Although the warmer than normal temperatures experienced over the preceding winter continued into March and raised expectations for an early spring, its arrival seemed elusive in 1992. Temperatures across the state were 15 to 20 degrees above normal in early March and waterfowl responded with an early migration into the state. It soon became cooler, with temperatures closer to normal for the remainder of March and then colder than usual until the last few days of April. It was officially warmer than normal throughout the month of May, except for a period of unusual cold over the Memorial Day Weekend. On Memorial Day, I watched a flock of shorebirds at the Lake Tetonka fish hatchery ponds in Le Sueur County, probe through the accumulating snow to reach the mudflats below!

Precipitation generally remained slightly below normal throughout the period. Most of the precipitation fell during early March and again during the second and third weeks of April. Duluth and northeastern Minnesota received rainfall during the second week of May but this month was drier than normal in most areas of the state, including the Twin Cities where it was the ninth driest May on record. Statisticians and meteorologists continue to sort out confounding effects on our weather by various phenomena, including an overall trend toward global warming, the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines, and the most recent El Niño Southern Oscillation. Meanwhile, the rest of us invoke the legends of Minnesota weather.

Among the early waterfowl arrivals, the flock of more than 100 Greater White-fronted Geese in Lincoln County on 1 March tied the earliest arrival date for the state. Ross' Geese were once again well represented in western Minnesota, while one in Duluth was apparently the first for the Northeast. Another species identified with increasing frequency, Clark's Grebe, was found in Jackson County. Even more outstanding was the Red-throated Loon found by Ray Glassel at Rice Lake State Park in Steele County. Although no ibises were reported, increased numbers of “southern” herons this spring were encouraging, especially if they represented a new trend.

Peregrine Falcons were detected in at least 16 locations statewide, in addition to the usual urban sightings. Observers are encouraged to report all sightings, especially as the species continues to recover. In addition to the immature gray morph that overwintered in the Duluth-Superior harbor, two more Gyrfalcons were sighted this season, bringing the total to approximately 15 individuals for 1991–92. The fall/winter total of 14 in 1990–91 had been considered the largest known invasion into Minnesota (The Loon 63:163­–167).

For the second spring in a row, shorebird migration was generally poor, with many species arriving late or in low numbers. Even more so than usual, their spring migration continued well into June. One exception to the poor showing was the total of seven different Ruffs in three locations, which certainly raised a few eyebrows. Two records of Red Knot were noteworthy since none were reported in Minnesota in all of 1991. Only one migrant Piping Plover was seen. The highlight among the gulls this season was the well-documented appearance of an adult Ross' Gull in Pennington County, only the second record for the state (The Loon 64:156–158).

The knowledgeable examination of planted junipers in wildlife management areas of western Minnesota led to increased detection of what are probably usual numbers of Long-eared Owls during their migration period. Only a few Short-eared Owls were reported following last spring's excellent migration. The cool and relatively wet periods of mid-April produced good numbers of kinglets, Brown Creepers, and Winter Wrens, especially in southern and central Minnesota.

For many observers, the most exciting event of the spring was the cooperative Fork-tailed Flycatcher which spent 12 days in early May along the beach in Grand Marais. Local residents first noticed this casual visitor from South America and another Minnesota birding event made the front page of the Cook County News-Herald! Much less cooperative was Minnesota's second Lewis's Woodpecker in Cook County but almost as rare was the third state record of Green-tailed Towhee which came to a feeder at Lowry Nature Center in Carver Park Preserve. May was blessed with other rarities, especially among the passerines, but other aspects of migration were just as noteworthy. The migration of Catharus thrushes was reported as the best in many years. Good numbers of Northern Mockingbirds and Mountain Bluebirds were reported. Warbler migration was unremarkable except for the unusual numbers of Hooded and Worm-eating Warblers. On the down side, no Henslow's Sparrows were found at O. L. Kipp State Park, their only Minnesota stronghold.