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.