learned that an individual of this species had escaped from a nearby private collection of
exotic waterfowl shortly before the observation.
-The status of the Clark's Grebe in Minnesota was discussed, and it was decided that votes
would be taken on the five possible records of this species in the file which MORC had
never voted on (see The Loon 61:99-108).
*****
The following records were voted on, July-December 1989, and found to be Acceptable:
- Black-necked Stilt, 23-25 April 1989, Roseau RiverW.M .A., Roseau Co. (vote 10-0; The
Loon 61: 197) .
-Least Tern , 12 June 1989, Hastings , Dakota Co. (vote 7-0; The Loon 61: 140-141).
-Black-headed Grosbeak, 11-26 May 1989 , Cerro GordoTwp., Lac Qui Parle Co. (vote
6-1; The Loon 61: 140).
-Red-throated Loon, 4 May 1989 , near Hovland, Cook Co. (vote 6-1 ).
-Barrow'sGoldeneye, 28 May 1989 , Grand Portage, Cook Co. (vote 7-0; The Loon61: 140) .
-Sabine's Gull, 12 June 1989 ,Thielke L., Big Stone Co . (vote 7-0; The Loon61: 149-150).
-California Gull, 10-11 June 1989 , Thielke L., Big Stone Co . (vote 7-0; The Loon61 :149).
-Western Wood-Pewee, 22 June 1989 , near Kelsey, St. Louis Co. (vote 7-0; The Loon
61:147-148).
-White-eyed Vireo , 7-8 June 1989, Cannon River Wilderness Area, Rice Co. (vote 7-0;
The Loon 61:142).
-Pacific Loon, 2-14 June 1989, Duluth , St. Louis Co. (vote 7-0; The Loon 61:154).
-Red-throated Loon, 28 May 1989, near Paradise Beach, Cook Co. (vote 7-0; The Loon
61: 152).
-California Gull, 20August 1989 , Black Dog L., Dakota Co. (vote 7-0; The Loon 61: 153).
-Plegadis ibis , sp., 12 September 1989, Gatzke , Marshall Co. (vote 7-0; The Loon61 :201).
-Ross' Goose , 13 October 1989 , Cucumber L., Becker Co. (vote 7-0; The Loon 61 :205).
-Brant, 9-14 October 1989, Agassiz N.W.R., Marshall Co. (vote 7-0 The Loon 61:204).
-Western Tanager, 16 September 1989 , Duluth, St. Louis Co. (vote 7-0; The Loon 61:198-
199).
-S harp-tailed Sparrow, 30 September 1989 , Gun Club L. , Dakota Co. (vote 7-0; The Loon
61 :204).
-Iceland Gull, 19 November 1989 , Minneapolis , Hennepin Co. (vote 7-0; The Loon 61:207-
208).
-Loggerhead Shrike, 26 November 1989 , near Racine , Mower Co. (vote 7-0 The Loon
62:58).
-Loggerhead Shrike, 12 November 1989 , near L. Byllesby, Dakota Co. (vote 7-0 The Loon
62:58).
The following records were voted on, July-December 1989 , and found to be Unacceptable:
-Magnificent Frigatebird, 22 September 1988 , Itasca State Park , Clearwater Co. (vote 7-3,
with 10-0 required for acceptance). Since so many extralimital frigatebirds were seen about
this time as a result of Hurricane Gilbert, it was unanimously believed the observers actually
saw a frigatebird. However, the description submitted was, unfortunately, too sketchy for
everyone to accept. The description only included that it "looked like a kite at first," that it
had a " long slender scissor tail ," and that it was "entirely black with a red pouch under its
all white bill." The details were good enough to convince the majority, but the minority felt
a better description was necessary for such an unusual record .
-Long-billed Curlew, I May 1989, Heron L., Jackson Co. (vote 1-6). Although it was
believed the identification was correct, neither the sketches nor verbal description were
complete enough to eliminate Whimbrel since no mention was made of the head pattern or
the color of the underwing linings , and the larger-than-Franklin's Gull size described could
also fit Whimbrel.
-Western Tanager, 8 August 1989 , Cedar Creek Nat. Hist. Area , Anoka Co. (vote 1-6) .
The brief description only said the bird had a "red head with all yellow belly," but such
details do not eliminate a molting male ScarletTanager or a first-summer SummerTanager.
Spring 1990
13