional Chamber of Commerce. You may also hear this report by calling (218)847-5743 or 1-800-433-1888.

This has been a sizzling hot period so few reports have come in as everyone is sticking close to the air conditioners. The fields and roadsides are bright with colored flowers as the plants like this weather much better than we do.

Dan and Sandy Thimgan in Otter Tail County reported sightings from the Battle Lake WTP on August 4. The sightings included SPOTTED SANDPIPER, SOLITARY SANDPIPER, BONAPARTE'S GULL, FRANKLIN'S GULL, RING-BILLED GULL, and FORSTER'S TERN. Brad and Dee Ehlers saw a pair of SANDHILL CRANES with two colts about 4 miles north of Battle Lake on August 1.

Connie Cox reported two young  BROAD-WINGED HAWKS flexing their wings at their nest in Itasca State Park on July 30.

In Becker County, Connie Cox saw 7 SANDHILL CRANES on August 1.

Brandon Bowey reporting from Rydell NWR in Polk County mentioned sightings of AMERICAN BITTERN, OSPREY, CEDAR WAXWING, and YELLOW WARBLER on August 4.

Perhaps the most interesting sighting were the two fledgling TURKEY VULTURES that apparently came from a nest in an old building south of Holt in Marshall County. Cliff Steinhauer reported those, and also a family of SHORT-EARED OWLS with two fledglings, and two young AMERICAN BITTERN babies that were seen in a CRP field near  Holt.

Thanks to Brad and Dee Ehlers, Brandon Bowey, Connie Cox, Cliff Steinhauer, and Dan and Sandy Thimgan for their reports.

Please report bird sightings to Jeanie Joppru by email, no later than Thursday each week, at ajjoppru@q.com OR call the Detroit Lakes Chamber's toll free number: 1-800-542-3992. Detroit Lakes area birders please call 847-9202. Please include the county where the sighting took place. The next scheduled update of this report is Thursday, August 19, 2010.

This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Thursday, July 29, 2010 sponsored by the Detroit Lakes Regional Chamber of Commerce. You may also hear this report by calling (218)847-5743 or 1-800-433-1888.

This has been a typical summer week in the northwest , with hot temperatures punctuated by showers and thunderstorms. Flowers are everywhere, and baby birds are noisy like all youngsters finding their voices. A few migrants are already starting to show up also.

Beth Siverhus reported a NORTHERN HAWK OWL along MN 72 in Lake of the Woods County near Baudette on July 15.

Doug Johnson, reporting from Bemidji, Beltrami County mentioned that BONAPARTE'S GULLS have returned to Lake Bemidji near the country club dock. Several pairs of MERLINS are nesting along the north shore of Lake Bemidji, and a family of BARRED OWLS are being seen in the campground and along the Bass Creek Trail.

In Polk County, Bruce Flaig saw more than 20 BLACK-BILLED MAGPIES along CR 41 between CR 12 and MN 32 on July 24. Sandy Aubol reported that a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH has returned to her yard in East Grand Forks.

In Mahnomen County on the weekend, Ron Erpelding and Herb Dingmann found one GREATER PRAIRIE-CHICKEN, a pair of GRAY PARTRIDGE on 250 St,  and some shorebirds at a flooded cornfield. Other species seen there included OSPREY, MERLIN, ALDER FLYCATCHER, NASHVILLE WARBLER, BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER, and GRASSHOPPER SPARROW.

In Norman County, Ron and Herb found SCARLET TANAGER, BREWER'S BLACKBIRD, and ORCHARD ORIOLE.

Clay County sightings by Ron and Herb included SEMI-PALMATED PLOVER, STILT SANDPIPER, and BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS at the Moorhead WTP, and an immature FRANKLIN'S GULL at the Ulen wastewater treatment ponds.

Nancy Jackson reported 9 BLACK TERNS along CR 13 in Hubbard County near the town of Hubbard, one of which was carrying food.

In Otter Tail County, Nancy Jackson observed 9 SANDHILL CRANES, SPOTTED SANDPIPER, and WILSON'S SNIPE near Deer Creek this week. James and Rita Loftness observed that a pair of OSPREY  are building a nest on a pole about a mile south of Battle Lake.

Nancy Jackson saw 2 juvenile BROAD-WINGED HAWKS and about 20 PURPLE MARTINS near Betsy Ross Resort on Lake Ida in Douglas County this week.

Thanks to Beth Siverhus, Bruce Flaig, Doug Johnson, James and Rita Loftness, Nancy Jackson, Ron Erpelding, Herb Dingmann, and Sandy Aubol for their reports.

Please report bird sightings to Jeanie Joppru by email, no later than Thursday each week, at ajjoppru@q.com OR call the Detroit Lakes Chamber's toll free number: 1-800-542-3992. Detroit Lakes area birders please call 847-9202. Please include the county where the sighting took place. The next scheduled update of this report is Thursday, August 5, 2010.