Scoters were well-represented away from Lake Superior; especially noteworthy were Black Scoters in seven “inland” locations. Sharp-tailed Grouse continued to infiltrate western prairies on both sides of the Minnesota River; it will be interesting to see their impact on and interactions with Greater Prairie-Chickens in Chippewa and Lac Qui Parle counties. Only two Pacific Loons were found along the North Shore, but at least four recorded away from Lake Superior brought the season total to a near-average six. Most likely displaced by drought in eastern South Dakota, unprecedented numbers of Plegadis ibis were found in western Minnesota with a few individuals straying farther east to Brown, Nicollet, and Steele counties.

The most unusual shorebird was the state's fifth Purple Sandpiper at Lake Winnibigoshish; this cooperative juvenile was admired by dozens of observers. Highlights of an exciting fall season at Duluth included multiple Little Gulls, an adult Iceland Gull, a record-early Lesser Black-backed Gull, and several Sabine's Gulls. Exceptional numbers of jaegers hunted the western end of Lake Superior, including up to two Pomarine Jaegers off Park Point. This bonanza spilled over into central Minnesota with Little Gulls in Cass and Crow Wing counties, a Sabine's Gull at the increasingly famous Sleepy Eye wastewater treatment ponds, and a well-documented Pomarine Jaeger near Mankato -— only the third record of this species away from Lake Superior.

Two rare hummingbirds were documented on private property; the state's fourth Anna's Hummingbird expired in southern Minnesota and an Allen's/Rufous Hummingbird briefly visited a feeder in northern Minnesota. Irruptions of American Three-toed Woodpecker and Gray Jay were detected along the North Shore and subsequently in other northern Minnesota locations, but neither of these two species reached the southern half of the state. For Gray Jay, it was the most significant irruption since 1986–1987 (The Loon 59:41–44). Nicely photographed but not refound was a Say's Phoebe at Big Stone N.W.R. Three of the state's 27 records are from this refuge. Carolina Wren continued its recent expansion with records as far north and west as Itasca, Otter Tail, and Yellow Medicine counties.

Surpassing the previous record for one season was a total of 39 Townsend's Solitaires; no fewer than 25 of these were along the North Shore. Nine Varied Thrushes barely surpassed last fall's total of eight. The fall arrival of two Accidental species was unknown to birders until winter: a Curve-billed Thrasher in Itasca County and a Green-tailed Towhee in Cottonwood County. The latter was admired and photographed by dozens (hundreds?) of observers as it successfully overwintered. An adult male Painted Bunting made a brief appearance at a feeder in Ramsey County on 18 November, by far the latest date on record for Minnesota. Also admired and photographed by scores of observers were three Gray-crowned Rosy-Finches that arrived in late November and subsequently overwintered in Carlton County.

Weather Summary: Minnesota entered the fall season coming off a hot, dry summer. August continued to bring below average rainfall for the northern half of the state, while the East-central and Southeast regions experienced a wet month. Three major storms caused heavy rains totaling over five inches locally: 1–2 August in Martin and Faribault, 16–17 August in central Marshall, and 24 August in Dodge and Olmsted. This third storm also produced two tornadoes and large, destructive hail over a large swath of southern Minnesota. Temperatures in August were moderate — near or just slightly above historical averages.

September precipitation totals were near to above average throughout most of the state — only the North-central and Northeast regions missed out on the relief. Average temperatures were 1–3º F cooler than normal in the southern two-thirds of the state, but near or slightly above normal in the upper third. And yet, the north did experience several frosts in September. Warm, humid air from the south combined with cool air from the northwest to produce severe thunderstorms across central and southern portions of the state and a tornado in Hennepin on the 16^th.
The dryness returned in October and precipitation totals were below average statewide. Parts of southern Minnesota received less than one-half inch for the month. A strong low pressure system brought the first snow of the season on the 12^th and 13^th. Despite very warm early October temperatures — including 90º in several communities 2–3 October — monthly means were cooler than average throughout the state, and the thermometer dropped to 8º in Embarrass on the 25^th.
Two significant precipitation events struck the state in November. The first was a storm in the Southeast that dropped up to 13 inches of snow on the 10^th. Then, on the 28^th, heavy rain accompanied a thunderstorm that affected much of the state, but especially the eastern half. Away from areas affected by these storms, however, precipitation totals were again below average, and much of the West-central region reported less than one quarter inch for the month. While the month started colder than normal, very warm late-month temperatures resulted in averages that ranged from three to five degrees above normal.
Undocumented reports: Clark's Grebe 9/16–21 Stevens (3 reported at Gorder Lake by one observer, 2 hybrids reported there by another observer, second-latest if documented); Yellow-crowned Night-Heron 8/7 Dakota (2 of unspecified age at Lebanon Hills, only 2 fall records in past 15 years); Glossy/White-faced Ibis 8/30 Traverse (2 adults and 11 juveniles in Folsom Twp.); Glossy/White-faced Ibis 9/3 Big Stone (second individual 1.0 mile west of Clinton); Glossy/White-faced Ibis 9/12 Brown (fourth individual seen one day only near Godahl, Albin Twp.); White-faced Ibis 9/18 Lyon (Sodus W.M.A.); Northern Goshawk 9/9 Hennepin; Gyrfalcon 11/3 Lac Qui Parle (Plover Prairie); Prairie Falcon 9/17 Lac Qui Parle (Big Stone N.W.R.); Whooping Crane 11/4 Mahnomen; Sabine's Gull 9/26 Lac Qui Parle (juvenile at Lac Qui Parle S.P. and adult at Big Stone N.W.R.); Varied Thrush 9/10 St. Louis (Duluth, would be earliest date on record).

Acknowledgments: We thank H.R.B.O. for data from Hawk Ridge in Duluth, and Anthony Hertzel, Jim Lind, and Jeanie Joppru for transcripts of weekly birding reports. Medians of recent arrival and departure dates were calculated by Paul Budde from published and unpublished seasonal report data from 1985 through 2005. Many thanks to all of our contributors; we are especially grateful to those who submit details and all who submit data online.