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Seasonal Report Archive for The Loon | |
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The 2013-Spring Season 1 March through 31 May 2013 Paul E. Budde, Robert M. Dunlap, Doug W. Kieser, James W. Lind, and William C. Marengo |
The northward migration of geese was fairly mundane this season, aside from a record high count of Cackling Geese in Nobles in late March. One Cinnamon Teal in Olmsted was a nice find, though it was outnumbered by three apparent Blue-winged Teal X Cinnamon Teal hybrids. Late April saw impressive numbers of diving ducks in Duluth as open waters in the harbor coupled with extensive ice cover of nearby waters led to significant concentrations of birds. Among the species noted in high numbers was Greater Scaup. A drake Harlequin Duck lingered from fall into early spring in Wabasha. All three species of scoters showed up in Duluth in record numbers in late May. While most Long-tailed Ducks were found on Lake Superior, which is typical, one in Pennington and a remarkable tally of eight in Lac qui Parle were notable. Three Barrow's Goldeneyes, two in Duluth and one on the Mississippi River between Anoka and Hennepin counties, extended the spring streak of this Casual species to eight consecutive seasons.
Red-throated Loons arrived in Duluth early and in record numbers. The first sightings were from late April, equaling the second earliest arrival date in the state. By the end of the first week of May, the total number of birds in Duluth exceeded 350! Common Loons also established a record-high spring count at the end of April. A lone Pacific Loon in St. Louis provided the eighth year for this species among the last 15 spring seasons. Not to be outdone, Horned and Red-necked grebes also concentrated in Duluth in record and near record numbers. In the western part of the state, Horned Grebes were notable for how easy they were to find well into late May.
The state's first Brown Pelican was not discovered until 2005, yet this season already produced the fourth record for the state when one was found at the end of May in Freeborn. Late April and May saw a good diversity of herons and egrets. Snowy Egrets were located in five counties, including one in Marshall that was tantalizingly close to becoming a first record for Polk. A Little Blue Heron in Nobles was a county first, while another was found in Rice. Twenty-four Cattle Egrets were spread across the southern and western regions. One Yellow-crowned Night-Heron was reported from Ramsey.
The ibis migration was quite impressive, comprising three Glossy Ibis, at least 157 White-faced Ibis, and an apparent hybrid between these two species — seen in Lake of the Woods, of all places! The raptor migration was solid, though unexceptional, with reports of most species from slightly more counties than recent averages. Perhaps the best find was an immature Northern Goshawk in Rock.
Common Gallinules were in Sherburne, Lac qui Parle, and two Southeast locations. In May, two Black-necked Stilts were discovered in Big Stone and another in Steele; this species has been seen in 9 of the last 11 springs. A record-high count of American Avocets was also tallied in Big Stone. The state's third Wilson's Plover was discovered in Duluth in late May; both earlier records were also from Duluth, in the early 1980s. A Piping Plover visited a W.T.P. in Sherburne that was in draw-down, providing a nice record for this rare migrant. This spring saw the most widespread migration of Whimbrel ever documented in the state. In addition to the almost annual reports from Duluth and Lake Superior, there were records from two North-central and four western counties, including the highest count ever (44) away from Lake Superior.
Birders found three first county records of shorebirds for Houston — Marbled Godwit, Ruddy Turnstone, and Red-necked Phalarope. The only Red Knots were at Park Point in Duluth. Malardi Lake in Wright went into draw-down during the season and produced nice numbers of shorebirds, including the second-highest northbound count of Least Sandpiper. Yet another highlight for Big Stone was a Western Sandpiper found there in early May, the fifth documented in the state since 2000.
One or more adults and a first-cycle Little Gull were seen in Duluth in the latter half of May. A second-cycle Iceland Gull tarried in Duluth until mid-May and became the second-latest northbound migrant for this species in the state. Lesser Black-backed Gulls were found in six counties around the state from mid-March through early May. Renville's first Glaucous Gull was also the latest south individual ever. A record-high total of ten Great Black-backed Gulls was counted in Duluth at the end of March; the last one didn't depart until 22 May.
The lingering irruption of northern owls begun in the winter was still obvious this spring, as counts of Snowy, Northern Hawk, Great Gray, and Boreal owls were well above-normal. Observations of Great Gray and Boreal owls, in particular, were more frequent than usual for the spring season. Though all Great Gray reports were from the northern third of the state, five Boreals were found south; unfortunately, all but one was already dead or died before returning northward. An immature gray-morph Gyrfalcon photographed in southern Dakota County produced the first spring record since 2007.
Prior to this spring, no more than two Say's Phoebes had been documented in a single season, so the fact that there were five records from four different counties this spring was quite remarkable. This also marks the sixth consecutive spring with reports for this currently Casual species. Philadelphia Vireo was well-represented in spring migration with reports from 58 of 87 counties (cf. average over previous five years of only 33) including all regions except the Northwest. Though the prior winter produced an unprecedented number of Carolina Wren reports, this season saw numbers only slightly above-average, with five reports totaling six individuals as far northwest as Anoka and Hennepin. Two Blue-gray Gnatcatchers in Polk at the end of May were a continued sign of this species' expansion towards the northwest.
Mountain Bluebirds seem to show up just about anywhere in the state in the spring. This year, one was found in Rice and another in Lake, both in late April/early May. March saw four Townsend's Solitaires in the state, one of which barely made it into April, so finding one in mid-May in Aitkin was quite surprising. All five Catharus thrushes produced record or near-record high daily counts this spring. Totals from Polk and St. Louis (Park Point) on 19 May were particularly impressive. Not to be outdone, the one-day estimated count of 2,300 American Robins in Dakota was the highest northbound count since 1938. The five reports of Varied Thrush were about average.
This spring's ten Northern Mockingbirds was the highest total since 2009. There were scattered north reports of Bohemian Waxwings through the end of the season. The state's northbound high counts of Smith's Longspurs are all from western counties bordering the Dakotas, so a flock of about 100 at a W.P.A. in Blue Earth was outstanding. Among them was discovered a Chestnut-
collared Longspur. Worm-eating Warbler was almost annual in the state from spring 1978 through 2001, but since then has only been found in 2005, 2007 and 2009. This spring produced one in early May. Four Kentucky Warblers was a good total for spring, but none could be refound after 18 May. All reports of Hooded Warblers were near the Twin Cities. Most spring Black-throated Blue Warbler reports tend to come from the eastern third of the state, so reports this season from Kandiyohi, Cass, and Itasca were unexpected. A Yellow-throated Warbler spent almost two weeks in Carver in the middle of May, while another found on 10 May in Winona remained into the summer. One Yellow-breasted Chat was seen in Rice. Fallout conditions at Park Point in Duluth on 19 May produced not only high counts of thrushes, as previously noted, but also of many species of warblers. Another good warbler day with several record high counts at Park Point was 30 May. In the southern half of the state, warbler migration was also locally exceptional as birds seemed to linger and build up numbers well into May. A Spotted Towhee that had overwintered in Rice was there through mid-April, while two others were found at Pipestone National Monument in early May. A male Lark Bunting was a pretty sight in Nobles in mid-May. While Nelson's Sparrows were scarce, Harris's and White-crowned sparrows made their best spring showings on record. Numbers of Harris's were excellent in the west, and the two species were found in 72 and 76 of the 87 counties, respectively. Four Summer Tanagers showed up in May, all in the southeastern quarter of the state. They were outnumbered by the five Western Tanagers found — the most since spring 2009. Especially unexpected due to where they were seen were an adult male Black-headed Grosbeak in St. Louis and Blue Grosbeaks in Mower and Itasca. All three were discovered near the end of May. Nine Lazuli Buntings produced six first county records in the largest influx of this species into the state. Spring 2002, when five individuals were found in the state, had been the only other season during which more than three individuals have been reported. Capping off this exceptional season for the Cardinalidae family, an adult male Painted Bunting was photographed in Aitkin. In McLeod, a Great-tailed Grackle was faithful to a staked-out territory beginning in early May, but could not attract a mate. The state's second Bullock's Oriole was an adult male photographed at a feeding station in Hennepin, but it disappeared before anyone but the homeowner could see it. The winter's major invasion of Pine Grosbeaks led to more spring reports than usual, including a small overwintering flock that lingered in Anoka into spring. Though during the prior winter, White-winged Crossbills were more prevalent in the state than Reds, by springtime White-wingeds had pretty much retreated northwards, while Red Crossbills tarried in eight south counties and were still found in Dakota, Dodge, and Freeborn in late May. Common and Hoary redpolls and Pine Siskins also had made a significant incursion into the state the prior season; their numbers this spring were comparable to the numbers present in spring 2009, which followed the prior major invasion of these species. A first Eurasian Tree Sparrow for Hennepin was also the ninth for the state. Weather summary Average monthly temperatures from all three months were below their historic averages: four to ten degrees (F) in March, six to ten degrees in April, and one to three degrees in May. April was, in fact, the sixth coldest on record on a statewide basis. Precipitation levels in March were slightly above average, except in the Southwest. Much of the state received over eight inches of snow on 4–5 March, while another major storm moved through 17–19 March. April totals were well above average in the east, but slightly below-average in the west. The Northeast received record levels of snow, including 50.8” at Duluth's airport, which broke the prior April record by almost 20”. May totals were also well above-average in the southern half of the state, buoyed to a large extent by an early May storm that brought over a foot of snow to much of the South-central and Southeast regions. The entire month, in fact was labeled “cool and gloomy” by the Minnesota Climatology Working Group, due to a series of low pressure systems which stalled over the state and produced measurable rain in the Twin Cities on over half the days of May. Documented reports still under review Glossy Ibis 4/29 Nicollet (south access, Swan Lake); Ferruginous Hawk 4/27 Lac qui Parle; Barn Owl 5/5 Anoka (Carlos Avery W.M.A.). Undocumented or insufficiently documented reports Clark's Grebe 4/22, 4/27 Lac qui Parle (difficult ID, no details); Broad-winged Hawk 3/11 Brown (early date); Virgina Rail 3/1 Scott (early date); Black Tern 3/8, 4/8 Rice (early dates); Forster's Tern 3/12 Hennepin, 3/15 Rice (both record early, no details); Prairie Falcon 4/7 Anoka (out of range); Veery 4/7 Anoka (early date); Black-and-white Warbler 3/30 Rice (early date); Vesper Sparrow 3/9 Wright (early date); Western Tanager 4/29 Hennepin, 5/28 Scott (rare migrant, no details). Acknowledgments We thank Anthony Hertzel, Jeanie Joppru, and Jim Lind for compiling and providing transcripts of Minnesota's three weekly birding reports. Special thanks to Dave Cahlander for building and maintaining the seasonal reports submission and production web pages (http://moumn.org/moureports/season.php) through which most of this data is collected and organized. In addition to the data collected through this MOU website, we are grateful for the data provided for the creation of this report by eBird (http://www.ebird.org, accessed June 2013). Medians of recent arrivals and departures are based on published and unpublished seasonal report data from 1985 through 2011. Finally and most importantly, our appreciation goes out to all our contributors. We are especially grateful to those who respond to our requests for details and who submit observations online. Avenue
collared Longspur. Worm-eating Warbler was almost annual in the state from spring 1978 through 2001, but since then has only been found in 2005, 2007 and 2009. This spring produced one in early May. Four Kentucky Warblers was a good total for spring, but none could be refound after 18 May. All reports of Hooded Warblers were near the Twin Cities. Most spring Black-throated Blue Warbler reports tend to come from the eastern third of the state, so reports this season from Kandiyohi, Cass, and Itasca were unexpected. A Yellow-throated Warbler spent almost two weeks in Carver in the middle of May, while another found on 10 May in Winona remained into the summer. One Yellow-breasted Chat was seen in Rice. Fallout conditions at Park Point in Duluth on 19 May produced not only high counts of thrushes, as previously noted, but also of many species of warblers. Another good warbler day with several record high counts at Park Point was 30 May. In the southern half of the state, warbler migration was also locally exceptional as birds seemed to linger and build up numbers well into May. A Spotted Towhee that had overwintered in Rice was there through mid-April, while two others were found at Pipestone National Monument in early May. A male Lark Bunting was a pretty sight in Nobles in mid-May. While Nelson's Sparrows were scarce, Harris's and White-crowned sparrows made their best spring showings on record. Numbers of Harris's were excellent in the west, and the two species were found in 72 and 76 of the 87 counties, respectively. Four Summer Tanagers showed up in May, all in the southeastern quarter of the state. They were outnumbered by the five Western Tanagers found — the most since spring 2009. Especially unexpected due to where they were seen were an adult male Black-headed Grosbeak in St. Louis and Blue Grosbeaks in Mower and Itasca. All three were discovered near the end of May. Nine Lazuli Buntings produced six first county records in the largest influx of this species into the state. Spring 2002, when five individuals were found in the state, had been the only other season during which more than three individuals have been reported. Capping off this exceptional season for the Cardinalidae family, an adult male Painted Bunting was photographed in Aitkin. In McLeod, a Great-tailed Grackle was faithful to a staked-out territory beginning in early May, but could not attract a mate. The state's second Bullock's Oriole was an adult male photographed at a feeding station in Hennepin, but it disappeared before anyone but the homeowner could see it. The winter's major invasion of Pine Grosbeaks led to more spring reports than usual, including a small overwintering flock that lingered in Anoka into spring. Though during the prior winter, White-winged Crossbills were more prevalent in the state than Reds, by springtime White-wingeds had pretty much retreated northwards, while Red Crossbills tarried in eight south counties and were still found in Dakota, Dodge, and Freeborn in late May. Common and Hoary redpolls and Pine Siskins also had made a significant incursion into the state the prior season; their numbers this spring were comparable to the numbers present in spring 2009, which followed the prior major invasion of these species. A first Eurasian Tree Sparrow for Hennepin was also the ninth for the state. Weather summary Average monthly temperatures from all three months were below their historic averages: four to ten degrees (F) in March, six to ten degrees in April, and one to three degrees in May. April was, in fact, the sixth coldest on record on a statewide basis. Precipitation levels in March were slightly above average, except in the Southwest. Much of the state received over eight inches of snow on 4–5 March, while another major storm moved through 17–19 March. April totals were well above average in the east, but slightly below-average in the west. The Northeast received record levels of snow, including 50.8” at Duluth's airport, which broke the prior April record by almost 20”. May totals were also well above-average in the southern half of the state, buoyed to a large extent by an early May storm that brought over a foot of snow to much of the South-central and Southeast regions. The entire month, in fact was labeled “cool and gloomy” by the Minnesota Climatology Working Group, due to a series of low pressure systems which stalled over the state and produced measurable rain in the Twin Cities on over half the days of May. Documented reports still under review Glossy Ibis 4/29 Nicollet (south access, Swan Lake); Ferruginous Hawk 4/27 Lac qui Parle; Barn Owl 5/5 Anoka (Carlos Avery W.M.A.). Undocumented or insufficiently documented reports Clark's Grebe 4/22, 4/27 Lac qui Parle (difficult ID, no details); Broad-winged Hawk 3/11 Brown (early date); Virgina Rail 3/1 Scott (early date); Black Tern 3/8, 4/8 Rice (early dates); Forster's Tern 3/12 Hennepin, 3/15 Rice (both record early, no details); Prairie Falcon 4/7 Anoka (out of range); Veery 4/7 Anoka (early date); Black-and-white Warbler 3/30 Rice (early date); Vesper Sparrow 3/9 Wright (early date); Western Tanager 4/29 Hennepin, 5/28 Scott (rare migrant, no details). Acknowledgments We thank Anthony Hertzel, Jeanie Joppru, and Jim Lind for compiling and providing transcripts of Minnesota's three weekly birding reports. Special thanks to Dave Cahlander for building and maintaining the seasonal reports submission and production web pages (http://moumn.org/moureports/season.php) through which most of this data is collected and organized. In addition to the data collected through this MOU website, we are grateful for the data provided for the creation of this report by eBird (http://www.ebird.org, accessed June 2013). Medians of recent arrivals and departures are based on published and unpublished seasonal report data from 1985 through 2011. Finally and most importantly, our appreciation goes out to all our contributors. We are especially grateful to those who respond to our requests for details and who submit observations online. Avenue
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Species |
N | S |
Information |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whistling-Ducks, Geese, Swans, Ducks | |||||
| Snow Goose (Anser caerulescens) | 14 | 43 | Early south (median 3/2) 3/17 Jackson DBz, ANy, 3/19 Rock JSn, 3/22 Wright AKn. Early north (median 3/23) 3/27 Becker KMy, 3/29 Hubbard MAW, 4/4 Mille Lacs ToL. High counts 3/19 Rock (5,000) JSn, 4/4 Jackson (1,356) PEJ, 3/30 Jackson (1,195) DFN. Late south 5/19 Murray, Pipestone, Rock DAB, m.ob., 5/24 Big Stone ANy, JWH (median 5/24). Late north 5/15 Grant WCM, 5/24 Roseau DWK, PEB (median 5/24), but also see summer report. | ||
| Ross's Goose (Anser rossii) | 5 | 23 | Early south (median 3/18) 3/22 Lincoln (2) CRM, 3/23 Jackson ALo, 3/24 Nobles (6, Lake Okabena) DAB, Rock RAE. All north reports: 3/29 St. Louis (Duluth Harbor) KJB, 4/13 Grant RAE, HHD, 4/26 Grant, Traverse (16) DBM, 4/27 Wilkin (100, high count) KRE, m.ob., 4/28 Grant ALo, 5/2 Grant (5, North Ottawa Impoundment) PEB, 5/17 St. Louis (Spirit Lake, Duluth) KRE. Late south 5/7 Faribault WAF, 5/9 Rock CRM (median 5/13). | ||
| Greater White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons) | 6 | 40 | Early south (median 3/7) 3/15 Jackson (155), Nobles (42) PEJ, 3/17 Martin DBz, ANy, 3/18 Rock ANy. Early north (median 3/26) 4/2 Traverse DLP, 4/13 Grant, Traverse RAE, HHD, 4/20 Clay TCL. High counts 4/6 Swift (est. 5,000, near Appleton) WCM, 3/30 Jackson (3,400) PEJ, DFN, 3/29 Lyon (2,500, Cottonwood W.T.P.) GWe. Late south 5/17 Wright ALo, 5/18 Le Sueur ChH, AnK, Stevens DLP (median 5/15). Late north 5/5 Mahnomen RAE, 5/15 Grant WCM, but also see summer report. | ||
| Cackling Goose (Branta hutchinsii) | 14 | 37 | See winter report for overwintering and early south migrants. Early north (median 3/19) 3/17 Clay RAE, 4/8 Cass MRN, 4/11 Pennington (5) SAS. High counts 3/23 Nobles (3,500, record high, Lake Okabena, Worthington) KRE, BTS. Late south 5/3 Renville RPR, 5/12 Ramsey JoD (median 5/13). Late north 5/4 Grant DAC, RBJ, 5/5 St. Louis JLK, 5/9 Mahnomen RAE (median 5/21). Descriptions provided for just a handful of additional records: 3/15 Jackson, Nobles †PEJ, 3/26 Brown †BTS, 3/29 Nicollet, Sibley †JCC, 4/21 St. Louis †BCM, 4/25 Stearns †PLJ, 4/26 St. Louis †PHS. | ||
| Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) | 34 | 53 | Reported from all 87 counties. | ||
| Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) | 1 | 5 | All reports 3/8 Dakota (Miesville Ravine) CKS, 3/8–5/15 Goodhue (2, probable releases at Prairie Island) m.ob., 3/30–4/1 Winona ANy, m.ob. 4/24 Nicollet (near Little Lake) TrR, 5/5–12 Steele (Ellendale) JWH, DAB, m.ob., 5/22 Pine (probable release at Grand Casino) ToL. | ||
| Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator) | 31 | 46 | High counts 3/28 Stearns (95, St. Augusta) MJB, 3/13 Washington (56, Afton Marina) CPu, 3/7 Goodhue (52) PEJ. Unusual Northeast report 5/24 Cook (Five Mile Rock) DFN. | ||
| Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus) | 21 | 38 | Early south (median 3/11) 3/9 Winona MGo, 3/17 Chisago AMa, Wabasha ACr, 3/20 Dakota PEJ. Early north (median 3/26) 3/13 Clearwater PRR, 4/4 Mille Lacs ToL, 4/9 Morrison MJB. High counts 4/6 Swift (710, near Danvers) WCM, 4/6 Carver (682, Rapids Lake, Minnesota Valley N.W.R.) JCy. Late south 5/4 Dakota MJM, Swift DLP, 5/9 Sherburne JGb (median 5/4). | ||
| Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) | 33 | 53 | Early north (median 3/18) 3/29 Douglas JPE, 3/30 Crow Wing JAn, 4/2 Hubbard MAW, Traverse DLP. High counts 3/30 Carver (120, Rapids Lake, Minnesota Valley N.W.R.) JCy, 4/13 Dakota (100, 180th St. Marsh) PNi. | ||
| Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors) | 33 | 53 | Early south (median 3/11) 3/15 Lac qui Parle DLP, Nobles PEJ, 3/21 Rock CRM, 3/22 Lincoln CRM. Early north 3/29 (median) St. Louis KJB, 4/6 Crow Wing FGo, 4/9 Cass MRN, Itasca SC. High counts 4/28 St. Louis (256, Park Point) KJB, 4/18 Dakota (150, 180th St. Marsh) DAd. | ||
| Cinnamon Teal (Spatula cyanoptera) | 1 | All reports 4/8–10, 4/20 Olmsted (male at Silver Creek Reservoir) LAV, †ANy, †CWG, m.ob. | |||
| Blue-winged Teal X Cinnamon Teal (Spatula discors X S. cyanoptera) | Probable hybrids between Blue-winged and Cinnamon teal 4/9–22 Goodhue (S.R. 56 and Scotia Trail) ph. †GHo, RDa, ph. †CMB, m.ob., 4/17–18 Nicollet †MiO, 4/27 Freeborn (near Geneva) †PEJ, †DFN. | ||||
| Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata) | 31 | 53 | See winter report for overwintering and early south migrants. Early north (median 3/27) 3/30 St. Louis SLF, 4/2 Traverse DLP, 4/12 Itasca SC, EEO. High count 4/21 Dakota (400, Great Western Industrial Park) BAF. | ||
| Gadwall (Mareca strepera) | 28 | 52 | Early north (median 3/24) 3/16 Traverse DLP, 3/29 Itasca SC, 3/30 St. Louis SLF. High counts 4/25 Houston (500, La Crescent) DSt, 5/3 Yellow Medicine (400, Echo W.T.P.) RPR. | ||
| American Wigeon (Mareca americana) | 29 | 52 | Overwintered Scott (Blue Lake W.T.P.). Early south (median 3/1) 3/15 Jackson, Martin, Nobles PEJ, 3/18 Rock ANy. Early north (median 3/26) 4/11 St. Louis (Virginia) SLF, 4/15 St. Louis (Duluth) EBr, 4/23 Clay RHO. High counts 4/25 Houston (300, location?) DJa, 4/25 Houston (200, La Crescent) DSt, 4/28 St. Louis (101, Park Point, Duluth) KJB. | ||
| Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) | 34 | 53 | Reported from all 87 counties. | ||
| American Black Duck (Anas rubripes) | 11 | 21 | High counts 3/1, 4/8 St. Louis (24, Hearding Island, Duluth) PHS. Late south 4/29 Anoka REH, 5/8 Hennepin ESe (median 5/17). | ||
| Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) | 23 | 45 | See winter report for overwintering and early south migrants. Early north (median 3/20) 4/13 Traverse RAE, HHD, 4/16 Morrison HHD, RAE, 4/20 Becker TCL. | ||
| Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca) | 27 | 53 | Early south (median 3/6) 3/1 Scott HCT, 3/15 Jackson, Martin, Nobles PEJ, 3/16 Dakota PEJ, Houston ANy. Early north (median 3/27) 3/25 Cass ANy, 4/13 Traverse RAE, HHD, 4/19 Morrison FGo. High counts 4/29 St. Louis (307, Park Point) PHS, 4/20 Dakota (300, Lake Byllesby) BAF. | ||
| Canvasback (Aythya valisineria) | 27 | 50 | Early south away from overwintering areas (median 2/29) 3/3 Washington DFN, 3/9 Winona MGo, 3/14 Goodhue RaM. Early north (median 3/28) 4/2 Traverse DLP, 4/8 St. Louis PHS, 4/13 Grant, Traverse RAE, HHD. | ||
| Redhead (Aythya americana) | 31 | 53 | See winter report for overwintering and early south migrants. Early north (median 3/24) 3/24 Morrison ANy, 4/13 Clay PBB, Grant, Traverse RAE, HHD, St. Louis JLK, 4/16 Mille Lacs ToL. High counts 4/29 St. Louis (1,478, Park Point) †PHS, 4/20 Freeborn (950) PEJ. | ||
| Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris) | 34 | 53 | See winter report for overwintering and early south migrants. Early north (median 3/20) 3/16 Traverse DLP, 3/24 Morrison ANy, 3/29 Itasca SC, St. Louis SLF. High counts 3/29 Goodhue (1,500, Prairie Island) GJM, 3/29 Faribault (1,000, Rice Lake W.M.A.) CoN, 3/30 Dakota (1,000, Lake Byllesby) SHF, BAF, ALw. | ||
| Greater Scaup (Aythya marila) | 29 | 44 | Early south (median 3/8) 3/7 Wabasha PEJ, 3/8 Scott PEJ, 3/9 Scott DFN, Winona StD. Early north (median 3/31) 3/31 St. Louis KJB, 4/16 Mille Lacs ToL, 4/19 Itasca SC. Open water in the Duluth Harbor combined with extensive ice cover on surrounding inland waters in late April led to record high counts of many waterbirds at Park Point, including 4/28 St. Louis (11,154 in a massive three-mile long raft along Park Point) KJB, with 7,613 counted there 4/29 PHS. Late south 5/16 Martin DAC, RBJ, 5/24 Freeborn DBz (median 5/14). Late north 5/26 Hubbard ANy, JWH, 5/30 Lake RAE, CRM (median 5/29). | ||
| Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis) | 33 | 53 | See winter report for overwintering and early south migrants. Early north (median 3/15) 3/24 Morrison ANy, 3/25 St. Louis SLF, 3/26 Itasca SC. High counts 4/28 St. Louis (2,574, Park Point) KJB, 3/29 Goodhue (1,200, Prairie Island) GJM. | ||
| Harlequin Duck (Histrionicus histrionicus) | 1 | Only report was of a male discovered during winter and continuing through 3/2 Wabasha (Camp Lacupolis) JWH. | |||
| Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata) | 1 | All reports from St. Louis: 4/29–5/18 (max. 2, Park Point) MSS, m.ob., 5/17 (Spirit Lake) KRE, 5/22 (record high count of 27, Park Point and Leif Erikson Park) KJB, JLK. | |||
| White-winged Scoter (Melanitta deglandi) | 3 | All reports: 5/5 Lake (10, Flood Bay) fide JWL, 5/5–20 St. Louis (max. 12, Park Point) TPW, KJB, m.ob., 5/22 St. Louis (record high count of 377 along Park Point and Leif Erikson Park far exceeded the prior record of 150 from 1975) KJB, GrG, 5/23 Lake DFN, 5/23–30 St. Louis (max. 4, Park Point) m.ob., 5/24 Cook (2) DFN. | |||
| Black Scoter (Melanitta americana) | 2 | All reports: 5/6–22 St. Louis (max. 11, Park Point) ANy, JLK, m.ob., 5/12–14 Lake (2, Two Harbors) JWL. | |||
| Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) | 4 | 1 | Only reports away from Lake Superior: 4/24 Lac qui Parle (8, Marsh Lake) CV, 5/19 Pennington (Thief River Falls W.T.P.) AFo, CAs. All Lake Superior reports: 3/3–5/12 Lake (max. 166 on 3/3, Two Harbors) AnG, RoC, PCa, m.ob., 3/29 Lake (Silver Bay) BMy, 4/21–5/22 St. Louis (max. 4, Duluth) EBr, JLK, m.ob, 5/24 Cook (48, Good Harbor Bay to Paradise Beach) DFN. | ||
| Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) | 33 | 53 | High counts 4/24 Goodhue (975, comprising 500 at North Lake and 475 at Sturgeon Lake within Prairie Island) GJM, 4/29 St. Louis (120, Park Point) PHS. Late south 5/23 Scott MJM, 5/24 Hennepin TAT, 5/31 Carver ANy (median 5/30). | ||
| Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) | 31 | 49 | High counts 4/26 St. Louis (722, Park Point) PHS, 4/3 Houston (500, Brownsville) DSt, 4/22 Cass (500, Gull River) MRN. Late south 5/20 Isanti WAn, 5/26 Houston KRE, CRM (median 5/12). | ||
| Barrow's Goldeneye (Bucephala islandica) | 1 | 2 | All reports: 3/9–4/8 Anoka/Hennepin (male, Coon Rapids Dam) †CF, †RZi, †HCT, †DWK, 3/25–4/16 St. Louis (overwintering male in Duluth Harbor; female also documented 3/25–26 in the same flock) MFu, †KJB, †PHS, †JLK. | ||
| Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) | 34 | 53 | Overwintered widely south and in St. Louis (Duluth). Early north (median 3/17) 3/24 Wadena PJB, 3/28 Pine DAC, RBJ, ToL, 3/29 Clearwater KLa, Douglas JPE, Hubbard MAW, Itasca SC. High counts 4/13 Ramsey (300, Red Rock Road Lake) MJM, 4/2 Dakota (246, Black Dog Lake) PEJ, 4/9 Anoka (150, Coon Rapids Dam) SaH. | ||
| Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) | 29 | 50 | High counts 3/3 Dakota (250, Black Dog Lake) BAF, 3/24 Ramsey (130, Pigs Eye Lake) BAF. Late south 5/12 Chisago ANy, BWF, JWH, Ramsey JaJ, 5/20 Isanti WAn (median 5/24). | ||
| Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator) | 25 | 46 | Early south (median 3/10) 3/10 Dakota PEJ, CMB, 3/15 Hennepin ThM, Jackson, Martin, Nobles PEJ, 3/20 Stearns RBo. Early north (away from Lake Superior) 4/6 Cass MJB, Crow Wing FGo, 4/19 Itasca SC, 4/21 Wadena PJB. High counts 5/20 St. Louis (1,447, record high count, Park Point) KJB, 4/27 Hennepin (155) CMB. Late south 5/27 Hennepin SOa (median 5/19). | ||
| Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) | 25 | 53 | Early south (median 3/11) 3/7 Wabasha PEJ, 3/15 Anoka ABo, Jackson, Martin, Nobles PEJ. Early north (median 4/3) 3/30 Douglas JPE, 4/2 Traverse DLP, 4/6 Cass, Morrison BAW, MJB. High counts 4/30 Hennepin (400, Medicine Lake) APe, 4/25 Houston (350) DJa, 4/24 Goodhue (236, Prairie Island GJM. | ||
| Partridge, Pheasants, Grouse, Turkeys | |||||
| Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) | 28 | 49 | Reported as far north as Kittson, Marshall, Beltrami, Itasca, Aitkin, Carlton. Probable escapees or released birds also seen in southern St. Louis. High counts 3/28 Dakota (62) DVe, 3/3 Washington (46) MJB. | ||
| Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus) | 28 | 13 | Found throughout normal range, essentially northeast of a line from Norman to Mower, and including Anoka ABo, Dakota (Miesville Ravine), Fillmore, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Wabasha, Winona, Washington. Drumming counts down 10% from 2012 in the forested regions (Minnesota DNR). | ||
| Spruce Grouse (Canachites canadensis) | 4 | All reports: 3/1 Lake of the Woods MHK, 3/3 Lake ALo, 3/29 Itasca (Scenic S.P.) EO, SC, 4/10 Koochiching AMe, 5/16 Lake (2) BDK. | |||
| Sharp-tailed Grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus) | 15 | 1 | Only south report 4/7 Lyon †JCC was well out of range and likely a released bird. High counts 3/30 Pennington (42) KLa, 3/4 Red Lake (32) SAS, 3/2 Polk (30) BJS. Additional north reports from Aitkin, Beltrami, Carlton, Clearwater, Kittson, Koochiching, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Pine, Roseau, St. Louis. | ||
| Greater Prairie-Chicken (Tympanuchus cupido) | 11 | 2 | Presumed releases seen in Chippewa (Chippewa Prairie) DBM, Lac qui Parle (Plover Prairie) DLP. All north reports: Becker (max. 46, Hamden Slough N.W.R.) PEB, Clay (max. 19, Moorhead) JPr, Clearwater HHD, Mahnomen CAB, Marshall JGr, Norman (max. 23) DWK, PEB, Otter Tail ALo, RZi, Pennington PEB, Polk (max. 27, Tympanuchus W.M.A.) VLa, Red Lake RAE, SAS, Wilkin ALo, RZi. | ||
| Gray Partridge (Perdix perdix) | 6 | 13 | All reports from the southern third or western edge of the state, except for 3/19–4/4 Koochiching (8, near Loman) ph. AMe, DAC, RBJ. Additional high counts 3/1 Kittson (21, St. Vincent) RBJ, DAC, 3/6 Polk (11) SAu, 3/13 Marshall (10) GAK, 3/11 Faribault (9) ANy. | ||
| Ring-necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) | 19 | 53 | High count 3/8 Brown (36) BTS. All reports south of a line through Marshall, Cass, Aitkin, and Carlton. | ||
| Grebes | |||||
| Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) | 34 | 52 | Early south (median 3/9) 3/11 Hennepin CMB, 3/28 Chippewa DLP, Goodhue GLM, Dakota GLa, RAE. Early north (median 3/27) 3/25 Mahnomen KMy, 3/29 Itasca SC, 3/30 St. Louis SLF. High counts 5/5 Carver (72) WCM, 4/8 Goodhue (64, Prairie Island) GJM. | ||
| Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus) | 34 | 48 | Early south (median 3/26) 3/3 (second earliest south spring record) Dakota (Black Dog Lake) †BAF, 4/3 Scott CMB, 4/6 Anoka ELC. Early north (median 4/10) 4/15 St. Louis SLF, 4/25 Lake JWL. High counts 4/28 St. Louis (4,137, second highest state count, Park Point) PHS, 5/5 Benton/Stearns (1,603, Mississippi River at Sauk Rapids/St. Cloud) MJB, PCC, 5/5 Hennepin (593, Lakes Harriet & Calhoun) CMB. Late south 5/21 Anoka DWK, 5/23 Lyon GWe (median 5/14). Late north 5/27 Clearwater DPJ, Morrison FGo, 5/31 Cook WCM, St. Louis CRM, m.ob. (median 6/3). Also see summer report. | ||
| Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena) | 26 | 37 | Early south (median 4/3) 4/8 Anoka JFR, SBM, DWK, Goodhue GJM, Hennepin JFR, HCT, Rice DAB, PEJ, 4/9 Olmsted JLO, JWH. Early north (median 4/7) 4/15 St. Louis EBr, 4/21 Lake JWL, CMn. New county record 5/4 Houston DBz. High counts 4/26 St. Louis (2,094, record high state count, Park Point) PHS, 4/29 St. Louis (1,513, Park Point) PHS. | ||
| Eared Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis) | 19 | 31 | Early south (median 4/9) 3/29 Nobles CRM, ALo, 4/2 Scott PEJ, DWK, 4/3 Kandiyohi DPG. Early north (median 4/22) 4/10 Otter Tail SAv, 4/12 Itasca (Grand Rapids) SC, ph. EEO, 4/17 Cook (Grand Marais) ph. DMB. Other notable northeast reports: 5/5 Lake (Flood Bay) ph. SZ, 5/6–23 St. Louis (Park Point) ph. JLK, PHS, 5/22 Lake (2, Two Harbors) JWL. | ||
| Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis) | 15 | 16 | Early south (median 4/11) 4/22 Swift DaB, 4/26 Big Stone DLP, 4/27 Lac qui Parle SMC, Stearns MJB, Swift SMC. Early north (median 4/21) 4/26 Grant, Traverse DBM, 4/27 Marshall JMJ, CCr, Roseau BSi, 4/28 Becker MO, Clay TCL, Otter Tail m.ob. High count 5/15 Grant (66, Lake Christina, Pomme de Terre Lake, North Ottawa Impoundment) WCM. Unusual northeast reports 5/8–29 St. Louis (max. 4, Duluth) KJB, JLK, †PHS, m.ob, 5/12 Lake (Flood Bay) JWL, 5/12 Lake (Gooseberry Falls S.P., same bird?) RMD. | ||
| CLARK'S GREBE (Aechmophorus clarkii) | No documented reports. | ||||
| Aechmophorus grebe (Aechmophorus sp.) | 1 | Presumed hybrid or intermediate Clark's/Western grebe 5/29 St. Louis (Park Point) ph. †KRE. | |||
| Pigeons, Doves | |||||
| Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) | 34 | 53 | Reported from every county. High count 3/12 St. Louis (160, Canal Park) JHD, JPr, KDS. | ||
| Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) | 33 | 53 | Found statewide, including a new county record 5/2 Kittson LW. High counts 3/6 Lyon (29, Cottonwood) GWe, 3/11 Blue Earth (14, Lake Crystal) CHe. | ||
| Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) | 33 | 53 | Found statewide. High counts 4/27 Hubbard (42, C.R. 17 and C.R. 13) WDe, 3/8 Faribault (33, Smith W.M.A.) ClN, CoN. | ||
| Cuckoos | |||||
| Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus) | 9 | Early south 5/15 Houston (2, mating) ANy, DBz, MGo, JWH, 5/18 Le Sueur RBW, 5/20 Washington CTS, 5/21 Fillmore (3) NBO. First spring with no north reports since 2000. | |||
| Black-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus erythropthalmus) | 7 | 26 | Early south (median 5/9) 5/7 Houston (Brownsville Overlook) LMl, 5/8 Washington DBM, 5/14 Winona MGo, 5/16 Houston (Reno S.F.) SHo, Olmsted JHD. Early north (median 5/16) 5/19 Clay DMu, Todd DTM, JeM, 5/23 Morrison MJB. Only report from the northern third of the state was 5/29 Roseau BSi. | ||
| Nightjars | |||||
| Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor) | 23 | 38 | Early south (median 5/1) 5/3 Carver JCy, 5/6 Rice JEB. Early north (median 5/10) 5/15 Kanabec CAM, 5/17 Cass MRN. Three high counts of 50 (all estimates?): 5/21 Washington DFN, 5/22 Martin BBo, 5/23 Isanti WAn. | ||
| Eastern Whip-poor-will (Antrostomus vociferus) | 11 | 11 | Early south (median 4/28) 5/6 Anoka SaH, 5/8 Dakota RPR, Sherburne PLJ, Washington PNi. Early north (median 5/8) 5/16 Hubbard MAW and Kittson DSm, 5/18 Cass BAW, Grant DWK, PEB, HCT, Itasca SC. High count 5/20 Anoka (9, Bunker Hills R.P.) SaH. | ||
| Swifts | |||||
| Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica) | 23 | 42 | Early south (median 4/21) 4/26 Hennepin ABL, 4/27 Rice DAB, Washington PSm, Winona DBz, ANy, JWH. Early north (median 5/1) 4/27 Polk SAu, 4/30 Mille Lacs ToL and Otter Tail JsS, JSw. High count 5/12 Hennepin (est. 100, Diamond Lake, Minneapolis) TAT. | ||
| Hummingbirds | |||||
| Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) | 28 | 44 | Early south (median 5/4) 4/30 Mower RJW, 5/3 Washington BAb. Early north (median 5/7) 5/7 Hubbard MaH and Otter Tail DST, 5/8 Cass FAB. High counts 5/21 Marshall (36) JPn, 5/19 Beltrami (11) PBD. | ||
| Rails, Gallinules, Coots | |||||
| Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola) | 13 | 34 | Early south (median 4/15) 4/20 Dakota SLP, LEC, DwS, KFi, 4/21 Hennepin RAE. Early north (median 5/5) 5/10 Crow Wing ANy, 5/15 Grant WCM. High count 5/12 Washington (5, Lake McKusick) MJB. | ||
| Sora (Porzana carolina) | 17 | 42 | Early south (median 4/14) 4/20 Dakota LEC, 4/22 Hennepin CMB. Early north (median 4/23) 5/7 Clay RHO, 5/9 Becker RZi. High count 5/13 Hennepin (9, Minnesota Valley N.W.R.) CRM. | ||
| Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata) | 4 | All reports: 5/13 Winona (Bartlet Lake) DBz, m.ob., 5/15 and 5/18 Houston (Mound Prairie Marsh) ANy, DBz, MGo, JWH, HHD, 5/21 and 5/26 Lac qui Parle (Big Stone N.W.R.) ASd, DLP, 5/26 Sherburne DWK. | |||
| American Coot (Fulica americana) | 32 | 53 | Reported south throughout the season. Early north (median 3/28) 4/2 Otter Tail JDo and Traverse DLP, 4/7 Cass BAW. High count 4/25 Houston (5,000) DJa. | ||
| Yellow Rail (Coturnicops noveboracensis) | 1 | Only report: 5/16 Hubbard (Shingobee Lake) MAW. | |||
| Cranes | |||||
| Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis) | 31 | 39 | Early south (median 3/14) 3/10 Scott (2) PEJ, 3/16 Dakota SBM, Houston ANy, Wabasha JPr, Winona MGo. Early north (median 3/21) 3/17 Morrison KEm, 3/23 Pennington JMJ. High count 4/5 Hennepin (300, flying over General Mills Nature Preserve) AMa. | ||
| Stilts, Avocets | |||||
| Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus) | 2 | Three reports: 5/3–4 Big Stone (three miles southwest of Graceville) ph. †BJU, ph. †DLP, 5/10 Steele (Rice Lake S.P.) †DAB, HHD, JWH, 5/22 Big Stone (Thielke Lake) †ASd. [Corrected] | |||
| American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana) | 8 | 18 | Early south (median 4/20) 4/16 Murray NED, 4/20 Brown BTS, m.ob., Cottonwood TrF, Dakota (Lake Byllesby) m.ob., Murray GWe. Early north (median 4/30) 4/21–22 St. Louis (Duluth Harbor) JGB, PHS, 4/26 Traverse DBM. High northbound counts 5/15 Big Stone (59, record high) DLP, 4/20 Brown (30, Lone Tree Lake, Eden Twp.) BTS. | ||
| Plovers | |||||
| Black-bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola) | 10 | 11 | Early south (median 5/1) 4/28 Lac qui Parle SOa, 5/10 Steele DAB, HHD, JWH. Early north (median 5/16) 4/27 Beltrami (Lake Bemidji) SVo, 5/12 Crow Wing JSB. High count 5/17 Wright (13, Malardi Lake W.M.A.) RBJ, ANy. Late south 5/24 Freeborn (4) DBz, 5/26 Freeborn DBM (median 6/6). See summer report for late migrants north (median 6/8). | ||
| American Golden-Plover (Pluvialis dominica) | 8 | 15 | South reports 3/31 Dakota (Black Dog Lake) TSh, 4/6–7 Brown BTS, DWK, 4/7 Renville DAB, m.ob., 4/8 Dakota JLO, PEJ, HCT, BAb, KDS all before recent median 4/17. Early north (median 4/29) 4/28 Douglas JPE, 5/8 Clay TCL. High count 5/18 Grant (200) DWK. Late south 5/26 Brown MiO, 5/27 Benton JEB and Nobles BTS (median 6/4). Late north 5/25 Morrison JEB, 5/26 Wadena JEB (median 6/4), but see summer report. | ||
| Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) | 33 | 53 | South reports 3/1 Houston DJa, 3/2 Olmsted JWH, 3/3 Houston StD, DJa, 3/8 Olmsted LAV refer to birds at known overwintering locations; first probable migrants observed 3/8 Rice TFB (median 3/2). Early north (median 3/18) 3/28 Otter Tail TJa, then 3/29 in five more counties. High counts 3/29 Dakota (30, Hampton Marsh) RTe, 3/29 Rice (30) DAB, 3/30 Dakota (est. 30) TAT, 4/7 Brown (30, Sleepy Eye W.T.P.) DWK. | ||
| Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus) | 6 | 25 | Early south (median 4/22) 4/27 Goodhue BRL, 4/28 Dakota JLO, DWK, Lac qui Parle SOa, Wabasha ANy, Washington ELC. Early north (median 5/8) 5/13 Norman TCL, 5/16 Grant WCM. High count 5/15 Wright (23, Malardi Lake W.M.A.) PCC. See summer report for late migrants south (median 6/2) and north (median 6/10). | ||
| Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) | 1 | Only report: 5/20 Sherburne (Princeton W.T.P.) PLJ. | |||
| WILSON'S PLOVER (Anarhynchus wilsonia) | 1 | Minnesota's third state record was found 5/27 St. Louis (Minnesota Point, Duluth) ph. KJB, ph. †PHS, ph. MLH, ph. MSS, ph. AXH, †KRo, and seen by m.ob. before departing later that day. | |||
| Sandpipers | |||||
| Upland Sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda) | 8 | 12 | Early south (median 4/26) 4/26 Swift DBM, 5/5 Blue Earth (Lincoln W.P.A.) m.ob. and Chippewa DBM. Early north (median 5/3) 4/28 Clay TCL, 5/7 Clay RHO. High count 5/12 Clay (7) TCL. | ||
| Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) | 7 | 1 | Only south report and season's high count: 5/24 Big Stone (44, highest count away from Lake Superior) ph. ANy, JWH. Several north reports away from Lake Superior beginning 5/12 Polk (East Grand Forks W.T.P.) ph. SAu, ph. VLa, 5/18 Grant and Traverse (North Ottawa Impoundment) ph. PEB, DWK, HCT, 5/20 Cass (Walker W.T.P.) BAW, 5/29 Itasca ph. SC. All other north reports from Lake Superior: 5/22 St. Louis (19, Park Point) JLK, 5/23 St. Louis DFN, TKe, 5/24 Cook DFN, 5/30 St. Louis (Park Point) MSS, EBr. See summer report for late migrants north (median 6/2). | ||
| Hudsonian Godwit (Limosa haemastica) | 6 | 15 | Early south (median 4/21) 4/15 Olmsted (Rochester) JSn, m.ob., 4/16 Dakota CMB and Olmsted CRM. Early north (median 5/8) 5/13 Norman TCL, 5/15 Grant WCM. High count 5/15 Wright (17, Malardi Lake W.M.A.) PCC. Late south 5/22 Sherburne PLJ, 5/26 Houston DBz (median 5/31). Late north 5/23 St. Louis KDx, 5/24 Marshall DWK, PEB (median 5/30). | ||
| Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa) | 16 | 18 | Early south (median 4/13) 4/16 Dakota PEJ, GJM and Goodhue SLP, 4/20 Cottonwood RAE, Dakota CMB, SMy, BAF, Faribault PEJ, Olmsted SHo, Wabasha AlJ. Early north (median 4/13) 4/21 Marshall LyK, 4/23 Becker ASM. New county record 4/26 Houston (C.R. 26 and the Root River) DBz. High count 5/18 St. Louis (20, Hearding Island) JLK. | ||
| Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres) | 5 | 15 | Early south (median 5/14) 5/11 Fillmore ANy, HHD, JWH, 5/12 Faribault PEJ. Early north (median 5/14) 5/18 Grant DWK, PEB, HCT, 5/19 Aitkin and Crow Wing JCC. New county record 5/18 Houston (3, Blue Lake) HHD. High counts 5/22 St. Louis (40, Park Point) KJB, 5/22 Crow Wing (37, Garrison, second highest count away from Duluth) HHD. See summer report for late migrants south (median 6/1) and north (median 6/5). | ||
| Red Knot (Calidris canutus) | 1 | Only report: 5/23 St. Louis (5, Park Point) ph. TRK. | |||
| Stilt Sandpiper (Calidris himantopus) | 4 | 9 | Early south (median 5/3) 5/4 Big Stone DLP, DFN, PEJ, 5/6 Rice JEB. Early north (median 5/13) 5/13 Traverse RAE, 5/15 Becker LiS. High count 5/20 Lyon (15) ANy. Late south 5/19 Big Stone DLP, 5/20 Lyon ANy (median 5/28), but see summer report. Late north 5/29 Itasca SC, 5/31 Itasca SC, EEO (median 5/26). | ||
| Sanderling (Calidris alba) | 4 | 6 | Early south (median 5/5) 5/4 Big Stone DFN, PEJ, 5/13 Hennepin BPo. Early north (median 5/11) 5/19 Aitkin and Crow Wing JCC, 5/20 St. Louis MAM, DaM, KJB, JLK. High counts from St. Louis (Park Point) 5/30 (235) and 5/31 (175) PHS. See summer report for late migrants south (median 6/1) and north (median 6/7). | ||
| Dunlin (Calidris alpina) | 11 | 30 | Two south reports well before recent median 4/19: 4/4 Jackson PEJ, 4/7 Brown BTS. Early north (median 5/10) 5/10 Crow Wing ANy, JSB, 5/16 Grant WCM. High count 5/22 Sherburne (57, Princeton W.T.P.) PLJ. See summer report for late migrants south (median 6/6) and north (median 6/4). | ||
| Baird's Sandpiper (Calidris bairdii) | 7 | 20 | Early south (median 4/6) 4/4 Jackson PEJ, 4/6 Brown BTS. Early north (median 4/23) 4/27 Otter Tail ALo and Wilkin RZi, ALo. High count 4/7 Brown (24, Sleepy Eye W.T.P.) BTS, DWK. Late south 5/26 Sherburne DWK, PEB, 5/27 Stearns RPR (median 6/1), but see summer report. Late north 5/31 Itasca SC, EEO (median 6/2). | ||
| Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla) | 24 | 36 | Early south (median 4/15) 4/7 Brown BTS, 4/8 Dakota HCT. Early north (median 5/6) 4/27–28 Otter Tail KRE, ALo. High count 5/15 Wright (1,347, Malardi Lake W.M.A.) PCC. See summer report for late migrants south (median 6/3) and north (median 6/2). | ||
| White-rumped Sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis) | 8 | 19 | Early south (median 4/29) 4/30 Ramsey RMD, 5/2 Big Stone DLP. Early north (median 5/14) 5/2 Clay TCL, 5/13 Traverse RAE. High count 5/23 Morrison (19, Flensburg) MJB. See summer report for late migrants south (median 6/14) and north (median 6/13). | ||
| Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Calidris subruficollis) | No reports. | ||||
| Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos) | 17 | 40 | Early south (median 4/1) 4/4 Faribault ANy, SC, JWH, then 4/6 in five more counties. Early north (median 4/19) 4/16 Morrison HHD, 4/19 Morrison FGo. High count 4/7 Dakota (80, Lake Byllesby) BAF. See summer report for late migrants south (median 6/8). Late north 5/31 Itasca SC, EEO (median 6/5). | ||
| Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla) | 10 | 27 | Early south (median 4/17) 4/6 Mower HHD, 4/13 Dakota ASi, PNi. Early north (median 5/4) 5/3 Norman PEB, 5/11 Clay ThM. High count 5/30 St. Louis (35, Park Point) PHS. See summer report for late migrants south (median 6/14) and north (median 6/10). | ||
| WESTERN SANDPIPER (Calidris mauri) | 1 | A bird in alternate plumage was discovered 5/4 Big Stone (Ortonville Twp.) ph. †PEJ, †DFN, GHu, †DLP. | |||
| Short-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus griseus) | 7 | 17 | Early south (median 4/30) 4/30 Blue Earth ChH, 5/2 Big Stone DLP. Early north (median 5/8) 5/14–15 Cass BAW, DAY, 5/16 Grant (Niemackl Lake Park) WCM. High count 5/15 Wright (23) CRM. Late south 5/22 Houston DBz, MGo, 5/24 Big Stone DLP (median 5/24). Late north 5/24 Itasca SC, EEO, 5/29 Itasca SC (median 5/25). | ||
| Long-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus) | 3 | 15 | Early south (median 4/24) 3/30 Cottonwood (3) BRB, 4/26 Houston ANy, RBW, DBz. All north reports: 4/30 Crow Wing JSB, 5/4 Marshall PEB, 5/13 Norman TCL, 5/23 Marshall CCr. High count 5/1 Houston (9) ANy. Late south 5/15 Olmsted JPr, 5/16 Dakota RaM and Rice LEC (median 5/19). | ||
| American Woodcock (Scolopax minor) | 22 | 34 | Early south (median 3/13) 3/27 Rock CRM, 3/29 Fillmore MMo and Houston BCo. Early north (median 3/26) 3/30 St. Louis KGr, 4/4 Carlton TiH. High count 4/13 Winona (15) MGo, KyS. | ||
| Wilson's Snipe (Gallinago delicata) | 27 | 45 | Individual observed 3/9 Houston (Crooked Creek) RSA was likely an overwintering individual; all other south reports after recent median 3/22 beginning with 3/30 Winona DBz. Early north (median 3/31) 3/28 Morrison FGo, 4/17 Becker ASM. High count 4/13 Houston (16) ASz. | ||
| Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius) | 30 | 47 | Early south (median 4/20) 4/24 Houston DBz, 4/25 Hennepin GrS. Early north (median 4/29) 4/28 Itasca SC, Otter Tail RZi, St. Louis PHS, Wadena PJB, 4/30 Itasca SC and St. Louis ALo. High count 5/18 Stearns (30, Albany W.T.P.) DCZ. | ||
| Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitaria) | 20 | 34 | First south report 4/7 Renville ANy, RMD ties earliest date on record, then not reported again until 4/22 Dakota SeH, JFR (median 4/19). Early north (median 4/30) 4/27–28 Otter Tail KRE, RZi, 4/30 Itasca SC. High count 5/18 St. Louis (19, Duluth Twp.) KRE. Late south 5/22 Houston MGo, 5/23 Lyon GWe (median 5/27) . Late north 5/27 Morrison FGo, 5/31 Clearwater ABo (median 5/25). | ||
| Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes) | 30 | 50 | Early south (median 3/29) 4/3 Dodge ANy, DBz, SC, JWH, 4/4 Hennepin HCT and Watonwan ANy. Early north (median 4/9) 4/16 St. Louis JLK, 4/19 Morrison FGo. High count 5/15 Wright (826, Malardi Lake W.M.A.) PCC. See summer report for late migrants south (median 6/6) and north (median 6/1). | ||
| Willet (Tringa semipalmata) | 11 | 33 | Early south (median 4/24) 4/19 Jackson RAE, 4/20 Freeborn PEJ. Early north (median 5/1) 4/26 Traverse DBM, 4/27 Otter Tail KRE, ALo and Traverse DPG. High count 4/27 Fillmore (33, farm pond on C.R.16 about 1 mile west of C.R. 17) HHD, RAE. Late south 5/22 Scott AlS, ABr, 5/29 Dakota DVe (median 5/26). Late north 5/24 Norman DWK, PEB and St. Louis FKB, 5/31 Itasca SC, EEO (median 6/1). See summer report for late migrants south. | ||
| Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca) | 29 | 49 | Early south (median 3/27) 3/29 Winona PEJ, 3/30 Cottonwood BRB and Nobles PEJ, DFN. Early north (median 4/8) 4/21 Lake NLM, 4/22 St. Louis JLK. High counts 4/25 and 4/27 Houston (200, “possibly many hundreds more”, La Crescent) DSt, MyH. Late south 5/20 Lyon ANy, 5/21 Kandiyohi FGo and Stearns MJB (median 5/25). Late north 5/31 Itasca SC, EEO (median 5/28). See summer report for late migrants south and north. | ||
| Wilson's Phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor) | 25 | 42 | Several very early migrants, including early south (median 4/23) 4/15 Scott ANy, 4/15 Sibley ANy, 4/16 Dakota SLP, CMB, BDo, GJM, CRM, and early north (median 5/1) 4/15 St. Louis SLF, 4/28 Beltrami SVo, Douglas JPE, Wadena PJB. High count 4/17 Lyon (212, S.R. 23 & C.R. 33) RJS. | ||
| Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus) | 1 | 9 | Early south (median 5/12) 5/17 Sherburne PLJ, RBJ and Wright ANy, 5/18 Stearns KvB, MJB, DCZ. Only north reports from Grant (North Ottawa Impoundment) 5/16 WCM and 5/18 (9, season's high count) DWK, PEB, HCT. Late south 5/24 Swift ANy, JWH, 5/26 Big Stone DLP and Houston (C.R. 26 and the Root River) DBz (median 5/29). See summer report for late migrants south and north. | ||
| Jaegers | |||||
| Parasitic Jaeger (Stercorarius parasiticus) | No reports. | ||||
| Stercorarius jaeger (Stercorarius sp.) | 1 | The only jaeger of the season was seen offshore and prudently left unidentified: 5/21 St. Louis (Park Point R.A.) PHS. | |||
| Gulls, Terns | |||||
| Bonaparte's Gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia) | 27 | 48 | Early south (median 4/3) 3/30 Scott JEB, 4/4 Faribault WAF, 4/6 Dakota (4), Olmsted (10) and Washington (2). Early north (median 4/13) 4/25 Morrison FGo, 4/26 Grant DBM, Morrison RZi, Traverse DBM. Peak numbers were from Duluth in early May when KJB estimated 1800 on 5/6, and PHS and JLK tallied 1811 on 5/7. Late migrants north and south seen into summer season. | ||
| LITTLE GULL (Hydrocoloeus minutus) | 1 | One (or more?) adults seen in Duluth, St. Louis at various locations 5/16 Hearding Island †ALo, 5/20 Park Point KJB, 5/21 Sky Harbor Airport MLH, 5/25 Superior Entry †JLK. First-cycle also found in St. Louis (Superior Entry) 5/21–25 †PHS, †JLK. | |||
| Franklin's Gull (Leucophaeus pipixcan) | 20 | 45 | Seen throughout the south beginning (median 3/25) 3/30 Brown (13) BTS, Goodhue (2) BRL, Winona (2) DBz, ANy. North reports predominantly from the western third of the state, but also 4/16–25 St. Louis (max. 2) ph. JLK, ph. †PHS, ph. AM, 4/30 Crow Wing CAB. The first north report away from St. Louis was 4/24 Otter Tail JsS, JSw. High counts 5/3 Polk (195, Erskine W.T.P.) PEB, 5/5 Marshall (150, Agassiz N.W.R.) DSm. | ||
| Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) | 33 | 52 | Observed statewide throughout the season. High counts 5/20 St. Louis (7,000 at Park Point, Duluth) KJB, 4/23 Hennepin (6,000 at Old Cedar Ave. Bridge, Bloomington; very conservative estimate, probably several thousand more) BAF. | ||
| Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) | 23 | 37 | High counts 3/29 Lake (850, Knife River Marina) KJB, 4/17 Sherburne (800, Lake Orono) ADB. Last reported south 5/21 Stearns RAE, 5/22 Lyon (Sham Lake) GWe. | ||
| Iceland Gull (Larus glaucoides) | 2 | All north 3/26 St. Louis (first-cycle at mouth of Miller Creek) KJB, 3/29 Lake (first-cycle, Knife River Marina) KJB, 3/31 St. Louis (2, mouth of Miller Creek) KJB, 4/13 St. Louis (Hearding Island) JLK, 4/21 St. Louis (second-cycle; individual overwintered in the Duluth-Superior Harbor) PHS, (first-cycle, mouth of Miller Creek) JLK, 5/16 St. Louis (second-cycle, Hearding Island) ph. †KRE. Also see summer report! | |||
| Iceland Gull (Thayer's) (Larus g. thayeri) | 1 | 1 | One south report 3/29 Ramsey (Upper Landing Park) SBM. All north reports were from Duluth in St. Louis: 3/31 (2, mouth of Miller Creek in Duluth) KJB, 4/14 St. Louis (36th & Minnesota Ave.) JLK, (Park Point) AM, 5/4 St. Louis (adult, Superior Entry) KJB, 5/26–27 St. Louis (first-cycle, Superior Entry) ph. PHS, JLK. | ||
| Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) | 2 | 4 | All south 3/16 Washington (adult, Point Douglas) BRL, ph. SBM, †DWK, 4/7 Winona (Prairie Island) MGo, DBz, refound 4/14 ANy, 4/21 Wabasha (adult, Wabasha) ph. BAy, 4/21–22 Lyon (Cottonwood Lake) HHD, GWe. All north 4/21 Lake (adult, Two Harbors) ph. JWL, 5/4 St. Louis (adult, Superior Entry) KJB. | ||
| Glaucous Gull (Larus hyperboreus) | 2 | 1 | High count 3/31 St. Louis (8, mouth of Miller Creek) KJB. Late north 4/20 Lake (2, Silver Creek Cliff Wayside Park) CMn, 4/21 Lake (Two Harbors) JWL, St. Louis (mouth of Miller Creek) JLK, 4/26 St. Louis (Brighton Beach) AM. Only south report 5/4 Renville (third-cycle, Preston Lake) DBM. | ||
| Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) | 2 | 1 | All north reports from St. Louis except 3/17 Lake (adult, Knife River Marina) EBr. High counts 3/31 St. Louis (10, mouth of Miller Creek) KJB, 4/21 St. Louis (5, mouth of Miller Creek) JLK. Late north 4/28 St. Louis (mouth of Miller Creek) ph. AM, 5/6 St. Louis (third-cycle) ANy, 5/22 St. Louis (Park Point) KJB (median 5/5). Only south report 5/5 Hennepin (Lake Calhoun) SMC. | ||
| Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia) | 17 | 22 | Early south (median 4/23) 4/21 Dakota DCZ, 4/22 Dakota (Fort Snelling S.P.) RCo, 4/23 Winona ClN, CoN. Early north (median 5/3) 4/29+ Crow Wing (3, Ironton W.T.P.) JSB, 5/9 Hubbard MAW, Mille Lacs PEJ, Wadena RAE. High count 5/15 Hennepin (430, Purgatory Creek Wetland) CMB. See summer report for late south. | ||
| Black Tern (Chlidonias niger) | 22 | 38 | Early south (median 4/30) 5/10 Carver PRH, JTe, Sherburne RBW, ANy, 5/12 Faribault PEJ, WAF, Wright HHD. Early north (median 5/8) 5/8 Todd RAE, 5/16 Grant WCM, 5/17 Becker TCL, Itasca SC, EEO. High counts 5/28 Aitkin (69, Rice Lake N.W.R.) TKe, 5/24 Sherburne (60, Sherburne N.W.R.) GJa. | ||
| Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) | 16 | 17 | Early south (median 4/26) 4/27 Martin JPr, 4/28 Hennepin BMa, 4/29 Ramsey BNW, 5/2 Washington (5, Forest Lake) JSa. Early north (median 5/1) 4/27 Marshall (2, near Warren) CCr, 5/5 St. Louis (2) JLK, 5/6 St. Louis (4) ANy. High counts 5/22 St. Louis (1,700 at Superior Entry and along Park Point) KJB, (1,620, Superior Entry only) PHS. See summer report for late south migrants. | ||
| Forster's Tern (Sterna forsteri) | 23 | 44 | Early south (median 4/10) 4/20 Dakota (2, Lake Byllesby) JLO, RMD, JWH, DwS, KFi, JSn, BAF, ELC, Murray (10, Iron Lake) GWe, 4/21 seven additional counties. Early north (median 4/19) 4/27 Marshall (6, near Warren) CCr, 4/28 Clay TCL, Grant RZi, Otter Tail (10) KRE, m.ob. High count 5/15 Goodhue (44, Prairie Island) GJM. | ||
| Loons | |||||
| Red-throated Loon (Gavia stellata) | 1 | All reports from Lake Superior in St. Louis, beginning 4/22 Brighton Beach (2) †EBr, 4/23 Brighton Beach (5) †JLK, 4/26 Park Point PHS. Unusually early high count of 14 on 4/29 (PHS), then a string of record-breaking counts at Park Point including 174 on 5/5 (JLK, MLH, PHS), 287 on 5/7 (JLK, PHS), 288 on the morning of 5/8 (KJB) and 355 on the evening of 5/8 (JLK, MLH, PHS), and 132 on 5/22 (KJB). Reports continued into the summer season. | |||
| Pacific Loon (Gavia pacifica) | 1 | Only report 5/6 St. Louis (Park Point) JLK. | |||
| Common Loon (Gavia immer) | 30 | 44 | Early south (median 3/27) 3/31 Anoka SaH, 4/3 Goodhue PEJ, 4/4 Freeborn ANy, JWH, Nobles PEJ. Early north (median 4/2) 4/10 Itasca SC, 4/16 Kanabec ANy, 4/17 St. Louis JLK. High counts 4/30 St. Louis (686, record spring high count from Park Point to Stoney Point) KJB, 5/1 Benton (146, Little Rock Lake) HHD. | ||
| Cormorants | |||||
| Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum) | 30 | 52 | Early south (median 3/17) 3/18 Rock DBz, ANy, 3/22 Ramsey BAF, SHF, 3/24 Dakota SuB, BBy. Early north (median 3/30) 4/2 Traverse DLP, 4/10 Otter Tail GO, 4/13 St. Louis JLK, SLF. High count 4/20 Le Sueur (500, Sakatah Lake) KrR. | ||
| Pelicans | |||||
| American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) | 30 | 52 | Early south (median 3/26) 3/13 Dakota CPu, 3/28 Lac qui Parle DLP, 3/29 in nine counties. Early north (median 4/7) 3/31 Aitkin CAB, 4/3 Polk fide JMJ, St. Louis PLJ, 4/13 Grant RAE, HHD. High counts 4/15 Winona (1,100, Prairie Island Road) DBz, 4/26 Washington (415) JHg. | ||
| BROWN PELICAN (Pelecanus occidentalis) | 1 | Fourth state record 5/31–6/1 Freeborn (Myre-Big Island S.P.) BAb, ph. GLa. | |||
| Bitterns, Herons, Egrets, Night-Herons | |||||
| Least Bittern (Botaurus exilis) | 1 | 5 | All south reports: 5/6 Wabasha (Lake Zumbro) JBn, 5/20 Washington DaR, 5/21 Ramsey (Crosby Farm R.P.) JoD, 5/23 Carver (Carver P.R.) JCy, 5/25 Hennepin (Wood Lake N.C.) CAs, 5/26 Wabasha (2, Whitewater W.M.A.) SHo, 5/31 Hennepin LMS. Only north report 5/25 Kanabec DPG. | ||
| American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus) | 16 | 16 | Early south (median 4/18) 4/16 Rice TFB, 4/21 Dakota BAF, Fillmore MMo, 4/25 Houston JEB, Nicollet RAE. Early north (median 4/18) 4/16 Mille Lacs ToL, 4/26 Pine JMP, 4/29 Marshall fide JMJ. | ||
| LITTLE BLUE HERON (Egretta caerulea) | 2 | All reports 5/18 Nobles (Alternate II plumage, Round Lake) ph. RMD, m.ob., 5/29 Rice (adult, Cowling Arboretum) †JBk. | |||
| Snowy Egret (Egretta thula) | 1 | 4 | All south 4/26–27 Houston (2, Root River) †MPn, †DSt, †MyH, m.ob., 5/7 Blue Earth (Lake Ida) ph. fide ChH, 5/10 Rock (Blue Mounds S.P.) †CRM, 5/15 Houston ANy, DBz, MGo, JWH, 5/22 Big Stone (2, Long Lake) DLP. All north 5/3–5 Marshall (Agassiz Valley Watershed Impoundment) WHB, ph. †SAu, PEB, DAC, RBJ. | ||
| Yellow-crowned Night Heron (Nyctanassa violacea) | 1 | Only report 5/2 Ramsey (Little Canada) JGs. | |||
| Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) | 7 | 21 | Early south (median 3/29) 4/1 Hennepin RCB, 4/20 Lyon DaB. All north reports: 4/24 Otter Tail (4, Battle Lake) JsS, JSw, 4/25 Pennington (2) SAS, 4/28 Otter Tail (Fergus Falls) SWt, 4/29 Marshall (Agassiz N.W.R.) GAK, 5/1 Polk (Grand Marais Creek) SAu, 5/4 Kittson DAC, RBJ, LW, 5/16–18 Grant WCM, m.ob., 5/22–24 Otter Tail (7, Fergus Falls) PEB, 5/15 St. Louis (Park Point) ph. SZ. | ||
| Green Heron (Butorides virescens) | 14 | 34 | Early south (median 4/21) 4/16 Fillmore (Geothetic W.M.A.) RTP, 4/26 Fillmore (Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center) StD, 4/27 Hennepin SBM. Early north (median 5/3) 5/5 Mille Lacs DPG, 5/9 Cass MRN, 5/12 Becker RAE. High counts 5/15 Houston (10) ANy, 5/29 Chisago (6, North Dam, Carlos Avery W.M.A.) JSa. | ||
| Great Egret (Ardea alba) | 19 | 50 | Early south (median 3/22) 3/29 Dakota RaM, 4/3 Faribault WAF, 4/4 Ramsey RNe, Rice DAB. Early north (median 4/1) 4/10 Otter Tail SAv, 4/15 Douglas PJK, 4/16 Becker ASM. High counts 4/29 Rice (100, Cannon/Wells Lake) JHl, DAT, 5/11 Otter Tail (91, Grotto Lake) DST. Unusual Northeast report 5/23 St. Louis LMS | ||
| Western Cattle-Egret (Ardea ibis) | 3 | 8 | Twenty-four individuals. All south reports: 4/22 Dakota (2, 180 St. Marsh) JLO, 4/30 Faribault WAF, 5/3 McLeod PRH, 5/14–15 Houston (max. 7, between Hokah and La Crescent) ph. DSt, ANy, DBz, MGo, JWH, 5/16–21 Winona (Bartlet Lake) MGo, m.ob., 5/22 Steele (Saco) †PSu, 5/23–24 Scott MJM, BAb, GLa, 5/24 Le Sueur (5, near Heidelberg) RBW. All north reports: 4/28 Grant (2, Wendell) KRE, ALo, 5/1 Otter Tail (2) GO, 5/11 Polk RAE. | ||
| Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) | 30 | 53 | Early south (away from overwintering areas) 3/6 Blue Earth ChH, 3/9 Meeker (Litchfield) JAn, 3/13 Dakota CPu. Early north (median 3/20) 3/29 Clearwater KLa, Crow Wing MRN, Douglas JPE, Pine JMP, St. Louis KJB, 4/2 Becker fide JMJ, Otter Tail JDo, 4/3 Cass BAW. High count 4/28 Carver (96, Lake Waconia) WCM. | ||
| Ibises | |||||
| GLOSSY IBIS (Plegadis falcinellus) | 1 | 2 | The end of April produced the state's fifth, sixth and seventh state records, each an adult in Definitive Alternate plumage: 4/24 Kittson (near C.R. 4 and 370th Ave.) ph. TBr, 4/26–27 Houston (C.R. 26 at the Root River) MPn, ph. †ANy, ph. DAC, 4/30 Olmsted (Silver Creek Reservoir) CAK, †JWH, ph. ANy. Also see documented reports still under review, and The Loon 85:199–212. | ||
| White-faced Ibis (Plegadis chihi) | 9 | 17 | A remarkable total of 43 records comprising 157 birds for the season! All reports were south and west of a line from Winona to Meeker to Marshall counties. Early south (median 4/28) 4/16 Lyon DaB. Early north 4/19 Becker ASM, 4/20 Clay (2) TCL. Many first county records: 4/20 Freeborn (Myre-Big Island S.P.) HHD, 4/24–5/1 Kittson (max. 7 at C.R. 4 and 370th Ave.) TrB, 5/4 McLeod (along Meeker McLeod Avenue about 1/4 mile north of C.R. 14) ph. MiO, 5/3–6 Pennington (2, west side of Thief River Falls) PJo, ph. JMJ, 4/27 Stevens (2, Alberta) DLP. Freeborn, Kittson and Stevens also had subsequent records this season. High counts were 30 on 5/1 in Stevens (near Donnelly) DO, and 17 on 5/5 in Wilkin (Manston Marsh, with 5 additional Plegadis) RAE. See summer report for late spring migrants, north and south, and The Loon 85:199–212. for a more complete summary of this season's influx. | ||
| Glossy Ibis X White-faced Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus X P. chihi) | The first apparent hybrid within this genus documented in Minnesota is also the northernmost ibis ever found in the state and the first for this county: 4/26–30 Lake of the Woods (Northwest Angle) ph. MFr, KaC. | ||||
| Plegadis ibis (Plegadis sp.) | 1 | 1 | All reports: approx. 4/24 in Swift (3 near Danvers) CaG, 5/5 Wilkin (5 at Manston Marsh, along with 17 White-faced Ibis) RAE. Additional reports of Plegadis ibis were identified as White-faced by others and have been included in that account. | ||
| New World Vultures | |||||
| Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) | 33 | 51 | Early south (median 3/11) 3/8 Winona ANy, 3/14 Rice TFB, 3/19 Goodhue GJM, Wright HCT. Early north (median 3/30) 4/2 Otter Tail GO, 4/3 Cass MRN, Otter Tail DST, Polk SAu, St. Louis MSS, 4/4 Mille Lacs ToL. High counts 4/9 Washington (168, Afton) BRL, 4/22 St. Louis (93, W.S.H.C.) EBr. | ||
| Osprey | |||||
| Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) | 29 | 43 | Early south (median 3/27) 3/26 Washington RZi, 3/31 Hennepin KMo, Winona MGo. Early north (median 4/1) 4/2 Becker fide JMJ, 4/4 Cass MRN, 4/10 Itasca SC. | ||
| Kites, Accipiters, Hawks, Eagles | |||||
| Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) | 5 | 10 | All south reports: 3/1 Chippewa DLP, 3/2 Houston JPr, 3/3 Houston StD, DJa and Sherburne JGb, 3/8 Lac qui Parle (presumed to be same bird as 3/1 Chippewa) DLP, 3/14 Winona MGo, 3/17 Goodhue ACr, 3/29 Hennepin RPR, Steele NFT, 4/6 Olmsted SPe, 4/14 Wabasha NMi. All north reports: 3/6 Pine JMP, 3/10 St. Louis (Sax-Zim Bog) RAn, 3/11 Polk CCr, 3/27 St. Louis KGr, 3/29 St. Louis (5, W.S.H.C.) KJB, 4/6 Polk CCr, 4/16 and 4/19 Hubbard WDe, 4/18 Morrison FGo, 4/20 Polk VLa, LiM. | ||
| Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius) | 32 | 53 | Early south (median 3/4) 3/1 Dakota RaM, 3/3 Hennepin ThM, 3/14 Rice TFB. Early north (median 3/10) 3/22 Clay RHO, 3/24 Norman KMa, 3/28 Becker ASM, Otter Tail TJa, Polk EH. | ||
| Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus) | 26 | 43 | Early south (median 3/3) 3/1 Hennepin TAT, Houston DJa, 3/2 Rice DAB, 3/5 Ramsey JFR, Wright ToL. Early north (median 3/7) 3/2 Otter Tail DST, 3/3 Hubbard MAW, Wadena PJB, 3/6 St. Louis RSt. High counts 5/6 St. Louis (17) ANy, 5/23 St. Louis (11, Park Point) JLK. Late south 5/24 Chisago FKB, 5/26 Ramsey ASi, Sherburne PEB. | ||
| Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) | 23 | 50 | Early north (median 3/18) 3/29 St. Louis (W.S.H.C.) KJB, 4/3 Polk SAu, 4/5 Crow Wing JSB. High counts 4/27 Itasca (6) SC, 3/29 Rice (5, Walcott) JLn. | ||
| American Goshawk (Accipiter atricapillus) | 9 | 5 | All south reports: 3/8 Hennepin JCn, 3/15 Lac qui Parle (juvenile, Big Stone N.W.R.) DLP, 3/29 Olmsted MHm, Rock (immature, Blue Mounds S.P.) †KRE, 4/24 Chisago JSa, 5/17 Hennepin †DWK. North reports from Cass, Clearwater, Hubbard, Itasca, Koochiching, Marshall, Mille Lacs, Otter Tail, St. Louis. | ||
| Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) | 34 | 53 | Reported from every county. High counts 3/17 Wabasha (308, Lake Pepin) ACr, 3/13 Wabasha (150, Reads Landing) AMa, 3/30 St. Louis (61, W.S.H.C.) KJB. | ||
| Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) | 9 | 26 | Early north (median 3/14) 3/16 Morrison KEm, 3/29 Crow Wing JAn, Douglas JPE, 4/8 Cass BAW. | ||
| Broad-winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus) | 28 | 33 | Early south (median 4/7) 4/7 Hennepin KvB, 4/19 Anoka DPG, 4/20 Carver WCM, Washington DAB. Early north (median 4/10) 4/10 Otter Tail GO, 4/18 Marshall CCr, 4/23 Morrison MRN. High counts 4/27 St. Louis (84, W.S.H.C.) JLK, 4/27 Itasca (61) SC. | ||
| Swainson's Hawk (Buteo swainsoni) | 6 | 24 | Early south (median 4/3) 4/13–24 Dakota ph. CMB, m.ob., 4/16 Goodhue GJM, 4/18 Washington LMS. All north 4/26–27 Wilkin †KRE, RZi, ALo, 4/27–28 Otter Tail ALo, RZi, 4/28 Clay TCL, 5/2 Grant (North Ottawa Impoundment) ph. PEB, 5/5 Wilkin RAE, 5/12 Polk VLa, SAu, 5/13 Traverse RAE, 5/15–16 Grant WCM. | ||
| Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) | 33 | 53 | Reported from 86 counties statewide. High count 4/22 St. Louis (56, W.S.H.C.) EBr. | ||
| Rough-legged Hawk (Buteo lagopus) | 25 | 44 | High count 3/29 St. Louis (24, W.S.H.C.) KJB. Late south 5/4 Big Stone PEJ, Goodhue DVe, 5/20 Ramsey EMH (median 5/10). Late north 4/30 St. Louis AM, 5/5 Marshall PEB, Wilkin RAE (median 5/24). | ||
| Barn Owls | |||||
| AMERICAN BARN OWL (Tyto furcata) | 1 | See reports still pending review by the records committee. | |||
| Screech-Owls, Owls | |||||
| Eastern Screech-Owl (Megascops asio) | 1 | 12 | South reports from Brown, Dakota, Goodhue, Hennepin, Houston, Isanti, Lyon, Nobles, Olmsted, Ramsey, Renville, and Sherburne. Only north report 4/21 Pine FKB. Very little information on color morphs: one red and one gray in Hennepin (m.ob.), and one intermediate morph 3/18 Ramsey AXH. | ||
| Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) | 22 | 38 | Reported throughout the season and state. Adults on nests in 18 counties. | ||
| Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) | 4 | 3 | Lingering birds from the winter irruption included south reports 3/11 Chippewa JHa, 3/21 Stevens DLP, 4/22 Ramsey (Roseville) KRo. All north 3/10, 3/31 Lake (west side of Two Harbors) fide JWL, 3/14 Kittson (2) fide JMJ, 3/19 Polk (near Euclid) fide JMJ, 3/26 Becker JAr, 4/20 Lake (industrial park on the north side of Two Harbors) fide JWL. Also see The Loon 85:148–149 for a more complete summary of the irruption. | ||
| Northern Hawk Owl (Surnia ulula) | 9 | Reported across the northern third of the state. First county record 3/13 Red Lake (4 miles north of Oklee) SAS. High count of 4 in Lake of the Woods on various dates between 3/6 and 3/30 BSi, GMM. Late north 4/20 Lake (Finland) CMn, 5/4 Kittson (C.R. 4 and 370th Ave.) RBJ, DAC, LW. Also found in Beltrami, Itasca, Pennington, Roseau, St. Louis. See The Loon 85:148–149 for a complete summary. | |||
| Barred Owl (Strix varia) | 16 | 31 | Observed in all regions of the state but only as far southwest as Brown and as far northwest as Pennington. High count 5/22 Cass (5) MRN. | ||
| Great Gray Owl (Strix nebulosa) | 12 | The remnants of the second largest documented irruption (The Loon 85:148–149) were all found north of a line from Carlton to Cass to Marshall. Owls were seen in St. Louis (Sax-Zim Bog) throughout the season. High count 3/25 Lake of the Woods (12, S.R. 72 and C.R. 2 north of Williams) RPR, 3/9 Roseau (9) KGg. | |||
| Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) | 4 | 7 | Late south 4/27 Sibley DWK. Also reported south from Anoka, Dakota, Houston, Lac qui Parle, Ramsey, Scott. All north reports: 4/10 Otter Tail SAv, 4/24 Morrison FGo, 4/30 St. Louis JLK, 5/24 Marshall DWK, PEB. | ||
| Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) | 2 | 7 | Observed south in Anoka, Blue Earth, Dakota, Lac qui Parle, Nicollet, Scott, Watonwan as late as 4/25 Blue Earth ChH. Only north reports: 5/5 Marshall (Agassiz N.W.R.) PEB, 5/11 Kittson DSm. | ||
| Boreal Owl (Aegolius funereus) | 13 | 5 | The fourth largest documented irruption (The Loon 85:148–149) lasted into the spring with many continuing north reports, one south report of an apparently healthy bird 3/16–17 Hennepin, and multiple discoveries south of deceased individuals 3/8 Sherburne, 3/19 Stearns, 4/21 Ramsey, and 5/7 Wright (record late south, ph. fide DAC). Late north 3/24 Clay ph. fide CRG, 3/24 St. Louis (staff at the Hartley N.C.), 3/26 St. Louis (Lester River Rd.) KJB, 4/1 Polk (deceased, East Grand Forks) VLa, and approx. 4/2 Cook FJN. | ||
| Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus) | 7 | 4 | Found south in Hennepin, Ramsey, Rice, and as late as 4/6 Houston JSv. Observed north beginning 3/26 Lake NLM, followed by reports from Becker, Carlton, Cook, Crow Wing, Itasca, St. Louis. | ||
| Kingfishers | |||||
| Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) | 32 | 50 | Observed south throughout the season. Early north (median 3/26) 3/29 Douglas JPE, 4/4 Otter Tail RJo. High counts 3/29 and 4/6 Carver (4, Rapids Lake Unit, Minnesota Valley N.W.R.) JCy. | ||
| Woodpeckers | |||||
| Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) | 19 | 38 | First south observation 3/1 Houston DJa probably refers to overwintering individual; probable migrants well before recent median 4/22 first reported 4/5 Faribault WAF, 4/6 Lyon GWe. Early north (median 4/25) 4/19 and 4/27 Hubbard WDe, 5/16 Wadena JDi. High count 5/17 Rock (5, Blue Mounds S.P.) GJa. | ||
| Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) | 28 | 53 | Observed statewide as far northeast as Cook and as far northwest as Marshall. High counts 5/14 Ramsey (12, Crosby Farm R.P.) DAd, 4/20 Dakota (10, Lake Byllesby R.P.) SMy, 5/5 Hennepin (10, Elm Creek P.R.) TLo, 4/21 Hennepin (8, Elm Creek P.R.) TLo, 5/6 Anoka (8, King's Island) SaH. | ||
| Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) | 31 | 48 | South reports 3/1 Benton MJB and 3/12 Ramsey BMz probably refer to overwintering birds; all other south reports after recent median 3/28 beginning 3/30 Blue Earth ChH, Hennepin ABL, Rice JLn, Scott GLa. Early north (median 4/5) 4/5 Clay SHe, 4/7 St. Louis JWL. High count 5/12 Clay (10, Buffalo River S.P.) MO. | ||
| American Three-toed Woodpecker (Picoides dorsalis) | 1 | Only report 3/1 Lake of the Woods (Beltrami Island S.F.) MHK. | |||
| Black-backed Woodpecker (Picoides arcticus) | 6 | Reported from Clearwater, Hubbard, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, St. Louis. | |||
| Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) | 33 | 52 | Observed statewide. High counts 4/7 Polk (22) SAu, 5/14 Ramsey (18, Crosby Farm R.P.) DAd. | ||
| Hairy Woodpecker (Dryobates villosus) | 31 | 53 | Observed statewide. High counts 5/4 Dakota (11, Dodge N.C.) ACr, 4/8 Hennepin (8, Staring Lake Park) GJa. | ||
| Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) | 34 | 53 | Present south throughout the season. Overwintering “Red-shafted” individual continued through 3/1 Pine JMP. Early north migrants 3/10 Clay RHO, 3/25 Otter Tail DST, 3/29 Marshall CCr. High counts 4/28 Beltrami (150, Lake Bemidji) SVo, 4/27 Hubbard (35) WDe, 4/29 Becker (35) MSg. | ||
| Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) | 27 | 47 | Observed nearly statewide, as far southwest as Lincoln and Murray. | ||
| Caracaras, Falcons | |||||
| American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) | 33 | 53 | Found statewide. Overwintered widely south. Early north (median 3/7) 3/3 Wadena PJB, 3/23 Clay RHO, 3/24 Otter Tail ANy. High counts 4/6 Swift (17) ANy, 4/5 Kandiyohi (10) ANy. | ||
| Merlin (Falco columbarius) | 27 | 29 | Present north and south as the season commenced. Probable early north migrants 3/6 Pennington ZL, 3/10 Pine JMP, 3/11 Aitkin m.ob. (median 3/17). Late south migrants 5/24 Goodhue RSA, 5/27 Benton JEB, Winona RZi (median 5/18). | ||
| GYRFALCON (Falco rusticolus) | 1 | Gray morph 4/14 Dakota †KRo, ph. JCo at the Great Western Industrial Park near Randolph represents the first spring report since 2007. | |||
| Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) | 16 | 25 | Present south throughout the season. Early north (median 4/8) 3/29 St. Louis (W.S.H.C.) KJB, 3/30 St. Louis (W.S.H.C.) KJB, 4/2 St. Louis (Virginia.) SLF, 4/3 Polk SAu, 4/7 Lake JWL. | ||
| Prairie Falcon (Falco mexicanus) | No documented reports. | ||||
| Flycatchers | |||||
| Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus) | 22 | 46 | Early south (median 5/1) 4/27 Washington CBu, 4/29 Hennepin SKe, 4/30 Rice TFB. Early north (median 5/8) 5/10 Crow Wing ANy, 5/16 Grant WCM, 5/17 Clay TCL. High count of 8 recorded 5/21 Hennepin CMB, 5/24 Goodhue GHo, 5/31 Scott BAF. | ||
| Western Kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis) | 5 | 7 | Fewer reports than normal. Early south (median 5/7) 5/14 Lyon GWe, Meeker †PRH. Early north (median 5/10) 5/15 Cass JPr, 5/16 Grant WCM, 5/23 Otter Tail (3) JsS. High counts 5/26 Clay (4) TCL, 5/28 Otter Tail (4) JSe, 5/29 Anoka (4) AXH. | ||
| Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) | 30 | 50 | Early south (median 4/27) 4/25 Rice TFB, 4/27 Hennepin CMB. Early north (median 5/6) 5/8 Carlton ANy, 5/10 Norman RZi, GHo, Pine JMP. High counts 5/27 Stearns (31) RPR, 5/26 Otter Tail (30) JSe. | ||
| Olive-sided Flycatcher (Contopus cooperi) | 19 | 31 | Early south (median 5/7) 5/10 Hennepin (3) GJa, 5/13 Sherburne PLJ. Early north (median 5/15) 5/11 Morrison (Crane Meadows N.W.R.) MJB, 5/14 Beltrami JPr, 5/15 Wadena DBM. High counts 5/25 Washington (6, Grey Cloud Dunes S.N.A.) SBM, 5/29 Lyon (6, Camden S.P.) GWe, 5/29 Otter Tail (6) JSe. See summer report for late south migrants. | ||
| Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens) | 23 | 44 | Early south (median 5/5) 5/3 Washington BAb, 5/9 Ramsey MaM, Steele PSu. Early north (median 5/12) 5/14 Polk VLa, 5/16 Grant MKu, Itasca SC, Pine JMP. Second highest spring count 5/31 Scott (14, Murphy-Hanrehan P.R.) BAF. | ||
| Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (Empidonax flaviventris) | 15 | 33 | Reported with details from 12 south and 6 north counties. Early south (median 5/11) 5/17 Steele PSu, 5/18 Hennepin CMB, TAT, Stevens DLP. Early north (median 5/20) 5/19 Crow Wing JCC, 5/25 Carlton JCC. High count 5/30 St. Louis (36, Duluth) JLK, PHS. Note: During spring and fall migration, undocumented records of silent Empidonax flycatchers are not included in this report. Observers are encouraged to include identification details in their reports. | ||
| Acadian Flycatcher (Empidonax virescens) | 8 | All south reports with details (median arrival 5/16): 5/20 Rice TFB, 5/21 Dakota BRL, 5/27 Washington MHu, 5/31 Brown BTS. | |||
| Alder Flycatcher (Empidonax alnorum) | 16 | 38 | Details included from 17 south and 4 north counties. Early south (median 5/16) 5/12, 5/14 Sherburne PLJ, 5/18 Nobles JWH. Early north (median 5/17) 5/27 Pine JCC, 5/30 Douglas RMD, St. Louis SLF. High counts 5/23 Carver (18, all singing/calling, Carver P.R.) JCy. See summer report for late south migrants. | ||
| Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii) | 6 | 26 | Early south (median 5/9) 5/13 Dakota TAT, 5/17 Hennepin BAF, 5/19 Dakota DFN. All north reports 5/18 Grant DWK, HCT, PEB, 5/22 Clay PEB. High count 5/26 Murray (12) GWe. | ||
| Least Flycatcher (Empidonax minimus) | 32 | 52 | Reported with details from 22 south and 9 north counties. Early south (median 5/1) 4/30 Ramsey RMD, 5/8 Hennepin CMB, Rice TFB. Early north (median 5/6) 5/13 Polk VLa, 5/17 Norman JoF, 5/18 Grant DWK. High counts 5/31 St. Louis (34) PHS, 5/30 St. Louis (28) PHS. | ||
| Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) | 33 | 49 | Early south (median 3/21) 3/29 Rice JLn, then reported from seven counties on 3/30. Early north (median 3/29) 4/3, 4/4 Becker LiS, 4/4–5 Cass BAW, 4/5 Morrison (2) MRN. High counts 4/13 Dakota (18, Trout Brook, Miesville Ravine C.P.) KDS, 4/9 Washington (15, Oakdale Park) BDo, 4/13 Dakota (14, Black Dog Lake) CAs. [Corrected] | ||
| Say's Phoebe (Sayornis saya) | 3 | 1 | Four or five individuals reported this season, well above average. Only south report 5/4 Big Stone (Big Stone N.W.R.) †PEJ, †DFN. North reports commenced 4/30 Polk (DNR office on highway 32) ph. †EH, this bird reappeared 5/7; 5/2 Otter Tail ph. JSw, JsS; one was found by an MBW group 5/12 Clay (Felton Prairie) ph. †KRE, GHo, LS, JPr, RZi; a second record for Clay (perhaps the same individual) was seen just over a mile to the SSE, 5/22 †PEB, †DWK. | ||
| Vireos | |||||
| White-eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus) | No reports. | ||||
| Bell's Vireo (Vireo bellii) | 9 | Reported from a record-high 9 counties, including a first county record 5/26+ Chisago (Shafer W.T.P.) RBW. Early south (median 5/15) 5/12 Hennepin (Hyland Lake P.R.) MHu, 5/12–16 Hennepin (General Mills Research Nature Area) RCB, SFl, AMa, 5/14 Anoka BMc, Dakota DHn. High count 5/31 Wabasha (3) SHo. | |||
| Yellow-throated Vireo (Vireo flavifrons) | 24 | 45 | Early south (median 5/1) 5/1 Hennepin CAs, 5/2 Ramsey JaK, 5/5 Carver ALo, CRM. Early north (median 5/9) 5/14 Pine (2) JMP, 5/15 Cass (2) BAW, Douglas JPr, Grant WCM. High counts 5/25 Clay (9, Buffalo River S.P.) MO, 5/26 Becker (8) MO. | ||
| Blue-headed Vireo (Vireo solitarius) | 23 | 44 | Early south (median 4/28) 4/29 Olmsted MHn, 4/30 Dakota HSt, Hennepin JJo, Steele PSu. Early north (median 5/5) 5/1 Hubbard MaH, St. Louis (2) JLK, 5/7 Carlton MJM. High count 5/15 Dakota (7, Spring Lake P.R.) DVe. Late south 5/30 Carver JCy, Hennepin TLo, Steele PSu, but see summer report for more late migrants (median 5/31). | ||
| Philadelphia Vireo (Vireo philadelphicus) | 15 | 42 | Early south (median 5/7) 5/13 Anoka DPG, Hennepin (2) GJa, Kandiyohi WCM, then widespread arrivals 5/14. Early north (median 5/14) 5/14 Cass BAW, 5/15 Todd DBM, 5/16 Pine (2) JMP. High count 5/19 Otter Tail (10) JsS. Late south 5/30 Hennepin TAT, Steele (2) PSu, 5/31 Rice TFB (median 5/30). | ||
| Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus) | 19 | 45 | Early south (median 5/1) 4/30 Houston SHo, 5/1 Houston ANy, 5/5 Hennepin DMI. Early north (median 5/8) 5/13 Polk SAu, 5/15 Grant WCM, 5/16 Itasca SC, 5/17 Becker DBM, Clay RHO, Mahnomen CAB. High counts 5/15 Hennepin (8) CMB, 5/16 Carver (8) JCy. | ||
| Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus) | 27 | 50 | Early south (median 5/6) 5/8 Rice GHo, 5/9 Rice TFB, 5/10 Hennepin CMB, Houston SHo, 5/12 Ramsey JoD. Early north (median 5/10) 5/14 Pine EBr, 5/15 Clay TCL, Todd DBM, 5/16 Cass BAW. High counts 5/25 Houston (23) CRM, 5/25 Carver (19) JCy. | ||
| Shrikes | |||||
| Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus) | 8 | 10 | All early south reports from Dakota, beginning well after the 3/21 median: 3/30 TAT, 4/8 ADS; first reported outside Dakota county 4/26 Lac qui Parle DLP. Early north (median 4/13) 4/26 Traverse DBM, 4/27 Marshall JMJ, 4/28 Aitkin ph. BU, Clay TCL. | ||
| Northern Shrike (Lanius borealis) | 23 | 29 | High counts 3/2 Lake of the Woods (8) JMJ, 3/12 St. Louis (6, Sax-Zim Bog) SLm, PSc. Late south 4/13 Anoka AMa, Big Stone RAE, HHD, Dakota CMB, 4/16 Chisago JFR, Dakota ADS, CRM (median 4/5). Late north 4/23 St. Louis KGr, ph. JLK, 4/25 Roseau DSm (median 4/19). | ||
| Jays, Nutcrackers, Magpies, Crows | |||||
| Canada Jay (Perisoreus canadensis) | 10 | Reported from normal range, with outlying reports 3/1 Kittson DAC, RBJ, 5/3 Red Lake RAE. High count 3/1 Koochiching (40) DBM. | |||
| Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) | 34 | 52 | Reported statewide. High counts, both from Park Point, St. Louis: 5/23 (875) JLK, 5/16 (427) JLK. | ||
| Black-billed Magpie (Pica hudsonia) | 18 | Reported from throughout usual range. High count 3/30 Pennington (19) KLa. | |||
| American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) | 34 | 53 | Reported statewide. | ||
| Common Raven (Corvus corax) | 30 | 8 | Reported from throughout the north, as far south as Clay along the western border. South reports from Anoka, Chisago, Isanti, Sherburne, and Washington where this species is Regular, plus exceptional reports 4/16 Benton JGb, 4/9–22 Hennepin (Minnesota Valley N.W.R. Headquarters) KrR, BDo, 3/6 Stearns Collegeville) MJB, 4/13 Stearns (near Rice) BWF, 4/17 Stearns (2, St. Wendel Twp., Collegeville) †PCC. High count 3/12 St. Louis (29, Sax-Zim Bog) SLm, PSc. | ||
| Chickadees, Titmice | |||||
| Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) | 33 | 52 | Reported statewide. High count 3/12 St. Louis (54, Sax-Zim Bog) SLm, PSc. | ||
| Boreal Chickadee (Poecile hudsonicus) | 5 | Reported from Cook, Itasca, Lake, Lake of the Woods, and St. Louis. | |||
| Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) | 8 | Reported from six counties in usual southeast range, plus 3/4 Anoka (Circle Pines) JRk, 5/15 Washington CBu. | |||
| Larks | |||||
| Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris) | 27 | 53 | Not reported from 7 northern counties. High count 4/13 Carver (190) JCy. | ||
| Martins, Swallows | |||||
| Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia) | 23 | 40 | Early south (median 4/17) 4/21 Scott JEB, 4/22 Mower RAE, 4/26 Hennepin KvB, (15) SeH, Houston ANy. Early north (median 4/30) 5/9 Itasca ANy, 5/11 Clay RHO, ALo, JPr, Kanabec DAB, DBz, Otter Tail DST. High counts 5/17 Norman (300, colony west of Agassiz Dunes S.N.A.) MSS, 5/19 Otter Tail (60) JsS. | ||
| Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) | 32 | 52 | Early south (median 3/20) 3/26 Murray (9) TCu, 3/28 Hennepin GLa, RAE, CMB. Early north (median 4/3) 4/8 Itasca SC, 4/9 Becker ASM, Morrison MJB, 4/10 Todd BWF. High counts of 1,000 on 5/2 and 5/5 Hennepin (Long Meadow Lake) BAF, SHF. | ||
| Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis) | 20 | 40 | Early south (median 4/12) 4/22 Dakota (three separate locations) ANy, CAs, GHo, Winona DBz, 4/24 Goodhue GJM, Houston DBz. Early north (median 4/21) 4/28 Otter Tail ALo, 4/29 Otter Tail JsS, JSw, 5/2 Mahnomen KMy, 5/3 Beltrami DPJ. High counts 5/10 Goodhue (100, Hok-si-la Park) JEc, 5/22 Goodhue (100, Prairie Island) DVe. | ||
| Purple Martin (Progne subis) | 24 | 40 | Early south (median 4/5) 3/31 Carver JCy, 4/4 Lyon (2) GWe, 4/6 Freeborn AEB. Early north (median 4/11) 4/16 Mille Lacs (2) ToL, 4/17 Crow Wing MRN, 4/23 Marshall CCr. High count 5/26 Otter Tail (125) JSe. | ||
| Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) | 32 | 52 | Early south (median 4/11) 3/28 Faribault (3, Rice Lake W.M.A.) ph. CoN, ClN, 4/6 Brown DWK, Goodhue BRL. Early north (median 4/19) 4/17 Douglas BEc, 4/19 Morrison FGo. High count 5/22 Goodhue (120, Prairie Island) DVe. | ||
| Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) | 28 | 48 | Early south (median 4/18) 4/14 Winona DBz, ANy, 4/22 Mower RAE. Early north (median 4/25) 4/28 Otter Tail RZi, KRE, ALo, 4/30 Mille Lacs ToL. High counts 5/23 McLeod (145) DAs, 5/7 Fillmore (130) NBO. | ||
| Kinglets | |||||
| Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula) | 29 | 50 | Early south (median 3/27) 3/29 Washington GJa, 3/30 Hennepin SBM, CAs, RSA. Early north (median 4/6) 4/21 Itasca PLe, Lake JWL, 4/22 Cook DKa. High count 4/28 St. Louis (47) JLK. Late south 5/23 Isanti MHe, WAn, Le Sueur PBo, 5/25 Brown JSS, McLeod RBJ (median 5/24). | ||
| Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa) | 17 | 43 | Early south (median 3/25) 3/30 Carver JCy, Dakota ADS, BDo, ACr, KDS, Hennepin CMB, RDa, CAs, RSA, Winona ANy, JWH. Early north (median 3/25) 4/6 Pine SuB, 4/8 St. Louis EBr, 4/10 Cook ph. DMB. High counts 4/18 Carver (25, Rapids Lake, Minnesota Valley N.W.R.) JCy, 4/10 Washington (24, Lake Elmo R.P.) BDo. 5/23 Sherburne (2) JGb, 5/26 Sherburne DWK (median 5/7). | ||
| Waxwings | |||||
| Bohemian Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus) | 11 | 1 | Only south report 4/22 Stearns (17) MJB. High counts 3/29 St. Louis (1,598, W.S.H.C.) KJB, 3/13 St. Louis (1,100, H.R.N.R.) PSc. Several very late reports north 5/18 Itasca SC, 5/26 St. Louis (6) †TPW, 5/30 St. Louis LBe (median 4/17). | ||
| Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) | 21 | 41 | Early north migrants 4//1 Wadena JDi, 4/5 Polk SAu. High count 5/30 St. Louis (1,125 at Park Point) JLK. | ||
| Nuthatches | |||||
| Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) | 25 | 33 | High count 5/15 Beltrami (10) KCo. Late south 5/27 Rice DAB, 5/31 Chisago HHD, but note that this species is known to breed along the northern edge of the south region. | ||
| White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) | 31 | 53 | Reported statewide. High count 5/4 Ramsey (23, Crosby Farm R.P.) SeH. | ||
| Creepers | |||||
| Brown Creeper (Certhia americana) | 24 | 48 | Overwintered St. Louis. Early north migrants 3/25 Cass ANy, 4/2 Cass MRN, 4/6 Pine SuB. High count 5/1 St. Louis (15, Southworth Marsh, Park Point) JLK. Late south 5/16 Dakota HSt, Washington JoF (median 5/20). Territorial birds observed in Ramsey (Crosby Farm R.P.) through end of season. | ||
| Gnatcatchers | |||||
| Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea) | 9 | 45 | Early south (median 4/21) 4/23 Wabasha RTP, 4/26 Wabasha GJM. Early north (median 5/6) 5/9 Otter Tail PEB, 5/15 Douglas JPr, Wadena DBM, 5/16 Grant WCM. Out-of-range north report 5/29–30 Polk (2, Red Lake River Greenway) ph. †SAu. High counts 5/15 Washington (21) PAl, 5/18 Scott (14) BAF, SHF. | ||
| Wrens | |||||
| Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) | 5 | All south reports: 3/1–4/3 Olmsted (2 overwintering in Rochester) ANy, JWH, SC, 3/2–29 Anoka (overwintering bird in Linwood) DWK, HHD, RAE, CRM, MJB, 3/29–4/6 Winona (near Elba) JPr, HHD, RAE, 4/15 Hennepin SKe, 4/20 Ramsey CCh, 5/4 Mower (successfully overwintered) BPl. | |||
| Northern House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) | 27 | 50 | Early south (median 4/17) 4/18 Hennepin (3) ESe, 4/19 Dakota GJa. Early north (median 4/29) 5/8 Otter Tail ARo, St. Louis ANy, 5/11 Morrison MJB. High counts 5/8 Hennepin (17) CMB, 5/9 Carver (15) JCy. | ||
| Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis) | 15 | 30 | Early south (median 3/27) 3/8 Houston (overwintered?) SHo, 3/30, 3/31 Dakota ADS, 3/31 Carver JCy, Hennepin TAT, CMB, Rice TFB. In contrast to 2012, early north arrivals were well after the 4/6 median: 4/25 Itasca, St. Louis SC, 4/26 Lake NLM. All late south reports from Houston (Beaver Creek Valley S.P.): 5/18 HHD, DSt, 5/25 RZi, KRE, CRM, 5/29 JEB (median 5/13). | ||
| Sedge Wren (Cistothorus stellaris) | 24 | 32 | Early south (median 4/27) 4/30 Rice TFB, 5/1 Goodhue CBu. Early north (median 5/3) 5/1 St. Louis JLK, 5/6 Marshall PEB. High counts 5/29 Aitkin (22, Rice Lake N.W.R.) TKe. | ||
| Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris) | 19 | 42 | Early south (median 4/25) 4/26 Sherburne JGb, 4/27 Faribault CoN, 4/28 Olmsted JP. Early north (median 5/4) 5/8 Polk VLa, 5/11 Otter Tail DST, 5/12 Becker ALo. | ||
| Thrashers, Mockingbirds | |||||
| Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) | 32 | 52 | Early south (median 4/27) 4/28 Ramsey BNW, 4/29 Carver WCM, 4/30 Isanti JSa. Early north (median 5/6) 4/25 Hubbard MAW, 5/7 St. Louis (Indian Point, Duluth) JLK. High counts 5/17 Hennepin (30, Minnesota Valley N.W.R. Headquarters) DaM, MAM, 5/22 Washington (16, Grey Cloud Dunes S.N.A.) PNi. | ||
| Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum) | 28 | 52 | Overwintering bird continued through 3/16 Carver (Minnesota Landscape Arboretum) KSo. Early south (median 4/12) 4/6 Ramsey FKB, 4/7 Carver JCy, 4/8 Hennepin CMB. Early north (median 4/23) 4/27 St. Louis KGr, Todd DTM, JeM, 4/28 Beltrami FGo, Hubbard MAW, Mahnomen CSo, Otter Tail RZi. High count 4/29 Washington (12, Grey Cloud Dunes S.N.A.) BDo. | ||
| Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) | 4 | 6 | All south 5/2–3 McLeod KdB, 5/6 Anoka ph. †CKB, 5/11–14 Ramsey (Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary) JPS, ph. LMS, m.ob., 5/18 Scott DiW, first county record 5/26 Chisago ph. †CaC. All north 4/29–5/7 St. Louis (Park Point) DRB, ph. PHS, ph. AM, ph. JLK, m.ob., 5/10–14 Pine †JMP, 5/11 Becker KBl, 5/30 St. Louis RAE, ALo, JLK, CRM, 5/31 Cook KRE, CRM. [Corrected] | ||
| Starlings | |||||
| European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) | 34 | 52 | Reported statewide. High counts of 500 at the mouth of Miller Creek, Duluth 4/16, 4/23, 4/27 JLK, 4/28 AM. | ||
| Thrushes | |||||
| Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) | 31 | 53 | Early south (median 3/1) 3/3 Houston (6) DJa, 3/11 Anoka SaH, Rice TFB, 3/13 Goodhue GJM. Early north (median 3/16) 3/29 Douglas JPE, 4/2 Douglas BEc, Traverse DLP, 4/3 Mille Lacs ToL, Morrison (3) JeM, DTM. High counts 4/12 Washington (20) PNi. | ||
| MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD (Sialia currucoides) | 1 | 1 | Only south report 4/30–5/2 Rice (female, River Bend N.C.) TFB. One north report 5/6 Lake (Two Harbors cemetery) ph. JWL. | ||
| Townsend's Solitaire (Myadestes townsendi) | 2 | 3 | All south: one found by TAT 2/23 Hennepin (St. Mary's Cemetery, Minneapolis) continued through 3/17 ph. RTe, ph. SBM, m.ob.; 3/1 Lac qui Parle (Hantho boat access) DLP; 3/13, 4/1 Sherburne (Ann Lake campground) PLJ (median late 3/25). Two north reports: 3/3 St. Louis (Duluth) PCa, 5/11 Aitkin (third May record, Rice Lake N.W.R.) ph. BU (median late 4/10). | ||
| Veery (Catharus fuscescens) | 30 | 32 | Early south (median 5/1) 5/4 Houston DBz, Winona DBz, MGo, 5/5 Carver m.ob., Dakota (2) SLP, Hennepin CMB, ThM, Olmsted SHk, MHm, Rice TFB, PDK, DAT, Steele (2) PSu, Winona ClN. Early north (median 5/8) 5/5 Mille Lacs DPG, St. Louis (2) JLK, 5/9 Hubbard MaH. Record high count of 43 in St. Louis (Park Point) during passerine fallout on 5/19 PHS, JLK, MLH. | ||
| Gray-cheeked Thrush (Catharus minimus) | 13 | 37 | Early south (median 5/3) 5/4–5 Winona MGo, 5/5 Blue Earth RBW, Carver LS, MHu, ALo, CRM, Faribault DBz, Hennepin TAT, Olmsted SHk, LAV, Sherburne PLJ, Washington BDo. Early north (median 5/8) 5/5 Clay TCL, 5/6 Crow Wing MRN, 5/9 Hubbard MaH. Record high count 5/19 Polk (25, Oakdale Cemetery) VLa, SAS. | ||
| Swainson's Thrush (Catharus ustulatus) | 27 | 46 | Early south (median 4/26) 4/20 Dakota SLP, 4/27 Hennepin TLo, 4/30 Hennepin JJo, Steele PSu. Early north (median 5/2) 5/2 Clay TCL, 5/5 St. Louis JLK, 5/9 Clay RHO, Polk SAu, Wadena RAE. Record high count of 135 in St. Louis (Park Point) on 5/19 PHS, JLK, MLH, also on 5/19, but on the opposite side of the state, 70 were counted in Polk (Oakdale Cemetery) VLa, SAS. Late south 5/30 Chisago RZi, Hennepin m.ob., Rice DAT, but also see summer report (median 6/1). | ||
| Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) | 30 | 50 | Overwintering bird continued through 3/6 Hennepin CMB. Early south migrants 3/23 Winona HHD, RAE, 3/30 Carver JCy, Dakota KDS, Hennepin CMB, MaP. Early north (median 4/10) 4/4 Morrison FGo, 4/5 Clay SHe, 4/6 Morrison MJB. Record high count 4/17 Lyon (357, Camden S.P.) RJS, also 5/8 St. Louis (46, Park Point) KJB. Late south 5/24 Dakota DVe, 5/29 Lyon GWe (median 5/16). | ||
| Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina) | 17 | 36 | Early south (median 5/1) 4/28 Rice TFB, 5/2 Steele PSu. Early north (median 5/8) 5/9 Hubbard MaH, 5/15 Mille Lacs ToL, 5/16 Grant WCM. High count 5/29 Aitkin (14, Rice Lake N.W.R) TKe. | ||
| American Robin (Turdus migratorius) | 33 | 53 | Reported statewide. High counts 4/20 Dakota (2,300 at Great Western Industrial Park) BAF, 4/16 Dakota (750, Dodge N.C.) JJa. | ||
| Varied Thrush (Ixoreus naevius) | 4 | 1 | Only south report 3/4–15 Mower RNS, ph. JEM, m.ob. North overwintering birds continued through 3/9 Itasca SC, CRM, and 3/7 Beltrami RAE. Other north reports 3/16–4/21 St. Louis (East Duluth) fide JWL, PLJ, 4/11 Clay KBr, 4/19 St. Louis (Duluth) CCE. | ||
| Old World Sparrows | |||||
| House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) | 31 | 53 | Reported statewide. | ||
| Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) | 1 | Ninth state record 5/26 Hennepin (Corcoran) ph. †ABL. | |||
| Pipits | |||||
| American Pipit (Anthus rubescens) | 14 | 34 | Early south (median 4/10) 3/29 Blue Earth ChH, 3/30 Nobles DFN, 4/1 Dakota FKB. Early north (median 4/28) 4/27 Grant DPG, Wilkin RZi, KRE, ALo, 4/28 Itasca SC. High counts 4/30 Rice (53) TFB, 5/14 Carver (46) CRM. Late south 5/18 Hennepin EMy, Le Sueur ChH, AnK, Nobles ANy, DAB, RMD, JWH, Stevens DLP, 5/19 Pipestone ANy, JWH (median 5/16). Late north 5/23 Marshall DWK, 5/25 Pine JCC (median 5/22. | ||
| Finches | |||||
| Evening Grosbeak (Coccothraustes vespertinus) | 11 | Reported throughout the season in the northern third of the state. High counts 3/8 Koochiching (50) RAE, 3/12 St. Louis (36) SLm, PSc. | |||
| Pine Grosbeak (Pinicola enucleator) | 13 | 1 | One south report of a small flock (2–10) that overwintered in Anoka (Nowthen) through 3/17 CKB. Late north 3/17 Cass KdB, St. Louis (6, Duluth) CCE, 3/19 St. Louis SC, 3/23 Itasca SC, Pine JMP, 3/23–29 Cook (max. 3, Tofte) JaJ (median 4/6). | ||
| House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) | 29 | 52 | Reported statewide. | ||
| Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus) | 28 | 35 | Found in every region. Several very late south reports 5/28 Brown BTS, 5/31 Brown MiO (median 5/17). See summer report for more south reports including breeding records. Season high count 5/14 Lake (62) JHy. | ||
| Redpoll (Common) (Acanthis f. flammea) | 27 | 45 | High counts 3/3 Hubbard (350) MAW, 3/30 Washington (300) ASi, 4/2 Polk (300) SAu, 4/6 Otter Tail (300) DST. Late south 5/2 Hennepin ChC, Isanti MHe, Scott JEB, 5/3–17 Chisago JSa (median 4/6). Late north 5/4–7 Itasca (Secret Lake) PLe, Otter Tail DST, 5/9 Polk SAu, 5/13 Hubbard MaH (median 5/4). [Corrected] | ||
| Redpoll (Hoary) (Acanthis f. exilipes) | 11 | 12 | More reports than is typical especially from the extreme southern third of the state. Late south 4/2 McLeod PRH, Ramsey †MJM, 4/6 Chisago DPi, Hennepin ABL, 4/14 Hennepin DBM (median 3/12). New county records: 3/23 Houston (Caledonia) HHD, RAE, GLa, 3/23 Nobles (Hawkeye C.P.) †KRE, ALo, BTS. Also unusual south 3/22 Lyon GWe, 3/2–28 Rice DAB, MJB, JLn. Late north 4/25 St. Louis AM, JLK, 4/30 St. Louis KRE, and one bird seen in East Grand Forks, Polk County since winter through 5/14 when it died ph. SAu. | ||
| Red Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) | 13 | 8 | All south reports 3/8 Hennepin ACr, 4/11 Cottonwood TrF, 4/15 Jackson TPe, 4/17 Mower BPl, 4/18 Washington JLM, 5/23 Dakota BSe, 5/26 Freeborn DBM, 5/28 Dodge (Blooming Prairie) JPr. Reported sporadically north throughout the season. Late north 4/28 Hubbard (10) MaH, 5/9 Wadena RAE, 5/19 Red Lake fide PEB, 5/29 Pine EBr. | ||
| White-winged Crossbill (Loxia leucoptera) | 1 | 3 | All reports for this sporadic species: 3/3 Olmsted (5, Kutzky Park, Rochester) SHk, 4/2 Hennepin (Minneapolis) MDu, 4/16 Carver (Chaska) JCy, 5/7 St. Louis (Duluth) ANy. | ||
| Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus) | 27 | 44 | Found statewide. Late south 5/27 Carver WCM, Steele PSu, 5/28 Hennepin DCZ, 5/29 Dakota ADS, 5/30 Dodge JWH, Goodhue LEC (median 5/21) but see summer report for records into June. High count 5/17 Polk (100) SAu. | ||
| American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) | 32 | 53 | Reported statewide. High count 5/16 Fillmore (115) NBO. | ||
| Longspurs and Snow Buntings | |||||
| Lapland Longspur (Calcarius lapponicus) | 12 | 42 | Present north and south as season began. High counts 4/7 Big Stone (300) WCM, 4/13 Dakota (300) SHF. Late south 5/3 Wabasha ANy, Wright RBJ, 5/5 Blue Earth ChH, MiO, Stearns PCC (median 5/4). Late north 5/18 Todd DPG, 5/19 St. Louis JLK, 5/20 St. Louis KJB (median 5/19). | ||
| CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPUR (Calcarius ornatus) | 1 | 1 | One south report, first county record 5/5 Blue Earth (male in Alternate plumage with large flock of Smith's Longspurs, Lincoln W.P.A.) JPr. All north reports from traditional Felton Prairie location, first reports 5/11 RZi, 5/12 ph. GHo (median 4/24). | ||
| Smith's Longspur (Calcarius pictus) | 2 | 3 | All south 4/28 Lac qui Parle LWh, ph. SvB, 5/5–6 Blue Earth (100, estimated number at Lincoln W.P.A.; one photgraphed) ph. ChH, m.ob., 5/7 Lac qui Parle FGo, 5/15 Kandiyohi JoS (median early 4/19, late 4/28). All north 4/27 Wilkin ALo, KRE, RZi, 5/11–12 Clay KRE, m.ob. (median early 5/7, late 5/8). | ||
| Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis) | 28 | 32 | High count 3/4 Watonwan (1,000, single flock) TSo, Many late south reports after the 3/30 median, final reports 4/17 Lyon RJS, 4/20 Carver JCy, 4/21 Big Stone DLP, Carver DPG. Late north 5/11 Marshall RAE, 5/12 Clearwater JPr, 5/13 Mahnomen JPr (median 5/8). | ||
| Towhees, Sparrows | |||||
| Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum) | 9 | 29 | Reported south of a line from Polk to Pine counties. Early south (median 4/26) 4/19 Renville MiO, 4/23 McLeod KdB, 4/27 Dakota BAF, SHF, RTe, 4/28 Hennepin BMa. Early north (median 5/7) 5/11 Clay RZi, 5/12 Clay LS, GHo, 5/15 Grant WCM, Pine JMP. High count 5/18 Morrison (8, McDougal W.M.A.) JCC. | ||
| Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus) | 9 | 33 | Early south (median 4/22) 4/15 Washington BDo, 4/26 Dakota JLO, Stearns PCC, Wabasha RMD, JWH, 4/27 Yellow Medicine JSc. Early north (median 5/4) 4/26 Todd JeM, 5/1 Polk SAu, 5/2 Grant PEB, 5/3 Polk PEB, Red Lake RAE. High count 5/18 Brown (10) MiO. New county record: 5/5 Steele JWH. | ||
| LARK BUNTING (Calamospiza melanocorys) | 1 | One report 5/18 Nobles ph. v.t. †RMD, ph. ANy, †DAB, m.ob. This is the tenth modern Nobles county record for this casual species. | |||
| Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) | 33 | 52 | Early south (median 3/26) 3/21 Dakota JLM, 3/29 Washington NRo, 3/31 Anoka ABo. First north reports from Otter Tail (median 4/11) 4/10 fide JMJ, 4/12, 4/19 KFi, followed by 4/26 Morrison RZi, Pine JMP, Todd JeM, Wadena PJB. High counts 5/25 St. Louis (142) JLK, 5/19 St. Louis (140) PHS. | ||
| Clay-colored Sparrow (Spizella pallida) | 32 | 51 | Early south (median 4/21) 4/7 Lyon GWe, 4/16 McLeod DAs, 4/20 Murray GWe, 4/26 Goodhue JWH, Rice DAB. Early north (median 4/27) 4/28 Marshall CCr, Todd DTM, 4/29 Polk SAu, 5/1 Clay RHO, Grant PEB. High count 5/15 Carver (50, Carver P.R.) JCy. | ||
| Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla) | 12 | 46 | One reported 3/2 Rice DAB, MJB was likely an overwintering individual. Early south (median 4/1) 4/1 Kandiyohi MJB, 4/5 Rice TFB, 4/6 Winona HHD, 4/7 Brown MiO. Early north (median 4/21) 4/25 Morrison FGo, 4/27 Todd JeM, 4/28 Beltrami FGo, Douglas PJK, Otter Tail RZi, VLa. High counts 5/18 Yellow Medicine (18, Upper Sioux Agency S.P.) CoN, 5/7 Scott (16, Murphy-Hanrehan P.R.) BAb. | ||
| Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca) | 27 | 50 | Early south (median 3/13) 3/9 Scott JEB, 3/23 Scott BAb, then nine counties on 3/30. North report 3/10 St. Louis CCE likely an overwintering individual. Early north (median 3/29) 4/6 Cass MRN, Douglas RnB, 4/9 Douglas BEc. High count 4/22 Hennepin (60) KrR. Late south 5/11 Hennepin TAT, 5/12 Hennepin DCZ, 5/14 Lyon GWe (median 4/29). Late north 5/22 Becker JnF, Marshall CCr (median 5/9). | ||
| American Tree Sparrow (Spizelloides arborea) | 26 | 53 | High count 4/30 St. Louis (432) KJB. Late south 5/9 Renville MiO, 5/12 Meeker HHD, 5/13 Lac qui Parle DLP, 5/14 Fillmore RTP (median 5/2). Late north 5/16 St. Louis DYo, 5/18 St. Louis CMn, 5/20 St. Louis JLK (median 5/7). | ||
| Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) | 32 | 53 | Seen statewide. High counts 4/14 Dakota (1,000) TAT, 4/13 Carver (860) JCy, 4/15 Rice (500) JHl, DAT. Late south 5/18 Hennepin HSt, Stearns JSP, Yellow Medicine CoN, 5/19 Sherburne JiB, 5/23 Redwood DBM (median 5/19). | ||
| White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) | 30 | 46 | Overwintered south in three counties. Presumed first migrants (median 4/21) 4/27 Dakota ASi, PNi, 4/29 Hennepin MaC, CMB, ABL, KOk, 4/30 Fillmore DBz, Houston SHo, Meeker JAn, Olmsted LAV, Rice TFB, Wright ToL, then nine counties on 5/1. Early north (median 4/23) 4/28 Beltrami FGo, Marshall DSm, 4/29 Marshall GAK, 4/30 Hubbard MaH, Lake JWL, Otter Tail DST, JsS, JSw, Pine JMP. High counts 5/22 St. Louis (18, Park Point) JLK, 5/1 Hennepin (15, Minnesota Valley N.W.R.) DAd, 5/14 Carver (15) CRM. Late south 5/23 Steele PSu, 5/24 Olmsted KeH (median 5/21). Late north 5/31 St. Louis DAB, JDx, KDx, ALo (median 5/25), but also see summer report. | ||
| Harris's Sparrow (Zonotrichia querula) | 28 | 44 | Overwintering reports make determining the first true migrants difficult. Presumed first migrants (median 4/3) 3/21 Rock CRM, 3/29 Rock ALo, 4/21 Sherburne JiB. Early north (median 4/28) 4/19 Otter Tail SAv, 5/2 Clay RHO, TCL, St. Louis JLK, NPo. High counts 5/18 Grant (60) DWK, 5/14 Brown (35) MiO. Late south 5/25 Ramsey BNW, 5/26 Hennepin LMS, 5/27 Benton JEB (median 5/22). Late north 5/29 Marshall CCr, 5/31 Mahnomen CSo (median 5/21). | ||
| White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) | 33 | 49 | Overwintered south and north. Presumed early south migrants 3/17 Martin ANy, DBz, Olmsted SHk, 3/27 Hennepin BeH, AlL. Early north (median 4/11) 4/23 St. Louis CMn, 4/26 Cass FAB, Morrison RZi, Todd JeM, DTM then seven other counties on 4/27. Second highest count 5/8 St. Louis (1,100, Duluth, Park Point) KJB. Also 5/9 Steele (150) PSu. Late south 5/30 Benton ToL, Chisago RZi, Hennepin TAT (median 5/27), but see summer report for late migrants. | ||
| Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus) | 24 | 53 | Early south (median 3/29) 4/4 Hennepin DwS, 4/5 Rice TFB, 4/6 Faribault WAF, Olmsted LAV, Watonwan JCC. Early north (median 4/12) 4/19 Hubbard WDe, 4/25 Morrison FGo, 4/26 Morrison JEM, DTM, Otter Tail JsS, JSw, Polk EH, Traverse DBM. High counts 4/12 Faribault (29) WAF, 5/19 Otter Tail (25) JsS. | ||
| LeConte's Sparrow (Ammospiza leconteii) | 9 | 17 | Early south (median 4/23) 4/27 Houston HHD, DBz, JWH, RAE, 4/29 Fillmore JEB, 4/30 Rice TFB, 5/1 Winona DBz. Early north (median 5/2) and unusual location 4/28 Cook DvB, 4/30–5/1 St. Louis PHS, JLK, AM, 5/17 Itasca SC, EEO, Mahnomen DBM. | ||
| Nelson's Sparrow (Ammospiza nelsoni) | 1 | 1 | Only reports 5/23 Marshall (6, Agassiz N.W.R.) PEB, 5/31 Dodge (Dodge Center, specimen) WMe, ph. †RLE. | ||
| Henslow's Sparrow (Centronyx henslowii) | 2 | 18 | Early south (median 5/11) 5/7 Wabasha DBz, 5/10 Rice JBk, 5/12 Scott (Murphy-Hanrehan P.R.) BAF, 5/14 Chisago (Wild River S.P.) JFR, Washington (Lake Elmo P.R.) DFN. All north 5/15–16 Grant WCM, 5/19 Polk JMJ, VLa, SAS. | ||
| Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) | 33 | 49 | Early south (median 4/1) 4/13 Blue Earth ChH, Wabasha DAC, RBJ, 4/14 Dakota TAT, and three other counties on 4/16. Early north (median 4/17) 4/23 Mille Lacs ToL, 4/26 Traverse DBM, 4/27 Beltrami SVo, Grant DPG, Marshall JMJ, Otter Tail ALo, Pine JMP, St. Louis JLK, Wilkin RZi, ALo. High count 5/16 Polk (55, Glacial Ridge N.W.R.) VLa. | ||
| Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) | 34 | 53 | Reported throughout the state. Presumed migrants south (but see winter report for overwintering records) (median 3/21) 3/6 Stearns BWF, 3/11 Fillmore StD, 3/13 Winona ANy. Early north (median 3/26) 4/5 Wadena PJB, 4/13 St. Louis AM, Traverse HHD, 4/18 Douglas BEc, Wadena JDi. High counts 4/22 Hennepin (45) KrR, 4/28 Beltrami (40) SVo, 4/15 Hennepin (39) CRM. | ||
| Lincoln's Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii) | 29 | 48 | Early south (median 4/12) 4/5 Hennepin HCT, 4/7 Lincoln JCC, 4/12 Hennepin CMB, 4/14 Ramsey MJB. Early north (median 4/24) 4/19 Morrison FGo, 4/28 Douglas JPE, Polk SAu, 4/29 St. Louis ALo, 4/30 Clay RHO. High counts 5/16 Yellow Medicine (25, Upper Sioux Agency S.P.) CoN, 5/14 Carver (21) CRM. Late south 5/25 Hennepin RCB, Steele PSu, Washington JJo, 5/30 Hennepin TAT (median 5/25). | ||
| Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana) | 33 | 49 | Overwintered south. Early south (median 3/24) 3/22 Rice TFB, 3/31 Hennepin KvB, 4/5 Hennepin CMB, 4/7 Carver JCy, JTe, Winona AlJ. Early north (median 4/15) 4/26 Morrison RZi, Polk SAu, 4/27 Wilkin RZi, ALo, 4/28 four more counties. High counts 4/22 Olmsted (25, Cascade Lake) LAV, 5/5 Hennepin (20, Elm Creek P.R.) TLo. | ||
| Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus) | 2 | One that overwintered in Rice (Faribault) lingered until 4/19 JLn. Two were also seen in Pipestone (Pipestone N.M.) 5/9 CRM. | |||
| Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) | 14 | 33 | One found 3/7 in Dodge KDS is presumed to have been an undetected overwintering individual. Early south (median 4/16) 3/28 Rice TFB, 4/6 Winona DSt, 4/13 Houston JSv, 4/20 Dakota SMy. Early north (median 5/4) 5/1 St. Louis JLK, 5/3 Crow Wing MLa, 5/10 Marshall CCr. High count 5/8 Winona (10, Great River Bluffs S.P.) ClN. | ||
| Yellow-breasted Chat | |||||
| Yellow-breasted Chat (Icteria virens) | 1 | Only report 5/24 Rice TFB. | |||
| Blackbirds, Orioles | |||||
| Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) | 28 | 51 | Early south (median 3/29) 4/3 Rice DAT, 4/6 Murray JCC, 4/16 Blue Earth ChH, Brown BTS, Dakota SLP, BDo, GJM. Early north (median 4/10) 4/13 Traverse RAE, HHD, 4/26 Itasca SC, EEO, 4/27 six more counties. High counts 5/29 Becker (117, Hamden Slough N.W.R.) ASM, 5/7 Redwood (37, Benedict's Slough) SVo, 5/27 Lyon (37, Lone Tree Lake) GWe. | ||
| Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) | 29 | 45 | Early south (median 5/1) 5/5 Blue Earth DAB, 5/7 Blue Earth ChH, Carver JCy, Dakota LEC, Fillmore BWF, JWH, Winona JEB. Early north (median 5/5) 5/7 Pine JMP, 5/8 Carlton ANy, Clay TCL, 5/10 Aitkin PEJ, Norman ALo. High counts 5/12 Clay (45) TCL, 5/23 Fillmore (23) CRM. | ||
| Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna) | 14 | 38 | Early south (median 3/17) 3/29 Fillmore DWK, Meeker JoS, Olmsted JWH, then four more counties on 3/30. Early north (median 3/25) 3/30 Douglas JPE, 4/4 Lake PLJ, 4/6 Cass BAW, Morrison JeM. | ||
| Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta) | 20 | 41 | Early south (median 3/15) 3/28 Rock CRM, 3/29 Brown BTS, Lac qui Parle DBM, DLP, Lyon GWe, Rock CRM, ALo, plus seven other counties on 3/30. Early north (median 3/16) 3/29 Polk VLa, CCr, 4/1 Clay RHO, 4/2 Otter Tail GO, 4/9 Becker ASM. High counts 4/17 Lyon (22) RJS, 4/7 Faribault (19) WAF. Out-of-range reports 5/18 St. Louis (near Tower) NLM, 5/7 Lake (Two Harbors) ANy. | ||
| Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurius) | 15 | 44 | Early south (median 5/7) 5/2 Hennepin JSn, RCB, AMa, 5/3 Washington BAb, 5/6 Wabasha JBn. Early north (median 5/15) 5/16 Grant WCM, 5/17 Mahnomen DBM, Polk SAu. High count 5/25 Lyon (13, Meadow Creek W.M.A.) CoN. | ||
| BULLOCK'S ORIOLE (Icterus bullockii) | 1 | An adult male was found on 5/14 in Hennepin at a residential feeder in St. Louis Park ph. †DeJ. This is only the second record for the state. | |||
| Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula) | 31 | 52 | Early south (median 4/29) 4/28 Dakota JFs, 4/30 Fillmore JeJ, Freeborn AEB, Goodhue EAa, Hennepin SMC, DbK, Ramsey RZi plus six counties on 5/1. Early north (median 5/4) 5/7 Otter Tail DST, 5/9 Hubbard MAW, Todd DTM, JeM, 5/10 St. Louis JLK. High counts 5/21 Marshall (24) JPn, 5/22 Polk (20) SAu, 5/16 Hennepin (19) CMB. | ||
| Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) | 34 | 53 | Found in all counties. Wintered throughout south. Presumed north migrants 3/28 Otter Tail DST, Hubbard WDe, 3/29 Douglas JPE. | ||
| Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) | 34 | 53 | Found in all counties. See winter reports for overwintering birds. Presumed first migrants south (median 3/13) 3/8 Nicollet GLa, CRM, ALo, 3/21 Rock CRM, 3/24 Rice JLn, 3/30 Dakota TAT. Early north (median 4/6) 3/27 Becker KBl, 4/11 Douglas JTa, 4/16 Marshall CCr. | ||
| Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus) | 23 | 46 | Early south (median 3/6) 3/21 Rock CRM, 3/25 Scott JEB, 3/28 Chippewa DLP, 3/29 Fillmore DWK, Swift DBM. South sightings peaked 4/1–20. Early north (median 3/20) 4/5 Morrison MRN, 4/13 Traverse RAE, HHD, 4/19 Morrison FGo, 4/20 Marshall CCr. North sightings peaked mid-April to the first week of May. High counts 4/18 Washington (400) LMS, 4/28 Itasca (400) EEO. Late south 5/5 Sherburne SBM, 5/7 Lac qui Parle FGo, 5/8 Ramsey RZi. (median 5/1). Late north 5/22 Pine ToL, 5/27 Clearwater DPJ, 5/30 St. Louis EBr (median 5/3). | ||
| Brewer's Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus) | 27 | 35 | Early south (median 3/15) 4/1 Rice TFB, 4/5 Sibley GLa, RAE, ALo, GHo, 4/6 Lyon GWe, McLeod PRH, Murray JCC, Watonwan JCC. Early north (median 4/2) 4/9, 4/10, 4/16 Becker ASM, then 4/19 Morrison FGo, St. Louis JLK. | ||
| Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) | 33 | 53 | See winter report for overwintering birds statewide and early migrants south. Early north (median 3/9) 4/2 Otter Tail GO, Traverse DLP, 4/4 Morrison FGo, Otter Tail DST, 4/5 Morrison MRN, Polk SAu, Wadena PJB. | ||
| Great-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus) | 4 | All reports 5/3+ McLeod (male) ph. †PRH, m.ob., 5/3+ Jackson ph. BU, 5/27 Lyon (female, Lone Tree Lake) GWe, 5/29 Big Stone (Odden W.P.A.) RMD. | |||
| Warblers | |||||
| Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla) | 29 | 41 | Early south (median 4/30) 4/30 Rice TFB, Washington MJM, 5/1 Hennepin CMB, 5/2 Hennepin CAs, Olmsted JWH. Early north (median 5/4) 4/30 St. Louis JLK, 5/2 Cass FAB. High counts 5/29 Aitkin (56, Rice Lake N.W.R.) TKe, 5/26 Becker (30, Tamarac N.W.R.) MO. | ||
| WORM-EATING WARBLER (Helmitheros vermivorum) | 1 | The first spring report since 2009 was 5/4 Anoka (Fridey) †CF, same bird also reported 5/5 ELC. | |||
| Louisiana Waterthrush (Parkesia motacilla) | 9 | Early south (median 4/23) 4/13 Rice DAB, 4/27 Steele PSu, 4/28 Washington DFN. High counts 5/11 Winona (4, Whitewater S.P.) DCZ, 5/25 Houston (4) CRM. | |||
| Northern Waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis) | 25 | 39 | Early south (median 4/25) 4/25 Winona DBz, 4/26 Wright JCn, 4/27 Houston JWH, ANy. Early north (median 5/4) 4/30 St. Louis (4) KRE, PHS, JLK, 5/2 Clay TCL. High count 5/10 Goodhue (20, Hok-si-la Park) JEc. Late south 5/29 Hennepin CMB, Lyon GWe, Washington PNi, 5/30 Carver JCy (median 5/29), but also see summer report. | ||
| Golden-winged Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera) | 22 | 35 | Early south (median 5/5) 5/8 Olmsted (2) AlJ, Ramsey AZi, TOb, Rice DAT, Washington ASi, PNi, Winona MGo, widespread arrivals 5/10. Early north (median 5/8) 5/16 Cass BAW, Itasca SC, ScW, 5/17 Becker DBM, Clay TCL, Crow Wing SMu, Mahnomen CAB, DBM, Pine RBJ. High counts 5/25 Pine (10) JCC, 5/27 Beltrami (8) PBD. Late south outside of breeding areas 5/29 Carver JCy, Lyon GWe, 5/30 Carver JCy (median 5/28). | ||
| Blue-winged Warbler (Vermivora cyanoptera) | 2 | 23 | Early south (median 5/2) 5/4 Goodhue (2) RTe, 5/7 Houston LMl, Wabasha DBz, 5/8 Rice DAB, Washington DBM, Winona MGo, ClN. Also notable was one 5/16–17 Yellow Medicine (Upper Sioux Agency S.P.) CoN. All north reports (median arrival 5/21) 5/20 Morrison FGo, 5/22 Pine JSa, 5/25 Morrison FGo. High count 5/23 Carver (8, Carver P.R.) JCy. | ||
| Golden-winged Warbler X Blue-winged Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera X V. cyanoptera) | A “Brewster's” Warbler was photographed 5/23 Pine County ph. DAC. | ||||
| Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia) | 29 | 46 | Early south (median 4/26) 4/25–28 Olmsted MHm, 4/29 Hennepin KvB, 4/30 Dakota ADS, HSt, Faribault WAF, Hennepin KvB, CMB, RDa. Early north (median 5/3) 4/30 St. Louis PHS, 5/2 Clay TCL, 5/3 Becker RAE. High count 5/13 Hennepin (21, Minnesota Valley N.W.R.) CRM. | ||
| Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea) | 1 | 16 | Well-represented with reports from 17 counties. Early south (median 5/4) 5/1 Goodhue GJM, 5/2–3 Hennepin BAF, SHF, CMB. New county record 5/27 McLeod (Lake Marion C.P.) PRH. Only north report 5/27 Otter Tail JSe. High count 5/15 Sherburne (4, along a one-mile stretch of Elk River) ADB. | ||
| Tennessee Warbler (Leiothlypis peregrina) | 29 | 51 | Early south (median 4/28) 5/1 Washington PNi, 5/2 Carver JCy, 5/3 Goodhue FKB, Hennepin fide BBA. Early north (median 5/7) 5/10 Pine JMP, 5/13 Clay SHe, Hubbard MaH, 5/14 four more counties. High counts 5/16 Carver (62) JCy, 5/19 St. Louis (61) PHS, 5/22 Washington (60) PNi. Observed late south well into June. | ||
| Orange-crowned Warbler (Leiothlypis celata) | 26 | 43 | Early south (median 4/20) 4/18 Hennepin ESe, 4/21 Ramsey RMD, RAE, 4/22 Dakota GHo, 4/24 Rice GHo. Early north (median 4/25) 4/21 Polk SAu, 4/26 Pennington JMJ, Polk EH, 4/27 Beltrami SVo, Wadena PJB. Late south 5/26 Anoka DPG, Hennepin DMI, BrW, Ramsey BNW, Winona RAE (median 5/22). Late north 5/30 Lake RAE, CRM, St. Louis m.ob., 5/31 St. Louis JLK (median 5/27). | ||
| Nashville Warbler (Leiothlypis ruficapilla) | 28 | 46 | Early south (median 4/26) 4/30 Blue Earth ChH, Dakota HSt, Mower BPl, Rice TFB, 5/1 four additional counties. Early north (median 5/3) 5/7 Itasca PLe, Pine ANy, 5/9 Douglas JTa, 5/10 Aitkin ANy, St. Louis JLK, NLM. High counts 5/19 St. Louis (53) PHS, 5/21 Hennepin (29) TLo. Late south 5/30 Washington JSP, 5/31 Chisago HHD (median 5/29). Also see summer report. | ||
| Connecticut Warbler (Oporornis agilis) | 8 | 21 | Early south (median 5/11) 5/12 Hennepin PRH, 5/16 Hennepin DWK, 5/17 Dakota EGo, Lac qui Parle DLP. All north 5/19 Otter Tail JsS, RTo, 5/21 St. Louis KJB, 5/22 Itasca CRM, Pine ToL, St. Louis RZi, JLK, 5/23 Itasca PLe, Koochiching AXH. Late south 5/28 McLeod PRH, 5/29 Anoka RBW, 5/29–30 Hennepin DWK, TAT, CMB (median 5/30). | ||
| Mourning Warbler (Geothlypis philadelphia) | 17 | 31 | Early south (median 5/9) 5/9 Hennepin KPu, 5/10 Ramsey AZi, 5/12 Winona DBM, 5/13 Hennepin CMB. Early north (median 5/14) 5/18 Grant (Tipsanah Mounds C.P.) DWK, HCT, PEB, 5/19 St. Louis (Park Point R.A.) PHS, JLK, LAV, 5/20 Clay RHO. High counts 5/21 St. Louis (11, Park Point) KJB, 5/30 St. Louis (11, Park Point) EBr, 5/29 Hennepin (8) CMB. See summer report for late south migrants and potentially summering individuals. | ||
| KENTUCKY WARBLER (Geothlypis formosa) | 4 | Four individuals reported: 5/10 Steele HHD, 5/16 Blue Earth (Rasmussen Woods) TDh, 5/17 Hennepin (Edina) KvG, 5/18 Le Sueur (Chamberlin Woods S.N.A.) ChH, AnK. | |||
| Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) | 32 | 51 | Early south (median 5/2) 4/30 Hennepin RDa, 5/1 Hennepin CAs, Houston ANy, Winona DBz. Early north (median 5/7) 5/10 Aitkin PEJ, 5/12 Douglas fide JMJ, 5/14 Pine JMP, 5/15 Cass BAW, Grant WCM, Mille Lacs ToL, St. Louis ALo. Noteable high counts 5/25 Hennepin (27, Westwood Hills N.C.) ABo, 5/10 Goodhue (20) JEc, 5/18 Hennepin (18) CMB, 5/30 St. Louis (18) PHS. | ||
| Hooded Warbler (Setophaga citrina) | 6 | All reports: 5/8–14 Hennepin (male at T.S. Roberts Bird Sanctuary) CMB, m.ob., 5/15 Washington (Mahtomedi) JHh, 5/19+ Scott (max. 5, Murphy-Hanrehan P.R.) BAF, SHF, DFN, MwS, 5/20 Rice (Northfield) DAT, 5/20 Carver (Carver P.R.) JCy, 5/23 Dakota (Ritter Farm Park) HKr, 5/24–26 Dakota (max. 2, Lebanon Hills R.P.) JSn, RaM, MHu., 5/29 Washington (2, Afton S.P.) PNi, 5/29 Hennepin (female at T.S. Roberts Bird Sanctuary) TAT, 5/29 Scott (Spring Lake R.P.) KDS. | |||
| American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) | 31 | 48 | Early south (median 5/3) 5/1 Houston ANy, 5/2 Rice TFB, 5/5 Dakota HSt, Goodhue GJM, Hennepin SOa. Early north (median 5/8) 5/8 Pine ANy, 5/11 Hubbard MAW, 5/12 Becker RAE, St. Louis DYo. High counts 5/30 St. Louis (244, Park Point) KJB, 5/19 St. Louis (185) PHS. | ||
| Cape May Warbler (Setophaga tigrina) | 24 | 29 | Most reports from the eastern half of the state. Early south (median 5/7) 5/6 Isanti MHe, 5/7 Dakota HSt, 5/8 five more counties. Early north (median 5/9) 5/9 Carlton MSS, St. Louis NLM, 5/10 Cass BAW, Norman RZi, m.ob. High count 5/19 St. Louis (92, Park Point R.A. and Southworth Marsh) PHS, JLK, MLH. Late south 5/27 Benton JEB, Hennepin GLa, but also see summer report (median 5/22). | ||
| Cerulean Warbler (Setophaga cerulea) | 2 | 15 | Early south (median 5/7) 5/5 Hennepin (Elm Creek P. R.) TLo, 5/13 Houston JEB, Olmsted SWs, Ramsey (Crosby Farm R.P.) SeH, Rice TFB, 5/14 Hennepin (Wood Lake N.C.) DWK, Wright (Lake Maria S.P.) RLR. All north 5/25 Morrison FGo, 5/26 Otter Tail JSe. | ||
| Northern Parula (Setophaga americana) | 16 | 36 | Early south (median 5/1) 5/1 Goodhue GJM, 5/3 Scott GLa, CRM, 5/5 Hennepin AVe, 5/6 Rice TFB, plus six other counties on 5/9. Early north (median 5/6) 5/14–15 Cass BAW, St. Louis ALo, JLK, 5/16 Itasca SC, 5/17 four more counties. Season high counts all from the Park Point R.A. in St. Louis: 5/30 (10) KJB, 5/19 (8) JLK, 5/21 (8) KJB. Late south 5/28 Carver JCy, 5/29 Hennepin CMB, Lyon GWe (median 5/26). | ||
| Magnolia Warbler (Setophaga magnolia) | 30 | 46 | Early south (median 5/5) 5/8 Hennepin JCC, Olmsted JWH, Rice DAB, Washington DBM plus six other counties on 5/9. Early north (median 5/9) 5/8 Lake NLM, 5/13 Hubbard MaH, 5/14 Beltrami DPJ, Cass (2) BAW plus five other counties on 5/15. Highest counts both from the Park Point R.A. and adjacent Southworth Marsh in St. Louis: 5/19 (72) PHS, JLK, MLH, 5/30 (68) PHS. Late south 5/30 Brown JSS, Chisago DAB, Hennepin CMB, Rice DAT, but also see summer report (median 5/31). | ||
| Bay-breasted Warbler (Setophaga castanea) | 19 | 27 | Early south (median 5/8) 5/9 Rice TFB, 5/10 Ramsey MDv, 5/11 Carver JCy, Hennepin DFN. Early north (median 5/13) 5/11 Hubbard MAW, 5/13 Becker ASM, 5/14 Cass BAW, 5/16 Kanabec CAM. High counts 5/21 Washington (42, Lake Elmo R.P.) BDo, 5/19 St. Louis (7, Park Point R.A.) JLK. Late south 5/29 Anoka, Hennepin, Isanti, Washington (3 locations), but also see summer report (median 5/25). | ||
| Blackburnian Warbler (Setophaga fusca) | 25 | 44 | Early south (median 5/4) 5/2 Anoka DvS, 5/4 Hennepin BAF, SHF, 5/8 Dakota GLa, BAb, Hennepin AdJ, Winona ClN. Record early north was one in Crow Wing 4/21 ph. JPR, followed by 5/9 St. Louis KrB, 5/14 Cass BAW, Crow Wing JSB, Hubbard MAW, Lake NLM. High counts all from Park Point R.A. and Southworth Marsh: 5/21 St. Louis (17) KJB, 5/20 St. Louis (10) PHS. Late south 5/30 Chisago RZi, Dodge JWH, but also see summer report (median 5/31). | ||
| Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia) | 33 | 53 | Early south (median 4/27) 4/26 Hennepin (8, Coon Rapids Dam R.P.) TLo, 4/28 Anoka ABo, Hennepin (Bass Ponds) BTC, 4/29 Fillmore JWH, ANy plus five additional counties 4/30. Early north (median 5/4) 5/8 Carlton ANy, Kanabec ANy, Mille Lacs MRN, Pine ANy, 5/9 five more counties. High counts 5/14 Carver (68, Minnesota River Valley N.W.R.) CRM, 5/30 St. Louis (55, Park Point R.A. and Southworth Marsh) PHS, 5/9 Carver (50, Rapids Lake Unit, Minnesota River Valley N.W.R.) JCy. | ||
| Chestnut-sided Warbler (Setophaga pensylvanica) | 27 | 46 | Early south (median 5/6) 5/7 Hennepin GJa, 5/8 Faribault WAF, Goodhue GJM, Hennepin AdJ, Ramsey COl, Rice DAB, GHo, plus seven counties on 5/9. Early north (median 5/8) 4/29 Morrison MRN, 5/10 Norman RAE, 5/11 Hubbard MAW, 5/13 Becker ASM. Season high counts all from Park Point R.A. and adjacent Southworth Marsh in St. Louis: 5/21 (40) KJB, 5/30 (40) PHS. | ||
| Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga striata) | 25 | 47 | Early south (median 5/4) 5/1 Olmsted LAV, Winona DBz, ANy, 5/4 Olmsted JWH, 5/5 Hennepin AMa, GrS, 5/7 Ramsey BTC. Early north (median 5/9) 5/9 Otter Tail PEB, 5/11 Todd DTM, JeM, 5/13 Hubbard MaH, 5/14 Clay TCL, Itasca SC. Season high counts 5/21 Washington (65, Lake Elmo R. P.) BDo, 5/18 Carver (41, Carver P.R.) JCy, 5/19 Otter Tail (35) JsS, 5/30 St. Louis (33) PHS. Lingering migrants still reported from eight south and three north counties in June. | ||
| Black-throated Blue Warbler (Setophaga caerulescens) | 4 | 7 | All south (median 5/11) 5/12 Hennepin AMa, 5/13 Olmsted MHm, 5/14 Rice TFB, 5/15 Hennepin (Prospect Park) SAu, 5/17 Hennepin (Old Cedar Ave. Bridge) JoM, 5/19 Dakota JLO, 5/21 Olmsted MHm, 5/24 Isanti DPG, Kandiyohi ANy, JWH, Scott JSp, m.ob. Early north 5/14 Cass (2, Deep Portage Learning Center) BAW, 5/18 St. Louis WCM, JLK, 5/19 Itasca SC, St. Louis PHS, m.ob. High counts 5/29 Cook (6, Gunflint Trail) ASd, 5/19 St. Louis (5, second highest northbound count away from breeding areas) PHS. | ||
| Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum) | 31 | 49 | Early south (median 4/22) 4/26 Dakota JBk, Hennepin ABL, Ramsey ASi, 4/27 Dakota RTe, Hennepin MHu, Yellow Medicine JSc. Early north (median 4/25) 4/27 Beltrami SVo, Roseau BJS, 4/28 Beltrami SVo, Morrison DLP, St. Louis NPo. Highest concentration 5/19–22 St. Louis with peak count 5/21 St. Louis (452) KJB. Late south 5/25 Brown JSc, Hennepin AbA, RCB, ABo, Isanti DPG, 5/26 Hennepin DMI, Sherburne DWK, PEB (median 5/23). | ||
| Pine Warbler (Setophaga pinus) | 18 | 22 | Early south (median 4/23) 4/21 Hennepin SuB, 4/28 Dakota SuB, Washington DFN, 4/29 Fillmore JEB. Early north (median 4/25) 4/29 Cass BAW, Crow Wing MRN, 4/30 Cass BAW, Itasca SC, 5/1 Hubbard MAW. High count 5/15 Beltrami (6, Lake Bemidji S.P.) KCo. First county records: 5/12 Brown BTS, 5/18 Stevens DLP. | ||
| Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) | 33 | 53 | Early south (median 4/2) 3/30 Hennepin JnS, 4/1 Hennepin CMB, 4/6 Anoka BRL, Carver JCy, Chippewa ANy, BWF, SC, JWH plus six other counties on 4/7. Early north (median 4/7) 4/2 Becker KBl, 4/4 Morrison FGo, 4/13 Lake JWL, Wadena RAE, HHD. High counts 5/13 Hennepin (235) CRM, 5/1 Hennepin (200) AMa, 5/2 Hennepin (200) CMB. Late south 5/28 Goodhue DAT, Hennepin TAT, Washington KCr, 5/29 Isanti DPG, Ramsey MeJ (median 5/28). | ||
| Yellow-throated Warbler (Setophaga dominica) | 2 | Two reports: 5/5–18 Carver (Minnesota River Valley N.W.R. Carver Creek Loop) ph. JCy, ph. JPi, ph. RZi, †DWK, †BAF, ph. RTe, 5/10+ Winona (Whitewater S.P.) ph. †DCZ, †DBz, ph. CWG, ph. ANy, †DWK, †KRE. | |||
| Black-throated Green Warbler (Setophaga virens) | 22 | 35 | Early south (median 4/30) 5/1 Winona DBz, ANy, 5/3 Goodhue GLa, 5/4 Goodhue RTe, ALo, BAb, Hennepin NSa. Early north (median 5/4) 5/8 Pine JMP, 5/12 Morrison DLP, 5/13 Cass BAW. High count 5/31 Cook (20, Judge C. R. Magney S.P.) SRu. Late south 5/29 Hennepin CMB, Washington PNi, 5/30 Chisago DBz, DAB, Washington JSP (median 5/30), but also see summer report. | ||
| Canada Warbler (Cardellina canadensis) | 20 | 34 | Early south (median 5/9) 5/9 Rice DAB, DBz, Wright AKn, 5/10 Steele HHD, JWH, 5/12 Hennepin KeG, Olmsted MHm. Early north (median 5/14) 5/14 Otter Tail SAv, 5/15 Cass DAY, BAW, 5/16 Beltrami PBD, 5/18 St. Louis KRE, JLK. High counts 5/26 Carver (12, Carver P. R.) JCy, 5/25 Carver (11, Carver P.R.) WCM, 5/30 St. Louis (11, Park Point R.A. and adjacent Southworth Marsh) PHS. Late south 5/31 Chisago HHD (median 5/31), but also see summer report. | ||
| Wilson's Warbler (Cardellina pusilla) | 28 | 44 | Early south (median 5/4) 4/25 Hennepin (Veterans Memorial Park, Richfield) WPe, 5/2 Hennepin (Old Cedar Ave. Bridge) SHF, BAF. Early north (median 5/10) 5/13 Hubbard MaH, Todd JeM, 5/14 Cass BAW, 5/15 Beltrami DPJ. High count 5/30 St. Louis (48, Park Point R.A. and Southworth Marsh) PHS. Late south 5/30 Carver JCy, Chisago DBz, RZi, DAB, Dodge JWH, Hennepin CMB,PRi (median 5/29). See summer report for late south migrants and potential breeders north. | ||
| Tanagers, Cardinals, Grosbeaks | |||||
| Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra) | 4 | Five individuals reported south: 5/1 Freeborn AEB, Hennepin (Corcoran) ph. ABL, 5/11 Hennepin (Minneapolis) KvB, PEB, KRo, SBM, 5/18 Ramsey LeM, 5/28 Dodge (Blooming Prairie) JPr. | |||
| Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea) | 25 | 40 | Early south (median 5/5) 5/8 Rice GHo, 5/9 Freeborn AEB, Hennepin BAb, Olmsted LAV, Rice DAB, 5/10 Dakota ADS, Ramsey LHo. Early north (median 5/12) 5/15 Hubbard MAW, Kanabec CAM, 5/16 Cass MRN, 5/17 Beltrami DPJ, Crow Wing JSB, Polk SAu plus five counties on 5/18. High counts 5/17 Hennepin (11) TAT, 5/17 Hennepin (9) CMB. New county record 5/18 Nobles BWF. | ||
| Western Tanager (Piranga ludoviciana) | 2 | 3 | All south 5/12 Olmsted (male) SRi, 5/12–15 Chisago (male) ph. RRo, 5/17 Dakota (male, Farmington) ph. BSe. All north 4/30–5/1 Becker (male, Big Sugarbush Lake) KFM, ASM, ph. DAC, 5/1 Otter Tail (male, near Battle Lake) JsS, JSw. | ||
| Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) | 22 | 49 | Reported statewide, except for far northwest corner. Extreme north reports 3/8–4/4 Koochiching RAE, DAC, RBJ, 4/26 Cook DKa. High counts 3/18 Rice (30) JLn, 5/10 Hennepin (23) AbA. | ||
| Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus) | 31 | 51 | Early south (median 4/28) 4/25 Hennepin TLo, 4/28 Rice JLn, 4/30 Dakota ADS, Fillmore NBO, Ramsey RZi, Sherburne JGb then eight counties on 5/1. Early north (median 5/3) 5/1 Otter Tail SAv, 5/5 Hubbard MaH, Pine SuB, 5/7 Itasca SC, Mille Lacs MRN, Otter Tail DST, ARo. High counts 5/11 Carver (25) JCy, 5/14 Rice (15) JLn, 5/7 Carver (14) JCy, 5/18 Scott (14) BAF, SHF. | ||
| BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK (Pheucticus melanocephalus) | 2 | Adult male seen 5/25–26 in St. Louis at a residential feeder near Embarrass ph. †SWn. | |||
| Blue Grosbeak (Passerina caerulea) | 1 | 4 | Reported from its traditional range 5/17–18 Rock (Blue Mounds S.P.) GJa, ANy, 5/27 Nobles BTS. Out-of-range reports 5/19 Brown BTS, 5/25 Mower JWv, ph. JEM, and especially noteworthy 5/31 Itasca †SC, EEO. | ||
| LAZULI BUNTING (Passerina amoena) | 1 | 6 | Most spring sightings on record. All reports 5/3 Washington (adult male, Woodbury) JG, ph. †ANy, †DAB, †TAT; 5/14 Pipestone (male, northeast of Edgerton) LVD, ph. VVD; 5/15 Nicollet (adult male, near Courtland) ph. NVo; 5/18–22 McLeod (adult male, Hutchinson) ph. †PRH, m.ob.; 5/19 Pipestone (adult male, Pipestone N.M.) †RMD, †DAB, m.ob.; 5/19 Pipestone (first-year male, Pipestone W.T.P.) v.t. †RMD, †DAB, m.ob.; 5/19–25 Clay (Moorhead) ph. †RHO, DWR; 5/21–22 Nobles (first-year male, Worthington) ph. †TMi; 5/27–30 Dodge (Westfield Twp.) CMW, †JWH, ph. JPr, ph. JJS. | ||
| Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea) | 24 | 46 | Early south (median 5/4) 5/3 Wabasha (Kellogg) DBz, 5/6 Wabasha (Lake Zumbro) JBn, 5/7 Fillmore NBO, Goodhue GJM. Early north (median 5/9) 5/11 Hubbard MAW, 5/13 Wadena PJB, 5/14 Pine EBr, 5/16 Polk SAu. High counts 5/19 Rice (18) JLn, 5/17 Olmsted (10) MHm. | ||
| PAINTED BUNTING (Passerina ciris) | 1 | The first since spring 2009 was seen in Aitkin 5/9–10 (adult male, Spencer Twp.) CCP, ph. BU, ph. ANy, m.ob. | |||
| Dickcissel (Spiza americana) | 1 | 8 | South reports began with an early migrant 5/8 Kandiyohi FGo, followed by 5/18 Le Sueur ChH, AnK, 5/23 McLeod DAs, 5/26 Murray GWe, 5/28 Ramsey MeJ, 5/29 Dakota DVe, Houston JEB, Lyon GWe. Only north report 5/28 Otter Tail (Busko W.P.A.) CSl. | ||