This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Friday, February 1, 2019 sponsored by the Detroit Lakes Regional Chamber of Commerce. You may also see this report on the Chamber of Commerce website: <https://www.visitdetroitlakes.com/birding-report> https://www.visitdetroitlakes.com/birding-report It has been brutally cold in the past week, but today we are seeing signs of the weakening of the polar vortex, at least for a while. The cold has brought birds in to the feeders. Common redpolls are starting to be reported at feeders and pine siskins are now crowding the feeders. Other species are also coming to feeders, particularly those birds that are lost or out of range. I have one casualty of the cold to report- unfortunately the varied thrush that was reported by Kevin Heck in Otter Tail County died from the cold this week. Beth Siverhus reported from Warroad that she still sees a COMMON GRACKLE and a RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD under her feeders. Other species that she has seen this week included PINE GROSBEAKS, BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS, PURPLE FINCH, AMERICAN GOLDFINCH, PINE SISKIN, and COMMON REDPOLL. Bruce Olson reported seeing SHARP-TAILED GROUSE in Roseau County this week. >From Bemidji in Beltrami County, a TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE was reported by Becca Engdahl on January 24. Other species being seen at the Lake Irving water access are RING-NECKED DUCK, HOODED MERGANSER, and PIED-BILLED GREBE. Susan Wachtler reported both COMMON REDPOLLS and PINE SISKINS. Here in Pennington County Billie Garry reported WILD TURKEYS southwest of Thief River Falls. On the way to Detroit Lakes, I found a flock of SNOW BUNTINGS in Mahnomen County along US 59. In Becker County, a RING-NECKED PHEASANT was seen along US 59. At Beau Schroyer's residence, we were treated to several WILD TURKEYS, two RUFFED GROUSE, many PINE GROSBEAKS, PINE SISKINS, COMMON REDPOLLS, and an AMERICAN ROBIN ,but no brambling yesterday. The good news is that the BRAMBLING was seen again early this morning so it is still coming to the feeder. Yesterday a northern shrike was hunting the yard several times, so that may have deterred the brambling from coming in. Becca Engdahl reported a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW at Kabekona Lake, Hubbard County, on January 28. The varied thrush previously reported by Kevin Heck in Otter Tail County was found dead one morning this week, apparently of the cold. Various people have reported waterfowl in Otter Tail County as there is open water in Fergus Falls. A BARROW'S GOLDENEYE and HOODED MERGANSER are among the species being seen there. An AMERICAN ROBIN was reported by Mary LeComte on January 30. Please report bird sightings to Jeanie Joppru by email, no later than Thursday each week, at ajjop...@mncable.net <mailto:ajjop...@mncable.net> OR call the Detroit Lakes Chamber's numbers 218-847-5743 or 218- 847-9202. Please include the county where the sighting took place. The next scheduled update of this report is Thursday, February 8, 2019 Jeanie Joppru Pennington County, MN
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