This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Thursday, February 16, 2012 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.

As the days lengthen, the sun is gaining power and  temperatures have been very mild this week. Spring fever is  common among both people and birds.

Beth Siverhus observed a SPRUCE GROUSE getting grit along MN 72 in Lake of the Woods County . A ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was seen near Williams along MN 11.

In Beltrami County , Beth saw a GREAT GRAY OWL on MN 72 between Waskish and  Keliher on February 12.

Lynda Knutsen reported an  adult  BALD EAGLE at Agassiz Pool at Agassiz NWR in Marshall County this week.  A SNOWY OWL was seen by Gregg Knutsen on CR 6 a half mile west of Middle River. Two AMERICAN ROBINS  were observed at the junction of CR 54 and Moose River Road. ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS are still being seen at Agassiz NWR.

Here in Pennington County, there were twelve AMERICAN ROBINS taking shelter along the bank of the Red Lake River on February 11.

Shelley Steva reported 50 SNOW BUNTINGS five miles north of Plummer in Red Lake County, and another 100 two miles north of Oklee on February 10.

Shawn Conrad and I visited the Audubon Sanctuary near Warren on February 11 where we saw BLACK-BILLED MAGPIES, a BROWN CREEPER, a  female RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD, COMMON REDPOLLS, and one HOARY REDPOLL. A PINE SISKIN has also been seen at the sanctuary. Sandy Aubol in East Grand Forks reported that the EASTERN TOWHEE, two HARRIS'S SPARROWS, and a NORTHERN CARDINAL are still coming to her feeders. A SHARP-SHINNED HAWK was also seen nearby. On February 15, a MERLIN was seen in East Grand Forks. Many ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS can be seen in western Polk, Pennington, and Marshall Counties at this time.

Mark Otnes reported a COMMON RAVEN about two miles west of the intersection of Minnesota highways 10 and 9 in Clay County on February 11.

Beau Shroyer saw a MERLIN in Detroit Lakes, Becker County, on February 15.

In Otter Tail County, Brad and Dee Ehlers reported COMMON REDPOLLS, and a PINE SISKIN at Fergus Falls on February 11. About 30 TRUMPETER SWANS are on the river in Fergus Falls. On February 12,  550 TRUMPETER SWANS could be seen on McGowan Lake at the outlet of Rush Lake on the Ottertail River between Perham and Ottertail. HORNED LARKS have been seen this week near Battle Lake, and a NORTHERN HARRIER was at the intersection of CR 71 and CR 78.

Thanks to Beau Shroyer, Beth Siverhus, Brad and Dee Ehlers, Lynda Knutsen, Mark Otnes, Sandy Aubol, and Shelley Steva for their reports.

This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Thursday, February 9, 2012 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 week has reverted to true winter temperatures in the northwest, but next week promises to be warmer. Perhaps the colder weather will bring more species to the feeders.

 A single SNOWY OWL was reported this week - this one seen at Little McDonald Lake near Perham in Otter Tail County by Rick Gjervold on February 6. Gary Otnes found a PRAIRIE FALCON near the Orwell Reservoir  on February 7. Other species seen there included a NORTHERN HARRIER and three HORNED LARKS. At home near Fergus Falls, Gary reported HARRIS'S SPARROWS, a small flock of AMERICAN ROBINS, and a single RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD. Brad and Dee Ehlers reported an eagle nest that would be easy to photograph on US 59 near the Lake Lizzie Road. It is a busy road so be sure to pull off completely if you choose to do that.

Marshall Howe in Hubbard County  reported an increase in COMMON REDPOLLS, a BROWN CREEPER, and hundreds of AMERICAN CROWS. PINE GROSBEAKS were seen in southern Hubbard County on February 3.

Steve Midthune saw a BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE three miles north of Lake Park on CR 9 in Becker County on February 3.

On February 7, Sandy Aubol reported a MERLIN, a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, 50 COMMON REDPOLLS, and the WHITE-THROATED SPARROW, EASTERN TOWHEE, HARRIS'S SPARROWS, and NORTHERN CARDINAL that have been in East Grand Forks, Polk County, all winter. Shelley Steva and Zeann Linder saw two ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS along CR 23 on February 4. Heidi Hughes reported that the feeders at the Audubon Sanctuary near Warren are hosting a BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE, BROWN CREEPER, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD, and some COMMON REDPOLLS.

In Pennington County, Shelley Steva and Zeann Linder saw a  WILD TURKEY along CR 7 on February 4. Along CR 8 they found BALD EAGLE and some AMERICAN CROWS.

Five GRAY PARTRIDGES were seen by Shelley and Zeann near Viking in Marshall County on February 4. Heidi Hughes saw a GOLDEN EAGLE on February 9 at the Viking turn off MN 1 east of Warren.

In Beltrami County, Katie Haws  reported a NORTHERN CARDINAL at her place in Hines near Blackduck on February 6.

BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS were reported in Warroad , Roseau County, by Beth Siverhus on February 9.

Thanks to all the folks who sent in their sightings this week.

This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Thursday, February 2, 2012 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.

It truly feels like spring the last few days as we have had mild temperatures and dense fog. It has discouraged folks from going birding, at least the last couple of days as one can barely see the next light pole sometimes. Tomorrow it promised to cool off a little and the sun to come out.

Larry Wilebski in Kittson County observed a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK which caught a bird that flew into their windows in Lancaster. A NORTHERN CARDINAL still comes to the feeder at his cabin northwest of Lancaster.

Lynda Knutsen at Agassiz NWR in Marshall County reported  on February 2 that among the usual feeder birds was a BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE, and COMMON REDPOLLS. A ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK and a BALD EAGLE have recently been sighted on the refuge, and two groups of SHARP-TAILED GROUSE were seen north and west of the refuge.

In Polk County, Sandy Aubol observed a GREAT HORNED OWL, and a NORTHERN CARDINAL at her home in East Grand Forks. She reported that as of February 1, the EASTERN TOWHEE, two HARRIS'S SPARROWS, and a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW are still coming to her feeders, along with about 25-30 COMMON REDPOLLS.

From Otter Tail County, Jody Doll  reported that the  SNOWY OWL  is still being seen near Ottertail about 2.8 miles north of Ottertail on CR 78. Roland Jordahl in Pelican Rapids reported SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, NORTHERN CARDINAL, DARK-EYED JUNCO, and COMMON REDPOLLS. At Maplewood State Park he saw BALD EAGLE, NORTHERN SHRIKE, and BARRED OWL. Prairie Lake is hosting TRUMPETER SWANS and CANADA GEESE.

Thanks to Jody Doll, Larry Wilebski, Lynda Knutsen, Sandy Aubol, and Roland Jordahl for their reports.