Proceedings of the Minnesota Ornithologists’

Union Records Committee

Thomas A. Tustison, Chairman

The most recent meeting of the Minnesota

Ornithologists’ Union Records Committee

(MOURC) was conducted via electronic

media on 18 November 2023. In attendance

and voting at this meeting were MOURC mem-

bers Kimberly A. Emerson (alternate), Rebecca

R. Engdahl, Anthony X. Hertzel, Ann E. Kessen,

Andrew D. Smith, Steven P. Stucker, Howard C.

Towle (alternate), William C. Marengo, Joshua

G. Watson (alternate), and Thomas A. Tustison

(chair).

The following records were voted on at, or

subsequent to, the meeting and were Accepted

(Note: in general, dates given for each record

represent the first and last dates of observation;

some records may not have been documented

on each intervening date):

• Black-bellied Whistling-Duck (Dendro-

cygna autumnalis) [Accidental], 10 October

2022, pond near highway 36 and Stillwater

Boulevard interchange, Lake Elmo, Washington

County (record #2022-087, original vote 6–1, a

proposal to reconsider this record was rejected

by an 8-2 vote).

• Anna’s Hummingbird (Calypte anna) [Ac-

cidental], 30 October – 15 November 2023,

private residence, Eureka Township, Dakota

County (record #2023-106, vote 7–0). Immature

male, photographed and video recorded. Sixth

state and second county record.

• Rock Ptarmigan (Lagopus muta) [Acciden-

tal], 19 April 2022, City of Wabasha, Wabasha

County (record # 2022-011, vote 7–0), First

county and second state record. A consensus

vote was taken on whether to consider origin

(6–4 to not consider a formal vote on origin).

The origin vote is in keeping with the prec-

edent of the first state record which considered

the bird wild. The first state record was record-

ed in Grand Marais in 1996 (The Loon 68:165).

Apparently, these two records represent the

only known vagrants in the “Lower 48” states.

• Limpkin (Aramus guarauna) [Accidental],

9 September 2023, along 70th Avenue South

just north of Turtle Lake, Clay County (record

#2023-097, vote 7–0). Adult, photographed. First

county record. Since it was first recorded in the

state on 30 May 2021 (The Loon 93:112), there

has been a total of nine records through the

end of 2023.

• Limpkin, 25 September 2023, north side of

700th Street near Iowa’s Trickle Slough Wildlife

Management Area, Jackson County (record

#2023-102, vote 7–0). Adult, photographed. First

county record.

• Limpkin, 24 October 2023, south of Lake

Pokegama near the Snake River about 0.9 miles

south of Pokegama Lake Road, Pine County

(record #2023-117, vote 7–0). Adult, photo-

graphed. First county record

• Limpkin, 29 October 2023, 48.2749,

-92.9337, about 0.2 miles east of the intersec-

tion of Sheep Ranch Road and Forest Road 608,

St. Louis County (record #2023-112, vote 7–0).

Adult, photographed. First county record.

• Limpkin, 3–20 November 2023, in a wood-

ed swamp near Moose Lake, Carlton County

(record #2023-113, vote 7–0). Adult, photo-

graphed. First county record.

• Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexica-

nus) [Casual], 23 May 2018, in flooded field

along the south side of county highway 28

east of 785th Avenue, Big Stone County (record

#2023-103, vote 7–0). A single adult.

• Black-necked Stilt, 13 May 2023, west

ponds, near Reno, Houston County (record

#2023-119, vote 7–0). Adult male, photo-

graphed.

• Black-necked Stilt, 4 June 2023, south of

Litchfield on 180th Street about one mile west

of county road 22, Meeker County (record

#2023-069, vote 7–0). Adult, photographed. First

county record.

• Black-necked Stilt, 4 June 2023, Gaylord

Water Treatment Plant, Sibley County (record

#2023-089, vote 7–0). Adult, photographed.

• Black-necked Stilt, 8 June – 11 July 2023,

Blue Earth County (record #2023-071, vote 7–0).

Fall 2023

115