2011 & 2010 Northwest Minnesota MBWeekends

Note: There have been several other Northwestern Minn. MBWs on Labor Day weekend; for additional information about these, contact eckertkr@gmail.com.

NORTHWESTERN MINN MBW (SEPT 3-4-5, 2011)

& E POLK COUNTY OPTION (SEPT 2, 2011)

I hope those of you who haven't been to Agassiz before don't get the wrong impression. It's usually a very birdy place. Unfortunately, the birding there on Saturday was about as dull as I've ever seen it. Just about all those allegedly drawn-down pools were either overgrown or under too much water to provide us with many shorebirds. But at least we salvaged a small assortment of migrant warblers near headquarters, and, after our visit to the Audubon sanctuary, we came up with a decent total of 18 warbler species in all.

Our shorebird total eventually reached 16 species, thanks mostly to the assortment at the impoundment by the Audubon sanctuary, but also note the golden-plovers and the count of 135 Red-necked Phalaropes at Thief River Falls, plus the Ruddy Turnstone and Baird's Sandpipers at Warren's sewage ponds.

But there were some other highlights as well, including Sharp-tailed Grouse and a somewhat out-of-range prairie-chicken, a richardsonii Merlin hunting shorebirds and kingfishers, a Short-eared Owl flying around at mid-morning for half the group, and surprisingly good numbers of Horned Grebes, cranes, and magpies.

As always, I thank you all for making the long drive up to NW Minnesota (note that Delsie drove up on her own from Illinois!), especially Scott and Jerry Dirks who were along on their very first MBW. And, of course, I/we thank Craig yet again for his always-invaluable assistance on this MBW.  -Kim Eckert 

BIRD LIST (138 species) 

Po = seen/heard in Polk County (Sept 2 - 4)

Ma = seen/heard in Marshall County (Sept 3 - 4) 

Pe = seen/heard in Pennington County (Sept 3 - 4 - 5)

TRF = Thief River Falls

WPP = Wetlands, Pines, and Prairie Audubon Sanctuary

Canada Goose          PoMaPe

Trumpeter Swan          PoMaPe

Wood Duck          PoMa

Gadwall          PoMaPe

American Wigeon          MaPe

Mallard          PoMaPe

Blue-winged Teal          PoMaPe

Northern Shoveler          MaPe

Northern Pintail          Ma

Green-winged Teal          Po (Friday only)

Canvasback          PoMaPe

Redhead          PoMaPe

Ring-necked Duck          PoMaPe

Bufflehead          Ma

Common Goldeneye          PoMa

Hooded Merganser          PoMa

Ruddy Duck          Pe

Sharp-tailed Grouse          PoMa (incl one standing on CR 12 en route to Agassiz)

Greater Prairie-Chicken          Po (quite unexpected fly-by 4 mi S of WPP) 

Common Loon          Po (Friday only)

Pied-billed Grebe          PoMaPe

Horned Grebe          PoMaPe (lots of migrants at many locations)

Red-necked Grebe          PoMa

Eared Grebe          Pe (only at TRF sewage ponds)

Double-crested Cormorant          PoMa

American White Pelican          PoMa

American Bittern          Ma (Agassiz NWR)

Great Blue Heron          PoMa

Green Heron          Po (Friday only)

Turkey Vulture          PoMa

Bald Eagle          PoMa

Northern Harrier          PoMaPe

Sharp-shinned Hawk          PoMa

Cooper's Hawk          PoMaPe

Swainson's Hawk          Po (2 en route to WPP)

Red-tailed Hawk          PoMaPe

American Kestrel          PoMaPe

Merlin          M (richardsonii female hunting the impoundment N of WPP)

Virginia Rail          Po (Friday only)

Sora          PoMa

American Coot          PoMaPe

Sandhill Crane          PoMaPe (numerous locations)

American Golden-Plover          Pe (2 at TRF sewage ponds)

Semipalmated Plover          PoMa

Killdeer          PoMaPe

Spotted Sandpiper          PoMaPe

Solitary Sandpiper          Ma 

Greater Yellowlegs          PoMa

Lesser Yellowlegs          PoMaPe

Ruddy Turnstone          Ma (Warren sewage ponds)

Sanderling          Ma

Semipalmated Sandpiper          MaPe

Least Sandpiper          PoMaPe

Baird's Sandpiper          Ma

Pectoral Sandpiper          Ma

Stilt Sandpiper          PoPe

Wilson's Snipe          MaPe

Red-necked Phalarope          PoMaPe (incl 135 at TRF sewage ponds)

Franklin's Gull          PoMa

Ring-billed Gull          PoMaPe

Rock Pigeon          PoMaPe

Mourning Dove          PoMaPe

Short-eared Owl          Po (at the future impoundment 6 mi S of WPP) 

Ruby-throated Hummingbird          Po (Friday only)

Belted Kingfisher          PoMa

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker          PoMaPe

Downy Woodpecker          PoMa

Hairy Woodpecker          PoMa

Northern Flicker          PoMaPe

Pileated Woodpecker          Po (Friday only)

Olive-sided Flycatcher          Ma (Agassiz NWR)

Eastern Wood-Pewee          PoMaPe

Least Flycatcher          PoMaPe

Eastern Phoebe          PoMa

Eastern Kingbird          PoMaPe

Yellow-throated Vireo          PoMa

Blue-headed Vireo          MaPe

Warbling Vireo          MaPe

Philadelphia Vireo          PoMa

Red-eyed Vireo          PoMaPe

Blue Jay          PoMaPe

Black-billed Magpie          PoMaPe (several small groups)

American Crow          PoMaPe

Common Raven          PoMaPe

Tree Swallow          PoMa

Bank Swallow          Po (Friday only)

Barn Swallow          PoMaPe

Black-capped Chickadee          PoMaPe

Red-breasted Nuthatch          Po (WPP)

White-breasted Nuthatch          PoMaPe

House Wren          PoPe

Sedge Wren          Pe

Marsh Wren          PoMaPe

Ruby-crowned Kinglet          Ma

Eastern Bluebird          PoMaPe

Swainson's Thrush          Po

American Robin          PoMaPe

Gray Catbird          PoMaPe

Brown Thrasher          Pe

European Starling          PoMaPe

Cedar Waxwing          PoMaPe

Ovenbird          Po

Northern Waterthrush          PoMa

Black-and-white Warbler          PoMa

Tennessee Warbler          PoMaPe

Nashville Warbler          PoMaPe

Mourning Warbler          Po (Friday only)

Common Yellowthroat          PoMaPe

American Redstart          PoMaPe

Cape May Warbler          Ma (Agassiz NWR)

Magnolia Warbler          PoMaPe

Bay-breasted Warbler          Po (WPP)

Yellow Warbler          PoMa

Chestnut-sided Warbler          PoMa

Blackpoll Warbler          PoMa

Palm Warbler          PoMa

Yellow-rumped Warbler          Ma

Canada Warbler          Po (WPP)

Wilson's Warbler          Ma

Chipping Sparrow          PoMa

Clay-colored Sparrow          PoPe

Vesper Sparrow          PoMaPe

Savannah Sparrow          PoMaPe

Song Sparrow          PoMaPe

Lincoln's Sparrow          MaPe

Swamp Sparrow          PoMaPe

White-throated Sparrow          Ma

Scarlet Tanager          Pe (briefly along CR 8)

Rose-breasted Grosbeak          PoPe

Bobolink          PoPe (heard-only fly-overs)

Red-winged Blackbird          PoMaPe

Western Meadowlark          MaPe

Brewer's Blackbird          Po

Common Grackle          MaPe

Purple Finch          PoMa

House Finch          Po (Friday only)

American Goldfinch          PoMaPe

House Sparrow          PoMaPe

*          *          *

NORTHWESTERN MINN MBW SUMMARY / September 3-4-5-6, 2010

Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, 3 September 2010, Warroad, Roseau Co. Note the all-dark bill (paler areas due to abrasions or staining), dark overall plumage, small round spots on the back and wings, and relatively long legs (with extensively exposed tibia). Juvenile Black-crowneds have a bi-colored bill, paler brown plumage, larger and elongated white spotting, and shorter legs.

*                     *                     *          

So, where do we start listing all the highlights of our MBW? Raw winds over Lake of the Woods blowing in some interesting birds around Warroad on Friday....Perfectly calm, cool, and sunny weather on Saturday & Sunday....Our luxurious picnic lunch at Larry Wilebski's modestly-named "cabin" (contact Larry with your thanks and future reservations: larryw@wiktel.com)....The accommodating Black Bear Grill providing an early breakfast....Two stray cats, one rescued from the clutches of Short-eared Owls (!)....A River Otter at the water impoundment near the Audubon center....Our discovery of both that impoundment and Agassiz's "unknown" Webster Pool....Eleven additions to your sewage ponds life list (Warroad, Roseau, Greenbush, Karlstad, Lake Bronson, Lancaster, Hallock, Kennedy, Warren, Thief River Falls, Newfolden)....A death-defying rescue of Dorothy's Minnetonka Boat Works hat....

We even had time to find lots of memorable birds. In all, our composite 4-day total (including Friday's 114 species on the Roseau Co option) was an above-average 168 species, with an average total of 148 for the main MBW on Sat-Sun-Mon in Kittson, Marshall, Polk, and Pennington Co's. Curiously, the record of 171 for this Labor Day MBW was in 2008, which we reached in only 3 days (not 4, since there was no extra Friday option), and when it hit 90 degrees both Saturday & Sunday.

Actually, we may have tied the record of 171, since there were 3 possible additions to our list of 168: there might have been a White-rumped Sandpiper at the impoundment in Polk Co; a distant Sanderling was probably at the Webster Pool; and then there was that frustratingly silent wood-pewee at the Audubon center.

Of course, the Yellow-crowned Night-Heron in Warroad on Friday was our best find, since it's the farthest north this rarity has ever occurred in Minnesota (according to MOU's website, there are records in Marshall and Koochiching Co's). The 3 Ross's Geese at the Greenbush sewage ponds later the same day were also surprising – quite possibly the earliest fall record ever in the state? Exceptional as well was the Blue-gray Gnatcatcher at Lake Bronson State Park, the same place the MBW group saw one in May 2009.

Not counting the 2 possibles mentioned above, we listed 19 shorebird species, with Upland Sandpipers east of Warren the most unexpected. We had 19 warbler species as well, highlighted by the Golden-winged and Bay-breasteds at Old Mill State Park. Especially impressive were the fine views both groups (mine especially!) had of teed-up Le Conte's Sparrows near Karlstad. The motionless, roadside Gray Partridge seen by just 3 of us came within a couple of minutes of posing for the whole group near Warren, but everyone managed to see Sharp-tailed Grouse en route to Warren thanks to a tip from a local DNR wildlife manager. All had a nice study of a Swainson's Hawk posing in a plowed field, also on the way to Warren. And lots of Sandhill Cranes (and hardly any hunters) were around for us to see and hear, especially on Sunday and Monday.

Thanks as always to all of you for coming, and especially for your flexibility with the limited lodging options (which I think worked out smoothly enough). And special thanks again to Larry Wilebski and Craig Mandel for their co-leadership!  - Kim 

Bird List

R = Roseau Co (mostly Sept 3)

K = Kittson Co (mostly Sept 4)

M = Marshall Co (Sept 5 & 6)

P = Polk Co (Sept 5)

Note – Some species were also seen in Lake of the Woods Co (on/over the lake of the same name) on Sept 3, and in Pennington Co (mostly at TRF sewage ponds) on Sept 5.   

Snow Goose     K (on the Death March) 

Ross's Goose     R (3 unexpectedly early adults)

Canada Goose     RKMP

Trumpeter Swan     M (with young at Agassiz)

Wood Duck     RKMP

Gadwall     RKM

American Wigeon     P

American Black Duck     M (Agassiz; also at TRF sewage ponds)

Mallard     RKMP

Blue-winged Teal     RKMP

Northern Shoveler     RKM

Northern Pintail     RKP

Green-winged Teal     RKMP

Canvasback     RKM

Redhead     RM

Ring-necked Duck     RKM

Lesser Scaup     RK

Bufflehead     M

Common Goldeneye     R (also at TRF sewage ponds)

Hooded Merganser     RKMP

Common Merganser     R

Ruddy Duck     RKM

Gray Partridge     M (12 of them next to Hwy 1, 11 of them mostly invisible!)

Sharp-tailed Grouse     KMP (usually hard to find in fall)

Wild Turkey     M

Common Loon     (Lake of the Woods Co only)

Pied-billed Grebe     RKMP

Horned Grebe     RKM (lots of them migrating)

Red-necked Grebe     RKM

Eared Grebe     RM

Western Grebe     M

Double-crested Cormorant     RKM

American White Pelican     RKMP

American Bittern     M (nice spotting, Mary)

Great Blue Heron     RKMP

Great Egret     MP

Green Heron     R (at the Yellow-crowned's pond in Warroad)

Yellow-crowned Night-Heron     R (!)

Turkey Vulture     RKM

Osprey     R

Bald Eagle     RKMP

Northern Harrier     RKMP

Sharp-shinned Hawk     RKMP

Cooper's Hawk     KMP

Broad-winged Hawk     KM

Swainson's Hawk     KM (good view for all near Warren) 

Red-tailed Hawk     RKMP

American Kestrel     RKM

Merlin     RKMP (lots of them)

Virginia Rail     P (heard-only)

Sora     K (ditto)

American Coot     RP

Sandhill Crane     RKMP (impressive as always)

Black-bellied Plover     K (on the Death March)

American Golden-Plover     (TRF sewage ponds only; nice spotting, Pete)

Semipalmated Plover     RKM

Killdeer     RKMP

Spotted Sandpiper     RKM

Solitary Sandpiper     KM

Greater Yellowlegs     RKMP

Lesser Yellowlegs     RKMP

Upland Sandpiper     M (unusually late)

(Sanderling / possibly at Webster Pool)

Semipalmated Sandpiper     RKM

Least Sandpiper     RKM

(White-rumped Sandpiper / possibly at the Polk Co impoundment)

Baird's Sandpiper     RM

Pectoral Sandpiper     RM

Stilt Sandpiper     RKM

Short-billed Dowitcher     P

Wilson's Snipe     KM

American Woodcock     K

Wilson's Phalarope     R

Red-necked Phalarope     RKM (at several sewage ponds)

Bonaparte's Gull     R 

Franklin's Gull     R

Ring-billed Gull     RKM

Herring Gull     R

Caspian Tern     R

Black Tern     R

Common Tern     R

Forster's Tern     RM (all 8 gulls & terns at Warroad)

Rock Pigeon     RKM

Mourning Dove     RKMP

Great Horned Owl     KP (heard-only)

Short-eared Owl     K (seen by a few Sunday evening: total of 3 birds at 2 sites) 

Common Nighthawk     MP

Ruby-throated Hummingbird     RKM

Belted Kingfisher     RK

Red-headed Woodpecker     M (brief fly-by at Agassiz)

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker     RKMP

Downy Woodpecker     KM

Hairy Woodpecker     RKM

Northern Flicker     RKMP

Pileated Woodpecker     KMP

Olive-sided Flycatcher     RKM

Eastern Wood-Pewee     RKMP (plus a possible Western?)

Least Flycatcher     RKM

Eastern Phoebe     RKM

Great Crested Flycatcher     K

Eastern Kingbird     KM

Yellow-throated Vireo     KM

Blue-headed Vireo     RKM

Warbling Vireo     K

Philadelphia Vireo     M (close view by some at Old Mill State Park)

Red-eyed Vireo     RKM

Blue Jay     RKMP

Black-billed Magpie     RKMP (at several places)

American Crow     RKMP

Common Raven     RKM

Horned Lark     K (on the Death March)

Tree Swallow     R

Barn Swallow     RKMP (where were the other swallows?)

Black-capped Chickadee     RKMP

Red-breasted Nuthatch     RKM

White-breasted Nuthatch     RKM

Brown Creeper     R

House Wren     KM

Sedge Wren     K

Marsh Wren     K

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher     K (exceptionally far north at Lake Bronson – again)

Ruby-crowned Kinglet     RK

Eastern Bluebird     KMP

Veery     R

Swainson's Thrush     RKM

Hermit Thrush     R

American Robin     RKMP

Gray Catbird     RKMP

Brown Thrasher     P

European Starling     RKM

Cedar Waxwing     KMP

Golden-winged Warbler     M (briefly by some at Old Mill)

Tennessee Warbler     RKM

Nashville Warbler     RKM

Yellow Warbler     RKM

Chestnut-sided Warbler     RKM

Magnolia Warbler     RKMP

Cape May Warbler     RKM (best at Agassiz NWR's HQ)

Yellow-rumped Warbler     RKMP

Blackburnian Warbler     M

Pine Warbler     R

Palm Warbler     RKM

Bay-breasted Warbler     M (Old Mill)

Blackpoll Warbler     RK (almost common on Friday)

Black-and-white Warbler     RKM

American Redstart     RKMP

Ovenbird     RK

Northern Waterthrush     RKMP

Common Yellowthroat     KMP

Wilson's Warbler     RP

Chipping Sparrow     RKMP

Clay-colored Sparrow     KMP

Vesper Sparrow     KMP

Savannah Sparrow     RKM

Le Conte's Sparrow     K (great looks at a shy species)

Song Sparrow     RKM

Swamp Sparrow     KM

White-throated Sparrow     RK

Rose-breasted Grosbeak     KM

Bobolink     KM (a couple late fly-over migrants)

Red-winged Blackbird     RKM

Western Meadowlark     KM

Brewer's Blackbird     KM

Common Grackle     RKMP

Purple Finch     RKM

House Finch     R

White-winged Crossbill     R (quite unexpected fly-overs en route to Hayes Lake) 

Pine Siskin     RM

American Goldfinch     RKMP

House Sparrow     RKM