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Seasonal Report Archive for The Loon | |
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The 1961-Fall Season 1 August through 30 November 1961 by Ronald l. Huber |
General Considerations: Reports
were received from 21 observers, most
of whom are from the Twin Cities or
the Duluth-Iron Range area. Red
Wing and Milbank, South Dakota
(near Salt Lake, Lac qui Parle
County, Minnesota) were reported
from. Avifauna! Club members covered
the state, as usual, from Heron
Lake, Jackson County to Duluth;
Lake Traverse, Traverse County;
Rothsay, Wilkin County; Ely, St.
Louis County; Grand Marais, Cook
County, and Reno, Houston County.
Two hundred and forty-one species
were reported for the fall season.
GAL/FORMES: Only the Common
Common Loon was reported this season.
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Species |
Information |
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| Whistling-Ducks, Geese, Swans, Ducks | |||||
| Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus) | One seen 5 Nov. at Fisher Lake, Scott County by R. Huber. Another was reported shot at Duluth during first week of Nov., reported by Mrs. Putnam. W kite-fronted Goose: Three were seen with a large flock of Blue, Snow and Blue X Snow hybrids on Lake Traverse, 11 Nov. by Avifaunal Club. | ||||
| Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors) | All these species breed regularly and in mid-summer loafing males were joined by the females and their young. A few Ringnecked Ducks and American Wigeon were also present. On September 30, all the above species were present as well as an occasional Hooded Merganser and Green-winged Teal. As usual our hawk migration was poor. Duck hunters at Hurkett reported a heavy movement of Broadwinged Hawks on September 15. We saw a Peregrine Falcon on September 23. There have been several reports of these birds in southern Ontario. In view of these records and the flight through Duluth on September 17, one might suspect they had had an unusually good breeding season. We saw a Pigeon Hawk in Fort William | ||||
| Greater Scaup (Aythya marila) | Avifaunal Club members saw one with a small flock of Lesser Scaup at Duluth on 28 Oct. Two were seen there on 28 Nov. by Jan Green. | ||||
| Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata) | Jan Green reports that from two to five were seen at Duluth between 17 and 28 Oct. | ||||
| White-winged Scoter (Melanitta deglandi) | Jan Green reports that from one to three were seen at Duluth on 26 and 28 Oct. and 15 Nov. | ||||
| Black Scoter (Melanitta americana) | Between 17 Oct. and 5 Nov., Jan Green reports that from two to seven Black Scoters were seen at Duluth. Three were seen at Grand Marais, Cook County on 25 Nov. by the Huber brothers. ; | ||||
| Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) | First reported 13 Oct. at Two Harbors by Jerry Church. He had last seen them there on 2 Jun. | ||||
| New World Quail | |||||
| Northern Bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) | R. Oehlenschlager saw two coveys near Caledonia, Houston County, on 24 and 25 Nov. | ||||
| Partridge, Pheasants, Grouse, Turkeys | |||||
| Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) | Wild, 34-37 Turn!.tone, Ruddy, 81 | ||||
| Sharp-tailed Grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus) | Several were seen near East Lake, Aitkin County by Bob Janssen on 21 Oct. | ||||
| Grebes | |||||
| Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus) | Several seen 28 Oct. near Two Harbors, Lake County, by members of the Avifaunal Club. ; | ||||
| Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena) | Jan Green reports one at Duluth on 1 Nov. | ||||
| Cuckoos | |||||
| Black-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus erythropthalmus) | One seen 16 Sep. at Lake Vadnais, Ramsey County by A. C. Rosenwinkel. Mathilda Henkel reports one on 10 Oct. in Hoi- den Township, Goodhue County. This was eight days later than the latest date given in Roberts. ; | ||||
| Nightjars | |||||
| Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor) | Apparently moved out in several large waves. On 20 Aug. near Camp Ajawah, Anoka County, Avifaunal Club members saw a flock of more than 100 moving south. About a month later, on 22 Sep., A. C. Rosenwinkel saw 30 or more, apparently the last of a large flock, in St. Paul. A smaller but concentrated group was seen in Minneapolis on 8 Oct. by R. Huber and W. R. Pieper. ; | ||||
| Eastern Whip-poor-will (Antrostomus vociferus) | A. C. Rosenwinkel reports that John Hall heard one calling near Highwood, Ramsey County on 3 July. | ||||
| Rails, Gallinules, Coots | |||||
| Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola) | One was seen at Heron Lake. Jackson County by the Avifaunal Club on 1 Oct. | ||||
| Yellow Rail (Coturnicops noveboracensis) | Karl Hankins found one, alive, in the Silver Bay Taconite Plant, Lake County. No date given as yet. He took it to the U. of M., Duluth, where the specimen was put up as a museum skin. ; | ||||
| Cranes | |||||
| Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis) | Members of the Avifaunal Club saw nine near Rothsay, Wilkin County on 12 Oct. | ||||
| Sandpipers | |||||
| Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) | One seen at Duluth on 9 Sep. by Avifaunal Club members. | ||||
| Red Knot (Calidris canutus) | Several that were seen in late Aug. at Duluth were still there on 2 and 9 Sep., seen by Avifaunal Club. All were in fall plumage. | ||||
| Dunlin (Calidris alpina) | A fairly late Dunlin was seen 12 Oct. by Avifaunal Club at Salt Lake, Lac qui Parle County and another the same day near Elbow Lake, Grant County. Both were in fall plumage. | ||||
| Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Calidris subruficollis) | Several that were present at Duluth during late August were missed on 2 Sep. but seen again on 9 Sep. by Avifaunal Club. | ||||
| WESTERN SANDPIPER (Calidris mauri) | Two that had been seen at Duluth by Avifaunal Club in late August were still there on 2 Sep. They were not seen on 9 Sep., despite a thorough search. | ||||
| Short-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus griseus) | Bob Janssen saw (or should we say "heard") his first one on 2 Sep. at Fisher Lake, Scott County. | ||||
| Long-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus) | Same as for Dunlin, except that at least 50 were seen, in fall plumage, near Elbow Lake. On 1 Oct., near Windom, Cottonwood County, 38 were seen by Avifaunal Club. | ||||
| American Woodcock (Scolopax minor) | Avifaunal Club members saw two in Carlton County, just south of Duluth on 2 Sep. R. Oehlenschlager saw one on 19 Sep. in Cass County, about 10 miles northeast of Nimrod, Wadena County. Gordon Gullion reported five in Cloquet Forest Research Center on 12 Oct. and R. Huber saw one 28 Oct. near Virginia, St. Louis County. | ||||
| Jaegers | |||||
| Parasitic Jaeger (Stercorarius parasiticus) | Three were seen at Duluth by Avifaunal Club members on 2 Sep. Not seen 9 Sep. Close looks at the amount of white in the primaries made the identification fairly certain. | ||||
| Gulls, Terns | |||||
| Bonaparte's Gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia) | Last report was a single bird on 28 Oct. at Duluth, seen by members of Avifaunal Club. ; | ||||
| Loons | |||||
| Common Loon (Gavia immer) | Last seen in northern Minnesota on 28 Oct. at Virginia, St. Louis County, by Nels Hervi. ; | ||||
| Cormorants | |||||
| Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum) | J. K. Bronoel reports one at Duluth on 30 Nov. ; | ||||
| Pelicans | |||||
| American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) | Jerry Church saw one at Two Harbors in Oct. This will appear later in the Flicker as a note of interest. | ||||
| Bitterns, Herons, Egrets, Night-Herons | |||||
| Least Bittern (Botaurus exilis) | Last report was 1 Oct. at Heron Lake, Jackson County, by Avifaunal Club members. | ||||
| American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus) | Last report as for Least Bittern. ; | ||||
| Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) | Last report this fall was 12 Oct. at north end of Lake Traverse, seen by Avifaunal Club members. | ||||
| Green Heron (Butorides virescens) | A. C. Rosenwinkel saw one 7 Oct. in Ramsey County (last report). | ||||
| Great Egret (Ardea alba) | Latest report was by Avifaunal Club members at north end of Lake Traverse on 12 Oct. | ||||
| New World Vultures | |||||
| Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) | Last seen 7 Oct. when Gordon Gullion saw 12 at Cloquet Forest Research Station, Carlton County. | ||||
| Osprey | |||||
| Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) | 20, 29, 57, 72 | ||||
| Kites, Accipiters, Hawks, Eagles | |||||
| Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) | Two seen at Duluth on hawk count, 15 and 23 Sep. | ||||
| American Goshawk (Accipiter atricapillus) | Last seen at Duluth on 1 Nov. by Jan Green. First Twin Cities report was by A. C. Rosenwinkel, 18 Nov., Ramsey County. | ||||
| Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) | Five were seen on 15 Sep. at Duluth, on hawk count. One adult and one immature seen by Avifaunal Club at Lac qui Parle Reservoir on 11 Nov., one immature seen by same group on 10 Sep. at Whitewater State Park, Winona County and two immatures seen by the Huber brothers near Two Harbors on 25 Nov. Mathilda Henkel reports one adult and one immature at Holden Township, Goodhue County, on 24 Oct. and another immature there on 17 Nov. | ||||
| Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) | One seen by Avifaunal Club members 4 and 5 Nov. at Fisher Lake, Scott County. | ||||
| Screech-Owls, Owls | |||||
| Eastern Screech-Owl (Megascops asio) | One seen on 27 Nov. at University Campus, Minneapolis, by R. Huber. | ||||
| Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) | Gordon Gullion reports one at the Cloquet Forest Research Center on 5 Oct. A. C. Rosenwinkel reports one at Lake Vadnais, Ramsey County on 11 Nov. | ||||
| Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) | Two were seen on 20 Nov. and two more, apparently different birds because of plumages, seen 28 Nov. at Duluth by Jan Green. | ||||
| Northern Hawk Owl (Surnia ulula) | John Hale reported one at Duluth on 9 Nov. Seen again on 12 Nov. by Jan Green. | ||||
| Barred Owl (Strix varia) | One seen 8 Nov. and another 24 Nov., both in downtown Duluth. Pictures appeared in Duluth News-Tribune. A. C. Rosenwinkel saw one at Lake Vadnais, Ramsey County on 11 Nov. | ||||
| Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) | One was seen 24 Nov. on University campus, Minneapolis, by R. Huber. | ||||
| Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) | John Hale reported one near his home in Duluth from the last week in October to the first week in November. Two seen near Caledonia, Houston County on 24 Nov. by R. Oehlenschlager. | ||||
| Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus) | Mrs. Micensky reports that Mrs. Clara Lilley saw one at Hibbing, St. Louis County on 8 Oct. ; | ||||
| Woodpeckers | |||||
| Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) | A rather late report for Northern Minnesota was submitted by Edna Fox, who saw one of 29 Oct. at Duluth. ; | ||||
| Black-backed Woodpecker (Picoides arcticus) | on September 23. Common Night hawks and Chimney Swifts were last seen and heard on August 24. Gray Jays seemed unusually scarce. Common Ravens undoubtedly are increasing as summer residents in areas adjacent to the Lakehead. Unfortunately Starlings continue to increase throughout the region and great flocks were present in late summer. The Common Grackle appears to be increasing as a breeding species with· in the limits of Fort William. We usually find the Lincoln's Sparrow an uncommon summer resident, but we heard two males on July 6 and two in a second area on July 19. In a third area we saw an agitated adult carrying nesting material on July 23. The early fall migration was generally | ||||
| Caracaras, Falcons | |||||
| Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) | Last report was 25 Sep. at Duluth by Jan Green. ; | ||||
| Flycatchers | |||||
| Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens) | Latest report was 1 Oct. near Heron Lake, Jackson County, by Avifaunal Club. Roberts lists latest date as 5 Oct. | ||||
| Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) | Largest concentration reported by Dean Honetschlager, who saw 20 on 20 Sep., near Marineon- St. Croix, Washington County. | ||||
| Vireos | |||||
| Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus) | Last report from Northern Minnesota was 15 Sep. at Duluth by Jan Green. Last report for Southern Minnesota was 18 Oct. near Lake Olson, Washington County, by Jane Olyphant. This record was 10 days later than Roberts' late date. ; | ||||
| Waxwings | |||||
| Bohemian Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus) | As with the Redbreasted Nuthatch, it appeared that an invasion of this species would occur. But all reports have been for small numbers. P. B. ofslund saw two on 21 Oct. at Duluth. Jan Green reported them present in smal groups all through November, but never more than six per group. A. C. Rosenwinkel reported six in a spruce thicket near Lake Vadnais, Ramsey County on 11 Nov. That same day, in the western part of the state, Avifaunal Club members saw a single bird at the north end of Lake Traverse. Vireonidae: Five of seven species were reported. | ||||
| Wrens | |||||
| Northern House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) | Latest report was 1 Oct. at Heron Lake by R. Huber. | ||||
| Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis) | J. S. Futcher reported one in Minneapolis on 1 Oct. A. C. Rosenwinkel saw one in St. Paul, 24 Sep. Jane Olyphant saw one in Washington County, at Lake Olson, on 14 Oct. | ||||
| Sedge Wren (Cistothorus stellaris) | Last report same as for Marsh Wren. Turdidae: Six of eleven species were reported. | ||||
| Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris) | Last report was 1 Oct. at Heron Lake, seen by Avifaunal Club. | ||||
| Thrashers, Mockingbirds | |||||
| Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) | Last report was 24 Oct. near Lake Olson, Washington County, when a single bird was trapped by Jane Olyphant. M otacillidae: Both species were reported. | ||||
| Thrushes | |||||
| Gray-cheeked Thrush (Catharus minimus) | Last reported 7 Oct. at Duluth by P. B. Hofslund. Mimidae: Two of the three species were reported. The Gray Catbird was very late. | ||||
| Swainson's Thrush (Catharus ustulatus) | Last reported on 18 Oct., Cloquet Forest Research Center, by Gordon Gullion. | ||||
| Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) | Last reported on 13 Oct. at Duluth, P. B. Hofslund. | ||||
| Pipits | |||||
| American Pipit (Anthus rubescens) | At least ten were seen on 26 Oct. near Rockford, Wright County by A. C. Rosenwinkel. Many seen on 12. Oct. at Salt Lake, Lac qui Parle County by Avifaunal Club members. | ||||
| SPRAGUE'S PIPIT (Anthus spragueii) | Richard Oehlenschlager collected one specimen five ' miles east of Nimrod, Wadena County on 22 Sep. This locality is on the very fringe of the Boreal-coniferous zone. Bombycillidae: Both species were reported. | ||||
| Finches | |||||
| Evening Grosbeak (Coccothraustes vespertinus) | Many reports. First report was 10 Sep., mixed flock of adults and juveniles, at Virginia, St. Louis County, by Vera Barrows. On 14 Sep., Mrs Micensky reported them in Hibbing, St. Louis County. P. B. Hofslund saw them in Duluth on 11 Sep. In the southern part of the state, many were seen at Lake Calhoun in Minneapolis on 22 Oct. by W. R. Pieper. Dean Honetschlager reports them in Washington County on 26 Oct. Miss Mathilda Henkel reported two at Whitewater State Park on 5 Oct. and six at Wacouta, Good- hue County on 5 Nov. On 17 Nov., Mrs. Allan saw a small flock at Lake Josephine, Ramsey County. On 12 Nov., Lowry Elliott saw a single bird near the Minnesota-South Dakota border, five miles west of Rosen, Lac | ||||
| Pine Grosbeak (Pinicola enucleator) | Widespread over the state by late November. First report was 15 Sep. at ibbing, when five were seen by Mrs. Micensky. Seen there again the last four days of October. Jan Green saw them at Duluth on 15 November. Records for southern part of state: 18 Nov., Ramsey County, A. C. Rosenwinkel. 18 Nov., Washington County, Dean Honetschlager. 19 Nov., Ramsey County, Keith and Connie Sherck. 24 Nov., Houston County, near Iowa line, R. Oehlenschlager. | ||||
| Redpoll (Hoary) (Acanthis f. exilipes) | First seen on 28 Oct. near Virginia, St. Louis County, by Avifaunal Club. | ||||
| White-winged Crossbill (Loxia leucoptera) | Small flock seen near Beaver Bay, Lake County, by Avifaunal Club on 28 Oct. One in juvenal plumage. | ||||
| Longspurs and Snow Buntings | |||||
| CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPUR (Calcarius ornatus) | On 28 Sep., Dr. Breckenridge saw one, either a female or immature, between Felton and Ulen, in Clay County. | ||||
| Smith's Longspur (Calcarius pictus) | One, in buffy fall plumage, seen with 400-500 Lapland Longspurs by W. R. Pieper on 11 Nov., west of Lac qui Parle reservoir. The birds were feeding in a grassy field and Pieper studied the bird for several minutes. Other members of the Avifaunal Club were studying the flock and saw, on several occasions, buffy birds which displayed juncolike outer tail feathers when alighting. The flock would feed for several minutes, and then, in several small groups, arise and re-settle for more feeding. Hence observations were difficult but far better than usual for longspurs. It was felt that there were at least three Smith's Longspurs in the flock, but with only one positive identification. This bird may be a more common migrant through the | ||||
| Towhees, Sparrows | |||||
| LARK BUNTING (Calamospiza melanocorys) | R. Oehlenschlager saw several on the Cass County-Wadena County line, east of Nimrod, on 31 Aug. and 1 Sep. | ||||
| White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) | Another species which slipped through almost unnoticed during spring. Reported 21 Oct. at Duluth by P. B. Hofslund. W. R. Pieper saw one near Heron Lake on 1 Oct. | ||||
| Harris's Sparrow (Zonotrichia querula) | A species which slipped through all but unnoticed during spring migration. Most observers reported them this fall. First and last northern records: 18 Sep. and 14 Oct. at Virginia, St. Louis County, Vera Barrows. Miss Mathilda Henkel reports them in Goodhue County from 8 to 25 Oct. Dean Honetschlager saw them on 3 Oct. in Washington County. In the southern part of the state, the Avifaunal Club saw many on 1 Oct. near Windom, Cottonwood County and Heron Lake. Seen again on 12 Oct. at north end of Lake Traverse. | ||||
| LeConte's Sparrow (Ammospiza leconteii) | Miss Mathilda Henkel saw nine in Holden Township, Goodhue County on 10 Oct. Several seen at Heron Lake, Jackson County on 1 Oct. by Avifaunal Club. Fresh post-nuptial plumage. One seen at Salt Lake, Lac qui Parle County on 12 Oct. by R. Janssen and R. Huber. First winter plumage. Another was seen the same day by Brother Theodore near Rothsay, Wilkin County. | ||||
| Nelson's Sparrow (Ammospiza nelsoni) | On 1 Oct., Avifaunal Club members saw one at Heron Lake. The bird fed leisurely on the ground at the nearly-dry delta of Okabena Creek. | ||||
| Henslow's Sparrow (Centronyx henslowii) | One seen by H. Huber and W. R. Pieper at Duluth on 2 Sep. A very unusual record, perhaps the first for Duluth. | ||||
| Warblers | |||||
| Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla) | Last report was 1 Oct. near Windom, Cottonwood County by Avifaunal Club members. Roberts lists only two October dates. | ||||
| Connecticut Warbler (Oporornis agilis) | One was seen at Duluth by R. Janssen on 9 Sep. | ||||
| American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) | Jan Green saw one at Duluth on 24 Oct., some 12 days later than the latest date listed by Roberts. Fringillidae: Thirty-five of 47 species were reported. | ||||
| Cape May Warbler (Setophaga tigrina) | On 30 Nov.,more than two months later than the latest date listed in Roberts (28 Sep.), a single bird was captured near St. Cloud, Stearns County by Max Partch. | ||||
| Black-throated Blue Warbler (Setophaga caerulescens) | Three were seen by P. B. Hofslund at Duluth on 11 Sep. Mrs. Olyphant trapped a male at Lake Olson, Washington County, on 10 Oct., one day later than the latest date listed by Roberts. | ||||
| Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) | Last report was from Miss Mathilda Henkel oh 8 Nov. in Goodhue County. Roberts lists only two November dates. | ||||