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Seasonal Report Archive for The Loon | |
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The 1966-Winter Season 1 December 1966 through 28 February 1967 Ronald L. Huber |
-Early December was colder than normal
over much of the state but this
seemed more pronounced to many of us
because of the milder Decembers we've
had over the past three years. January
and February seemed to be about normal
in temperatures but set some snowfall
records. In spite of this, the total winter
accumulation still fell short of the alltime
snowfall record. Many of the opencountry
species seemed scarce, perhaps
because of the heavy snow cover on the
ground? Several species, by contrast,
seemed more abundant than usual but,
perhaps this again was a function of the
heavy snow cover -driving these ~pecies
to feeders where they would certamly
be more noticeable. Variables such as this
make it difficult to evaluate population
fluctuation for any given species. Two
new state records were realized, and a
number of unusual species were well documented.
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Species |
Information |
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| Whistling-Ducks, Geese, Swans, Ducks | |||||
| Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) | aside from the usual wintering flock at Rochester, this species was reported from Jackson, Wright, Winona, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Stearns, Lake and St. Louis Co's. Snow-Snow Goose (blue phase): 12-3 Olmsted Co., 1 ad, 2 imm, BL. | ||||
| Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus) | 12-21 Wabasha Co., 1, DGM; 12-8 Sartell, Stearns Co., 1, RPR; same bird still there on 2-26, DB; probably first state record for an overwintering bird that made it into February. | ||||
| Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) | reported from St. Louis, Stearns, Wright, Hennepin and Dakota Co's; none reported in February. | ||||
| Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata) | 12-3 Minneapolis, Hennepin Co., CLH. | ||||
| Gadwall (Mareca strepera) | 1-1 (RBJ), 1-5 (FV) Winona, Winona Co. | ||||
| American Wigeon (Mareca americana) | 12-3 Dakota Co., ACR; 12-6 Hennepin Co., VL; 12-7, 1217 Cook Co., JCG. | ||||
| Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) | reported from Houston, Winona, Olmsted, Goodhue, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Yellow Medicine, Stearns, St. Louis, Lake and Cook Co's. | ||||
| American Black Duck (Anas rubripes) | reported from Lake, Cook, St. Louis, Ramsey, Wright, Goodhue, Wabasha and Winona Co's. | ||||
| Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) | 12-11, 1-2 Winona, Winona Co., FV; 1-1 (RBJ), 1-21 (DB) Goodhue Co. ; | ||||
| Canvasback (Aythya valisineria) | 12-3 Goodhue Co., BL; 1211 Dakota Co., DB; 12-11 Winona Co., FV; 1-2 Winona Co., fide GD. | ||||
| Redhead (Aythya americana) | 12-3 Goodhue Co., ad male, BL. | ||||
| Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris) | 12-6 to 1-24 Virginia, St. Louis Co., VFB, DP, EHH. | ||||
| Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis) | reported from Ramsey, Wabasha, Olmsted, Dakota and St. Louis Co's. | ||||
| Harlequin Duck (Histrionicus histrionicus) | 12-7 thru Feb., Virginia, St. Louis Co., 1 sub-adult male, seen by many observers and photographed in color by HFH and GNR. | ||||
| White-winged Scoter (Melanitta deglandi) | 2-18 Grand Marais, Cook Co., 1, GNR. | ||||
| Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) | usual reports from Cook, Lake, and St. Louis Co's.; one record away from Lake Superior 12-3 Wabasha Co., BL. | ||||
| Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) | reported in Dec. from Hennepin, Cook, Lake and St. Louis Co's.; in Jan. and Feb. reported only from Dakota Co. | ||||
| Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) | reported from Cook, St. Louis, Beltrami, Stearns, Morrison, Benton, Washington, Ramsey, Hennepin and Wabasha Co's. | ||||
| Barrow's Goldeneye (Bucephala islandica) | 12-31 to 49 June 1967 about 3-15, St. Paul, Ramsey Co., 1 ad male seen by many observers, except on 1-31 when RAK and FN observed 2 ad males and what appeared to be a female because of the close association with the two males; this compares very nicely with a report on 2-11 at Blackdog, Dakota Co. (only a few miles from the St. Paul site) when EMB and his brother observed 2 ad males and a closely associated female. | ||||
| Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) | reported from Cook, Lake, St. Louis, Wabasha and Goodhue Co's. | ||||
| Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator) | 12-17 St. Louis Co., JCG; 1-15 Lake Superior, DB. | ||||
| Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) | 2-26 Goodhue Co., FN/ MAS. | ||||
| New World Quail | |||||
| Northern Bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) | 12-9, 12-15, 1-8 Wabasha Co., DGM; 12-21 Rice Co., OAR, GNR. | ||||
| Partridge, Pheasants, Grouse, Turkeys | |||||
| Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus) | picking up again after decline in recent years; reported by 19 of our observers from Cook, Lake, St. Louis, Beltrami, Aitkin, Clearwater, Morrison, Stearns, Anoka and Winona Co's. | ||||
| Spruce Grouse (Canachites canadensis) | sometime between 11-25 and 12-1, Everett Clem took a survey in the Beltrami Island State Forest and in a single day counted 118 along roads near Norris Camp; undoubtedly highest single count for the state; usual other reports from northeastern part of state throughout the winter. | ||||
| Sharp-tailed Grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus) | 12-21 Fargo area, fide EGA; 12-26 Aitkin Co., DP; 1-2 St. Louis Co., SM; 1-14 Beltrami Co., DB; all winter, Roseau Co., over 200 trapped and banded, PEB. | ||||
| Gray Partridge (Perdix perdix) | reported from Olmsted (20 in one flock, CMJ, JPF), Dakota, Rice, Blue Earth and Roseau Co's.; also from Fargo. | ||||
| Ring-necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) | reported from Rice, Wabasha, Washington, Pope, Stearns, Wright, Meeker, Ramsey, Kanabec, Hennepin, Dakota, St. Louis, Anoka, Blue Earth, Nobles, Cottonwood, Wright and Roseau Co's. | ||||
| Grebes | |||||
| Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) | 1-3 (BL), 1-20 (DB), 2-25 (RBJ), 2-28 (VL) Dakota Co. | ||||
| Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena) | 12-20 Knife River, Lake Co., DP. | ||||
| Pigeons, Doves | |||||
| Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) | reported from Ramsey, Chippewa, Stearns, Wabasha, Faribault, Pope, Hennepin, Winona, Wright, Olm- Ramsey, Nobles, Big Stone, Lac qui Parle, Traverse, Cook, St. Louis, Pope, Wabasha, Hennepin and Winona Co's.; also Fargo; note preponderance of western records. Yellow-shafted x Northern Flicker: 1-2 Duluth, St. Louis Co., two independent observations by AKA and Mrs. H. Gibson fide JCG. | ||||
| Rails, Gallinules, Coots | |||||
| American Coot (Fulica americana) | reported from Cook (first in 25 years, MAF). St. Louis, Wright, Dakota and Wabasha Co's. | ||||
| Plovers | |||||
| Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) | 12-2 Dakota Co., ACR; 12-26 Wabasha Co., FV; 1-2 Winona Co., fide GD; 2-18 (DB) and 2-26 (RBJ) Scott Co. | ||||
| Sandpipers | |||||
| PURPLE SANDPIPER (Calidris maritima) | 12-17 (JCG), 12-19 (DP) Grand Marais, Cook Co.; first state record, specimen collected for Museum of Natural History. | ||||
| Wilson's Snipe (Gallinago delicata) | reported from Washington, Anoka, Ramsey, Dakota, Hennepin, Winona Co's. | ||||
| Gulls, Terns | |||||
| IVORY GULL (Pagophila eburnea) | one bird at Grand Portage, Cook Co., from about Christmas until third week of January, photographed by Mr. Hendricks, good details given to JCG; less than five records for our state. | ||||
| Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) | 12-4 Hennepin Co., JAH. | ||||
| Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) | reported from Lake, Cook, St. Louis, Hennepin, Dakota, Wabasha and Winona Co's; largest number reported was 800+ at Knife River on 1-28 by RPR. | ||||
| Iceland Gull (Larus glaucoides) | 1-15 to 2-2 Knife River, Lake Co., and 2-28 Two Harbors, JCG; she estimates five different individuals based on plumage differences. | ||||
| Glaucous Gull (Larus hyperboreus) | 12-11 (DB) and 12-24 (BL) Dakota Co.; usual. reports from north shore of Lake Superior; greatest number reported was 10 at Knife River, Lake Co. on 1-14, by JCG; she estimates a minimum count of 25 different individuals throughout winter, from 12-7 to 2-19. | ||||
| Bitterns, Herons, Egrets, Night-Herons | |||||
| Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) | 1-2 Winona, Winona Co., fide GD; 1-2 Blackdog, Dakota Co., RBJ; 2-13 Cotton, St. Louis Co., Mrs. R. S. Nethercott fide VFB, second February record for the state and perhaps the only winter record north of the Twin Cities area? | ||||
| New World Vultures | |||||
| Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) | 12-21 Whitewater State Park, Winona Co., 1 or 2 on Xmas Count, DGM; very few winter records for state. | ||||
| Kites, Accipiters, Hawks, Eagles | |||||
| Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) | 12-1 Cook Co., LS; 12-2, 1-12 Marshall Co., AWR; 1-13 Stearns Co., RPR. | ||||
| Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius) | 1-2 Steele Co., OAR; one all winter, Olmsted Co., JPF, CMJ. | ||||
| Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus) | 12-19 Wabasha Co., DGM; 1-5, 2-3 Hennepin Co., MEH; 2-5 Washington Co., DH; 2-7 Isanti Co., GNR. | ||||
| Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) | 2-1 Princeton, Mille Lacs Co., WJH. | ||||
| American Goshawk (Accipiter atricapillus) | 12-1 Hennepin Co., MEH; 1226 St. Louis Co., OAF; 1-1 Goodhue Co., RBI; 1-5 St. Louis Co., LTM; 1-26 Morrison Co., LSR; 1-27 Washington Co., DS; 1-31 Ramsey Co., JO; 2-18 Cook Co., AR; 2-26 Roseau Co., PEB; 2-27 Goodhue Co., EMB. | ||||
| Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) | usual wintering group at Read's Landing, Wabasha Co., with interesting build-up and decline of numbers, thusly: 12-12 (12), 12-23 (34), 1-1 (48), 1-28 (21), 2-11 (20), 2-13 (12), 2-26 (6); also reported from St. Louis, Dakota, Washington Co's. | ||||
| Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) | 1-1 Winona Co., RBJ. | ||||
| Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) | reported from Dakota, Olmsted, Rice, Goodhue, Wabasha, Winona, Nobles, Hennepin, Washington, Stevens and Ramsey Co's. | ||||
| Rough-legged Hawk (Buteo lagopus) | very few records this winter; reported from Dakota, Wabasha, Nobles, Beltrami and St. Louis Co's. | ||||
| Screech-Owls, Owls | |||||
| Eastern Screech-Owl (Megascops asio) | 12-4, 1-1 and 2-26 me River Lake Co., RK; also reported from Winona, Wright, Rice and Hennepin Co' Gre. reported from Rice, Wabasha, Hennepin, Ramsey, Yellow Medicine, Stearns, Dakota, Washington, Nobles, Beltrami, Lake, Cook, St. Louis and Lac qui Parle Co's. | ||||
| Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) | the invasion continued with 25 reports from 12 counties in December, 16 reports from 8 counties in January and 15 reports from 10 counties in February; there is undoubtedly some duplication in counting the owls, but Mr. Tom Nicholls will, in the near future, present an analysis of the invasion, with special emphasis on the upper midwest. Hawk-Owl: 1_15 near Meadowlands, St. Louis Co., DB. | ||||
| Barred Owl (Strix varia) | scattered reports from Blue Earth, Washington, Ramsey, Dakota, Hennepin, Stevens, Morrison, Cook, Goodhue, Stearns, Olmsted, Winona and Wabasha Co's. | ||||
| Great Gray Owl (Strix nebulosa) | 2-21 Itasca Co., 2 miles N. of Ball Club Lake, J. J. Janecek. | ||||
| Boreal Owl (Aegolius funereus) | 2-12 Hubbard Co., 6 miles SE of Park Rapids, 1 photographed, JAH; 2-18 Ramsey Co., Langford Park, 1 found dead, specimen in University of Minnesota collection. | ||||
| Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus) | 12-7 Marshall Co., AWR; all winter, Lamoille, Winona Co., FV. | ||||
| Kingfishers | |||||
| Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) | twelve reports from Ramsey, Hennepin, Dakota, Winona and Rice Co's. | ||||
| Woodpeckers | |||||
| Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) | 12-21 Rice c OAR GNR 1 4 St C RPR o..,, ; -earns o., ; fewer reports than usual. | ||||
| Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) | reported from Yellow Medicine, Murray, Hennepin, Washingotn, Olmsted, Ramsey, Good- hue, Rice, Wabasha and Winona Co's. | ||||
| Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) | reported from St. Louis, Marshall, Kanabec, Lake, Cook, Stevens, Wright, Washington, Hennepin, Stearns, Olmsted, Rice, Cottonwood, Mille Lacs, Crow Wing, Lyon, Roseau, Blue Earth, Morrison, Wabasha, Pope and Ramsey Co's. Black-backed American Three-toed Woodpecker: one December record, one January record and four February records, all from Cook County. | ||||
| Hairy Woodpecker (Dryobates villosus) | reported from Washington, Cook, Roseau, Blue Earth, Marrison, Ramsey, Hennepin, Wabasha, Winona, St. Louis, Lake, Pope, Olmsted, Lyon, Crow Wing, Mille Lacs, Cotton wood, Rice, Stearns, Wright, Stevens, Nobles, Lake, Kanabec and Marshall Co's. | ||||
| Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) | fourteen reports in December, four in January and one in February, from Rice, Lyon, Murray, 51 June 1967 Cook, Stearns, Olmsted, St. Louis, Blue arth, Roseau, Washington, Goodhue, Dakota, Hennepin, Wright, Rice, Ramsey, Wabasha, Winona and Anoka Co's. | ||||
| Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) | quite a few reports ~st~e:d~C~o~'s~·~~o~F:a~r~g~o~.---:--;:--:;:-:::::;;;:::::::;___ for this handsome recluse; listed from | ||||
| Caracaras, Falcons | |||||
| American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) | reported from Kanabec, Hennepin, Ramsey, Cottonwood, Lyon, Wright, Wabasha, Dakota, Olmsted, Carver, Steele and Goodhue Co's. | ||||
| GYRFALCON (Falco rusticolus) | 12-7 Warroad, Roseau Co., gray phase female caught in grouse trap, PEB. | ||||
| Shrikes | |||||
| Northern Shrike (Lanius borealis) | reported from 15 counties in Dec., 9 in Jan. and 7 in Feb.; Anoka, Wadena, Clearwater, St. Louis, Aitkin, Ramsey, Murray, Cook, Lake, Crow Wing, Hennepin, Lac qui Parle, Carlton, Wabasha, Washington, Stearns, Beltrami, Winona, Rice Co's. Meadowlark, sp ?: 12-21 Fargo, fide EGA; 12-30 Chippewa Co., PE; 1-1 to 1-11 Stearns Co., EAH; 1-1 Winona Co., RBJ; 1-21 Rice Co., OAR; HSH reports that this is the first winter in 25 years this species was not seen in Nobles Co. | ||||
| Jays, Nutcrackers, Magpies, Crows | |||||
| Canada Jay (Perisoreus canadensis) | usual reports from Cook, Lake and St. Louis Co's. plus expected reports from Roseau, Beltrami, Lake-of-theWoods, Marshall and Clearwater Co's; one southerly record, Stearns Co., throughout winter, RPR. | ||||
| Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) | reported from Cook, St. Louis, Lake, Hennepin, Roseau, Stearns, Ramsey, Stevens, Nobles, Cottonwood, Rice, Olmsted, Washington, Wright, Crow Wing, Sherburne, Morrison, Wabasha, Pope, Blue Earth, Beltrami, Kanabec and Mille Lacs Co's. | ||||
| Black-billed Magpie (Pica hudsonia) | 12-22 Bemidji, Beltrami Co., 1, DP; 12-22 Warroad, Roseau Co., 3, DP; 1-14 Baudette, Lake-of-theWoods Co., 2, DB. | ||||
| Common Raven (Corvus corax) | usual reports from Cook, Lake and St. Louis Co's; several westerly records, 12-23 and 2-25 Beltrami Co., EBH; 2-3 Marshall Co., A WR. | ||||
| Chickadees, Titmice | |||||
| Boreal Chickadee (Poecile hudsonicus) | invasion continues; 12-5 to 12-27 Brooklyn Center, Hennepin Co., fide DW; all winter at feeder, Granite Falls, Yellow Medicine Co., Mrs. Paul Schmidt, fide PE; all winter, Little Falls, Morrison Co., 2, LSR; 12-25 Benson, Swift Co., 2 at feeders, HSH; all winter, Morris, Stevens Co., Mrs. T. S. Long fide JAH; 1-6 to 2-20, Excelsior, Hennepin Co., 1 at feeder, fide RDT; 2-26 Waite Park, Stearns Co., DB; this unprecedented movement southward and westward resulted, almost in predictable fashion, in the first Iowa record for this species; it would be interesting to note if a parallel situation existed in Wisconsin or Michigan this winter. | ||||
| Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) | about 20 reports from Hennepin, Olmsted, Rice, Ramsey, Winona and Washington Co's.; perhaps numbers are building up again? | ||||
| Larks | |||||
| Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris) | reported from Pope, Hennepin, Wabasha, Winona, Roseau, Morrison, Dakota, Sherburne, Crow Wing, Lyon, Rice, Goodhue, Washington, Wright, Anoka, Stearns, Olmsted, Cottonwood, Nobles, Grant, Lac qui Parle, Ottertail, Douglas, Marshall and Ramsey Co's.; more reports than usual, but it is difficult to separate migrants from wintering birds. | ||||
| Kinglets | |||||
| Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa) | reported from Kanabec and Stevens Co's in December only; all winter in Stearns, Hennepin, Washington and Winona Co's. | ||||
| Waxwings | |||||
| Bohemian Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus) | about 46 records from 17 counties; present throughout period in Kanabec, Hennepin, Ramsey, St. Louis, Cook Co's.; also Fargo; scattered records from Stearns, Stevens, Washington, Morrison, Lake, Marshall, Rice, Cook, Beltrami, Roseau, Wright, Benson and Yellow Medicine Co's.; 14 Dec. records from 11 counties, 17 Jan. records from 12 counties and 15 Feb. records from 13 counties; largest concentrations were in St. Louis Co., 1000 on 12-28 and 1300 on 2-1, K. Jaros fide JCG. | ||||
| Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) | reported from 7 counties each for Dec. and Jan., but 15 counties during Feb., perhaps indicating migrants? present throughout period in Hennepin, Anoka, Lake and Stevens Co's.; also Fargo; scattered reports from Cook, Roseau, Stearns, Winona, Wright, Swift, Wabasha, Cottonwood, Rice, Ramsey, Dakota, Olmsted Co's. | ||||
| Nuthatches | |||||
| Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) | present all winter in St. Louis, Lake and Cook Co's. and also interestingly enough, in Winona and Olmsted Co's.; other scattered reports from Anoka, Ramsey, Hennepin, Kanabec, Stearns, Roseau, Clearwater, Lake-of-the-Woods, Wadena and Stevens Co's. | ||||
| White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) | reported from Rice, Anoka, Hennepin, Olmsted, Washington, Winona, Wabasa, Wright, Nobles, Lyon, Stevens, Stearns, Cottonwood, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, Morrision, Pope, Crow Wing, Carlton, Lake, St. Louis, Cook, Marshall, Roseau and Beltrami Co's. | ||||
| Creepers | |||||
| Brown Creeper (Certhia americana) | no less than 40 reports from 17 counties, segregated as follows: 16 reports from 13 counties in December; 15 reports from 10 counties in January, and only 9 reports from 7 counties in February; wintering birds difficult to separate from migrants, but a Lake County record on 2-19 by MIG could be an early migrant, as might a Crow Wing Co. record on 2-8 by MSB; all other reports were from south of a line through Duluth, Mille Lacs Co., Morrison Co. and Stevens Co. | ||||
| Wrens | |||||
| Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis) | 12-21 Wabasha Co., 1, DGM. | ||||
| Thrashers, Mockingbirds | |||||
| Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum) | 12-1 Minneapolis, Hennepin Co., 1 at feeder, fide MIG; all fall until 12-16 when it fell prey to a Northern Shrike, Lutsen, Cook Co., RLG; midDecember to mid-January, Northfield, Rice Co., 1, GNR; very few winter records. Robin: scattered reports from Cook, St. Louis, Stearns, Hennepin, Winona, Rice, Washington, Stevens, Wabasha, Wright and Yellow Medicine Co's. | ||||
| Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) | 12-11 to 1-11 Schroeder, Cook Co., MAF; 11-27 to 1-12 Randall, Morrison Co., Hildur Dalquist; good details on both records. | ||||
| Thrushes | |||||
| Townsend's Solitaire (Myadestes townsendi) | 12-31 Anoka Co., about 10 miles N. of Anoka, 1 sub-adult on Christmas Count fide DP; 12-17 to 1-15 Theodore Wirth Park, THE LOON 52 Minneapolis, 1 adult, perhaps 2, seen by many observers; 1-13 Fargo, 1 adult, good details, EGA. | ||||
| Varied Thrush (Ixoreus naevius) | 12-2 to 12-21 Northfield, Rice Co., 1 ad male at G. Campbell's feeder, photographed by GNR; late November to 2-26, Iverson (nr Cloquet), Carlton Co., 1 ad male at feeder of Mrs. G. Carlson fide JCG; late November thn11 end of period, Little Marais, Lake Co., 1 ad male at feeder of Viola Fenstad, photographed by FL; past two winters have been rather spectacular with regard to this species and the next one. | ||||
| Finches | |||||
| Evening Grosbeak (Coccothraustes vespertinus) | reported from Roseau, Beltrami, Clearwater, Lake, St. Louis, Cook, Hubbard, Marshall, Carlton, Kanabec, Crow Wing and Morrison Co's.; only southerly records were Ramsey, Washington, Olmsted and Winona Co's. | ||||
| Pine Grosbeak (Pinicola enucleator) | present throughout period in Cook, Lake, St. Louis and Beltrami Co's.; westward and southward to Marshall, Itasca and Stevens Co's. in Dec.; still in Stevens Co. in Jan. plus inexplicably isolated record from Rice Co. (1-17, 1-24, 1-29, GNR); withdrew into extreme northeast corner of state in Feb. | ||||
| Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus) | numbers apparently down from the past two winters; reported from Anoka, Winona, Hennepin, Ramsey, Cottonwood, Swift, Beltrami, Lyon, Yellow Medicine, Washington, Mille Lacs and Stevens Co's. | ||||
| Redpoll (Common) (Acanthis f. flammea) | reported from Beltrami, Cook, Lake, St. Louis, Roseau, Lake-of-the-Woods, Pennington, Clearwater, Wadena, Aitkin, Crow Wing, Morrison, Stearns, Washington, Hennepin, Ramsey, Anoka, Wright, Chippewa and Cottonwood Co's. | ||||
| Redpoll (Hoary) (Acanthis f. exilipes) | 12-22 Beltrami Co., 30 miles N. of Bemidji, 5 in flock of Common Redpolls, DP; 1-14 Beltrami Co., DB; 1-29 St. Louis Co., RBJ; 2-23 Hennepin Co., SW; 2-25 Stevens Co., JAH; 2-28 Traverse Co., JAR. | ||||
| Red Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) | behaving in its usually erratic manner, reported from Cook, St. Louis, Beltrami and Hennepin (12-2, RDT) Co's. in Dec.; none reported anywhere in the state during Jan.; reported from Lake, Ramsey (2-7, 2-15, WWL) Co's. in Feb.; also at Fargo from 2-1 thru remainder of period, EGA. | ||||
| White-winged Crossbill (Loxia leucoptera) | 12-25 Cook Co., RLG; 12-27 St. Louis Co., MMP; 1-4, 1-15 Stearns Co., RPR. | ||||
| Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus) | reported from Beltrami, Cook, Lake, St. Louis, Crow Wing, Ramsey and Hennepin Co's. | ||||
| American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) | apparently up in numbers this winter; reported by almost all observers in southern third of state (some report highest numbers ever-JO banded 150 during Jan., Feb.) and reported north to Cyrus, Bemidji, Duluth, Larsmont, Tofte, Lutsen and Schroeder; withdrew somewhat from northern areas in Jan. and Feb. | ||||
| Longspurs and Snow Buntings | |||||
| Lapland Longspur (Calcarius lapponicus) | 12-11 Stevens Co., 50, JAH; 12-20 Cook Co., JCG; 12-21 Lake Co., DP; not seen again until Feb. (Lyon Co., PE and Nobles Co., HSH). | ||||
| Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis) | reported from Roseau, Lake-of-the-Woods, Beltrami, Itasca, St. Louis, Cook, Carlton, Aitkin, Crow Wing, Pope, Stevens, Kanabec, Morrison, Pine, Stearns, Sherburne, Hennepin, Ramsey, Dakota, Olmsted, Wabasha, Winona, Nobles, Lyon and Lac qui Parle Co's. | ||||
| Towhees, Sparrows | |||||
| Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca) | throughout period, 1 at feeder, Minneapolis, Hennepin Co., MER. | ||||
| Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) | reported from Olmsted, Stearns, Lyon, Hennepin, Ramsey, Winona and Rice Co's; some of our banders have recently reported Oregon x Slatecolored Junco hybrids, something that even an expert taxonomsit would hesitate doing; eventually the two might even be regarded as conspecific; until such time as the entire genus has been overhauled, observers should keep accurate, objective descriptions of any blackhooded individuals seen. Tree Sparrow: reported from Hennepin, Lyon, Stearns, Washington, Rice, Ramsey, Anoka, Olmsted, Wright, Nobles, Stevens, Big Stone, Wabasha and Winona Co's.; one northerly record, 12-7 Cook Co., JCG. | ||||
| Harris's Sparrow (Zonotrichia querula) | all fall to 12-13 Duluth, St. Louis Co., 1 imm, Mrs. W. C. Smith fide JCG; all winter at feeder, Granite Falls, Yellow Medicine Co., Mrs. Paul Schmidt fide PE; 1-28 Worthington, Nobles Co., 1 at feeder, HSH; all winter, Cyrus, Pope Co., 2 until 2-13 then only 1, WH; thru most of December, Fargo, fide EGA. | ||||
| White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) | 1-6 Minnetonka, Hennepin Co., 1, DWL; 1-22 Minneapolis, Hennepin Co., VL; all winter, 1 or 2 at feeders, St. Paul, Ramsey Co., MIG; all winter at feeder, Central Lakes, St. Louis Co., MMP; 2-2 to 2-9 Duluth, St. Louis Co., Sister Emerline fide JCG. | ||||
| Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus) | 12-5 Duluth, St. Louis Co., AKA; may be only Dec. record for state? Slate -colored Junco: reported from Stearns, Olmsted, Washington, Lyon, Rice, Wabasha, Hennepin, Stevens, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Ramsey, Pope, Morrison ,Cook (MOP), Mille Lacs, Cottonwood, Lake (AR), Winona, Wright, St. Louis (JCG) and Nobles Co's. | ||||
| Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) | throughout period, Schroeder, Cook Co., 1, MAF; all other records Dec. and Jan., Beltrami, Nobles, Ramsey, Rice, Goodhue and Lyon Co's. THE LOON 54 | ||||
| Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana) | 12-20 Lyon Co., PE. | ||||
| GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE (Pipilo chlorurus) | 12-5 (or earlier) to at least 1-15 Duluth, St. Louis Co., 1 ad at Mrs. McKay's feeder, observed and photographed by many; first state record. | ||||
| Blackbirds, Orioles | |||||
| Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula) | 12-3 to 12-22 Gary (West Duluth), St. Louis Co., 1 53 June 1967 sub-adult male at feeder of Mrs. Jerome Blazevic fide JCG; 12-7 to 12-21 Northfield, Rice Co., 1 sub-adult male at feeder of GNR, photographed; few if any previous winter records. | ||||
| Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) | usual reports from southern part of state, Lyon, Goodhue, Wabasha, Winona, Rice, Ramsey, Pope, Big Stone, Hennepin, Olmsted and Cottonwood Co's.; two northerly records, 12-7 Crow Wing Co., MSB; 12-6 to 1213 Roseau Co., female at feeder, PEB. | ||||
| Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) | 12-18 Big Stone Co., JAH; 1-2 Winona Co., fide GD. | ||||
| Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus) | late northern record 128 to 12-15 Cook Co., LS; scattered reports throughout period from Ramsey, Big Stone, Hennepin, Blue Earth, Winona, Washington, Dakota, Scott Co's.; also Fargo. | ||||
| Brewer's Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus) | 11-27 and 2-4 Parkville, St. Louis Co., SNE; 12-26 to 1-15 Tofte, Cook Co., seen daily, apparently with injured wing, MOP; these very northerly records are unusual considering that this species seldom winters as far north as the Twin Cities; often difficult to separate from adult Rusty Blackbird in winter. | ||||
| Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) | reported from Hennepin, Dakota, Blue Earth, Washington, Goodhue, Stevens, Lac qui Parle, St. Louis, Wabasha, Rice, Lyon, Olmsted and Winona Co's; one northerly record, Norris Camp, Lake-of-the-Woods Co. until 12-22 (DP). | ||||
| Tanagers, Cardinals, Grosbeaks | |||||
| Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) | reported from Washington, Hennepin (16 at feeder daily, DWL), Rice, Cook (12-17 Lutsen, RLG, and 1 female at feeder daily from Dec. to 2-8 Tofte, MOP), Olmsted, Stearns, Wright, Cottonwood, Wabasha, Winona (194 on Christmas Count), Lyon, Kanabec, Anoka, Stevens and St. Louis (12-4 Duluth, 1 male, Milt Sundquist fide JCG) Counties. | ||||