Seasonal Report Archive for The Loon - Whistling-Ducks, Geese, Swans, Ducks 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: Whistling-Ducks, Geese, Swans, Ducks
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck
Fulvous Whistling-Duck
Snow Goose
Ross's Goose
[Snow Goose X Ross's Goose]
Greater White-fronted Goose
[Snow Goose X Greater White-fronted Goose]
[Taiga Bean-Goose]
Brant
[Brant (Atlantic)]
[Brant (Black)]
Cackling Goose
Canada Goose
[Snow Goose X Canada Goose]
[Greater White-fronted Goose X Canada Goose]
Mute Swan
Trumpeter Swan
Tundra Swan
[Cygnus swan]
Wood Duck
Garganey
Blue-winged Teal
Cinnamon Teal
[Blue-winged Teal X Cinnamon Teal]
Northern Shoveler
[Blue-winged Teal X Northern Shoveler]
Gadwall
[Northern Shoveler X Gadwall]
Eurasian Wigeon
American Wigeon
[Gadwall X American Wigeon]
Mallard
Mallard
[Northern Shoveler X Mallard]
[Gadwall X Mallard]
American Black Duck
[Mallard X American Black Duck]
Mottled Duck
Northern Pintail
[Gadwall X Northern Pintail]
[Mallard X Northern Pintail]
Green-winged Teal
[Green-winged Teal (Eurasian)]
[Green-winged Teal (American)]
[Cinnamon Teal X Green-winged Teal]
Canvasback
Redhead
[Canvasback X Redhead]
Ring-necked Duck
[Redhead X Ring-necked Duck]
Tufted Duck
Greater Scaup
[Ring-necked Duck X Greater Scaup]
Lesser Scaup
[Ring-necked Duck X Lesser Scaup]
King Eider
Common Eider
[Somateria eider]
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
[Bufflehead X Common Goldeneye]
Barrow's Goldeneye
[Common Goldeneye X Barrow's Goldeneye]
Smew
Hooded Merganser
Hooded Merganser
[Common Goldeneye X Hooded Merganser]
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Ruddy Duck

Snow Goose(Anser caerulescens)
YearSeasonNS
1962SummerJuly 28, Lac qui Parle Lake, 39 flying over, Richard K. Ols-on.
1963Fallearliest Sept. 21, Watonwan Co., Avifaunal Club; Oct. 13, Duluth, 1 imm Snow Goose (blue phase), Avifaunal Club; Oct. 13, Two Harbors, 1 ad Blue, 2 imm. Snow, Avifaunal Club.
1963WinterLast fall migrants seen Dec. 16, at Lac qui Parle Refuge. One Snow Goose (blue phase) wintering as usual at Rochester.
1964Spring4-4 Lac qui Parle Co, RBJ; 4-9 Salt Lake, 400 mixed, RKO; 4-11 Marshall Co, peak on 5-5, 5000 mixed, DLO; 4-11 French River, Snow Geese only, JGH; 4-12 Duluth, 1 Snow Goose (blue phase), JCG; 4-18 Warroad, JR; 4-22 Ramsey Co, mixed, ACR
1964Summerlast spring date, 5-14, Traverse Co, RAG.
1964Fallpeak NE Minn 9-29 to 10-8, JCG; peak NC Minn 10-2 to 10-5, PEB; 10-6 Stevens Co, RAG; 10-10 Pine Co, AI Thiry; 10-15 St. Louis Co, WJM; 10-16 Beltrami Co, MG; 11-16 Wright Co, 200, EC; 11-27 Mpls, 7, EWJ.
1964WinterOne bird all winter at Howard Lake, Wright Co, in company with 2 domestic Blue Geese, DP, LJ, RG, RLH.
1965Springearliest 3-11 Cook Co, several Snows seen by Barbara SavTundra Swan
1965Winter 12/12-26 and later?), (1-3), Howard Lake, Wright Co., EMB, WL, DAB, MGGs. All winter, (1) Watab Lake, Stearns Co., RPR. '
1966Fall(blue phase): Earliest 9-8 Hennepin Co., RDT; 9-17 Stearns Co., RPR; 9-26 Cook Co., JCG; 9-28 Washington Co., WHL; latest 10-24 Anoka Co., TNL; 10-26 Blue Earth Co., EDK; 11-2 Wright Co., EC; 11-5 Sherburne Co., EAH.
1967Fall earliest 9-19 Duluth, FN/ MAS; 9-21 Anoka Co., WHL; 9-22 Blue Earth Co., EDK; latest 10-28 Lyon Co., PE; 11-14 Itasca Co., DS; 11-13, 12-1 Nobles Co., HSH.
1967Winter usual banded resident still at Collegeville, Stearns Co., KE; 12-14 Rochester, Olmsted Co., 4 with Canada Geese, AFR; very few winter records. - Blue Goose - still one wintering at the Virginia powerplant, St. Louis Co., MIG, LTM, EHH.
1968Spring early 3-10 FargoMoorhead, fide EGA; 3-15 Wabasha Co., DGM; 3-16 Wright Co., EHD and Nobles Co., HSH; 3-19 Aitkin Co., CEP; late 5-10 Marshall Co., AWR and Lac qui Parle Co, JAH; 5-19 Morrison Co., LSR; 5-28 Big Stone Co., JAH.
1969Winter1-24 Virginia, St. Louis Co. (PE, KRE); 12-20 (2, BTV), 1-1 (RG), 1-26 (6, KRE), 2-5 (3, CW), 2-14 (4, KRE), 2-17 (4, ETS) Rochester, Olmsted Co.
1970Fallall winter, Brainerd, Crow Wing JB; 1-16 (2, CW) -2-6 (1, RG) -2-28 (1, CW) Olmsted. Snow/ Snow Goose (blue phase): 3-12 (6) Olmsted FN.
1970Winterall winter, Brainerd, Crow Wing JB; 1-16 (2, CW) -2-6 (1, RG) -2-28 (1, CW) Olmsted. Snow/ Snow Goose (blue phase): 3-12 (6) Olmsted FN.
1971Winter12-18 Brainerd TS, JB; 12-29 -2-8 Rochester.
1972Winter12-31 Silver Lake (2 adults, ·1 immature) JAB.
1973Summer Big Stone Refuge (Big Stone Co. all summer). Probably a cripple.
1973Winter Seen on the Marshall, Sherburne NWR, and Rochester (7 all winter) Christmas Counts; late migrants on 12-2 in Mille Lacs (MI) and Ramsey (JB), 12-9 in Big Stone (D. Peterson).
1974Spring Early south 3-1 Olmsted (4) JF; 3-14 Chippewa (50) CLH; 3-14 Cottonwood (4) RD; 3-14 Stearns (5) NMH; early north 4-19 Mille Lacs (2) Ml; 4-21 Aitkin (24) JB, TS; 4-22 Marshall (11) AR; late 5-31 Cottonwood (1) LR; peak 5-5 Lac qui Parle (350) KG.
1974Summer Late migrant or cripple on 6-27 in Marshall Co. (SV).
1974Winter At least nine all winter at two spots in Minneapolis, Hennepin Co. (PZ, VRL); also late migrants 12-2 to 12-23 Chippewa (CH), 150 on 12-7 Lac qui Parle (AFE), Bloomington and Rochester Christmas Counts.
1975Spring Early south 4-7 Olmsted VH and Henepin JC, DY; 4-9 Big Stone DWS; 4-11 Yellow Medicine GLO; only reports north 4-18 Marshall AR; 4-21 Clay LCF; 4-24 St. Louis GJN; peak 4/1 Yellow Medicine (200) GLO.
1975Fallearly north 9-16 Duluth M. Kohlbry; 9-21 Marshall SV; early south 9-28 Murray NH; 10-1 Nicollet BDC; late north 11-7 Lake JG; 11-16 Ottertail SM; late south 1/21 Ramsey M. Johnson; 11-22 Big Stone BSR; 11-28 Wabasha WL.
1975Winterrecorded on the Lac qui Parle, La Crosse (19) and Rochester (also overwintered) Christmas Counts; early spring migrants on 2-24 in Lincoln Co. (300, LK) and 2-29 in Lac qui Parle Co. (CH).
1976Spring Early south 3-2 Lincoln LK; 3-8 Olmsted VH; 3-19 Rock KE; early north 4-15 Marshall SV, AWR; 4-25 St. Louis NJH; 5-2 St. Louis DS, JH; peak several reports of 3000+.
1976Fall Early north 9-9 Marshall SV, 9-18 Duluth; early south 8-27 Olmsted JF, 9-13 Chippewa; late north 11-6 Roseau, 11-22 Becker JL; late south 11-20 Washington, 11-21 Big Stone, 11-25 Hennepin.
1976Winter 5 reports: Afton and St. Paul Christmas Counts; 12-3 and 12-4 Otter Tail (SM, GO); 2-20 Stearns (TS); overwintered at Carlos Avery W.M.A. in Anoka Co. (FS).
1977Summer Late migrants 6-11 Duluth (B. Hojnacki) and 6-14 Lake of the Woods (KE); also a possibly injured bird was seen at Agassiz N.W.R., Marshall Co. from 7-15 on (SV).
1977Fall Early south 9-4 Traverse (FKS); late south 11-27 Washington (DS).
1977Winter Late migrants on the Sherburne and Excelsior CBCs and 12-2 Olmsted (VH).
1978Summer One seen on 6-4 near Grand Marais, Cook Co. (RBJ).
1978Fall Early north 8-7 Otter Tail GO, 8-25 St. Louis KE; early south 10-7 Cottonwood RG, 10-7 Renville RJ; late north 11-4 Otter Tail NJ, 11-29 St. Louis MC; late south 11-24 Hennepin VL; peak 11-5 Lac qui Parle (25,000) OE.
1978Winter Late migrant 12-17 Hennepin (ES). Malla,rd Reported from 31 counties north to Roseau (1-20, SKS), Polk (Crookston CBC) and Beltrami (Bemidji CBC); peak of 4505 on the Wabasha CBC.
1979Spring Early south 3-25 Olmsted JSD, 3-31 Dakota JD, 4-1 Lyon HK; early north 3-24 Otter Tail RJ, 4-2 Crow Wing TS, 4-14 Otter Tail GMO. Peak 4-14 Traverse DGW (30,000).
1979Summer One, 7-14, Hancock, Stevens (RBJ).
1979Fall Early north 8-14 St. Louis HC, 8-28 Marshall KE; early south 10-6, 7 Anoka JH, KL, 10-7 Lac qui Parle CMB; late north 11-3 St. Louis RJ, 11-6 St. Louis KE, 11-14 St. Louis KL; late south 11-7 Olmsted JF, 11-23 Washington DS. Peak 10-21 Otter Tail SM (500).
1979Winter Two reports. Kandiyohi 12-8 (DdA) and Washington 12-29 until 1-6 (DS). Ma·llard Reported from 32 counties north to Cook, St. Louis, Itasca, Beltrami and Becker.
1980Spring Early south 3/15 Nicollet JCF, 3/18 Freeborn DG, 3/19 Mower RRK (130); early north 3/25 St. Louis P. Stelenski fide KE, 4/11 Pennington KSS, 4/12 Traverse AT.
1980Summer Lingering in Nicollet, 6-13 (4), JCF.
1980Fall Early north 9/1 Grant SM, 9/2 St. Louis KE; early south 9/21 Olmsted JEB, 9/27 Freeborn RJ; late north 11/0 St. Louis KE, 11/23 Wilkin FKS; late south 11/30 Wabasha JD and Waseca JCF peak 10/23 Marshall (1,500) ANWR.
1980Winter Many more reports than usual. Overwintered in Otter Tail (3), Anoka (1), Hennepin (1), and Olmsted (3). Also reported from Ramsey 1-1, Washington 1-15 until1-10 and Dakota 2-26.
1981Spring 3-1 Hennepin KE, 3-8 Dakota BH, TW, 3-10 Anoka KL, Ramsey RH (wintered); early north 3-15 Otter Tail SM, 4-2 Wilkin FKS, 4-24 Marshall KSS; peak 4-1 Otter Tail GMO (200).
1982Spring Early south 3-4 Hennepin RJ, 3-6 Olmsted JEB (wintering birds); early north 3-28 Otter Tail SDM, 4-10 Aitkin WN; late south 3-30 Stearns NH, 4-1 Redwood LJF; late north 5-8 Wilkin GMO, 5-17 Pennington KSS.
1982Summer One on 6/2 Ottertail (SM); two on 6/21 Marshall (J. Mattsson).
1982Fall Late north I 0-19 Cook KMH, 10/21 St. Louis LE, 10/30 Otter Tail DS; late south 10-29 Nicollet JCF, 11/20 Olmsted KL, I I /29 Hennepin ES.
1982Winter Overwintered in the West Central Region at Fergus Falls (SDM) and the east central region at Lake Cornelia, Hennepin Co. (mob). Also reported at Rochester from 12/7 until 1/3 1 (RBJ), (BE).
1983Spring Early south 3/4 Anoka DS, 3/5 Lyon HK; early north 3/24 Polk KSS, 4/2 Aitkin WN; late south 4/12 Hennepin ES, 4/24 Cottonwood WH; late north 5/18 Marshall ANWR, 5/19 St. Louis GMO.
1983Fall Late north I0130 Otter Tail OS, II 14 Cook KMH, 1/122 Polk KSS; late south 11/23 Houston FL, Olmsted JEB, 11/24 Washington OS, 11/30 Hennepin OJ, ES; · peak 10/4 Hawk Ridge (231).
1983Winter Reports from three south counties; Lake Cornelia, Hennepin, up to 3 until 1-8 (mob); Scott, 10 (?) on 1-4 MRBA, and Olmsted, 12-17 until 2-20 (2) (mob) and a blue phase individual on 2-25 (KL).
1984Spring Early south 3/3 Olmsted RE, 3/6 Mower RRK; early north 4/1 Otter Tail SDM, 4/29 Aitkin WN; late south 5/4 Dakota JP/ AM, JD, 5/13 Hennepin SC; late north 5/4 Marshall ANWR, 5/26 Polk AB, Roseau AJ, KSS.
1984Summer6/3 Agassiz NWR (JM); 6/5 Becker (2 -SDM); 6/2 Le Sueur (EK).
1984Fall Early north 9/11 Marshall ANWR, 9/19 Duluth KE; early south 9/20 Hennepin SC 9/22 Goodhue BL, DZ; late north II / 13 'cook KMH, 11/25 Otter Tail SDM; late south 11/23 Hennepin BL, 11/30 Olmsted PP
1984Winter Five CBC reports: Fergus Falls (2), Lac qui Parle (I), Hutchinson (20), Bloomington (1), and Rochester (2). The Rochester individuals also overwintered (mob).
1985Spring Early south 3/1 (wintering bird?) Olmsted JEB, 3/10 Mower RRK; early north 3/21 Mahnomen MHa, 3/25 Marshall ANWR; late south 5/12 Wright TT, 5/24 Pipestone SSt; late north 5/23 Polk KE, 5/28 Clearwater AB.
1985Summer Seen at Agassiz NWR, Marshall Co. (6/5, JM) and Salt Lake, Lac qui Parle Co. (JP, G. Larson, The Loon 57:179).
1985Fall Early north 10/2 Cook SOL, 10/6 Otter Tail SDM; early south 10/15 Kanabec DB, Olmsted JEB; late north 11/13 St. Louis Jeff Newman, 11-26 Clay MMo; late south 11/19 Olmsted PP, 11/23 Hennepin OJ.
1986Spring Early south 3/14 Blue Earth JCF, 3/15 McLeod TM, Rice FKS; early north 3/28 Marshall ANWR, 3/29 Otter Tail SDM, Wilkin GAM; late south 4/28 Hennepin OJ, 4/30 Olmsted RJ; late north 5/15 Duluth m.ob., 5/17 Polk, Clearwater AB.
1986Summer One until 6/3 in Chippewa and two in Lac qui Parle until mid-July (R. Pederson).
1986Fall Early north 9/7 Cook SL, 9/14 Duluth fide KE; early south 8/6 Hennepin JP/AM, 9/15 Anoka GP; late north 11/22 Clay MMo , 11/25 Pine BE; late south 11/30 Hennepin AB, OJ,Ramsey DS
1986Winter Reported on the Fergus Falls, St. Paul and Rochester CBC's. An early migrant (?) in Ramsey 2/28 (RH) and one in Steams Co. in late January and throughout Feb. (m.ob.)
1987Spring Early south 3/4-5 Fillmore AP, RG, 3/6 Nicollet JCF, early north 3/22 Clay LCF, 4/3 Becker BK; late south 4/6 Ramsey RH, 5/28 Hennepin KR; late north 5/5 Marshall ANWR, 5/17 Duluth KE.
1987Fall Early north 9/5 St. Louis TM, 9/7 Becker BK,; early south 8/19 Blue Earth MT, lOIII Dodge AP and Lac qui Parle AB; late north 10/23 Roseau MC, 10/31 CookWP; late south 11/28 Olmsted JEB, 11/30 Steams NH.
1987Winter December reports from Washington, Lin- coin, Olmsted and Houston Counties and one overwintered in St. Cloud, Stearns County.
1988Spring Early south 3/1 Cottonwood ED, 3/5 Blue Earth JF; early north 3/28 Otter Tail SDM, 4/5 Marshall ANWR; late south 4/9 Big Stone EL, 5/14 Lac qui Parle AB; late north 5/12 Red Lake RJ, 5/19 Cook WP.
1988Summer Five at Salt L., Lac qui Parle Co. (6/18, BL).
1988Fall Early north 9/20 St. Louis KE, 10/1 Otter Tail SDM; early south 9/25 Blue Earth AB, 9/30 Mower AP; late north 10/29 Lake SC, 11/4 Cook KMH; late south 11/5 McLeod RJ and Mower JM, 11/24 Olmsted BSE.
1988Winter Reported on the Bloomington and Rochester CBCs.
1989Spring Early south 3/9 Hennepin ES, 3/10 Dakota SC; early north 3/29 Clay DJ, 4/2 Traverse SDM; late south, 5/6 Steele AP, 5/14 Lyon AB; late north 5/20 Marshall SKS, 5/27 Cook AB.
1989Summer Unusual number of summer records; three birds 7/21 Clay LCF, two birds 6/5-6 Wilkin KB; single birds 6/4 Cook WP, 6/l Steams BR, 7/23 Kandiyohi AB, no dates Goodhue APr, 6/4 Rock TW.
1989Fall Early north 9/10 Clay LCF, 9/23 Pennington KSS; early south 9/23 Brown JS,
1989Winter Reported from Olmsted (2) 12/16 JEB; 2/3 Fox Lake, Martin Co. RJ, AP; Park Rapids, Hubbard Co. (date?) JL; and on the Mississippi River Sherburne/Wright Cos. AB.
1990Spring Early south 3/9 Murray NO, Pipestone JP; early north 3/3 OtterTail SDM, 3/12 Hubbard BK; late south 5/24 Mower JM, 5/27 Cottonwood ED; late north 4/22 Marshall, Polk DJ.
1990Summer Summering flock of at least ten in Redwood KE, RJ; also 6/18 Lyon HK, 6/7 Olmsted (two) AP.
1990Fall Early north 9/16 Itasca AB, 9/20 Cook SOL; early south 9/16 Chippewa RB, Ramsey KB; late north 10/29 Lake DPV, 11/17 Wilkin MO; late south 11/24 Cottonwood RJ, Nobles RG, RJ, 11/30 Martin BB.
1990Winter Mid-December reports from L. Calhoun, Hennepin DC; Lac qui Parle (7) CMB; Fergus Falls and Fairmont CBCs; five (I blue morph) in Dakota 12/9 and one 2/10 AB.
1991Spring Early south 3/2 Dakota PS, 3/5 Nobles LF; early north 3/25 Clay SDM, 3/28 Morrison DJ ; late south 4/17 Washington WL, 5/5 Lac qui Parle KR; late north 5/8 Norman BK.
1991Summer Two reports; 6/23 Lac qui Parle CMB, 7/27 Nobles KB.
1991Fall Early north 8/2 (summering bird) Pennington PS, 9/14 Todd KB; early south 9/26 Olmsted JB, 9/27 Washington WL; late north 10/31 Chippewa AB, Cook KMH, Beltrami DJ, 11/16 Grant MO; late south 11/21 Rice FKS, 11/26 Dakota KB.
1991Winter Overwintered in Dakota mob (1 blue morph and 1 imm white morph) and Olmsted BSE, HH, KB (1), plus a report of a returning flock of 60+ migrants in Anoka 2/29 SC (second earliest spring arrival date). Also one on Grand Marais CBC, 12/14.
1992Spring Early south 3/1 Dakota AB, Lincoln HK, Martin BBo, Rice TB; early north 3/28 Otter Tail SDM, 4/11 Polk BSE; late south 4/29 Lac qui Parle SC, 5/19 Traverse GS; late north 5/20 Marshall GS, 5/23 Norman MO.
1992Summer Single birds seen in Otter Tail (throughout summer; probably injured) CSm, 6/10 Roseau PS, 7/12–20 Clay PB, KE.
1992Fall Early north 9/23 Polk PS, 10/1 St. Louis SC; early south 8/30 Big Stone RB, 10/2 Ramsey KB; late north 10/26 Cook AH, 11/26 Otter Tail SDM; late south 11/22 Dakota KB, 11/25 Martin BBo.
1992Winter One blue morph overwintered at Black Dog Lake, Dakota County for the second consecutive year. The reports on 12/17 from Hennepin County (another blue morph) KB and on the Minneapolis North CBC were possibly the same as the Black Dog Lake bird. Also reported on 12/17 from Olmsted JB and on the Rochester CBC (possibly the same bird?).
1993Spring Early south 3/1 Rice FKS, 3/19 Lac qui Parle FE. Early north 4/4 Otter Tail SDM. Late south 4/25 Lac qui Parle EF, 5/8 Dakota DSm. Late north 5/31 Duluth DPV.
1993Summer Single bird observed 6/5 Kandiyohi CJ.
1993Fall Early north 9/12 Otter Tail SDM, 9/18 Marshall KSS. Early south 9/28 Hennepin SC, 10/2 McLeod RJ. Late north 10/31 Clay LCF, St. Louis ME/SK, 11/30 Cook RJ. Late south 11/29 Olmsted JB, 11/30 Dakota KB.
1993Winter One blue morph overwintered for third year in a row at Black Dog Lake, Dakota Co. mob (wild?). Additional reports in Dec. in metro area are probably domestic stock (several Canada/Snow Goose hybrids are regularly seen at Lakes Calhoun/Harriet, Hennepin Co. in late fall, and at least one domestic type goose was known to be the origin of several Anoka Co. reports). The unverified flock of 18 migrants reported over White Bear Township, 2/19 Ramsey fide PBa would be the earliest date on record.
1994Spring Early south 3/5 Freeborn RJ, 3/12 Dakota DN and Goodhue CS; early north 3/21 Becker BBe, 3/11 Grant KKW; late south 4/24 Lyon AB, 5/15 Carver DBM, WM; late north 5/14 Beltrami DJ, 5/21 St. Louis DBe et al.
1994Summer Most reports since 1989. Observed 6/1 Rock ND; 6/5 Dakota DS; 6/29 Cook OSL; 6/25–7/12 Rice TB, FKS; 7/21–31 Cottonwood ED.
1994Fall Early north 8/8 Lake fide MH, 9/17 Roseau PS and St. Louis TBr. Early south 8/13 Jackson KE, 8/30 Rice FKS. Late north 11/19 Aitkin WN, 11/30 St. Louis KE. Late south 11/19 Olmsted JW, 11/26 Anoka SC.
1994Winter Most unusual was one blue morph reported overwintering at Duluth, St. Louis Co. mob. Less unexpected was one blue morph overwintering for the fourth year at Black Dog Lake, Dakota Co. mob. Also reported 12/3 Hennepin JW, 12/4 Anoka PKL (2), on the Morris (35) and Lac qui Parle (1) CBCs, on the Rochester CBC and again 1/2 Olmsted mob (3), 1/25 Hennepin SW (3), and 2/19 Otter Tail SKS. Some reports in the Twin Cities may be of domesticated type birds (see last winter's report).
1995Spring Overwintered Dakota PJ; early south 3/1 Olmsted CK, 3/12 Hennepin PJ and McLeod RB; early north 3/12 St. Louis SW/MS, 3/16 Carlton LW and Cook OSL; late south 5/2 Blue Earth MF, 5/13 Lac qui Parle MB; late north 5/6 Roseau PS, 5/27 St. Louis DN.
1995Summer Single blue morph bird reported on 6/18 near Rice Lake S.P. in Steele Co. DA.
1995Fall Reported 8/26 Kittson (1) KB, PS (summer straggler?); total of nine north and eight south county reports.
1995Winter Single individuals overwintered in Dakota and St. Louis counties; also may have wintered in Rice and Olmsted. Early migrants reported 2/24 Kandiyohi RJF and 2/25 Martin (8) BBo; these are two of the earliest dates on record.
1996Spring Reported from 34 counties. Late south 5/19 Winona CS, HT.
1996Summer Several reports of single birds: 6/1 Wabasha CS, 6/8 Polk SKS, 6/15 Wright SC, 6/20 Hennepin RH.
1996Fall Early north 9/10 Pennington SKS, 9/21–29 Aitkin WN, 9/28 Beltrami (20+) SCM, Cass (35) PS and Itasca ABo. Early south (median 9/20) 8/10 (second earliest date south) Dakota DBS (wild?). No other August or September reports south. Late north 10/19 Itasca SD, 10/21 Beltrami DJo, 11/1 Otter Tail SDM. Late south 11/19 Jackson (125) LF, 11/25 Olmsted (1) DS, 11/25 Winona (14) CS.
1996Winter A flock of four overwintered in South St. Paul, Dakota and Ramsey counties KB. Another individual overwintered at Black Dog Lake, Dakota Co. PJ.
1997Spring Reported from 24 counties. Late north 5/24 Wadena PBi. Peak counts 3/29 Rock (2,500) WM, 4/13 Jackson (1,000) KB.
1997Summer Two mid-summer records: 6/21 Pine (St. Croix S.P.) SWe, 6/22 Big Stone LE.
1997Fall Fewer reports than usual, especially in the south. Peak 10/5 Lake of the Woods (50) PS. Reported from 17 counties. Early north 9/22 Kittson PS. Late north 11/15 Lake DV.
1997Winter Four overwintered in Rochester, Olmsted Co. mob. Lingering individuals reported through early January in six additional south counties. Also reported 1/10 & 2/22 McLeod MB. Early migrants noted 2/24 Olmsted (8) DA, BE, 2/26 Washington (18) WL and 2/28 Waseca JSe.
1998Spring Reported from 23 counties. Peaks 3/29-–4/2 Aitkin (1,000) WN, 3/26 Lyon (2,000) RgS, 4/6 Big Stone (2,500) KB. Late migrants 5/25 Rock (9) BSe, 5/31 Dakota (2) DBS.
1998Summer Most reports since 1989: 6/2 Cottonwood (4) ED, 6/4 St. Louis KB, 6/6 Redwood DBS, 6/6 Roseau (6) KB, 6/9 Wilkin KB, 6/23 Big Stone KB, 7/19 Pennington PS.
1998Fall Reported from 19 counties. Peak counts were unimpressive. Early north 9/11 St. Louis (1) SL, 10/4 Itasca BN and St. Louis PS. Early south (summering bird?) 8/21 Washington TEB, 9/12–19 Dakota mob, 10/2 Washington (75) RJ. Late north 11/13 Clay RO, 11/25 Otter Tail DST.
1998Winter Overwintered (1/1–2/14) in Olmsted mob. Late north 12/19 on the Fergus Falls CBC (2). Odd February reports include 2/15–20 Wright SDM, KB (still present in March), and 2/6–27 Ramsey (6) BL, KB (also lingered into March). Late migrants (through early January) reported from an additional seven counties. CBC total 153, with several large flocks moving southward on 12/19, including 39 on the Minneapolis CBC, and 100 on the Faribault CBC.
1999Spring See winter report for February records in Ramsey and Wright. Many south reports during mid-March. Early north 3/21 Otter Tail SDM, 3/27 Douglas SWa. Late migrants 5/20–24 St. Louis (2) mob. Peak counts 3/20 Nobles (1,500) and Jackson (1,800) PJ, 3/23 Jackson (2,000+) RJ, 4/8 Lincoln (3,310) RgS.
1999Fall Early north 9/19 St. Louis SWe, then no reports until mid-October. Reported from only seven counties statewide. Peak count at BSNWR only 1,050 on 11/17 (BOl). Last reported 11/26 Mower DSm, but also see winter report.
1999Winter Reported from 1 north and 21 south counties. Mid-winter reports: 1/30 Olmsted PS, 2/9 & 2/14 Freeborn ABa. Late migrants reported from 11 south counties through 1/1 Afton CBC; peaks 12/1 BSNWR (680) BOl, and Winona CBC (155). As many as 3089 early migrants reported from 12 south and 1 north counties: earliest south 2/25 Pipestone (14) fide AH, and earliest north 2/26 St. Louis (27 in Sax-Zim bog) MA (record early north). Peak 2/27 Jackson and Nobles (2000) PJ.
2000Spring See winter report for early migrants. Also arrived 3/2 St. Louis fide KE. Peaks 3/2 Jackson (11,000) KB, 3/3 Watonwan (2000) ED, 3/4 Lincoln (10,000) PJ, DN, 3/11 Murray (2350) RgS.
2000Summer All reports: 6/29–7/1 Marshall (single blue and white morphs, at Warren sewage lagoons) DPJ et al., 7/1 Traverse (blue morph at Wheaton sewage ponds) KJB, 7/2 Meeker (Boon L.) DMF.
2000Fall Scarce statewide. High count only 28 on 10/25 at BSNWR (BEO). None reported from southeast or southwest. Most reports were in October. Early north 8/12 (second earliest north) Clay (3 at Sabin) RHO, 9/19 Pine DDM, BJM. Early south 8/15 Big Stone KJB (but see summer report). Late north 11/29 Otter Tail SDM. See winter report for addtional late migrants.
2000Winter Reported from only three counties (22 last winter). One seen 1/1 – 2/26 Olmsted PWP, JJS, CRG. Also on the Faribault (2) and Wabasha (1) CBCs.
2001Spring Arrived later than usual. No significant concentrations. See winter report regarding one in Olmsted County, but also observed in 24 south counties starting 3/19 Olmsted PWP, 3/20 Dakota KJB, DDM. All dates north were between 4/16 and 5/8 in four counties. Late south 5/17 in two counties, 5/29 Hennepin SLC.
2001Summer Immature white-morph bird reported 6/2 at the Barnesville sewage lagoons in Clay County TAT; remarkably, a blue-morph individual was found 7/15 at the same sewage lagoons TAT, ADS.
2001Fall Reported from 14 north and 16 south counties. Oversummering bird at Barnesville through 8/25 Clay TAT; possible oversummering bird 8/14 Nobles (Graham Lakes Twp.) CRM, NED. Early north 9/12 St. Louis (8) FJN, 9/16 Wadena PJB. Early south 9/19 Dakota ADS, 9/24 Meeker DMF. Late north 11/28 Morrison MRN, 11/29 St. Louis JRN, also see winter report.
2001Winter Overwintered in Otter Tail (1) SPM. Total of 1/9 lingering birds through 1/4 Martin (1) BRB, most of which were on CBCs. Only early spring migrants were 2/23 Jackson (1) PEJ and Goodhue BRL.
2002Spring Seen in 30 south and 10 north counties statewide. Many reports of flocks >10,000 in western Minnesota. Early south 3/6–7 Rice FVS, TFB, also see winter report. Early north 3/30 Grant SPM, DKM and Polk JMJ. Late south 5/28 Olmsted (2) DFJ, 5/29+ Murray (2) NED, 5/31 Kandiyohi (2) RSF. Late north 5/30 Pennington and Roseau KJB, but also see summer report. Migration waves included an estimated 100,000+ moving through Lac qui Parle W.M.A. 4/5–7 (DTr fide JSc). Noteworthy totals 3/22 Jackson & Nobles (54,000) KJB, 4/8 Lincoln & Lyon (50,000) JEB, RBJ, DDM.
2002Summer Two reports: 6/2 Murray (Slayton sewage lagoons) MSS, 6/19 Rice (white-morph at River Bend N.C.) †TFB.
2002Fall Reported from 8 north and 18 south counties. Early north 9/29 Lake JWL, 10/10 Polk CMN. Early south (summering?) 8/24 Brown (blue-morph adult at Mound Creek C.P.) BSm, 9/2 Nicollet (1) LWF, 9/19 Houston (1) FZL. High count 11/2 Kandiyohi (1500 near L. Lillian) DMF. Late north 11/1–2 in three counties, 11/3 Cook CRM and Lake JWL. Please see winter report for late south migrants.
2002Winter Reported from 12 south counties through 1/18 Anoka BRL, 1/25 Meeker DMF, 2/1 Blue Earth RBJ. Only north reports on the Fergus Falls CBC (count week) and 2/4 Otter Tail DST (same bird?).
2003Spring Observed in 27 south and 6 north counties; none in the North-central. Early south (median 3/1) 3/15–16 in nine counties. Peak migration 3/23 (7659 in three Southwest counties) PEJ. Early north (median 3/28) 3/18 Todd BWF, 3/23 Traverse (5000) DDM, BJM. Late south 5/31 Rock KRE and Lac qui Parle (18) BJU, but see summer report. Late north 5/18 Pennington RBJ, 5/25 St. Louis (2 at Duluth) PHS.
2003Summer Record-high number of reports. Observed 6/1 Scott (no location) DFN, PEJ; 6/1 Lyon (3, no location) RMD; 6/1–9 Lac qui Parle (18 at Salt L.) BJU; 6/3, 6/17 Rock (white morph, injured, no location) RBJ, †SLF; 6/9 Brown (Sleepy Eye sewage ponds) BSm; 6/15 Grant (Pullman L., blue-morph adult) PCC; 6/21 Marshall (2 blue-morph adults at Agassiz N.W.R.) PCC, PHS; 7/20–August Marshall (white-morph adult at Warren wastewater treatment ponds) JMJ, †PHS; 7/21 Otter Tail (blue morph at Battle Lake sewage ponds) DTT, SMT.
2003Fall Reported from 18 north and 12 south counties. Oversummering birds in Otter Tail 8/1–28 m.obs., 8/2 Marshall (Warren W.T.P.) BJM, DDM. Early north migrants 9/6 Kittson (4) and Marshall (Agassiz N.W.R.) PHS, 9/16 St. Louis SLF and Cook EO. No south reports until 10/2 (median 9/16) Waseca NFT. High count 10/4 Red Lake (350) PHS, JMJ. Late north 11/18 St. Louis MTA, 11/20 Cook BRL. Late south 11/18 Lac qui Parle and Big Stone BJU, 11/21 Dakota SWe, but also see winter report.
2003Winter Late north (only report) 12/4 St. Louis (Duluth) KJB. Reported from seven south counties. Late south 12/3 Washington (Point Douglas) KJB, 12/6 Sibley JEB. Single bird apparently overwintered in Wright (Monticello) m.ob. Early south 2/28 Olmsted fide CBe, 2/28 Jackson (28) and Martin (3) PEJ.
2004Spring Seen in 28 south and 8 north counties in all regions. See winter report for overwintering birds and early south migrants. Early north 3/13 Traverse SPM, 3/15 Polk fide JMJ. Late south 5/27 Hennepin SWe, 5/28 Lac qui Parle (2) BJU. Late north 5/16 Beltrami DPJ, 5/27 St. Louis (2 in Duluth) PHS. Peak counts 3/13 Lac qui Parle (8500, BJU, 3/21 Big Stone (5000) KJB, 3/27 Lyon (2025) PEJ, DFN, 3/28 Polk (5600) EEF. Seasonal total of 424 at H.P.B.C., Dakota County (peak of 183 on 3/27) KJB.
2004Summer Seen 6/1 Big Stone (2, near Clinton) PHS, 6/5 Lincoln (2 adults, 1 first summer, all white morph, Lake Benton) †PHS, 6/6, 6/30, 7/4 Lac qui Parle (6 white morph at Pegg Lake, 1 white morph in Walter Twp., 1 white morph at Perry W.M.A., respectively) †BJU, 6/10 Rock (2, Luverne W.T.P.) BWF, 6/18 Marshall (1 white morph at Warren W.T.P.) †SLF, 6/20 Clearwater (2, Clearbrook W.T.P.) DPJ.
2004Fall Seen in 9 north and 12 south counties. Oversummering birds in Douglas 8/2–9/17 (injured) m.ob., 8/2–19 Yellow Medicine (3) m.ob., 8/15–29 Big Stone PHS, JMJ, 8/21 Lac qui Parle (3) PHS. Early north migrants 9/7 St. Louis FJN, 9/25 Red Lake JMJ. Early south 9/14 Wabasha (3) BRL, 9/25 Brown JSS. Late north 10/24 Lake ADS, JPM, 10/30 Cook JEB. Late south 11/24 Mower RCK, RDK, 11/28 Rice TFB; also see winter report.
2004Winter Only north report 12/19 Otter Tail SPM. Reported from four south counties. Late south 12/3 Olmsted PWP, 12/22 Chippewa HHD. Report of single bird 1/16 in Dakota (Black Dog L.) PEJ suggests overwintering. Early migrants 2/26 Nobles (4) PEJ.
2005Spring Reported from 18 south and 11 north counties in all regions except the Northeast. Early south 3/6 in five counties, including peaks in Nobles (4,600) and Jackson (4,000) DFN, PEJ, Cottonwood (2,000) BRB, and Watonwan (2,000) BRB. Peak north concentrations of “thousands” on 3/26 (early north) in Grant, Wilkin, Otter Tail and Stevens SPM, HFe, 4/1 Traverse (1,800 at Mud L.) KJB. Late south 5/16 Brown BRB, 5/17 Olmsted JWH, PWP. Late north 5/19 Marshall GT, 5/23 Traverse LS.
2005Summer Only reports: 6/12 Lac qui Parle BJU, 6/13 Pennington BWF.
2005Fall Reported from nine north and nine south counties. Early north 9/2 Beltrami BJU, 9/17 St. Louis (H.R.B.O., Duluth) FJN, RSB. Early south 8/19 (summering?) Lac qui Parle BJU, 9/23 Olmsted JWH. Late north 11/16 Beltrami BJU, 11/19 Todd BWF. Late south 11/15 Freeborn AEB, 11/22 Lac qui Parle BJU.
2005Winter Late north 1/9 Otter Tail (2) DTT, SMT suggests attempt to overwinter; possibly the same birds were found on Fergus Falls CBC. Reported from five south counties including probable overwintering in Olmsted (one seen multiple times at Silver Lake, Rochester) JWH, CRM. Early migrants 2/17 Dakota (blue morph with two probable hybrid white geese) ADS, 2/25 Martin (Cedar Lake) BRB and Nobles PEJ, 2/28 Houston (1) FZL.
2006Spring Found in 28 south and 5 north counties in all regions except the Northeast. See winter report for early south migrants. Early north 3/19 Grant SPM, 3/30 Marshall fide JMJ. Late south 5/16 Yellow Medicine WCM, 5/27 Nobles BTS. Late north 4/18 Crow Wing MRN (median 5/27). Peak concentrations 3/10 Cottonwood (30,000) BRB, 4/2–3 Traverse (15,700) KJB.
2006Summer Seen in seven counties: 6/3 Brown JSS, 6/6 Yellow Medicine BJU, 6/7 Rock MCBS, 6/8 Lyon MCBS, 6/11, 6/17, 6/18, 7/27 Lac qui Parle PCC, PHS, BJU, 6/15 Renville BJU, 6/22 Murray MCBS.
2006Fall Reported from 22 north and 23 south counties (18 total counties last fall). Early north 8/15 (third earliest date, but note unusual number of summer records this year) Otter Tail (Battle Lake W.T.P.) DTT, SMT, 9/8 St. Louis SLF. Early south 8/4 (probably summered) Nicollet ChH, 8/23 Brown BTS. High count 11/27 Lac qui Parle (2,740) BJU. Please see winter report for late migrants and overwintering birds.
2006Winter26 Late north 1/8 St. Louis (imm., Bayfront Park, Duluth) DOK. Documented 12/17 Mower (3, Austin CBC) †LLD, CM. Late south 1/13 Stearns/Benton (Sauk Rapids) PCC, 1/17 Big Stone BJU, 2/2 Scott (Mill Pond) JWH.
2007Spring1337 Early south 3/4 Scott (overwintered?) PEJ, 3/8 Blue Earth BTS. Early north 3/23 Kanabec CAM and Todd JSK, 3/24 Aitkin fide JWL. Peak counts 3/15 Lac qui Parle (42,450 mostly in Manfred Twp.) and Lincoln (10,660) BJU. Late south 5/24 (median) Rice TFB, 5/26 Hennepin JLS and Steele DAB. Only north reports in May: 5/8 Marshall fide JMJ and St. Louis JWL (median 5/27).
2007Summer7 All records: June Cottonwood MCBS, 6/1 Lyon PME, 6/1, 6/5 Lac qui Parle BJU, 6/5, 6/7 Martin MCBS, 6/14 Olmsted LAV, 6/16 Yellow Medicine (4, including a possible Snow X Ross's hybrid at the Canby W.T.P.) ph. AXH, 6/23 Meeker DMF, 6/30 Lac qui Parle PCC, 7/4, 7/19 Lac qui Parle BJU.
2007Fall1118 Early north 9/5 St. Louis KJB, 9/7 Kanabec RBW, 9/9 Polk PHS. Early south 9/12 Fillmore NBO, 9/15 Chippewa DWK. Late north 10/14 Marshall PHS, JMJ, 11/10 Clay JWH. Please see winter report for late south migrants and overwintering birds.
2007Winter3 All reports: 12/1 Meeker (13, Lake Ripley) DMF, MCA, 12/9 McLeod (13) LS, 1/5 Sherburne SMC.
2008Spring729 Early south (median 3/1) 3/14 Lac qui Parle BJU, 3/15 Jackson and Nobles DFN, PEJ. Early north (median 3/27) 3/21 Traverse MCA, 3/28 Kanabec CAM. Late south 5/23 Mower JEM, 5/31 Jackson RBJ (median 5/24), but also see summer report. Late north 5/1 Otter Tail DPG, 5/17 St. Louis PHS (median 5/26). Peak migration 3/30 in West-central region (estimated total of 50,000 in 5 counties, including 15,000+ resting on ice of Lake Traverse) SPM. Additional high counts 3/21 Nobles (2,500) BTS, 3/25 Lyon (2,000) BTS.
2008Summer2 Observed 6/1, 7/18, 7/19, 7/26 Lac qui Parle ph. BJU, RPR, PCC, 6/14, 7/19 Lac qui Parle (individual with injured left wing, Big Stone N.W.R.) PCC, 7/16 Olmsted RBW.
2008Fall1217 Early north (median 9/11) 9/18 Cook EEO, 9/27 Cass DAY, BAW, Pennington JMJ, St. Louis LS. Early south (median 9/15) 8/2 Lac qui Parle (Mehurin Twp., present since 19 July) PCC, PHS, 8/4 Lyon CRM, Olmsted JWH, 8/10 Stearns HHD. Late north 10/30 Aitkin PEJ, 11/17+ Cass (juv. lingered through January in Walker) BAW. Please see winter report for late south migrants and overwintering birds.
2008Winter12 Immature blue morph over-wintered 12/1 – 1/31 Cass BAW, HHD. Only south reports 12/5 Meeker DMF, 2/28 Jackson (probable early migrant) PEJ.
2009Spring1139 Early south (median 3/2) 3/7 Jackson and Watonwan PEJ, DFN, 3/9 Meeker DMF. Early north 3/16 Kanabec CAM, 4/8 Clay fide JMJ. High count 3/15 Jackson (estimated 5,000 near Sioux Valley and Skunk Lake W.M.A.s) JCC. Late south 5/28 Nobles BTS, 5/30+ Lac qui Parle (3 at Salt Lake) PLJ (median 5/24). Late north 5/22 Polk RBJ, DAC, 5/24 Marshall, Pennington m.ob.
2009Summer2 All reports: 6/1 Kandiyohi (1) DBW, throughout season in Lac qui Parle (up to 4 birds at Salt L.) PCC, PLJ.
2009Fall1115 Early north (median 9/11) 8/30 Marshall fide JMJ, 9/14 St. Louis SLF. Early south (median 9/13) 8/1 Lac qui Parle (present since June) PHS, 9/21 Sherburne ASc, 9/24 Carver JCy. Late north 11/7 St. Louis CRM, 11/12 Aitkin PEJ, Roseau TFo (median 11/30). Please see winter report for late south migrants.
2009Winter7 All reports: 12/1 Jackson JEB, Meeker (Lake Ripley) DMF, 12/2 Hennepin (Lake Hiawatha) DDo, Lac qui Parle (620, Perry Twp.) BJU, 12/5 Chippewa HHD, McLeod (9) DPG, 12/19 LaCrosse-LaCrescent CBC (30), Northwest McLeod County (Hutchinson) CBC (3).
2010Spring1024 Early south (median 3/2) 3/12 Olmsted DMA, JWH, 3/15 Dakota JPM, 3/16 Washington RMa. Early north 3/13 Marshall GT, 3/21 Grant, Traverse HHD, 3/23 Roseau JTi. High count 3/16 Washington (150, Forest Lake) RMa. Late south 5/16 Pipestone SIv, HHD, KRE, 5/30 Blue Earth JCN, 5/31 Rock RMD (median 5/24), but also see summer report. Late north 5/16 Cass BAW, 5/30 St. Louis PHS.
2010Summer5 Seen 6/1 Lac qui Parle BJU, 6/5 Blue Earth ChH, 6/5 Dakota DWK, 6/10 Hennepin RBJ, DAC, 6/13 Brown BTS, 7/5, 7/8 Dakota DWK.
2010Fall2219 Early north (median 9/11) 9/4 Kittson DBM, CRM, LS, St. Louis ABL, 9/5 Marshall PRH, LMS, 9/6 Lake DaE. Early south (median 9/13) 9/30 Lac qui Parle BJU, 10/1 Olmsted JPr. High counts 11/12 Lac qui Parle (350) PEJ, 11/11 Kanabec (250) BJU. Late north 11/12 Douglas ARW, 11/13 Todd HHD (median 11/30), but also see winter report.
2010Winter12 All reports: 12/2 Lac qui Parle (12) BJU, 12/18 Northwest McLeod (Hutchinson) CBC (20), 12/30 Hubbard (2, Akeley Township) MAW, 1/30 McLeod (Hutchinson, flock of 10+ in nature preserve; origin uncertain but birds appeared free-flying and unbanded) DPG.
2011Spring1232 Early south (median 3/2) 3/11 Lac qui Parle BJU, 3/12 Lincoln RAE, 3/14 Jackson DOB, Olmsted JWH. Early north (median 3/23) 3/26 Morrison GDJ, 4/1 Cass BAW, 4/2 Otter Tail fide JMJ. High counts 3/27 Jackson (11,516) PEJ, DFN. Late south 5/14 Dakota SWe, Goodhue DWK, PEB, 5/17 Lac qui Parle ASc (median 5/24). Late north 5/21 Pennington DBz, 5/30 Clay JMN (median 5/24).
2011Summer1Unusual summer record 6/11 Kandiyohi (blue morph, perhaps injured) MJB.
2011Fall1324 Early north (median 9/11) 9/10 Kittson TrB, St. Louis JoP, JPr, 9/16 Carlton JLK, Itasca SC. Early south (median 9/13) 8/6 Renville HHD, 8/13 Sibley DPG, 9/5 Ramsey MJM. Late north 11/5 Lake m.ob., Mille Lacs PEB, 11/7 St. Louis (220, high count, Duluth) KJB (median 11/30). Please see winter report for late south migrants.
2011Winter39All north reports: 12/8–18 and 2/19 Clay (1–2, Moorhead) RHO, PBB, DWR, 12/18 Grand Forks-East Grand Forks CBC, 1/10 Otter Tail RAE. Overwintered Martin (2–3 juvenile blue morphs, Fairmont) PEJ and probably Dakota (1 white morph 2/5, 2/11) BAF and McLeod (Hutchinson, flock of 15+ blue and white morphs, of uncertain origin) DPG; also 1/13 Chippewa (1, Lac qui Parle Lake) DLP.
2012Spring944 Early south (median 3/2) 3/3 Houston SHo, 3/6 in nine counties, 3/8 in six counties. Early north 3/4 Clay DWR, 3/12 Traverse (19,000) BJU, 3/17 Becker HHD, RAE, Clay RGj, Douglas JPE, Norman SC, St. Louis ALo. High counts 3/10 Jackson (20,380) PEJ, DFN, 3/12 Traverse (~19,000, most birds in two large flocks: one near Dumont and another north of Graceville) BJU, 3/16 Freeborn (9,450) PEJ. Late south 5/21 Benton CRM, Dakota AAn, 5/30 Nobles SC (median 5/24). Late north 5/21 St. Louis JLK, but also see summer report.
2012Summer22 Observed 6/1 Lac qui Parle †BJU, 6/9 Traverse DLP, 6/10 Stearns JLO, 6/15 Norman HHD.
2012Fall1522 Early north (median 9/11) 9/23 St. Louis KJB, ABL, 9/25 Polk VLa, 9/27 Marshall LyK. Early south (median 9/13) 9/14 Dakota TAT, 9/20 Lac qui Parle DLP, 9/26 Chippewa DBM. Late north 11/7 Hubbard MaH, 11/9 Traverse BJU, 11/11 Polk SAu (median 11/30). Please see winter report for late south migrants.
2012Winter16 All north: 12/1–8 Clay (blue morph, Moorhead) DWR, PBB, HHD. All south: 12/1 Lac qui Parle (3) DLP, 12/6 Olmsted (1 white and 2 blue morphs) LAV, STh, 12/15 Northwest McLeod (Hutchinson) CBC (37), Owatonna CBC (4), 2/10 Wright (white morph, Monticello) EPl, RQu, RSm, 2/28 Martin (immature) PEJ.
2013Spring1443 Early south (median 3/2) 3/17 Jackson DBz, ANy, 3/19 Rock JSn, 3/22 Wright AKn. Early north (median 3/23) 3/27 Becker KMy, 3/29 Hubbard MAW, 4/4 Mille Lacs ToL. High counts 3/19 Rock (5,000) JSn, 4/4 Jackson (1,356) PEJ, 3/30 Jackson (1,195) DFN. Late south 5/19 Murray, Pipestone, Rock DAB, m.ob., 5/24 Big Stone ANy, JWH (median 5/24). Late north 5/15 Grant WCM, 5/24 Roseau DWK, PEB (median 5/24), but also see summer report.
2013Summer12 Found 6/4 Nobles (1 mi. N of Reading) †DBi, 6/5, 6/6 Washington (county road 7 & presumably same individual at county road 10/120th St.) KMo, 6/7 Wilkin (Breckenridge W.T.P.) ANy, JWH.
2013Fall817 Early north (median 9/11) 9/12 St. Louis KJB, 9/17 Lake BCM, 9/20 Itasca SC. Early south (median 9/13) 9/9 Hennepin FKo, 9/14 Anoka RMD, ANy, 9/16 Goodhue GJM. High counts 11/5 Meeker (750, Lake Ripley) DPG, 10/19 St. Louis (130, Hawk Ridge/Lester River Census) KJB. Late north 11/3 Cook DWK, PEB, 11/9 Lake AM (median 11/30). Please see winter report for late south migrants.
2013Winter3 All reports: 12/1 Kandiyohi JoS, 12/13 Chippewa (8, Lac qui Parle Lake) DLP, 12/14 Northwest McLeod (Hutchinson) CBC (39), 1/19 McLeod (8, Hutchinson, free-ranging flock of uncertain origin in nature preserve) DPG.
2014Spring1043Early south (median 3/2) 3/9 Lac qui Parle FAE, followed by reports from nine more counties on 3/13. Early north (median 3/23) 3/15 Douglas JPE, 3/28 Traverse CRM, JMs, 4/6 Clay PBB. High counts 3/30 Lyon (5,500) GWe, 3/30 Lac qui Parle (2,000) KeL. Late south 5/11 Freeborn PEJ, 5/13 Blue Earth ChH, 5/25 Lac qui Parle KeL (median 5/24). Late north 5/3 Pine SBE, Traverse HHD, DPG, 5/26 Kittson CRM, m.ob. (median 5/24), but also see summer report.
2014Summer12Seen 6/1 Nobles (15) BTS, 6/6 Otter Tail PeC, 7/4 Lac qui Parle DFN, PEJ.
2014Fall1213 One bird apparently oversummered: 8/1 Watonwan (Butterfield W.T.P.) BAb. Early north migrants (median 9/11) 9/2 Marshall (13) JLK, 9/17 St. Louis KJB, ClN, 9/18 Lake SMC. Early south (median 9/13) 9/21 Sherburne JTe, 9/27 Watonwan HHD, RAE. High counts 11/6 Lac qui Parle (550) PEJ, 10/30 Polk (300) SAu, 11/10 Lyon (300, Cottonwood) GWe. Late north 11/3 Lake JLO, DWK, 11/8 Polk (150) SAu, 11/9 Lake BAb, Pine (75) MiD (median 11/30). Please see winter report for late south migrants.
2014Winter31 All reports: 12/7 Carver (3, Minnewashta Wetland Area) JTe, 12/14 Itasca SC, 12/20 Clay (Moorhead, American Crystal Sugar lagoons) PBB, 12/26 Carlton (flew over I-35 near S.R. 2/0) RAE, HHD.
2015Spring1441 Early south (median 3/2) 3/9 Lyon GWe, 3/10 Big Stone DLP, Brown MiO, Lyon GWe, 3/11 Murray DHr. Early north (median 3/23) 3/13 Traverse MO, 3/14 Traverse DLP, 4/1 Crow Wing ABi, Douglas BEc, Todd ALu. High counts 3/15 Cottonwood (10,000, Talcot Lake W.M.A.) TKa, 3/14 Jackson (6,030) PEJ, DFN. Late south 5/14–23 Yellow Medicine (Spellman Lake) GWe, 5/23 Yellow Medicine (Miller Lake) PCC (median 5/24). Late north 4/23 Marshall CCr, 4/25 Pine SAI, 4/29 Aitkin EGa (median 5/24).
2015Summer1 One individual seen in flight, then killed by two Bald Eagles 6/5 Clay KRE, LGl.
2015Fall1317 Early north (median 9/11) 9/3 Pennington KMS, SSc, 9/10 St. Louis JPR, 9/11 Otter Tail JSw. Early south (median 9/13) 9/19 McLeod DWK, 9/26 Hennepin BrW, 9/29 Lyon GWe. High counts 11/8 Murray (300) GWe, 11/20 Cottonwood (200, Wolf Lake W.P.A.) KEm. Late north 11/13–14 Aitkin PSm, KMo, 11/14 St. Louis (9) JLK, 11/15 Wadena (6) PJB (median 11/30). Late south 11/21 Olmsted JmP, 11/22–25 Lyon GWe, 11/30 Winona NAn (median 12/16).
2015Winter119 Scattered reports through December from seven south counties. Small group (15) overwintered McLeod (Hutchinson, Gopher Campfire Club Wildlife Sanctuary); these unrestrained feral birds are reported most winters at this location and are present year-round, where they breed fide BNn. Early spring migrants starting late February, with many reports from 2/20–29 from 17 south counties and one north (2/27 Wilkin). High counts 2/27 Nobles (6,300) PEJ, Cottonwood (500) TKa, 2/29 Jackson (450) KnM.
2016Spring1444 See winter report for early south. Early north (also see winter report) 3/6 Otter Tail RHj, Polk (3, East Grand Forks) SAu, 3/7 Traverse DLP. High counts 3/6 Nobles (4,890) PEJ, DFN, 3/8 Lyon (2,500) GWe. Late south 5/15 Benton HHD, 5/18 Nobles HHD, 5/27–31 Nobles (2) KRE, m.ob. (median 6/1). Late north 4/21 Douglas (max. 3, Osakis W.T.P.) ToR, SDS, 5/11 Traverse ANy, 5/20 Grant AFa, DSc (median 5/29).
2016Summer4 Singles seen 6/1 Benton RMD, 6/20 Lyon (Cottonwood W.T.P.) GWe, 7/9 Le Sueur (Eggert Lake) JCC.
2016Fall1318 Early north (median 9/10) 9/5–22 St. Louis (max. 3) ABo, SJa, m.ob., 9/23 Lake RRd, RRe. High count 11/7 Otter Tail (120, Glendalough S.P.) KnM. Late north 11/8 Grant (3) WPl, 11/10 Polk SAu, 11/12 Lake of the Woods (40) JDe (median 11/28). Late south 11/25 Nobles (6) BTS, 11/26–28 Meeker JWd, BNn, 11/29 Rice (2) GHo, Scott (5) BHe (median 12/16).
2016Winter117 Scattered reports from the first half of December from six south counties, with high count 12/4 Dakota (40) DVe. Last reported 12/14 Hennepin (15) JmM. No overwintering reports. First returning spring migrants 2/13 Lyon (20) GWe. Many reports from the last half of February from 16 south counties, with the greatest numbers Southwest including 2/22 Jackson (8,500 at Jerry Schotzko W.P.A.; 3,500 at Boot Lake W.P.A.) KEm, 2/21 Lyon (2,000) GWe. One north report 2/21 Grant (10) DWK, HCT, SBM.
2017Spring1751 See winter report for early south migrants. Early north (median 3/21) 3/8 Otter Tail RZi, 3/13–19 Cook DLB, m.ob., 3/19 Grant SKu, NKu. High count 3/24 Lincoln (5,000, Sokota State W.M.A.) GWe. Late south 5/15 Kandiyohi JoS, 5/16 McLeod BHa, 5/26 Fillmore (probably injured) KRE, m.ob. (median 6/1). Late north 5/22 St. Louis (9, Park Point) StK, ClN, JIf, 5/24 St. Louis (Sax-Zim Bog) ClN, 5/29 Polk SAu (median 5/30).
2017Summer23 Observed 6/1 Grant (North Ottawa Impoundment) MJB, FGo, 6/2 – 7/30 Polk (East Grand Forks W.T.P.) SAu, MSp, 6/4 McLeod BHa, 6/14 Mower (Austin) RNS, 6/20 Mower (Dexter W.T.P.) KMS, SSc, 6/20 Winona (between C.R. 37 & Hwy. 14) RMD.
2017Fall1422 One summered in Polk (East Grand Forks W.T.P.) SAu, m.ob. through 8/18. Early north (median 9/6) 8/2–20 St. Louis (Duluth) DOK, m.ob. High counts 10/27 Lyon (600, flyover, Marshall) GWe, 11/5 Grant (200, North Ottawa) CNn. Late north 11/5 Grant NaH, CNn, Otter Tail (4) JsS, 11/6–7 Lake (7, Two Harbors) ShG, HeH, m.ob., 11/16 St. Louis H.R.B.O. (median 11/15). Late south 11/20 Big Stone DLP, 11/25 Cottonwood BTS, MiO, 11/26 Chippewa GWe (median 12/16).
2017Winter38 Two north reports (Morrison, Clay) and five south reports through mid December, all of 1–2 birds. One January report 1/1 Lac qui Parle GWe. Unlike the previous winter, there was little evidence of early spring migration, with only one north (2/26 Pine KrM) and three south reports (beginning 2/23 Wright ebd), all of 1–3 birds.
2018Spring1748 See winter report for earliest migrants south (median 3/5), followed by 3/2 Scott JEB and reports in 12 additional counties on 3/3. Early north (median 3/20) 3/20–27 St. Louis (max. 15) JLK, m.ob. High count 3/28 Grant (20,000, North Ottawa Impoundment) EGa. Late south 5/27 Wright DWK, m.ob., 5/30–31 Big Stone (2) DLP, 5/31 Lac qui Parle StK (median 6/4). Late north 5/25 Red Lake GLa, m.ob., 5/26 Kittson (17) WCM, m.ob., 5/29 Marshall HHu (median 5/30).
2018Summer16 Reported from Big Stone, Dakota, Freeborn, McLeod, Roseau, Sibley, Yellow Medicine.
2018Fall1833 Early north (median 9/6) 9/14–18 St. Louis (max. 22) ebd, m.ob. High count 11/11 Lac qui Parle (200, Madison) KeL. Late north 11/3 Pine KrM, St. Louis (16, Park Point) JLK, Todd (23, Long Prairie) TLu, 11/3–4 Douglas (max. 20, Osakis W.T.P.) DFe, RAE, m.ob., 11/3–5 Cook (Grand Marais) GHo, m.ob. (median 11/5). Late south 11/17 Chippewa (3) GWe, 11/20 Lac qui Parle DLP, 11/23 Martin (3, Fairmont) HHD (median 12/16).
2018Winter2 Two south reports: 12/11 Rice DAT, 12/12 McLeod BHa.
2019Spring1236 Early south (median 3/5) 3/13 Dakota DVe, 3/16 Ramsey ebd, 3/17 Rice LiH, Washington TAr. Early north (median 3/20) 3/27 Grant (10,000, North Ottawa Impoundment) MGi, Traverse (4,800) DoM, 3/28 Polk EH. High counts 3/30 Grant (25,000, North Ottawa Impoundment) MO, 4/3 Traverse (14,000, Tintah Twp.) AFo. Late south 4/28 Lac qui Parle KMS, SSc, 5/8 Rock ANy, 5/14 McLeod PKF (median 6/4). Late north 5/19 Becker ebd, 5/21 Cook JaJ, 5/22 Grant PPe (median 5/30).
2019Summer1 Found 6/8 Murray (in flooded farm field on C.R. 4, W. of Iona) KEm.
2019Fall1624 Early north (median 9/6) 8/30 Pennington KEm, JWH, 9/6 Roseau RAE, 9/20 Douglas (2) ebd. High counts were insignificant. Late north 11/10 Lake PSt, ebd, 11/17, 11/24 Clay (Moorhead) ebd (median 11/15). Late south 11/15 Hennepin CRM, BAF, Lyon (4) GWe, 11/18 Washington (2) JDS, 11/26 Anoka DFe (median 12/16).
2019Winter8 Three early December reports: 12/4 Meeker (12) PKF, 12/7 McLeod BHa, Kandiyohi RAE. No other reports until 2/29 when early migrants were found in five Southwest counties, with high count Rock (240) ASu.
2020Spring1244 Earliest south migrants at the end of February, followed by 3/1 Faribault (4) RLF, REn, Nobles (3, Okabena Lake) KEm, 3/4 Lyon (5) GWe, and reports from 12 additional counties on 3/7. Early north 3/8 Grant (200, North Ottawa Impoundment) WPl, 3/8–16 Traverse DLP, ANy, 3/9 Aitkin (2) KCR. High counts 3/30 Clay (40,000, near Moorhead) ebd, 3/25 Grant (12,000, North Ottawa Impoundment) REn, RLF. Late south 5/25 Blue Earth ChH, 5/29 Nicollet ChH, 5/30 Yellow Medicine NMe (median 6/8). Late north 4/28 Marshall (2) JHs, 5/1 Lake JlB, 5/29 Clay (3) CMk (median 5/30).
2020Summer11 Reported 6/3 Lake ABm, 6/18 McLeod BHa.
2020Fall1730 Early north (median 9/6) 9/7 Kittson (5) ebd, 9/8–9 St. Louis JWL, JPR. Early south (median 9/14) 9/6 Lyon GWe, McLeod (2) ebd, 9/8 Hennepin ClB. High counts 11/3 Rock (450, Blue Mounds S.P., two separate flocks) ebd, 10/25 Lyon (250, Cottonwood) GWe. Late north 11/15 Polk ebd, 11/19 Grant (250) CNn, 11/21 Clay (2) TCL ebd (median 11/15). Late south 11/28 Rice DAB, Wabasha (12) KBu, TBu, 11/28–29 Olmsted LHl, MiD, ebd, but also see winter report (median 12/16).
2020Winter9 Scattered early to mid December reports from nine south counties; one lingered until 12/22 Rice m.ob. No reports after December. High count 12/4 Jackson (5) PEJ.
2021Spring1546 Earliest south migrants at the end of February followed by 3/4 Hennepin ebd, 3/5 Cottonwood and Nobles BTS, MiO. Early north (median 3/19) 3/7–9 Grant AaL, CLu, ebd, Traverse (500) DLP, AaL, ANy, ebd, 3/11 Otter Tail JsS, ebd. High count 3/7 Traverse (21,870, estimated; see full record for description of count technique) ebd. Late south 5/8 Rice TFB, 5/8–11 Lac qui Parle (3, Salt Lake) GWe, m.ob., 5/11 Murray SC, ANy, 5/15 Murray (2, Iona Twp.) KeM, JWH, LHl (median 6/9). Late north 4/22 Wilkin ebd, 4/23 Carlton SC, 5/8 Beltrami DPJ (median 5/30).
2021Summer3 Found 6/2 Washington (Lost Valley Prairie S.N.A., with large flyover flock of Canada Geese) NHa, 6/18 – 7/31 Hennepin (Loring Park, Minneapolis) m.ob., 7/12 McLeod (3, Hutchinson) BHa.
2021Fall1313 One summered in Hennepin (Loring Park) KDS, m.ob. at least through 9/26. Early north (median 9/6) 9/12–13 Lake (2) GWe, ebd, 9/14 St. Louis H.R.B.O. Early south migrants 9/10–13 Sherburne PLJ, JBh, AvB, 9/13 Washington ebd. High count 11/17 Sherburne (40, near Zimmerman) DlB. Late north 11/4 Pine KPJ, 11/10 Douglas ToR, 11/24 St. Louis (9, Sax-Zim Bog) BLz (median 11/15). Late south 11/30 Rice AvB, but also see winter report (median 12/16).
2021Winter19 One north report: 12/10 Hubbard (16) JCu. Scattered reports from early to mid December from nine south counties, with high count 12/9 Washington (18) BDo. Unusual winter record: 12/14 Renville (Granite Falls CBC). The only reports after December were 2/6–19 McLeod (3, Gopher Campfire Club Wildlife Sanctuary, Hutchinson) m.ob.; these are unrestrained feral birds (see Winter 2015 Seasonal Report, The Loon 88:100).
 
 Migrant throughout, but rare north-central.

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.