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Seasonal Report Archive for The Loon | |
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The 2007-Spring Season 1 March through 31 May 2007 Paul E. Budde, Robert M. Dunlap, Doug W. Kieser, James W. Lind, William C. Marengo, and Peder H. Svingen |
Though not approaching last spring's spectacular migration, good numbers of Greater White-fronted and Ross's Geese were found again in western Minnesota. Of interest was an apparent hybrid Eurasian Wigeon x American Wigeon in Hennepin; this drake was initially reported as a “pure” Eurasian Wigeon until its true identity was unmasked. Wieland's surveys of poorly understood Cass County continue to turn up unusual species; the first this season was a drake Barrow's Goldeneye on Leech Lake.
Birding close to home awarded Budde the fourth state record of Neotropic Cormorant in Hennepin. A total of 12 Snowy Egrets was less than half of last spring's tally, but included a record early individual in Dakota. Only one Little Blue Heron was found, in contrast to seven individuals last spring. Cattle Egrets were scarce and Yellow-crowned Night-Heron was absent from the state. The highlight among colonial waterbirds was the state's third Glossy Ibis among a large flock of White-faced Ibis in Lac Qui Parle. Minnesota's fourth Black Vulture in Washington was the first of its kind to be refound and seen by many observers. A flock of five adult and two subadult Whooping Cranes was observed by an experienced observer at Pembina Trail Preserve on 9 April; although the two subadults were not documented sufficiently for acceptance by the records committee, there was speculation that this may have been the same group of Whooping Cranes reported near Mantador in southeastern North Dakota on the 5th.
In the same field of view as a Piping Plover was northeastern Minnesota's first Snowy Plover at Park Point, Duluth. Unfortunately not refound in western Minnesota was a Black-necked Stilt in Rock. Shorebird surveys were conducted again this year in western Minnesota, but habitat was affected by wet conditions; between 1 February and 5 June, portions of Big Stone, Grant, Traverse, and Wilkin counties received more than eight inches of above normal precipitation. Scheduled drawdowns at Big Stone and Agassiz national wildlife refuges improved conditions for shorebirds later in the year. Single Red Knots were found in two western Minnesota locations and one transited Duluth in late May. A Red Phalarope in Big Stone added to the list of unusual species found during shorebird surveys. Furnishing only the fourth record away from the North Shore and the Twin Cities was a Great Black-backed Gull at Leech Lake, Cass 15 April. Contributing to a recent trend was another Arctic Tern at Duluth. Providing the ninth state record within four years and eleventh overall was a White-winged Dove in Kittson. Encouraging were high counts of Short-eared Owls in northwestern Minnesota. Lissome Scissor-tailed Flycatchers visited Olmsted and Park Point, Duluth. Loggerhead Shrike numbers were below average compared to the early 1990s for the eleventh consecutive spring. A White-eyed Vireo thrilled observers in Hennepin when it hung around for a second day. Singing at the same location as one in Summer 2005 was a Prairie Warbler at Ritter Farm Park, Dakota. Single Worm-eating Warblers in Lyon and Clay furnished two of only three records since 2001 of this formerly Regular species. If the same bird has returned annually for the last eight years, the male Kentucky Warbler at Williams Nature Center, Blue Earth is most deserving of a mate! The barely-Regular Yellow-breasted Chat was found in four locations. Summer Tanagers showed well, including one almost to the Canadian border in Kittson County, but only two Western Tanagers were documented. The overwintering Green-tailed Towhee was last reported 23 April in Cottonwood; perhaps it continued southwest instead of returning to Thunder Cape, Ontario, where it had been banded in June 2006. A male Black-headed Grosbeak in Wilkin and a male Painted Bunting in Lake were both photographed. Three Gray-crowned Rosy-Finches posed for hundreds of enthralled observers in Carlton through 26 March. The state's seventh Eurasian Tree Sparrow made a cameo appearance at a feeder in Virginia, St. Louis. Weather Summary: March temperatures were significantly above average in all regions, ranging from 3.6 ºF above average in the Northeast to 6.2 ºF above average in the East-central. Precipitation was slightly above average in all regions. In April, temperatures were below normal in all regions. Precipitation was near average to above average, except in the South-central and Southeast, where it was 1.39 and 1.16 inches below normal, respectively. In spite of this, parts of the North-central and Northeast remained in serious drought according to the National Drought Mitigation Center. Ice-out occurred during the last week of March in southern regions, associated with record warmth 26–27 March. Most lakes in central regions were open by early April; Mille Lacs opened up on the 28th. Lakes in northern Minnesota were ice-free by the fourth week of April; exceptions included Lake of the Woods 3 May, Rainy Lake 4 May, and Saganaga 4 May.
Temperatures in May were significantly above average in all regions, ranging from 1.2 ºF above normal in the Northeast to 4.2 ºF above normal in the East-central. Precipitation in May was slightly below normal in most regions, including the Northeast, where severe to extreme drought conditions contributed to the devastation wrought by the Ham Lake fire in early May. Many smaller fires were also reported; as of 15 May, the Minnesota DNR Wildfire Information Center logged 718 fires affecting 67,522 acres in 2007. Undocumented reports: Clark's Grebe 5/15 Todd (L. Osakis); Plegadis ibis sp. 5/6 Lac Qui Parle (Big Stone N.W.R.), 5/23 Anoka (Carlos Avery W.M.A.); Buff-breasted Sandpiper 5/14 Sherburne; Tree Swallow 3/2 Crow Wing; Northern Rough-winged Swallow 3/27 Hennepin; Blackburnian Warbler 4/23 Sherburne; Summer Tanager 5/21–22 St. Louis (imm. male near Duluth), 5/22 Hennepin (imm. male, Minneapolis); Lazuli Bunting 5/25 Wright. Acknowledgments: We thank Dave Carman and Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory for data from the West Skyline Hawk Count 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 2006. Special thanks to Dave Cahlander for his continuing work on the online seasonal report. We thank all of our contributors and especially those who submit documentation for unusual sightings.
In the same field of view as a Piping Plover was northeastern Minnesota's first Snowy Plover at Park Point, Duluth. Unfortunately not refound in western Minnesota was a Black-necked Stilt in Rock. Shorebird surveys were conducted again this year in western Minnesota, but habitat was affected by wet conditions; between 1 February and 5 June, portions of Big Stone, Grant, Traverse, and Wilkin counties received more than eight inches of above normal precipitation. Scheduled drawdowns at Big Stone and Agassiz national wildlife refuges improved conditions for shorebirds later in the year. Single Red Knots were found in two western Minnesota locations and one transited Duluth in late May. A Red Phalarope in Big Stone added to the list of unusual species found during shorebird surveys. Furnishing only the fourth record away from the North Shore and the Twin Cities was a Great Black-backed Gull at Leech Lake, Cass 15 April. Contributing to a recent trend was another Arctic Tern at Duluth. Providing the ninth state record within four years and eleventh overall was a White-winged Dove in Kittson. Encouraging were high counts of Short-eared Owls in northwestern Minnesota. Lissome Scissor-tailed Flycatchers visited Olmsted and Park Point, Duluth. Loggerhead Shrike numbers were below average compared to the early 1990s for the eleventh consecutive spring. A White-eyed Vireo thrilled observers in Hennepin when it hung around for a second day. Singing at the same location as one in Summer 2005 was a Prairie Warbler at Ritter Farm Park, Dakota. Single Worm-eating Warblers in Lyon and Clay furnished two of only three records since 2001 of this formerly Regular species. If the same bird has returned annually for the last eight years, the male Kentucky Warbler at Williams Nature Center, Blue Earth is most deserving of a mate! The barely-Regular Yellow-breasted Chat was found in four locations. Summer Tanagers showed well, including one almost to the Canadian border in Kittson County, but only two Western Tanagers were documented. The overwintering Green-tailed Towhee was last reported 23 April in Cottonwood; perhaps it continued southwest instead of returning to Thunder Cape, Ontario, where it had been banded in June 2006. A male Black-headed Grosbeak in Wilkin and a male Painted Bunting in Lake were both photographed. Three Gray-crowned Rosy-Finches posed for hundreds of enthralled observers in Carlton through 26 March. The state's seventh Eurasian Tree Sparrow made a cameo appearance at a feeder in Virginia, St. Louis. Weather Summary: March temperatures were significantly above average in all regions, ranging from 3.6 ºF above average in the Northeast to 6.2 ºF above average in the East-central. Precipitation was slightly above average in all regions. In April, temperatures were below normal in all regions. Precipitation was near average to above average, except in the South-central and Southeast, where it was 1.39 and 1.16 inches below normal, respectively. In spite of this, parts of the North-central and Northeast remained in serious drought according to the National Drought Mitigation Center. Ice-out occurred during the last week of March in southern regions, associated with record warmth 26–27 March. Most lakes in central regions were open by early April; Mille Lacs opened up on the 28th. Lakes in northern Minnesota were ice-free by the fourth week of April; exceptions included Lake of the Woods 3 May, Rainy Lake 4 May, and Saganaga 4 May.
Temperatures in May were significantly above average in all regions, ranging from 1.2 ºF above normal in the Northeast to 4.2 ºF above normal in the East-central. Precipitation in May was slightly below normal in most regions, including the Northeast, where severe to extreme drought conditions contributed to the devastation wrought by the Ham Lake fire in early May. Many smaller fires were also reported; as of 15 May, the Minnesota DNR Wildfire Information Center logged 718 fires affecting 67,522 acres in 2007. Undocumented reports: Clark's Grebe 5/15 Todd (L. Osakis); Plegadis ibis sp. 5/6 Lac Qui Parle (Big Stone N.W.R.), 5/23 Anoka (Carlos Avery W.M.A.); Buff-breasted Sandpiper 5/14 Sherburne; Tree Swallow 3/2 Crow Wing; Northern Rough-winged Swallow 3/27 Hennepin; Blackburnian Warbler 4/23 Sherburne; Summer Tanager 5/21–22 St. Louis (imm. male near Duluth), 5/22 Hennepin (imm. male, Minneapolis); Lazuli Bunting 5/25 Wright. Acknowledgments: We thank Dave Carman and Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory for data from the West Skyline Hawk Count 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 2006. Special thanks to Dave Cahlander for his continuing work on the online seasonal report. We thank all of our contributors and especially those who submit documentation for unusual sightings.
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Species |
N | S |
Information |
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| Whistling-Ducks, Geese, Swans, Ducks | |||||
| Snow Goose (Anser caerulescens) | 13 | 37 | Early south 3/4 Scott (overwintered?) PEJ, 3/8 Blue Earth BTS. Early north 3/23 Kanabec CAM and Todd JSK, 3/24 Aitkin fide JWL. Peak counts 3/15 Lac qui Parle (42,450 mostly in Manfred Twp.) and Lincoln (10,660) BJU. Late south 5/24 (median) Rice TFB, 5/26 Hennepin JLS and Steele DAB. Only north reports in May: 5/8 Marshall fide JMJ and St. Louis JWL (median 5/27). | ||
| Ross's Goose (Anser rossii) | 5 | 20 | Seasonal total of 716+ including high counts 3/15 Lac qui Parle (208 in Manfred Twp.) and Lincoln (119) BJU, 4/1 Lac qui Parle (100 near Salt L.) DFN. Early south 3/3 McLeod DMF, 3/12 Steele NFT (median 3/20). Early north 3/25 Mille Lacs (2, no details) HHD, 3/26 Grant BJU (median 3/28). Documented 3/28–31 Kanabec (3) †CAM. Late south 4/21 Martin LS, 5/13 (median) Lac qui Parle BJU. Late north 4/27 Clay BWF (median 5/26). | ||
| Greater White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons) | 10 | 34 | Early south 3/7 Lac qui Parle BJU, 3/9 Brown BTS (median 3/6). Early north 3/17 Otter Tail SPM, 3/23 Mille Lacs NSc (median 3/28). High counts 3/15 Lincoln (2,800) BJU, 3/16 Lac qui Parle (8,120 in Providence Twp. and 3,775 at Borchardt Rosin W.M.A.) BJU, 3/31 Traverse (1,500) JCC. Late south 5/15 (median) Dakota LEC, 5/20 Mower JWH. Only north reports in May were from Northeast: 5/19 Lake ph. JWL and St. Louis TPW. | ||
| Cackling Goose (Branta hutchinsii) | 8 | 23 | Documented in only seven counties. Please see winter report for early south migrants. Early north 3/10 Traverse HHD, 3/23 Mille Lacs NSc (median 3/19). High counts 3/16 Jackson (650) PEJ, 3/23 Goodhue (450) PEJ. Late south 5/11 Olmsted JJS, 5/13 Mower HHD, JJS. All documented reports: 3/11–17 Brown †BTS, 3/16 Dakota †BAF, 3/17–22 Meeker †DMF, 4/1 Lac qui Parle †DFN and McLeod †DMF, 4/13 Big Stone (250, Thielke L.) †WCM, 5/5 Ramsey †DPG. Observers are asked to document all sightings with notes, photographs, or recordings to improve our understanding of this species in the state. | ||
| Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) | 34 | 52 | No significant counts. | ||
| Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) | 4 | All reports: overwintered through 3/4 Rice JPE, JLO; also seen 4/7 Carver (Goose L.) DPG, 4/15–22 Meeker (Pigeon L.) PRH, DMF, 5/26 Fillmore (gravel pit south of Spring Valley) HHD. | |||
| Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator) | 26 | 27 | High count 3/25 Mille Lacs (200) EEO. Please continue to report numbers, exact locations, and dates of observations. | ||
| Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus) | 22 | 26 | Early south 3/17 Wabasha JWH, 3/18 Rice DAB (median 3/11). Early north 3/18 Hubbard DLB, 3/23–24 in six counties (median 3/27). High counts 3/23 Goodhue (1,500) PEJ, 3/31 Traverse (1,200) JCC, 4/1 Aitkin (2,000, CR 1 rice paddies) WEN. Late south 4/28 Lac qui Parle BJU (median 5/5). Late north 4/28 Red Lake JMJ, 5/12 St. Louis SES (median 5/28). | ||
| Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) | 32 | 53 | Overwintered south. Early north 3/14 Mille Lacs ASc, 3/16 Otter Tail DTT (median 3/18). | ||
| Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors) | 30 | 51 | Early south 3/13 Dakota PEJ, 3/14 Meeker DMF (median 3/11). Early north 3/26 Cass, Grant, Otter Tail, Traverse (median 3/30). | ||
| Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata) | 28 | 51 | Early south 3/9 Chippewa, Lac qui Parle, Scott, Steele (median 3/5). Early north 3/21 St. Louis SLF, 3/22 Otter Tail EEO (median 3/27). | ||
| Gadwall (Mareca strepera) | 26 | 51 | Early south (but see winter report) 3/5 Winona JWH, 3/9 Brown BTS (median 3/1). Early north 3/10 St. Louis fide JWL, 3/15 Otter Tail DTT (median 3/24). High count 4/10 Big Stone (625) BJU. | ||
| American Wigeon (Mareca americana) | 22 | 48 | Early south 3/1 (median) Carver RTH, 3/9 Lac qui Parle BJU and Olmsted JWH, LAV, TFB. Early north 3/21 Clay RHO and St. Louis SLF, 3/22 Todd JSK (median 3/26). | ||
| Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) | 35 | 52 | Reported from all 87 counties. | ||
| American Black Duck (Anas rubripes) | 8 | 19 | Only south report in May: 5/14+ Lac qui Parle (injured) BJU. Only other west reports: 3/16 Jackson (2) PEJ, 4/1 Lincoln (2) DFN, PEJ. | ||
| Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) | 21 | 37 | See winter report for overwintering and early south migrants. Early north 3/8 St. Louis SLF, 3/21 Clay RHO and Otter Tail SPM (median 3/20). | ||
| Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca) | 26 | 47 | Early south 3/5 Winona JWH, 3/9 Lac qui Parle BJU and Scott PEJ (median 3/6). Early north 3/16 Otter Tail SPM, 3/23 Mille Lacs NSc (median 3/27). | ||
| Canvasback (Aythya valisineria) | 23 | 49 | Early south 3/9 Dakota PEJ, 3/11 Olmsted JLO, JWH (median 2/27). Early north 3/23 Otter Tail SPM and St. Louis SLF, 3/24 Mille Lacs ASc, NSc (median 3/28). High count 4/8 Meeker (1,000 on L. Ripley) DMF. | ||
| Redhead (Aythya americana) | 25 | 49 | Overwintered in Hennepin; probable early south migrants 3/6 Sherburne and Wright CRM (median 2/26). Early north 3/23 Otter Tail SPM, 3/24 Clay RHO (median 3/26). | ||
| Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris) | 32 | 53 | See winter report for overwintering and early south migrants. Early north 3/11 Otter Tail SPM, 3/23 Mille Lacs NSc (median 3/20). | ||
| Greater Scaup (Aythya marila) | 18 | 29 | Early south 3/9 Dakota PEJ, Olmsted JWH and Rice DAB, 3/10 Dakota DFN and Goodhue BRL (median 3/8). Early north 3/26 Traverse BJU, 3/28 Beltrami fide JMJ (median 3/31). Late south 5/17 Pope JJS, 5/19 Steele NFT (median 5/14). Late north 5/17 Cook PEJ, 5/27 St. Louis FKB (median 5/29). | ||
| Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis) | 28 | 52 | Please see winter report for overwintering and early south migrants. Early north 3/10 St. Louis CHo, 3/21 Clay RHO (median 3/16). | ||
| Harlequin Duck (Histrionicus histrionicus) | No reports. | ||||
| Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata) | 1 | Only report: 5/23–31 St. Louis (Park Point, Duluth) MSS, m.ob. | |||
| White-winged Scoter (Melanitta deglandi) | 1 | Only report: 5/23 St. Louis (Park Point, Duluth) DAG. | |||
| Black Scoter (Melanitta americana) | 1 | 1 | All reports: 4/9–15 Renville (Allie L.) ph. †RBW, m.ob., 5/19–29 St. Louis (max. 4, Park Point, Duluth) m.ob., 5/19 St. Louis (2, Stoney Point) m.ob. | ||
| Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) | 3 | 6 | All south reports: 3/13–14 Winona/Wabasha (Mississippi R.) JJS, CHo, 4/8 Meeker (L. Ripley) DMF, 4/13 Rice TFB, 4/14–17 Goodhue (Red Wing) m.ob., 4/22 Fari-bault (2 on Pilot Grove L.) WAF, CRM. All north reports from L. Superior: 3/17–4/22 Lake/St. Louis (max. 25 between Two Harbors and Stoney Pt.) JPE, m.ob., 5/17–26 Cook (max. 31) PEJ, DFN, 5/19 Lake (2, Silver Bay) JWL, SLL, 5/27 Lake (8, Castle Danger) JWL. | ||
| Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) | 31 | 51 | Early south 3/5 Winona JOb, 3/9 Dakota PEJ (median 3/4). Early north 3/23 Lake JWL, 3/24 Kanabec CAM. High count 3/24 Lac qui Parle (386) BJU. Late south 5/8 Lincoln m.ob, 5/12 Hennepin DWK, PEB. Late north (but see summer report) 5/23 Lake of the Woods DAC, RBJ, 5/31 Cook RBJ. | ||
| Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) | 26 | 42 | Late south 4/19 Sherburne RBJ, 4/25 Swift RBW (median 5/12). | ||
| Barrow's Goldeneye (Bucephala islandica) | 1 | Adult male 3/26–4/11 Cass (Kabekona Narrows, Leech L.) ph. †BAW, MMa, DAY, PJR. | |||
| Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) | 32 | 49 | Early north (away from known overwintering locations, ties earliest north) 3/4 Wadena PJB, 3/13 St. Louis SLF (median 3/19). High count 4/12 Cass (100 on Sylvan Reservoir) MRN. | ||
| Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) | 22 | 48 | Early north (away from overwintering locations) 3/4 (median) Beltrami PJR, 3/12 Cass BAW. Late south 5/8 Hennepin PEJ, 5/25 Ramsey BAF (median 5/24). High count 3/16 Lac qui Parle (249) BJU. | ||
| Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator) | 18 | 41 | Early south 3/12 Dakota PEJ, 3/16 Wabasha BAF and Lac qui Parle BJU. Early north (away from L. Superior) 3/21 St. Louis (Virginia) SLF, 3/26 Kanabec CAM and Cass BAW. Late south 5/13 Lac qui Parle BJU, 5/19 Steele NFT. | ||
| Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) | 14 | 48 | Early south 3/9 in four counties, 3/10 Dakota DFN (median 3/11). Early north 3/11 (second earliest north) Otter Tail SPM, 3/24 Clay BWF (median 4/5). High count 4/26 Big Stone (427, East Toqua L.) BJU. More Northeast reports than usual: 4/28–5/28 St. Louis (max. 6, Duluth) KRE, JCG, m.ob., 5/19 St. Louis (1, Biwabik W.T.P.) ALE, 5/19–21 Lake (1, Beaver Bay W.T.P.) JWL, MWS. | ||
| Partridge, Pheasants, Grouse, Turkeys | |||||
| Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) | 20 | 45 | Reported as far north as Kittson, Red Lake, Hubbard, Cass, Crow Wing, Mille Lacs, Pine. Probable escapees or released birds also seen in southern St. Louis (3 locations) and Lake (2 locations). Peak count 3/26 Traverse (63) BJU. | ||
| Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus) | 23 | 8 | Found throughout normal range, including Dakota (Miesville Ravine) JPM, Fillmore NBO, Winona m.ob., and Houston FZL. High count 4/17 St. Louis (11 north of Virginia) SLF. | ||
| Spruce Grouse (Canachites canadensis) | 3 | All reports: 3/11 Lake (3) CHo, 3/17 Lake (20 in 3 locations along CR 2) JPE, 5/12 Koochiching AXH and Lake JWL, 5/25 Lake of the Woods (3) MHK. | |||
| Sharp-tailed Grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus) | 12 | 3 | — Leks of 10–20 reported from Aitkin, Kittson, and St. Louis. Additional north reports from Clay, Clearwater, Itasca, Lake of the Woods, Marshall, Pennington, Pine, Polk, Red Lake. Unusual south reports outside of typical range in Big Stone ABL, Lac qui Parle (max. 17 in 6 locations) BJU, WCM, and 4/28 Yellow Medicine †RBW. | ||
| Greater Prairie-Chicken (Tympanuchus cupido) | 10 | 3 | Released birds seen in three south counties, including Lac qui Parle (max. 11, Plover Prairie) m.ob. All north reports: Becker, Clay (high count of 167, Felton Prairie on 4/6) RHO, Douglas (3), Mahnomen (8, Rush W.M.A.), Marshall, Norman (6), Otter Tail, Polk (max. 65, Glacial Ridge N.W.R.), Red Lake (max. 8, Marcoux Corner), Wilkin (max. 69, Rothsay W.M.A.). | ||
| Gray Partridge (Perdix perdix) | 3 | 20 | High counts south 3/3 Brown (11 near Essig) BTS, 3/3 Houston (15 near Spring Grove) JPE, 3/7 Mower (15) and Fillmore (12) RBW. All north reports: 3/12 Wilkin (2) RBW, 3/16–4/11 Kittson LW, 4/15–5/25 Clay (max. 4) m.ob. | ||
| Ring-necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) | 19 | 53 | Reported as far north as Marshall (escapee?), Becker, Wadena, Cass, Aitkin, and Pine. High count 3/4 Lac qui Parle (238, Lac qui Parle Twp.) BJU. | ||
| Grebes | |||||
| Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) | 28 | 50 | Early south 3/5 Hennepin SCa, 3/9 (median) Dakota PEJ and Rice TFB. Early north 3/16 Otter Tail SPM, 3/25 St. Louis SLF (median 3/28). | ||
| Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus) | 19 | 25 | Early south 3/21 Stearns HHD, 3/27 Dakota ADS, LEC and Rice TFB (median 3/26). Early north 3/29 St. Louis SLF, 4/15 Mille Lacs DFN, PEJ. Peak counts 4/24 Lake (118) JWL, 4/20 Hennepin (80) CMB. Late south 5/6 Lac qui Parle LS and Stearns DFN, 5/8 Lincoln HHD, JEB, JJS (median 5/14). Late north 5/23 Lake of the Woods DAC, RBJ, 5/25 St. Louis DWK, JLO (median 6/3). | ||
| Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena) | 15 | 32 | Early south 3/30 Meeker DMF and Olmsted JWH (median 4/3). Early north 4/9 Lake and St. Louis JWL, 4/11 Otter Tail SPM (median 4/7). | ||
| Eared Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis) | 7 | 15 | Early south 4/15 Meeker DMF, 4/18 Lac qui Parle BJU (median 4/9). Early north 4/22 (median) Pennington JMJ, 4/25 Clearwater PJR. Notable northeast reports: 5/19–20 Lake (Castle Danger W.T.P.) JWL, 5/19 St. Louis (Biwabik W.T.P.) ALE, 5/19–22 St. Louis (max. 2, Park Point, Duluth) ASc, KRE, JWL. | ||
| Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis) | 10 | 20 | Early south 4/15 Big Stone LS and Meeker DMF, 4/18 Lac qui Parle BJU (median 4/11). Early north 5/3 Otter Tail DTT, 5/6 Douglas DFN (median 4/21). Unusual northeast report 5/19–24 St. Louis (max. 2, Park Point, Duluth) DRB, m.ob. High count 4/26 Big Stone (188) BJU. | ||
| CLARK'S GREBE (Aechmophorus clarkii) | 1 | Only documented report: 4/29–5/16 Big Stone (Thielke L.) CMN, †CMB, ph. †SLF, †BJU. | |||
| Pigeons, Doves | |||||
| Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) | 31 | 52 | Statewide. | ||
| Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) | 3 | 17 | Observed at new locations 4/21–5/26 Steele (Ellendale, no details) JWH, RBJ, 5/20 Winona (Lewiston, no details) JWH. Reported from known south locations in Blue Earth (Mapleton), Brown (Comfrey), Chippewa (Milan), Cottonwood (Comfrey), Dakota (Farmington), Fillmore (Spring Valley), Houston (Caledonia), Jackson (Heron Lake), Lac qui Parle (Madison and Marietta), Mower, Pipestone (Jasper), Redwood (Walnut Grove), Renville (Sacred Heart), Swift (Appleton), Wabasha (Plainview), Yellow Medicine (Clarkfield). Reported from known north locations beginning 3/10 Traverse (6 in Wheaton) and Grant (Herman) HHD. African Collared-Dove (Streptopelia roseogrisea), domesticated descendants of which were formerly referred to as Ringed Turtle-Dove, may be mis-identified as Eurasian Collared-Dove, especially in urban areas; note that one was photographed 4/30 Wabasha (Plainview) DAC. Possible hybrid African Collared-Dove X Eurasian Collared-Dove 3/9–12 Otter Tail (Battle Lake) ph. †DTT, SMT. Though details are unnecessary for Eurasian Collared-Doves at known locations, documentation is still requested for potential first county records and all north records. | ||
| White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica) | 1 | Eleventh state record 5/4–22 Kittson (Lancaster) ph. LW, †JMJ, †PHS. | |||
| Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) | 32 | 52 | High counts 5/12 Steele (85) NFT and Clay (44) RHO. | ||
| Cuckoos | |||||
| Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus) | 4 | 20 | Early south 5/8 Olmsted JWH, 5/9 Scott BAF and Yellow Medicine JEB, JJS, 5/10 Nicollet and Le Sueur RMD. All north reports: 5/12 (ties earliest north) Todd JSK, 5/17 Cass DAY, 5/30 Mille Lacs ASc, 5/31 St. Louis LS. No significant high counts. | ||
| Black-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus erythropthalmus) | 9 | 18 | Early south 5/5 Benton NSc, 5/8 Nicollet RMD, 5/9 Hennepin JPM. Early north 5/8 Hubbard MAW, 5/18 Clay (2) RHO. High count 5/31 St. Louis (5 at Park Point, Duluth) DWK. | ||
| Nightjars | |||||
| Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor) | 13 | 26 | Early south 4/28 Dakota and 4/29 Hennepin JLS, 5/5 Lac qui Parle HHD, LS, 5/8 Hennepin CMB. Early north 5/10 Cass BAW, 5/12 Mille Lacs NSc and Todd JSK. | ||
| Eastern Whip-poor-will (Antrostomus vociferus) | 8 | 5 | North reports preceded south arrivals by well over a week. Early south 5/8 Wabasha JPM, 5/9–10 Sherburne RBJ, PLJ (median 4/27); additional south reports from Anoka, Dakota, Goodhue. Early north 4/27–5/6 Wadena PJB, 5/7 Cook BWS, SMc and Cass BAW (median 5/9). | ||
| Swifts | |||||
| Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica) | 21 | 47 | Early south 4/21 Waseca JWH and Martin CRM, LS, 4/22 Hennepin MPi and Anoka DPG. Early north 4/24 Otter Tail (2) DTT, 4/26 Mille Lacs NSc. High count 5/21 Hennepin (50) DKo. | ||
| Hummingbirds | |||||
| Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) | 22 | 34 | Early south 4/28–5/2 Fillmore NBO, 5/2 Sherburne ASc. Early north 5/3 Polk and Itasca fide JMJ, 5/4 Kanabec CAM and Otter Tail DTT. High counts 5/8 Rice (15) FVS, 5/31 Fillmore (10) NBO. | ||
| Rails, Gallinules, Coots | |||||
| Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola) | 8 | 37 | Early south 4/15 Brown BTS, 4/18 Rice TFB, 4/20 Watonwan CRM et al. (median 4/15). Early north 4/23 Mille Lacs HHD, 4/26 Otter Tail DTT, 4/29 Itasca EEO, 4/30 Cass DAY (median 5/5). High count 5/3 Itasca (4) EEO. | ||
| Sora (Porzana carolina) | 18 | 41 | Early south 4/14 Scott (3) DDo, 4/20 Lac qui Parle BJU, 4/22–25 in nine counties (median 4/13). Early north 4/23 Mille Lacs HHD, 5/4 Cass BAW (median 4/23). High counts 5/12 Clay (8) RHO, 5/13 Lac qui Parle (6) JCC. | ||
| Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata) | 1 | Unusual location 5/29–31 St. Louis (Indian Point, Duluth) ph. LME, m.ob. | |||
| American Coot (Fulica americana) | 20 | 51 | Early north (but see winter report) 3/10 St. Louis (first migrant joining the two that overwintered in Virginia) SLF, 3/14 Clay (Moorhead W.T.P.) RHO, 3/21 Clay (Buffalo River overflow) RHO. High count 3/30–31 Mower (1,000) NFT. | ||
| Yellow Rail (Coturnicops noveboracensis) | 3 | 2 | All south reports: 4/30 Anoka (Carlos Avery W.M.A.) JHu, TAN, 5/12–13 Hennepin (Baker P.R.) PEB, DWK, HCT, m.ob. All north reports: 5/9 Polk (Pembina Trail Preserve) NGE, 5/12 Mille Lacs (Milaca W.T.P.) NSc, 5/27 Aitkin (12) CAM. | ||
| Cranes | |||||
| Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis) | 30 | 31 | Early south 3/11 Dakota ADS, LS, 3/11–12 Steele m.ob., 3/13 Dakota JPM. Early north 3/20 Crow Wing MRN, 3/22 Cass MRN, 3/24 Hubbard MAW. High count 4/22 Polk (2,400 at Glacial Ridge N.W.R.) EEF. | ||
| WHOOPING CRANE (Grus americana) | 2 | Furnishing the first accepted record in Minnesota since October 1990 (The Loon 62:177–181) were five adults 4/9 Polk (Pembina Trail Preserve) †RH, RAF (The Loon 79:240–241). One adult east of this species' usual migration corridor and later than its usual migration period may have wandered away from the experimental flock at Necedah N.W.R., Wisconsin; there was no satellite evidence confirming this possibility, so it was accepted with an “o” subscript, indicating about an equal chance of captive/wild origin 5/6 Crow Wing (Ironton W.T.P.) †JSB, †WEN. | |||
| Stilts, Avocets | |||||
| Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus) | 1 | Thirteenth state record 5/26 Rock (Hills W.T.P.) †LS, ph. †KRE et al. (The Loon 79:239). | |||
| American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana) | 5 | 9 | Statewide total of 90 individuals (89 in 13 counties last spring). Early south 4/14 Steele (14, Spindler's Pond) KRV, m.ob., 4/21 Kandiyohi (2) RSF and Lac qui Parle (11, three locations) PCC, BJU, 4/26+ Big Stone (max. 10, Toqua Twp.) m.ob. Additional south reports from Brown (8), Chippewa (2), Meeker, Nobles, Olmsted (4), Scott (5). Early north 5/6 Marshall (Agassiz N.W.R.) GT, 5/7 St. Louis (Interstate Is., Duluth) DAG, PHS, 5/8 Crow Wing (5, St. Mathias Twp.) JSB and Todd JSK; singles also reported from Polk and Roseau. | ||
| Plovers | |||||
| Black-bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola) | 5 | 14 | Early south 4/23 Dakota (Lake Byllesby) m.ob., 5/3 Pope RBW (median 5/2). Early north 5/13 Wilkin (3, Manston Marsh W.M.A.) JCC, 5/18 Marshall m.ob. (median 5/17). Additional north reports from Becker, Cass, St. Louis. High counts 5/23 Sherburne (10) PLJ, 5/25 St. Louis (8, Hearding Is., Duluth) DWK, 5/28 Big Stone (9) PHS. | ||
| American Golden-Plover (Pluvialis dominica) | 1 | 16 | Early south 3/25 Dakota SWe, 4/8 Lac qui Parle BJU and Martin RBW, 4/20 Chippewa BJU (median 4/18). Only north report: 5/18 Marshall LEC. High counts 4/21 Cottonwood (70 at Red Rock Prairie) JWH, 5/13 Big Stone (68) PCC, PHS. | ||
| Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) | 31 | 51 | Early south (but see winter report) 3/1 Goodhue LEC and Houston FZL, 3/9 Chippewa, Lac qui Parle, Rice. Early north 3/12 Wadena RBW, 3/15 Mille Lacs ASc. High count 5/13 Big Stone (57) PCC, PHS. | ||
| Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus) | 8 | 25 | Early south 4/21 Martin CRM et al., 4/23 Dakota m.ob. (median 4/21). Early north 5/15 Marshall, Lake, and Todd (median 5/7). Record high spring count 5/15 Dakota (300 at Lake Byllesby with 250+ present the previous day) JPM; next highest count 5/21 Marshall (66 at Agassiz N.W.R.) PHS, TCL, CLW. | ||
| Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) | 1 | 2 | All south reports: 4/22–23 Dakota (Lake Byllesby) †JLO et al., 5/25 Lac qui Parle (section 29, Perry Twp.) †BJU. All north reports: 5/21 St. Louis (Hearding Island, Duluth) KRE, 5/30–31 St. Louis (banded bird seen with Snowy Plover at Park Point) SCZ, m.ob. | ||
| SNOWY PLOVER (Anarhynchus nivosus) | 1 | Tenth state record 5/30–31 St. Louis (Park Point, Duluth) ph. SCZ, ph. †KRE, ph. †PHS, ph. CLW, m.ob. (The Loon 79:240). | |||
| Sandpipers | |||||
| Upland Sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda) | 6 | 16 | Early south 4/21 Lac qui Parle (1) PCC, 4/26 Big Stone BJU and Dakota JPM, 4/27 Cottonwood RBW. Early north 4/28 Clay (2) PBB, 5/9 Polk (63 in 80 miles of walking by multiple observers) fide RPR. Reported from St. Louis in Northeast region, but none in North-central or Southeast. | ||
| Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) | 3 | Early north 5/18 Lake of the Woods (1) MHK, JMo, 5/21–22 St. Louis (13) KRE, m.ob., 5/22 Lake (8 at Lighthouse Point, Two Harbors) JWL. High count 5/23 St. Louis (25 at Park Point, Duluth) CMB, DBz. | |||
| Hudsonian Godwit (Limosa haemastica) | 3 | 10 | Statewide total of 205 individuals, up from last year's 59+, but still low compared to 347 in Spring 2004. Early south 4/22 Meeker (2) DMF, 4/27 Lac qui Parle (2) BJU (median 4/21). Early north 5/14 St. Louis (14 at Hearding Is., Duluth) JCC, 5/15 Marshall (68, Agassiz N.W.R.) JMJ, PHS (median 5/8). All other counts ?16 birds. No reports from Southeast. Late south 5/26 Rock KRE et al., 5/31 Lac qui Parle BJU. Late north 5/27 Marshall PHS. | ||
| Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa) | 13 | 10 | Early south 4/14 Big Stone WCM and Lac qui Parle WCM, BJU, 4/17 Meeker DMF (median 4/13). Early north 4/15 Clay (6) PBB, Polk JMJ, and Wilkin (2) SPM, LS, 4/19 Polk NGE (median 4/13). First county record 4/22 Kanabec NSc. High counts 5/9 Polk (65 at Glacial Ridge N.W.R., probable migrant flock of 14, remainder on territory) fide RPR, 5/21 Marshall (29 at Agassiz N.W.R.) TCL, PHS, CLW. | ||
| Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres) | 5 | 10 | Early south 5/7 Hennepin (2) JCC, 5/8 Lincoln m.ob, 5/12 Meeker (3) DMF. Early north 5/9 St. Louis (2) RBW, 5/18 Marshall MHe, 5/19 Crow Wing ASc. Scarce along the North Shore of Lake Superior; high count 5/25 Cass (11, Pelican Is., Leech Lake) BAW. First county record 5/27 Nobles (2, Worthington W.T.P.) RMD, JWH. Late south 5/28 Blue Earth HHD; also see summer report. Late north 5/27 Crow Wing (6) JSB, 5/31 St. Louis (6) DWK. | ||
| Red Knot (Calidris canutus) | 1 | 2 | All south reports: 5/17–20 Pope (Lowry W.T.P.) HHD, RBW, †CMB, †BJU, 5/19 Lac qui Parle (Augusta Twp.) PHS. Only north report: 5/24 St. Louis (Duluth) JLR. | ||
| Stilt Sandpiper (Calidris himantopus) | 2 | 16 | Early south 4/26 Big Stone (2) BJU, 4/27–28 Lac qui Parle BJU, 4/28 Meeker (3) DMF, 4/30 Sherburne PLJ (median 5/4). Early north 5/7 Crow Wing JSB, 5/10 Cass BAW (median 5/15). All counts single digits. Late south (but see summer report) 5/30 Lac qui Parle BJU. Late north 5/18 Crow Wing JSB not representative of normal migration. | ||
| Sanderling (Calidris alba) | 5 | 13 | Early south 4/24 Lac qui Parle BJU, 5/7 Freeborn (2) JWH, 5/8 Brown (3) BTS and Lincoln JEB, HHD, JJS. Early north 5/7 St. Louis MSS, 5/19 Crow Wing ASc and St. Louis WCM, 5/20 Traverse PHS. New county record: 5/15 Steele DAB. High count 5/25 St. Louis (150) DWK. Late south 5/28 Blue Earth HHD; also see summer report. | ||
| Dunlin (Calidris alpina) | 9 | 25 | Early south 4/19 Rice DAB, 4/20–21 Dakota (Lake Byllesby) CMB, 4/21 Lac qui Parle BJU (median 4/21). Early north 5/15 Marshall (48) PHS and Todd JJS, 5/18 Lake JWL and Marshall m.ob. (median 5/10). High counts 5/20 Traverse (61, Mud Lake) PHS, 5/21 Marshall (80, Agassiz N.W.R.) TCL, PHS, CLW. Relatively poor showing in western regions for second consecutive spring. | ||
| Baird's Sandpiper (Calidris bairdii) | 5 | 22 | Early south 3/22 Brown (Sleepy Eye W.T.P.) BTS, 3/23 Dakota (Lake Byllesby) CMB, 3/25 Faribault (3) WAF, 4/8 Martin RBW (median 4/7). Early north 4/27 Mille Lacs NSc, 5/13 Todd JSK (median 4/22). No significant high counts; relatively low numbers in western regions for second consecutive spring. Late south 5/23 Sherburne PLJ, 5/27 Pipestone (3) KRE, CRM et al. Late north 5/20 Traverse PHS, 5/30 St. Louis EEO. | ||
| Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla) | 14 | 35 | Early south 3/24 Dakota (2, second earliest) JPM, 4/15 Lac qui Parle BJU and Meeker DMF, 4/22 Faribault WAF. Early north 5/3 Traverse (2) RBW, 5/5 Marshall PHS and Crow Wing JSB. High count 5/21 Marshall (483, Agassiz N.W.R.) TCL, PHS, CLW. Late south (but see summer report) 5/28 Big Stone (2) PHS, 5/29 (1), 5/30 Lac qui Parle PHS, BJU. Late north 5/27 Marshall (22) PHS and Hubbard (4) PBB, 5/30 St. Louis (3) PHS. | ||
| White-rumped Sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis) | 6 | 25 | Early south 4/26 Big Stone BJU, 4/29 Big Stone PCC, 5/4 Dakota m.ob. (median 4/29). Early north 5/15 Marshall PHS, 5/19 St. Louis WCM, 5/20 Lake JWL (median 5/13). High count 5/19 Lac qui Parle (242) PHS. | ||
| Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Calidris subruficollis) | 1 | One seen 5/15 Marshall (Agassiz N.W.R., ties second earliest north) †PHS. Also see undocumented reports. This species is a Casual spring migrant in Minnesota. | |||
| Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos) | 6 | 29 | Early south 3/20 Dakota LEC, 3/22 Dakota JLO, 3/23 Meeker (3) DMF, 3/25–26 Dakota m.ob. (median 4/1). Early north 3/29 Beltrami DPJ, 4/1 Beltrami PJR, 4/26 Polk DAC, RBJ (median 4/20). High counts 4/22 Dakota (250) JPM, 4/26 Big Stone (417) BJU. Please see summer report for late spring migrants. | ||
| Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla) | 5 | 31 | Early south 4/17 Meeker DMF, 4/22 Winona JWH, 4/24 Lac qui Parle BJU and Dakota JPM (median 4/17). Early north 5/2 Crow Wing JSB, 5/13 Todd JSK, 5/15 Marshall (8) PHS (median 5/4). High count 5/19 Lac qui Parle (166) PHS. | ||
| Short-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus griseus) | 7 | 20 | Early south 4/29–30 Lac qui Parle WCM, LS, BJU, 5/2 Steele KRV (median 4/30). Early north 5/12 Todd JSK, 5/15 Marshall PHS (median 5/8). High counts 5/15 Lac qui Parle (49, calling birds) BJU, 5/16 Rice (49) TFB, 5/21 Marshall (66 at Agassiz N.W.R.) TCL, PHS, CLW. Late south (but see summer report) 5/20 Big Stone, Lac qui Parle, Pope, Carver (median 5/24). Late north 5/25 St. Louis DWK, JLO, 5/27 Marshall (12) PHS. | ||
| Long-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus) | 3 | 7 | Early south 4/21 Dakota (Lake Byllesby) CMB, 4/22 Faribault CRM et al., 4/23 Meeker DMF. Early north 4/30 Marshall (calling) JHu, TAN. Very scarce north; all other reports: 5/18 Marshall MHe, 5/18, 5/20 Lake of the Woods MHK, JMo, 5/19 St. Louis (calling) MLH. High count of birds identified by voice 5/8 Brown (28 at Sleepy Eye W.T.P.) BTS. Late south 5/19 Lac qui Parle (calling) BJU. | ||
| American Woodcock (Scolopax minor) | 14 | 24 | Early south 3/12 Lac qui Parle BJU, 3/18 Winona KAK, 3/19 Houston KAK (median 3/13). Early north 3/24 Aitkin KCR and Lake AXH, PHS, 3/25 Cass BAW, Clearwater KLa and Todd JSK (median 3/26). Record high spring count 4/24 St. Louis (30 birds in 29 stops along 17 mile route between Cook and Virginia) DBF, SLF. | ||
| Wilson's Snipe (Gallinago delicata) | 25 | 35 | Early south (away from Twin Cities, where probably overwintered) 3/18 Yellow Medicine BJU, 3/22 Meeker DMF (median 3/22). Early north 3/24 Aitkin WEN, 3/26 Pine JMP, 3/29 St. Louis SES (median 3/31). High counts 4/13 Steele (25) DAB, 4/18 Lac qui Parle (49, Mount Wickham area) BJU. | ||
| Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius) | 21 | 42 | Early south 4/17 Hennepin SCa, 4/20 Olmsted LAV, 4/22 in five counties (median 4/20). Early north 4/23 Crow Wing (2) JSB, 4/24 Mille Lacs ASc and Lake JWL (median 4/29). High count 5/19 Lac qui Parle (27) BJU. | ||
| Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitaria) | 8 | 28 | Early south 4/22 Faribault CRM et al. and Winona JWH, 4/23 Sherburne PLJ (median 4/19). Early north 5/3 Itasca EEO, 5/5 Isanti LBF (median 4/30). All counts ?3 birds. Late south 5/21 Lac qui Parle BJU (median 6/1). Late north 5/24 Lake of the Woods MHK, also see summer report. | ||
| Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes) | 19 | 36 | Early south 3/22 Dakota (1) JPM, 3/23 Meeker (3) DMF, 3/24 Dakota (2) JPM (median 3/29). Early north 4/21 Aitkin, Clay, and Mille Lacs, 4/22–25 in six counties (median 4/9). High counts 4/29 Lac qui Parle (310) BJU and Big Stone (185) PCC, 5/15 Marshall (186, Agassiz N.W.R.) PHS. | ||
| Willet (Tringa semipalmata) | 8 | 14 | Statewide total of 170 individuals (157 last spring). Early south 4/24, 4/27, 4/28 Lac qui Parle (different locations) BJU. Early north 4/26 Polk EEF and Wilkin RBJ, DAC, 5/4 Itasca (2, Trout Lake, Bovey) †EEO. High counts 4/29 Dakota (28, Lake Byllesby) CMB, JPM, JLO, ADS, 5/8 Hennepin (max. 20, Purgatory Creek) m.ob. Late south 5/23 Lincoln (4) BJU (median 5/26). Late north 5/23 St. Louis (4) CMB, 5/27 Marshall (Agassiz N.W.R.) PHS. | ||
| Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca) | 21 | 31 | Early south 3/23 Meeker (4) DMF, 3/25 McLeod DMF and Lac qui Parle (2) BJU (median 3/27). Early north 3/25 St. Louis JRN, 3/31 Clay (Felton Prairie) RHO (median 4/8). High count 4/21 Lac qui Parle (42) PCC. | ||
| Wilson's Phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor) | 16 | 26 | Statewide total of 621+ individuals (28 reports lacked location/count data). Early south 4/21 Lac qui Parle PCC, 4/22 Dakota ADS, 4/23 Le Sueur RMD (median 4/24). Early north 4/27 Marshall fide JMJ, 4/28 Polk PJR and Red Lake JMJ, 4/29 Clay RHO (median 5/2). Three reports from St. Louis: 5/7 (Morgan Park) MLH, 5/8 (Embarrass) ALE, NAJ, 5/18 (2 at Hearding Is., Duluth) TPW. Also unusual 5/18–20 Lake (Beaver Bay W.T.P.) JWL, MWS. High counts 5/6 Traverse (75) DFN, 5/7 Brown (83, Sleepy Eye W.T.P.) BTS, 5/19 Lac qui Parle (99, Salt Lake) BJU | ||
| Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus) | 5 | 7 | Statewide total of 35+ individuals (three reports lacked count data). Early south 5/12 Lac qui Parle (2, Salt Lake) JCC, 5/14 Lac qui Parle (7 in two locations) BJU, 5/14 Stearns (3, Albany W.T.P.) SLF. Early north 5/18 Marshall LEC, MHe, 5/19 Becker LEC, 5/20 Wilkin PHS. Late south (but see summer report) 5/28 Big Stone PHS, 5/31 Stearns RPR. Late north (also see summer report) 5/27 Cass BAW and St. Louis (40th Ave West, Duluth) JLR. | ||
| RED PHALAROPE (Phalaropus fulicarius) | 1 | One in alternate plumage 5/28 Big Stone (Graceville) ph. †PHS (The Loon 79:238–239). Third spring record and 15th record overall. | |||
| Jaegers | |||||
| Parasitic Jaeger (Stercorarius parasiticus) | One report 5/22 St. Louis (adult light morph at Park Point, Duluth) KRE et al. [Corrected] | ||||
| Gulls, Terns | |||||
| Bonaparte's Gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia) | 17 | 26 | Record early south 3/25 Hennepin (6) PEJ, then 3/26 Dakota, Jackson, Nobles. Early north 4/17 Otter Tail (2) DTT, 4/19 Cass DAY and Crow Wing (15) JSB. Late south 5/20 Mower JWH. Late north (but see summer report) 5/30 St. Louis (100 in Duluth) EEO. High counts 4/30 and 5/2 Crow Wing (400) JSB, 5/2 Dakota (165, Lake Byllesby) CMB. | ||
| LITTLE GULL (Hydrocoloeus minutus) | 1 | All reports: 5/23 St. Louis (adult at Park Point, Duluth) KRE, 5/27 St. Louis (first-cycle) TCL, ph. CLW, FKB. | |||
| Franklin's Gull (Leucophaeus pipixcan) | 7 | 27 | Early south 3/13 Olmsted LAV, JWH and Washington BRL. Early north 4/14 Clay RHO. No reports from North-central or Northeast. No significant high counts. | ||
| Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) | 32 | 50 | Early south 3/1 Sherburne NSc, 3/8 Dakota ADS, PEJ. Early north 3/13 Lake JWL, 3/20 Lake CRM and St. Louis m.ob. High counts 4/1 Douglas (800) RPR, 4/2 St. Louis (600) SLF. | ||
| Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) | 20 | 16 | Early south 3/8 Dakota ADS, PEJ, 3/10 Goodhue DAB. Early north (away from Northeast) 3/24 Clay RHO, 3/25 Pine JMP. High count 4/2 St. Louis (2,840 on Bailey's Lake in Virginia) SLF. | ||
| Iceland Gull (Larus glaucoides) | No reports. | ||||
| Iceland Gull (Thayer's) (Larus g. thayeri) | 1 | 1 | Only south report: 3/16 Dakota (3rd-cycle bird at Spring Lake P.R.) JPM. One north report: 5/20 Lake (2nd- or 3rd-cycle bird found by JCG at Agate Bay, Two Harbors) †JWL. | ||
| Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) | 1 | Only report: 3/16 Dakota (adult in alternate plumage at Spring Lake P.R.) JPM. | |||
| Glaucous Gull (Larus hyperboreus) | 1 | All reports: 4/1 St. Louis (adult) DDM, BJM fide JWL, 4/12–15 St. Louis (one adult on Bailey's Lake in Virginia, joined by at least two different first-cycle birds) DBF, SLF. | |||
| Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) | 1 | 2 | South reports: 3/24–25 Washington (Pt. Douglas) TPB, SJR, †DWK, 3/27 Dakota (Lake Byllesby) †CMB. New county record: 4/15 Cass (first-cycle at Kabakona Bay, Leech Lake) †DAY. [Corrected] | ||
| Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia) | 6 | 11 | Early south 4/22 Meeker (2) DMF, 4/30 Dakota JPM, JWH, BRL. Early north 5/1 Crow Wing (3) JSB, 5/2 Cass (2) DAY. High counts all at Purgatory Creek in Hennepin: 5/10 (172) WCM, 5/16 (155) PEB. Late south (but see summer report) 5/28 Hennepin RTH, 5/31 Hennepin JCC. | ||
| Black Tern (Chlidonias niger) | 16 | 38 | Early south 4/20 Olmsted LAV, 5/6 Chippewa LS (median 4/30). Early north 5/12 Douglas PJK and Otter Tail DTT, 5/15 Todd JJS (median 5/8). High count 5/20 Nicollet (40 at Nicollet W.T.P.) CMB. | ||
| Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) | 8 | 8 | Early south 5/2 Hennepin LMS, 5/8 Meeker DMF. Early north 5/5 Mille Lacs NSc, 5/7 St. Louis PHS. Unusual location 5/27 Lake (4 at Castle Danger on Lake Superior) JWL. High counts 5/9 St. Louis (390 at Park Point, Duluth) PHS, 5/25 Cass (800 at Pelican Island, Leech Lake) BAW. Late south 5/17 Dakota JWH, 5/21 Rice DAB, JWH. | ||
| ARCTIC TERN (Sterna paradisaea) | 1 | One adult 5/22–23 St. Louis (Park Point in Duluth) ph. †KRE; another or the same individual observed 5/29 †MLH. | |||
| Forster's Tern (Sterna forsteri) | 13 | 38 | Early south 4/14 Brown BTS, 4/17 Dakota CMB and Blue Earth ChH. Early north 4/28 Polk DPJ, PJR, 5/3 Otter Tail DTT. High count 5/20 Clay (18 at Felton Prairie) RHO. | ||
| Loons | |||||
| Red-throated Loon (Gavia stellata) | 1 | All reports: 5/15–26 St. Louis (max. 17, Park Point, Duluth) JCC, MH, KRE, m.ob. | |||
| Common Loon (Gavia immer) | 26 | 34 | Early south 3/22 Rice DAB, 3/25 Dakota PEJ (median 3/27). Early north 3/28 Kanabec CAM, 3/31 Douglas RBW (median 4/2). High count 4/23 Beltrami (75) MLM fide JMJ. | ||
| Cormorants | |||||
| Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum) | 26 | 46 | Early south 3/14 Dakota ADS and Ramsey BRL, 3/16 Rice TFB (median 3/18). Early north 3/23 Otter Tail SPM, 3/26 Grant and Traverse BJU (median 3/30). | ||
| NEOTROPIC CORMORANT (Nannopterum brasilianum) | 1 | Fourth state record 5/9–18 Hennepin (Diamond L., Richfield) †PEB, ph. TPB, †CMB, ph. †JPM, ph. †PHS, m.ob. (The Loon 79:237–238) | |||
| Pelicans | |||||
| American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) | 21 | 46 | Early south 3/16 Lac qui Parle BJU, 3/21 Dakota CMB, JPM (median 3/27). Early north 3/27 Cass (22, second earliest north) BAW, 3/31 Otter Tail RBW and Traverse JCC (median 4/8). High count 3/28 Lac qui Parle (940, Marsh Lake) BJU. Unusual location: 5/27 Lake (Castle Danger) JWL. | ||
| Bitterns, Herons, Egrets, Night-Herons | |||||
| Least Bittern (Botaurus exilis) | 1 | 7 | All south reports: 5/23 Yellow Medicine (St. Leo W.M.A.) BJU, 5/24 Scott HHD, RBW, 5/27 Carver (Chaska L.) JCy, Faribault HHD, Meeker (Minnesota L.) DMF, and Pipestone JWH, RMD, 5/29 Lac qui Parle (Caerulean W.M.A.) BJU, 5/31 Lac qui Parle (2, Arena Twp.) BJU. Only north report: 5/21 Kanabec (Eagle Rd., between 130th and 150th Ave.) DPG. [Corrected] | ||
| American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus) | 12 | 19 | Early south 4/10 Big Stone BJU, 4/13 Rice TFB (median 4/19). Early north 4/18 Marshall fide JMJ, 4/25 St. Louis fide JWL (median 4/18). | ||
| LITTLE BLUE HERON (Egretta caerulea) | 1 | Only report (seven last spring): 5/23 Rice (no details) TFB. | |||
| Snowy Egret (Egretta thula) | 2 | 5 | All south reports: 3/25–26 (record early) Dakota (L. Byllesby) †CMB, m.ob., 4/20, 5/20 Lac qui Parle (near Louisburg) BJU, 4/29 Lac qui Parle (Big Stone N.W.R. at Hwy 75 dam) WCM, 4/29 Big Stone (2, Horseshoe L.) PCC, HJF, 4/29–30 Dakota (L. Byllesby) JLO, m.ob., 5/5 Meeker (Stella L.) DMF, 5/25–29 Carver (Chaska L.) ph. RMD, m.ob., 5/31 Lac qui Parle (Big Stone N.W.R.) BJU. All north reports: 5/6 Traverse (Arthur Twp.) DFN, PEJ, 5/27 St. Louis (40th Ave. W.) MSS, JLR. | ||
| Yellow-crowned Night Heron (Nyctanassa violacea) | No reports. | ||||
| Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) | 4 | 12 | Early south 3/27 Hennepin ALD, 4/1 Meeker DMF (median 3/29). All north reports: 4/23+ Marshall (max. 6, Agassiz N.W.R.) m.ob., 4/26 Otter Tail (8) DTT, 5/19 Becker LEC and St. Louis (Stoney Point) fide JWL. | ||
| Green Heron (Butorides virescens) | 16 | 39 | Early south 4/21 (median) Meeker DMF, 4/22 Anoka RNe. Early north 5/5 Kanabec CAM, 5/6 in five counties (median 5/3). | ||
| Great Egret (Ardea alba) | 10 | 42 | Early south 3/18 Ramsey DGo, 3/23 (median) Dakota JLO and Hennepin OLJ, SWe. Early north 3/26 Douglas BWF, 3/31 Otter Tail SPM (median 4/1). Unusual northeast report 5/25 St. Louis (Duluth) JLO. | ||
| Western Cattle-Egret (Ardea ibis) | 3 | 10 | Statewide total of 28 birds (76 last spring). Early south 4/26 Meeker (3) DMF (median 4/20). First county record 5/30 Sherburne (3, Sherburne N.W.R.) PEJ. Additional south reports from Big Stone (1), Hennepin (1), Lac qui Parle (8 in four locations), Rock (1), Scott, Stearns, Steele (2), Swift (1). All north reports: 5/10 Marshall (Agassiz N.W.R.) GT, 5/14 Mille Lacs (CR 12 near US 169, no details) ASc, 5/18 Grant (4 near Pelican L.) PLJ. | ||
| Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) | 29 | 52 | Early south (away from overwintering areas) 3/9 Rice FVS, TFB, 3/10 Scott DFN, PEJ (median 3/8). Early north 3/22 Hubbard MAW and Mille Lacs ASc (median 3/20). | ||
| Ibises | |||||
| GLOSSY IBIS (Plegadis falcinellus) | 1 | Third state record 4/29–5/1 Lac qui Parle (two miles southwest of Madison) †WCM, v.t. PN, PME; also documented ph. DAC, ph. †KRE, ph. †JPM, †BJU. | |||
| White-faced Ibis (Plegadis chihi) | 1 | Flock of 20 adults with Glossy Ibis and two Plegadis ibis sp. 4/29–5/1 Lac qui Parle (two miles southwest of Madison) †JPE, ph. DAC, ph. †KRE, v.t. PN, †BJU, m.ob. | |||
| Plegadis ibis (Plegadis sp.) | 2 | Two subadults with flock in Lac qui Parle (see above). One Plegadis ibis 5/27 Sherburne (Sherburne N.W.R.) ph. †PLJ. | |||
| New World Vultures | |||||
| BLACK VULTURE (Coragyps atratus) | 1 | Fourth state record (and first away from North Shore of L. Superior) 3/24–25 Washington (Afton) BRL, ph. †AXH, ph. †DWK, †WCM, v.t. PN, m.ob. | |||
| Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) | 29 | 52 | Early south 3/12 Lac qui Parle BJU and Rice TFB, 3/14 Blue Earth ChH (median 3/9). Early north 3/23 St. Louis DSC, 3/24 Cass BAW (median 3/30). | ||
| Osprey | |||||
| Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) | 16 | 26 | Early south 3/14 Hennepin JCC, 3/25 Chippewa BJU (median 3/27). Early north 3/31 Todd JSK, 4/1 Pine JMP (median 4/3). | ||
| Kites, Accipiters, Hawks, Eagles | |||||
| SWALLOW-TAILED KITE (Elanoides forficatus) | 1 | One seen briefly 5/4 Anoka (Fridley, northeast of Moore L.) †AXH, AMH. | |||
| Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) | 5 | 6 | Early north 3/15 Lake (adult) JWL, 3/23 St. Louis LAV, 3/24 Cass HHD. Late south 3/23 Meeker DMF, 3/25 Hennepin PEJ (median 4/17). Late north 4/27 Itasca BLu, 5/1 Clay MEB (median 4/16). Additional south reports from Lac qui Parle (2), Lincoln, Dakota (2), Winona. | ||
| Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius) | 32 | 48 | Possible early north migrants 3/10 Grant HHD, 3/12 Traverse RBW (median 3/8), but see winter report. High count 3/25 Polk (10) JMJ. | ||
| Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus) | 22 | 36 | Early north 3/3 St. Louis SLF, 3/18 Aitkin JCC, but see winter report. Peak count 4/14 St. Louis (95, W.S.H.C., Duluth) DSC. Apparent migrants last reported south 5/19 Meeker JJS and Steele NFT, 5/31 Anoka DPG and Hennepin SWe (no details for either sighting; our understanding of this species' status in southern Minnesota is compromised by potential confusion with other species). | ||
| Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) | 19 | 37 | Early north 3/12 St. Louis JRN, 3/23 Clay RHO (median 3/19). | ||
| American Goshawk (Accipiter atricapillus) | 4 | 5 | North reports from Aitkin, Cass, Pine, St. Louis. Late south 4/21 Lac qui Parle and Swift BJU (median 4/19). | ||
| Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) | 30 | 51 | High counts 3/24 St. Louis (353, W.S.H.C., Duluth) DSC, 3/18 Dakota (300 near Prescott) JPM. | ||
| Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) | 11 | 26 | High count 3/12 Dakota (12, migrating near Prescott) JPM. Early north 3/16 Todd JSK, 3/17 Otter Tail SPM (median 3/14). All other north reports: Aitkin, Cass, Crow Wing, Douglas, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, Morrison, St. Louis (1, W.S.H.C., Duluth) DSC. | ||
| Broad-winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus) | 22 | 37 | Early south 4/6 Benton, 4/8 Sherburne PLJ (median 4/7). Early north 4/4 Crow Wing MRN, 4/14 St. Louis DSC (median 4/10). High count 4/23 St. Louis (203, W.S.H.C., Duluth) DSC. | ||
| Swainson's Hawk (Buteo swainsoni) | 6 | 20 | Early south 3/29 Lac qui Parle BJU, 4/14 Meeker DMF (median 4/4). Several east reports from Dakota, Dodge, Goodhue, Mower, Olmsted, Steele. All north reports: 5/6 Traverse DFN, PEJ, 5/9 Polk RPR, 5/23 Lake of the Woods and Roseau DAC, RBJ, 5/25 Clay WCM, 5/26 Kanabec DPG. | ||
| Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) | 30 | 52 | Peak count 3/24 St. Louis (703, W.S.H.C., Duluth) DSC. | ||
| Rough-legged Hawk (Buteo lagopus) | 20 | 19 | Late south 4/12 Sherburne RBW, 4/18 Lac qui Parle BJU (median 5/10). Late north 4/15 Polk JMJ, 4/26 St. Louis JCG (median 5/24). Peak counts 3/22 Marshall (50) GT, 3/24 St. Louis (55, W.S.H.C., Duluth) DSC. | ||
| FERRUGINOUS HAWK (Buteo regalis) | No confirmed reports. | ||||
| Screech-Owls, Owls | |||||
| Eastern Screech-Owl (Megascops asio) | 1 | 11 | South reports from Brown, Carver, Fillmore, Hennepin, Houston, Lac qui Parle, Murray, Nobles, Rice, Scott, Waseca. One bird found dead 3/27 Lac qui Parle FAE. Only north report: 5/12 Hubbard (East Gulch F.R.) PBB. High counts 5/22 Hennepin (5 young near Lake Harriet) AXH, 5/30 Rice (4) TFB. | ||
| Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) | 21 | 28 | Statewide. | ||
| Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) | 2 | 2 | All south reports: 3/5–9 Hennepin (MSP Airport) DWK, JLO, 3/12 Meeker DMF. All north reports: 3/8 Hubbard MAW, 4/4 and 5/1 Kittson LW fide JMJ. | ||
| Northern Hawk Owl (Surnia ulula) | 3 | Overwintered through 4/1 St. Louis (Rice Lake Road, Duluth) fide JWL. All other reports: 3/6 Lake of the Woods KVH fide JMJ, 5/3 Lake SVK fide JWL. | |||
| Barred Owl (Strix varia) | 18 | 29 | Observed in all regions, but no farther southwest than Brown and Yellow Medicine. High counts 4/17 St. Louis (6) SLF, 5/12 Koochiching (4) AXH and Steele (4) NFT. | ||
| Great Gray Owl (Strix nebulosa) | 4 | Reported from Aitkin, Lake, Lake of the Woods, St. Louis. | |||
| Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) | 5 | 2 | All south reports: 3/22 Stearns DMF, 3/25 Hennepin AXH. North reports: 3/24 Lake AXH, PHS and Mahnomen BWF, 3/26 St. Louis MLH, 3/30 Roseau BJS fide JMJ, 4/9 Cook fide JWL. | ||
| Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) | 7 | 9 | Approximate total of 109 individuals statewide, following an excellent winter showing. South reports from Carver, Chippewa, Dakota, Hennepin, Lac qui Parle, Rice, Swift, Winona, Yellow Medicine. Only Northeast report: 4/8 St. Louis (Duluth) TPW. High counts 3/9 Wilkin (35, Rothsay W.M.A.) JPE, 3/10 Polk (27, near Melo Church) JMJ. | ||
| Boreal Owl (Aegolius funereus) | 1 | One singing 3/24 Lake AXH, PHS. | |||
| Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus) | 12 | 2 | All south reports: 3/12–21 Rice TFB, 3/11–24 Houston KAK. North reports from Aitkin, Clearwater, Itasca, Kanabec, Koochiching, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, Otter Tail, Pine, Roseau, St. Louis. First north report 3/17 Lake (2 calling northeast of Finland) JWL, followed by 3/23 St. Louis TPW, 3/24 in four counties. Highest reported count 3/24 Lake (6) AXH, PHS. | ||
| Kingfishers | |||||
| Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) | 26 | 49 | Overwintered north through 3/8 St. Louis (Virginia) SLF fide JWL. Spring migrants north 3/23 Isanti RBJ, DAC, 3/25 Wadena PJB and Pine EMH. No significant high counts. | ||
| Woodpeckers | |||||
| Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) | 12 | 22 | Observed in all regions. Overwintered south; early north 3/25 Wadena PJB, then not reported again until 5/9 Cass BAW. Unusual location 5/22–31 St. Louis (max. 3 at Park Point, Duluth) KRE, m.ob. All counts ?4 birds. | ||
| Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) | 20 | 51 | Observed in all regions as far north as Pennington and Polk in the Northwest, Beltrami and Cass in the North-central, and St. Louis and Lake in the Northeast. | ||
| Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) | 27 | 47 | Early south 3/22 Rice DAT, 3/24 Meeker DMF. Early north 4/14 Mille Lacs NSc, ASc and Otter Tail DTT, 4/16 Aitkin KCR and St. Louis (3) SLF. High count 5/12 Koochiching (12) AXH. | ||
| American Three-toed Woodpecker (Picoides dorsalis) | 3 | All reports: 3/8 Pine JMP, 3/17 Aitkin WEN and Cook CJT fide JWL, 4/15 Cook EEO. | |||
| Black-backed Woodpecker (Picoides arcticus) | 7 | Reported from Aitkin, Cass, Cook, Koochiching, Lake of the Woods, Pine, St. Louis. | |||
| Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) | 31 | 51 | Statewide. | ||
| Hairy Woodpecker (Dryobates villosus) | 25 | 49 | Statewide. | ||
| Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) | 32 | 52 | Observed statewide. Overwintered in Pennington JMJ; probable early north migrant 3/24 St. Louis MLH (median 3/26). High counts 3/30 Mower (15) NFT, 4/12 Hennepin (17) SCa. | ||
| Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) | 29 | 43 | Observed in all regions as far southwest as Lyon and Murray. | ||
| Caracaras, Falcons | |||||
| American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) | 33 | 52 | Early north (but note late February reports from Becker and Todd) 3/7 Todd JSK, 3/10 Traverse HHD and Wilkin PBB. High counts 4/8 Rice (6) DAB, 4/17 Blue Earth (6) ChH. | ||
| Merlin (Falco columbarius) | 22 | 15 | Record early north (away from the North Shore) 3/4 Kittson LW, 3/9 Mille Lacs NSc, 3/14 St. Louis (Virginia) SLF. Late south (away from the Twin Cities) 5/7 Lac qui Parle BJU, 5/15 Chippewa BJU. | ||
| GYRFALCON (Falco rusticolus) | 1 | Adult gray morph overwintering in Dakota last reported 3/23 (Nininger Twp.) m.ob. | |||
| Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) | 7 | 19 | All north reports away from North Shore: 4/2 Crow Wing (Brainerd) MRN, 4/23 Cass (10 miles south of Longville) BAW, 4/25, 5/19 Marshall (Agassiz N.W.R.) GT, 5/9 Otter Tail SPM, 5/15 Cass (Walker W.T.P.) BAW. Late south (away from known nesting locations) 5/16 Big Stone BJU and Lac qui Parle SLF, BJU, 5/19 Lac qui Parle and Yellow Medicine BJU. | ||
| Prairie Falcon (Falco mexicanus) | 1 | Documented 3/25 Meeker (Harvey Twp., black “arm-pits” visible) DMF. Two additional reports lacked details. | |||
| Flycatchers | |||||
| Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus) | 19 | 50 | Early south 5/2 Goodhue FKB and Mower JEB, 5/3 Anoka REH and Meeker DMF, 5/4 Olmsted and Scott (median 5/1). Early north 5/5 Mille Lacs ASc, 5/7 Clay RHO, 5/8 Pine JMP, 5/9 Cass and St. Louis (median 5/8). High counts 5/9 Scott (8) BAF, 5/12 Steele (8) NFT. | ||
| Western Kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis) | 6 | 12 | Early south 5/8 Lincoln HHD, JEB, JJS, 5/9 Yellow Medicine JEB, JJS (median 5/7). Early north 5/9 Polk EEF, 5/12 Clay (5) RHO (median 5/11). Of interest were several reports from the eastern third of the state: 5/20 Goodhue LS, 5/25 Hennepin LMS and St. Louis DWK, JLO, SCZ, 5/26 Kanabec DPG. | ||
| Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) | 24 | 49 | Early south 4/26 Houston FZL, 5/2 Dakota JPM and Goodhue FKB (median 4/27). Early north 5/3 Cass BAW, 5/6 Wadena PJB, 5/7 St. Louis JWL (median 5/6). High count 5/12 Clay (8) RHO. | ||
| SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER (Tyrannus forficatus) | 1 | 1 | One found 4/23 Olmsted (near Oronoco) LAV stayed through 4/26 (†CMB, †LEC, ph. †JPM, m.ob.). Another was discovered at Minnesota Point in St. Louis, 5/23–25 ph. SCZ. | ||
| Olive-sided Flycatcher (Contopus cooperi) | 10 | 31 | Early south 5/7 Anoka RBJ and Rice TFB, 5/8 Carver JCy, Meeker DMF and Washington DFN (median 5/8). Early north 5/11 Mille Lacs DAC, RBJ, 5/12 Morrison REH, St. Louis TPW, and Todd JSK (median 5/15). See summer report for late south dates. | ||
| Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens) | 17 | 42 | Early south 5/8 Meeker DMF, 5/9 Blue Earth ChH, Dakota CMB, Rice TFB, and Scott BAF (median 5/5). Early north 5/8 Clay PBB, 5/12 Mille Lacs NSc, Morrison REH, Pine CAB, and Todd JSK (median 5/12). | ||
| Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (Empidonax flaviventris) | 9 | 9 | Early south 5/11 Scott BAF, 5/15 Scott (3) BAF. Only north reports: 5/26 Cook DFN, 5/28 Lake JWL, 5/31 St. Louis (6 at Park Point, Duluth) PHS. Vocalizing birds also reported from Meeker (DMF), Ramsey (AXH), and Olmsted (JWH); see summer report for late south migrants. Note: During spring and fall migration, undocumented records of silent Empidonax flycatchers are not published. Please be sure to include details or indicate that birds were vocalizing in the “Details” section of the online seasonal report. | ||
| Acadian Flycatcher (Empidonax virescens) | 3 | Early south 5/13 Rice DAB, 5/25 Scott CMB. High count 5/26 Rice (4) DAB. Also see summer report. | |||
| Alder Flycatcher (Empidonax alnorum) | 11 | 18 | Early south 5/20 Meeker DMF. Only north reports: 5/23 Clay RHO, 5/26 Cass MRN, 5/31 St. Louis (5 at Park Point, Duluth) PHS. High count 5/27 Scott (8 at Murphy-Hanrehan P.R.) BAF. Details also provided by DAB, JWH, JSS, HCT, JCC, PEB. Many of the north reports not published here were probably accurate reports of birds on territory, but no details were submitted. Please see summer report for late south dates. | ||
| Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii) | 3 | 20 | Early south 5/20 Meeker DMF, 5/21 Rice DAB. High count 5/28 Hennepin (12 in four different locations in northern part of county) PEB. Details also provided by HCT, DWK, JCC, BAF. | ||
| Least Flycatcher (Empidonax minimus) | 26 | 50 | Early south 5/1 Meeker DMF, 5/5 Waseca DAB. Early north 5/9 Polk EEF, 5/12 Morrison JeM, 5/15 Lake of the Woods MHK. Details also provided by DFN, SLF, JSS, LBF, NBO, PEB, JCC, PHS. | ||
| Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) | 32 | 50 | Early south 3/13 Winona JJS, 3/19 Houston FZL, 3/22 Brown JEB, 3/23 in 3 additional counties (median 3/22). Early north 3/23 Kanabec DAC, RBJ, 3/24 Grant SPM, 3/25 Pine EMH and Todd JSK all preceded recent median (3/29). | ||
| Vireos | |||||
| White-eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus) | 1 | One seen and heard at the Bass Ponds 5/7–8 Hennepin JEP, †CMB, ph. DAC. | |||
| Bell's Vireo (Vireo bellii) | 4 | All reports: 5/12 Scott (Murphy-Hanrehan P.R.) DDo, LEC, 5/13 Wabasha (McCarthy Lake W.M.A.) JWH, 5/17 Dakota (location?) PRH, 5/20 Le Sueur (Kasota Prairie) CMB, CRM, RBJ, 5/28 Dakota (2 at Cliff Fen S.N.A.) CMB, JCC, LS, PEB, RBW (median 5/15). | |||
| Yellow-throated Vireo (Vireo flavifrons) | 19 | 46 | Early south 5/1 Goodhue OWB, 5/4 Rice DAB, 5/5 Hennepin, Le Sueur, and Waseca (median 5/2). Early north 5/5 Mille Lacs ASc, 5/8 Carlton LAW and Cass BAW (median 5/9). Record high count 5/9 Scott/Dakota (14 at Murphy-Hanrehan P.R., mostly in Scott) BAF. First county record 5/17 Nobles †BTS. | ||
| Blue-headed Vireo (Vireo solitarius) | 14 | 33 | Early south 4/25 Olmsted JWH, 4/28 Meeker DMF, 4/29 Rice TFB (median 4/28). Early north 5/1 Mille Lacs ASc, 5/5 Clay RHO, 5/7 Cass (2) BAW (median 5/5). High count 5/9 Scott (5) BAF. Late south 5/20 Pope, Rice, and Stevens, then only 5/28 Hennepin RTH (median 5/30). | ||
| Philadelphia Vireo (Vireo philadelphicus) | 8 | 19 | Early south 5/9 Meeker DMF, 5/11 Olmsted JJS, JWH (median 5/7). Early north 5/12 Clay RHO, Hubbard (2) PBB, and Morrison FKB, REH all preceded recent median (5/14). Late south 5/27 Dakota JLO and Pipestone CRM (median 5/30). | ||
| Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus) | 22 | 49 | Early south 4/24 (ties earliest date, no details) Chisago REH, 4/30 Rice TFB (median 5/1). Early north 5/2 Hubbard MAW, 5/3 Traverse RBW, 5/4 Otter Tail DTT also preceded recent median (5/8). | ||
| Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus) | 24 | 49 | Early south 5/5 Sherburne NSc, 5/6 Lac qui Parle FAE and Meeker DMF, 5/7 Brown and Carver (median 5/6). Early north 5/8 Todd JSK, 5/9 Polk RPR, 5/10 Aitkin KCR (median 5/10). High count 5/31 St. Louis (74 at Park Point, Duluth) PHS. | ||
| Shrikes | |||||
| Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus) | 2 | 11 | South reports from Dakota (4 locations), Dodge, Faribault, Fillmore (2 locations), Lac qui Parle (2 locations), Le Sueur, Meeker (3 locations), Rice, Sherburne, Stearns, and Watonwan, representing at least 22 individuals. Early south 3/25 Dakota (2) †PEB, 3/26 Faribault WAF (median 3/19). All north reports 4/1–6 Aitkin (2) WEN, ASc, NSc, 5/13+ Clay JCC, MHe, RHO (median 4/13). An early report from Hennepin lacked convincing details. | ||
| Northern Shrike (Lanius borealis) | 18 | 18 | Late south 3/29 Hennepin JCC, 3/31 Rice TFB, 4/21 Hennepin †PEB (median 4/4). Late north 4/14 Polk SAS and Todd JSK, 4/15 Itasca TPW, 4/20 Polk NGE fide JMJ (median 4/19). | ||
| Jays, Nutcrackers, Magpies, Crows | |||||
| Canada Jay (Perisoreus canadensis) | 11 | Reported from traditional range in the Northeast and North-central, plus Kittson (high count of 11 birds 3/17, LW fide JMJ), Pennington, and Red Lake in the Northwest. | |||
| Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) | 30 | 53 | Found throughout the season. | ||
| Black-billed Magpie (Pica hudsonia) | 12 | Found throughout the Northwest and traditional locations in Aitkin and St. Louis. North-central reports from Cass (5/19, BAW) and Koochiching (5/12, AXH). | |||
| American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) | 33 | 53 | Reported statewide. | ||
| Common Raven (Corvus corax) | 23 | 4 | Wider distribution than usual, including south reports 3/31–5/22 Sherburne m.ob., 4/22 Isanti RBW, 5/7 Anoka (Boot Lake S.N.A.) RBJ, 5/28 Anoka (2 at Bunker Hills) AXH. Also found along the western border in Kittson, Marshall, Norman, and Clay. | ||
| Chickadees, Titmice | |||||
| Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) | 33 | 52 | Reported throughout the season from all regions. High count 3/11 St. Louis (30) NFT. | ||
| Boreal Chickadee (Poecile hudsonicus) | 7 | Reported from Aitkin, Carlton, Cass, Cook, Lake, and St. Louis prior to mid-April, and then only 5/25 Lake of the Woods MHK. | |||
| Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) | 6 | Most frequently reported from Fillmore, but also found in Goodhue, Houston, Olmsted, Washington, Winona. | |||
| Larks | |||||
| Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris) | 24 | 52 | High counts 3/4 Sibley (350) JCC, 3/5 Fillmore (200) NBO, 3/6 and 3/10 Steele (200) NFT. | ||
| Martins, Swallows | |||||
| Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia) | 14 | 46 | Early south 4/19 Meeker DMF, Olmsted JWH, and Watonwan CRM (median 4/17). Early north 4/27 Clay (5) RHO and Marshall fide JMJ, 4/29 Lake JCG (median 4/30). High count 5/12 Clay (104) RHO. | ||
| Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) | 32 | 52 | Early south 3/14 Wabasha (50) JWH, 3/22 Hennepin (15) PEJ, OLJ and Washington (2) BRL (median 3/20). Early north 3/24 Cass (7) BAW, Grant SPM, and Mille Lacs RBJ, 3/25 Otter Tail AJD (median 4/3). High count 4/30 Polk (400) EEF. [Corrected] | ||
| Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis) | 15 | 51 | Early south 4/14 Anoka (8) CMa (median 4/11); peak migration 4/20–23 in ten counties. Early north 4/22 St. Louis DBF, SLF, 4/24 Douglas DAC, RBJ and Mille Lacs ASc (median 4/20); peak migration 5/4–9 in six counties. | ||
| Purple Martin (Progne subis) | 17 | 38 | Arrivals one to two weeks later than usual. Early south 4/17 Meeker DMF and Olmsted LAV, 4/18 Rice TFB (median 4/5). Early north 4/18 Otter Tail DTT, 4/21 Aitkin and Mille Lacs PEJ (median 4/11). High counts 5/12 Steele (45) NFT, 5/14 Becker (20) JCC. | ||
| Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) | 28 | 53 | Early south 4/15 Anoka REH, 4/17 Meeker DMF, 4/18 in four counties (median 4/11). Early north 4/18 Mille Lacs NSc and Wadena PJB, 4/21 Aitkin, Clay, St. Louis (median 4/19). High count 5/15 Dakota (100) DKo. | ||
| Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) | 23 | 49 | Early south 4/22 Le Sueur RMD, Meeker DMF, and Nicollet RMD (median 4/17). Early north 4/28 Grant DPG, 5/2 Cass (13) BAW (median 4/25). | ||
| Kinglets | |||||
| Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula) | 26 | 45 | Early south 3/25 Meeker DMF, 3/27 Carver JCy and Dakota JPM (median 3/27). Early north 3/26 Hubbard MAW, 4/2 Mille Lacs ASc, 4/14 Pine JMP (median 4/6). High counts 4/22 St. Louis (40) SCZ fide JWL, 4/22 and 4/28 Scott (39) BAF. Late south 5/19 Scott BAF, 5/20 Hennepin DWK, PEB (median 5/24). | ||
| Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa) | 13 | 32 | Early south 3/24 Meeker DMF, 3/26 Big Stone and Dakota (median 3/26). Early north 3/17 Aitkin DWK, 3/24 Hubbard HHD, 3/28 Carlton LAW (median 3/25). High count 4/6 Rice (32) DAB. Late south 5/8 Le Sueur RMD (median 5/6). Also found 5/19+ Sherburne REH (see summer report). | ||
| Waxwings | |||||
| Bohemian Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus) | 5 | Departed Northwest and North-central regions by late March; last reported 4/14–17 St Louis (median 4/16). High count 4/10 St. Louis (255) JRN. | |||
| Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) | 23 | 46 | Reported from all regions other than Northeast throughout the period. First Northeast reports 5/13 Carlton LAW, 5/20 Lake JWL. High count 3/1 Houston (200) FZL. | ||
| Nuthatches | |||||
| Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) | 22 | 28 | High count 5/12 Koochiching (50) AXH. Late south (but see summer report for June observations in Central and East-central regions) 5/28 Dakota RLW (median 5/23). Attempted nesting in Cedar Creek Natural History Area, 5/23–6/3 Anoka JLH. | ||
| White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) | 25 | 52 | Statewide. High count 3/21 Hennepin (12) SCa. | ||
| Creepers | |||||
| Brown Creeper (Certhia americana) | 14 | 32 | Late south 5/2 Mower, Sherburne, and Washington, 5/9 Yellow Medicine JEB, JJS (median 5/23). | ||
| Gnatcatchers | |||||
| Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea) | 4 | 43 | Early south 4/21 Hennepin CMB, 4/22 Rice FVS, Scott (3) JBB, BAF, and Winona (2) JWH (median 4/21). All north reports: 5/5 Mille Lacs ASc, 5/6 Cass MRN, 5/10 Cass (3) BAW, 5/11 Mille Lacs DAC, RBJ (median 5/7). High counts 4/29 Scott (13 at Louisville Swamp) BAF, 5/9 Scott/Dakota (24 at Murphy-Hanrehan P.R., mostly in Scott) BAF. | ||
| Wrens | |||||
| Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) | 1 | 4 | South reports included a pair found throughout the season in Hennepin (Golden Valley) ALD, m.ob. Overwintering bird seen again 3/18 and 4/24 Hennepin (Old Cedar Ave.) DWK, PEB; possibly the same bird was found across the Minnesota River 4/28 Dakota TAN. Another overwintering pair lingered 3/4–5/1 Olmsted (Rochester), where a nest with 6 eggs was found by OWB. One was seen sporadically between 3/8 and 5/30 in Ramsey (Mounds View) ph. AXH, and one was heard singing 5/7 Ramsey (St. Paul) JPS. Only north report: 4/14 Mille Lacs (Kunkel W.M.A., no details) ASc, NSc. | ||
| Northern House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) | 23 | 53 | Early south 4/19 Fillmore NBO, 4/20 Hennepin JLS, 4/21 Dakota (2) MPi, Lac qui Parle FAE, Ramsey JLS (median 4/17). Early north 4/23 Mille Lacs HHD, 4/28 St. Louis DAG, 5/1 Mille Lacs ASc (median 5/1). High count 5/12 Clay (37) RHO. | ||
| Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis) | 9 | 20 | Early south 3/28 Olmsted (3) JWH, 4/1 Hennepin DWK, HCT, MPi and Rice TFB (median 3/27). Early north 4/14 Mille Lacs ASc, NSc, 4/16 St. Louis SLF, 4/20 Lake DAG (median 4/6). Late south (but see summer report) 5/9 Sherburne PLJ, RBJ, 5/13 Dakota RPR (median 5/12). | ||
| Sedge Wren (Cistothorus stellaris) | 17 | 43 | Early south 4/24 Rice TFB, 4/25 Meeker DMF (median 4/27). Early north 4/28 Todd BWF, 5/2 Cass DAY, 5/4 Morrison DTM (median 5/4). High counts 5/12 Steele (13) NFT, 5/27 Scott (11) BAF, 5/29 St. Louis (10) TPW. | ||
| Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris) | 11 | 45 | Early south 4/23 Meeker DMF, Rice TFB, and Wright REH, 4/27–30 in five counties (median 4/25). Early north 4/28 Hubbard MAW, 5/7 Todd JSK, 5/8 Marshall GT fide JMJ (median 5/5). | ||
| Thrashers, Mockingbirds | |||||
| Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) | 20 | 48 | Early south 4/14 Anoka CMa, 4/29 Lac qui Parle SWe, 5/2 Meeker DMF (median 4/27). Early north 5/2 Todd JSK, 5/5 Mille Lacs ASc, 5/6 Clay RHO (median 5/7). High count 5/12 Steele (11) NFT. | ||
| Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum) | 25 | 48 | Well-represented in all regions. Early south 3/25 Washington †AXH, 3/31 Hennepin BAF well ahead of median (4/13). Early north 4/20 Pine JMP, 4/21 Mille Lacs ASc, 4/22 Kanabec CAM (median 4/24). | ||
| Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) | 7 | 5 | Early south 4/23 Scott/Dakota (Murphy Hanrehan P.R.) JJE; May reports from Dakota (2), Hennepin (2), Ramsey, Scott, Wright. All north reports: 5/5 Todd JSK, 5/6 Polk PHS, 5/11 St. Louis (Ely) BET, 5/13–14 Kanabec †CAM, NSc, 5/18 Lake (Encampment Forest) JWL, 5/20 Lake (Isaacson Rd) JWL, 5/22 Aitkin (Rice Lake N.W.R.) MMc, 5/23 Marshall (Agassiz N.W.R.) JMJ, 5/25 St. Louis (40th Ave. West, Duluth) JLK, 5/27 Lake (Castle Danger) ph. JWL. | ||
| Starlings | |||||
| European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) | 32 | 53 | Reported statewide. High count 3/16 Dakota (400) FKB. | ||
| Thrushes | |||||
| Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) | 26 | 51 | South reports throughout the season. Early north 3/14 Mille Lacs NSc and Todd JSK, 3/17 Otter Tail SPM (median 3/16). Highest spring count 3/24 Cass (22) BAW. | ||
| MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD (Sialia currucoides) | 2 | Two reports, both from Northwest: 3/23 Pennington (River Falls Twp.) SAS, 4/28 Clay (adult male) PBB. | |||
| Townsend's Solitaire (Myadestes townsendi) | 1 | 2 | All south reports: 3/30 Washington (Carpenter N.C.) fide AXH, 4/7 Sherburne (Ann Lake campground, present since at least 1/22) PLJ. In the north, only reported from St. Louis (two Duluth locations): 3/7 (West 16th Street) fide JWL, 4/11–14 St. Louis (Park Point, Duluth) m.ob. | ||
| Veery (Catharus fuscescens) | 20 | 27 | Early south 4/28 Benton ADB, REH, 4/30 Meeker DMF, 5/5 Big Stone HHD, LS (median 5/1). New county record: 5/17 Nobles (Lake Bella C.P.) DAB, †BTS. Early north 5/7 Carlton LAW and St. Louis JRN, 5/8 Cass BAW. High count 5/29 St. Louis (20) TPW. | ||
| Gray-cheeked Thrush (Catharus minimus) | 5 | 37 | Arrived in five south counties 5/5: Big Stone HHD, LS, Faribault WAF, Lac qui Parle HHD, Swift LS, Waseca DAB (median 5/3). Early north 5/6 Clay PBB, RHO, 5/7 Todd JSK (median 5/8). High count 5/8 Hennepin (5) SCa. Late south 5/19 Scott DFN, 5/26 Hennepin DDo (median 5/27). Late north 5/15 Todd JJS, 5/19 Pine JCy (median 5/28). | ||
| Swainson's Thrush (Catharus ustulatus) | 20 | 43 | Early south 4/21 Nicollet RMD, 4/22 Steele KRV, 4/26 Dakota JPM (median 4/27). Early north 5/5 Clay RHO, Mille Lacs ASc, and Otter Tail SPM (median 5/2). High count 5/6 Clay (23, Moorhead) RHO. Late south 5/31 Dakota ADS, also see summer report. | ||
| Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) | 23 | 37 | Early south 3/6 (probably overwintered) Hennepin OLJ, 3/26 Waseca (4) JPS, 3/27 Meeker DMF (median 3/29). Early north 4/6 Todd JSK, 4/14 Aitkin WEN and Mille Lacs ASc, NSc (median 4/10). High count 4/11 Meeker (30) DMF. Late south 5/11 Scott BAF, 5/12 Hennepin DWK, 5/25 Anoka EEO (median 5/15). | ||
| Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina) | 11 | 29 | Early south 5/5 Faribault WAF, Rice TFB, and Yellow Medicine LS, 5/6 Brown BTS (median 5/1). Early north 5/5 Otter Tail SPM, 5/7 Todd JSK, 5/10 Carlton LAW and Morrison DTM (median 5/9). High count 5/9 Scott (6) BAF. | ||
| American Robin (Turdus migratorius) | 33 | 53 | Reported from all north regions by 3/13 (see winter report). High counts 4/6 Rice (750) DAB, 4/7 Nicollet (400) ChH. | ||
| Varied Thrush (Ixoreus naevius) | 6 | 2 | Two south reports: 3/29 Scott (Cleary Lake) fide AXH, 4/7 Isanti (Cambridge) ph. JiG. Birds from winter season last seen 3/3 Aitkin fide WEN, 3/9 Lake fide JWL, 4/9 Clearwater fide JMJ. Additional north reports 3/3 Cass (near Hackensack) fide AXH, 3/13 Hubbard fide AXH, 4/4–5 St. Louis BCM, 4/5 Aitkin (two locations) fide WEN. | ||
| Old World Sparrows | |||||
| House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) | Seen statewide. | ||||
| Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) | 1 | Seventh state record 4/15 St. Louis (Virginia) ph. AAB. | |||
| Pipits | |||||
| American Pipit (Anthus rubescens) | 10 | 20 | Early south 4/14 Le Sueur JEB, 4/20 Watonwan CRM, 4/21 Meeker DMF (median 4/11). Early north 4/14 Polk and Red Lake SAS, 4/15 Polk JMJ (median 4/28). High count 5/14 Dakota (50) JPM. Late south 5/20 Dakota BAF, LS and Stearns SLF (median 5/16). Late north 5/20 Lake JWL, 5/22 Cass BAW (median 5/22). | ||
| Finches | |||||
| Evening Grosbeak (Coccothraustes vespertinus) | 8 | Single digits reported from Aitkin, Beltrami, Cass, Cook, Crow Wing, Hubbard, Lake, and St. Louis. | |||
| Pine Grosbeak (Pinicola enucleator) | 4 | Late north 4/12 Itasca (Dunning Lake) EEO. Also reported from Aitkin, Cass, St. Louis. | |||
| GRAY-CROWNED ROSY-FINCH (Leucosticte tephrocotis) | 1 | Three “interior form” were last reported 3/26 Carlton fide JWL | |||
| House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) | Reported statewide. | ||||
| Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus) | 24 | 19 | Late south 5/2 Fillmore NBO and Goodhue FKB, 5/5 Hennepin JLS (median 5/17). | ||
| Redpoll (Common) (Acanthis f. flammea) | 17 | 3 | Four south reports between 3/3 and 4/4 in Chippewa, Cottonwood, and Lac qui Parle. All north reports earlier than recent median departure date (5/4); last seen 4/8 Itasca (7) EEO. | ||
| Redpoll (Hoary) (Acanthis f. exilipes) | 2 | All reports: 3/4, 3/16 Kittson LW fide JMJ, 3/23 Beltrami DPJ. | |||
| Red Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) | 3 | 1 | Only south report: 5/12 Stearns RPR. North reports from Aitkin, Douglas, St. Louis. | ||
| White-winged Crossbill (Loxia leucoptera) | 4 | All reports: 3/3 Pine JMP, 3/11 St. Louis JPM, PEB, 3/17 Aitkin DWK, 4/11 Douglas fide JMJ. | |||
| Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus) | 23 | 13 | Late south 5/4 Rice TFB, 5/8 Blue Earth ChH (median 5/21). | ||
| American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) | Seen statewide. | ||||
| Longspurs and Snow Buntings | |||||
| Lapland Longspur (Calcarius lapponicus) | 15 | 20 | Late south 5/6 Dakota DWK, ADS (median 5/3). Late north 5/19 Lake JWL, 5/22 Cass BAW (median 5/18). Season high count 4/6 Rice (475) DAB. | ||
| CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPUR (Calcarius ornatus) | 1 | Six reports from Felton Prairie starting 4/15 Clay PBB (median 4/24). | |||
| Smith's Longspur (Calcarius pictus) | 3 | 1 | Early south 4/21 Meeker (8) DMF. All north reports: 5/9 Polk (Glacial Ridge N.W.R.) KRE, RPR, 5/19 Lake (female at Beaver Bay sewage ponds) ph. †JWL, 5/23 Becker (Hamden Slough N.W.R.) fide JMJ. | ||
| Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis) | 20 | 20 | Season high count 3/4 Cass (1,500) BAW. Departed prior to recent median departures south (3/28) and north (5/8). Late south 3/20 Chisago KCR. Late north 4/19 St. Louis NAJ. | ||
| Towhees, Sparrows | |||||
| Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum) | 9 | 31 | Early south 4/22 Wabasha JWH, 4/23 Sherburne ASc, 4/24 Steele FVS (median 4/27). Early north 4/23 Polk NGE fide JMJ, 4/24 Mille Lacs NSc, 4/27 Wadena PJB (median 5/8). Second highest count 5/29 Sherburne (18 at Sherburne N.W.R.) ASc. | ||
| Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus) | 10 | 20 | Early south 4/25 Sherburne ASc, 4/26 Big Stone BJU (median 4/22). Early north 4/27 Marshall fide JMJ, 4/28 Clay PBB, RHO (median 5/5). Unusual in Northeast 4/29 Lake JWL, 4/30 Cook CJT. New county record 5/27 Hubbard PBB. Record high spring counts 4/28 Sherburne (7) JBB, 5/28 Anoka (10) AXH. | ||
| Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) | 33 | 51 | Early south 3/24 Lac qui Parle BJU, 3/25 Chippewa BJU and Dakota FKB (median 3/26). Excluding three undocumented reports well before the recent median arrival date (4/12), early north 4/11 Douglas fide JMJ, 4/14 Mille Lacs ASc (median 4/12). High count 5/12 Clay (98) RHO. | ||
| Clay-colored Sparrow (Spizella pallida) | 26 | 41 | Early south 4/20 Lac qui Parle BJU, 4/21 Meeker DMF and Hennepin HCT (median 4/21). Early north 4/27 Clay RHO and Otter Tail DTT, 4/28 Clay PBB, 4/29 Lake JWL (median 4/27). | ||
| Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla) | 7 | 46 | Early south 3/24 Goodhue BRL, 4/2 Dakota CMB (median 4/1). Early north 4/22 Otter Tail DTT, 4/23 Mille Lacs HHD (median 4/21). High count 4/22 Scott (19 at Murphy-Hanrehan P.R.) BAF. | ||
| Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca) | 17 | 40 | One from late February (see winter report) through 3/2, 3/6 Fillmore NBO; potential early south migrants 3/5 Scott DHa, 3/7 Olmsted RBW (median 3/13). Early north 3/29 Otter Tail DTT, 3/30 Clay RHO and Morrison DTM (median 3/29). Late south 4/20 in three counties, 4/21 Carver DDo (median 4/29). Late north 4/25 Kittson DAC, RBJ, 4/26 St. Louis TPW, 5/12 Otter Tail DTT (median 5/6). Seasonal high count 4/7 Scott (61) BAF. | ||
| American Tree Sparrow (Spizelloides arborea) | 27 | 43 | Late south 4/25 Kandiyohi RBW, 5/5 Goodhue SWe (median 5/1). Late north 4/24 St. Louis TPW, 4/25 Kittson RBJ, DAC (median 5/7). | ||
| Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) | 32 | 50 | Late south 5/13 Meeker DMF, 5/21 Rice TFB. Season high count 3/25 Crow Wing (500) JSB. “Oregon” race reported 3/29 Dakota ADS. | ||
| White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) | 16 | 29 | Early south 4/20 Rock RBW, 4/21 Hennepin CMB (median 4/3). Early north 4/14 Marshall JMJ, 4/19 Marshall (same bird?) GT, 4/23 Cass DAY (median 4/23). Late south 5/19 Steele NFT, 5/20 Washington HHD, 5/20 Hubbard MAW (median 5/22). Reported north through 5/24. | ||
| Harris's Sparrow (Zonotrichia querula) | 22 | 30 | Early south 3/28 Lac qui Parle FAE, 4/2 Lac qui Parle BJU (median 4/3). Probably overwintered (but see winter report) 3/2, 3/21, 4/6, 4/16 Clay RHO and 4/18 Otter Tail fide JMJ; presumed early north migrants 5/4 Pennington JMJ, 5/5 Morrison DTM (median 4/28). Late south 5/19 Carver RBJ, 5/23 Pipestone BJU (median 5/22). Late north 5/24 Kittson RBJ, DAC, 5/25 Lake of the Woods MHK (median 5/21). | ||
| White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) | 30 | 44 | Overwintered south (see winter report) and north in Cook CJT and probably Lake fide JWL; 3/5 Roseau fide JMJ probably overwintered also. Bulk of south reports began mid-April and virtually ceased after 5/20. Bulk of north reports began 4/21 (median 4/11). Season high count 4/22 Scott (100 estimated) JCC. | ||
| Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus) | 21 | 48 | Early south 3/22 Meeker DMF, 3/24 Lac qui Parle BJU, 3/25 Brown BTS and Hennepin BAF (median 3/29). Early north 4/6 Todd JSK, 4/17 Otter Tail DTT (median 4/12). | ||
| LeConte's Sparrow (Ammospiza leconteii) | 8 | 9 | Early south 4/23 Brown JEB, 4/26 Big Stone and Lac qui Parle BJU (median 4/23). Early north 4/28 Clay PBB, 5/4 Cass BAW, 5/7 Kanabec CAM (median 5/2). High count 5/9 Polk (9 at Glacial Ridge N.W.R.) RPR. | ||
| Nelson's Sparrow (Ammospiza nelsoni) | 1 | Second highest count 5/31 Cass (8 at Boy River Marsh) BAW. | |||
| Henslow's Sparrow (Centronyx henslowii) | 2 | 14 | Early south 4/24 Scott (Murphy-Hanrehan P.R.) CMB, 4/28+ Lac qui Parle (Plover Prairie S.N.A.) BJU, m.ob. Also reported from Brown (Cottonwood River Prairie S.N.A.), Carver (Carver P.R.), Dakota, Fillmore (10 at Beaver Creek W.M.A., HHD, RAE), Freeborn (Myre-Big Island S.P.), Goodhue (Frontenac S.P.), Hennepin (Elm Creek and Hyland P.R.), Olmsted, Ramsey, Redwood (Johnsonville Twp.), Rice (Sakatah Lake S.P.), Swift (Lac qui Parle W.M.A.). All north reports (both record early dates): 5/9 Polk (Glacial Ridge N.W.R.) KRE, 5/13 Clay (Bluestem Prairie S.N.A.) PBB. | ||
| Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) | 25 | 48 | Early south 3/26 Hennepin DDo and Rice TFB (median 4/1). Early north 4/5 Mille Lacs ASc, 4/20 Pine JMP and Polk NGE fide JMJ (median 4/17). | ||
| Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) | 35 | 52 | Reported throughout the state. See winter report for late migrants and overwintering individuals. Early north 3/23 Carlton LAW, 3/24 Mille Lacs ASc, NSc, RBJ and Wadena PJB. High counts 3/31 Hennepin (43) BAF, 4/22 Scott (41) BAF, 5/12 Clay (45) RHO. | ||
| Lincoln's Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii) | 12 | 32 | Early south 4/20, 4/22 Rice DAB (median 4/12). Early north 4/21 Beltrami DPJ, 4/22 St. Louis fide JWL, 4/23 Kanabec CAM (median 4/25). Late south 5/19 Steele NFT, 5/21 Lac qui Parle BJU, 5/23 Pipestone BJU (median 5/25). | ||
| Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana) | 24 | 44 | Early south 3/13 Faribault WAF, 3/23 Scott DWK and Washington TEB (median 3/24). Early north 4/2 Mille Lacs ASc, 4/19 Marshall fide JMJ (median 4/15). Seasonal high count 5/29 St. Louis (25) TPW. | ||
| GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE (Pipilo chlorurus) | Overwintered late October 2006 through 4/23 Cottonwood (Mountain Lake) m.ob. | ||||
| Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus) | Adult male 4/24–29 Hennepin (Richardson N.C.) TMo, †CMB, ph. †JPM, m.ob. Two out of range and unseasonal reports from Scott and Dakota in late May were insufficiently documented. | ||||
| Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) | 7 | 28 | Early south 4/21 Scott BAF, 4/22 Hennepin DDo (median 4/14). Early north 5/6 Cass DAY, 5/7 Cass BAW (median 5/4). | ||
| Yellow-breasted Chat | |||||
| Yellow-breasted Chat (Icteria virens) | 1 | 3 | All south reports: 5/22 Rice (no details, location?) TFB, 5/30–31 Lac qui Parle (2, Big Stone N.W.R., auto tour route) KLa, †BJU, 5/27+ Dakota (Black Dog S.N.A.) MP, †CMB, ph. DAC, ph. †JPM, m.ob. Only north report: 5/20 Polk (ties second earliest north, banded at Red River Natural History Area, near Crookston, The Loon 79:118) ph. LEB, JAB. [Corrected] | ||
| Blackbirds, Orioles | |||||
| Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) | 19 | 43 | Record early south 3/10 Big Stone HHD. Also, 4/8 Hennepin JCC, 4/9 McLeod RBW (median 3/29). Early north 3/31 Norman RBW (median 4/10). Season high count 4/14 Hennepin (160) DCZ. | ||
| Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) | 22 | 44 | Early south 5/1 Olmsted JWH, 5/5 Meeker DMF and Carver JCy (median 5/2). Early north 5/5 Mille Lacs ASc, 5/7 Kanabec CAM, 5/8 Pine JMP (median 5/5). Season high count 5/12 Steele (35) NFT. | ||
| Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna) | 10 | 31 | Early south 3/10 Scott CMB, 3/12 Steele NFT, 3/15 Dakota FKB. Early north 3/19 Mille Lacs ASc, 3/22 Wilkin EEO, 3/23 Kanabec RBJ, DAC. | ||
| Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta) | 20 | 35 | Early south 3/9 Lac qui Parle FAE, 3/11 Brown BTS and Stevens HHD. Early north 3/15 Todd JSK, 3/21 Clay RHO, 3/24 Otter Tail DTT. Season high count 5/12 Clay (45) RHO. | ||
| Sturnella meadowlark (Sturnella sp.) | Six south reports of unidentified meadowlarks 3/6–4/7. | ||||
| Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurius) | 3 | 32 | Early south 5/7 Carver TSM, 5/8 Washington DFN (median 5/7). Early north 5/12 Polk fide JMJ, 5/18 Clay RHO (median 5/15). | ||
| Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula) | 29 | 50 | Early south 5/1 Hennepin DWK and Carver RBJ (median 4/29). Early north 5/1 Crow Wing SMA, 5/2 Beltrami PJR, 5/4 Marshall fide JMJ (median 5/4). | ||
| Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) | 33 | 52 | Please see winter report for numerous overwintering records. Presumed early north migrants 3/8 Todd JSK, 3/11 Wadena PJB, 3/12 Polk fide JMJ. High count 3/15 Lac qui Parle (5,500) BJU. | ||
| Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) | 30 | 52 | Early south 3/7 Lac qui Parle (probably overwintered) BJU, 3/12 Meeker DMF, 3/15 Dodge KRV (median 3/13). Early north 4/2 Mille Lacs ASc, 4/3 Otter Tail fide JMJ, 4/5 Todd JSK (median 4/6). | ||
| Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus) | 12 | 33 | Presumed early south migrants (see winter report) 3/9 Rice TFB, 3/13 Lac qui Parle BJU, 3/14 Dodge KRV (median 3/6). Early north 3/10 Cass BAW, 3/11 Todd JSK, 3/25 Crow Wing EEO (median 3/20). Late south 4/27 Steele DAB (median 5/1). Late north 4/22 Beltrami DPJ, 4/25 Kittson RBJ, DAC (median 5/3). | ||
| Brewer's Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus) | 25 | 26 | Early south 3/17 Brown BTS, Rice ChH, and Wright DPG (median 3/13). Early north 3/24 Mille Lacs NSc, ASc, 3/25 Otter Tail fide JMJ (median 4/2). Season high count 3/27 Blue Earth (100) ChH. | ||
| Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) | 33 | 52 | Presumed early north migrants 3/9 St. Louis RPR, 3/18 Lake JWL and Otter Tail DTT (median 3/10), but see winter report for overwintering records. Season high counts 3/20 Blue Earth (300) ChH, 5/12 Steele (486) NFT. | ||
| Great-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus) | 5 | All south reports: 4/20–5/25 Watonwan (Mud Lake and Rosendale W.M.A.) m.ob., 5/7–27 Pipestone (Engbarth Slough W.M.A.) HHD, †BJU, m.ob., 5/18 Jackson DAB, BTS, 5/28 Murray (Big Slough W.M.A.) RMD. None were well documented. | |||
| Warblers | |||||
| Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla) | 26 | 40 | Early south 4/22 Rice DAB, 4/28 Rice TFB, 5/2 Dakota JPM and Olmsted JWH, PWP (median 4/30). Early north 5/3 Cass BAW, 5/5 Clay RHO, Mille Lacs ASc, Pine JMP, and St. Louis MPi (median 5/4). Record high count 5/12 Koochiching (100 estimated) AXH. | ||
| WORM-EATING WARBLER (Helmitheros vermivorum) | 1 | 1 | First reports since 2005. First county records 4/23 Lyon (Camden S.P.) †RAE (The Loon 79:238), 5/6 Clay (Moorhead, near the Red River) †DPW, †PBB (The Loon 79:239–240). | ||
| Louisiana Waterthrush (Parkesia motacilla) | 1 | 8 | Early south 4/14 Winona PWP, 4/22 Blue Earth LS and Winona JWH were ahead of the 4/23 median. First county record 5/12 Renville (Beaver Falls C.P.) †JCC. Also reported from Hennepin, Nicollet, Rice, Olmsted, Houston. Only north report: 5/19 Pine (Banning S.P.) JCy. | ||
| Northern Waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis) | 16 | 40 | Early south 4/22 Meeker DMF, 4/23 Ramsey BRL, 4/28 Steele KRV (median 4/25). Early north 5/5 Clay (3) RHO and Mille Lacs ASc, 5/6 Clay PBB, RHO (median 5/4). High count 5/7 Cass (10) BAW. Late south (but see summer report) 5/20 Hennepin DWK, PEB, 5/26 Fillmore HHD (median 5/28). | ||
| Golden-winged Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera) | 18 | 19 | Reported from all regions except Southwest. Early south 5/5 Goodhue SWe, Le Sueur DAB, Olmsted JWH, and Rice TFB matched the recent median. Early north 5/5 Mille Lacs ASc, 5/7 Cass BAW and Clay RHO (median 5/8). A male “Lawrence's Warbler” 5/5+ Scott (Murphy-Hanrehan P.R.) BAF defended the same territory it occupied in 2005 and 2006. | ||
| Blue-winged Warbler (Vermivora cyanoptera) | 3 | 24 | Early south 5/1 Carver CRM, 5/2 Dakota JPM, 5/4 Goodhue, Rice, Scott, Washington (median 5/2). Continued range expansion indicated by new county records 5/3 Mille Lacs (Kunkel W.M.A., record early north) †ASc, 5/14 Redwood (along Minnesota River, Delhi Twp.) WCM. All other north reports: 5/12 Morrison REH, 5/15 Todd JJS (median 5/23). High count 5/9 Scott (8 at Murphy-Hanrehan P.R.) BAF. | ||
| Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia) | 25 | 37 | Early south 4/22 Scott BAF, 4/23 Goodhue JWH and Ramsey BRL (median 4/26). Early north 4/22 Carlton BDA, 4/29 Pennington JMJ, 5/3 Cass BAW (median 5/3). High count 5/29 St. Louis (20) TPW. | ||
| Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea) | 8 | Early south 5/7 Hennepin (Fort Snelling S.P.) CMB, 5/9 Washington JMP, 5/12 Goodhue JJS. Scarce; other than multiple reports from Hennepin and Goodhue, only single reports from Meeker, Washingon, Dakota, Ramsey, Washington, Winona. | |||
| Tennessee Warbler (Leiothlypis peregrina) | 23 | 45 | Early south 4/23 (record early, no details) Ramsey BRL, 4/25 Dakota BRL and Hennepin ALD well ahead of the 4/29 median. First north report 4/29 Hubbard MAW eight days early, followed by 5/5 Clay RHO and Mille Lacs ASc. High count 5/15 Scott (76) BAF. Late south 5/27 Isanti ABL, 5/27 Pipestone CRM, JCC, LS, RTH, 5/30 Hennepin PEJ. | ||
| Orange-crowned Warbler (Leiothlypis celata) | 12 | 37 | First arrivals well ahead of recent medians south and north; departed south five days ahead of median. Early south 4/17 Dakota JPM, 4/20 Dakota JLO, 4/21 Dakota, La Qui Parle, Martin, Meeker (median 4/21). Early north 4/20 Pine JMP, 4/21 Otter Tail SPM, 4/22 Clay PBB, RHO (median 4/25). High count 5/2 Rice (26) DAB. Late south 5/17 Nobles BTS, DAB, JEB and Pope HHD, JJS, RBW (median 5/22). Late north 5/19 St. Louis TPW, 5/30, 5/31 St. Louis LS (median 5/26). | ||
| Nashville Warbler (Leiothlypis ruficapilla) | 23 | 34 | Reported from every region. Early south 4/23 Ramsey BRL, 4/24 Dakota FKB, 4/27 Rice TFB, (median 4/26). Early north 5/1 Hubbard MAW, 5/3 Cass BAW and Lake JWL (median 5/3). High counts 5/9 Scott (34 at Murphy-Hanrehan P.R.) BAF, 5/12 Koochiching (50) AXH. Late south 5/25 Ramsey HHD, 5/27 Hennepin EEO and Pipestone JCC (median 5/30). | ||
| Connecticut Warbler (Oporornis agilis) | 5 | 6 | Early south 5/6 Hennepin DDo, 5/8 Carver JCy (median 5/11). All north reports were later than recent median (5/17). Early north 5/21 Todd JSK, 5/23 Lake of the Woods DAC, RBJ. Late south (also see summer report) 5/23 Rice TFB, 5/25 Mower JEB. | ||
| Mourning Warbler (Geothlypis philadelphia) | 11 | 19 | Early south 5/5 Chippewa HHD, KRE, Lac qui Parle LS, and Rice TFB, 5/7 Carver CRM (median 5/9). Early north 5/7 Todd JSK, 5/15 Clay RHO, 5/16 Cass BAW (median 5/14). Record high count 5/29 St. Louis (25) TPW. | ||
| KENTUCKY WARBLER (Geothlypis formosa) | 2 | Eighth consecutive year at Williams N.C. near Mankato 5/14–28 Blue Earth CRM et al., †SLF, m.ob. Also reported 5/21–27 Rice (no details, location?) TFB, SWe. | |||
| Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) | 26 | 50 | Early south 4/17 (earliest date on record, no details) Hennepin SCa, 4/28 Dakota LEC, and 4/28 Steele KRV, 5/1 Ramsey EEO (median 5/3). Early north 4/29 Beltrami DPJ, 5/5 Mille Lacs ASc, 5/7 Cass BAW and Lake JWL (median 5/7). High count 5/12 Steele (28) NFT. | ||
| Hooded Warbler (Setophaga citrina) | 7 | Early south 4/25 Winona (Great River Bluffs S.P., second earliest) DBz, JSo, 5/1–30 Hennepin (Wood Lake N.C.) CMB, AXH (median 5/9). Many reports from Murphy-Hanrehan P.R., Scott/Dakota beginning 5/5, including high count of 13 on the 15th (12 males and one female) BAF. Also recorded at Battle Creek Park, Cannon River Wilderness Park, Lebanon Hills R.P., and Sherburne N.W.R. | |||
| American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) | 24 | 46 | Early south 5/3 Rice TFB, 5/5 Carver JCy, Faribault WAF, Fillmore NBO, and Stearns RBJ (median 5/3). Early north 5/6 Clay RHO, 5/7 Cass BAW, St. Louis LAW, and Todd JSK (median 5/8). High count during fallout at Park Point 5/31 St. Louis (200) CLW. | ||
| Cape May Warbler (Setophaga tigrina) | 7 | 19 | Reported sparingly from all regions. New county record 5/17 Nobles †BTS, DAB, JEB. Early south 5/7 Olmsted JWH, 5/8 Blue Earth ChH, Le Sueur RMD, and Lincoln HHD, JEB, JJS (median 5/7). Early north 5/8 St. Louis ALE, 5/9 St. Louis NAJ, 5/12 Mille Lacs NSc (median 5/9). Late south 5/20 Hennepin DWK, PEB (median 5/22). | ||
| Cerulean Warbler (Setophaga cerulea) | 1 | 14 | Early south 5/1 Olmsted JWH, 5/6 Goodhue JWH, 5/9 Rice TFB (median 5/8). Only north report: 5/15 Todd (Oak Ridge W.M.A.) BWF, RLE, RAE, CAS, JJS (median 5/19). High count 5/13 Rice (6) DAB. | ||
| Northern Parula (Setophaga americana) | 13 | 20 | No reports from Southwest region. Early south 4/30 Rice TFB, 5/1 Olmsted JWH, 5/2 Meeker DMF and Ramsey TSM (median 5/1). Early north 5/5 Carlton LAW, Mille Lacs ASc, and St. Louis MPi (median 5/6). High count 5/12 Koochiching (10) AXH. Late south 5/16 Swift JJS, Wabasha and Winona JEB, 5/25 Mower JEB (median 5/26). | ||
| Magnolia Warbler (Setophaga magnolia) | 14 | 32 | Early south 5/5 Blue Earth ChH, Faribault WAF, Hennepin CMB, Olmsted JWH, and Waseca DAB equaled the 5/5 median. Second earliest north arrival 4/24 Carlton LAW; no additional reports until 5/8 Clay PBB, 5/9 Carlton RBW and St. Louis NAJ (median 5/9). Record high spring count in a momentous Park Point fallout 5/31 St. Louis (60) CLW. Late south 5/27 Pipestone and Rock m.ob., also see summer report. | ||
| Bay-breasted Warbler (Setophaga castanea) | 6 | 14 | Early south 5/6 Hennepin DDo and Rice TFB, 5/8 Blue Earth ChH and Hennepin JLS (median 5/8). Early north 5/12 Otter Tail SPM, 5/21 Cass BAW, and 5/21 St. Louis NAJ (median 5/13). High count 5/12 Meeker (16) DMF. Late south 5/17 Murray NED and Rice TFB, 5/24 Scott HHD, RBW (median 5/25). | ||
| Blackburnian Warbler (Setophaga fusca) | 17 | 25 | Early south 4/28 (ties earliest date, no details) Benton REH, 5/2 Olmsted JWH, PWP, 5/5 Goodhue SWe (median 5/4). Early north 5/8 Cass (2) BAW and St. Louis ALE, 5/12 Koochiching (12) AXH, Lake ADB, Mille Lacs NSc, and Morrison DTM (median 5/7). High count 5/31 St. Louis (25 at Park Point, Duluth) CLW. Late south 5/26 Scott (3) BAF and Sherburne JBB, 5/27 Pipestone CRM, JCC, LS, RTH (median 5/31). | ||
| Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia) | 27 | 50 | Reported from 89% of the state's counties. Early south 4/23 Ramsey FKB, 5/1 Carver JCy and Goodhue LEC (median 4/27). Early north 4/22 Crow Wing JSB, 5/4 Otter Tail DTT, 5/5 Hubbard MAW and Mille Lacs ASc (median 5/4). High counts 5/12 Clay (34) RHO, 5/31 St. Louis (42) PHS. | ||
| Chestnut-sided Warbler (Setophaga pensylvanica) | 20 | 32 | Early south 5/3 Big Stone RBW, 5/5 Faribault WAF and Rice TFB (median 5/6). Early north 5/5 Mille Lacs ASc, 5/6 Carlton LAW, 5/8 Kanabec CAM (median 5/8). High count 5/31 St. Louis (45) PHS. Late south (away from known breeding locations, also see summer report) 5/27 Pipestone CRM, JCC, LS, RTH (median 6/4). | ||
| Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga striata) | 9 | 33 | Early south 5/5 Chippewa HHD, KRE and Olmsted JWH (median 5/4); peak migration 5/10–12 in 18 south counties. Early north 5/6 Todd JSK, 5/12 Otter Tail DTT, SPM, 5/13 Pennington JMJ (median 5/9). High count 5/21 Cass (12) BAW. Late south 5/24 Rice DAB, 5/25 Hennepin DDo and Mower JEB (median 5/30). Reported through 5/31 north; see summer report for late dates (median 5/29). | ||
| Black-throated Blue Warbler (Setophaga caerulescens) | 3 | 1 | Only south report: adult male 5/8 Hennepin (Wood Lake N.C.) CMB through 5/23 ph. DAC, ph. JPM, m.ob. Early north 5/19 St. Louis ASc, 5/25 Lake DFN, 5/27 Carlton LAW (median 5/18). | ||
| Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum) | 17 | 36 | Early south 4/21 Dakota DWK, JLO and Meeker DMF, 4/22–23 in five counties (median 4/22). Early north 4/22 Kanabec CAM, 4/30 Otter Tail DTT and Polk EEF (median 4/25). Late south 5/17 Nobles JEB and Pipestone LBF, 5/19 Waseca DAB (median 5/23). | ||
| Pine Warbler (Setophaga pinus) | 13 | 12 | Early south 4/20 Sherburne ADB, 4/21 Ramsey REH, 4/22 Isanti were all ahead of the recent median (4/24). Early north 4/22 Cass DAY, 4/24 Cass BAW, 4/27 Carlton LAW and St. Louis JCG (median 4/26). | ||
| Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) | 27 | 49 | Probable overwintering bird 3/5 Winona (near Elba) JWH. Early south migrants 3/22 Rice DAT, 3/27 Meeker DMF well ahead of 4/2 median. Overwintered north through 3/13 St. Louis (Crane Lake) vt. DMK. First migrants 3/29 Mille Lacs NSc, 4/5 Otter Tail SPM (median 4/8). High count 4/21 Scott (112) BAF. Late south (but see summer report) 5/21 Ramsey DKo (median 5/27). | ||
| PRAIRIE WARBLER (Setophaga discolor) | 1 | Singing adult male 5/28–31 Dakota (Ritter Farm Park) JSw, †CMB, †JLO, †PEB, ph. TPB, ph. CLW, m.ob. | |||
| Black-throated Green Warbler (Setophaga virens) | 16 | 22 | Reported from all regions. South and north arrivals were both within one day of recent medians. Early south 4/30 Rice TFB, 5/1 Olmsted JWH, 5/4 Nicollet RMD (median 4/30). Early north 5/5 Mille Lacs ASc and St. Louis MPi, 5/6 Cass DAY (median 5/4). Late south 5/26 Anoka REH and Scott BAF, 5/27 Dakota CMB (median 5/30). | ||
| Canada Warbler (Cardellina canadensis) | 8 | 25 | Early south 5/7 Pipestone JEB, 5/8 Le Sueur RMD, 5/9 Steele KRV (median 5/9). Early north 5/12 Koochiching AXH and Mille Lacs NSc, 5/14 Cass BAW (median 5/14). Second highest spring count 5/31 St. Louis (25 at Park Point, Duluth) CLW. Late south (but see summer report) 5/26 Rock RTH (median 5/31). | ||
| Wilson's Warbler (Cardellina pusilla) | 14 | 26 | Early south 5/1 Steele KRV, 5/5–6 Lac qui Parle HHD, LS (median 5/4). Early north 5/10 Cass BAW, 5/11 Mille Lacs DAC, RBJ (median 5/10). High count 5/10 Rice (16) DAB. Late south 5/26 Carver JCy, 5/27 Pipestone JCC, LS, RTH (median 5/29). | ||
| Tanagers, Cardinals, Grosbeaks | |||||
| Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra) | 2 | 3 | All documented reports: 5/3 Dakota (Spring Lake P.R.) †JPM, 5/8 Faribault (Blue Earth River) †WAF, 5/9 Hennepin (Bass Ponds) †ChM, JEP, 5/12 Dakota (Lebanon Hills R.P.) †ADS, 5/19 Lake (Silver Bay) †JWL, 5/27 Kittson (Lancaster) ph. GBr fide DTT. | ||
| Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea) | 14 | 40 | Early south 5/5 Goodhue SWe and Hennepin HCT, 5/6–8 in eight counties (median 5/5). Early north 5/8 Mille Lacs NSc, 5/9 Mille Lacs RBJ, 5/10 Cass BAW (median 5/12). High count 5/30 Mille Lacs (7) ASc. | ||
| Western Tanager (Piranga ludoviciana) | 2 | Accepted reports: 4/24–27 Freeborn (Clarks Grove) fide AEB, †CMB, ph. JEM, m.ob., 4/25–29 Anoka (Spring Lake Park) ph. TM, m.ob. | |||
| Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) | 22 | 50 | Reported throughout the state as far northwest as Kittson (5/23, LW) and as far northeast as St. Louis (Ely) and Cook (Schroeder). | ||
| Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus) | 28 | 50 | Early south 4/24, 4/28 Fillmore NBO, 4/29 Dakota JPM, ADS (median 4/28). Early north 5/3 Crow Wing SMA, 5/4 Kanabec CAM (median 5/3). Season high count 5/4 Lac qui Parle (25) FAE. | ||
| BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK (Pheucticus melanocephalus) | 1 | Adult male third week in May at feeder in Wilkin (Breckenridge) ph. LPT fide SPM. [Corrected] | |||
| Blue Grosbeak (Passerina caerulea) | 1 | 5 | Early south 5/17 Murray (Moulton Twp.) NED, 5/23 Lincoln (Drammen Twp.) and Pipestone (Split Rock Creek S.P.) BJU, 5/26+ Rock (Blue Mounds S.P.) m.ob. Also reported from Nobles. Unusual north report 5/6 Clay (Moorhead, earliest date for entire state) ph. PBB, RHO. | ||
| Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea) | 13 | 45 | Early south 5/4 Fillmore NBO, 5/5 Goodhue SWe and Steele KRV (median 5/4). Early north 5/1 Crow Wing SMA, 5/11 Hubbard PBB (median 5/9). | ||
| PAINTED BUNTING (Passerina ciris) | 1 | Nineteenth state record 5/19–23 Lake (Little Marais) ph. SRC, ph. †JWL. | |||
| Dickcissel (Spiza americana) | 1 | 18 | Early south 5/19 Steele KRV, NFT, 5/21 Olmsted JWH, 5/23 Scott RBW. Only north report: 5/31 Mille Lacs NSc. Bulk of reports started 5/23. | ||