Seasonal Report Archive for The Loon
The 1946-Winter Season
1 December 1946 through 28 February 1947
by Mary Lupient

The weather during November and most of December was mild and a few species of ducks lingered as late as December 11. On that date scaups, ring-necked ducks, buffle-heads, canvasbacks, besides golden-eyes and mallards were seen on Lake Harriet in Minneapolis. They were first reported on December 5 by Oscar Owre, Jr.

A census of ducks was taken by members of the Minnesota Bird Club for the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, January 14 to 18, 1947. Dr.

W. J. Breckenridge and John Jarosz reported 197 golden-eyes and 2 pairs of American mergansers on the Mississippi River north of Minneapolis. At Shakopee the census was taken by Lyman Newlin and this writer. Mallards numbering 217 were counted, also 6 black ducks.

About 100 old squaw ducks appeared on Lake Superior near Grand Marais on November 11, 1946. This report was by W. Babbott who writes that this is his earliest date for old squaws and that during the early thirties other species of ducks by thousands arrived in this area after the inland Jakes had frozen over, but that now he sees only a few.

About 25 blue and snow geese flew over Savage, Minnesota, on December 1, 1946.

This season Hudsonian chickadees were reported at various places in and near the Twin Cities during December and January. Brother J. Pius and A. C.

Rosenwinkel saw them at Lake Vadnais, St. Paul, on November 23, and several observers saw them at Theodore Wirth Park, Minneapolis; Lake Nokomis and Cedar Creek were two other points at which they were observed.

Only a few snowy owls were reportMarch, ed in Minnesota this season, five in all.

Pine grosbeaks, snow buntings, and very large flocks of redpolls were seen several times.

The unusual record of a golden eagle was sent in by Mrs. A. D. Corniea, November 13, 1946. It was seen at Cedar Creek and at times thereafter two of them were observed. The last report was on January 26, 1947. Another unusual record was that of the red crossbills that were also reported by Mrs.

A. D. Corniea at Cedar Creek. They stayed for several weeks. The whitewinged crossbills were seen only once and in this same area.

The pileated woodpecker has been somewhat uncommon this winter, however, one was seen along the Mississippi River in St. Paul, January 26, by Miss Amy Chambers.

At Morris, Minnesota, the cardinal has stayed all winter. Sheridan S.

Flaherty in a letter dated January 28, 1947, states, "I understand that it is not uncommon for you Minneapolis folks to have cardinals as winte::guests, but this year for the first time in my life I have had one here daily since December 13, and cannot help telling you of this rare experience. All of the other common winter residents are here in my back yard and occasionally common and hoary redpolls are here too, but this glamour boy outglamours them all." January was mild but the first part of February was marked by very cold weather and strong winds. A few horned larks were seen at various places throughout December and January but up to the time of this writing there are no reports of their being here In numbers to indicate the migration has begun.

Key to the Seasonal Report
1.Upper case (LEAST TERN) indicates a Casual or Accidental species in the state.
2.Species are listed in brackets [Whooping Crane] when there is a reasonable doubt as to its origin or wildness.
3.Bracketed text following a species’ name indicates the total number of north and south counties.
4.Dates listed in bold (10/9) indicate an occurrence either earlier, later, or within the three earliest or latest dates on file.
5.Counties listed in bold (Aitkin) indicate an unusual occurrence for that county.
6.Counties listed in bold and with an underline (Becker) indicate a first county record.
7.Counties listed in italics (Crow Wing) indicate a first county breeding record.
8.Totals in bold (150) indicate a total within or exceeding the top three high counts for that species.
9.Totals in bold-italic (55) indicate a CBC total within or exceeding the top three high counts for that species.
10.Dagger “†” preceding observer’s initials denotes written documentation was submitted.
11“ph.” denotes a species documented with a photograph.
12.“v.t.” denotes a species documented by video.
13.“a.t.” denotes a species documented by audio.
14.High counts that are multiples of 100 are assumed or known to be estimates, unless otherwide noted.
The Seasonal Report  is a compilation of seasonal bird sightings from throughout Minnesota. We particularly invite reports from parts of the state that have been neglected or covered lightly in past reports. To become a contributor, contact the Editor of The Loon (editor AT moumn.org).

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