Seasonal Report Archive for The Loon - Towhees, Sparrows 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
Partridge, Pheasants, Grouse, Turkeys
Grebes
Pigeons, Doves
Cuckoos
Nightjars
Swifts
Hummingbirds
Rails, Gallinules, Coots
Limpkin
Cranes
Stilts, Avocets
Plovers
Sandpipers
Jaegers
Alcids
Gulls, Terns
Loons
Shearwaters and Petrels
Storks
Frigatebirds
Boobies and Gannets
Cormorants
Pelicans
Bitterns, Herons, Egrets, Night-Herons
Ibises
New World Vultures
Osprey
Kites, Accipiters, Hawks, Eagles
Barn Owls
Screech-Owls, Owls
Kingfishers
Woodpeckers
Caracaras, Falcons
Flycatchers
Vireos
Shrikes
Jays, Nutcrackers, Magpies, Crows
Chickadees, Titmice
Larks
Martins, Swallows
Kinglets
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: Towhees, Sparrows
Cassin's Sparrow
Grasshopper Sparrow
Black-throated Sparrow
Lark Sparrow
Lark Bunting
Chipping Sparrow
Clay-colored Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Brewer's Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
American Tree Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored)
Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon)
Dark-eyed Junco (Pink-sided)
Dark-eyed Junco (White-winged)
Dark-eyed Junco (Gray-headed)
White-crowned Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow (Eastern)
White-crowned Sparrow (Gambel's)
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Harris's Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
[Dark-eyed Junco X White-throated Sparrow]
Vesper Sparrow
LeConte's Sparrow
Nelson's Sparrow
Baird's Sparrow
Henslow's Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Abert's Towhee
Green-tailed Towhee
Spotted Towhee
Eastern Towhee
[Spotted Towhee X Eastern Towhee]
[Pipilo towhee]

Lark Bunting(Calamospiza melanocorys)
YearSeasonNS
1936Summer Adults were seen feG«Ung young at Lac qui Parle by Mrs. E. o. Wilson<" on July 19th. The following day Mrs. c. E. 'Peterson at Madison ~ound a nest ot four eggs. On August 5th Mrs. Peterson saw tw broods or yoMg being fed out of the nest.
1961FallR. Oehlenschlager saw several on the Cass County-Wadena County line, east of Nimrod, on 31 Aug. and 1 Sep.
1962SpringMay 12, one adult male was seen and heard singing on a telephone wire 3 miles west of Dawson Lac qui Parle Co., Avifaunal Club. '
1963FallSept. 1, Manley, Rock Co., Avifanual Club.
1964Spring5-9 Schroeder, Cook Co, one male, Marie Aftreith; 5-24 Two Harbors, one male, RK; 5-24 Salt Lake, LaJc qui Parle Co, colony, RAG; 5-26 Big Stone Co, TJ, several males·, not seen again on 5-27.
1964Summer5-31, Salt Lake, Lac qui Parle Co, nest and 4e, RAG, photographed by ES; (see photo section); Rock Co, all summer, 100 or more, BWA.
1964Fall9-5 Salt Lake, Lac QuiParle Co, 1, RBJ.
1965Springretreated westward again this year and no nests noted in eastern Dakotas; in view of this, these two records are of special interest: May (exact date?), Nobles Co, near Adrian, HSH and 5-11 Grand Marais, BAF (see Notes of Interest in previous issue).
1966Spring5-23 Mille Lacs Co, S. of Onamia, 1 male, ELC, TRC, good details; 5-24 Lac qui Parle Co, 1, DB, EHH; 5-24 Cook Co, Tofte, 2, MOP (details?); 5-31 Duluth, JCG; also on 5-19 DGM saw a bird in Wabasha Co which he felt may have been this species. Savannah Sparrow earliest 4-5 Mille Lacs Co, WJH; 4-22 Agassiz Refuge, DLO; 4-28 Two Harbors, RK, Hibbing, SM and Cook Co, MAF.
1966Summer6-4 Rock Co, 1 male in each of 2 different townships, BL; 6-6 Indian Lake Township, 1 male, Nobles Co, HSH; 6-11 Salt Lake, Lac qui Parle Co, 3, ELC; 6-19 Nobles Co, Hersey December, 1966 Township, 3 males, HSH; 7-14 Yellow Medicine Co, 3 males and Lac qui Parle Co, 3 males, RG, RLH.
1966Fall10-29 Cook Co., 3 mi S of Split Rock, EMB, BL, RG, photographed in color by HFH.
1968Spring 5-27 St. Paul, Ramsey Co., 1 ad male, KH (see Notes of Interest in previous issue).
1968Summer 6-1 Mountain Lake, Cottonwood Co, 1, LAF ; 6- 18 Cottonwood, Yellow Medicine Co, 1 ad male, PE; 6-19 western Nobles Co, 1, HSH.
1968Fall9-12 St. Louis 1 female JCG.
1969Spring6-4 (31) Rock and Nobles Co.'s, BL; 5-24 Nobles Co., HSH.
1969Summer6-10 Felton, Clay Co., 6 photographed, FL.
1969Fall9-18 Duluth MC.
1970Spring3 reports (2) LF; 5-27 Rock and Nobles (2) H H; 5-31 jackson (1) HH.
1971Spring5-16 Nobles (1) RBJ; 6-7 Nobles (1) 1-IH; only reports.
1971Fall8-12 Watonwan LF; 10-8, 9, 10 Tofte, Cook Co. JP.
1973Summer 6-24 Rock (KE), 6-25 Aitkin (BB), 6-5 St. Louis (Minn. Pt. JCG).
1975Spring 5-31 Pipestone (1) RAG, RBJ; 5-30, 5-31 Rock (6 male, 1 female) L. Campbell, (4) ETS, 5-31 (4 male, 1 female) KG, 5-31 (1 male) KE; 7 male and 1 female reported on MOU weekend 531, 6-1 Rock Co.
1975Summer Two males were found on 6-15 in Rock and Pipestone Co. (BDC); very few summer reports recently, probably late migrants.
1975Fall9-20 Duluth, RJ, JG.
1976Summerone male seen on 6-13 near Lake Benton, Lincoln Co., (LK); probably a late migrant; continues to be scarce in summer.
1976Fall From 9-26 to 9-30 in Duluth DS, JG; at the W. Snyder feeder in Winona from 11-11 through the winter; 10-2 Cottonwood (6) CMB.
1976Winter Even more amazing than the Ivory Gull was this male Lark Bunting wintering at the W. Snyder feeder in Winona from November into April; not only was it Minnesota's first winter record, but perhaps the first winter report ever from the North Central U.S.; it managed to survive January temperatures in the -30°F range which some House Sparrows in the yard did not survive!
1977Spring 3 reports 3-5 to 4-22 Winona (1) SM, RJ, TS, JB; 5-17 Nobles (1) AD; 5-21, 5-22 (2) 5-30 (1) Lac qui Parle CB. Winter 1977
1977Summer 2 reports: 7-12, Collegeville, Stearns Co. (S. Hansen); 7-17 Rock (2, BE); probably post-breeding wanderers.
1977Fall Only report 8-6 Pipestone (OJ, RJ).
1979Summer Late migrants 6-2 Traverse (fide RBJ), 6-8 Lake (SW). Early migrants 7-25, two males, Pipestone (NMH).
1980Summer Late migrants seen in Traverse (6-4 KRE), Lac qui Parle (6-7 KRE), Rock (6-21 RBJ).
1982Spring One report: 5-12 Lake USFS.
1982Summer Late migrants: 6/7 male, Felton, Clay Co. (KRE); 6/7 female, s. of Moorhead, Clay Co. (L&CF). Male on 7/4 near Canby, Yellow Medicine Co. (KL).
1983Summer One male, 6/14 near Hawley, Clay Co. (KRE).
1983Fall One report 9/6 St. Louis SC.
1984Spring Two reports 5/18 Nobles AD, 5/20 Aitkin WN (The Loon 56:191).
1985Spring All reports 4/27 Lyon HK, 5/5 Cook KMH, Wilkin GAM, 5/18 Mahnomen MHa, 5/24 Cook Holly Peirson.
1986Spring Two reports 5/6 St. Louis KE, 5/27 Blue Earth MF.
1986Fall Unusual reports north 10/19 Cook KMH 10/29 Duluth J. Newman (TheLoon59:53).
1987Spring One report 5/15 Blue Earth MF.
1988Spring One report 5/26 Cook KMH.
1988Summer Adult male seen in Clay (6/20, LCF; 7/2, BHa); up to three birds in Big Stone (6114-21, copulation observed, BHa); two males in Aitkin (6/20-29, The Loon 60:137).
1989Summer One singing male observed 6/22-23 Wilkin KB.
1989Fall One report 8/28 Cook KMH.
1991Spring One report 4/27 Big Stone DC.
1991Summer One male observed 6/23 Chippewa CMB.
1992Summer Two records, both unusually far north. One adult male observed on 6/4 just south of Thief L. WMA in Marshall Co. MCBS; another male seen on 6/5,6 at Felton Prairie in Clay Co. KR et al.
1993Summer Only report: one male in a field near Cyrus, Pope Co. on 6/1 BBo (migrant?).
1994Summer Three observations, all away from usual range: one male on 6/1 at Camp Ripley in Morrison Co. SM (The Loon 66:118), a male photographed on 6/2 near Springsteel Island in Roseau Co. PS/SB, and a single bird on 6/24 near Duluth in St. Louis Co. fide KE.
1995Summer Single report: male on 6/12 at Felton Prairie in Clay Co.
1996Spring No reports.
1996Fall No reports.
1997Spring No reports.
1997Fall No reports.
1998Fall Only documented report: 8/25 Hennepin (MSP Airport) TT, m.ob., 9/28 St. Louis (40th Ave. West in Duluth) SR. [Corrected]
1999SpringOne report 5/20 Yellow Medicine (male, Normania Twp.) PE. [Corrected]
2000Spring One male was well-documented 5/13–17 St. Louis (Stoney Point) RKo, †DBe et al.
2002SpringOne report 5/23 Lac qui Parle (near Dawson) †Beth Dillon. [Corrected]
2004Fall Two reports of this Casual species, both from the Northeast: 9/6 St. Louis (basic-plumaged female at 40th Avenue West/Erie Pier in Duluth) †MTA, ph. MH, ph. †PHS, 10/4 Lake (Gooseberry Falls S.P.) †RPR.
2005Spring Two accepted records: adult female 5/26 St. Louis (Ely) BET, †PHS and adult male 5/27–29 Lake (Castle Danger) ph. LL.
2005Fall One in female-type plumage 8/30 Cook (Schroeder) †CJT.
2006Summer Adult male discovered during Breeding Bird Survey 6/14 Beltrami (Benville Twp.) †BAB.
2006Fall Female/immature found 8/19 Lake (Split Rock Lighthouse S.P.) ph. DAG. [Corrected]
2006Winter1 Late migrant 12/11 St. Louis (Airport Road, Duluth) †DAG, †JWL, ph. KRE.
2007Summer1 Singing male observed 6/23–7/1 Polk (near Glacial Ridge N.W.R.) LS, JCC, †DAB, †PCC, ph. †JMJ, ph. †PHS, m.ob.
2010Spring1 Adult male 5/28–29 Marshall (Agassiz N.W.R.) ph. †BRB. This was the third county record and the first to be photographed for the refuge.
2010Fall A second county record 8/17 Sherburne (Mahnomen Trail, Sherburne N.W.R.) †DMa.
2012Summer1 Seen 6/14 Jackson (Round Lake Twp.) ph. † JSc.
2013Spring1 One report 5/18 Nobles ph. v.t. †RMD, ph. ANy, †DAB, m.ob. This is the tenth modern Nobles county record for this casual species.
2014Fall1 A female/immature was found in Cook along the Old Gunflint Trail on 9/14 ph. †JHn.
2016Spring1 Only report of this Casual species 5/25–26 St. Louis (male, town of Cook) †SuF, ph. †JuG, ph. †DMK.
2016Summer22 Seen 6/4, 6/6 Lac qui Parle (male, C.R. 12, Mehurin Twp.) †PHS, JEB, 6/6 Wilkin (pending acceptance by MOURC) ph. JPk, 6/11 Polk (male, Glacial Ridge N.W.R.) ph. †CBh, 6/21–22 Lyon (Lone Tree L.) ph. †GWe.
2018Fall11 Two reports of this casual species: 8/2 Lac qui Parle (adult male, Hamlin W.M.A.) † LiH, 10/22–24 St. Louis (Park Point R.A.) DEd, ph † PHS, ph † REn, † IsH, † EzH, † KRE, ph LME, ASu, LiH, DOr, m.ob. Also see records awaiting review by MOURC in the introduction.
2019Fall1 One report of this casual species 9/28–29 Lake (Two Harbors) JGW, ph. † KEm, † JWH.
2021Fall1 Fifth fall record in the past decade: 9/26 St. Louis (Park Point R.A.) PAl, ebd, †EzH, ph. IsH, ph. †PHS, m.ob.
2022Summer1 New county record: 6/13 Washington (Lone Oak Trail) RSd, ph. †BAb, †EzH, †LiH, m.ob.
 
 Former summer resident southwest and west-central. Last breeding record 1964. Recorded in seven of the last ten years, most recently 2023.

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.