This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Thursday, January 6, 2011 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.

The weekend started with a snowstorm, cold and wind, but settled down by Saturday so that  it was almost pleasant to be outside. Birds were more active after the storm making the remaining CBC's more interesting.

The Beltrami Island CBC in Lake of the Woods County was held on January 3, and 27 species were tallied. They included a NORTHERN GOSHAWK, two NORTHERN HAWK OWLS, two THREE-TOED WOODPECKERS, 4 BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKERS,  a NORTHERN SHRIKE, 11 BOREAL CHICKADEES, GRAY JAYS, BLACK-BILLED MAGPIES, BROWN CREEPER, PINE GROSBEAKS, RED CROSSBILLS, WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS, COMMON REDPOLLS, HOARY REDPOLL, and PINE SISKIN. There was also a count week SPRUCE GROUSE, and a count week SNOWY OWL found by Dan and Barbara Williams on the west side of CR 3 between CR 35 and the junction of CR 1 and CR 3 on January 4.

From Roseau County, Beth Siverhus reported BOHEMIAN WAXWING, PINE GROSBEAKS, and WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS in Warroad on January 2. The Roseau CBC was held on January 1 and found a near record 32 species including SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, at least 2 NORTHERN HAWK OWLS, NORTHERN SHRIKE, COMMON RAVENS, BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS, SNOW BUNTINGS, PINE GROSBEAK,  COMMON REDPOLLS, and PURPLE FINCH.

Larry Wilebski reported that on January 1, the VARIED THRUSH was still in Lancaster , Kittson County. To get to the location of the bird, follow main street past the Family Food Store over the tracks to the second house on the left. The bird was coming to a crabapple tree with feeders at that house.

Diana Morkassel reported a pure white BLUE JAY  coming to her feeders northeast of Warren, Marshall County on January 4. A PILEATED WOODPECKER was also seen there.

Shelley Steva reported a BALD EAGLE, and 50 LAPLAND LONGSPURS along Polk County Road 252 on January 2.

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, January 13, 2011.