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Seasonal Report Archive for The Loon | |
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The 2003-Fall Season 1 August through 30 November 2003 Paul E. Budde, James W. Lind, and Peder H. Svingen |
The spring status of Ross's Goose has changed dramatically over the past two decades and its occurrence in fall is by now routine. For the second consecutive fall, a flock of six Harlequin Ducks appeared along the North Shore of Lake Superior. Another highlight in an otherwise lackluster waterfowl migration was an influx of scoters to multiple “inland” locations away from Lake Superior.
Two or three Red-throated Loons along the North Shore of Lake Superior was near-average for autumn, but Pacific Loons were scarce and fall staging of the Common Loon at Lakes Winnibigoshish and Mille Lacs was unimpressive. What are the odds that the same observer would find both the first and second state records of Neotropic Cormorant with more than a decade separating these two records? The extended stay of a juvenile Little Blue Heron with two adults in Douglas County suggested the possibility of local breeding, which has not been documented in Minnesota since 1981.
Reminiscent of last fall but unfortunately not refound by others was the Swallow-tailed Kite near Morristown in mid-August. Observers at Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve in Duluth were awed by rivers of raptors streaming high overhead on 15 September. However, there were unusually low seasonal totals for species such as American Kestrel, Merlin, and Peregrine Falcon.
Shorebird surveys at Agassiz N.W.R. and in Big Stone County consistently recorded 18+ species and 3000+ individuals during August. A total of 4076 shorebirds (22 species) in Big Stone and Lac Qui Parle counties on the 16th was one of the highest total there since systematic surveys began in 1998. A flock of 36 American Avocets made a late cameo appearance at Agassiz and record-high counts were established for Greater Yellowlegs and Long-billed Dowitchers. Compared to recent fall migrations, a statewide total of 194 Buff-breasted Sandpipers was disappointing
Minnesota's first Costa's Hummingbird was identified when it was featured on a television newscast! In spite of mild conditions, only one Scissor-tailed Flycatcher strayed to Minnesota. A Carolina Wren at Bigfork was recaptured, measured, banded, and photographed — how about that for documentation? The state's ninth Sage Thrasher lingered at Grand Marais for no fewer than 26 days. Peak warbler variety included 19 species at Duluth 8 September (PHS), 19 species at Agassiz N.W.R. Labor Day weekend (KRE et al.), and 22 species at Duluth 15 Sep (PHS et al.). On the latter date, Svingen reported a “tidal surge” of >1300 warblers at Park Point between 11:30 A.M. and 3:30 P.M., including 20 Chestnut-sideds in view simultaneously. The only rare warbler this fall was the Yellow-throated Warbler at Fergus Falls for six days in late October. The fall migration of sparrows was noteworthy in several respects. Nelson's Sparrows and Smith's Longspurs were detected in many locations. Sixteen species of sparrows were at Rothsay W.M.A. on 4 October (KRE et al.) with one additional species (Nelson's Sharp-tailed) found the next day in nearby Otter Tail County. Fifteen species of sparrows including a Nelson's Sharp-tailed were found along the North Shore of Lake Superior on 12 October (JWL). Most unexpected was the female Lazuli Bunting about 11 miles east of Grand Marais; it was not only late (26 October) and unseasonal (most Minnesota records are in spring), but also far out-of-range. Weather Summary: Precipitation during August was far below normal — in most regions at least 50% below normal, while in the Southeast and East-central it was 75% below normal. Statewide, it was the fourth driest August on record. Temperatures (ºF) were moderate, though a warm spell during the third week of the month produced mid-90s as far north as International Falls. This warm period ended as a cold front passed through the state on 20 August, producing 70 mph winds in Duluth. September precipitation was closer to average, but the cumulative effect of the summer drought caused an estimated $1.1 billion in crop losses in Minnesota. Between 9 and 15 September a slow moving cold front passed through the state and produced significant rain in a band from the Southwest region to the Northeast. By the end of the month another cold front caused temperatures to plunge far below normal. A series of cold fronts ushered in colder air as October began. Overnight lows dropped to the teens during the first few days of the month. Within a week, however, temperatures had climbed back into the 70s, even in the northern regions. Another cold front passing through on 11 October brought temperatures back towards normal levels. For the month, northern Minnesota experienced about 60% of normal precipitation totals, but the remainder of the state only 25% to 50%. Minnesota was again dry and warm in November. On average, precipitation was 60% of normal. November began with a significant stationary front to the southeast of the state. International Falls received 9.0 inches of snow on 4 November, and temperatures dropped as cold air flowed into the region behind a passing clipper system. By the 7th temperatures fell to as low as -9 degrees. The second week brought more windy weather and cold conditions as a high pressure system from Canada pushed more cold air into the state. On the 12th a passing low pressure system brought strong straight line winds to the entire Midwest that hit 65 mph in South-central Minnesota. A warming period at the end of the month did little to affect the northern part of the state as significant snow cover kept temperatures cold.
Presumed escapes and exotics: Whooper Swan 10/25–11/1 McLeod (adult at Campbell L. near Hutchinson) †PRH et al., Gray Partridge 10/25 Cook (2 near Grand Marais) DAB, FVS. Undocumented reports: Plegadis ibis 10/18 Lyon (Cottonwood), Pacific Loon 10/29 Crow Wing (Garrison), Clark's Grebe 8/2 Redwood/Yellow Medicine (Timm's L.), Gyrfalcon 11/1 Cook (Grand Marais), Black-headed Gull 10/18 Jackson (Big Spirit L.), Yellow-breasted Chat 9/20 Nicollet. Acknowledgments: We thank Dave Carman, Dave Evans, Frank Nicoletti, and the Duluth Audubon Society for data from Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve. Karl Bardon reviewed this report and offered many helpful suggestions. Dave Benson, Anthony Hertzel, and Jeanie Joppru sent transcripts of weekly birding reports. The medians of recent arrival and departure dates were calculated by Paul Budde from published and unpublished seasonal report data from 1985 through 2002. We are especially grateful to the contributors who submit data and respond to our seemingly endless requests for documentation each season.
Minnesota's first Costa's Hummingbird was identified when it was featured on a television newscast! In spite of mild conditions, only one Scissor-tailed Flycatcher strayed to Minnesota. A Carolina Wren at Bigfork was recaptured, measured, banded, and photographed — how about that for documentation? The state's ninth Sage Thrasher lingered at Grand Marais for no fewer than 26 days. Peak warbler variety included 19 species at Duluth 8 September (PHS), 19 species at Agassiz N.W.R. Labor Day weekend (KRE et al.), and 22 species at Duluth 15 Sep (PHS et al.). On the latter date, Svingen reported a “tidal surge” of >1300 warblers at Park Point between 11:30 A.M. and 3:30 P.M., including 20 Chestnut-sideds in view simultaneously. The only rare warbler this fall was the Yellow-throated Warbler at Fergus Falls for six days in late October. The fall migration of sparrows was noteworthy in several respects. Nelson's Sparrows and Smith's Longspurs were detected in many locations. Sixteen species of sparrows were at Rothsay W.M.A. on 4 October (KRE et al.) with one additional species (Nelson's Sharp-tailed) found the next day in nearby Otter Tail County. Fifteen species of sparrows including a Nelson's Sharp-tailed were found along the North Shore of Lake Superior on 12 October (JWL). Most unexpected was the female Lazuli Bunting about 11 miles east of Grand Marais; it was not only late (26 October) and unseasonal (most Minnesota records are in spring), but also far out-of-range. Weather Summary: Precipitation during August was far below normal — in most regions at least 50% below normal, while in the Southeast and East-central it was 75% below normal. Statewide, it was the fourth driest August on record. Temperatures (ºF) were moderate, though a warm spell during the third week of the month produced mid-90s as far north as International Falls. This warm period ended as a cold front passed through the state on 20 August, producing 70 mph winds in Duluth. September precipitation was closer to average, but the cumulative effect of the summer drought caused an estimated $1.1 billion in crop losses in Minnesota. Between 9 and 15 September a slow moving cold front passed through the state and produced significant rain in a band from the Southwest region to the Northeast. By the end of the month another cold front caused temperatures to plunge far below normal. A series of cold fronts ushered in colder air as October began. Overnight lows dropped to the teens during the first few days of the month. Within a week, however, temperatures had climbed back into the 70s, even in the northern regions. Another cold front passing through on 11 October brought temperatures back towards normal levels. For the month, northern Minnesota experienced about 60% of normal precipitation totals, but the remainder of the state only 25% to 50%. Minnesota was again dry and warm in November. On average, precipitation was 60% of normal. November began with a significant stationary front to the southeast of the state. International Falls received 9.0 inches of snow on 4 November, and temperatures dropped as cold air flowed into the region behind a passing clipper system. By the 7th temperatures fell to as low as -9 degrees. The second week brought more windy weather and cold conditions as a high pressure system from Canada pushed more cold air into the state. On the 12th a passing low pressure system brought strong straight line winds to the entire Midwest that hit 65 mph in South-central Minnesota. A warming period at the end of the month did little to affect the northern part of the state as significant snow cover kept temperatures cold.
Presumed escapes and exotics: Whooper Swan 10/25–11/1 McLeod (adult at Campbell L. near Hutchinson) †PRH et al., Gray Partridge 10/25 Cook (2 near Grand Marais) DAB, FVS. Undocumented reports: Plegadis ibis 10/18 Lyon (Cottonwood), Pacific Loon 10/29 Crow Wing (Garrison), Clark's Grebe 8/2 Redwood/Yellow Medicine (Timm's L.), Gyrfalcon 11/1 Cook (Grand Marais), Black-headed Gull 10/18 Jackson (Big Spirit L.), Yellow-breasted Chat 9/20 Nicollet. Acknowledgments: We thank Dave Carman, Dave Evans, Frank Nicoletti, and the Duluth Audubon Society for data from Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve. Karl Bardon reviewed this report and offered many helpful suggestions. Dave Benson, Anthony Hertzel, and Jeanie Joppru sent transcripts of weekly birding reports. The medians of recent arrival and departure dates were calculated by Paul Budde from published and unpublished seasonal report data from 1985 through 2002. We are especially grateful to the contributors who submit data and respond to our seemingly endless requests for documentation each season.
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Species |
Information |
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| Whistling-Ducks, Geese, Swans, Ducks | |||||
| Snow Goose (Anser caerulescens) | Reported from 18 north and 12 south counties. Oversummering birds in Otter Tail 8/1–28 m.obs., 8/2 Marshall (Warren W.T.P.) BJM, DDM. Early north migrants 9/6 Kittson (4) and Marshall (Agassiz N.W.R.) PHS, 9/16 St. Louis SLF and Cook EO. No south reports until 10/2 (median 9/16) Waseca NFT. High count 10/4 Red Lake (350) PHS, JMJ. Late north 11/18 St. Louis MTA, 11/20 Cook BRL. Late south 11/18 Lac qui Parle and Big Stone BJU, 11/21 Dakota SWe, but also see winter report. | ||||
| Ross's Goose (Anser rossii) | All north reports: 9/28 Pennington (Thief River Falls W.T.P.) †PHS et al., 10/4 Red Lake (near Red Lake Falls) †PHS, JMJ, 10/9 Polk (East Grand Forks W.T.P.) CRM, 10/11 Marshall (Agassiz N.W.R.) †PHS et al., 10/12 Otter Tail CRM et al., 10/17–24 Aitkin (6 at Mallard Lake W.M.A.) PEJ, DFN, 10/18 Polk (Fosston) †PHS. Only south report: 11/2 Chippewa (2) RBJ. | ||||
| Greater White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons) | Scarce throughout the state. Two north reports: 8/18–22 Otter Tail (record-early fall date, near Underwood) EJE, DTT, SMT, 10/17–24 Aitkin (6) PEJ, DFN. Two south reports: 9/20–10/4 Brown (2) BTS, 10/17 Big Stone (5) BJU. | ||||
| Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) | Reported throughout the state and the season. Peak numbers at Lac qui Parle W.M.A. estimated at 250,000 (record high count — no date) FAE and 11/11 (150,000) RBJ. | ||||
| Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) | Birds of uncertain origin reported 9/5–11/6 Rice (Cannon L.) m.obs., 11/2–22 Dakota (Gun Club L.) and Hennepin (Long Meadow L.) m.obs., 11/6 Olmsted (East Landfill Reservoir) PWP. | ||||
| Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator) | Statewide total of >216 Trumpeters in 19 north and 10 south counties. Peak counts 11/20 Otter Tail (36 on L. Lida and Star L.) fide JMJ, 11/30 Wright (27 on L. Wilhelm) KTP. | ||||
| Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus) | Reported from 19 north and 21 south counties. One documented in July probably oversummered and was still present early August in Marshall (Agassiz N.W.R.) fide JMJ. Early north 9/14 Otter Tail JMP, 9/17 Pine JMP. Early south 10/11 Anoka JLH, 10/12 Sherburne OLJ. High count 11/7 Houston (8000+ at Pool #8, includes birds in Wisconsin) FZL. Late north 11/18 Cass MRN, 11/22 Polk EEF. Please see winter report for late south migrants. | ||||
| Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) | Seen in 22 north and 30 south counties. High count 9/23 Aitkin (3820) Rice Lake N.W.R. Late north 11/1 Hubbard MAW, but also see winter report. | ||||
| Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors) | Observed in 24 north and 25 south counties. Peak count 9/17 Aitkin (11,722) Rice Lake N.W.R. Late north 10/20 Mille Lacs CRM. Late south 10/25 Lac qui Parle BJU. | ||||
| Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata) | Seen in 19 north and 22 south counties. High count 10/14 Polk (300) EEF. Late north 10/20 Mille Lacs CRM. Late south 11/28 Hennepin SLC, but also see winter report. | ||||
| Gadwall (Mareca strepera) | Reported from 14 north and 24 south counties. Late north 11/13 Todd JSK. Please see winter report for additional migrants and overwintering birds. | ||||
| American Wigeon (Mareca americana) | Observed in 14 north and 19 south counties. Late north 11/2 Marshall JMJ. Please see winter report for late south migrants. | ||||
| Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) | Reported throughout the state. High count 10/15 Aitkin (30,820) Rice Lake N.W.R. | ||||
| American Black Duck (Anas rubripes) | All north reports: Aitkin, Cook, Lake, Marshall, Mille Lacs, Polk, St. Louis. Reported from nine south counties, including 8/21 Lac qui Parle (possibly oversummering) BJU. No other south reports until late October. | ||||
| Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) | Reported from 13 north and 15 south counties. No significant high counts. Late north 11/2 Marshall JMJ, but also see winter report. | ||||
| Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca) | Seen in 16 north and 20 south counties. High count 9/23 Aitkin (7154) Rice Lake N.W.R. Late north 11/7 Otter Tail DTT, SMT. Please see winter report for late south migrants. | ||||
| Canvasback (Aythya valisineria) | Observed in 9 north and 11 south counties, none in Northeast or Southwest. Peak count 11/7 Houston (59,025 at Pool #8, includes birds in Wisconsin) Upper Mississippi River N.W.F.R. Late north 11/22 Beltrami DPJ. Please see winter report for late south migrants. | ||||
| Redhead (Aythya americana) | Reported from 11 north and 12 south counties. No significant high counts. Late north 11/22 Beltrami DPJ, but also see winter report. | ||||
| Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris) | Reported from 18 north and 20 south counties. High count 10/23 Aitkin (188,774) Rice Lake N.W.R. Late north 11/16 St. Louis SWe. Please see winter report for late south migrants. | ||||
| Greater Scaup (Aythya marila) | Seen in seven north and four south counties. Early north 9/27 Marshall PHS. Late north 11/16 Lake m.obs., but also see winter report. All south reports: 11/11 Houston DFN, 11/12 Big Stone BJU, 11/24 Ramsey KJB, Hennepin (no date) PEJ. | ||||
| Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis) | Observed in 16 north and 20 south counties. No significant high counts. Please see winter report for late migrants. | ||||
| Harlequin Duck (Histrionicus histrionicus) | All reports were from the North Shore of L. Superior: 9/28 St. Louis (Superior Entry) MH, 10/26–31 Cook (6 at Paradise Beach, ties record-high count set last fall in Grand Marais) MSS, m.obs., 11/8 Cook (one at Hovland) TZa, 11/13–18 St. Louis (immature at French River) CAK, m.obs. | ||||
| Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata) | Eleven reports from L. Superior including early north 9/29 St. Louis PHS, late north 11/15 Lake JWL, and high count 10/23 Cook (9 at Hovland) JMP. Record number of inland reports for second consecutive fall. All inland reports were of one to three birds, between 9/30 Lac qui Parle (2 at Big Stone N.W.R., earliest date south) BJU and 11/26 Hennepin (single at L. Calhoun) KJB. All other inland reports: Beltrami (†DPJ), Big Stone, Brown, Cass, Chippewa, Crow Wing, Dakota/Goodhue, Marshall, McLeod, Meeker, Pennington, Rice. | ||||
| White-winged Scoter (Melanitta deglandi) | Many L. Superior reports after three consecutive falls with low numbers. High counts 10/23 Cook (12) RBJ, 10/29 St. Louis (6 at Park Point) NAJ, 11/8 Lake (4) JPM. Unusual number of inland reports, including 9/20 Red Lake (Red Lake Falls W.T.P.) †PHS. All other inland reports: Dakota/Goodhue, Hennepin, Houston, Lac qui Parle, Ramsey (late south 11/21 BRL), Rice, Wright. Late north 11/21 Cook KJB, but see winter report. | ||||
| Black Scoter (Melanitta americana) | Many reports of small numbers of birds on L. Superior between 9/30 St. Louis (Park Point) MH and 11/21 Cook (Grand Marais) KJB, including high count 10/30 St. Louis (6 at Park Point) MH. Unusual number of inland reports: 11/4 Big Stone (immature male near Ortonville) BJU, 11/4 Lac qui Parle (adult male at Big Stone N.W.R.) BJU, 11/11 Hennepin (2 at L. Calhoun) †PEB, 11/16–21 Rice (French L.) FVS, DAB, 11/18 Dakota (L. Byllesby) DDM, BJM, 11/29 Winona (2 at Prairie Is.) RMD et al. | ||||
| Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) | No reports away from L. Superior. Early north 10/14 St Louis (Park Point) MH, 10/17 Cook (Cascade R.) JWL. High count 11/16 Cook (120 at Five Mile Rock) PHS. | ||||
| Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) | Reported from 19 north and 17 south counties. Early south 8/9 (possibly oversummering) Cottonwood RMD, 9/17 Big Stone BJU. No significant high counts. | ||||
| Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) | Seen in 19 north and 14 south counties. Early south 9/25 Lac qui Parle BJU. High count (but also see winter report) 11/11 Houston (5000+) DFN. | ||||
| Barrow's Goldeneye (Bucephala islandica) | Adult male seen 11/11–15 Houston (second earliest south, Pool #8) †PEJ, DFN. | ||||
| Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) | Reported from 22 north and 19 south counties. High counts 11/7 Rice (204) FVS, 11/8 Dakota (288) PEJ. | ||||
| Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) | Seen in 16 north and 13 south counties. Early south 10/29 Sherburne PLJ. High counts 11/25 Mille Lacs L. (2155) KJB, 11/28 L. Pepin (26,000) KJB. | ||||
| Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator) | Scarce for second consecutive fall (only reported from 11 counties). Early north (away from L. Superior) 9/14 Mille Lacs JMP. Early south 11/2 Lac qui Parle BJU, 11/11 Hennepin TAT. | ||||
| Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) | Observed in 11 north and 21 south counties in all regions. Unusual location 11/15–16 Lake (female at Silver Bay) m.obs. High count 10/14 Stevens (975) RBJ. Late north 11/27 Otter Tail CRM. Late south 11/26 Hennepin KJB, but also see winter report. | ||||
| Partridge, Pheasants, Grouse, Turkeys | |||||
| Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) | Reported from 30 counties as far north as Becker, Clay, and Polk (10/20, one near Crookston, JMJ, PHS) in the Northwest, Wadena and Cass (max. 12, MRN) in the North-central, and Kanabec (max. 23, JMP) and Pine (max. 26, JMP) in the East-central region. Some north reports probably refer to recently released birds. Only report from the Southwest: 8/5 Yellow Medicine (hen with 6 young) FAE. Excepting 10/23 Lac qui Parle (40 in section 25, Yellow Bank Twp.) BJU, peak counts 20–30 birds in southern regions. | ||||
| Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus) | Observed in 18 north and 4 south counties within usual range. | ||||
| Spruce Grouse (Canachites canadensis) | Reported from Lake of the Woods (max. 5 in three locations, GMM, plus up to 7 near Gustafson Camp S.N.A., MHK). | ||||
| Sharp-tailed Grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus) | Reported from Kittson, Marshall, Pennington (8), Red Lake (max. 19, JMJ, PHS), and Roseau in the Northwest, plus Lake of the Woods (6), Kanabec (6), Pine (3). | ||||
| Greater Prairie-Chicken (Tympanuchus cupido) | Numbers up in Pennington, Polk (max. 50, HH), and Red Lake (multiple flocks of 20+) JMJ, PHS. Additional north reports from Clay, Marshall, Otter Tail (100+ at Otter Tail Prairie S.N.A., KRE et al.), and Wilkin (max. 70, ChM). South reports from Lac qui Parle (2 near Plover Prairie and female in Augusta Twp., BJU) were presumably related to D.N.R. releases at Plover Prairie; this species has also been released at Chippewa Prairie in western Chippewa County (fide SPS). | ||||
| Gray Partridge (Perdix perdix) | Most unusual was a covey of 15 reported by a hunter familiar with this species on 11/15 Lake of the Woods (about one mile north of Faunce Tower) fide MHK. Additional north reports from Becker (1), Pennington (max. 9), Polk (6–9 birds in each of three locations), Todd (3), Wilkin (4–6 in each of two locations). All south reports: Big Stone (12), Cottonwood, Lac qui Parle (10–15), Martin, Rice (6). | ||||
| Ring-necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) | Observed in 39 counties as far north as Marshall (9/27, male at Agassiz N.W.R., PHS), Red Lake (10/23, female near Plummer, PHS), Wadena, and Carlton (10/6, Moose Lake S.P., RBJ). | ||||
| Grebes | |||||
| Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) | Reported from 22 north and 31 south counties. Late north 11/2 Marshall JMJ, 11/27 Otter Tail CRM. Late south 11/28 Dakota PEJ, 11/29 Waseca JPS. Also see winter report. | ||||
| Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus) | Observed in 13 north and 9 south counties, none in Southwest. Early north 8/3 (oversummered?) Roseau DDM, BJM, 8/19 St. Louis JWL. Early south 9/6 Lac qui Parle BJU. Late north 11/14 Becker BRK, 11/30 Lake JWL, but also see winter report. Late south 11/22 Brown BTS, 11/30 Hennepin TAT. | ||||
| Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena) | Seen in 14 north and 8 south counties, including 11/2 Dakota JPM and 11/4 Hennepin ChM. Late north 11/16 Cook KRE, 11/21 Lake JWL, but also see winter report. Late south 11/8 Rice DAB. | ||||
| Eared Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis) | Reported from only eight north and five south counties. No reports from eastern regions. Late north 10/8 Marshall CRM, 10/9 Pennington CRM, 11/2 Red Lake fide JMJ. Late south 10/13 Brown CRM, 11/1 Meeker RWS. | ||||
| Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis) | Seen in six north and nine south counties. Late north 10/13 Polk PHS, then unusual report 11/21+ St. Louis (Duluth) JJS et al. Late south 11/1 Chippewa BJU, 11/26 Meeker CRM. Also see winter report. | ||||
| CLARK'S GREBE (Aechmophorus clarkii) | Adult present since spring at Thielke L., Big Stone County documented 8/3 (†JAB, JRW), 8/12 (†KJB), 8/18 (†PEB), 8/19 (†CRM), and through 10/2 (second latest date, †BJU). Record-high count 8/19–21 Todd/Douglas (4 at L. Osakis) †BWF. Also seen 9/24 Lac qui Parle (Big Stone N.W.R.) †BJU. | ||||
| Pigeons, Doves | |||||
| Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) | Statewide. | ||||
| Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) | Found at “new” locations 7/31–8/23+ Dakota (2 or 3 birds first documented at Farmington 8/1, but up to 7 birds possibly present for a year or more according to residents) BSe, †PEB, m.obs., 8/11–17+ Chippewa (2 at Milan first documented 8/17, but also note recently accepted record from 1 June 2002) RBJ et al., †PEB. One at Thief River Falls, Pennington County, since June was joined by a second bird 8/17 (The Loon 76:105–106) JMJ, ph. JWL, †PHS; one lingered through at least 8/30 KRE et al. | ||||
| Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) | Reported throughout the state. Highest reported count 8/13 Polk (62) EEF. | ||||
| Cuckoos | |||||
| Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus) | None in the north. Late south 9/12 Rice DAB, also observed in Houston, Lac qui Parle, Olmsted, Waseca. | ||||
| Black-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus erythropthalmus) | All north reports: Red Lake, St. Louis (last seen 9/24, KRE), Todd. Late south 9/1 Sherburne KTP, 9/2 McLeod CRM, also observed in Carver, Goodhue, Meeker. | ||||
| Nightjars | |||||
| Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor) | Reported from 20 north and 22 south counties. No significant counts. Late north 9/14 Otter Tail JMP and Wadena PJB, 9/26 St. Louis SLF. Observed in nine south counties 10/4–10; late south 10/11 Scott ChH. | ||||
| Eastern Whip-poor-will (Antrostomus vociferus) | Only north report: (no date) Lake of the Woods MHK. All south reports: 8/13 Washington RMD, 8/8 (2), 9/12 (3) Sherburne PLJ, 9/27 Nicollet DDM, BJM. | ||||
| Swifts | |||||
| Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica) | Observed in 14 north and 23 south counties. Late north (median 9/15) 9/14 Wadena PJB. Late south (median 10/8) 10/10–11 Hennepin (23) BCM, 10/16 Hennepin (3) SLC. | ||||
| Hummingbirds | |||||
| Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) | Seen in 23 north and 23 south counties. Record-high count 8/25 Houston (±30 at Beaver Creek Valley S.P.) FZL. Peak migration 9/9–19 (12 north and 10 south counties). Late north 9/20 Wadena PJB, 9/21 Kanabec BLA. Late south 9/27 Dakota JPM, 10/10 Nicollet LWF. | ||||
| COSTA'S HUMMINGBIRD (Calypte costae) | Immature male possibly present since mid-September Wright (Delano) was lured indoors 11/6 and unfortunately died in early December after being taken to a wildlife rehabilitation center. It was first identified from a television news broadcast during Thanksgiving week (DEM, ph. CFa). First state record (The Loon 76:59–63). | ||||
| Rails, Gallinules, Coots | |||||
| Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola) | No north reports. Reported from ten south counties. Record-high count early August Lac qui Parle (21 in section 26, Walter Twp.) BJU. Only reports after mid-September: 10/14 Hennepin SLC, 11/16 Hennepin (Bass Ponds, heard only) DWK. | ||||
| Sora (Porzana carolina) | Reported from 11 north and 19 south counties, but only Goodhue in the Southeast. Late north 10/11 Wilkin CRM, 10/12 Wadena PJB. Late south 10/5 Hennepin SLC, 10/8 Hennepin TAT. | ||||
| Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata) | All reports: family group lingered through 9/15 Becker (Hamden Slough N.W.R., please see summer report), one adult found 7/27 Hennepin (Old Cedar Ave., BBB) observed through 9/17 m.obs. | ||||
| American Coot (Fulica americana) | Observed in 21 north and 29 south counties. Late north (but see winter report) 11/30 St. Louis (Silver L., Virginia) †SLF. Highest reported counts 9/21 Polk (4000) EEF, 10/15 Pope (3000+ at L. Minnewaska) RBJ, 10/18 Hennepin (1000s) DCZ. | ||||
| Yellow Rail (Coturnicops noveboracensis) | Only report: 10/3 Jackson (Timber Lake W.M.A.) †BRB. | ||||
| Cranes | |||||
| Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis) | Reported from 19 north and 11 south counties. No reports from the Southwest. Peak 10/15 at H.R.N.R., Duluth (58, TSm, DSC). Unusual reports 10/7 Cook KRE, 10/13 Lake (24 at Two Harbors) JWL. Highest reported count 10/19 Wilkin (450) SPM. Late north 11/1–2 Lake (1) m.obs. Late south 11/11 Mower RDK, RCK, only November report. | ||||
| Stilts, Avocets | |||||
| American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana) | All sightings: 8/9, 8/16 Big Stone (one, Toqua Twp.) PCC, 8/30 Pennington (one, Thief River Falls) KRE et al., 10/6 Lac qui Parle (6 at Big Stone N.W.R.) BJU, 10/11 Marshall (36 at Lansing Parker Pool, Agassiz N.W.R., second highest count) PHS, JMJ, SAS. | ||||
| Plovers | |||||
| Black-bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola) | Observed in five north and seven south counties in all regions except the Southeast. Early north (but see summer report) 8/2 (4), 8/9 (3) Marshall (Agassiz N.W.R.) PHS, SAS; arrived elsewhere 8/31 Lake of the Woods KRE et al. Early south 8/7 Lac qui Parle (1) and Lyon (2) KJB, 8/16 Big Stone/Lac qui Parle PCC. First juvenile 9/6 Marshall PHS, JMJ. Late north 10/9 Polk CRM, 10/18 Polk (5) PHS. Last reported 10/25 Big Stone/Lac qui Parle (max. 6) PCC, BJU. All counts single digits except 9/16 St. Louis (31 at Duluth) MH. | ||||
| American Golden-Plover (Pluvialis dominica) | Total of 74 reports from 15 north and 17 south counties, including systematic counts in Cottonwood (Red Rock Prairie, BTS) 9/28 (52), 10/1 (68), 10/5 (140), 10/8 (105), 10/11 (205), 11/3 (4). Early north 8/18 Grant PEB, 8/30 Pennington KRE et al. Early south (but see summer report) 8/2 Big Stone/Lac qui Parle PCC, 8/7 Lac qui Parle KJB. First juvenile 8/30 Big Stone PCC. Highest reported count 10/18 Polk (299 at Crookston W.T.P.) PHS; peak migration late September through mid-October when counts >100 in Cottonwood (see above), Kittson (Hallock), Lac qui Parle (Salt L.), Red Lake (Red Lake Falls), and Wilkin (Rothsay W.M.A.). Late north 10/24 Marshall (4) PHS, 11/16 St. Louis (20 at Duluth) SWe. Late south 11/10–13 Brown (1) BTS, 11/13, 11/17–18 Dakota (2) BRL, ADS, JPM. | ||||
| Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) | Reported from 24 north and 33 south counties statewide. Highest reported counts 8/12 (463, KJB), 8/16 (496, PCC) Big Stone, plus 229 on the latter date in Lac qui Parle PCC; also note 285 at sod farms 8/21 Dakota SWe. Late north 10/20 Marshall PHS, JMJ, 10/26 Wadena PJB. See winter report for late south migrants. | ||||
| Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus) | Reported from 8 north and 13 south counties in all regions except North-central. Please see summer report for first fall migrants. First juveniles 8/9 Big Stone PCC and Marshall PHS. Highest reported counts 8/17 (46), 8/31 (53) Marshall (Agassiz N.W.R.) PHS et al. Late north 10/4 Marshall PHS, 10/9 Polk CRM. Late south 9/27 Lac qui Parle PCC, 10/11 Waseca JPS. | ||||
| Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) | No reports. | ||||
| Sandpipers | |||||
| Upland Sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda) | Only reports: 8/2 Big Stone (2) PCC, 8/2–3 Lac qui Parle (1) BJU, 8/16 Traverse (3) PHS. | ||||
| Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) | Singles in St. Louis 9/9 (near Brighton Beach) MH, 9/21 (Park Point, Duluth) MTA. | ||||
| Hudsonian Godwit (Limosa haemastica) | Only north report: 8/2 Marshall (one at Agassiz N.W.R.) PHS, SAS. Only south report: 8/24 Lac qui Parle (24 at Salt L., white rumps and tail pattern seen in flight) BJU. | ||||
| Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa) | Only north reports: 8/2 (17), 8/9 (1) Marshall (Agassiz N.W.R.) PHS, SAS. All south reports were of single birds in Big Stone/Lac qui Parle; last reported 8/23–24, 8/30 Lac qui Parle (Salt L.) PCC, BJU. | ||||
| Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres) | Scarce statewide for the second consecutive fall. Only north reports were singles at Duluth on five dates 9/10–10/5 St. Louis m.obs. All south reports were of single birds 8/1–2 Lac qui Parle KTP, PCC, 8/21 Yellow Medicine BRL, 10/9 Brown JEB. | ||||
| Red Knot (Calidris canutus) | Two reports of single birds: 8/30 Marshall (juvenile at Agassiz N.W.R.) KRE et al., 8/30 Lac qui Parle (Big Stone N.W.R.) PCC. | ||||
| RUFF (Calidris pugnax) | Reported 8/7 Kandiyohi (near Lake Lillian) †RSF (The Loon 76:106–107). | ||||
| Stilt Sandpiper (Calidris himantopus) | Reported from 12 north and 12 south counties. Please see summer report for first fall migrants and juveniles. Numbers at Agassiz N.W.R., Marshall County declined markedly after a peak in late July (see summer report), then began building in late August with a second crescendo 9/6 (697) PHS, JMJ. Late north 10/9 Polk CRM, 10/11 Clay, Marshall and Otter Tail. Late south 10/11 Brown KTP, 10/14 Big Stone BJU, 10/17 Anoka BRL. | ||||
| Sanderling (Calidris alba) | Reported from Lake, Lake of the Woods, Pennington, and St. Louis in the north, plus nine south counties. Please see summer report for first fall migrants. Additional arrivals north and south respectively, 8/23 St. Louis (one at Tower) JWL, 8/16 Lac qui Parle (6) BJU. First juvenile 9/27 Lac qui Parle PCC. Relatively scarce for the third consecutive fall along the North Shore of L. Superior, where high count 9/11 St. Louis (50 at Park Point, Duluth) MTA, but note 200 unidentified “Sanderling-size” shorebirds at same location 11/4 MTA, MH. Late north 9/26 St. Louis (7) JWL. Late south 10/21 Winona (2) CBe, JWH. | ||||
| Dunlin (Calidris alpina) | Except at L. Byllesby in Dakota County, scarce for the third consecutive fall, especially in the Northwest and along the North Shore of L. Superior, where single birds on one or two dates were typical. Reported from only 14 counties (16 last fall). Early north 9/14 Marshall (1) PHS, JMJ, 10/2 Lake (only one this season) JWL. Early south 8/30 Lac qui Parle (1) PCC, 9/10 Olmsted PWP. Highest reported count 11/4 Dakota (275 at L. Byllesby) fide AXH. Late north 11/2 St. Louis (1) TWa fide DRB, only Duluth report. Late south 11/14 Goodue (1) and Sherburne (1) BRL, 11/18 Dakota (39, latest south date and second latest for state) ADS. | ||||
| Baird's Sandpiper (Calidris bairdii) | Reported from 12 north and 13 south counties in all regions. See summer report for first fall migrants. First juvenile 8/16 Big Stone PCC. Highest reported count 9/6 Marshall (103 at Agassiz N.W.R.) PHS, JMJ. Late north 10/11 Marshall (1) PHS, SAS, JMJ, 10/12 Douglas and Wilkin CRM et al. Late south 10/25 Big Stone (2) PCC, 11/11–12 Dakota (2, second latest south) JPM, RBJ. | ||||
| Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla) | Reported from 11 north and 21 south counties in all regions. Please see summer report for first fall migrants and first juveniles. Migration of juveniles well-developed by 8/12 Big Stone (~80% of 336) KJB — compare with only 10% juveniles amongst Semipalmateds that same day. Highest reported count 8/16 Big Stone/Lac qui Parle (534) PCC. Late north 10/20, 10/24 Marshall PHS et al. Late south 10/25 Big Stone, Lac qui Parle and Winona, 11/13 Brown (latest south date) BTS. | ||||
| White-rumped Sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis) | Only north reports at Agassiz N.W.R., Marshall County 8/17 (1) †PHS, 8/24 (2) †PHS, JMJ, 9/21 (1) PHS et al. All south reports: 9/11 Olmsted PWP, 9/13 Rice DAB, FVS, 9/20 Carver RMD, 10/1, 10/8 Big Stone (probably same bird) BJU. Note: Undocumented reports of fall migrant White-rumpeds prior to September are not published. | ||||
| Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Calidris subruficollis) | Fewest reports since 1999. Numbers down dramatically at Dakota County sod farms compared to recent fall migrations. Statewide total about 194 individuals in ten counties (547 last fall, 550+ in Fall 2001). All north reports: 8/2 St. Louis fide DRB, 8/24–9/6 Marshall (max. 4 at Agassiz N.W.R.) PHS, JMJ, 9/6 Wilkin (22 at Breckenridge W.T.P.) EJE, 9/20 St. Louis JJS. None were in Lake for the first time in five years. Early south 8/12 Big Stone KJB and Brown BTS. Highest reported count 8/16 Big Stone/Lac qui Parle (55) PCC. Near daily surveys at Sleepy Eye airport, Brown County, documented peak migration there during the first half of September including 9/2 (14), 9/4 (15), 9/7 (24), 9/10–12 (16–18) BTS. No south reports after 9/15 Brown (1) BTS. | ||||
| Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos) | Observed in 14 north and 19 south counties statewide. Please see summer report for first fall migrants. First juveniles 8/9 Marshall PHS, 8/12 Big Stone KJB. Totals >1100 on three consecutive mid-August surveys in Big Stone/Lac qui Parle; highest reported count 8/12 Big Stone (1354) KJB. Late north 10/24 Marshall PHS, 10/25, 11/1 Lake JWL, KRE. Late south 11/11 Dakota JPM, 11/19 Olmsted PWP. | ||||
| Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla) | Reported from 11 north and 12 south counties in all regions. Please see summer report for early fall migrants and first juveniles. Highest reported count 9/6 Marshall (691 at Agassiz N.W.R.) PHS, JMJ. Late north 10/5 Otter Tail CRM, 10/8–11 Marshall m.obs. Late south 10/9 Brown JEB, 10/11 Waseca JPS. | ||||
| Short-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus griseus) | North reports from Douglas, Lake of the Woods, Red Lake, Marshall; also seen in eight south counties. Please see summer report for first fall migrants and highest reported count at Agassiz N.W.R., Marshall County, where good numbers still present 8/2 (61), 8/9 (57), 8/17 (28) PHS et al. Late north 9/14 (2 juveniles, one injured), 9/21 (juvenile identified by plumage and call) at Agassiz PHS et al. Late south 9/2 Carver CRM, 9/10 Sherburne PLJ. | ||||
| Long-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus) | Observed in nine north and nine south counties. Early north 8/9 (14), 8/24 (3) Marshall PHS et al. Early south 8/16 Big Stone (39) PCC, 8/26 Carver EO. First juvenile 9/14 Marshall PHS. Record-high counts 10/4 (304), 10/11 (312) Marshall (Agassiz N.W.R., ~90% of these at Tamarack Pool) PHS, SAS, JMJ. Numbers up in Brown (max. 72, 10/8) BTS et al. and Dakota (26–32 birds on three dates 9/27–10/12) ADS, JPM, TAT. Late north 10/18 Polk PHS, 10/20 Marshall (82 at Agassiz) PHS, JMJ. Last reported 10/22 Big Stone BJU, 10/27 Olmsted PWP. | ||||
| Limnodromus dowitcher (Limnodromus sp.) | Dowitchers found during peak migration period for Long-billeds, but reported without details as Short-billeds, included 9/15 Becker (28), 9/24–29 Olmsted (max. 10), 10/10 Aitkin. Fifty dowitchers were prudently left unidentified during shorebird surveys in western Minnesota, including 9/27 Big Stone/Lac qui Parle (21) PCC. | ||||
| American Woodcock (Scolopax minor) | Observed in seven north and seven south counties. Late north 10/25, 10/28 Lake of the Woods GMM. Late south 10/26 Waseca JPS, 10/31 Rice TFB. | ||||
| Wilson's Snipe (Gallinago delicata) | Seen in 23 north and 26 south counties. Highest reported count 8/9 Marshall (118 at Agassiz N.W.R.) PHS, SAS. Late north 11/1–3 in four counties. Late south 11/30 Hennepin (2) SLC, also see winter report. | ||||
| Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius) | Reported from 14 north and 26 south counties. Highest reported counts 8/2 (34), 8/9 (28) Big Stone/Lac qui Parle PCC. Late north 10/7 Kittson CRM, 10/12 Lake JWL. Late south 9/18 Olmsted PWP, 9/20 Lac qui Parle BJU and Scott SWe. | ||||
| Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitaria) | Reported from 11 north and 16 south counties in all regions. Please see summer report for first fall migrants, first juveniles, and high count, but also note 8/2 Marshall (14 at Agassiz N.W.R.) PHS, SAS, 8/12 Big Stone (11) KJB. Late north 9/27 Becker DFN, 9/28 Cook JWL and Pennington PHS. Late south 9/26 Rice m.obs., 10/4 Lac qui Parle and 10/7 Big Stone BJU. | ||||
| Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes) | Observed in 14 north and 25 south counties. Please see summer report for first fall migrants, first juveniles, and high count. Noteworthy tallies at Agassiz N.W.R. 8/2 (1307), 8/9 (967), 8/17 (747) PHS et al. Highest reported count elsewhere 8/12 Big Stone (744, about 70% juveniles) KJB. Late north 10/24 Marshall PHS, 11/7 Otter Tail (second latest north date, identification confirmed by call) DTT, SMT. Late south 10/25 Big Stone PCC and Chisago REH, 11/10 Lyon (injured) SSM. | ||||
| Willet (Tringa semipalmata) | Singles reported 8/9–19 Big Stone m.obs., 9/21 Marshall (Agassiz N.W.R.) PHS, JMJ. | ||||
| Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca) | Reported from 17 north and 21 south counties. See summer report for first fall migrants and juveniles. Highest reported count 8/17 Marshall (170 at Agassiz N.W.R.) JWL, PHS, JMJ; noteworthy counts at same location 8/9 (108), 8/24 (90), 8/31 (102), 9/6 (138) PHS et al. Late north 11/1 Lake JWL et al., 11/1–2 Cook KRE et al., 11/2 Marshall and Red Lake JMJ, PHS. Late south 11/4–5 Lac qui Parle BJU, 11/7 Olmsted PWP, 11/13 Goodhue BRL. | ||||
| Wilson's Phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor) | Statewide total 600+ individuals in 6 north and 11 south counties (620+ last fall), mostly in western and central regions, but also as far east as Anoka, Olmsted, Wright. Highest reported counts 8/2 Big Stone (169 at Graceville W.T.P.) PCC, 8/13 Polk (250 at East Grand Forks W.T.P.) EEF. Late north 9/6 Marshall PHS, JMJ and Todd JSK, SID. Late south 9/10 Olmsted PWP, 9/15 Brown CRM. | ||||
| Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus) | Total number of individuals (263+) down from last fall, possibly because peak concentrations were not detected at sewage lagoons in western Minnesota, but number of counties (7 north, 11 south) similar to last fall. Please see summer report for first fall migrants north and south. Additional arrivals north 8/2 Marshall (5) PHS, SAS, 8/3 Kittson DDM, BJM. Additional arrivals south 8/2 Lac qui Parle (one at Salt L., same as July?) PCC, 8/2 McLeod/Meeker (county line) PRH. Highest reported counts 8/16 Lac qui Parle (40 at Salt L.) PCC, 8/22 Polk (80 at East Grand Forks W.T.P.) EEF. Late north 9/20 (6), 9/28, 10/11 (1) Pennington PHS, JMJ. Late south 9/21 Lac qui Parle (4) BJU and Stearns (2) PCC. | ||||
| Jaegers | |||||
| Parasitic Jaeger (Stercorarius parasiticus) | Adult light morph (plus one unidentified) 9/28 St. Louis m.obs., dark morph (age?) 10/4–9 St. Louis RMD, MH. | ||||
| Stercorarius jaeger (Stercorarius sp.) | Reported at Duluth, St. Louis County 9/18 DDT, 9/24 MTA, MH, 9/28 m.obs., 10/1 PHS, 10/30 (2) MTA. Unusual date and location 10/23 Lake (Two Harbors, no details) fide DRB. | ||||
| Gulls, Terns | |||||
| Sabine's Gull (Xema sabini) | Single juveniles 8/30 Red Lake (Red Lake Falls W.T.P., ties record-early date for state) ph. †PHS, JMJ (The Loon 76:107–108 9/20 Cass/Itasca (L. Winnibigoshish) †PHS (The Loon 76:110–111), 10/1 St. Louis (Duluth) †PHS. | ||||
| Bonaparte's Gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia) | Reported from 17 north and 7 south counties, none in the Southwest. Early south 9/9 Sherburne PLJ, 9/30 Dakota JPM. Fall staging peaked 10/5 L. Winnibigoshish (1063) PHS, 10/25 Mille Lacs L. (1354, including 163 immatures) AXH, PHS. Late north 11/24 Crow Wing (2) DWK, 11/25 Mille Lacs L. (1) KJB. Late south 11/16 Hennepin TAT, 11/28 Wabasha (1) KJB. | ||||
| LITTLE GULL (Hydrocoloeus minutus) | No fall reports for the first time since 1997. | ||||
| Franklin's Gull (Leucophaeus pipixcan) | Observed in 17 north and 22 south counties, but none in the Northeast or Southeast. Highest reported count 9/30 Stearns (800) BWF. Late north (median 10/23) 10/12 Douglas, Otter Tail, Todd, Wilkin. Late south (median 11/7) 10/29 Rice FVS, 11/22–11/29+ Dakota (Black Dog. L.,) m.obs., also see winter report. | ||||
| Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) | Reported statewide. Peak counts 11/22 Dakota (3400+ at Burnsville) BCM, 11/28 L. Pepin (3000) KJB. | ||||
| Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) | Reported from 17 north and 11 south counties in all regions except Southwest. Highest reported counts 11/21 Cook (3000 at Grand Marais) and 11/26 Dakota (1532) KJB. Late north (away from L. Superior) 11/17 Todd JSK, SID. | ||||
| Iceland Gull (Larus glaucoides) | No reports. | ||||
| Iceland Gull (Thayer's) (Larus g. thayeri) | Scarce again along the North Shore of L. Superior, where only reports from Cook beginning 10/17 KRE, JWL et al. Early south 9/28 Hennepin (adult at L. Calhoun) †PEB, 10/26 Hennepin (first immature) PEB. Many late November reports from Dakota, including high count 11/26 (6) KJB. Unusual concentration outside of the Twin Cities 11/28 Wabasha (4 at L. Pepin) KJB. | ||||
| Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) | All reports: 9/28–10/1 Hennepin (adult at L. Calhoun) †PEB et al., 10/27+ Hennepin (same adult?) CRM, m.obs., followed by many reports of presumably the same bird 11/25+ Dakota (Black Dog L. and Burnsville landfill) TAT, †KJB, m.obs. | ||||
| Glaucous Gull (Larus hyperboreus) | Unusual location 11/8 Aitkin (first-winter, Mille Lacs L.) MH, KWR et al. Only other north reports from Cook beginning 11/16 (adult and first-winter at Grand Marais) KJB. All south reports: 11/26 Dakota (adult at Inver Grove Heights) KJB, 11/27+ Dakota (max. 4 at Black Dog L.) JPM, ADS, TAT et al., 11/29+ Hennepin m.obs., plus unusual number outside of the Twin Cities at L. Pepin 11/28 Goodhue (1) and Wabasha (2) KJB. | ||||
| Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) | Only report: 11/15 Lake (first-winter at Two Harbors) ph. †JWL. | ||||
| Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia) | Found in 9 north and 11 south counties, but none in West-central or Southeast. Highest reported counts 9/12 Beltrami (53 at Lower Red L.) DPJ, 9/19 Dakota (52+) ADS. Late north 9/22 St. Louis CRM, almost two weeks earlier than recent median departure date. Late south 9/28 Hennepin DWK, 10/4 Dakota ADS. | ||||
| Black Tern (Chlidonias niger) | Reported from 13 north and 10 south counties, but none in Southeast and only St. Louis (8/22, JWL) in Northeast. Highest reported count 8/20 Grant (100 at Ashby) RPR. Late north 9/6 Red Lake PHS, 9/7 Pennington JMJ and Wadena PJB. Late south 9/8 Pope RBJ, only September report. | ||||
| Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) | North reports from Cass, Crow Wing, Itasca (10/6, RBJ), Roseau, St. Louis, plus late north reports from Lake where any Sterna unexpected: 10/15 JWL, 10/19–21 (different bird) PCC, JWL, 10/24 JCG. All south reports: 9/13 Rice DAB, FVS, 9/16 Dakota JPM, 9/19 Sherburne MRN. | ||||
| Forster's Tern (Sterna forsteri) | Reported from only eight north and four south counties. Late north 10/12 Wilkin SPM, 10/15 Lake JWL. All south reports: Dakota, Lac qui Parle, McLeod, and (late south) 9/13 Sherburne PLJ. | ||||
| Loons | |||||
| Red-throated Loon (Gavia stellata) | Singles reported 9/28 Cook (juvenile at Grand Marais) †JWL, 10/7 Cook (adult at Good Harbor Bay) †KRE, 10/17 Lake (juvenile at Flood Bay) †KRE et al., 10/18 St. Louis (juvenile at Stoney Point) †KRE, m.obs. (same individual as 10/17?). | ||||
| Pacific Loon (Gavia pacifica) | Singles reported on L. Superior 10/25 Cook (Paradise Beach) †DRB et al., 11/1 Lake (Iona's Beach S.N.A.) †KRE et al., 11/29+ Lake (Burlington Bay — vent strap seen) JSt, PJ, †PHS, ph. JWL. | ||||
| Common Loon (Gavia immer) | Seen in 16 north and 11 south counties, and in all regions except the Southwest. Pre-migratory staging at L. Winnibigoshish (peak count of 718 on 10/19) best since Fall 2000, but still below 1996–2000 average (PHS). Late north 11/25 Becker BRK, 11/28 Lake JWL, but also see winter report. Late south 11/28 Hennepin SLC. | ||||
| Cormorants | |||||
| Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum) | Found in 21 north and 24 south counties. Peak count 9/29 Lac qui Parle (2500 at Big Stone N.W.R.) BJU. Late north 10/31 St. Louis CRM, 11/16 Lake KRE. Late south 11/13 Le Sueur ChH, 11/29 Dakota DAB, but also see winter report. | ||||
| NEOTROPIC CORMORANT (Nannopterum brasilianum) | Second state record 8/12+ Lac qui Parle (2 adults at Big Stone N.W.R.) †KJB, m.obs. (The Loon 76:46). The same observer found the state's first in July 1992! Photographed by DAC, JPM, and others, with written documentation 8/13, 8/23 (†PCC), 8/16 (†PHS), and on six dates through 10/6 (†BJU). | ||||
| Pelicans | |||||
| American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) | Seen in 13 north and 22 south counties statewide. Highest reported count 9/20 (400) Rice FVS, DAB. Unusual locations 8/27 St. Louis (43 at H.R.N.R., Duluth), 9/25–30 Lake JWL, PHS, 10/21 (late north) Cook m.obs. Late south 11/1 Lac qui Parle BJU, 11/2 Dakota ADS, but also see winter report. | ||||
| Bitterns, Herons, Egrets, Night-Herons | |||||
| Least Bittern (Botaurus exilis) | All reports: 8/5 Hennepin (2 at Old Cedar Ave.) m.obs., 8/17 Wadena PJB, 8/19 Lac qui Parle JJS, Otter Tail (no date) EJE. | ||||
| American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus) | Reported from six north and six south counties. Late north 10/2 St. Louis SLF, 10/18 Wilkin fide JMJ. Late south 10/5 Sherburne PLJ. | ||||
| LITTLE BLUE HERON (Egretta caerulea) | Two adults and one immature found in July lingered through 8/31 Douglas (second latest date north, Bah Lakes W.P.A.) JPE, m.obs. Only other report: 8/31 Ramsey (adult at Snelling L.) fide AXH. | ||||
| Snowy Egret (Egretta thula) | All reports: 8/30 Douglas (adult) PLJ, 8/30 Big Stone (immature in Odessa Twp.) PCC, 9/27 Big Stone (immature in Otrey Twp., possibly same bird) PCC, 10/5–11 Otter Tail (latest north date, Rush L.) KRE, CRM et al. | ||||
| Yellow-crowned Night Heron (Nyctanassa violacea) | No fall reports since 1993. | ||||
| Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) | Seen in three north counties, including 9/29–10/2 Lake (juvenile at Two Harbors and Flood Bay) ph. JWL et al., 10/11 (late north) Marshall PHS. Observed in 10 south counties — none after September except 11/28+ Dakota m.obs. (please see winter report). | ||||
| Green Heron (Butorides virescens) | Seen in 13 north and 26 south counties. Late north 9/16 Todd JSK, 9/21 Wadena PJB. Late south 10/9 Hennepin DWK, 10/20 Rice TFB. | ||||
| Great Egret (Ardea alba) | Seen in 11 north and 32 south counties in all regions except the Northeast. Peak counts 8/15 Carver (200) RMD, 8/29 Big Stone (219) BJU. Late north 10/12 Douglas CRM, 11/27 (latest north date) Otter Tail CRM. Late south 10/26 Carver CRM, 11/6 Hennepin and Dakota SWe. | ||||
| Western Cattle-Egret (Ardea ibis) | All reports: 8/1–10/5 Grant (max. 78 near Pelican L.) m.obs., 8/1–4 Douglas (max. 20) DPJ, DTT, SMT, 9/17–22 Big Stone (Big Stone N.W.R.) BJU, 10/10 Clay (immature at Barnesville W.T.P.) CRM. | ||||
| Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) | Reported from 24 north and 36 south counties. | ||||
| Ibises | |||||
| Plegadis ibis (Plegadis sp.) | One discovered 9/15 Faribault (Pilot Grove W.P.A.) †CJF. | ||||
| New World Vultures | |||||
| Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) | Seen in 18 north and 27 south counties. Record-high season at H.R.N.R., Duluth (2243) DSC, FJN, TSm. Late north (median 10/27) 11/1 St. Louis (H.R.N.R.) FJN, then none until 11/27 Otter Tail CRM, 11/29 (second latest north date) Cook JGW. Late south 10/18 Winona PWP and Wabasha BRL, 10/21 Olmsted PWP. | ||||
| Osprey | |||||
| Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) | Reported from 16 north and 20 south counties in all regions. Numbers down at H.R.N.R., Duluth (Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve 2003 Annual Report). Late north 10/16 St. Louis (H.R.N.R., Duluth) TSm, DSC. Late south (but also see winter report) 11/29 Ramsey †TAN. | ||||
| Kites, Accipiters, Hawks, Eagles | |||||
| SWALLOW-TAILED KITE (Elanoides forficatus) | One adult seen 8/18 Rice (near Morristown) †TFB (The Loon 76:108). | ||||
| Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) | Reported from 13 north counties, including 10/23 Red Lake (adult at Red Lake Falls) †PHS, and late-October/November reports from Becker, Clay, Cook, Hubbard, Itasca, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Marshall, Pine, Polk, St. Louis. Seasonal total of 161 at H.R.N.R., Duluth with a peak of 25 on 11/6 (FJN, DSC). Reported from five south counties, including 11/4 Jackson (juvenile at Heron L.) BRB and mid-October/November reports from Big Stone, Chippewa, Dakota, and Houston. | ||||
| Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius) | Reported from 22 north and 30 south counties. Late north 11/11 St. Louis (H.R.N.R., Duluth) FJN, DSC. | ||||
| Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus) | Observed in 22 north and 24 south counties. Early south 8/13 Rice TFB, 9/9 Carver RMD. Record-high count 10/8 St. Louis (2040 at H.R.N.R., Duluth) TSm, DSC. Late north 11/1 Lake CRM, 11/29 St. Louis (H.R.N.R., Duluth) FJN, DSC, but also see winter report. | ||||
| Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) | Seen in 15 north and 25 south counties; none in the Southwest. Numbers down for the third consecutive fall at H.R.N.R., Duluth. Late north 10/18 St. Louis (H.R.N.R., Duluth) TSm, DSC, but also see winter report. | ||||
| American Goshawk (Accipiter atricapillus) | All north reports: Beltrami, Carlton, Cook, Crow Wing, Kittson, Lake, Marshall, Pine, Polk, St. Louis, Todd. Total of 866 at H.R.N.R., Duluth. Several reports south, including early south 9/26 Rice DAB, 9/30 Lac qui Parle BJU, 10/10 Olmsted PWP, and November reports from Chippewa, Dakota, Hennepin (2), and Waseca. | ||||
| Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) | Found in 25 north and 34 south counties. Peak count 11/6 St. Louis (495 at H.R.N.R., Duluth) DSC, FJN. Total of 3356 at H.R.N.R. DSC, FJN, TSm. | ||||
| Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) | All north reports: 8/28–11/2 Otter Tail m.obs., 9/20 Todd SID, 9/27 Becker DFN, and total of five at H.R.N.R., Duluth between 8/25 (banded) and 10/16 (FJN, DSC, TSm). Observed in seven south counties as far west as Stearns. | ||||
| Broad-winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus) | Reported from 18 north and 21 south counties, but only Pipestone (9/20, DCZ) in the Southwest. Record-high season at H.R.N.R., Duluth (Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve 2003 Annual Report). Local concentrations 9/20 Rice (400) DAB, FVS, 9/23 Houston (248) FZL. Dark morphs seen 9/12 Hennepin OLJ, 9/20 Swift (adult) KRE, 9/23 Otter Tail EJE. Late north 10/14 St. Louis (H.R.N.R., Duluth) TSm, DSC. Late south 10/18 Blue Earth DAB. | ||||
| Swainson's Hawk (Buteo swainsoni) | All north reports: 8/27 Pine/Kanabec †JMP, 9/1 Kittson KRE et al., 9/15 Red Lake DDM, BJM, 9/19 Polk JMJ, 9/20 Red Lake (Equality Twp.) PHS, 9/28 Clearwater (Popple Twp.) PHS, and total of seven at H.R.N.R. in Duluth between 8/16 and 10/4 (FJN, DSC, TSm). Found in eight south counties including (late south) 9/22 Big Stone BJU. | ||||
| Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) | Reported from 64 counties statewide. Seasonal total of 12,897 at H.R.N.R. was highest since 1994 and included one “Harlan's”, a few “Krider's”, and several intergrades (FJN). Peak count 10/29 St. Louis (3934 at H.R.N.R., Duluth) FJN et al. Two reports of “Harlan's” from Wilkin: 10/4 (immature at Rothsay W.M.A.) KRE, 10/12 (no location) SPM. | ||||
| Rough-legged Hawk (Buteo lagopus) | Seen in 18 north and 15 south counties, but only Cottonwood in the Southwest. Early north 10/1 St. Louis (H.R.N.R., Duluth) TSm, DSC, 10/14 Roseau JGW. Early south 10/25 Chisago REH (median 9/25, compare with undocumented report 8/29 Steele). Seasonal total of 580 at H.R.N.R., Duluth. | ||||
| FERRUGINOUS HAWK (Buteo regalis) | Three reports from West-central: 10/9 Big Stone (adult light morph) †BJU, 10/12 Lac qui Parle (juvenile near Salt L.) †RMD, JWH (The Loon 76:110), 10/14 Stevens (2, Synnes Twp.) †RBJ, JEB. | ||||
| Screech-Owls, Owls | |||||
| Eastern Screech-Owl (Megascops asio) | All reports: Anoka, Goodhue, Lac qui Parle, Ramsey, Steele, Waseca. | ||||
| Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) | Reported from 13 north and 14 south counties in all regions except Northeast. | ||||
| Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) | All reports: 11/4 Polk (5 along C.R. 41 east of Climax) HH, 11/14 Polk (3 at Burnham Creek W.M.A.) JEc. | ||||
| Northern Hawk Owl (Surnia ulula) | No reports. | ||||
| Barred Owl (Strix varia) | Observed in 11 north and 11 south counties as far southwest as Pope, Swift, Brown. No reports from usual range in the Northeast. | ||||
| Great Gray Owl (Strix nebulosa) | All reports: 10/19 Lake (T61N, R9W) fide SES, 11/9+ Aitkin (3 along C.R. 18) m.obs., 11/14 St. Louis (C.R. 52, Sax-Zim bog) MSS, plus Lake of the Woods (2 locations) MHK. | ||||
| Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) | North reports from Cook, Lake of the Woods, Roseau, St. Louis, plus 11/19 Carlton (Moose Lake S.P.) RBJ. Total of 60 banded at H.R.N.R., Duluth (DLE et al.). Only south reports: 11/21 Rice TFB and 11/22 Ramsey (1) AXH. | ||||
| Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) | Highest reported count 9/12 Lake of the Woods (7 in section 3, T160N, R35W) GMM. All other north reports: Becker, Clay, St. Louis (2), Wilkin. Only south reports: 10/7 Carver (Chaska) RMD, 10/14 Benton (2 north of Gilman) HHD. | ||||
| Boreal Owl (Aegolius funereus) | No reports. | ||||
| Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus) | Total of 653 banded at H.R.N.R., Duluth with juvenile/adult ratio of 1.40 up from 1.01 last fall and 0.85 in 2001 (DLE et al.). Total of 136 banded on seven September dates in Cook WHL and 22 banded 10/1–21 Itasca (Bigfork) DRM; only other north reports from Lake of the Woods. All south reports: 11/10, 11/15+ Rice (different locations) TFB. | ||||
| Kingfishers | |||||
| Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) | Reported from 55 counties statewide. | ||||
| Woodpeckers | |||||
| Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) | Reported from 12 north and 14 south counties as far north as Kittson County (2 locations) in the Northwest, and Lake (Two Harbors) and Cook (Grand Portage) in the Northeast. No fewer than 26 individuals inhabited one square mile at Cedar Creek Natural History Area, Anoka County JLH. Additional reports of multiple birds in Beltrami (3 at Lower Red L., DPJ), Houston (3+, FZL), Lac qui Parle (3 locations, including an immature and several adults near Boyd, FAE), Olmsted (3, OWB), Sherburne (4 on county road 9, PLJ), and Stearns (family group in August, MAJ, DCT). Late north 10/11 Hubbard MAW and Otter Tail ARo, 10/20 Cook DRB, but see winter report. | ||||
| Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) | Observed in 49 counties as far north as Pennington, Polk and Red Lake in the Northwest, Beltrami (Bemidji, PR and Blackduck, KVH) in the North-central, and St. Louis (Duluth), Lake (Two Harbors, JWL) and Cook (Schroeder, CJT) in the Northeast. Numbers up in Duluth (6+ birds in five locations). | ||||
| Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) | Reported from 14 north and 16 south counties. Late north 10/7 Lake JWL, 10/10 Cass MRN. Seven October reports south, including (late south) 10/21 Stearns MAJ, DCT. Also see winter report. | ||||
| American Three-toed Woodpecker (Picoides dorsalis) | Only report: 11/24 Lake of the Woods (Gustafson Camp S.N.A.) MHK. | ||||
| Black-backed Woodpecker (Picoides arcticus) | Numbers up in stands of dying balsam in Lake of the Woods (MHK), but down along the North Shore of L. Superior, especially at H.R.N.R., Duluth. All reports: Cook, Lake, Lake of the Woods, St. Louis. | ||||
| Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) | Statewide. | ||||
| Hairy Woodpecker (Dryobates villosus) | Statewide. | ||||
| Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) | Observed in 26 north and 25 south counties. No significant counts. | ||||
| Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) | Reported from 51 counties in all regions except Southwest. | ||||
| Caracaras, Falcons | |||||
| American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) | Reported from 57 counties. Numbers down at H.R.N.R., Duluth (Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve 2003 Annual Report). Late north 11/9 Wadena PJB, 11/16 Lake PHS, but also see winter report. | ||||
| Merlin (Falco columbarius) | Reported from 15 north and 15 south counties in all regions except Southwest. Numbers down at H.R.N.R., Duluth (Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve 2003 Annual Report). Early south 8/30 Swift BJU, 9/1 Anoka DWK. “Richardson's” Merlin (F. c. richardsonii) reported 8/24 Marshall (Agassiz N.W.R.) PHS, JMJ, 10/4 Wilkin (female at Rothsay W.M.A.) KRE, 10/12 Wilkin SPM. | ||||
| GYRFALCON (Falco rusticolus) | Immature gray morph 11/8 St. Louis (H.R.N.R., Duluth) †DSC. Also see undocumented reports. | ||||
| Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) | Reported from 9 north and 16 south counties. Numbers down at H.R.N.R., Duluth (Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve 2003 Annual Report). Early north 9/11 Clay (presumably not from nesting location at Fargo, North Dakota) RHO, 9/14 Crow Wing MRN. Early south (away from Twin Cities area) 8/2 Lac qui Parle PCC, 8/5 Sherburne PLJ. Late north 11/2 St. Louis (Duluth) FJN, DSC, but also see winter report. | ||||
| Prairie Falcon (Falco mexicanus) | Three reports from the Northwest: 8/31 Kittson (juvenile 10 mi. east of Lake Bronson) †KRE et al., ph. JJS, 10/25 Red Lake (by Plummer) SAS, 11/2 Marshall (Agassiz N.W.R.) JMJ, PHS. | ||||
| Flycatchers | |||||
| Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus) | Total of 36 reports from 9 north and 14 south counties, but none in Southwest or Southeast regions. Late north 9/22, 9/26–27 St. Louis m.obs. South reports through 9/21 Dakota ADS, then only 10/10 (second latest south) Rice DAB. | ||||
| Western Kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis) | All north reports: 8/2 Wilkin CAS fide JMJ, 8/16–18 Traverse (max. 8) PHS, PEB, 9/1 Kittson KRE et al. Reported from seven south counties, mostly in West-central region. Late south 9/12 Lac qui Parle BJU, 10/3 Dakota (Black Dog L.) †CBr, LM. | ||||
| Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) | Total of 73 reports from 16 north and 29 counties in all regions. Peak migration 8/16–28 (19 south reports). Late north 9/17 Lake JWL, 9/22 St. Louis CRM. Late south 9/20 Watonwan TAT, 10/6 Olmsted OWB. | ||||
| SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER (Tyrannus forficatus) | One discovered on St. Paul Audubon Society field trip 10/18 Dakota (Schaar's Bluff) †JPS et al. was refound 10/19 †PEB, †ADS, †TAT, ph. TPB, ph. DAC (latest south date). | ||||
| Olive-sided Flycatcher (Contopus cooperi) | Reported from 22 counties in all regions except the Southwest. Early south 8/1 Lac qui Parle BJU, 8/4 Sherburne PLJ, peak migration 8/23–9/2 (12 reports). Late north 9/12 Carlton RBJ, 9/17 Kanabec JMP. Late south 9/16 Sherburne KTP, 9/20 Nicollet ChH. | ||||
| Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens) | Total of 62 reports from 15 north and 24 south counties statewide. Late north 9/9 Morrison CRM, 9/20 Carlton LAW. Late south (only October reports) 10/4 Hennepin SLC, 10/5 Goodhue DFN. | ||||
| Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (Empidonax flaviventris) | Vocalizing 8/18 Red Lake PHS; August sight records from six north counties. Late south 8/29 Big Stone †BJU, 9/15 Fillmore (2 calling) NBO. Reported without details from five additional south counties. | ||||
| Acadian Flycatcher (Empidonax virescens) | Only report: 8/25 Houston (Beaver Creek Valley S.P.) FZL. | ||||
| Alder Flycatcher (Empidonax alnorum) | Still vocalizing 9/4 St. Louis JWL. Late south 8/5 Scott (12 at Murphy-Hanrehan P.R.) RMD, 8/9 Anoka KJB. Reported without details from three north and two south counties. Note: During spring and fall migration, undocumented records of silent Empidonax flycatchers are not published in this report. Please be sure to indicate singing or calling birds on the Seasonal Report form. | ||||
| Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii) | Vocalizing 8/16 Hennepin DWK. Reported without details from Big Stone, Brown, Ramsey. | ||||
| Least Flycatcher (Empidonax minimus) | Total of 41 reports from 13 north and 12 south counties in all regions. Late north 9/30 St. Louis JWL, 10/4 Beltrami †DPJ. Late south 9/25 Hennepin TAT, 9/28 Brown JSS. | ||||
| Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) | Total of 64 reports from 16 north and 27 south counties statewide. Departed earlier than recent medians north (10/15) and south (11/1). Late north 10/4 Beltrami DPJ and Carlton LAW, 10/12 Wadena PJB. Late south 10/18 Blue Earth, Hennepin, Wabasha. | ||||
| Vireos | |||||
| Bell's Vireo (Vireo bellii) | Last reported 8/31 Dakota (Cliff Fen) DWK. | ||||
| Yellow-throated Vireo (Vireo flavifrons) | Late north (median 9/17) 9/20–21 St. Louis JJS, MTA; also reported from Beltrami, Carlton, Cass, Kittson, Red Lake, Wadena. Total of 29 reports from 19 south counties, including 10/4 Hennepin TAT, 10/19 (ties second latest date) Hennepin DCZ. | ||||
| Blue-headed Vireo (Vireo solitarius) | Total of 55 reports from 14 north and 14 south counties in all regions except the Southwest. Early south 8/20 Hennepin ChM, 8/26 Hennepin SLC. Late north 10/14 Lake JWL, 10/19 Cook (Hovland) MH. Late south (median 10/16) 10/15 Anoka BRL and Hennepin DWK. | ||||
| Philadelphia Vireo (Vireo philadelphicus) | Total of 42 reports from 12 north and 14 south counties in all regions except the Southwest. Early south 8/6 Anoka KJB, 8/9 McLeod RWS. Highest reported count 9/15 St. Louis (8 at Park Point, Duluth) PHS et al. Late north 10/4 Lake JWL, 10/6 Lake KRE, JWL, 10/20 Cook †DRB. Late south 9/21 Fillmore NBO, 9/27 Hennepin SLC. | ||||
| Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus) | Observed in 10 north and 17 south counties in all regions, but only Goodhue in Southeast. Late north 9/18 St. Louis SLF, 9/19 Clay DKn, GEN. Late south 9/16 Brown JSS, 9/20 Hennepin SLC. | ||||
| Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus) | Total of 81 reports from 17 north and 23 south counties in all regions of the state. Like last fall, all dated north reports after 9/15 were from Northeast, including (late north) 10/12 Lake JWL, 10/23 Cook RBJ et al. Late south 10/10 Hennepin DWK and Ramsey NSp, 10/11 Hennepin TAT, 10/13 Hennepin SLC. | ||||
| Shrikes | |||||
| Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus) | All reports: 8/3 Steele (east of Owatonna) DAB, FVS, 8/4 Dakota (2 along 140th St.) ChM, 8/6–9 Dakota (max. 3, Vermilion Twp.) m.obs., 8/22 Rock (Blue Mounds S.P.) DCa, LRe. Also reported during the expected arrival time for Northern Shrike in St. Louis and Isanti — details requested. | ||||
| Northern Shrike (Lanius borealis) | Total of 60 reports from 21 north and 15 south counties in all regions, but only Jackson in Southwest and Houston in Southeast. Early north (median 10/8) 10/4 Lake of the Woods JMF, GMM, 10/6 Cass JEB and Pine JMP, 10/7–8 in four other counties. Early south (median 10/16) 10/5 Rice TFB, 10/14 Hennepin SLC and Lac qui Parle BJU, then daily arrivals 10/19–27. | ||||
| Jays, Nutcrackers, Magpies, Crows | |||||
| Canada Jay (Perisoreus canadensis) | Reported within usual range from Aitkin, Beltrami, Koochiching, Lake of the Woods, Roseau, and throughout the Northeast region; plus 11/28 Otter Tail (at feeder) RJo. | ||||
| Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) | Reported statewide. Peak migration 9/19 Washington (200+ transited the St. Croix River Valley) TEB, 9/20 Brown (55) BTS. | ||||
| Black-billed Magpie (Pica hudsonia) | Reported within usual range from St. Louis (Sax-Zim bog) in the Northeast, plus five North-central and seven Northwest counties. No significant counts. | ||||
| American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) | Reported throughout the state. | ||||
| Common Raven (Corvus corax) | Total of 70 reports from 19 north counties within usual range, including an early nomad 8/17 Clay (Felton Prairie) JWL, †PHS. Heavy migration 11/2 along North Shore of L. Superior (JWL). No south reports. | ||||
| Chickadees, Titmice | |||||
| Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) | Reported throughout the state. | ||||
| Boreal Chickadee (Poecile hudsonicus) | Observed in Cook and St. Louis. | ||||
| Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) | All reports: late October+ Brown (New Ulm) ph. RFW, BTS, mid-November+ Dakota (Mt. Olivet Retreat Center) m.obs., †TAT, 11/21 Dakota (Etter Twp.) CHT, plus Fillmore, Houston, Mower, and Wabasha in the Southeast. | ||||
| Larks | |||||
| Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris) | Seen in all regions. No significant counts. Late north 11/23 Wadena PJB, 11/24 Lake JWL, but also see winter report. | ||||
| Martins, Swallows | |||||
| Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia) | Reported from 11 north and 15 south counties in all regions except the Northeast. Late north 9/2 Mille Lacs RBJ, 9/9 Morrison CRM. Late south 9/17 Big Stone and Lac qui Parle BJU, 9/20 Le Sueur ChH. | ||||
| Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) | Seen in 13 north and 26 south counties. Highest reported count 9/2 Mille Lacs (2600 at Milaca W.T.P.) RBJ. Late north (median 10/4) 9/28 Wadena PJB. Late south (median 10/19) 10/8, 10/18 Olmsted PWP. | ||||
| Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis) | Reported from five north counties, including 9/1 Marshall KRE et al. and Red Lake JMJ, almost two weeks prior to median departure (9/14). Total of 13 reports from 11 south counties. Only reports after mid-September: 9/20 Le Sueur ChH, 10/1 Houston FZL. | ||||
| Purple Martin (Progne subis) | Observed in 8 north and 15 south counties in all regions except the Northeast. Departed about one week earlier than recent medians north (9/9) and south (9/15). Late north (only September report) 9/1 Marshall JJS. Late south (only September report) 9/9 Benton CRM. | ||||
| Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) | Reported from 18 north and 28 counties, but apparently departed prior to median dates north (10/8) and south (10/17). Late north 9/25 Kanabec JMP, 9/28 Becker DFN. Late south 10/11 Waseca JPS, 10/12 Kandiyohi SLC. | ||||
| Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) | Statewide total of 52 reports from 37 counties in all regions. Late north 10/3 Otter Tail CRM, 10/11 Wilkin CRM (carefully scrutinized at Rothsay W.M.A. to eliminate Cave Swallow, which has yet to be recorded in the state). Late south (median 9/28) 9/20 Le Sueur ChH, 9/25 Olmsted PWP. | ||||
| Kinglets | |||||
| Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula) | Statewide total of 117 reports from 21 north and 29 south counties. Early south (median 8/28) 9/4 Hennepin m.obs. and Sherburne PLJ. Peak migration 9/13–26 in 15 south counties. Late north 10/23 Cook RBJ, 11/30 Lake (Two Harbors) JWL, PHS. Late south 11/19 Houston NBO, 11/21 Rice TFB. | ||||
| Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa) | Statewide total of 52 reports from 14 north and 18 south counties. Early south (median 9/17) 8/28 Yellow Medicine BRL, 9/28 Chisago, Hennepin and McLeod. Peak migration 9/28–10/12 north, 10/11–25 south. | ||||
| Waxwings | |||||
| Bohemian Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus) | Observed in nine north counties, including unusually early reports 9/28 St. Louis (8 at 40th Ave. West, Duluth) KRE et al., 9/29 Lake (12 at Two Harbors) JWL, PHS, 9/30 St. Louis (Duluth) MH. All north reports away from the Northeast: Crow Wing, Kanabec, Kittson, Otter Tail, Pine, Red Lake. Highest reported count 10/27 Lake (150) PHS. Two south reports of single birds 11/8 Benton HHD, 11/17 Dakota TAT, JPM. | ||||
| Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) | Total of 95 reports from 50 counties statewide. | ||||
| Nuthatches | |||||
| Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) | North reports from Otter Tail in West-central, Marshall, Pennington, Polk and Red Lake in Northwest, and throughout the North-central and Northeast regions. Total of 31 reports from 12 south counties beginning 8/9 Dakota (2 locations) RDE et al., TDH, and including Cottonwood and Yellow Medicine in the Southwest. | ||||
| White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) | Seen in 51 counties statewide. | ||||
| Creepers | |||||
| Brown Creeper (Certhia americana) | Total of 47 reports from 29 counties in all regions. South reports beginning 8/23 Dakota JPM, ADS, 8/31 Dakota (same?) TAT. | ||||
| Gnatcatchers | |||||
| Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea) | All north reports: 8/2 Marshall (Old Mill S.P.) DDM, BJM, 8/20 Cass MRN, 8/28 Polk †EEF. None were found along the North Shore of L. Superior for the second consecutive fall. Reported from eight south counties, including Big Stone and Lac qui Parle in West-central. Late south (median 9/23) 9/15 Brown CRM. | ||||
| Wrens | |||||
| Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) | Second county occurrence 8/31, 10/21 Itasca (Bigfork, banded and photographed, also see winter report) †DRM. All south reports: 8/15, 11/19 Mower (Austin) RVJ, 10/27 Hennepin (Minnetonka) CAG, BMu, 11/30 Hennepin (same as 10/27?) CAP. | ||||
| Northern House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) | Total of 62 reports from 8 north and 26 south counties in all regions except the North-central. Late north 9/18 Todd JSK, SID, then no reports until 10/14 St. Louis SLF. Late south 10/10 Sherburne REH, 10/11 Hennepin TAT. | ||||
| Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis) | Reported from six north counties including Marshall and Pennington in Northwest. Late north (median 10/24) 10/17 Cook JWL. Only 14 reports from 6 south counties. Early south 9/13 Lac qui Parle BJU, 9/17 Hennepin PEB. Please see winter report for late south data. | ||||
| Sedge Wren (Cistothorus stellaris) | Observed in seven north counties including (late north) 10/12 Wilkin CRM, 10/13 St. Louis SLF. Total of 16 reports from 11 south counties; last reported 10/5 Scott DWK, 10/8 Rice TFB. | ||||
| Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris) | Reported from 12 north and 10 south counties in all regions except Southwest. Late north 10/11 Wilkin CRM, 10/13 Lake KRE, JWL and Roseau JGW. Late south 10/14 Olmsted PWP, 11/2 Hennepin SLC, but also see winter report. | ||||
| Thrashers, Mockingbirds | |||||
| Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) | Statewide total of 98 reports from 18 north and 31 south counties. Late north 10/24 Red Lake PHS, 11/1 St. Louis JWL. Late south 11/11 Jackson BRB and Scott RBW, 11/21 Hennepin ADS. Also see winter report. | ||||
| Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum) | All north reports: August/September sightings in Beltrami, Clay, Pine, St. Louis and Wadena, plus (late north) 10/25 Lake JWL, but also see winter report. Observed in 16 south counties until 10/26 Waseca JPS, then no reports until winter season. | ||||
| SAGE THRASHER (Oreoscoptes montanus) | Ninth state record 10/17–11/11 Cook (Grand Marais) †JWL, †KRE et al. Photographed by m.obs. with additional written documentation 10/18 †PCC, †TAT, 10/21 †PHS (The Loon 76:111). | ||||
| Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) | Only reports: 8/26 St. Louis (Duluth) fide AXH, 9/28 Cook (Cutface Creek) JWL et al. | ||||
| Starlings | |||||
| European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) | Found statewide. | ||||
| Thrushes | |||||
| Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) | Statewide total of 85 reports from 21 north and 28 south counties. No significant high counts. Late north (but also see winter report) 11/1–2 Cook JWL, CRM, 11/8 St. Louis BCM. | ||||
| MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD (Sialia currucoides) | All observations: 10/31–11/3 Cook (female east of Grand Marais) DRB et al., JWL, 11/10 Lac qui Parle (male along U.S. highway 75, Agassiz Twp.) BJU, 11/14–15 Swift (female at Appleton) RAE, RHO. | ||||
| Townsend's Solitaire (Myadestes townsendi) | Nine birds were reported along the North Shore of L. Superior, including total of five at H.R.N.R. 10/10–31 St. Louis m.obs., three in Cook (10/12 Lutsen Sea Villas JWL, 10/20 Grand Portage DRB, 10/26 Grand Marais m.obs.), and one in Lake (mid to late November east of Two Harbors fide DRB). Observed away from the North Shore 11/15–17 Aitkin (2 at Wealthwood) CMG, ph. WEN, †PHS. Only south report: 11/20 Swift RBJ. | ||||
| Veery (Catharus fuscescens) | Observed in 12 north counties. Late north 9/23 St. Louis JWL, 9/28 Carlton LAW, 10/23–25 Lake (record-late for state, Two Harbors) †JWL, KRE et al. All south reports: 8/25, 9/12 Hennepin TAT, 9/19–20 Rock DCZ. | ||||
| Gray-cheeked Thrush (Catharus minimus) | Only about a dozen reports for the entire season statewide. Early south 8/17 (record-early, no details) Scott DWK, 8/26 Hennepin TAT. Late north 9/29 Lake JWL, PHS, 9/30 St. Louis JWL. Late south 9/21 Rice TFB, 10/3 Ramsey NSp. | ||||
| Swainson's Thrush (Catharus ustulatus) | Early south 8/5 Anoka KJB, 8/22 Hennepin TAT. Highest reported count 9/12 Hennepin (10 at Wood L.) CBr, LM. Late north 10/15 St. Louis LAW, 10/19 Cook PCC. Seven October reports from the Twin Cities, including (late south) 10/19 Hennepin DCZ. | ||||
| Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) | Statewide total of 50 reports from 26 counties in all regions. Early south 9/24 Big Stone BJU, 9/28 Hennepin TAT. Late north 10/23 St. Louis SLF, 10/26, 10/31 Cook RBJ et al. Late south 11/16 Rice TFB, but also see winter report. | ||||
| Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina) | Only north report: early September Becker MWy. All south reports: 9/15 Houston FZL, 9/19 Rice TFB, 9/20, 9/27, 10/11 Lac qui Parle BJU, 10/21–25 Ramsey (injured leg, found dead 10/25) NSp, 11/12 Dakota ADS. | ||||
| American Robin (Turdus migratorius) | Total of 143 reports statewide. No significant counts. | ||||
| Varied Thrush (Ixoreus naevius) | All reports: 10/26 Lake (male at Silver Bay) JWL, 11/1 Hennepin (female by Mooney L.) JSm, 11/3 Dakota (male at Resurrection Cemetery) JPM, 11/6 Cook (Grand Marais) SMc, 11/25 Otter Tail (male at Fergus Falls) †SPM. | ||||
| Old World Sparrows | |||||
| House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) | Statewide. | ||||
| Pipits | |||||
| American Pipit (Anthus rubescens) | Statewide total of 75 reports from 16 north and 17 south counties in all regions. Early north 9/14 Lake EO, 9/16 St. Louis JWL; none away from the Northeast until 10/4 Otter Tail, Red Lake, Wilkin. Early south 9/15 Brown CRM, 9/20 Carver RMD and Renville RWS. Late north 11/14 Cook JWL, 11/16 St. Louis SWe. Late south 11/7 Dakota JPM, 11/9 Lac qui Parle BJU. | ||||
| Finches | |||||
| Evening Grosbeak (Coccothraustes vespertinus) | Scattered reports from Beltrami, Cook, Crow Wing, Hubbard, Lake, St. Louis. Highest count only five birds. | ||||
| Pine Grosbeak (Pinicola enucleator) | Many more reports than last fall. Reported from 13 north counties, including first arrivals 10/24 St. Louis SES, 10/25 Cook JEB and Lake JWL. High count 11/12 St. Louis (250 at H.R.N.R., Duluth) FJN, DSC. Two reports away from the northern third of the state: 11/19 Pine RBJ, 11/20 Dakota (Etter Twp.) fide AXH. | ||||
| House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) | Reported statewide. | ||||
| Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus) | Reported from 18 north and 17 south counties, and in all regions except the Southwest. North reports spanned the season. Early south 8/31 Hennepin SLC, 9/10 Houston FZL. | ||||
| Redpoll (Common) (Acanthis f. flammea) | Found in 15 north and 8 south counties, foreshadowing a strong winter showing. Early north 10/4 (ties earliest record) Lake of the Woods AJP, then none until 10/24 Cook JEB, 10/25 Lake JEB, JWL (median north 10/15). Early south 10/28 Stevens RBJ, 11/8 Dakota ADS. Only report from southern regions: 11/13 Rice TFB. High counts at H.R.N.R., St. Louis County 11/17 (2850), 11/5 (2025) FJN, DSC. Other noteworthy counts: 11/29 Cook (1350 flew by Grand Portage N.M.) DRB, 11/21 Cook (1009 along L. Superior's North Shore) KJB. | ||||
| Redpoll (Hoary) (Acanthis f. exilipes) | Two reports from Lake: 11/15 (record-early) KRE, 11/28–29 Stewart River ph. JWL. | ||||
| Red Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) | All north reports: Beltrami, Pennington, St. Louis. One south report: 8/27 Lyon (Camden S.P.) fide AXH. | ||||
| White-winged Crossbill (Loxia leucoptera) | One early report 8/21 Cook RBJ, then none until mid-October when numerous reports forwarded from St. Louis, Lake and Cook. High count 11/5 St. Louis (305 at H.R.N.R., Duluth) FJN, DSC. Also notable was 11/13 Pine (18) JMP. | ||||
| Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus) | Found in 12 north and 5 south counties. Two August reports: 8/21 Cook RBJ, 8/22 Lake of the Woods MHK. Early south 10/18 Hennepin SLC, 10/29 Lac qui Parle FAE. Did not arrive in the southern third of the state until late November. | ||||
| American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) | Found throughout the state. | ||||
| Longspurs and Snow Buntings | |||||
| Lapland Longspur (Calcarius lapponicus) | Reported from all regions except the Southwest. Early north 9/13 Beltrami DPJ, 9/16 Lake JWL. Early south 9/28 Hennepin TAT, 10/5 Hennepin SLC, 10/10 Sherburne REH. High count 10/26 Clay (1000) RHO. Late north 11/11 Cook CRM, 11/23 Wadena PJB, but also see winter report. November reports south from Brown, Lac qui Parle, Olmsted. | ||||
| CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPUR (Calcarius ornatus) | All reports from Felton Prairie in Clay, where last reported 8/23 RHO. | ||||
| Smith's Longspur (Calcarius pictus) | Reported along L. Superior's North Shore 9/13–17 St. Louis (40th Ave. West, Duluth) DWT, MH, †PHS, 9/29–30 Lake (Two Harbors) ph. †JWL, †PHS, 10/2 St. Louis (Rose Garden, Duluth) fide DRB, 10/13 St. Louis (40th Ave. West) MH. All other north reports were in western Minnesota: 9/28 Pennington (Thief River Falls W.T.P.) †PHS, 10/12 Wilkin (Rothsay W.M.A.) CRM, JJS, 10/18 Traverse MO, 10/19 Norman (Ada W.T.P.) CAS, 10/19–23 Red Lake (Red Lake Falls W.T.P.) CAS, †PHS. Only south report: 10/18 Cottonwood (up to 75 at Red Rock Prairie) BWF, JJS, RMD. | ||||
| Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis) | Found in 22 north and 12 south counties. Spread quickly through the north in mid-October. Early north 10/13 Lake KRE, 10/14 Roseau fide JMJ, 10/15 Aitkin and Mille Lacs PHS. Early south 10/17 Sherburne PLJ, 10/19 Chisago DWK, 10/24 Brown (18) BTS. High counts 10/22–26 Cook (1000s) RBJ, 11/8 Todd (220) JSK, SID. | ||||
| Towhees, Sparrows | |||||
| Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum) | August reports from Clay, Lac qui Parle, Marshall, Pennington, Pine, Sherburne and Todd, then only 10/4 Hennepin OLJ (found dead), 10/12 (latest south date) Hennepin DWK, 10/13 Lake JWL, KRE, and St. Louis KRE. | ||||
| Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus) | All reports: 8/5 Sherburne PLJ, 8/22 Wabasha JLU, 8/30 Red Lake PHS, 9/1 Sherburne KTP, 9/15 Cook EO. | ||||
| Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) | Found in every region. Highest reported count 10/7 Mower (50) RRK. Late north 10/31 Cass MRN, 11/1–2 Cook JJS, KRE, 11/11 Cook †CRM. Late south 10/19 Watonwan DLB, 10/31 Hennepin TAT, 11/15 Lac qui Parle BJU. | ||||
| Clay-colored Sparrow (Spizella pallida) | Reported from 14 north and 11 south counties in all regions. Late north 10/4 Lake JWL and Wilkin CRM, 10/25 Cook JWL. Late south 10/11 Cottonwood BRB, 10/20 Dakota SWe. Late dates north and south were ten days later than recent medians. | ||||
| Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla) | More reports than usual along the North Shore of L. Superior, including 10/3 St. Louis (Duluth Twp.) JCG, 10/17 Cook (Lutsen) JWL, KRE, and (late north) 11/14 Lake (Beaver Bay) JWL, 11/29 Lake (Silver Bay) ph. JWL. Late south 10/5 Anoka JLH and Fillmore NBO, 10/10 Rice DAB, 10/12 McLeod PRH. | ||||
| Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca) | Arrived up to six days later than the recent medians. Early north 9/26 Lake JWL, 9/27 Becker DFN, 10/2 St. Louis SLF. Early south 9/22 Hennepin SLC, 9/26 Hennepin TAT, 9/28 Brown BTS and Ramsey NSp. Late north 11/13 Polk DLT, 11/14 Becker BRK, 11/15–30+ Lake JWL, PHS. Late south (but also see winter report) 11/18 Hennepin DWK and Ramsey NSp, 11/23 Dakota ADS. | ||||
| American Tree Sparrow (Spizelloides arborea) | Reported from every region except the Southwest. Early north 9/16 Pine JMP, 9/20 Kanabec JMP, 9/27 Itasca EO. Early south 10/6 Hennepin OLJ, 10/9 Dakota TAT. Highest reported count 10/26 Wadena (135) PJB. | ||||
| Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) | Early south 9/15 Hennepin SLC, 9/23 Rice FVS, 9/25 Lac qui Parle BJU (median 9/11). Frequent south reports beginning 9/27. Highest reported count 10/18 Mower (100) RRK. | ||||
| White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) | Found in all regions. Early north 9/8 St. Louis SLF, 9/10 Lake JWL. First north report away from the North Shore of L. Superior 9/21 Clay RHO and Kittson JMJ. Early south 9/21 Rice TFB, 9/25 Olmsted PWP. Late north 11/2 Cook KRE, 11/7 Lake JWL (overwintered at different location in Lake, please see winter report). Late south (but see CBC data) 11/13 Rice DAB, 11/18 Dakota ADS, 11/21 Nicollet LWF. | ||||
| Harris's Sparrow (Zonotrichia querula) | Reported from 17 north and 20 south counties. Early north 9/13 St. Louis JWL, 9/14 Lake JWL, 9/22 Kanabec JMP. Early south 9/25 Lac qui Parle BJU, 9/26 McLeod RWS and Sherburne PLJ. Late north (but also see winter report) 10/25 Lake JWL, 11/7 Todd JSK, SID. | ||||
| White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) | Found in all regions. Early south 9/4 Sherburne PLJ, 9/5 Chisago RBJ. Late north (but see winter report) 11/8 Todd JSK, SID, 11/15 Lake JWL. November reports south from 10 counties, including 11/18 Steele NFT, 11/19 Lac qui Parle FAE. | ||||
| Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus) | Reported from 13 north and 11 south counties. At least nine October reports north, seven of these in Northeast. Late north 10/17 Lake JWL, KRE, 10/21 Cook (Cascade Beach Rd.) RBJ. Late south 10/12 McLeod PRH, 10/13 Jackson CRM and Lac qui Parle BJU. | ||||
| LeConte's Sparrow (Ammospiza leconteii) | Found in every region but the North-central and Southeast. Early south 9/16 Sherburne CRM, KTP, 9/21 Chippewa KRE, 9/23 Lac qui Parle BJU. Most north reports between 9/25 and 10/5. Late north 10/8 Pennington CRM, 10/14-17 Lake (ties latest north date, Flood Bay) JWL, KRE. Late south 10/13 Hennepin DWK, 10/18 Cottonwood JJS; also reported from Big Stone, Brown, Carver, Dakota. | ||||
| Nelson's Sparrow (Ammospiza nelsoni) | All north reports: 9/17–23 St. Louis (40th Ave. W., max. 3) KRE, MH, PHS, m.obs., 9/23 Lake (Two Harbors, two locations) JWL, 9/28 Lake (Beaver Bay W.T.P.) JWL, 10/5 Otter Tail (Otter Tail Prairie S.N.A.) CRM, KRE, 10/12 Lake (ties latest north date, Flood Bay) JWL. All south reports: 9/20 Carver (Chaska L.) RMD, 9/25 Watonwan (Fedji L.) JEB, 10/4 Lac qui Parle (Lac qui Parle S.P.) BJU, 10/5 Hennepin (Crow-Hassan P.R.) SLC. | ||||
| Henslow's Sparrow (Centronyx henslowii) | All reports: through 8/10 Scott (Murphy-Hanrehan P.R.) RBW, 8/14 Goodhue †DFN, 8/6–16 Chisago (identified by vocalizations at Wild River S.P.) DCr. | ||||
| Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) | Observed in all regions. Late north 11/6 Todd JSK, SID, 11/7 Lake JWL, 11/11 Cook CRM (median 10/27). Many south reports through October, then only 11/4 McLeod PRH, 11/6 Lac qui Parle BJU (median 11/4). | ||||
| Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) | Found in all regions. Please see winter report for late migrants and overwintering birds. | ||||
| Lincoln's Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii) | Reported from all regions. Early south 9/1 Hennepin TAT, 9/7 Scott SWe (median 8/31). Late north 10/20 Lake JWL, 10/23 Cook BRL, 11/2 (same as 10/23 bird?) Cook KRE. Late south 11/11 Hennepin TAT and Scott RBW (median 11/7). | ||||
| Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana) | Also found in all regions. Late north 10/19 Wadena PJB, 10/22 Lake RBJ, 11/7 Lake JWL, 11/14 Cook JWL. Most south reports prior to mid-October; November records in Lac qui Parle, Anoka, and through the end of the season in Hennepin. | ||||
| Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus) | Only documented report: 10/9 Lac qui Parle (Boyd) †FAE. Also reported 9/27 Nicollet LWF, 10/5 Lac qui Parle (Arena Twp.) BJU, 11/1–2 St. Louis EDu, JJS, CRM. | ||||
| Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) | All north reports: 9/21 Kittson JMJ, 9/26 Carlton RBJ, 10/9 Clay RHO. Late south included early October reports from Lac qui Parle and Houston, then 10/6 Rice TFB, 10/7 Steele NFT, 10/12 Anoka JLH. | ||||
| Pipilo towhee (Pipilo sp.) | The fall migration pattern for Spotted Towhee in Minnesota appears to be mid-September through late October, and primarily within the Southwest and West-central regions. An out-of-range and unseasonal bird 8/3–12 Washington (Grey Cloud Is.) was undocumented except for the barest of details passed over MOU-net. These indicated a repertoire of vocalizations that included both the Eastern Towhee's “drink-your-tea” and several buzzier songs. The bird apparently did not show significant amounts of white at the base of the primaries, but the extent of spotting on the scapulars and wing coverts was greatly reduced. Questions about the parentage of this individual were only raised because details were circulated; most of the other Spotted Towhees reported this season had no details. Another probable Spotted x Eastern Towhee in Murray †RMD was described as “giving vocalizations that seemed primarily Spotted, but the bird had obvious white primary patches in combination with limited white streaking on the back and some white on the tertials and scapulars.” | ||||
| Yellow-breasted Chat | |||||
| Yellow-breasted Chat (Icteria virens) | Please see undocumented reports. | ||||
| Blackbirds, Orioles | |||||
| Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) | All north reports: 8/23 Red Lake PHS, 8/31 Wadena PJB, 10/14 St. Louis PHS. Late south 9/15 Brown CRM, 9/20 Le Sueur ChH, then none until 11/10 Cottonwood (5) SSM. | ||||
| Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) | Peak migration late August in the Northwest, e.g., 150+ in one flock 8/30 Red Lake PHS. Late north 9/17 Kanabec JMP, 9/24 St. Louis KRE. August reports south in Waseca, Yellow Medicine and Lac qui Parle, including 162 at Plover Prairie 8/22 Lac qui Parle BJU. Late south 9/8 and 10/5 in Hennepin TAT. | ||||
| Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna) | Only north reports from East-central region: 10/12 Kanabec (33) JMP, 10/14 Pine (15) JMP. October reports south from Hennepin, Mower and Sherburne, then 11/2 McLeod PRH. | ||||
| Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta) | Found in 23 counties. North reports through 10/12 in the Northwest and through 10/26 along L. Superior's North Shore, but then only 11/8 Polk (2) fide JMJ. Only south reports after September: 10/6 Olmsted OWB, 10/29 Lac qui Parle RBJ, 11/25 Lac qui Parle BJU. | ||||
| Sturnella meadowlark (Sturnella sp.) | Unidentified meadowlarks 10/27 St. Louis SLF, 11/18 Steele NFT. | ||||
| Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurius) | As in 2003, most fall reports were from western regions. North reports from Clay, Polk, Traverse, and (late north) 9/1 Kittson JJS. South reports from Big Stone, Lac qui Parle, Pipestone and Rock, plus 8/23 Dakota SWe. | ||||
| Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula) | Reported from all regions. Late north 9/1 Pine JMP, 9/14 St. Louis JWL, 9/17 Lake EO (median 9/14). Found in 10 south counties in September, including late south 9/12 Hennepin TAT and Lac qui Parle BJU (median 10/4). | ||||
| Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) | Only two November reports north: 11/2 Red Lake JMJ, 11/9 Wadena PJB. Found throughout the season and in every region south. | ||||
| Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) | All north reports: 8/4 Todd JSK, SID, 8/9 Pine JMP, 8/23 Red Lake PHS, 9/14 Wadena PJB. High count 10/26 Dakota (79, Hampton) TAT. Late south (but also see winter report) 11/3 Lac qui Parle BJU, 11/29 Dakota (21) ADS and Goodhue (8) ADS. [Corrected] | ||||
| Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus) | Found in 18 north and 14 south counties. Early north 9/24 St. Louis KRE, 9/28 Pennington PHS. Early south 9/21 Carver RMD, 9/29 Rice TFB. Highest reported count 11/10 Cottonwood (100+) SSM. See winter report for late migrants north and south. | ||||
| Brewer's Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus) | Reported from 10 north and 9 south counties. Late north 10/18 Red Lake JMJ, 10/31 Pine (219) JMP, 11/22 Aitkin DWK. Late south 10/28 Swift RBJ, 11/1 Meeker (400) PRH, RWS. | ||||
| Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) | High counts of 1000+ reported 9/19-21 Jackson and Rock DCZ, 10/24 Red Lake PHS. Only north report after 10/27 was 11/22 Polk DLT, but see winter report. | ||||
| Warblers | |||||
| Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla) | Reported from 10 north and 16 south counties. Late north 9/25 St. Louis SLF, 9/30 Carlton LAW. Late south 10/5 Hennepin KTP, 10/11 Hennepin TAT. | ||||
| Louisiana Waterthrush (Parkesia motacilla) | Only report: 8/25 Houston FZL, one day later than the recent median departure date. | ||||
| Northern Waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis) | Found in 10 north and 6 south counties. Early south 8/16 Hennepin DWK, 8/18 Brown JJS. Late north 9/26 Lake ChM, 9/28 Pennington JMJ. After 9/9, only four south reports from Hennepin, where last recorded 10/7 TAT (median 10/3). | ||||
| Golden-winged Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera) | Early south (away from known breeding range) 8/22 Hennepin TAT and Washington REH. All south reports from eastern regions except Lac qui Parle, Rice. Observed in seven north counties, but none later than 9/2 Mille Lacs RBJ, 9/3 St. Louis SLF (median 9/8). Late south 9/14 Hennepin DWK, 9/15 Fillmore NBO (median 9/21). | ||||
| Blue-winged Warbler (Vermivora cyanoptera) | Reported in August from Anoka, Brown, Dakota, Goodhue and Houston, plus 9/1 McLeod PRH, 9/3 Houston RBJ, 9/5 Rice DAB, 9/8 Fillmore NBO. “Lawrence's” Warbler reported 8/21 Scott RBW. | ||||
| Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia) | Reported north through mid-September, then only found 9/27 Carlton LAW and St. Louis DWK, 10/2 Lake JWL (median 9/28). Record-high count 9/15 St. Louis (50 at Park Point, Duluth) SCB, PHS. Late south 9/26 Houston FZL, 9/28 Brown BTS, 9/29 Hennepin SLC (median 10/4). | ||||
| Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea) | August reports from Carver, Dakota and Hennepin, then record-late 9/26 Hennepin †CBr. | ||||
| Tennessee Warbler (Leiothlypis peregrina) | Statewide total of 82 reports from 18 north and 21 south counties. Please see summer report for early south migrants — this species' southbound movement typically begins late July, but note exceptional migration of up to 41 individuals in Anoka and Hennepin counties 13–31 July 2004 (The Loon 76:54–55). Highest reported count 9/15 St. Louis (150 at Park Point, Duluth) SCB, PHS. Late north 10/4 Carlton LAW, 10/17 Lake KRE, JWL et al. Late south 10/11 Dakota ADS, 10/14 Fillmore NBO. | ||||
| Orange-crowned Warbler (Leiothlypis celata) | Reported from 15 north and 20 south counties in all regions. Early north 9/8 St. Louis PHS, 9/10 Wadena PJB. Early south 9/4 Hennepin ChM, TAT, 9/14 Anoka JLH and Hennepin SLC. Late north 10/29 St. Louis MH, 11/2 Cook KRE. Late south 10/19 Hennepin SLC, 10/21 Hennepin TAT. Note: Undocumented August reports were excluded. | ||||
| Nashville Warbler (Leiothlypis ruficapilla) | Total of 92 reports from 16 north and 21 south counties in all regions except the Southwest. Highest reported counts 9/15 St. Louis (75 at Park Point, Duluth) SCB, PHS, 9/23 Fillmore (50) NBO. Late north 10/25 Lake KRE et al., 11/2–5 St. Louis (latest north date, Duluth) JJS, MH, JWL. Late south 10/15 Anoka BRL, 10/21 Rice DAB. | ||||
| Connecticut Warbler (Oporornis agilis) | Late north 9/7 Red Lake PHS and Wadena PJB (median 9/17). Only other north report from Pine. Early south 8/23 Hennepin †CBr, 8/27 Chipppewa RBJ. Late south 9/20 Carver RMD, 9/30 Lac qui Parle FAE (median 9/14). | ||||
| Mourning Warbler (Geothlypis philadelphia) | Reported from 7 north and 11 south counties in all regions. Summering bird in Anoka (KJB). Early south 8/16 Lac qui Parle BJU, then frequent reports beginning 8/22. Late north 9/14 Lake JWL and Otter Tail ARo. Late south 9/28 Brown BTS, 9/30 Hennepin TAT. Both north and south departures matched recent medians. | ||||
| KENTUCKY WARBLER (Geothlypis formosa) | No fall reports since 1987. | ||||
| Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) | Highest reported count 9/15 St. Louis (50 at Park Point, Duluth) SCB, PHS. Frequent north reports through 9/22, then only 10/5 Beltrami DPJ, 10/12 Lake JWL, 11/8 Lake JPM (median 10/13). All south reports after 9/25 were from the Twin Cities, where last reported 10/4 Dakota SWe, 10/3-7 Hennepin DWK, SLC, TAT. | ||||
| Hooded Warbler (Setophaga citrina) | Breeding birds still on territory 8/6 Anoka KJB, 9/4 Scott RBW. | ||||
| American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) | Observed in 20 north and 20 south counties statewide. Highest reported count 9/15 St. Louis (500 at Park Point, Duluth) SCB, PHS. Four north reports exceeded the recent median departure (10/6): 10/7 Mille Lacs RBJ, 10/12 Lake and St. Louis JWL, 10/25 Lake KRE. Late south (median 10/10) 10/11 Goodhue BRL, 10/13 Hennepin DWK. | ||||
| Cape May Warbler (Setophaga tigrina) | Reported from nine north and five south counties. Early south 8/30 Hennepin SLC, 9/6 Dakota JPM. Late north 10/26 Cook JWL, 10/31 St. Louis SLF. Late south 9/22 Houston FZL, 9/27, 9/30 Ramsey NSp. | ||||
| Cerulean Warbler (Setophaga cerulea) | No reports. | ||||
| Northern Parula (Setophaga americana) | Reported from a total of 7 north and 11 south counties, but none in North-central, West-central, or Southwest regions. Only reports from Northwest: 8/30 Marshall (Agassiz N.W.R.) KRE et al., 9/6 Red Lake (Huot) JMJ, PHS. Early south (away from Anoka, where singing late July) 8/23 Carver ChM, 8/25 Hennepin SLC, TAT. Highest reported count 9/15 St. Louis (8 at Park Point, Duluth) SCB, PHS. Late north 10/8 Lake JWL, 10/25 Lake KRE et al. Late south 9/30 Hennepin SLC, 10/6 Blue Earth LWF. | ||||
| Magnolia Warbler (Setophaga magnolia) | Total of 44 reports from 11 north and 12 south counties in all regions except Southwest. Early south 8/20 Hennepin ChM, 8/22 Hennepin TAT, 8/23 Dakota ADS. Highest reported count 9/15 St. Louis (25 at Park Point, Duluth) SCB, PHS. Late north 9/30 Beltrami DPJ, 10/7 St. Louis SLF. Late south 10/4 Hennepin SLC and Olmsted OWB, 10/11 Lac qui Parle BJU. | ||||
| Bay-breasted Warbler (Setophaga castanea) | Found in seven north and ten south counties, but none in the Southwest or West-central. Early south 8/23 Dakota ADS, JPM, 8/24 Hennepin SLC. Late north 9/15 Cass and St. Louis, then only 9/28 Lake DPJ, 10/12 Lake JWL (median 9/28). Late south 9/16 Sherburne CRM, 9/29 Hennepin SLC (median 10/5). | ||||
| Blackburnian Warbler (Setophaga fusca) | Found in nine north and eight south counties. Early south 8/9 Anoka KJB, 8/16 Washington JPM (median 8/7). September reports north from Carlton, Kanabec, Lake, Pine, St. Louis. Late north 9/29 St. Louis PHS. Late south 9/10 Fillmore NBO, 9/23 Ramsey REH (median 9/26). | ||||
| Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia) | Reported from 12 north and 16 south counties statewide. Highest reported count 9/15 St. Louis (50 at Park Point, Duluth) SCB, PHS. Late north (median 9/19) 10/12 Lake JWL, 10/14 St. Louis MJI. Late south 9/20 Brown JSS, 9/27 Hennepin SLC. | ||||
| Chestnut-sided Warbler (Setophaga pensylvanica) | Total of 48 reports from 11 north and 17 south counties in all regions except Southwest. Highest reported count 9/15 St. Louis (100 at Park Point, Duluth — ties record-high count, 20 seen simultaneously) SCB, PHS. Late north 9/25 Cass EO, 10/1 Lake JWL. Late south 9/22 Rice DAB, 9/29 Hennepin SLC. | ||||
| Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga striata) | Only found in seven north (four in the Northeast) and five south counties. Early north 8/24 Otter Tail SPM, 8/25 Lake DCZ. Late north 10/4 Red Lake JMJ, PHS, 10/25 (latest north) Lake KRE. All south reports in September, except 8/25 Dakota JPM and 10/5 Hennepin KTP. Only Hennepin, Lake, Red Lake, and St. Louis had multiple reports. | ||||
| Black-throated Blue Warbler (Setophaga caerulescens) | All north reports: 9/6 Red Lake (female at Huot) PHS, 9/9 Clay (male near Sabin) DKn, 9/15 St. Louis (female at Duluth) PHS, 10/14 Roseau (T162N, R44W) JGW. South reports from Goodhue (2), Houston, Lac qui Parle and Waseca, plus eight birds in six Twin Cities metro locations. Early south 8/28 Hennepin SLC, 9/1 Anoka BRL. Late south 10/11 Hennepin TAT and Waseca JPS, 10/13 Ramsey BRL. | ||||
| Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum) | Early south 8/22 Steele NFT, 9/3 Hennepin ChM. Highest reported count 9/15 St. Louis (200+ at Duluth) SCB, PHS. Late north 10/23 St. Louis LAW, 10/24 Lake DAB, 10/30–11/2 Cook DWK, CRM (median 10/22). Late south 10/10 Anoka BRL, McLeod RWS and Rice DAB (median 10/18). | ||||
| Pine Warbler (Setophaga pinus) | Observed in seven north and seven south counties. Late north 10/5 Lake (Two Harbors) JCG, 11/19–20 St. Louis ph. LME. South reports limited to a mid-August bird in Sherburne (breeding?), then 9/3 Winona RBJ, through 10/11 Dakota ADS, 11/9-14 Steele ph. NFT, m.obs., plus out-of-range reports 9/5 Lac qui Parle BJU, 9/20 Chippewa BJU. | ||||
| Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) | Observed in 23 north and 31 south counties. August reports south: 8/24 Dakota SWe, 8/30 Dakota ADS, REH and Hennepin TAT. Late north 11/1 Lake JWL, 11/5 St. Louis JWL, 11/11 Cook CRM. Late south (but see winter report) 11/1 Ramsey NSp, 11/8 Hennepin DCZ, SLC, 11/11 Dakota TAT. | ||||
| Yellow-throated Warbler (Setophaga dominica) | One reported 10/25–30 Otter Tail (Fergus Falls) ph. GSW, †SPM, m.obs. | ||||
| Black-throated Green Warbler (Setophaga virens) | Early south 8/22 Rice TFB and Rock DCa, LRe (median 8/20). Late north 9/21 Cook RBJ, 9/24 Lake PHS. Only other north reports from Itasca, Red Lake, St. Louis. Late south 9/30 Hennepin SLC and Ramsey NSp (median 10/3). | ||||
| Canada Warbler (Cardellina canadensis) | Reported from all regions. Early south 8/18 Rice TFB, 8/19 Lac qui Parle CRM, 8/20 Hennepin ChM. Late north 9/13 Red Lake (Huot) PHS, 9/14 Otter Tail JMP, 9/15 St. Louis PHS (same as median). Late south 9/15 Hennepin DWK and Houston FZL, 9/30 Ramsey NSp (median 9/22). | ||||
| Wilson's Warbler (Cardellina pusilla) | Found in 8 north and 14 south counties in every region except the North-central. Early north (away from known breeding locations) 8/21 Otter Tail SPM, 8/22 St. Louis SLF (median 8/12). Early south 8/19 Lac qui Parle CRM, 8/20 Hennepin ChM (median 8/15). Three September reports north: 9/8 St. Louis PHS, 9/16 Pine JMP, 9/19 Lake JWL. Frequent south reports through mid-month, then only 9/20 Dakota ADS, 9/22 Rice DAB, 9/28 Hennepin SLC. | ||||
| Tanagers, Cardinals, Grosbeaks | |||||
| Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra) | The adult male summering at Murphy-Hanrehan P.R. (The Loon 75:221–225) lingered through 8/9 Scott BWF. | ||||
| Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea) | Late north 9/17 Becker MWy, 9/19 Beltrami DPJ, 10/18 St. Louis (H.R.N.R.) KRE, JWL; also seen in Red Lake, Wadena. Reported from 14 south counties including (late south) 9/30 Carver KTP and Hennepin SLC, 10/16 and 10/23 (same bird?) Ramsey NSp. | ||||
| Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) | Reported from Becker, Chippewa, Lac qui Parle, and Rock in western regions. No reports from Carlton, Dodge, Houston in the east. | ||||
| Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus) | Highest reported count 8/30 Hennepin (10) PEB. September reports north from Cass, Hubbard and Wadena, then late north 9/18–19 Pine BAP, KIM, JMP, 9/22 Kanabec BLA. Late south 9/20 in four counties, then 9/23 Hennepin SLC, 9/25 Dakota ADS and Fillmore NBO. | ||||
| Blue Grosbeak (Passerina caerulea) | All reports: 8/3 Rock (3 groups at Blue Mounds S.P. totaling 8 birds) JMP, 8/20 Nobles JJS, 8/22 Pipestone DCa, LRe. | ||||
| LAZULI BUNTING (Passerina amoena) | A female carefully identified 10/26 Cook (east of Grand Marais) †KRE et al., ph. DDM furnished the state's first fall record (The Loon 76:109–110). | ||||
| Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea) | North reports through August, then 9/18 Becker fide JMJ, 9/22–23 St. Louis CRM, MH, 10/6 Aitkin †PHS (each of these later than the median north departure 9/16). In the south, after 9/12 only reported in Hennepin: 9/28 PEB, 10/5 DWK, 10/20 TAT (probably different individuals; median south departure 10/9). | ||||
| Dickcissel (Spiza americana) | All reports: 8/1 Washington REH, 8/4 Mower RRK, 8/9 Brown JSS, 9/1 Lac qui Parle BJU. | ||||