Species: Bitterns, Herons, Egrets, Night-Herons |
Least Bittern American Bittern Little Blue Heron |
Tricolored Heron Snowy Egret Yellow-crowned Night Heron |
Black-crowned Night Heron Green Heron Great Egret |
Western Cattle-Egret Great Blue Heron |
Yellow-crowned Night Heron(Nyctanassa violacea) | ||||
Year | Season | N | S | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1961 | Spring | Yellow-crowned Night-Herons were recorded by the Avifaunal Club members at La Crescent, Houston County on 13 May. Seen again in same area 30 May by William Pieper. | ||
1961 | Summer | Two nests, occupied, seen near La Crescent, Houston County on 13 May and again on 30 May, by Avifaunal Club members. Seen again 14 July by R. Janssen. Nests were about 85 feet up in trees. | ||
1962 | Spring | May 14 Frontenac, Goodhue Co., Mr. and Mrs. Boyd Lien; May 15 La Crescent, Houston Co., W. R. Pieper and R. Huber. | ||
1962 | Summer | July 28, LaCrescent, Houston Co., one adult seen by R. and H. Huber; adult and 2 immatures seen there Aug. 4 by Bob Janssen. | ||
1963 | Spring | April 28, La Crescent, Houston County, Avifaunal Club; May 5, Pig's Eye area, Ramsey County, 2 adults, Bill Litkey; May 8, Minneapolis, 2 adults, Avifaunal Club; May 8, Pig's Eye area again, 1 adult, G. Laiuste; May 18, La Crescent, 3 nests with an adult on each nest, R. Janssen; May 30, Swan Lake, Nicollet County, 1 adult, Avifaunal Club; a report came in from the St. Cloud area, but no details as yet. It would appear that this heron is expanding its range in Minnesota. | ||
1963 | Summer | Houston Co., La Crescent, May 18, 3 active nests, R. B. Janssen; still incubating on June 8, Avifaunal Club. Ramsey Co., Pig's Eye swamp area, pair seen sporadically all summer by G. Laiuste. Readers will recall the widespread penetration in southeastern Minnesota as reported in the last (June) issue. Further notice came from the Ornithology Newsletter of Manitoba this spring, which reported Yellow-crowns at Delta and Winnipeg. Both areas are just north of Kittson County, Minne· sota, and may represent the farthest north latitudes yet reached by this species in North America. Also, a Yellow- crown showed up at Huron, South Dakota, just west of Rock County, Minn. It was only the fifth record for South Dakota. | ||
1964 | Spring | 5-3 La Crescent, BT; 5-9 Pig's Eye area, S. St. Paul just inside Dakota Co from Ramsey Co, RLH, nest found on 5-17; 5-17 Cannon Falls, Goodhue Co, photographed, BHL, IG. | ||
1964 | Summer | breeding as usual at La Crescent, Houston Co, CFV, FN) and also breeding in South Saint Paul, Dakota Co, GL, RLH, photographed by HFH; another very interesting record was a single immature seen at Superior, Wisconsin, (just south of Duluth) on 7-9 by Mary Donald and others. | ||
1964 | Fall | 8-26 (1 ad, 1 imm) and 9-1 (1 ad) Dakota Co, RLH; 9-27 Morris, Stevens Co, 1 imm observed for 40 minutes in mid-afternoon at 100250 yards with 25X scope by RAG; field marks he noted were slate-colored back and long legs. (See Notes of Interest) | ||
1966 | Spring | 5-7 Red Wing, MIG; 5-26 La Crescent, GD, GG, FV; 5-30 Rochester, CMJ. | ||
1966 | Summer | 6-20 South St. Paul, Dakota Co, ELC, RLH; 7-21 Hastings, Dakota Co, PE (see Notes o£ Interest in previous issue); 8-8 Redwood Co, specimen, (see Notes of Interest in previous issue); 8-13 La Crescent, Houston Co, RG. | ||
1967 | Spring | 4-29 to 6-1 LaCrescent, Houston Co., RBI, FVI HVBC, HFH, EHH, FGD; 5-5 Ramsey Co., RJC; 5-11 Wright Co., EC. | ||
1967 | Summer | 6-6 Hennepin Co., Martha Stebleton fide YL; 6/0 La Crescent, Houston Co., 5, FL. | ||
1967 | Fall | 9-2 (2 imm), 9-16 (1 imm) La Crescent, Houston Co., FL. | ||
1968 | Spring | 5-12 (1, DB), 5-15 (1, FL) LaCrescent, Houston Co. | ||
1968 | Summer | 8-16 LaCrescent, Houston Co, 1, VL; only report. | ||
1968 | Fall | 8-11 Stearns (Grand Lake) NMH; 9-17 Hennepin EWJ. | ||
1969 | Spring | 5-15 (2) Houston Co., FL; 5-17 (3) Houston Co., BT; 5-20 ( 3 ad., 1 im.) Houston Co., FL. | ||
1969 | Summer | 8-1, 2 in Winona Co. (BT) and 3 at La Crescent, Houston Co., (FL). | ||
1969 | Fall | 9-5 Houston 3 BTV; 9-15 Houston FL 9-28 Hennepin CH. | ||
1970 | Spring | La Crescent, Houston Co., 5-16 (1) BLand 4-25 (4) FL; only reports. | ||
1970 | Summer | present during July and August at LaCrescent, Houston Co. with 6 young seen on 7-28, BTV. | ||
1970 | Fall | 2 reports: 8-23 Houston (3 imm.) FL; 9-18 Houston (1) FMV. | ||
1971 | Spring | 4-29 (5), 6-1 (2) La Crescent, Houston Co. FL, TV, KE; also 3 extralimital reports: 5-1 to 5-11 Westbrook, Cottonwood Co. (2), Gladys Point; 4-18 St. Cloud, Stearns Co. NMH; 5-16 Nobles, many observers. | ||
1971 | Summer | nested in the usual area near LaCrescent, Houston Co.; one was also photographed on 6-15 in Anoka Co. by J. Larson. | ||
1971 | Fall | 9-18 Houston (6) TV, only report. | ||
1972 | Summer | nested in Houston LaCrescent); 6-25 (RBJ). 7-3 & 23 (BAH), one adult, Lake Johanna, POPE Co.; early Julv, one adult photographed by Mrs. Carl Oiala in rice beds north of Aitkin, AITKIN Co. (fide TS). | ||
1973 | Summer | 4 reports all from Houston Co. (6-2 KE) (7-21 RBJ) (6-16 & 7-29 FL) (7-4 KG). | ||
1973 | Fall | One report: 8-8 Aitkin (1 imm.) (TS). This species is very rare away from its usual nesting sites near La Crescent. | ||
1974 | Spring | Only 2 reports: 4-20 LaCrescent, Houston Co. RBJ & KE. | ||
1974 | Summer | Nested at La Crescent, Houston Co. (three adults and one young on 7-26, FL); also an adult and immature were seen at St. John's Univ., Stearns Co. on 6-11 (NF). | ||
1974 | Fall | 9-17 Houston (1 immature) FL. | ||
1975 | Spring | 1 report: 5-11 Hennepin (1) Elm Creek Park JC, DY. | ||
1975 | Summer | Reported from Goodhue only (peak of 3, CF; 7-9, RJ); apparently missing from the usual spot at La Crescent. | ||
1976 | Spring | 2 reports: 5-6 Hennepin (1) JRG; 5-29 to 6-2 Aitkin (2)· W. Nelson. | ||
1976 | Summer | nested at La Crescent, Houston Co.; also seen 7-15 and 7-24 at Rochester, Olmsted Co. (JF) and on 6-14 in Crow Wing Co. (L. and H. Bennetson). | ||
1976 | Fall | 8-2, 8-3 Houston DB, DGW; only reports. | ||
1977 | Spring | 9 reports: 4-13 Hennepin (Elm Creek) HCP, OJ; 4-24 Otter Tail (Orwell Wildlife Area) 1 Bee-Nay-She Council; 4-29 Mower (1) RK; 4-30 Houston (1) DGW; 5-5 Cottonwood (1) ED; 5-10 Crow Wing (1) Dennis Hanson; 5-14 Ramsey (2) RH; 5-22 Houston JG; 5-29 Houston (2) KE. | ||
1977 | Summer | No less than 7 reports from Houston (2 at La Crescent), Ramsey (2 at St. Paul, 7-11 to 7-25), Hennepin (7-21, OJ), Olmsted (7-4, JF), Lac qui Pa•rle (7-9 to 7-19, Big Stone N.W.R.), Otter Tail (7-25, GO, GW) and Cass (6-28, L. McGinty, M. Loss). | ||
1978 | Spring | Reports out of SE; 5-17 Anoka KL; 5-19 Ramsey BC; 5-22 Morrison PM. | ||
1978 | Summer | Breeding attempted in Ramsey (Maplewood Park, Common Loon 50:214-215); also seen in Rock (7-1, KRE) and Lac qui Parle (6-11, 6-22, 7-10, Big Stone NWR). | ||
1978 | Fall | Reported 8-2,4 Lac qui Parle CMB, 8-8 Otter Tail GO, 9-9 Lac qui Parle RJ, 9-24 Washington DS. | ||
1979 | Spring | 4-21 Lac qui Parle OJ, 5-1 Cass DNR; 5-17 Hennepin OJ, 5-18 Stearns OJ. No reports from usual Houston County location. | ||
1979 | Summer | Seen in Ramsey, Dakota (Thompson Lake), Lac qui Parle (Big Stone NWR), Becker (Tamarack NWR, 6-21). | ||
1979 | Fall | 8-11 Ramsey DGW, 8-14 Jackson RJ, 9-6 Lac qui Parle CMB; only reports. | ||
1980 | Spring | 5-15 Hennepin RBA, 5-22 Otter Tail GMO, only reports. | ||
1980 | Summer | Single birds seen in Ramsey (6-2 7- 21), Big Stone (Big Stone NWR, 6-5 7- 6; two birds on 6-11, KRE), Otter Tail (Orwell WMA, 6-8, GO), Marshall (Agassiz NWR, 6-6 -24). | ||
1981 | Spring | 4-19 Otter Tail GMO, 4-27 Anoka GP, 5-14 Olmsted m. obs., 4-27 Aitkin M. Kern. | ||
1981 | Summer | Breeding data from Dakota (Loon 53:171); nesting suspected from AITKIN (Loon 53:232). Seen at Big Stone NWR, Lac qui Parle Co. (6-19, one; 7-17, two; C&MB). KOOCHICHING (6-4 Big Falls, J. Schneeweis). | ||
1981 | Fall | 8-3 Cass DJ, 8-24 Aitkin (1 imm.) WN, 8-29 Duluth RG; 9-14 Aitkin (2) WN. | ||
1982 | Spring | 5-8 Scott RJ. | ||
1982 | Summer | Seen in Marshall, Aitkin (rice paddies), Big Stone, Hennepin, Scott, Washington. | ||
1983 | Spring | 5/21 Aitkin WN, 5/22 Olmsted JEB, 5/23 Dakota B. Fall. IBIS (sp?) 5/21 Polk (Crookston) KE, HK, TS. (The Loon 55:128) | ||
1983 | Summer | Breeding data from AITKIN (WN). Seen in Rock (6116, Blue Mounds SP, OJ). | ||
1984 | Spring | 5/1 Anoka KL; only report. | ||
1984 | Summer | nested at Pig's Eye L., Ramsey Co. (ad. on nest -SSt); only report. | ||
1984 | Fall | 8/21 Duluth KE, second local record. | ||
1985 | Spring | 4/27 Lac qui Parle KE, RH, Ramsey SSt. | ||
1985 | Summer | Seen in Hennepin (The Loon 57:142, Dakota (6/15 Schmitt Lake, one, TTu), Scott (AB, RJ). | ||
1985 | Fall | 8/3 Hennepin AB, 8/29 Hennepin (2) SC. | ||
1986 | Spring | 4/12 Olmsted AMP, 5/6 Fillmore AMP, 5/10 Hennepin ES. | ||
1986 | Summer | Probable nesting in Ramsey (Pigs Eye Lake, SSt). Also seen at Lake of the Isles, Hennepin Co. (6/23-7/26; SC, GP, ES) and Heron Lake, Jackson Co. (6/11,SDM). IBIS SP. Five seen 6/2 at North Heron Lake, Jackson Co. (JS, The Loon 58:141). | ||
1986 | Fall | Reported 8/3 Hennepin SC. ; | ||
1987 | Spring | 5/26-6/1 Hennepin SC, KR, ES; only report. ; | ||
1987 | Summer | Seen in Olmsted, Nicollet (6119, JF), Hennepin (Minneapolis, AB). Thndra Swan Single birds seen in Aitkin (7/2 Rice Lake NWR, KE) and Wabasha (7/7 Weaver Bottoms , DWM). | ||
1987 | Fall | Reported 8/1 Chisago RJ, 9/15 Dakota IT. | ||
1988 | Spring | 5/1 1 Dodge AP; only report. | ||
1988 | Summer | Seen in Mower (AP), Dakota (Schmidt L., m.ob.), Hennepin (7/8, DB). | ||
1989 | Spring | Only report: 5/11-13 Pipeston ND, JP. ; | ||
1989 | Summer | Single bird 6/27 Mound Prairie, Houston Co. AP and 6/28 Dakota KR; three birds 6/17- 19 Agahming Park, Winona Co. CS. | ||
1990 | Spring | Only report 5/24 Cass PS. | ||
1990 | Summer | Only report: 6/1 Schmitt Lake, Dakota Co. AP. | ||
1990 | Fall | 10/10-11 Hennepin SC, mob (The Loon 63:67-68). ; | ||
1991 | Spring | Only report 4/17 Dakota PB. | ||
1991 | Summer | Only report; single bird observed on 6/10 Dakota PS. | ||
1992 | Spring | Reported 4/22 Ramsey DS, 5/3 Hennepin HH, 5/11 Hennepin SC, 5/15 Houston DJ, 5/23 Brown RJ, 5/25 Aitkin WN. | ||
1992 | Summer | Only reports: 6/3 Hennepin (Wood L. Nature Center) SC, 7/16 Ramsey PS. | ||
1993 | Spring | Reported 4/17–20 Hennepin fide PB, 4/23 Murray ND, 5/21 Cottonwood ED. | ||
1993 | Summer | Only report: single bird (see spring report) observed 6/5 Cottonwood RJ. | ||
1993 | Fall | Reported 8/28 Dakota, BB. | ||
1994 | Spring | Reported 4/30 Hennepin TBr. | ||
1994 | Summer | Only report on 6/13 from Edina in Hennepin Co. (fide PB). | ||
1995 | Spring | Only reports 4/29 Hennepin County RA, 5/? Ramsey JLe. | ||
1995 | Fall | No reports. | ||
1996 | Spring | No reports. | ||
1996 | Summer | Single bird observed on 7/18 near Carlos Avery WMA in Anoka Co. AH; plus 7/19-20 Ramsey fide CS. | ||
1996 | Fall | No reports. | ||
1997 | Spring | No reports. | ||
1997 | Summer | Only record: 6/30 Ramsey AH. | ||
1997 | Fall | No reports. | ||
1998 | Spring | Only report: 5/25–31 Nicollet BBo. | ||
1998 | Summer | Holdover from spring reported through 6/6 on Minnesota R. near New Ulm in Nicollet Co. BBo; also 6/7 Dakota PS, AH. | ||
1998 | Fall | No reports. | ||
1999 | Spring | No reports. | ||
1999 | Summer | Only report: 6/7 Ramsey (Pig's Eye L.) PS. | ||
1999 | Fall | No fall reports since 1993. | ||
2000 | Spring | Only reports: 4/9 Hennepin (near L. Hiawatha) TT, 5/11 Cottonwood (Mountain Lake) ED, 5/28 Houston (La Crescent) KE et al. | ||
2000 | Summer | Two reports: 6/8–15 Hennepin (adult at Wood Lake Nature Center) BSe, †CRM et al., and 6/17–18 Otter Tail (adult at L. Alice in Fergus Falls) †PHS, SDM et al. | ||
2000 | Fall | No fall reports since 1993. | ||
2001 | Spring | Only report: 5/13 Meeker (Pigeon L.) †DMF. | ||
2001 | Summer | Three reports: 6/13 Grant (Pelican L.) GO, 6/21 Houston (Shepherd's Marsh, La Crescent) CBe et al., and 7/3 Waseca (Janesville water treatment plant) RBJ. | ||
2001 | Fall | No fall reports since 1993. | ||
2002 | Spring | Only report: 4/19 Washington (adult at Colby L.) fide AXH. | ||
2002 | Fall | No fall reports since 1993. | ||
2003 | Spring | Only report: 4/19–27 Mower (adult at Dobbins Creek in Sutton Park, Austin) ph. JM, RDK, RCK, ph. DDM, m.ob. | ||
2003 | Fall | No fall reports since 1993. | ||
2004 | Spring | Only reports: 5/11 Mower (adult at Turtle Creek, Austin – one had been reported elsewhere in Austin, Spring 2003) †JEM, 5/31 Lac qui Parle (Arena Twp.) †BJU. | ||
2004 | Summer | Only report: one adult 6/24 Big Stone (Odessa Twp.) †BJU. | ||
2004 | Fall | Only documented report: 8/27 Dakota (adult at Lily L.) RPR, †CBr, ph. JPM. First fall record since 1993! | ||
2005 | Spring | Only report: 5/12–22 Kandiyohi (adult at Willmar) RSF et al. | ||
2005 | Summer | Seen 6/30 Dakota (2 adults, West St. Paul) RPR, 7/31+ Lac qui Parle (2 juveniles near Madison) †PCC, ph. DWK, ph. PHS. | ||
2005 | Fall | Only the second fall record since 1993! Two juveniles found 7/31 (see summer report) last reported 8/22 Lac qui Parle (Madison Twp.) †PCC, ph. SBM, ph. PHS, †BAW, m.ob. | ||
2006 | Spring | Two reports of single adults: 5/5 Anoka (Fridley) TM, 5/31+ Murray (Hiram Southwick W.M.A., 2nd county record) ph. MSS. | ||
2006 | Summer | Presumably the same adult from spring was refound 6/11 Murray KJB. Another adult seen 6/17 Nicollet (Middle L.) †BJU. | ||
2007 | Spring | No reports. | ||
2007 | Fall | 1 | Only documented report: 9/17–10/6 Hennepin (L. Hiawatha) †DDo, ph. †BAF, †DWK, †CMB, ph. †PEB, m.ob. | |
2008 | Spring | No reports. | ||
2008 | Summer | 1 | Observed 7/1 Kandiyohi (Atwater) DMF. | |
2009 | Spring | 1 | Only report: 4/20–28 Hennepin (2, St. Louis Park) fide AXH. | |
2009 | Summer | 2 | All reports: 6/21 Dakota (adult flying over Roberts St., West St. Paul) RPR, 7/23+ Hennepin (Minnetonka) VL, ph. CMB, ph. TPB, ph. ALD, m.ob. | |
2009 | Fall | 2 | All reports: 8/1–3 Hennepin (present since July in Minnetonka) m.ob., 8/18 Lyon (immature, Coon Creek W.M.A.) ph. MOs. | |
2010 | Spring | No reports. | ||
2010 | Summer | 1 | Observed 7/19, 7/24 Hennepin fide AXH, ph. AWi. | |
2010 | Fall | 1 | Only report: 8/31–9/3 Roseau (juvenile, Warroad) †KRE, ph. LMS, ph. BSi, m.ob. | |
2011 | Spring | 1 | Only report 5/21 Hennepin (Eden Prairie) ph. KSo. | |
2011 | Summer | 1 | ||
2011 | Fall | No reports. | ||
2012 | Spring | No reports. | ||
2012 | Summer | 1 | Observed 7/11 Hennepin (observation deck at Old Cedar Avenue bridge, Minnesota Valley N.W.R.) BBB. | |
2012 | Fall | 1 | One report: 9/8–15 Hennepin (juvenile, Long Meadow Lake, Minnesota River Valley N.W.R.) ph. †BAF, †SHF, CMB, DWK, HCT. [Corrected] | |
2013 | Spring | 1 | Only report 5/2 Ramsey (Little Canada) JGs. | |
2013 | Summer | No reports. | ||
2013 | Fall | 1 | The only report was of a new county record for Mille Lacs on 10/19 (immature near Isle) AXH. | |
2014 | Spring | 1 | Only report 5/25 Hennepin (adult, Orono) ph. LTM. | |
2014 | Summer | No reports. | ||
2014 | Fall | No reports. | ||
2015 | Spring | No reports. | ||
2015 | Summer | No reports. | ||
2015 | Fall | 1 | Only report: 8/9–14 Hennepin (adult at Shiloh Park, Plymouth) ph. LSe, m.ob. | |
2016 | Spring | No reports. | ||
2016 | Summer | No reports. | ||
2016 | Fall | 3 | Four individuals reported: 8/8 Hennepin (juvenile, Minnesota Valley N.W.R., Bass Ponds) CRM, m.ob., 8/23–27 Hennepin (adult, Shiloh Park, Plymouth) ph. LiH, SBE, ph. LSe, ph. KvM, ph. KDS, ph. MAl, 8/31 Blue Earth (juvenile, west of Lake Crystal) RJA, ph. ChH, ph. MiO, ph. STa, 8/25–29, 9/13 Wright (east side of Pelican Lake) ph. TLa, ph. DOr, m.ob. | |
2017 | Spring | 2 | All south 4/30 Goodhue (Spring Creek, Red Wing) †ChS, 5/23 Faribault (adult, Thompson Park, Wells) ph. MeK. | |
2017 | Summer | No reports. | ||
2017 | Fall | No reports. | ||
2018 | Spring | No reports. | ||
2018 | Summer | 1 | Seen 6/16 Hennepin (juvenile, Coon Rapids Dam R.P.) ph. ARh, LiH. | |
2018 | Fall | Â No reports. | ||
2019 | Spring | No reports. | ||
2019 | Summer | Â No reports. | ||
2019 | Fall | No reports. | ||
2020 | Spring | No reports. | ||
2020 | Summer | 1 | 1 | Reported 7/4 Waseca PAl, 7/22–29 Grant (juvenile, North Ottawa Impoundment) †KTP, REn, RLF. |
2020 | Fall | 2 | 2 | All north 8/22 – 9/26 Grant (juvenile, North Ottawa Impoundment, possibly continuing from the summer season, this individual proved to be very sporadic and difficult to find) †JGW, ph. BLz, m.ob. All south 8/4 Steele (juvenile, Morehouse Park) SGz, ph. LBa, m.ob., 8/18–27 Hennepin (juvenile, Richardson N.C.) ph. SOh, ph. PEB, m.ob. |
2021 | Spring | 1 | Early south (median 5/8) 4/17 – 5/19 Freeborn (max. 2, Brookside Park) ph. AEB, ph. †KEm, ph. †RJS, ph. DWK, ph. ANy, ph. RZi. | |
2021 | Summer | 1 | Observed 6/1, 6/26 Freeborn AEB, AXH, TBH. | |
2021 | Fall | 1 | Only report 8/8 Freeborn AEB. | |
2022 | Spring | 2 | All south 4/28 – 5/16 Hennepin (Hyland Lake P.R.) RCo, m.ob., 5/10 Mower (Hormel N.C.) RNS, ebd. | |
2022 | Summer | 1 | Observed 7/9–17 Dakota (adult and juvenile by Minnesota Zoo in Apple Valley) Jeff Little, LMo, GMo, ph. m.ob. | |
2022 | Fall | 1 | Only report 8/17 Freeborn (Fountain Lake) ph. AEB. | |
  | ||||
  | Rare summer resident mostly southeast. Recorded in nine of the last ten years, most recently 2023. Last breeding record 1984. |
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. |