Seasonal Report Archive for The Loon - Bitterns, Herons, Egrets, Night-Herons 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: Bitterns, Herons, Egrets, Night-Herons
American Bittern
Least Bittern
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Snowy Egret
Little Blue Heron
Tricolored Heron
Cattle Egret
Green Heron
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron

Little Blue Heron(Egretta caerulea)
YearSeasonNS
1962SpringOne adult seen by Brother Theodore at Dunroven, Washington Co., April 23. Third record for state. Common Egret: April 21 Weaver, Wabasha Co., Mrs. J. M. Dahm; April 21 Swan Lake, Nicollet Co., Avifaunal Club; May 12 Washington Co., A. C. Rosenwinkel; May 12 Lac qui Parle Co., Avifaunal Club.
1964Spring5-8 and 5-9 Frontenac, Goodhue Co, 1 immature seen by many observers. See Notes of Interest. Bird not there on 5-10. Common Egret: 4-2 Hennepin Co, MAS; 4-8 Winona Co, 4, GD; 4-11 Le Sueur, FL; 4-16 Pope Co, ELC; 4-16 Wadena Co (2nd Co. record), RO; 4-26 Ramsey Co, 3, ACR; 4-29 Hennepin Co, MEH; 5-5 to 5-7 Roseau Co, JR, 5-6 Becker Co, fide RLW; 5-9 Grant Co, 2, RPR; 5-16 Stearns Co, 2, EAH.
1967Spring4-18 Prairie Island, Winona Co., 1 ad + 1 imm, FV, GD; compares nicely with one photographed at Valley City, North Dakota, by Leo Grim on 5-28. (See Notes of Interest)
1969Spring5-9 and 10 (1 adult) Goodhue Co., Frontenac, RBJ, BL, RG, HFH, and RH.
1970Spring5-9 Heron Lake, Jackson Co., 1 adult, BL.
1971SummerBH reported an adult nesting at Lake Johanna, Pope Co.; only one bird was present for sure, but 1 young bird was fledged probably as a result of hybridization with a Snowy Egret which was also present! Both species are casual in Minn. and have never nested here. A complete account of this amazing record (and the one that follows) is forthcoming in The Loon.
1971Fall1 adult 'lnd 2 imm. (Little Rln<> X Snowy hvbrids?) stH\ present on 8-14 at Lake Johanna, Pope Co., BH.
1972SummernP•terl in Pooe Ill n•!<'s at LakP Johanna produced 31 voung BAH). 8-5 & 13 (2 adults\ Ashbv, Grant Co. KRE. CATTLI; EGRI;T: nested in Pone (1 nest found in June. about 20 adults •nd 20 younGreen Heron
1973Summer Nested in Pope (8 young produced from 3 nests Lake Johanna BAH) (6/30 7 adults RG), also seen in 6/25 Aitkin Co. (6/25 BB).
1973Fallwere recorded at Lake Johanna, Pope County on 8-11 (BAH) 2 at Ashby Grant Co. on 8-25 (KRE) and a very late immature at Weaver, Wabasha County on 10-3 (JB).
1974Spring 3 reports; 4-13 Nicollet Co., St. Peter (1) RBJ; 4-20 Lyon Co. Sewage Lagoons (1) HCK; 5-18 Pope Co., Lake Johanna (1 ad) BH.
1974Summer Did not nest this year at L. Johanna as it has the past few years, but an adult was seen there twice in July (R. Glassel, KE); also one seen at Black Dog L., Dakota Co. on 6-25 (VL).
1975Spring 2 reports 4-24 & 25 Olmsted JF and HT; 5-18 Wabasha WDM and HT.
1976Spring 2 reports: 4-23 to 4-27 Winona (1) VH and Dave Palmquist; 5-9 Wabasha Helen Tucker.
1977Spring 2 reports: 4-10 Meeker (1) Douglas K. Johnson earliest date on record, see Loon 49:176; 5-29 Grant (Pelican Lake) 4 SM, GO.
1977Summer Possibly nested at Big Stone N.W.R. (2 ad. at empty nest on 7-19, CMB) and Pelican L., Grant Co. (many reports all summer; peak of 10 seen).
1978Spring 4-15 Wabasha (1) Alice Searles, Helen Tucker. Winter 1978 195
1978Summer Breeding reported from Lac qui Parle (one nest, Big Stone NWR, CMB); also seen in Grant (Pelican Lake).
1978Fall Summer resident Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge; reported 8-12 Lac qui Parle (2) CMB, KE, 8-26 Big Stone (2) DB, OJ, 9-2 Lac qui Parle (3) CMB, 9-9 Lac qui Parle RJ.
1979Spring 5-11 Lac qui Parle CMB, 5-12 Goodhue JD, 5-19 Lac qui Parle CMB.
1979Summer Breeding reported ~rom Ramsey (Pig's Eye); also seen m Grant (6-3, Ashby), Lac qui Parle (Big Stone NWR, up to 2).
1979Fall 9-6 Lac qui Parle CMB; only report for this period.
1980Spring 4-26 Lac qui Parle FAE, 4-11 Duluth D. Follen fide KE, 4-13 Marshall SY.
1980Summer One to three birds at Big Stone NWR, Lac qui Parle Co., June and July; also 6-18 (1), Pelican Lake, Grant Co. (GO).
1981Spring 4-25 Big Stone many observers, 5-13 through 19 Dakota KG, m. obs., 5-23 Pope (Lake Johanna) NH.
1981Summer Breeding data from Pope (one nest, NMH). Also seen in Lac qui Parle (two, Big Stone NWR, C&MB).
1981Fall 9-10 Chisago DB, 9-14 Lac qui Parle CMB; only reports.
1982Summer Single bird on 6/7 Moorhead sewage ponds, Clay Co. (KRE).
1983Spring 5/21 Olmsted JEB, only report.
1983Fall 8/12 Rice R. Kettering.
1984Fall 8/3 Anoka KL
1985Spring 4/20 Olmsted fide JEB, 5/23,24 St. Louis SS (The Loon 57: 135-136), 5/30 Marshall ANWR.
1986Spring 4/7 Faribault WKB, 4/28 Cottonwood E. Duerksen, 5/5 OtterTail SDM, 5/14 Faribault WKB, 5/16-17 Nicollet m. ob., 5/17 Polk AB; all reports.
1987Spring 4/26-27 Winona AP; only report.
1987Summer One bird reported from Agassiz NWR, Marshall (6112, JM). Unusually far north. First summer report since 1982.
1988Summer Pair observed at Pig's Eye Island, Ramsey Co., but no nest found (6/8, second summer report in past six years).
1988Fall 8/12-13 Yellow Medicine m.ob.; only report.
1989Spring Only report: 5/14 Lac qui Parle FE.
1989Summer One bird at Hyland Lake, Hennepin Co. 6/l-3, mob.
1991Spring Reported 4/29-5/3 Anoka mob (The Loon 63:136-137).
1991Summer One immature seen 6/14,24 Rock RDR, ND.
1991Fall Reported 8/18 Lyon HK (The Loon 64:68).
1992Spring Reported 5/7 Carver KR, 5/10-17 Goodhue mob, 5/13-19 Olmsted JD, AP, CS.
1992Fall Reported 8/25 Washington County RG, RJ, BL.
1993Spring Reported 5/11?12 Dakota KB, TT.
1993Fall Reported 8/22 Anoka, DT.
1994Spring Reported 4/30?5/8 Houston (2) DN, mob, 5/1 Cottonwood ED, 5/23 Ramsey DS.
1995Spring Only report 5/12 Hennepin fide AH.
1995Fall An immature was found 8/14–9/3 Cottonwood ED, mob.
1996Spring Only report on 4/22 from Dakota County SK.
1996Summer First summer reports since 1991. Observed 7/3 Otter Tail SM, 6/1–2 Le Sueur WS, mob.
1996Fall Only report: 8/6–7 Anoka DaB.
1997Spring No reports.
1997Fall Only report: 8/24 Carlton (adult) AH.
1998Spring All reports: 5/20–22 Olmsted (East Landfill Reservoir) BE et al., 5/21 Otter Tail (Lake Alice) SDM.
1998Summer Calico immature observed 6/17–20 at Minnesota Valley NWR Headquarters, Hennepin (JEl, mob).
1998Fall Only report: 10/7 Beltrami (immature near L. Bemidji) DJo, PBD (The Loon 71:48–49). Unexpected location and the latest date on record for Minnesota!
1999Spring All reports: 4/18 Clay (immature near Hitterdal, earliest north date on record) JNo, 5/16 Hennepin (near Fletcher) SC, 5/22+ Marshall (Agassiz NWR) mob.
1999Summer More reports than usual. Single adults observed on 6/2 at Gun Club L. in Hennepin Co. AH and on 6/7 at Murphy-Hanrahan Park Reserve in Scott Co. FR; plus an immature (originally misidentified as Snowy Egret) present from 7/30 into August in Olmsted Co. CW.
1999Fall One immature, originally reported as a Snowy Egret, was identified correctly by Wood (see summer report) and stayed through 8/7 in Olmsted mob. This highlights the care that needs to be taken when identifying small white waders.
2000Spring All reports: 4/26 Scott fide AH, 5/13 Kandiyohi RJF, 5/14 Dakota (Vermillion Twp.) SWe, 5/18–31+ Dakota (Ritter Farm Park) CFx, mob.
2000Fall No reports.
2001Spring All observations: 5/8 Clay (Gooseberry Park in Moorhead) RHO, 5/16 Ramsey AXH, 5/18 Houston (La Crescent) CBe.
2001Fall An immature was observed 8/16–24 Carver (Carver Park) RMD et al.
2002Spring Only report: 5/29 Hennepin (Bass Ponds) RDE.
2003Spring All reports: 5/28 Cook (Grand Portage) †SVe, SGu, 5/31 Roseau (Lost River W.M.A.) †MLa.
2003Summer Several reports: 6/16 and 6/24 Marshall (Agassiz N.W.R.) †JMJ et al., JJS (The Loon 76:54), 7/12 Hennepin (adult at French L.) OLJ, 7/20–August Douglas (max. two adults and one immature at Bah L.) †JPE, m.ob.
2003Fall Two adults and one immature found in July lingered through 8/31 Douglas (second latest date north, Bah Lakes W.P.A.) JPE, m.obs. Only other report: 8/31 Ramsey (adult at Snelling L.) fide AXH.
2004Spring All reports: 4/21 Hennepin (Bass Ponds) BBB, †CBr, m.obs., 5/3 Lac qui Parle (subadult at Big Stone N.W.R.) †BJU, 5/6–7 Rice (River Bend N.C.) FVS, m.obs., 5/15 Lake of the Woods (county road 8, 0.5 mile west of state highway 172) †MHK.
2004Summer Only report: 6/2 Big Stone (adult, Prior Twp.) BJU.
2004Fall No reports.
2005Spring Only report: 5/10 Mower (adunt at Austin) RCK, ph. JEM.
2005Summer Two records: 6/10 Wilkin (adult near Lawndale) JPS, 7/28 Sherburne (adult at Sherburne N.W.R.) ASc.
2005Fall All reports: 8/7 Lac qui Parle (adult at Big Stone N.W.R.) BJU, 8/11 Sherburne N.W.R. (presumably same adult as 7/28, see summer report) fide ASc. Also see undocumented reports.
2006Spring Impressive total of seven individuals. All south reports: 4/11–14 Dakota (adult near L. Byllesby) ph. JPM, †CMB, m.ob., 4/14 Lac qui Parle (subadult in Hamlin Twp.) †BJU, 5/4 Goodhue (adult at Frontenac S.P.) CBr fide HPe, 5/23 Ramsey (Demontreville L.) DPS, 5/26 Meeker (adult at Washington L., 2nd county record) DMF. Two north reports: 5/20 Lake (adult at Two Harbors airport) ph. JWL, SLL, 5/26 Cook (adult at Schroeder, 2nd county record) ph. †DJS.
2006Summer One adult 7/27 Swift (Lubenow W.P.A.) BJU.
2006Fall Reported 9/17–21 Big Stone (ad. at Big Stone N.W.R., second latest south) †MM, BJU.
2007Spring1 Only report (seven last spring): 5/23 Rice (no details) TFB.
2007Fall2 Only reports: 8/15 Scott (ad. at Fisher L.) RMD, 8/24 Swift (ad. at Lac qui Parle W.M.A.) BJU.
2008Spring1 Only report 5/3–5 Lac qui Parle (adult in Walter Twp.) BJU.
2008Fall No reports.
2009Spring No reports.
2009Fall2 All reports: 8/11 Anoka REH, 8/24–9/21 Ramsey (immature, Turtle Lake) ECo, ph. †CMB, †JLO, †MDu, m.ob.
2010Spring1 Only report: 4/17–5/29 Fillmore (no details) NBO.
2010Fall2 All south 8/21 Stevens (immature, Morris W.T.P.) KRE, m.ob., 9/4 Big Stone (adult, Toqua Twp.) BJU.
2011Spring2 All reports 4/24 Sibley (adult, Mud Lake, Severance Twp.) †DBM, 5/5 Rice (adult, Morristown Twp.) DAB.
2011Summer
2011Fall3 All south 8/29 Lac qui Parle/Chippewa (juvenile, Camp Release Twp.) ph. †BJU, 9/18 Big Stone (adult, Toqua Twp.) ph. BJU.
2012Spring No reports.
2012Summer1 Observed 6/6, 6/14 Hennepin (first observation at Minnehaha Creek near Methodist Hospital) †BrD.
2012Fall1 Only reported from Grant, where an immature bird was at Mud Lake 8/24 KRE, m.ob., 8/25 LMS.
2013Spring2 All reports 5/18 Nobles (Alternate II plumage, Round Lake) ph. RMD, m.ob., 5/29 Rice (adult, Cowling Arboretum) †JBk.
2013Summer No reports.
2013Fall No reports.
2014SpringNo reports.
2014Summer1Reported 6/1 Washington LMS.
2014Fall No reports.
2015Spring No reports.
2015Summer No reports.
2015Fall1 One report: 8/14 Mille Lacs (flushed along the Rum River) †RBJ.
2016Spring11 One south 5/10 Jackson (immature, Sioux Valley Twp.) ph. Cody Wiig fide KEm. An adult found near Indian Point (LME) and refound along the Western Waterfront Trail (ph. JLK) in Duluth 5/15–16 was the first in St. Louis County since 1985; it was subsequently photographed by many.
2016Summer No reports.
2016Fall2 Two individuals north: 9/4–7 Marshall (immature, Farmes Pool, Agassiz N.W.R.) KRE, m.ob., 9/8 Pine †LEv.
2017Spring No reports.
2017Summer1 Observed 6/7–10 Grant (North Ottawa Impoundment) ph. LiH, KRE, m.ob.
2018Spring1 Only reports: 5/26–29 Rock (immature, Luverne) ph. LKt, ph. †KEm.
2018Summer No reports.
2019Spring1 Only report 5/30 Goodhue (adult, Frontenac Lake) † MNb.
2019Summer  No reports.
2020Spring1 Only report: 4/26 Grant (North Ottawa Impoundment) ph. MoB.
2020Summer  No reports.
2020Fall1 All south 8/4–5, 8/9 Carver (juvenile, C.R. 30 & Yale Ave.) RBW, ph. VRL, m.ob.
2021Spring No reports.
2021Summer1 Observed 6/6–8 Watonwan (S. of Madelia, next to a Snowy Egret) ph. †KEm, m.ob.
2022Spring No reports.
 
 Rare migrant mostly south. Last breeding record 1981.

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.