Proceedings of the Minnesota

Ornithologists’ Union Records Committee

Thomas A. Tustison, Chairman

The most recent meeting of the Min-

nesota Ornithologists’ Union Records

Committee (MOURC) was conducted at

the Trailhouse Lodge at the Carpenter Nature

Center on 19 August 2018. In attendance and

voting at this meeting were MOURC members

Dedrick A. Benz, Andrew R. Forbes, Antho-

ny X. Hertzel, Douglas W. Kieser, William C.

Marengo (alternate), John P. Richardson (al-

ternate), Robert P. Russell, Andrew D. Smith,

Steven P. Stucker (alternate) and Thomas A.

Tustison (chair).

The following records were voted on and

Accepted:

• Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope) [Ca-

sual], 15 April 2018, Otter Tail River, Fergus

Falls, Otter Tail County (record #2018-004,

vote 7–0). Adult male, photographed. First

county record.

• Eurasian Wigeon 27–28 April 2018,

Kolkin’s Pond, Beltrami County (record #2018-

006, vote 7–0). Adult male, photographed.

• Eurasian Wigeon 28 April 2018, just east

of the intersection of County Roads 9 and 4,

Waseca County (record #2018-007, vote 7–0).

Adult male, photographed. First county record.

• Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula) [Acciden-

tal], 7–18 January 2018, Colvill Park, Red Wing,

Goodhue County (record #2018-001, vote 10–

0; origin vote 3–7; physical evidence vote 10–

0). Adult male, photographed. First state and

county record. Moved between Colvill Park

where first located to other points along the

Mississippi River as far south as Greene Point.

A seven-member majority thought origin was

uncertain meaning there is reasonable uncer-

tainty as to the bird’s origin and wildness,

or uncertainty as to its natural occurrence or

arrival in the state. A three-member minority

thought the bird was wild. Consequently, the

status of the species will be AO in the 2019

Checklist. As an aside, the Wisconsin Orni-

thological Society (WSO) Records Committee

reviewed the same bird which also had been

seen in Wisconsin waters. Three documented

reports were evaluated by that Committee and

the record was Accepted. The issue of prov-

enance was not regarded as a concern and

all members were satisfied that the bird was

wild. WSO Chairman Quentin Yoerger (pers.

comm.) stated that the Committee concluded

the record fit within the expected timeframe

for European waterfowl to most likely show

up in eastern North America (see The Loon

90:126–128).

• White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica)

[Casual], 4 July 2018, Ramsey, Anoka County

(record #2018-030, vote 7–0). Adult, photo-

graphed.

• Selasphorus hummingbird [Accidental],

23–24 September 2017, Crane Lake, St. Louis

County (record #2017-050, vote 7–0). Photo-

graphed. The Committee considered Rufous

Hummingbird, but unanimously agreed to ac-

cept it at the genus level only.

• Black Rail (Laterallus jamaicensis) [Ac-

cidental], 6–30 June 1979, Mound, Hennepin

County (record #1979-001, vote 9–1). First

state record (The Loon 51:142). The Commit-

tee voted to review all previously published

Black Rail observations in the state that had

never been formally voted on. Many of these

records preceded the formation of MOURC in

1974. There are still a few, pre-MOURC Black

Rail observations undergoing further research

and those will be reviewed after the work

is completed. There are no Accepted records

supported by physical evidence. Therefore,

the species will be considered as an AS regard-

ing its status in the 2019 Checklist. Also see

Unaccepted Records elsewhere in this article.

• Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexica-

nus) [Casual], 21 May 2018, CHS Wetlands,

Lyon County (record #2018-021, vote 7–0).

• Ruff (Calidris pugnax) [Casual], 25 April

2018, Big Stone County (record #2018-025,

vote 7–0). Adult male, photographed.

• Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea)

Fall 2018

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