American Black Ducks were found unusually far south for the summer season, being observed in Benton, Lac qui Parle, and Anoka counties. A large flock of 88 Ring-necked Ducks was remarkable in June at Rice Lake N.W.R. in Aitkin County. A Greater Scaup found in Carlton County was unusual for June, as were the records of White-winged Scoters from two locations in St. Louis County and one in Cook County. A Common Goldeneye surprised many by spending much of the season at the Bass Ponds of the Minnesota Valley N.W.R. in Hennepin County. Also unexpected were Common Mergansers breeding in Lac qui Parle and Ramsey counties.

The Northern Bobwhite is extirpated in Minnesota, but a presumably escaped or released bird singing in Great River Bluffs S.P. in Winona County reminded us of the species’ last known range in the state, in the far southeast. The year saw two sightings of Clark’s Grebes, both in the western part of the state. Unusual was the White-faced Ibis that tried its luck in Goodhue County, near Treasure Island Casino. A Mississippi Kite put in a brief appearance in Hennepin County, at Lake Girard Park, in June. Also in June, a Red-shouldered Hawk in Kittson County was an exceptional sighting.

Once again, Piping Plovers nested on Pine Curry Island in Lake of the Woods. More unusual was the pair of Herring Gulls that nested on a rooftop in downtown Duluth. In St. Louis County, at the Superior Entry, the second and third summer records of Thayer’s Gull were reported in early June. Around the same time, at the same location, a first summer record Great Black-backed Gull was observed. Entirely unexpected was a Lesser Black-backed Gull at Smith Lake in Wright County in mid-June.

A Eurasian-collared Dove provided the first county record for Morrison County at Little Falls in late June. During that same month a White-winged Dove spent a few days in Wabasha County, near Millville. Whip-poor-wills have suffered severe declines in the state, so fifteen birds counted at Afton S.P. in Washington County was welcome news. Say’s Phoebes nested again in Yellow Medicine County, using the same nest as last year.. A Ruby-crowned Kinglet singing in Minneopa S.P. in Blue Earth County in early June was a surprise.

A Hermit Thrush in Freeborn County on June 1 was a very late migrant, and a Blackpoll Warbler in Dakota County on June 7 was also quite late. Henslow’s Sparrows put in rare appearances in Otter Tail and Pine counties in June. A White-crowned Sparrow in Rock County on June 18 was very late, as was a Dark-eyed Junco in Le Sueur County in late June. Another June surprise were Blue Grosbeaks which provided a first county record for Stevens and a first breeding record for Dakota.

Weather Summary: In many parts of the state, June saw a continuation of the cool spring weather. Some areas in central and southern Minnesota did, however, experience brief periods of intense heat early and late in the month. Much of the state was drier than normal for at least the first half of June. Recurring heavy storms during the latter half of the month, particularly in the southern half of the state, more than compensated for the earlier dryness.

July was a month of extremes. The month was stormy and there were numerous days in July that saw heavy downpours. In some areas the precipitation total for the month was more than twice the historical average. Meanwhile, the northeastern part of the state was about 1.5” below normal in rainfall. The end of the month was dry almost everywhere, as the coming autumn drought began. Temperatures in July were well above average all across the state. Even more extreme were the dewpoints, which were extremely high over a wide portion of the state for extended periods of time.

Undocumented Reports: Sharp-shinned Hawk 6/3 Waseca; Buff-breasted Sandpiper 6/27 Goodhue; Black-headed Grosbeak 6/1 Ramsey; Great-tailed Grackle 6/12 Crow Wing, 6/19 Anoka; Eurasian Tree Sparrow 6/27 Todd.

Maps: A map is included for each species having at least one confirmed breeding record during 2011 (not necessarily just in summer). A county is colored black to show confirmed breeding, medium gray for probable breeding, and light gray for a summer observation.

Acknowledgements: Thanks to all who submitted summer season reports and breeding records. Your data make this report possible. Special thanks to Steve Stucker and the Minnesota DNR for providing MCBS data. Thanks also to Anthony Hertzel, Jim Lind, and Jeanie Joppru for providing transcripts of weekly birding reports, to Paul Budde for compiling early and late dates, to Bob Janssen and Peder Svingen for maintaining a list of county and seasonal occurrence records, and to Dave Cahlander for his work on the online seasonal report. Anthony Hertzel and Dave Cahlander produced the maps used in this report.