Seasonal Report Archive for The Loon - Sandpipers 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: Sandpipers
Upland Sandpiper
Whimbrel
Eskimo Curlew
Long-billed Curlew
Hudsonian Godwit
Marbled Godwit
Ruddy Turnstone
Red Knot
Ruff
 Sharp-tailed Sandpiper
Stilt Sandpiper
Curlew Sandpiper
Sanderling
Dunlin
Purple Sandpiper
Baird's Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
White-rumped Sandpiper
 Buff-breasted Sandpiper
Pectoral Sandpiper
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Western Sandpiper
[Calidris sandpiper]
Short-billed Dowitcher
Long-billed Dowitcher
[Limnodromus dowitcher]
American Woodcock
 Wilson's Snipe
Spotted Sandpiper
Solitary Sandpiper
Lesser Yellowlegs
Willet
Greater Yellowlegs
Wilson's Phalarope
Red-necked Phalarope
Red Phalarope
Whimbrel(Numenius phaeopus)
YearSeasonNS
1961Springseen on 31 May at Duluth by Jan Green.
1961FallOne seen at Duluth on 9 Sep. by Avifaunal Club members.
1962SpringJanet C. Green saw three on Minnesota Point, Duluth on May 24. Last seen there on May 31.
1963FallAug. 28, Duluth, D. Meyer. Upland Plover: latest, Aug. 3, Rock Co., Avifaunal Club; Aug. 10, Norman Co., Avifaunal Club.
1964Spring5-12 Dora Lake, Cass Co, JAM; 5-20 Duluth, 16 JCG.
1965Spring5-20 (1) and 5-28 (2) Duluth, PBH. 
1966Summer5-20 Rochester, Olmsted Co, 2, JPF. Upland Plover. 7-18 Fargo-Moorhead, ad with 1 y, EGA; present in Nobles Co until 7-20 and Jackson Co until 8-1, HSH; Stevens Co, RAG; 7-7 Minneapolis, 1, FN; 6-17 Swift Co, 15, NH; 6-12 and 6-23 Clover Valley, north of Duluth, Anthony Rekas, first Duluth record.
1967Spring5-27 Duluth, 1,RBJ, JCG, RLH, many other observers. Upland Plover: 4-28 Scott Co., 2, JIM; 5-2 Hennepin Co., FN/ MAS; 5-4 Watonwan Co., EDK; 5-6 Brown Co., HFH and Nicollet Co., EHH.
1968Spring 5-25 Duluth, CLH.
1969Spring5-23 (10) Cook Co., MA; 5-24 (22) Duluth, CLH, RL, PBH. Upland Plover: 5-2 (5) Watonwan Co., EDK; 5-4 Wilkin Co., EC, and Mpls., FN j MAS; 5-5 Duluth, JCG; 5-30 (4) Clay Co., DMF.
1969Summer6-2 St. Louis Co. 4 JJG; 6-29 Duluth 3 RL; 7-1 Duluth 2 RL. Latter two records p·erhaps extremely early fall migrants?
1969Fall9-21 Duluth, by J. P. Perkins. Upland Plover: 8-25 Hennepin 4 VL.
1970Spring2 reports: Duluth 5-12 (2) and 5-28 (4} MMC. 
1971Spring3 reports from Duluth RR; 5-25 (an amazing peak of 28) KE, RR, JG; 5-26 (1) MMC. Upland Plover: early south 5-1 Wilkin VL; 5-2 Carver OJ; 5-4 Watonwan EK; early north 5-1 Clay KH; 5-6 Duluth MMC.
1973Summer 6-2 St. Louis (Duluth) Joe Gallian.
1974Spring 4 reports from Duluth: 5-16 (1) MMC; 5-19 (4) GJN; 5-20 (3) BDC and PF; 5-23 (1) DS; 5-16 Goodhue (4) C. Farnes.
1974Fall 8-10 Duluth MMC.
1975Spring 4 reports: 5-16 Wabasha (2) WDM, RL; 5-17 St. Louis (2) and Meeker (1) OLJ; 5-29 St. Louis (1) BDC; this bird is casual away from Lake Superior.
1976Spring 4 reports of 20 birds: 5-23 Cook (Tofte) (17) Tom Hart; 5-26 St. Louis (1) BDC, BB; 5-30 St. Louis (1) CH, DGW; 5-31 Marshall (1) KE, RBJ, casual away from Lake Superior.
1976Fall 9-17 Big Bay, Cook Co., T. Dyke.
1977Spring 1 report: 5-30 St. Louis DA.
1977Summer Seen only at Duluth on 6-11 (DA, B. Hojnacki).
1977Fall Only report 8-29 to 8-31 Cook (G. Scott).
1978Spring 5-19 Stearns (7) NH; 5-20 St. Louis (31-100) KE, HK, RBJ; 5-27 St. Louis SG.
1978Summer Late migrant 6-4 Duluth (ETS).
1978Fall 8-28 Duluth KE, 9-24 Duluth J. Goin.
1979Spring 5-7 St. Louis DA (11), 5-24 Cook Don Goodermote (150). Only reports.
1980Spring 5-3 Marshall RBA; only report.
1980Fall 9-9 through 14 Duluth, many observers.
1984Spring 5/19 St. Louis (I) KC, M. Hendrickson, 5/27 St. Louis (23) L. Hanson -all reports.
1984Summer6/17 Duluth (T. Savaloja).
1985SpringTraverse, Clay; Buffbreasted Sandpiper: Olmsted; Ruff: Goodhue; Little Gull and Artie Tern: Duluth; Short-eared Owl: Chippewa;
1986FallAll reports: 9/4-27 Park Point, Duluth m.ob., 9/13-23 North Shore, Duluth m.ob.
1987Summer Late migrant 6/1-2 Cook (TW, WP).
1988Spring All reports; 5/14-23 Duluth m.ob., 5/18-22 Cook (max. 19) WP, TW.
1989Spring Only report: 5/20-29 Duluth (max. 12) m.ob.
1989Fall One report: 9/2 Duluth (1) DE. Stilt Sandpipers and Lesser Yellowlegs, 24 August 1989, Thief River Falls, Pennington County. Photo by Peder Svingen.
1990Spring Only reports: 5/17 St. Louis (25) KE, 5/26- 27 Cook mob. Winter 1990
1990Summer One bird 6/7 Duluth FL.
1991Fall Only report: 8/22 Tofte, Cook County MH.
1992Spring All reports: 5/17 Otter Tail (20) SDM, 5/18–30 St. Louis mob, 5/23-25 Lake fide KE, 5/23-30 Cook KMH, DN.
1992Summer Only reports: 6/1,3 Lake, 6/10 St. Louis.
1992Fall All reports: 8/29 St. Louis KR, 9/2 St. Louis PS, 9/19–21 St. Louis mob.
1993Spring All reports 5/19–31 St. Louis mob, 5/19 Lake DPV, 5/25–29 Cook KMH, DN.
1993Fall All reports 9/17–10/6 St. Louis mob (2nd latest date for state).
1994Spring All reports: 5/22 Cook SDM, 5/24 Anoka mob, 5/28 St. Louis BL, 5/28 Roseau mob, 5/29 St. Louis CF.
1994Fall All reports: 9/21–25 St. Louis (5) AH, KE.
1995Spring All reports: 5/20–29 St. Louis mob, 5/21 Clearwater (4) DJ, 5/23 Cook (10–12) SM/CE.
1995Fall Only report: 8/22 St. Louis DBe.
1996Spring All reports: 5/18 St. Louis mob, 5/20 Aitkin (4) WN.
1996Fall Only report 9/8 St. Louis fide KE.
1997Spring All reports: 5/17 Dakota (Lake Byllesby) PBu, DBS, 5/24 Sherburne (3) DJe, 5/25 Cook (21) MO, 5/31 St. Louis in two locations: Minnesota Point (4) and Stoney Point (13) mob.
1997Fall No reports.
1998Spring All reports: 5/16–18 St. Louis (28–30) mob, 5/20 Jackson (1) PS, 5/24 Clearwater (2) ABo, 5/28–30 St. Louis (max. 22) mob.
1998Summer First summer reports in six years. First county record on 6/8 in Lac qui Parle (13) RJ; three observed on 6/2 at Duluth in St. Louis Co. CB.
1998Fall All reports were single birds: 9/5 St. Louis KB, 9/17–23 St. Louis mob.
1999Spring All reports were from the northeast region: 5/20–31 St. Louis (max. 19 on 5/23) DBM, mob, 5/28–30 Cook mob.
1999Summer Only report: 6/3 Lake JMc.
1999Fall The only report was from Duluth, the most reliable location in the state for this species: 9/9 St. Louis (1) JLi.
2000Spring Three unusual locations: 5/16 Dakota (6 at L. Byllesby) DBS, 5/17 Big Stone (1 in Toqua Twp.) †PS, 5/24 Becker (single at HSNWR) mob. All other reports were along North Shore of Lake Superior in May as expected, and all were from St. Louis except 5/25 Lake JLi. Peak count 5/20 St. Louis (25) DBe.
2000Summer Only report: 6/2 St. Louis (7 at Park Point in Duluth) KRE.
2000Fall All reports: 8/10 St. Louis (Park Point) PHS, 9/3 Lake (Burlington Bay) fide KRE.
2001Spring Exceptional report 5/19 Marshall (7 at ANWR) CRM et al. Very low numbers along North Shore of Lake Superior, where reported 5/10+ St. Louis mob, 5/29 Cook DMF.
2001Summer Exceptional date and first county record 7/1 Pipestone †CAK, JJS.
2001Fall Only report: 8/23 St. Louis (Park Pt., Duluth) TPW.
2002Spring Arrived north 5/18–19 St. Louis (max. 13) m.ob. High counts 5/24 Cook (25 at Paradise Beach) DFN, 5/24 St. Louis (17–19 at Duluth) KJB, FJN. First county occurrences 5/26 Polk (Crookston lagoons) AXH, PHS, 5/31 Kandiyohi (3 at Green Lake lagoons) RSF.
2002Summer Late migrants 6/5 St. Louis (3 at Duluth) JWB.
2002Fall Only report: 8/18 Cook (1) JWL, SLL.
2003Spring All reports from Northeast, except first county record 5/21 Wilkin (one seen and heard at Breckenridge lagoons) KJB. Early north 5/16–19 St. Louis (max. 32 at Duluth) MH, m.ob. Providing the state's second highest count (226) were two separate flocks within a ten minute period 5/26 Cook (154 at Five Mile Rock and 72 at Paradise Beach) DFN; reports of 100+ at Good Harbor Bay (KRE et al.) and 45 at Grand Marais (TD) the same day were probably among those counted by DFN. Late north 5/27 Cook (1) RBJ.
2003Fall Singles in St. Louis 9/9 (near Brighton Beach) MH, 9/21 (Park Point, Duluth) MTA.
2004Spring Record-early and also at an exceptional location was the flock of 18 Whimbrel at Salt L. 4/18 Lac qui Parle †BJU. Second county occurrence 5/20 Kandiyohi †RSF. All other reports from the Northeast beginning 5/17 Lake (2) JWL and St. Louis (13–16) m.obs., 5/18 Lake (22 at Knife River, also the highest reported count) PHS, 5/19 Cook (18) RBJ.
2004Summer Only report: 6/6–8 St. Louis SLF et al.
2004Fall Only report: 8/28 St. Louis (one at 40th Ave. West, Duluth) JLR.
2005Spring Only report: 5/24 St. Louis LS.
2005Summer Only the second report of a spring migrant this year: 6/9 Cook (Grand Marais harbor) fide JWL.
2005Fall All reports: singles 9/13 Crow Wing (Ironton W.T.P.) JSB, 9/18 St. Louis (Minnesota Point) †PHS et al.
2006Spring Early north 5/20 Lake (one at Knife River) JCG, 5/27 Cook (50+ at Paradise Beach) DFN; also observed at Duluth (3) PHS. All south reports: 5/25 Lac qui Parle (one feeding briskly with a Willet in section 5, Garfield Twp.) BJU, 5/31 Anoka (one at Carlos Avery W.M.A.) BRL et al., †CMB.
2006Summer All reports: 6/2–5 Cook (max. 8, Grand Marais) RBJ, SC, 6/22 St. Louis (Interstate Is., Duluth) KRE.
2006Fall Only report: 9/11 St. Louis (Duluth) KRE.
2007Spring3 Early north 5/18 Lake of the Woods (1) MHK, JMo, 5/21–22 St. Louis (13) KRE, m.ob., 5/22 Lake (8 at Lighthouse Point, Two Harbors) JWL. High count 5/23 St. Louis (25 at Park Point, Duluth) CMB, DBz.
2007Summer2 All reports: 6/1, 6/7 St. Louis PHS, 7/18 Cass (Pelican Is., Leech Lake) ph. ABi.
2007Fall21 Reported from Park Point, Duluth in St. Louis beginning 8/23 PHS; last reported there 10/19 KJB. Also reported 9/15 Lake (Castle Danger) fide JWL. First county record 8/8 Hennepin (2 at Purgatory Creek in Eden Prairie) HCT, †DWK, m.ob.
2008Spring3 All reports from Cook, Lake, and St. Louis beginning 5/17 St. Louis (2, Park Point, Duluth) PHS. Last reported 5/27 St. Louis CMB. High count of 78 found 5/24 Cook (Paradise Beach) DFN.
2008Fall Only report 8/25 Lake JWL.
2009Spring31 One south report: 5/23 Kandiyohi (6, Olson Lake W.P.A.) DAB, JWH. All north reports: 5/14–30 St. Louis m.ob, 5/21 Polk (2, Erskine W.T.P.) HHD, JCC, 5/22 Aitkin JSB, 5/23 Marshall (3) REM, m.ob. See summer report for late migrants north.
2009Summer1 All reports refer to northbound migrants at Park Point, Duluth: 6/1–2 (5) KRE, LS, PHS, 6/13 (3) LS.
2010Spring31 Only south report 5/24 Lac qui Parle (Yellow Bank Twp.) ph. BJU. All north reports: 5/16 Lake (7, Lighthouse Point, Two Harbors) JWL, St. Louis (Hearding Island, Duluth) PHS, 5/18 St. Louis (2, Park Point) PHS, 5/27 St. Louis (60, Park Point) JLK, 5/29 Cook (3, Paradise Beach) DFN, St. Louis (5, Park Point, Duluth) PHS, 5/30 St. Louis (2, Park Point, Duluth) PHS.
2010Summer11 Observed 6/1–3 St. Louis ph. PHS, ph. SCZ, 7/28 Dakota KRo, † JPM, †CMB, JWH, ADS, RTe.
2010Fall No reports.
2011Spring31 One bird in St. Louis (Park Point R.A.) beginning 4/22 (second earliest date on record) ph. PHS and present through 4/29 m.ob. Two north reports away from St. Louis: 5/29 Pennington (Thief River Falls W.T.P.) †JWH, BWF, 5/30 Kittson †JMJ. High count 5/28 St. Louis (18, Park Point R.A.) JLK. Only south report: 5/13 Lac qui Parle (Yellow Bank Twp.) ph. BJU.
2011Summer1Observed 6/7 – 6/12 St. Louis (max. 2 at Park Point, Duluth) ph. PHS, m.ob.
2011Fall No reports.
2012Spring51 Only south report: 5/28 Dakota (Vermillion Twp.) BRL, ph. CMB, m.ob. Early north (median 5/18) 4/23 Cass MaH, 5/19 Clearwater (13) PEB, DWK, 5/20 St. Louis (6) JLK; other north reports from Cook and Lake. High count 5/26 Cook (36, Paradise Beach) DFN. See summer report for late migrants north.
2012Summer1 Two reports from St. Louis (on or near Hearding Island, Duluth: 6/2 (25) ph. AM, 6/5 (2) ANy.
2012Fall No reports.
2013Spring71 Only south report and season's high count: 5/24 Big Stone (44, highest count away from Lake Superior) ph. ANy, JWH. Several north reports away from Lake Superior beginning 5/12 Polk (East Grand Forks W.T.P.) ph. SAu, ph. VLa, 5/18 Grant and Traverse (North Ottawa Impoundment) ph. PEB, DWK, HCT, 5/20 Cass (Walker W.T.P.) BAW, 5/29 Itasca ph. SC. All other north reports from Lake Superior: 5/22 St. Louis (19, Park Point) JLK, 5/23 St. Louis DFN, TKe, 5/24 Cook DFN, 5/30 St. Louis (Park Point) MSS, EBr. See summer report for late migrants north (median 6/2).
2013Summer1 Only report: 6/3 St. Louis (ball field on Park Point) CLW.
2013Fall No fall reports since 2008.
2014Spring31All south 5/10 Rice (south of C.R. 12 along C.R. 72) †DAB, ph. GHo, DAB. All north 5/19 St. Louis (14, Duluth) KJB, 5/24 Cook (Paradise Beach) DFN, 5/26 Douglas (south of Brandon) ph. DWK, 5/28 Cook (Taconite Harbor) ClN, MGo, but also see summer report.
2014Summer21Seen 6/2 St. Louis (Park Point) JLK, 6/6 Clay (Felton Prairie) ALD, CRM, 7/27 Faribault †WAF, ph. RLE.
2015Spring4 All north: 5/17–19 St. Louis (Park Point) KJB, TRK, HHD, JLK, 5/22 St. Louis (2, Park Point, Pine Forest S.N.A.) ph. DTr, 5/23 Cook DFN, Lake (6, season's high count, Knife Island) JCr, 5/25 Cass (3) BAW, m.ob., 5/31 St. Louis (Park Point R.A.) ph. LMS.
2015Summer No reports.
2015Fall No fall reports since 2008.
2016Spring51 Only south report 5/17 Stearns (max. 9, Albany W.T.P.) †PCC, m.ob. All north 5/15 Marshall and Polk (11, Agassiz Valley Impoundment) PEB, 5/18 St. Louis (Western Waterfront Trail) SDi, 5/19 St. Louis (Arkola & Poplar) JLK, 5/23 Red Lake (8 total: three at gravel pit in extreme southwest corner of county, five at rice paddies near Oklee) PEB, DWK, HCT, SBM, 5/27 Lake (Agate Bay) EEO, JPR.
2016Summer No reports.
2016Fall No fall reports since 2008.
2017Spring2 No south reports. Reported regularly from Park Point R.A. in St. Louis County from 5/16 (7) JLK, JPR through 5/28 (3) StK. Also found north in Cook County: 5/25 (14, Grand Marais, Artist's Point) REn, 5/27 (7, Five Mile Rock) JWH, 5/28 (7, Paradise Beach) SLL, JWL, See summer report for latest north migrants.
2017Summer2 Seen 6/4 Aitkin (C.R. 15 west of Aitkin) HCT, DWK, SBM, 7/7 St. Louis (Port Terminal, Duluth) NKu, SKu.
2017Fall1 First fall report since 2008: 8/15 St. Louis (Park Point, ball fields) JPR.
2018Spring4 No south reports. Reported north in St. Louis from 5/13 (3) FJN through 5/31 DyL, but also see summer report. Also found north 5/19 Lake (6, Two Harbors) JCa, 5/22 Grant (11, North Ottawa Impoundment) DBz, ANy, m.ob., 5/26 Red Lake (4, gravel pit in extreme southwest corner of county) fide JMJ, m.ob. High count 5/20 St. Louis (28, Park Point R.A.) HHD, RAE.
2018Summer1 Found 6/2 St. Louis (2, Duluth) JLK.
2018Fall1 Only report 9/22 Lake (Knife River Marina) KRE, JWL.
2019Spring33 All south 5/18 Dakota (Lake Byllesby R.P.) BDo, m.ob., 5/23 Kandiyohi (2, Lake Lillian W.T.P.) DPG, 5/26 Watonwan (max. 7, Fieldon Twp.) STa, ph. MiO. Reported north in St. Louis from 5/10 StK through 5/31 JLK, but also see Summer Report. Also found north 5/23 Crow Wing (Ironton W.T.P.) m.ob., 5/25 Lake of the Woods (13, Baudette Rice Paddies) NKu, SKu. High count 5/20 St. Louis (86, Park Point R.A.) ph. ebd, MLH.
2019Summer21 Late spring migrants 6/5 Cook (11, Grand Marias Harbor) ebd, 6/8 St. Louis (Duluth) NMe, 6/12 Lac qui Parle (Big Stone N.W.R.) WCM. Exceptional report of non-breeding bird 6/29 – 7/17 St. Louis (Park Point R.A.) †Evelyn Mock, m.ob.
2019Fall1 Only reports 8/20–21 St. Louis (max. 2, Park Point R.A.) JLK, AFo.
2020Spring82 All south 5/15 Mower (Dexter W.T.P.) ANy, ph. DnS, m.ob., 5/31 Steele (Armstrong Wetland Restoration) BAb. Reported north in St. Louis from 5/15 (3) JGz through 5/31 (Park Point R.A., 10, season’s high count) ebd, but also see summer report. Also found north 5/15 Kanabec (South Fork Twp.) ph. †SPS, Marshall (4, Agassiz Valley Impoundment) ph. HHu, Wilkin (Wolverton Twp.) AaL, CLu, 5/24 Cook (2, East Cook) ebd, Grant (North Ottawa Impoundment) DWK, Lake (Knife River Marina) JWL, 5/25 Aitkin (8, Rice Lake N.W.R.) KCR, m.ob.
2020Summer1 Observed 6/1–15 St. Louis (up to 6, Park Point R.A.) MLH, m.ob.
2020Fall2 All north 8/19 St. Louis (Stony Point) StK, IDv, 8/20–9/3 St. Louis (Park Point R.A.) ebd, m.ob., 9/25–30 Koochiching (Littlefork) ph. LDb.
2021Spring65 All south 5/14–15 Carver/Hennepin (Rice Lake) OvD, m.ob., 5/24 Lyon (3, Cottonwood W.T.P.) ph. †NMe, ph. †RJS, 5/25 Watonwan (max. 96, 320th St. Marsh) AnK, m.ob., 5/28 Yellow Medicine (Curtis Lake) KJB, but also see summer report. Reported north in St. Louis from 5/17 (7, Park Point R.A.) JWH, m.ob., peaking 5/29 (70, Park Point R.A.) IDv, HTo, through 5/31 (Stony Point) TLz, m.ob., but also see summer report. Also found north 5/26 Clearwater (Clearwater Rice Paddies) ANy, DBz, m.ob., Lake (Knife River Marina) TLz, Polk (5, Johnson Twp.) ANy, DBz, 5/26–27 Marshall (max. 34, Agassiz N.W.R.) VRL, m.ob., 5/28 Cook (44, Grand Marais Harbor) DAB, 5/29 Cook (40, Father Baraga’s Cross) DAB.
2021Summer11 All reports: 6/1 St. Louis (Park Point R.A.) IDv, 6/1 Watonwan (3, 320th St. south of Madelia) ph. KEm.
2021Fall1 Singles reported north 8/12–17 St. Louis (Park Point R.A.) IDv, TCL.
 
 Rare migrant mostly on Lake Superior, primarily in spring.

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.