Seasonal Report Archive for The Loon - Longspurs and Snow Buntings Occurrence
This is the 1930 to present seasonal report archive for
The Loon, journal of the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union.
The last 2 years are available to MOU members.
Seasons
Families
Whistling-Ducks, Geese, Swans, Ducks
New World Quail
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Waxwings
Silky-flycatchers
Nuthatches
Creepers
Gnatcatchers
Wrens
Thrashers, Mockingbirds
Starlings
Dippers
Thrushes
Old World Flycatchers
Old World Sparrows
Pipits
Finches
Longspurs and Snow Buntings
Towhees, Sparrows
Yellow-breasted Chat
Blackbirds, Orioles
Warblers
Tanagers, Cardinals, Grosbeaks

Seasons
Species: Longspurs and Snow Buntings
Lapland Longspur
Chestnut-collared Longspur
Smith's Longspur
Thick-billed Longspur
Snow Bunting

Chestnut-collared Longspur(Calcarius ornatus)
YearSeasonNS
1933Summer A vr;rry interesting o.nd now uncommon species is o.c1ded to our list 'dth tho finding of its nest in Pennington County by Swanson. Discovered on June 19th, the nest conta.inod 3 eggs, · · which number has been increased to 4 by the 2oth. The bird wns so tame that Grimes took several photographs of her on the nest from within a few feet without bothering to conceal himself or the enmera. Incidentally, this is, according to records in Dr. Roberts' "Birds of Minnosota.11, the first known nest of this species found in tho state since 1898.
1937SummerFour young black-bellied longspurs were seen in their nest near Warren by Rysgaard, Pittelkow, and Risser on June 18.
1961SummerAvifaunal Club ptembers saw them during most of the summer between Felton and Ulen. On 17 June, a nest with two nestlings was found. Banded adult female. On 4 July, one large, semiflying young, still in huffy juvenal plumage was captured and banded. On 15 July, a nest with three young and an unhatched egg was found. The young were banded. On 5 August one adult male, seven brown individuals that were either sub-adults or females, and one short-tailed young were seen.
1961FallOn 28 Sep., Dr. Breckenridge saw one, either a female or immature, between Felton and Ulen, in Clay County.
1962SummerJune 9, between Felton and Ulen, Clay Co., nest with 4 eggs, Bob Janssen.
1962FallOn Nov. 17, Brother Theodore and R. Huber were observing thousands of Longspurs around Salt Lake, Lac qui Parle Co. For the most part, these birds preferred not to fly, but rather they walked and fed in the fields. In one partie· ular alfalfa field, we were able to walk amongst a rather tame gathering of them, flushing various individuals from five to ten feet ahead of us. Of approximately the first twenty-five, which we carefully checked, most seemed to be Lapland Longspurs, but one was a Chestnut-collared Longspur (white notch on either side of tail) and one, possibly two, were Smith's Longspurs ·. Another late-fallj early-winter record for the Chestnut-collared Longspur was Nov. 12, 1941, six seen with flock of Snow Buntings CMMNH files).
1963SpringMay 24, between Felton and Ulen, Clay Co., about ten pairs, R. Grant.
1963SummerClay Co., between Felton and Ulen, present all summer and known to breed in area, but actual nest not found this year, Avifaunal Club, and R. Grant. Excellent response from numerous points around the state made this one of the best breeding reports I have assembled during my short tenure. 124 species were reported as breeding with another 34 species observed as summer residents (probably breeding) for a total of 158 species covered in this report. The Bay-brested Warbler nest appears to be the very first for our state The Hawk-Owls reported in the Kelsey area by Strnad may have constituted a family group, if so, this would also be a "first" for Minnesota. Other species reported that have shown very little if any breeding evidence
1964Spring4-25 Beardsley, Big Stone Co, RBJ; 4-25 Felton, Clay Co, several singing males, RG, RLH.
1964Summerall summer at the usual spot in Clay Co, between Felton and Ulen, RLH, RG, DM. Part II: Transients
1966Spring5-21, Clay September, 1966 Co, SE of Felton at the usual spot, 5, BL, RG.
1966Summerusual area in Clay Co, SE of Felton; on 6-19 RG and RLH noted hundreds in that area in less than half a square mile. Probably heaviest population we've seen there yet.
1967Spring5-20 Clay Co., DB.
1967Summer6-lO(EHH), 6-18(BC, LC, RLH) Clay Co., usual spot near Felton; numbers reduced from last year; a few still in area on 8-7, but on this date we noted that the area had been mown for hay-it will be interesting to see how this affects the wildlife population there in the next few years.
1968Spring 5-29 (3,KE), 5-30 (50,AB,RLH) Clay Co., usual spot near Felton.
1968Summer 6-3 (EHH), 6-15 (FN/MAS) Clay Co, usual spot SE Felton.
1969Spring5-17 Clay Co., RBJ; 5-24 (2) Clay Co., DB, KP.
1969Summer6-13 Clay Co., 3 pr. JJG, RBJ; 7-19 Clay Co., 7 DB. Both observations in usual spot SE of Felton. Species has been in low numbers last two years perhaps caused by mowing of area or increased rainfall locally which might limit this western species at its eastern limits. Migrant Shorebirds
1970Spring3 reports and 5-23 usual spot near Felton, Clay Co. (3) DB, KE, PE; 5-29 Morris Stevens Co. EB.
1970Summer6-18 Felton, Clay Co. {4 y, one day old) RG, EC, BL; 6-13 Felton {4-5) DB. MIGRANT SHOREBIRDS
1971Spring4 reports Clay Co. 1-IK; 5-22 Felton, Clay Co. KE, RR (6); 5-1 Wilkin VL; 5-l Wadena, 1 female collected by R Oehlenschlager; there are few reports of the species away from Felton, and it is quite interesting that there were 3 reports in 3 different counties on the same day_
1971Summer6-11 and 6-13 Felton. Clay Co. (5), DB, RBJ; also reported from 2 other locations: 6-13 Averill, Clay Co. (10), RBJ; present all summer at Agassiz Refuge, Marshall Co., JBMH (no details); this species may be more widespread than generally believed. SPRING MIGRANT SHOREBIRDS:
1972Springwere noted at the usual location in Clay Co. on 4-29 and 5-27 (JB,KEL A flock of about 100 longspurs were at Rothsay Wildlife Area, Wilkin Co. on 4-23 and at least 12 of them were Chestnut-collared, (KE, JG) .
1972Summernested In Clay; seen there in two locations -Felton (2-3 pair, Averill (10-15 pair), RBJ; last seen 7-31 KRE.
1973Summer Nested in Clay (5-26 Felton Prairie HCK), 6-15 KE & RBJ (50 birds), 7-1 PBH.
1973Fall Three reports: 8-15 Clay 20) (FL); 9-9 Clay (2) (RBJ); 9-30 Rock (15) (KRE) (one of the few reports away from Clay Co.).
1974Summer Nested at Felton prairie, Clay Co. (6-27, two eggs, PH); 30 still present there on 7-28 (KE); also 6-15 and 6-18 at Duluth (D. Scheer, MMC). SPRING MIGRANT SHOREBIRDS
1974Fall 8-3 Clay (30) RBJ.
1975Spring 2 reports: 4-26 Lac qui Parle CF; 427 Big Stone PG, JC, DY.
1975Fall9-28, 10-4, 10-19 Rock KE; from 1 to 3 birds.
1976Summerreported only from the Felton prairie, Clay Co.
1976Fall 10-11 Wilkin GO; only report.
1977Spring 6 reports: 4-12 Clay (12) JB; 4-24 Clay (20) BC; 5-8 Wilkin (8) LCF ; 5-27 to 5-30 Clay (Felton) DGW, TS, RJ.
1977Summer Reported from the Felton prairie, Clay Co.
1977Fall Only report 8-15 Clay (DJ).
1978Spring 5-14 Clay (14); 5-16 Otter Tail GO; 5-21 Clay SM, SV.
1978Summer Seen in Clay (Felton) and Wilkin (6-4, female, GLO).
1978Fall Two reports: 10-1 Clay RJ and 10-27 Grant (150+ ) NH.
1979Spring Six Reports: 4-18 Clay SM, 4-21 Yellow Medicine KE, 5-19 Clay HK, 5-20 Clay OJ, 5-22 Wilkin GMO, and 5-25 Clay BB.
1979Summer Seen in Clay (6-10, D&GW).
1980Spring Three reports all from Clay County 4-16 SM, 5-23 NH, 5-24 DGW.
1980Summer Seen in Red Lake, Clay (very common Felton Prairie), Traverse (Clifton Twp\ Big Stone (Clinton Twp.).
1980Fall One report: 9-3 Clay SM.
1981Spring One report: 5-17 Clay KE.
1981Summer Seen in Clay (52 males, also females, Felton, DW, LP). The Loon Vol. '54
1982SpringTwo reports: 5-15 Clay ANWR, 5-19Clay J. Herman. 
1982Summer Breeding data from Clay.
1983Spring Two reports 4/17 Pennington KSS, 4/24 Clay TT.
1983Summer Seen in Clay, Norman (near jet. Co. Rds. 18 & 6, KL), Big Stone (Clinton Prairie).
1984Spring Four reports 4/23 Clay LCF, 5/19 Clay TBB, Norman ES, 5/27 Clay SC.
1984Summerseen as usual at Felton prairie, Clay Co.
1985Spring One report 4/7 Clay LCF (earliest date on record).
1985Summer Seen at Felton prairie in Clay Co.
1986Spring Three reports 4/6 Clay LCF, 5/2 Clay RGJ, 5/25 Clay GS.
1986Summer Seen at Felton prairie in Clay Co.
1987Spring All reports: 4/24 Felton Prairie, Clay Co. MF, 5/24 Miller Prairie West, Traverse KE, 5/30 Clay TK.
1987Summer Nested at Felton prairie in Clay Co.
1988Spring Two reports: 5/8 Marshall SKS, 5/22-27 Clay m.ob.
1988Summer Only reports: seen in Clay and Big Stone (6/14, BHa).
1988Fall One report 8/20 Clay AP, RJ, RG.
1989Spring Two reports: 4/18 Clay DJ, 5/27 Lake AB (The Loon 61 :146).
1989Summer A pair seen 6/28 Troy Township, Pipestone NO, JP; probable breeding in Clay.
1989Fall One report 9/27 Clay PS.
1990Spring All reports 5/4 Wilkin FKS, 5/13 Clay DJ.
1990Summer Seen at usual Felton Prairie site, Clay Co.
1990Fall All reports: 8/22 Clay PS, 9/3 Clay MO.
1991Spring Three reports: 5/1 Clay PS, 5/5 Clay MO, 5/24 Clay EL.
1991Summer Several reports from traditional site in Clay (probable nesting).
1991Fall Late north 8/31 Clay MO.
1992Spring Early north 4/17 Clay DN, 5/2 Clay DJ.
1992Summer Only report from usual Felton Prairie area in Clay Co.
1992Fall One report: 8/14 Clay LCF.
1993Spring One report 5/26 Clay PS.
1993Summer Observed at usual Felton Prairie location in Clay Co.; plus one bird observed on 6/4 two miles SW of Lockhart in Norman County BBk.
1994Spring Early north 5/1 Clay DJ, CS/KC.
1994Summer Only report: probable nesting along longspur road in Felton Prairie area, Clay Co. CM.
1994Fall One report: 8/17 Clay FL.
1995Spring Early north 4/22 Clay SKS.
1995Summer Probable nesting at traditional Felton Prairie site in Clay Co.; plus eight singing males present through June within Chester Township in Polk County MCBS, RJ.
1995Fall Only report 8/12 Clay DBM.
1996Spring Early north 5/4 Felton Prairie, Clay Co. fide AH.
1996Summer Only report from traditional Felton Prairie site in Clay County.
1996Fall Only report 8/5 Clay TBr.
1997Spring Early north 4/25 Clay RO, DWi.
1997Summer Observed at traditional Felton Prairie site in Clay Co.
1997FallAll reports: 8/8 Felton Prairie, Clay Co. (4) RO, 11/16-17 Aitkin CB, ties the latest date on record for the state.
1998Spring Early north 4/24 Clay (Felton) RK, 5/21 St. Louis (Cook sewage pond) RJ.
1998Summer Only report from traditional Felton Prairie site in Clay Co.
1998Fall Only reports were from Clay (Felton Prairie): 8/11 KB, 8/16 RO.
1999Spring Early north 4/7+ (ties second earliest north) Clay (Felton Prairie) SDM.
1999Summer Only reported from traditional Felton Prairie breeding site in Clay Co.
1999Fall No reports.
2000Spring Only reports from Clay (Felton Prairie) where first seen 4/24 (RO).
2000Summer Only reported from traditional Felton Prairie breeding site in Clay Co.
2000Fall Only reported from Clay (Felton Prairie) where last seen 8/7 RHO.
2001Spring Earliest south date and first county record 4/7 Kandiyohi †RAE et al. (The Loon 73:254) Also seen 4/26+ Clay (Felton Prairie) KJB, mob.
2001Summer Nested at traditional Felton Prairie site in Clay Co.
2002Spring First county record 4/13 Renville (2 in Hawk Creek Twp.) †RPR. Also reported 4/15+ Clay (Felton Prairie) m.ob.
2002Summer Only report from traditional breeding site in Clay Co.
2002Fall Only found in Clay, 8/10 RHO and 8/25 (2) PHS, presumably both sightings at Felton Prairie.
2003Spring Reported 4/13+ Clay (Felton Prairie) PCC, m.ob.
2003Summer Unusual summer record 6/4 Pipestone (female flushed off ground at Prairie Coteau S.N.A., singing male nearby) †KLP; also observed at traditional Felton Prairie location in Clay County.
2003Fall All reports from Felton Prairie in Clay, where last reported 8/23 RHO.
2004Spring Reported 4/15+ Clay (Felton Prairie) DTT, SMT, m.obs., 4/17 Swift (male near Shible L.) †BJU, 5/7 St. Louis (male in pasture at junction of Old North Shore Drive and Homestead Road, Duluth) JCG.
2004Summer Reported 6/6–7/27 Clay PHS, m.ob., 6/11 Lac qui Parle (Yellow Bank Hills S.N.A.) †BJU, 7/9 Yellow Medicine (Fortier Twp.) †BJU.
2004Fall One report: 9/11 Clay MM.
2005Spring Reported 4/16+ Clay (Felton Prairie) BWF, m.obs.
2005Summer Reported 6/9, 6/26, 7/2, 7/27 Clay RHO, JMJ, BJU.
2005Fall All reports: 9/17 Clay (8 at Felton Prairie) BWF, 10/16 St. Louis (Stoney Point) †JCG.
2006Spring Reported from Felton Prairie starting 4/27+ Clay PBB, m.ob. Also seen 4/17 Lac qui Parle (near Big Stone N.W.R.) †BJU.
2006Summer Many reports from usual Felton Prairie location in Clay, plus south reports 6/4,24 Pipestone MCBS, 6/25 Lincoln BJU.
2006Fall Only report: 8/23 Lac qui Parle (“molting male” at Big Stone N.W.R., Auto Tour Route) BJU.
2007Spring1 Six reports from Felton Prairie starting 4/15 Clay PBB (median 4/24).
2007Summer11 Seen throughout the season in Clay (max. 6, Felton Prairie) m.ob. Unusual south 6/9 Pipestone (2, Altona Township) MCBS.
2007Fall No reports.
2008Spring2 One seen 5/10 Polk (Pembina Trail Preserve) †DLT. All other reports were from Felton Prairie: 5/6 Clay RHO, 5/17 Clay JWH, 5/19 Clay WCM, LBF.
2008Summer1 Found 6/6–7/4 Clay (max. 6) KRE, CMB, RBW, LS.
2008Fall No reports.
2009Spring11 Unusually far east was a male picked out of a large flock of Lapland Longspurs 4/18 Dakota †MDu. All other reports were from Clay: 5/9 RHO, 5/16 DBM, PLJ, 5/21 (nest with 4 eggs) DAC, RBJ, 5/30 (2 adults with 4 chicks) AXH.
2009Summer1 All reports from Clay (max. 6, Felton Prairie) m.ob.
2009Fall No reports.
2010Spring1 Reported from traditional locations at Felton Prairie, Clay County beginning 5/2 RHO, m.ob. Also see undocumented reports.
2010Summer1 All reports from Felton Prairie in Clay. High count of 5 on 7/9 BJU.
2010Fall1 Only report 8/2 Clay (Felton Prairie) RHO. Median late north 8/23.
2011Spring11 Only south report 4/28 Lac qui Parle (male, near Plover Prairie) ph. BJU. All north reports from traditional Felton Prairie location where first reported 5/21 Clay (3) RHO (median 4/15).
2011Summer1All reports from Clay (max. 6, Felton Prairie) m.ob.
2011Fall No reports.
2012Spring1 Reported from traditional Felton Prairie, Clay County locations; first report 4/28 DaP.
2012Summer1 Reported 6/8–7/8 Clay (max. 5, Felton Prairie) m.ob.
2012Fall No reports.
2013Spring11 One south report, first county record 5/5 Blue Earth (male in Alternate plumage with large flock of Smith's Longspurs, Lincoln W.P.A.) JPr. All north reports from traditional Felton Prairie location, first reports 5/11 RZi, 5/12 ph. GHo (median 4/24).
2013Summer1 All reports from Clay (max. 3, Felton Prairie).
2013Fall No reports.
2014Spring1All reports from Felton Prairie in Clay. First reported 5/7 (Assiniboia Skipper Unit) ASM, 5/10 (3) RHO (median 4/24). Several reported high counts of 3 individuals.
2014Summer1All reports from Clay (max. 6, Felton Prairie).
2015Spring1 All reports from Felton Prairie, Clay, with a high count of only 6 individuals: 5/13 Clay DFe, 5/24 Clay (6) HCT, PEB.
2015Summer1 All reports from Clay (max. 3, Felton Prairie).
2015Fall No reports.
2016Spring1 First reported 4/30 Clay ToL (median 4/27). Continuing reports throughout the rest of the season from the Felton Prairie area. High count 5/20 (6) Clay KRE, m.ob.
2016Summer11 Reported from Clay and 6/18 Yellow Medicine (male and female, 130th St., Canby) GWe.
2016Fall No reports.
2017Spring1 The decline of this species from its traditional holdout at Felton Prairie continues. Only one report 5/29 Clay LiH.
2017Summer1 Max. 2 birds observed in Clay (Felton Prairie).
2017Fall No reports.
2018Spring1 Reflecting this species' demise in the state, these were the only reports for the season, all from the Felton Prairie area in Clay County, all of a single individual: 5/19 PBk, NKu, SKu, 5/20 LiH, ASu, 5/26 MO, 5/31 ASu.
2018Summer No reports.
2018Fall  No reports.
2019Spring1 Only reports 5/18–19 Clay (1, Felton Prairie) MwT, IVa.
2019Summer1 Reported from Clay (1 or 2, Felton Prairie) MGi, EzH, IsH, NRa, AFo, ASu, AJF.
2019Fall No reports.
2020Spring No reports for the first spring in over 45 years.
2020Summer  No reports.
2020Fall No fall reports since 2010.
2021Spring After reports in 40+ consecutive spring seasons, no reports in 2020 or 2021.
2021Summer No reports for 2nd consecutive summer.
2021Fall No fall reports since 2010.
 
 Rare local breeder northwest. State designation: Endangered.

Notes:

Click on the bird name to see a photographic image of the bird.
Column N  Number of counties where the bird was seen in the North.
Column S  Number of counties where the bird was seen in the South.