This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Thursday, November 10, 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.

Slowly but surely, winter is approaching. Nights now usually feature frost, and mornings we are greeted with windshields to scrape before driving.Most migrants have departed with the last of the waterfowl still hanging around, but most of the sparrows have left.

Maggie Anderson at Agassiz NWR in Marshall County reported several NORTHERN SHRIKES and a few SNOW BUNTINGS on the refuge on November 4.  By November 5, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS were increasing on the refuge, and a few HARRIS'S SPARROWS were still visiting the refuge feeders. Waterfowl such as HOODED MERGANSERS, GREATER SCAUP and LESSER SCAUP remained on Headquarters Pool. On November 6, Zeann Linder saw several late SANDHILL CRANES near Alvarado in western Marshall County, and a flock of SNOW BUNTINGS was also seen in the area.

Sandy Aubol reported that the EASTERN TOWHEE that she reported last week has returned several times as recently as November 7 in her yard in East Grand Forks, Polk County. Also on the 7th, 7 HARRIS'S SPARROWS were still hanging around and a few PINE SISKINS had appeared.

Brad and Dee Ehlers in Otter Tail County, on November 9 ,reported ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS, and up to 50 TRUMPETER SWANS in the county. The best viewing was along CR 108 four miles south of Perham. Thousands of AMERICAN COOTS could be seen near Dalton.Three SNOW BUNTINGS were seen along CR 1. Teresa Jaskiewicz reported SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, DARK-EYED JUNCOS, and 5 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS in Elizabeth on November 6.

Thanks to Brad and Dee Ehlers, Maggie Anderson, Sandy Aubol, Teresa Jaskiewicz, and Zeann Linder for their reports.

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 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, November 17, 2011.