Seasonal Report Archive for The Loon - Gulls, Terns Occurrence
This is the 1930 to present seasonal report archive for
The Loon, journal of the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union.
The last 2 years are available to MOU members.
Seasons
Families
Whistling-Ducks, Geese, Swans, Ducks
New World Quail
Partridge, Pheasants, Grouse, Turkeys
Grebes
Pigeons, Doves
Cuckoos
Nightjars
Swifts
Hummingbirds
Rails, Gallinules, Coots
Limpkin
Cranes
Stilts, Avocets
Plovers
Sandpipers
Jaegers
Alcids
Gulls, Terns
Loons
Shearwaters and Petrels
Storks
Frigatebirds
Boobies and Gannets
Cormorants
Pelicans
Bitterns, Herons, Egrets, Night-Herons
Ibises
New World Vultures
Osprey
Kites, Accipiters, Hawks, Eagles
Barn Owls
Screech-Owls, Owls
Kingfishers
Woodpeckers
Caracaras, Falcons
Flycatchers
Vireos
Shrikes
Jays, Nutcrackers, Magpies, Crows
Chickadees, Titmice
Larks
Martins, Swallows
Kinglets
Waxwings
Silky-flycatchers
Nuthatches
Creepers
Gnatcatchers
Wrens
Thrashers, Mockingbirds
Starlings
Dippers
Thrushes
Old World Flycatchers
Old World Sparrows
Pipits
Finches
Longspurs and Snow Buntings
Towhees, Sparrows
Yellow-breasted Chat
Blackbirds, Orioles
Warblers
Tanagers, Cardinals, Grosbeaks

Seasons
Species: Gulls, Terns
Black-legged Kittiwake
Ivory Gull
Sabine's Gull
Bonaparte's Gull
Black-headed Gull
Little Gull
Ross's Gull
Laughing Gull
Franklin's Gull
Short-billed Gull
Ring-billed Gull
California Gull
Herring Gull
[Herring Gull (American)]
[Herring Gull (Vega)]
Iceland Gull
[Iceland Gull (Thayer's)]
[Iceland Gull (Kumlien's)]
[Iceland Gull (Iceland)]
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Slaty-backed Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Glaucous Gull
Glaucous Gull
[Herring Gull X Glaucous Gull]
Great Black-backed Gull
Least Tern
Gull-billed Tern
Caspian Tern
Black Tern
Common Tern
Arctic Tern
Forster's Tern
[Sterna tern]
[Royal Tern]
Sandwich Tern
Elegant Tern

Lesser Black-backed Gull(Larus fuscus)
YearSeasonNS
1984Fall 10/19 Park Point, Duluth, St. Louis Co. (one ad.) D. Johnson, M.ob., 10/23 Superior Entry, Duluth (one ad.) T. Savaloja. First state record (The Loon 56:240-241).
1987Winter Minnesota's second record was present at Black Dog, Dakota County from 12/20 through 12/25 (m.ob.).
1988Fall 9/11-18 Hennepin PG et al. (The Loon 61 :44-45).
1988Winter Fifth state record at Black Dog Lake, Dakota Co., from 12/3 until 12/10 m.ob. (The Loon 61 :3-4,45). GREATER BLACK-BACKED GULL Recorded at Lake Harriet and Black Dog, Dakota Co., from 12/2 until12/8 m.ob. (The Loon 61 :3-4,39).
1989Spring 5/6 Winona BF, et al. (The Loon 61:8384). Winter 1989
1990Spring Two reports: 4/5 Goodhue RG (The Loon 62:111-112), 4/29 Carver DM (The Loon 62:119).
1991Fall 10/26-27 Grand Marais, Cook County (one adult) PS et al. (The Loon 63:275-276).
1992Spring One report: 3/31–4/1 Washington County (first winter bird) RG, et al (The Loon 64:127).
1992Fall One report: 11/21–27 Lake Minnetonka, Hennepin County PB, AH et al. (The Loon 64:232).
1992Winter Adult present since 21 November at Lake Minnetonka, Hennepin Co. remained at Lakes Calhoun/Harriet, Hennepin Co. and Black Dog Lake, Dakota Co. until 12/22 KB et al (The Loon 64:232).
1993Spring Reported 5/2 Anoka KB et al. (13th state record; The Loon 65:153–154).
1993Fall 9/11 Anoka KB (The Loon 65:207–208), 10/27 to 11/30 Hennepin and Dakota KB (The Loon 66:46–47).
1993Winter Adult present from fall remained at Lakes Calhoun/Harriet until 12/9 Hennepin and at Black Dog Lake until 12/11 Dakota KB et al.
1994Spring One report: 4/9–4/14 Oak Grove Township, Anoka Co. KB (The Loon 66:147–148).
1994Fall Reported 11/16 Hennepin SC, mob (The Loon 67:63–64).
1994Winter For the third year in a row, an adult was present in the Twin Cities (The Loon 67:63–64) where reported 12/2–3 at Lake Harriet, Hennepin Co. SC et al., and 12/9 at Black Dog Lake, Dakota Co. BF.
1995Spring Three different birds (4/9 third-summer, 4/17–20 adult, 4/19–28 third-summer) reported from Oak Grove Township, Anoka Co. KB (The Loon 67:177–178). Another adult reported 4/17 Goodhue BL (The Loon 67:183).
1995Fall Three different birds reported: 10/12–11/14 Black Dog Lake, Dakota County (third-winter) KB, mob (also seen 10/21 on Lake Calhoun, Hennepin County SC); 10/19–early December Black Dog Lake, Dakota County and Lake Calhoun, Hennepin County (adult) KB, SC, mob; 11/3–15 Black Dog Lake, Dakota County and Lake Calhoun, Hennepin County (fourth-winter) KB, SC, mob.
1995Winter Adult from fall season remained until 12/7 Dakota SC, mob.
1996Spring4/5 Burnsville landfill, Dakota Co. KB, SC and same individual 4/10–13 from Old Cedar Ave. Bridge, Hennepin Co. (third-summer) SC, PBu; 4/22 Diamond Lake, Hennepin Co. (adult) OJ.
1996Fall Two individuals well-documented by Bardon moved between Black Dog Lake, Dakota Co. and Lake Calhoun, Hennepin Co., 9/30–10/16 (third-winter) and 10/9–10/31 (fourth-winter). One apparent adult 9/13 Hennepin PBu and undocumented reports of one–two “adults” in Dakota County likely referred to these two individuals since distinguishing adults from fourth-winter birds may not always be possible.
1997Spring Reported 3/25 (earliest date on record) Dakota (adult at Spring Lake) KB, 4/6 Isanti (first-year bird in Athens Twp.) KB, 4/21 Dakota (Pine Bend, different adult) KB.
1997Fall One adult 10/4 Hennepin (Lake Harriet) PBu, was never relocated.
1997Winter Third-winter individual seen 12/1–2 Wabasha (Lake City) KB, RG, RJ.
1998Spring All reports: 3/4–5 (record early date) Ramsey and Dakota (third-year) KB, RJ, 4/5 Isanti (adult, Athens Twp.) KB, 4/9 Dakota (different adult, plus a third-year at Pine Bend) KB.
1998Fall All reports: 10/14–15 St. Louis (third-winter at the Superior Entry) KB, PS, 10/21–11/19 and 11/28+ Hennepin (fourth-winter or adult at Lake Calhoun) PBu, mob, 11/27 Dakota (third-winter, Inver Grove Heights) KB, 11/28 Dakota (adult in Burnsville) KB.
1998Winter As many as four individuals reported: 12/1–9 Dakota and Hennepin KB et al. (adult), 12/19 Goodhue (Red Wing) BL (adult), November through 12/28 Dakota KB, DBS (third-winter), and 12/261/4 Ramsey and Dakota KB (first-winter). Previous late date 12/25.
1999Spring Only report: 4/5–9 Dakota (Burnsville) KB. This adult's mantle was paler than normal, but all other characters indicated this species and there was no other evidence of hybridization.
1999Fall One adult 10/3 Hennepin (L. Calhoun) †PBu was relocated 10/20–11/6, when it was joined by a second adult gull. One or both of these were then consistently reported on L. Calhoun, and in Burnsville 11/24+ Dakota †KB. See winter report for late dates.
1999Winter Adult present in Twin Cities through 12/4 Hennepin (Lake Calhoun) mob and 12/19 Dakota (Black Dog Lake) mob. Two adults reported 12/19 Dakota AH.
2000Spring None.
2000Summer Reported in western Minnesota and in summer for the first time; third-summer bird 6/2 Polk (Crookston sewage lagoons) †PPr (The Loon 73:59–60).
2000Fall The usual adult for the Twin Cities area was found 10/15 Hennepin (L. Calhoun) †PEB, with numerous sightings through the end of the period at L. Calhoun, and also from Dakota (Black Dog L.) beginning 11/26.
2000Winter Adult seen 12/2 Dakota (Black Dog Lake) TAT.
2001Spring All reports: 4/4 Goodhue (adult on Lake Pepin) †KJB, 4/10 Wabasha (third-year on Lake Pepin) †KJB, 4/10 Hennepin (adult) JMa.
2001Fall One or two adults 9/29 Dakota (Pine Bend) TAT, 10/16+ Hennepin (L. Calhoun) †PEB and elsewhere in Twin Cities in November.
2001Winter Adult from fall season last seen 12/23 Hennepin (L. Calhoun) KJB, SLC.
2002Spring Providing the second record for western Minnesota (following one at the Crookston lagoons, Polk County, 2 June 2000) was a second-year bird 5/2–4 Traverse (Mud L.) †KJB, †PCC. Also observed 4/13 – 5/1 Dakota (probable first-year bird at Pine Bend) †KJB, 4/13–19 Dakota (adult at Pine Bend) †KJB, †PEB, m.ob., 4/27 Isanti (adult in Athens Twp.) †KJB.
2002Fall All reports: 9/20 Dakota (adult) KJB, 10/4+ Hennepin (adult at L. Calhoun) †PEB, followed by many reports of presumably the same adult in Dakota County throughout November.
2003Spring No reports.
2003Fall All reports: 9/28–10/1 Hennepin (adult at L. Calhoun) †PEB et al., 10/27+ Hennepin (same adult?) CRM, m.obs., followed by many reports of presumably the same bird 11/25+ Dakota (Black Dog L. and Burnsville landfill) TAT, †KJB, m.obs.
2004Spring All reports: 3/31 Dakota (adult at H.P.B.C.) †KJB, 4/11 Isanti (third-year in Athens Twp.) †KJB, 4/13 Dakota (first-year and second-year at H.P.B.C., both flew across Pt. Douglas and into Washington County) †KJB.
2004Fall An adult on the Minnesota side of the Superior Entry was well described 10/31 St. Louis †DBz. All south reports: 9/16+ Hennepin (adult at L. Calhoun) †CBr, m.ob., presumably the same bird also seen at Black Dog L. beginning 9/27 Dakota †ADS et al. An adult 10/13 Lyon (Black Rush L.) †RJS had a “very dark gray mantle” but was unexpectedly described as only slightly larger than nearby Ring-billed Gulls.
2004Winter Two birds (adult and second-winter) reported 12/3 Hennepin (L. Calhoun) BAF.
2005Spring Record-high number of reports. A second-cycle bird at Pine Bend landfill 3/31 Dakota PEL may have lingered undetected until 5/31 Dakota (Black Dog L., record-late south) †ADS. Another (probably the same) was at Purgatory Creek in Eden Prairie 5/12–19 Hennepin DWK, †CMB, PEB. An adult at Mora landfill 4/16 Kanabec †CAM was followed by two third-cycle birds 5/14 ph. †CAM. Finally, a second-cycle bird along the west shore of Mille Lacs L. furnished first county records 5/7–9 Crow Wing and Mille Lacs ph. KWR, CLR, JSB et al.
2005Fall All north reports: different fourth-cycle birds on Minnesota side of Superior Entry, St. Louis County 9/18–24 (earliest north date) DBz, CHo, ph. †PHS, 10/28 ph. †PHS. All south reports: second-cycle 9/19 Dakota †ADS, possibly the same as 10/22 Dakota †JPM; two adults 9/28 Hennepin (L. Calhoun) PEB, at least one of which lingered into winter season in Dakota/Hennepin †CMB, †ADS, m.ob.
2005Winter Only report: 12/5 Dakota (adult, Black Dog Lake) KJB, JPM.
2006Spring Up to eight different individuals documented by KJB in Dakota and Goodhue counties. All reports: 3/11 Dakota (adult at H.P.B.C.) †KJB, 3/12 Goodhue (third-cycle at Lake Pepin) †KJB, 3/12–18 Goodhue (adult at Colvill Park) †KJB, 3/17–18 Goodhue (first-cycle bird at Colvill Park) †KJB, JPM, 3/23–28 Goodhue (two different third-cycle birds at Lake Pepin) †KJB, †PEB, 4/6 Dakota (first-cycle at Burnsville landfill) †KJB, 4/6–7 Dakota (adult at Burnsville landfill) †KJB.
2006Fall All north reports from St. Louis: record-early adult at Superior Entry 9/9–10, 9/20 MLH et al., †DWK, †PHS, third-cycle at Canal Park 10/27 PME, EG, BMu, WCM, adult at Bailey's Lake in Virginia 11/17–18 ph. †SLF, DBF, SES. All south reports from Hennepin and/or Dakota: adult at L. Calhoun and L. Harriet 9/25+ †CMB, †PEB, m.ob., second adult or fourth-cycle bird at Black Dog L. and L. Calhoun 9/30–10/7 ph. DWN, ChM, m.ob. Presumably one of these two was also at Purgatory Creek in Eden Prairie 11/2 †CMB.
2006Winter2 Probably the same adult reported 9/25+ Dakota (Lakes Calhoun and Harriet, see fall report) was still present 12/1 DWK. Based on plumage differences, another adult was seen 12/5, 12/13, and 12/16 (Bloomington CBC) Dakota (Black Dog Lake) †PEB, JPM.
2007Spring1 Only report: 3/16 Dakota (adult in alternate plumage at Spring Lake P.R.) JPM.
2007Fall13 A remarkable total of eleven individuals were found this season. Seven of these were in Duluth, St. Louis County, including adults 9/22 (DWK, JLO), 10/10 (ph. KJB), 10/11–17 (different adult, ph. KJB); second-cycle birds 9/12 (yellow legs, ph. KJB), 10/10 (pink legs, ph. KJB), 10/11 (third individual, KJB), and one or two birds 11/8–24 (KJB); first-cycle birds 10/5 †PHS and 11/10–17 †KJB, †PEB, ph. †KRE. No more than two individuals were ever seen together. At least one additional, distinguishable adult was also seen at the Superior landfill but was never reported from Minnesota. First reported south 9/5 Dakota (sub-adult in basic plumage) ADS, then 9/21 Hennepin (L. Calhoun) DDo and Dakota (adult in alternate plumage) ADS. High count south was also 2 (adults) on L. Calhoun in Hennepin on 11/21 PEB. Last reported south 11/29 Hennepin (L. Calhoun) JCC. First county record: 10/20 Stearns (bird molting into fourth basic plumage, Maine Prairie Twp., Pearl Lake; bird seen again on 10/27, 11/10, and 11/17 at same location) †PCC, HHD.
2008Spring1 Only report: 3/27 Olmsted (adult at South Landfill Reservoir) ph. †RLE.
2008Fall15 Two north reports from St. Louis: 9/21 (imm., Park Point) JCG, 9/27 PBB. First reported south (median 9/29) 9/30–10/31 Hennepin (ad., Lake Calhoun) DDo, †PEB, †CMB. A second ad. was noted at this location 11/8–30 †BAF, †PEB. A second-cycle was found in Hennepin (Lake Harriet) 11/9 BAF. Reported from Dakota (Black Dog Lake) beginning 11/18 JPM, followed by a first- and second-cycle at Kaposia Landing in Dakota/Ramsey on 11/27+ KJB, †BAF, †PEB. As many as three present at Black Dog on 11/28 (2 ad. and 1 second-cycle) PEB. Also reported 10/14 Nicollet (ad.) ph. ChH, ph. RMD, 11/1–8 Stearns (ad., Pearl Lake) †PCC, HHD, 11/28 Ramsey (first-cycle) BAF, 11/28–29 Ramsey (second-cycle) m.ob.
2008Winter3 Infrequently seen, a first-cycle bird continued from late November (see Fall report) through at least mid-December in Ramsey, Dakota, and Washington †BAF, †PEB, ph. JPM. Also, a second-cycle bird was well described 12/13 Ramsey (Hardman Ave.) KJB, †BAF, †PEB.
2009Spring2 All reports 3/28 Hennepin (adult, Diamond Lake, Minneapolis) DWK, †PEB, 4/5 Hennepin (adult, Grass Lake, Minneapolis; same as Diamond Lake bird?) ph. WW, DWK, 4/10 Martin (Martin Lake) †BWF.
2009Fall11 Found in St. Louis in the north 10/3-31 (first-cycle, Minnesota side of Superior Entry; also seen at Port Termainal 10/19 †PHS) CRu, ph. KJB, ph. †PHS, 10/31+ (adult, Superior Entry and Canal Park) ph. †PHS, †KJB, 11/21-29 (first- cycle) PHS, ph. KJB. Only south report: 10/11 Stearns (adult, Pearl Lake) †PCC.
2009Winter11 All north 12/2 St. Louis (adult, Canal Park, Duluth) JCG, KJB (see also Fall report). All south 12/26 Dakota (second-cycle, Black Dog Lake) †PEB, JPM.
2010Spring2 Adult seen 4/8 in Big Stone (Thielke Lake) ph. BJU. Two birds (first- and third-cycle) observed 5/7 Dakota (Lake Byllesby) ph. †JPM.
2010Fall2 Early north (median 9/21) 9/13 Lake (adult, Agate Bay, Two Harbors) JCG, ph. †KRE, refound at Superior Entry in St. Louis 9/16–30 KJB, ph. PHS. Additional reports from Superior Entry in St. Louis: 9/25 (third-cycle) ph. PHS, ph. KJB, 10/28 – 11/24 (adult) KRE, ph. PHS, KJB, 11/17 (first-cycle) ph. †KJB, 11/29 (first-cycle) ph. †KJB.
2010Winter1 Two first-cycles found in St. Louis (Superior Entry) in November lingered into December: one until 12/3 ph. KJB, the other until 12/5 ph. KJB.
2011Spring12 First-cycle bird observed 3/19–20 St. Louis (Canal Park, Duluth) PHS, ph. MLH. Adult photographed 3/21 Lac qui Parle (Farrell W.P.A.) ph. BJU. Another adult was a first county record 3/27 Jackson (Loon and Little Spirit Lakes) PEJ, †DFN.
2011Summer1Unusual observation 6/19 Wright (Middleville Twp., Smith L.) †PCC.
2011Fall11 All north reports from Duluth: 10/17–31 (adult) †PHS, 11/5 (second-cycle) KJB, ph. MLH, †PHS, 11/14 (adult) ph. †PHS. Only south report: 11/12 Hennepin (Lake Calhoun) ph. CMB.
2011Winter2All reports: 12/3 Wright (adult, Pulaski Lake) †DWK, †PEB, 12/7–17 Hennepin (Lake Harriet, Lake Calhoun) †CMB, †TAT, †BAF, †ACr, m.ob.
2012Spring1 Adult bird observed 3/22 St. Louis (20th Ave. West, Duluth) †GJN, m.ob.
2012Fall13 All north reports from Duluth beginning 9/20 (ad., Superior Entry) CHk (early median 9/21). Total of one adult and two first-cycle birds present in Duluth (Canal Park/Superior Entry) in October; first-cycle last reported 10/26 (Superior Entry) BWF, m.ob. All south reports: 10/20–21 Dakota (ad., Burnsville) CMB, KRo, 10/21 Lyon (first-cycle, landfill southeast of Camden S.P.) KRE, m.ob., 11/28–29 Hennepin (2 ad., Lake Calhoun) m.ob., 11/30 Hennepin (ad., Lake Harriet) CMB.
2012Winter3All reports: 12/1–19 Hennepin/Dakota (adult, continuing from fall season) ph. CMB, †BAF, m.ob.,1/14 Ramsey (Upper Landing Park, St. Paul, possible third-cycle) SBM.
2013Spring24 All south 3/16 Washington (adult, Point Douglas) BRL, ph. SBM, †DWK, 4/7 Winona (Prairie Island) MGo, DBz, refound 4/14 ANy, 4/21 Wabasha (adult, Wabasha) ph. BAy, 4/21–22 Lyon (Cottonwood Lake) HHD, GWe. All north 4/21 Lake (adult, Two Harbors) ph. JWL, 5/4 St. Louis (adult, Superior Entry) KJB.
2013Fall22 All age groups of this species were reported from Duluth. First reports of each: adult 9/14 ELC, third-cycle 9/21 JLK, first-cycle 9/28 MLH, m.ob., second-cycle 10/18 ph. PHS, ph. MLH. Away from Duluth, reported 9/22 Wadena (adult, east of Menagha) ANy, †BWF, 10/19 Lyon RJS, 10/25–11/1 Hennepin (Lake Harriet) CMB, SBM; an adult found in Hennepin on Lakes Harriet and Calhoun 11/17 (†BAF), 11/29 (†BAF), 11/30 (MPi) was likely a second individual. See winter report for December sightings in Hennepin and St. Louis.
2013Winter11 One north 12/10 St. Louis (second-cycle at Canal Park) ph. PHS, KRE, ph. JLK. Only south report 12/1 Hennepin (Lake Calhoun, adult continuing from November) †SBM.
2014Spring13All south 3/20, 3/22, 3/29 Dakota (Black Dog Lake) ph. †CMB, ph. †DWK, m.ob., 4/8 Ramsey (Crosby Farm R.P.) ph. †DAd, 4/26 Kandiyohi (Atwater W.T.P.) ph. †JWd. All north 5/1 Polk (south of Erskine) ph. DBM, CRM, m.ob.
2014Fall11 All north reports were from St. Louis and south reports from Hennepin. North reports consisted of a first-cycle 9/10 (Park Point) ph. †PHS, which was the earliest hatch-year bird ever found in Minnesota. It was followed by 10/26 (Superior Entry, first-cycle) MLH, †JLK and 10/30 (Superior Entry, second-cycle) †PHS, ClN. South reports began as north reports ended: 10/30 (adult, Lake Harriet) CMB, 11/6 (first-cycle, Lake Harriet) †CMB, (first-cycle, Lake Calhoun) PEB, †DWK, 11/7 (2, one in juvenile and one in firstwinter plumage, Lake Calhoun) PEB. At least three different first-cycles were ultimately reported from Lake Calhoun in November, and the season was capped off with an adult 11/23 (Lake Calhoun) ph. DWK, TAT.
2014Winter1 One report: 12/25 Hennepin (third-cycle, Lake Harriet) †PEB.
2015Spring13 All south (possibly the same individual?): 3/22–23 Rice (adult, Cannon Lake) †TFB, †DAB, JWH, 3/30–31 McLeod (adult, Hutchinson) ph. †PRH, BHa, 4/17 Stearns (adult, Getchell Lake) MJB, HHD. All north reports were of apparently the same second-cycle individual in Duluth, St. Louis County: 4/30 Superior Entry TRK, 5/1 Superior Entry RJ, 5/15 Park Point R.A. JLK.
2015Fall21 All north 9/18 Lake (Knife River Marina) †JWL, PHS, 9/26 St. Louis (Park Point ball fields) ph. JLK, m.ob., 10/1 St. Louis (adult, Superior Entry) ClN, ClN. All south 11/6–8 Hennepin (adult, Lake Calhoun) †BAF, ph. †CMB, JmM, DPa, ph. JPR, 11/23–25 Hennepin (different adult, Lake Harriet) BAF.
2015Winter1 Five different individuals reported Hennepin (Lake Harriet, Lake Calhoun): 12/17–18 (third-cycle) †BAF, SBM, 12/19 (adult) †BAF, 12/23–27 (first-cycle) †CMB, †ClN, 12/30 (adult) †CMB, 12/30 (second-cycle) PEB.
2016Spring15 All south 3/9–13 Wabasha (second-cycle, Lake City) ph. †DAB, m.ob., 3/12 Washington (across Mississippi River from Lake Rebecca Park) ph. †BAF, 3/26 Hennepin (adult, Old Cedar Ave. Bridge) ChM, TAT, RBW, 4/10 Isanti ph. †ELC, HHD, 4/11 Hennepin (adult, Purgatory Creek wetlands) ph. †DWK, 4/27–29 Sherburne (max. 3 adults or near adults, Lake Fremont) ToL, DWK, m.ob. All north 4/25, 4/28 St. Louis (3rd/4th-cycle, Park Point R.A.) PHS, ph. JPR, ph. ClN, ph. TJo, AM, BMu, 4/28 St. Louis (second-cycle, Park Point R.A.) †MLH, ph. ClN.
2016Summer1 New county record 7/15–25 Pope (2nd-cycle type, Glenwood Beach) ph. CRM, ph. GHo, ph. DOr, ph. DvK.
2016Fall23 More reports than typical for fall. All north 9/23–29 St. Louis (adult, Superior Entry and Park Point R.A.) ph. NAn, SC, ALx, StK, JLK, 10/22, 10/25 St. Louis (first-cycle, Superior Entry) MLH, ph. PHS, †RJ, 10/29, 11/8 Lake (first-cycle, Knife River) BWF, ph. JPR, m.ob., 11/6 St. Louis (first-cycle, Superior Entry) ClN, 11/26–27 St. Louis (first-cycle, Canal Park) ALx, ph. JPR, JLK, MLH. It is likely that some reports of adults or first-cycles from St. Louis (and Lake?) represent the same, continuing individual (s). All south 9/9 Dakota (adult, Spring Lake P.R.) †BAF, 10/28 Sherburne (third-cycle, Woodland Trails Park) †LnK, 11/18 Goodhue (Mississippi River Lock and Dam 3) AJF.
2016Winter1 One report 12/7 Hennepin (adult, Lake Harriet) DWK, BAF.
2017Spring17 All south 3/4–6 Hennepin/Dakota (adult, Old Cedar Ave. Bridge and Black Dog Lake west outflow) BeH, m.ob., 3/5 Ramsey (adult, Pig's Eye) RMD, ELC, m.ob., 3/5 Ramsey (first-cycle, Pig's Eye) LiH, 3/10–11 Dakota (first-cycle, Black Dog Lake west outflow) BAF, m.ob., 3/12 Dakota (adult, Lock and Dam 2) AJF, 3/8 Wabasha (adult) DBz, 3/24–25 Scott (adult, Prior and Spring lakes) ph. BAb, m.ob., 3/30 Scott (presumed first-cycle, Spring Lake) BAb, 4/13 Isanti (adult, C.R. 5) CRM, m.ob., 4/14 Swift (adult, Marsh Lake) DLP. All north 5/1 St. Louis (adult, Park Point) ph. JPR, JLK, 5/18–19 St. Louis (second-cycle, Park Point) JPR, PHS, m.ob. Some of these different Twin Cities reports are likely of the same individuals.
2017Summer2 Seen 6/5–12 Clay (2nd-cycle? with dull pink legs, gravel quarry) †REn, AxB, †ShG, †HeH, JCC, JBu, RAE, 6/23 Mille Lacs (2nd-cycle, Bayview W.T.P.) †HHD, †CRM. Also see undocumented reports.
2017Fall34 All north 8/3 Clay (Clay County Gravel Pits; same bird as the one present at this location in early June?) HeH, ShG, 8/23 Clay (location?) HHD, 10/22 Kanabec (adult and second-cycle) ph. †SPS, 11/3 St. Louis (first-cycle, Superior Entry) †PHS, another first-cycle was found 11/5 St. Louis (Superior Entry) and at least one of these continued through 11/20 m.ob. Early south 10/19 Hennepin (Bush Lake) RCo, 10/23 Wabasha (third-cycle) ph. DBz. At least two adults or near-adults found in Minneapolis beginning 11/5 Hennepin (adult, Lake Harriet) †BAF, CMB, through the end of the season; one also found roosting in Dakota. Additional south reports 11/16–20 Sherburne (Orono Lake) PLJ, m.ob.
2017Winter13 One north report: 12/3 St. Louis (first-cycle, Duluth, Canal Park) †KSz. South reports (all singles) from 12/2–11 Hennepin (Lake Harriet, Bde Maka Ska) m.ob., of at least two different adults. Also reported 12/3 Dakota (adult, Spring Lake P.R.) and Washington †REn.
2018Spring24 All south 3/27–31 Winona (presumed third-cycle, Lake Winona) ph. DBz, ph. JPr, m.ob., 4/11 Rice (King Mill Dam) DAB, m.ob., 4/12–15 Winona (third-cycle, Lake Winona) EzH, ph. IsH, m.ob., 4/13–15 Winona (first-cycle, Lake Winona) ph. DBz, 4/29 Isanti (adult, C.R. 8) ANy, 5/4–5 Stearns (third-cycle, Millwood Twp.) MJB, †PCC, m.ob. All north 4/17 Grant (North Ottawa Impoundment) HHD, RAE, 5/12 St. Louis (Interstate Island W.M.A.) ASu, LiH, 5/19 St. Louis (adult, Superior Entry) NWn, 5/27–28 St. Louis (adult, Duluth) ClN, JPR.
2018Fall24  All north 10/6–27 Kanabec (two adults moved between Fish Lake, Knife Lake, and Mora Landfill) SPS, m.ob., 10/10 St. Louis (first-cycle, Duluth Port Terminal) JLK, m.ob., 10/12 St. Louis (first-cycle, Superior Entry) EzH, m.ob. All south 10/20 Sherburne (adult or near-adult, Orono Lake) PLJ, 11/12–13 Hennepin (adult, Lake Harriet and Bde Maka Ska) BAF, m.ob., 11/20–25 Wabasha (fourth-cycle, Lake City Marina) LiH, ASu, m.ob., 11/23 Sherburne (Elk River Landfill) PLJ, 11/24–26 Goodhue (Lake City, presumably the same individual reported in Wabasha) DnS, JmP, m.ob.
2018Winter11 Two reports: 12/24 St. Louis (adult, Duluth, Canal Park) †MGo, 12/10 Hennepin (adult, Lake Harriet) †LiH.
2019Spring36 All south 3/31 Dakota (adult, Long Lake) ph. MwT, m.ob., 4/2 Hennepin (second or third-cycle, Lake Hiawatha) †BAF, 4/6, 4/13 Isanti (adult, C.R. 8) RCl, 4/7 Sherburne (adult, Elk River Cemetery) AxB, REn, 5/1 Swift (S.R. 7) ph. ASu. All north 5/2 St. Louis (adult, W.S.H.C.) FJN, JPR, 5/8 Clay (C.R. 23) ph. TCL, 5/19 St. Louis (adult, Park Point R.A.) †MLH, ph. JPR, m.ob., 5/24 Beltrami (third-cycle, Waskish Twp.) DBz, †DPJ, m.ob.
2019Fall42 All north 9/13 Beltrami (adult, Lake Bemidji) DPJ, 9/22 Kanabec (second-cycle, Fish Lake) SPS, 9/24 St. Louis (adult, Superior Entry) ASu, 10/14 St. Louis (first-cycle, Superior Entry) †EzH, another first-cycle was found 10/15 St. Louis (Port Terminal) †PHS, with at least one continuing in the Duluth area through 11/10 m.ob., 10/25 Kanabec (adult, Knife Lake) ANy, DAB, 10/28 Kanabec (adult, Fish Lake, possibly the Knife Lake bird) JWH, KEm, 11/1–3 Cook (first-cycle, Grand Portage N.M.) †PHS, m.ob. All south 10/14–18 Sherburne (adult, Elk River Landfill & Orono Lake) PLJ, 11/4–15 Hennepin (max. 2, Lake Harriet) BAF, m.ob.
2019Winter11 One north report: 12/14 St. Louis (second-cycle, Duluth) ClN, JDx. South reports: 12/2–3 Hennepin (second-cycle, adult, Bde Maka Ska) ClB, DWK. This species has been reported in each of the past 12 winters.
2020Spring29 All south 3/29 Wright (adult, Pelican Lake) ToL, 3/31 – 4/2 Kandiyohi (adult, New London and Arctander Twps.) RSF, JoS, m.ob., 3/31 – 4/9 Scott (max. 2, adults, Spring Lake) BAb, m.ob., 4/10–18 Anoka (adult, Lake George) DWK, m.ob., 4/10–12 Isanti (max. 2, adults, German Lake) DWK, ANy, m.ob., 4/17 – 5/9 Sherburne (max. 3, adults, Elk River Landfill & Lake Fremont) PLJ, MJB, m.ob., 4/23 Freeborn (adult) ph. †PEJ, 5/5 Hennepin (first-cycle, Colman Lake) ASu, m.ob., 5/13 Lyon (first-cycle, Black Rush Lake W.P.A.) ph. †NMe, m.ob. All north 5/10 Clay (adult, Clay County Landfill) ebd, St. Louis (adult, W. Knife River Rd.) JWL, m.ob.
2020Summer2 Documented 6/2 St. Louis (immature, Superior Entry) ph. †PSk, 7/6 Hubbard (2nd cycle, Kabekona Lake) ph. REn, RLF.
2020Fall24 All north 9/7 St. Louis (second-cycle, Port Terminal) †PHS, 9/30 St. Louis (adult, Superior Entry) †MLH, 10/3–10 St. Louis (first-cycle, Superior Entry) †JLK, †PHS, m.ob., 10/18 St. Louis (second-cycle, Superior Entry) PHS, 10/19–21 Beltrami (Lake Bemidji) AxB, 10/21 St. Louis (Port Terminal) JLK. All south 9/17–19, 10/7–8 Lyon (first-cycle, Black Rush Lake W.P.A.) †RJS, GWe, m.ob., 10/16–11/26 Sherburne (max. 2, adults, Elk River Landfill & Orono Lake) PLJ, m.ob., 10/17 Blue Earth (first-cycle, Loon Lake) ChH, †KEm, 11/15–29 Dakota (at least 3 individuals, with a first-cycle, second-cycle, & adult all being reported from various locations in Rosemount) MwT, FFa, m.ob., 11/27–28 Blue Earth (adult, Lily Lake) ChH, m.ob.
2020Winter1 One report: 12/6–13 Dakota (first-cycle, SET-Empire compost site) ph. MwT, m.ob. This is the thirteenth consecutive winter that this species has been reported in the state.
2021Spring29 All south 3/7 Houston (Brownsville Overlook) †LHl, 3/21 Dakota (2, adult and first- or second-cycle, 180th St. Marsh) ebd, RLF, REn, m.ob., 3/22 Nobles (Ocheda Lake) ASu, KEm, Ramsey (adult, Snail Lake) REn, RLF, m.ob., 3/23–25 Ramsey (first-cycle, Vadnais Lake) EzH, IsH, 3/26 Dakota (possible second-cycle, Spring Lake P.R.) MwT, Scott (adult, Spring Lake) BAb, 3/26 – 4/29 Sherburne (adult, Elk River Landfill) MAJ, m.ob., 4/10–11 Anoka (adult and second-cycle reported separately, Lake George) DWK, RMD, RBJ, 4/24 Scott (adult, Spring Lake) BAb, 4/25, 5/11 Lyon (Black Rush Lake W.P.A.) VKl, ANy, DBz, SC, 5/27–28 Watonwan (first-cycle, 320th St Marsh) GRe, ph. †KEm, JWH, BAb. All north 3/22 St. Louis (second-cycle, Silver Lake) ph. †BEA, 4/11 Kanabec (2, adult and second-cycle, Arthur Twp.) ph. SPS, 5/22 St. Louis (second-cycle, St. Louis Bay) ph. PHS.
2021Fall14 All north 9/18 St. Louis (first-cycle, Park Point R.A.) IDv, 9/19 St. Louis (adult, Park Point R.A.) IDv, 10/2 St. Louis (first-cycle, Park Point R.A.) StK, IDv, SNe, 10/15 St. Louis (first-cycle, Superior Entry) PHS, 10/19 St. Louis (first-cycle, Park Point R.A.) IDv, 11/7 St. Louis (Park Point R.A.) LiH, KvM. All south 8/14–20 Meeker (second-cycle, Belle Lake) ToL, m.ob., 8/20 Lyon (third-cycle, Black Rush Lake W.P.A.) NMe, 11/13 Brown (adult, Sleepy Eye W.T.P.) BTS, 11/16 Sherburne (adult, Elk River Landfill) PLJ.
2021Winter5 All reports: 12/2 Sherburne (adult, Elk River landfill) HHD, DOr, PLJ, MAJ, 12/3–4 Hennepin (2, adult and second-cycle, Bush Lake) m.ob., 12/12 Goodhue (apparent third-cycle, Lake City) DBz, JWH, 12/15 – 1/1 Ramsey (first or second-cycle, St. Paul, Upper and Lower Landing parks) APi, m.ob., 12/31 Dakota (immature, possibly the same as St. Paul bird, Black Dog Lake) LiH.
 
 Rare migrant and winter visitant.

Notes:

Click on the bird name to see a photographic image of the bird.
Column N  Number of counties where the bird was seen in the North.
Column S  Number of counties where the bird was seen in the South.