For the season 78 report forms and several additional notes were received from observers based in 39 counties. A total of 306 species were reported: 288 regular, 9 casual and 9 accidental.

The first two months of spring were unusually warm and wet throughout most of Minnesota.

Temperatures in the Twin Cities averaged 4.7 above normal in March and + 3.8 in April. On the last few days of March temperatures reached the eighties in the south and near 70 in the north. As a result a number of species reached the state earlier than usual.

In Duluth the exceptionally warm weather brought a very abrupt arrival of migrants.

Large numbers of Tundra Swans pushed through that area on March 31 and almost none were seen later. Although precipitation levels were near normal in March, a record

5. 9 inches were recorded in the Twin Cities in April, almost four inches above the average.

In the northwest, Fargo-Moorhead reported the second highest amount of rainfall for April since records have been kept. The rainfall, with the early and sudden snow melt, resulted in high water, flooding, and a lot of water standing in fields. With so much standing water, observers generally felt that shorebirds were more difficult to find.

Among the highlights during this period was a Great Black-backed Gull in Duluth the last two weeks of March. In April rarities included Barrow's Goldeneye in Rochester, Mute Swan in Duluth, Eurasian Wigeon in Anoka Co., Ruff in Martin Co., White-faced Ibis in two locations, and Bewick's Wren in Olmsted Co.

With May came a return to more typical weather, temperatures averaging about + 1 and precipitation near normal. Good migration of passerines was reported the first half of the month in all areas of the state. Warbler numbers peaked between the 4th and the 15th. At North Oaks, Ramsey Co., 23 species of warblers were seen on the 13th. During a month in which many rarities were reported, the most exciting was the state's first Common Black-headed Gull, discovered at Heron Lake, Jackson Co. on the 28th. The bird was later seen by many observers into July.

Another first state record was a welldocumented sighting on May 10 of the re- cently separated Clark's Grebe. A Painted Bunting in Nobles Co. represents one of the very few records ofthis species in Minnesota.

Other especially noteworthy sightings in May were: two Pacific Loons in Duluth, Mississippi Kite in two locations, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher in Grand Marais, White-eyed Vireo in Ramsey Co., three Worm-eating Warblers, Western Tanager in Morrison Co., Black-headed Grosbeak in Rock Co., and House Finch in Otter Tail Co.

Besides the casual and accidental species found scattered around the state there are always other surprises -birds that turn up out of range within the state, like this spring's Piping Plover at Lake Calhoun in Minneapolis, or Lark Sparrow in Duluth. Then there are birds that don't turn up at all. This season there were no reports of Black or Surf Scoters and none of crossbills. On the positive side there were no fewer than five Cinnamon Teal sightings this spring, many Peregrine Falcon reports were received, and Short-eared Owl numbers were up. Little Gulls nested in the state for the first time.

All in all not a bad spring.