Also see the 2013 and 2011 MBW summaries following
the summary of the 2018 MBWeekend; note that the previous summaries
include some birds not seen in Mahnomen or Polk counties.
__________
Mahnomen - Polk MBWeekend summary
Aug 31 & Sept 1 - 2 - 3, 2018
While we might have had difficulty deciding on who should be awarded a coveted Junior Tour Leader Merit Badge on this MBW, it was easy enough to decide who should receive Junior Tour Leader Demerits. But at least the one who locked her keys in the trunk and the one who left his phone on the roof of the car eventually emerged from their self-inflicted predicaments relatively unscathed – things could have been a lot worse.
Similarly, one might also say this MBW could have been worse (though that would be an odd way to put it), since there wasn't that much room for it to have been better. I suppose one could have hoped for some genuine rarities to cross our paths – like that Prairie Falcon in Kittson Co our first NW Minn Labor Day MBW back in 2003, the Long-tailed Jaeger and Red Knot at Agassiz NWR on the 2007 MBW, the Yellow-crowned Night-Heron we found in Warroad in 2010, the Liitle Gull at Warroad's sewage ponds on this MBW in 2015, or finding both Little Blue Heron and Snowy Egret together at Agassiz as we did in 2016.
But overall, despite the absence of true rarities, this was a pretty successful weekend. Our composite total over these four days was 159 species, which is about average for a Labor Day MBW. Our best-ever overall total was 171, which we did twice, while our lowest ever was 143 species. On Friday's pre-MBW we had 115 in Mahnomen Co (10 of these species were not found on the main MBW), and the main MBW in Polk Co (including a bit in Marshall) listed 149 species.
The goal of this MBW has always been to find both 20 shorebird species and 20 warbler species. But we've never managed to do both in the same year, as this time we found 17 shorebirds (about average) and 20 warblers (which ties our highest number). Our best shorebird totals were 25 and 21, and the lowest was 13 species, and we've now managed to list 20 warbler species at least 4 times, while our lowest warbler total ever on this MBW was 15.
There may have been no real rarities, but there were several highlights. Red-necked, Eared, Western, and possibly Horned grebes were all at the Agassiz impoundment on the Marshall-Polk county line. The Eurasian Collared-Doves in Waubun represented one of the few records for Mahnomen Co; we also found more predictable ones in Fertile in Polk Co. Our best shorebirds were the 6 Buff-breasted Sandpipers on both sides of the county line at the Agassiz impoundment; a Black-bellied Plover was there too; at the Crookston sewage ponds a Short-billed Dowitcher, Red-necked Phalaropes, and many other shorebirds were terrorized in spectacular fashion by a Peregrine; and on Friday we found both phalaropes at the Mahnomen sewage ponds.
It was nice to find LeConte's Sparrows in both Mahnomen and Polk counties, several dozen Bobolinks (possibly 100 or more!?) were a surprise at the Parnell impoundment in Polk Co, and a late Dickcissel or two made an even more unexpected and surprising appearance among them. And among the warbler highlights were Golden-wingeds, an early Orange-crowned, and several Bay-breasteds, with the woods around the Crookston sewage ponds providing our best warbler waves.
(But where were the magpies – none in 4 days! – and how come I wasn't able to find a single new county bird for my Polk or Marshall county list?)
Bird List
M = Mahnomen Co pre-MBW (Aug 31)
P = main Polk Co MBW (Sept 1 - 2 - 3; incl birds seen in Marshall Co Sept 2)
Canada Goose M, P
Trumpeter Swan M, P
Wood Duck M, P
Blue-winged Teal M, P
Northern Shoveler M, P
Gadwall P
American Wigeon P
Mallard M, P
Northern Pintail P
Green-winged Teal M, P
Canvasback M, P
Redhead M, P
Ring-necked Duck M, P
Lesser Scaup M
Bufflehead M, P
Common Goldeneye M, P
Hooded Merganser M, P
Ruddy Duck M, P
Ring-necked Pheasant M
Wild Turkey P
Pied-billed Grebe M, P
Horned Grebe P
Red-necked Grebe P
Eared Grebe P (only in Marshall Co)
Western Grebe P (only in Marshall Co)
Rock Pigeon M, P
Eurasian Collared-Dove M, P
Mourning Dove M, P
Common Nighthawk M, P
Chimney Swift M, P
Ruby-throated Hummingbird M, P
Virginia Rail P
Sora M, P
American Coot M, P
Sandhill Crane M, P
Black-bellied Plover P
Semipalmated Plover P
Killdeer M, P
Stilt Sandpiper M, P
Baird’s Sandpiper M, P
Least Sandpiper M, P
Buff-breasted Sandpiper P (also in Marshall Co)
Pectoral Sandpiper P
Semipalmated Sandpiper M, P
Short-billed Dowitcher P
Wilson’s Snipe M, P
Spotted Sandpiper M, P
Solitary Sandpiper P
Lesser Yellowlegs M, P
Greater Yellowlegs P
Wilson’s Phalarope M
Red-necked Phalarope M, P (also in Marshall Co)
Franklin’s Gull M, P
Ring-billed Gull M, P
Caspian Tern M
Black Tern P (also in Marshall Co)
Common Loon M, P
Double-crested Cormorant M, P
American White Pelican P
Great Blue Heron P
Great Egret P
Green Heron P (only in Marshall Co)
Turkey Vulture M, P
Osprey P
Bald Eagle M, P
Northern Harrier M, P
Sharp-shinned Hawk P
Cooper’s Hawk M, P
(Northern Goshawk? - possibly seen in flight over Polk CR 44 on Sunday)
Broad-winged Hawk P
Red-tailed Hawk M, P
Belted Kingfisher M, P
Red-headed Woodpecker P
Red-bellied Woodpecker M, P
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker M, P
Downy Woodpecker M, P
Hairy Woodpecker M, P
Northern Flicker M, P
Pileated Woodpecker M, P
American Kestrel M, P
Merlin M, P
Peregrine Falcon P
Olive-sided Flycatcher M, P
Eastern Wood-Pewee M, P
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher P
Alder/Willow ("Traill's") Flycatcher M, P
Least Flycatcher M, P
Eastern Phoebe M, P
Great Crested Flycatcher M, P
Eastern Kingbird M, P
Yellow-throated Vireo M
Blue-headed Vireo P
Philadelphia Vireo P (also in Marshall Co)
Warbling Vireo M, P
Red-eyed Vireo M, P
Blue Jay M, P
American Crow M, P
Common Raven M, P
Horned Lark M
Purple Martin M
Tree Swallow M, P
Bank Swallow M
Cliff Swallow M, P
Barn Swallow M, P
Black-capped Chickadee M, P
Red-breasted Nuthatch M, P (also in Marshall Co)
White-breasted Nuthatch M, P
House Wren M, P
Sedge Wren P
Marsh Wren M, P
Eastern Bluebird P
American Robin M, P
Gray Catbird M, P
Brown Thrasher M, P
European Starling M, P
Cedar Waxwing M, P
House Sparrow M, P
House Finch M, P (also in Marshall Co)
Purple Finch P
American Goldfinch M, P
Chipping Sparrow M, P
Clay-colored Sparrow M, P
Vesper Sparrow P
Savannah Sparrow M, P
LeConte’s Sparrow M, P
Song Sparrow M, P
Lincoln’s Sparrow M, P
Swamp Sparrow M, P
White-throated Sparrow M, P
Yellow-headed Blackbird P
Bobolink P
Western Meadowlark P
Baltimore Oriole M, P
Red-winged Blackbird M, P
Brewer’s Blackbird P
Common Grackle M
Ovenbird M, P
Northern Waterthrush M, P (Marshall Co)
Golden-winged Warbler M, P
Black-and-white Warbler M, P
Tennessee Warbler M, P
Orange-crowned Warbler P
Nashville Warbler M, P
Common Yellowthroat M, P
American Redstart M, P
Magnolia Warbler M, P
Bay-breasted Warbler M, P (also in Marshall Co)
Blackburnian Warbler P
Yellow Warbler M, P
Chestnut-sided Warbler M, P
Blackpoll Warbler P
Palm Warbler P (also in Marshall Co)
Yellow-rumped Warbler P
Black-throated Green Warbler M
Canada Warbler P (also in Marshall Co)
Wilson’s Warbler M, P
Scarlet Tanager M, P
Rose-breasted Grosbeak M, P
Indigo Bunting M, P
Dickcissel P
* * *
NORTHWESTERN MINN MBW SUMMARY
August 30 - September 2, 2013
As is typical on most MBWeekends, the weather could have been a lot better – too warm in the mid-80s on Friday and Saturday (as it had been statewide for several days), followed by a drastic change to cold, rain, and wind on Sunday morning for which we were unprepared. At least Sunday afternoon and Monday morning turned out a lot more comfortable and even somewhat pleasant much of the time.
But no matter what the conditions on a MBW, we usually come up with plenty of noteworthy sightings. This time, our species total may have been a relatively modest 143 (including 10 species on the pre-MBW which were not seen after Friday), but keep in mind what the weather had been like, that the best parts of Agassiz are now inaccessible for birding groups, and we decided to skip the Audubon sanctuary (which has become more difficult to bird lately).
Fortunately, though, we were still welcome at the Thief River Falls sewage ponds where we had our best birding of the MBW on Saturday. Not only were 14 of our 16 total species of shorebirds found here, but most of these were watched simultaneously at leisure along one particular stretch of shore – all at close range and in excellent light. In addition at the ponds, everyone had great views of an uncharacteristically cooperative Nelson's Sparrow, lots of Bobolinks (40+) posing along the fence line, a nice side-by-side comparison of Horned and Eared grebes, and a pair of pale richardsoni Merlins on the way out.
But there were many other highlights elsewhere. On Friday's pre-MBW at St Hilaire we found an unexpected Red-bellied Woodpecker and a curiously out-of-place Dark-eyed Junco, while later in the day both Virginia Rail and Sora emerged into view on both sides of the Red Lake-Polk county line for the entertainment of even the non-county listers in the group. On Sunday afternoon, an obliging Buff-breasted Sandpiper suddenly flew in and landed next to us at the Warren sewage ponds, a Eurasian Collared-Dove in Alvarado was added to several county lists, Claudia later spotted our only Swainson's Hawk, and why a Philadelphia Vireo would be the lone migrant at Old Mill State Park's picnic grounds is strange.
We also turned up both Sharp-tailed Grouse and Greater Prairie-Chickens, even though these gallinaceous birds are typically hard to find when not at their leks. A Great Horned Owl posing atop a dirt mound and silhouetted by the setting sun was a nice consolation on Sunday evening's owling option. Frustrating was that possible/probable Mountain Bluebird in bad light on Saturday which disappeared as we tried to maneuver for a better view. And, as mentioned above, our shorebird total was 16, and this was matched by our 16 warbler species, although the best of these on Friday (Golden-winged, N Parula, Canada) were brief views by only a few.
Special thanks are certainly due to Wayne Johnson who provided our access to the Thief River Falls sewage ponds, also to the manager at Thief Lake MBW who provided air-conditioned relief and indoor plumbing at the office, and to Craig as always for his assistance (and for accepting McDonald's-level sub-minimum wages).
Itinerary
Friday pre-MBW – Pennington, Red Lake, Polk Co's: TRF sewage ponds (briefly), St Hilaire, Red Lake Falls, Old Crossing Treaty Park, 3 flood-control impoundments (Red Lake-Polk county line, Parnell, Agassiz Valley)
Saturday – Pennington, Marshall Co's: TRF sewage ponds, Agassiz NWR, Thief Lake WMA, Marshall CR 48
Sunday – Polk, Marshall, Pennington Co's: 3 impoundments (Angus-Oslo, Brandt-Angus, Agassiz Valley), 3 sewage ponds (Warren, Alvarado, Argyle), Old Mill State Park, evening owling option
Monday morning – Pennington Co: TRF sewage ponds, St Hilaire, WMA west of St Hilaire
Bird List
Canada Goose
Trumpeter Swan (pre-MBW only)
Wood Duck
Gadwall
American Wigeon
Mallard
Blue-winged Teal
Northern Shoveler
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Canvasback
Redhead
Ring-necked Duck
Lesser Scaup
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Hooded Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Sharp-tailed Grouse
Greater Prairie-Chicken
Wild Turkey
Pied-billed Grebe
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Eared Grebe
Western Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
American White Pelican
Great Blue Heron
Green Heron
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Bald Eagle
Northern Harrier
Cooper's Hawk
Swainson's Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
American Kestrel
Merlin
Virginia Rail (pre-MBW only)
Sora
American Coot
Sandhill Crane
American Golden-Plover
Semipalmated Plover
Killdeer
Spotted Sandpiper
Solitary Sandpiper
Greater Yellowlegs
Lesser Yellowlegs
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
Baird's Sandpiper
Pectoral Sandpiper
Stilt Sandpiper
Buff-breasted Sandpiper
Short-billed Dowitcher
Wilson's Snipe
Red-necked Phalarope (= 16 species)
Bonaparte's Gull
Franklin's Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Black Tern
Forster's Tern
Rock Pigeon
Eurasian Collared-Dove
Mourning Dove
Great Horned Owl
Common Nighthawk
Chimney Swift (pre-MBW only)
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Red-bellied Woodpecker (pre-MBW only)
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Empidonax, sp. (probably Least)
Eastern Phoebe
Great Crested Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
Yellow-throated Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Philadelphia Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
Black-billed Magpie
American Crow
Common Raven
Tree Swallow
Bank Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Barn Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
House Wren
Marsh Wren
Eastern Bluebird
(Mountain Bluebird / a possible male along Marshall CR 48)
Veery
American Robin
Gray Catbird
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Ovenbird
Northern Waterthrush
Golden-winged Warbler (pre-MBW only)
Black-and-white Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
American Redstart
Cape May Warbler
Northern Parula (pre-MBW only)
Magnolia Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Palm Warbler
Canada Warbler (pre-MBW only)
Wilson's Warbler (= 16 species)
Chipping Sparrow
Vesper Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Nelson's Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco (pre-MBW only)
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Bobolink
Red-winged Blackbird
Western Meadowlark
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Brewer's Blackbird
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Baltimore Oriole
Purple Finch (pre-MBW only)
House Finch (pre-MBW only)
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow
* * *
NORTHWESTERN MINN MBW (SEPT 3-4-5, 2011)
& E. POLK COUNTY PRE-MBW (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.
Bird List
• 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