and record #2004-002 complement recent

occurrences in Wilkin (16 October 1996)

and Big Stone (18 March 2002) counties,

and may indicate immigration of Sharp-

taileds from the eastern Dakotas.

• Sharp-tailed Grouse (three individu-

als), 26 February 2004, Odessa Township,

Big Stone County (record #2004-002, vote

7–0).

• Red-throated Loon, 29 April 2004,

Lebanon Hills Regional Park, Dakota

County (recirculated record #2004-040,

first vote 4–3, second vote 6–1).

This small loon was seen only in flight

for a relatively brief period of time by

an experienced observer, who noted the

bird’s tendency to repeatedly move its

head up and down, and back and forth.

There were lingering concerns that a

pale-looking, basic-plumaged Common

Loon could not be ruled out under these

circumstances.

• White-faced Ibis, 16 April 2004, Lake

Byllesby, Dakota County (record #2004-

009, vote 7–0).

Independently prepared, written de-

tails from two observers noted this bird’s

red eyes, pink or reddish facial skin, and

white feathering surrounding its bare fa-

cial skin, thus eliminating the possibility

of Glossy Ibis or hybrids thereof. Like the

next three records, it was an adult ibis in

alternate plumage and was photographed.

• White-faced Ibis, 19–21 April 2004,

Scott-Cray W.P.A., west of Fergus Falls,

Otter Tail County (record #2004-010, vote

7–0).

• White-faced Ibis, 25–28 April 2004,

west of Lake Osakis, Douglas County (re-

cord #2004-012, vote 7–0).

• White-faced Ibis, 2 May 2004, Ha-

ven Township, Sherburne County (record

#2004-029, vote 7–0).

• White-faced Ibis, 13–14 May 2004,

Mayer waste water treatment ponds, Carv-

er County (record #2004-030, vote 7–0).

Though neither was photographed,

for this record and the next, Glossy Ibis

and hybrid Glossy X White-faced Ibis were

ruled out by written details.

• White-faced Ibis, 24–25 May 2004,

Corvuso, Meeker County (record #2004-

Record 2004-076. Wood Stork, 17 June

2004, Grand Marais, Cook County. Video

image by Boyd A. Blomberg.

045, vote 7–0).

• Plegadis ibis, 30 April 2004, Lewis-

ton wastewater treatment ponds, Winona

County (see Not Accepted record #2004-

013).

• Black Vulture, 26 May 2004, En-

campment Forest, Lake County (record

#2004-042, vote 7–0).

This third state record was thoroughly

documented by contemporaneous field

notes and sketches.

• Wood Stork, 17 June 2004, near

Grand Marais, Cook County (record

#2004-076, identification Accepted 10–0 /

origin Accepted 10–0 / physical evidence

Accepted 10–0).

All ten MOURC members vote on po-

tential first state records, on questions of

origin, and on whether or not the iden-

tification can be made based on physical

evidence alone (in this case, a videotape).

This species has been predicted to occur

in Minnesota based on records in nearby

states and provinces. It was discovered by

a 3 and 1/2 year old boy in his backyard

and was videotaped by his father. Full de-

tails will be published in The Loon.

• Swallow-tailed Kite, 18 August 2003,

near Morristown, Rice County (recirculat-

ed record #2003-84, first vote 5–2, second

vote 7–0).

This record was discussed at the April

meeting and was unanimously accepted

after the observer was contacted and con-

firmed that descriptive notes written on a

Fall 2004

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