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Seasonal Report Archive for The Loon | |
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The 1967-Winter Season 1 December 1967 through 29 February 1968 Ronald L. Huber |
Except for a few severe cold snaps, the winter was a trifle milder than normal. The so-called "January thaw" was again a reality, extending into early February. By the end of February, temperatures had returned to normal, but still no snow cover, except in the far northern portions of the state. Without the protective blanket of snow, many people feared that heavy damage would be done to root-systems of important vegetation. Apparently this was not the case, and the ground thawed early enough for some record-breaking crop plantings when Spring arrived. It would seem that the mild winter allowed many late migrants to linger on through part or most of the season, as the reader will note below.
Individually, 99 observers (71 regulars + 28 others; most we've ever had for a Winter Season) remarked on a dull, nodescript winter, but collectively they recorded 116 species {slightly fewer than last winter). Unusual species which now seem to be expected regularly were the Barrow's Goldeneye, Harlequin Duck, Gyrfalcon and Iceland Gull. Extralimital occurrences were put in by the Varied Thrush (almost regular?) and Gray-crowned Rosy Finch (second state record). Species seldom recorded here during the winter were Whistling Swan, Surf Scoter, Catbird, Brown Thrasher, Baltimore Oriole, Rufous- sided Towhee, Harris' Sparrow and Fox Sparrow. The Killdeer and Yellowbellied Sapsucker probably also belong in the last category. Thus 19 species of extraordinary interest were reported . . . certainly one of the most remarkable winters I can recall!
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Species |
Information |
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| Whistling-Ducks, Geese, Swans, Ducks | |||||
| Snow Goose (Anser caerulescens) | usual banded resident still at Collegeville, Stearns Co., KE; 12-14 Rochester, Olmsted Co., 4 with Canada Geese, AFR; very few winter records. - Blue Goose - still one wintering at the Virginia powerplant, St. Louis Co., MIG, LTM, EHH. | ||||
| Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) | the usual flock of several thousand wintered again at Rochester, Olmsted Co., also reported from Wright, Hennepin, Stearns and St. Louis (Virginia powerplant, EHH, L TM, MIG) Co's. | ||||
| Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus) | 12-3 Minneiska, Goodhue Co., 2, MH; all winter, Rochester, Olmsted Co., 1 at Silver Lake with Canada Geese, AFR; very few winter records for this species in Minnesota. | ||||
| Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) | reported from Anoka, Hennepin and St. Louis (Virginia powerplant, LTM, MIG, EHH) Co'.s | ||||
| Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) | reported from Hennepin, St. Louis, Dakota, Cook, Rice, Nobles, Wright, Anoka, Goodhue, Carver, Lake and Wabasha Co's. | ||||
| American Black Duck (Anas rubripes) | reported from Hennepin, St. Louis, Wright, Goodhue, Cook, Wabasha, Anoka and Ramsey Co's. | ||||
| Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) | 12-2 Minneapolis, CLH; 1-21 Shakopee, Scott Co., 2, MHM. | ||||
| Redhead (Aythya americana) | 12-8 Lake Calhoun, Minneapolis, FN/MAS; 12-12 Lake Harriet, Minneapolis, VL; 12-23 St. Paul, Ramsey Co., pair, BL. | ||||
| Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris) | 12-3 Lake Harriet, Minneapolis, DB; 12-4 Lake Vadnais, Ramsey Co., VL; 12-5 Lake Calhoun, Minneapolis, FN/MAS; 1-16(EHH), 2-3(BL), 2-5(MIG), 2-29(LTM) St. Louis Co., at Virginia powerplant. | ||||
| Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis) | 12-13(JJ), 12-9(ACR), 12-23(BL) St. Paul, Ramsey Co.; 12-4 Wacouta, Goodhue Co., MH; 12-12 Minneapolis, VL; 1-5 Grand Marais, Cook Co., MIG. | ||||
| Harlequin Duck (Histrionicus histrionicus) | 1-4 Stoney Point, Lake Co., 2 subadult males, JCG,RG; 1-16 (DB,EHH), 2-3(BL), 2-5(MIG) St. Louis Co., Virginia powerplant, one adult male. | ||||
| Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata) | 12-16 Duluth, St. Louis Co., 2 females, RL; good details; probably only second winter record for state. | ||||
| White-winged Scoter (Melanitta deglandi) | 12-6 Two Harbors, Lake Co., 1, JCG. | ||||
| Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) | usual reports from Cook & Lake Co's; peak numbers, 2-4 Hovland, Cook Co., 200, HEP. | ||||
| Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) | reported from Cook, Lake, St. Louis, Hennepin and Dakota Co's. | ||||
| Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) | reported from Olmsted, Goodhue, Chisago, Hennepin, Anoka, Wabasha, Lake, St. Louis, Cook, Morrison, Wright, Ramsey, Koochiching, Stearns, Dakota and Carver Co's.; also Fargo-Moorhead. | ||||
| Barrow's Goldeneye (Bucephala islandica) | 1-1(VL, DB,RLH,RBJ), 1-3(FN/MAS) Blackdog, Dakota Co. | ||||
| Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) | 12-2(CLH), 12-5 (FN/MAS), 12-19(VL) Minneapolis. | ||||
| Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) | reported from Hennepin Louis, Dakota, Wabasha, Chisago, Goodhue, Houston Co's.; also Fargo-Moorhead. | ||||
| Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator) | 12-5 Wacouta. Goodhue Co, MH; strangely absent elsewhere. | ||||
| Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) | 12-3 Minneapolis, 1, VL, 12-9 Rochester, Olmsted Co., DB. | ||||
| Partridge, Pheasants, Grouse, Turkeys | |||||
| Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus) | reported by 2 7 observers from 15 counties: Lake, Roseau, Cook, Fillmore, Stearns, St. Louis (32 on Duluth Xmas count!!), Goodhue, Chisago, Itasca, Marshall, Aitkin, Crow Wing, Morrison, Beltrami, Kanabec Co's. | ||||
| Spruce Grouse (Canachites canadensis) | resident, Roseau Co., PEB; 12-17(9, LTM), 2-15(1, PE) Lake Co.; 2-29 Shotley, Beltrami Co., MG. | ||||
| Sharp-tailed Grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus) | 12-30 Hibbing, St. Louis Co., 2, HM; 2-3 Payne, St. Louis Co., 2, BL; 2-4 Grand Marais, Cook Co., 1, FL (may be only Cook Co. record?); 2-22 Meadowlands, St. Louis Co., 11, DB; 2-26 and throughout winter, Marshall Co., A WR; "resident", Roseau Co., PEB. | ||||
| Gray Partridge (Perdix perdix) | 2-22 Rice Co., 1, OAR; 2-24 Olmstead Co., AFR; "resident", Roseau Co., PEB. | ||||
| Ring-necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) | reported from Hennepin, Watonwan, Blue Earth, Lyon, Olmsted, Stearns, Goodhue, Chisago, Wabasha, Pope, Stevens, Big Stone, Nobles, Rice, Carver, Morrison, Isanti, Anoka, Ramsey, Wright, Washington Co's. Chukar: 2-5 Ely, St. Louis Co., 6, MIG. | ||||
| Grebes | |||||
| Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) | 12-2(CLH) and 12-12 (VL) Minneapolis, 1. | ||||
| Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus) | 12-30 Duluth, St. Louis Co., 1, BB. | ||||
| Pigeons, Doves | |||||
| Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) | reported from McLeod, Rice, Blue Earth, Stearns, Goodhue, Hennepin and Wabasha Co's. | ||||
| Rails, Gallinules, Coots | |||||
| American Coot (Fulica americana) | reported only from Wright and Hennepin Co's. | ||||
| Plovers | |||||
| Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) | 12-30 (Xmas Count), 1-1 (RBJ, RLH), Barden, Scott Co., 2. | ||||
| Sandpipers | |||||
| Wilson's Snipe (Gallinago delicata) | 1-13, 1-20, 2-24 Fillmore Co., AFR; 1-13 Dakota Co., 2, DB. GULL, SPECIES?: a large, dark-backed gull, intermediate in plumage between the Great Black-backed Gull and the SLATY- BACKED GULL was discovered at Knife River, Lake Co .. , on 1-4 by JCG; seen there again on 1-24 by FN/MAS; 1-27(RPR) and 1-28(JCG) it was seen at Two Harbors, Lake Co.; most observers called it a Great Black-backed Gull, but the coupious notes taken by JCG leave the identity open to question. | ||||
| Gulls, Terns | |||||
| Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) | 12-3 Lake Harriet, Minneapolis, DB; 12-5 Blackrog, Dakota Co., many, FN/MAS; 12-8 Lake Harriet, FN/ MAS; 12-12 Minneapolis, VL. | ||||
| Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) | reported from Dakota, St. Louis, Lake, Cook, Hennepin, Goodhue, Wabasha and Ramsey Co's. | ||||
| Iceland Gull (Larus glaucoides) | 1-10 Knife River, Lake Co., 1 imm, photographed by JCG. | ||||
| Glaucous Gull (Larus hyperboreus) | Knife River, Lake Co., l- 23(2,FN/MAS), last seen 1-28(JCG, totalled Sad, 8imm for winter); Cook Co., Grand Marais, 12-27(1 imm, BL), 1-5 (2, MIG), 1-25 (4,FN/ MAS), 2-3 (2imm, JCG); Silver Bay, Lake Co., 2-3, 1 imm, JCG. | ||||
| Bitterns, Herons, Egrets, Night-Herons | |||||
| Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) | 12-5 Blackdog, Dakota Co., 1, FN/ MAS; 12-7 Minneapolis, 1, FN/MAS. | ||||
| Kites, Accipiters, Hawks, Eagles | |||||
| Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius) | reported from Nobles, Renville, Olmstead, Wabasha, Stearns, Aitkin (12-28 McGregor, ME) Co's. | ||||
| Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus) | reported only from Wabasha, Carlton, St. Louis Co's. | ||||
| American Goshawk (Accipiter atricapillus) | Dec., Hugo, Washington Co., GCA; 2-13 (captured 2-21) Carlos Avery Refuge, Anoka Co., WHL. | ||||
| Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) | 12-10 Houston Co., 2ad, 2imm, FL; 2-3 Read's Landing, Wabasha Co., 2ad, FL; 12-30 Pt. Douglas, Washington Co., 3ad, SAW; 12-3(lad, 3imm), 12-4(lad, 2imm), 12-5(lad, limm) Wacouta, Goodhue Co., MH; 12-23 Taylors Falls, Chisago Co., lad, MFH; seen, DGM; 1-9 Dakota, Goodhue, Wabasha Co's., 9ad, FN/MAS; 1-13 Red Wing, Goodhue Co., 3, DB; 12-12 Bloomington, Hennepin Co., VL; all winter, Trout Lake & Prairie River area, Itasca Co., 2 ad, TCD; 2-17 Taylors Falls, Chisago Co., 2 ad, EL; 12-28(lad, 7imm), 1-2(10) McGregor, Aitkin Co., ME; 12-10 Crow Wing Co., 1, MSB; 12-5, 12-12 Hennepin Co., lad, RDT; 12-20, 12-31 Duluth, St. Louis Co., fide JCG; 2-11 Carlos Avery Refuge, Anoka Co., limm, MIG. | ||||
| Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) | 2-3 Whitewater Park, Winona Co., DB; 2-6, 2-20 Ft. Snelling State Park, Hennepin Co., VL. | ||||
| Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) | reported from Olmsted, Fillmore, Houston, Wabasha, Scott, Carver, Rice, Blue Earth, Watonwan, Anoka, Hennepin, Stearns, Washington, Itasca and St. Louis Co's. | ||||
| Rough-legged Hawk (Buteo lagopus) | reported from Olmsted, Fillmore, Dakota, Stearns, Wabasha, Carlton, St. Louis, Anoka, Hennepin, Aitkin, Marshall, Redwood, Nobles, Rice, Carver, Morrison, Lake, McLeod, Watonwan, Washington Co's.; also Fargo-Moorhead (20 counties as compared to 5 counties last winter!). | ||||
| Screech-Owls, Owls | |||||
| Eastern Screech-Owl (Megascops asio) | reported from Hennepin, Rice, Watonwan, Blue Earth, Stearns, Goodhue, Washington and Olmsted Co's. | ||||
| Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) | reported from Hennepin, Dakota, Winona, Ramsey, Lake, Wright, Rice, Marshall, Watonwan, Blue Earth, St. Louis, Lyon, McLeod, Lakeof- the-woods, Goodhue, Chisago, Wabasha, Itasca, Stevens, Big Stone, Washington, Nobles, Anoka, Olmsted Co's:; also Fargo-Moorhead. | ||||
| Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) | many reports, starting with northern records and working south Lake Co., Two Harbors, 12-22, 1, JCG, 12-24, 1, GEC; St. Louis Co., Virginia, 1-31, 1, M. E. Tuenge, Mt. Iron, 2-3, 1, KE, Duluth, 12-26, 1, AKA, 12-27 1, M. Sundquist, 12-28, 1, RK, 12-30, 4, Xmas Count, 1-7, 1, MIG, 1-14, 1, RL, 1-16, 2, DB, EHH, 1-18, 1, D. Erickson, 1-21, 1, BL, 2-5, 2, KE, 2-6, 1, BL, 2-18, 1, RL; Roseau Co., Warroad, 12-4, 1, PEB, 12-25, 1, Dick Myers; Aitkin Co., Rice Lake Refuge, 4 seen regularly, MSB; Crow Wing Co., Crosby, all winter, MSB; Polk Co., Crookston, January, 7 seen, J. R. Nelson; Clay Co., Buffalo River, 1-22, 1, D. Lais; Stevens Co., Donnelly, 2-18, 1, Del Holdgrafer; Washington Co., Lake Jane, 2-9, 1, JO; Big Stone Co., Artichoke Lake, 2-24, 1, JAH; Hennepin Co., Dayton, 1-7, 1, MHM; 24, 1, DB; Olmsted Co., Rock Dell Twp, 1-14, 1, HBW; Watonwan Co., 7 mi SE Medalia, 12-20, 1, EDK; no less than 24 observes reporting them from 13 counties. | ||||
| Northern Hawk Owl (Surnia ulula) | 12-25 Cloquet Valley State Forest, 1, J. C. Ryan fide JCG. | ||||
| Barred Owl (Strix varia) | reported from Chisago, Washington, Goodhue, Wabasha, Ramsey, Hennepin, Carver, Rice and Stearns Co's. | ||||
| Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) | 1-3 Hugo, Washington Co., 1, GCA; 12-12 Duluth, St. Louis Co., 1 road kill, BB fide JCG (first winter record for Duluth); 12-19 Stearns Co., 1, KE; Rice Co., Faribault, 1 found dead by OAR. | ||||
| Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) | 12-21, 1-11, 2-12 Lewisville, Watonwan Co., 1, EDK; 1-21 Hennepin Co., 1, DB; 1-23 Zim, St. Louis Co., 1, FN/MAS; 12-6 Marshall So., 1, AWR; 12-23 Fargo-Moorhead, fide EGA. | ||||
| Kingfishers | |||||
| Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) | usual wintering few reported from Winona, Dakota, Ramsey, Anoka, Wabasha, Goodhue, Fillmore, Olmsted Co's. | ||||
| Woodpeckers | |||||
| Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) | reported only for Stearns (Kimball, JAH and Collegeville, KE) and Chisago (Taylors Falls, EL) Counties. | ||||
| Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) | usual records for Carver, Rice, Olmsted, Fillmore, Wabasha, Houston, Hennepin, Ramsey, Goodhue, Stearns, Chisago, Washington Co's; several very interesting northerly records Duluth, late fall to 1-7, 1 female, Clarence Nelson fide JCG; Cloquet, Carlton Co., 1-13 to early Feb., I. Gildemeister fide JCG; Grand Rapids, Itasca Co. , late Dec. to early Jan., R. Bellefy fide | ||||
| Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) | 12-7 Minnehaha Creek, south Minneapolis, 1, VL, apparently very late migrant. | ||||
| Black-backed Woodpecker (Picoides arcticus) | 2-1 7 Encampment Forest, Lake Co., I , RL, JCG; 12-30 French River, St. Louis Co., 1, JGH; 1-2 French River, St. Louis Co., 1, Mrs. Alseth fide JCG ; 2-4 Cascade River, Cook Co., 1, HEP; 25 sightings during period, Lutsen, Cook Co., LS; one fantastic record from out on the prairie; 2-8 Watonwan Co. , Madelia Research Center, 1, good details, EDK. | ||||
| Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) | reported from 33 counties, all across the state. | ||||
| Hairy Woodpecker (Dryobates villosus) | reported from 34 counties, all across the state. | ||||
| Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) | reported from Carver, Nobles, Lyon, Aitkin, Cook, Hennepin, Anoka, Mille Lacs, Blue Earth, Watonwan, St. Louis, Rice, Wabasha Co's; also Fargo-Moorhead. | ||||
| Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) | reported from Hennepin, Carver, Blue Earth, Rice, Fillmore, Anoka, Wabasha, Stearns, Cook, Morrison, Chisago, St Louis, Washington, Pope Co's.; also Fargo-Moorhead. | ||||
| Caracaras, Falcons | |||||
| American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) | reported from Olmsted, Dakota, Stearns, Goodhue, Wabasha, Hennepin, Wright, Rice, Nobles, Carver, Anoka, Ramsey, Kandiyohi, Watonwan, Blue Earth Co's. | ||||
| GYRFALCON (Falco rusticolus) | 2-5 Duluth, St. Louis Co., good details, KE. | ||||
| Shrikes | |||||
| Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus) | 12-10 Adrian, Nobles Co., 1, EHW (observer not aware of normal winter absence of this species, but details fairly good); 12-30 Barden, Scott Co., Xmas Count, Goodman Larson and Lester Badger, excellent details; these are probably first winter records for state. Wacouta, Goodhue Co., 1 at feeder, MH; 1-1 Roseville, Ramsey Co., 1 at feeder, MIG (may have stayed longer ?); 12-23 to 2-14 Edina, Henepin Co., 1 at feeder, Mrs. Telfer (see Notes of Interest in previous issue); apparently only one previous winter record (not well-documented) for state. | ||||
| Northern Shrike (Lanius borealis) | reported from Chisago, Lake-of-thewoods, Morrison, Watonwan, Aitkin, Pope, Crow Wing, Nobles, Wabasha, Hennepin, Rice, St. Louis, Lake, Cook, Dakota, Goodhue, Stearns, Anoka, Carver, Morrison, Wasnington, Beltrami Co's.; also Fargo-Moorhead. | ||||
| Jays, Nutcrackers, Magpies, Crows | |||||
| Canada Jay (Perisoreus canadensis) | usual reports from Cook, Lake, St. Louis, Roseau, Beltrami, Cass Co's.; one southerly record 12-8, 12-9, 1-8 Bloomington, Hennepin Co. , 1 at feeder, VL, FN/MAS. | ||||
| Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) | reported from 32 counties, all across the state. | ||||
| Black-billed Magpie (Pica hudsonia) | 2-2 Beltrami Co., 10 mi N. Waskish, 1, KE; 2-2 Lake-ofthe- woods Co., 5 mi SE Baudette, 2, KE; 2-2 St. Louis Co., Meadowlands, 1, Mrs. Everett Laine fide JCG; 2-9 FargoMoorhead, 2, fide EGA; Marshall Co., all winter, A WR; Roseau Co., common winter resident, PEB; throughout period, Shotely, Beltrami Co., MG. | ||||
| American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) | reported from 26 counties, all across the state, including NE corner. | ||||
| Common Raven (Corvus corax) | reported from Beltrami, Koochiching, Lake-of-the-Woods, Roseau, Marshall, Lake, Cook, St. Louis, Pine Co's.; highest total, 2-3 Silver Bay, Lake Co., 78, JCG. | ||||
| Chickadees, Titmice | |||||
| Boreal Chickadee (Poecile hudsonicus) | usual reports from Cook, Lake, St. Louis, Koochiching Co's. | ||||
| Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) | I 0 observers reported them from Olmsted, Hennepin, Goodhue, Winona, Rice, Fillmore, Wabasha Co's., perhaps indicating that this species is making a slow but steady comeback; in view of this, two northerly reports are especially noteworthy: Oct. thru last week of Jan., Chisago Co., Taylors Falls, pair at feeder, EL, MFH; mid-Nov. thru at least early Feb., Duluth (Chester Park), 1, Anna-Marie Duval and Mrs. 0. W. Thorsteinson fide JCG. | ||||
| Larks | |||||
| Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris) | reported from Adrian, Nobles Co., entire period, hundreds, EHW; Lyon, Redwood, Renville Co's., hundreds in Jan., Feb., PE; all other reports seem to indicate some migration; 12-3 Nobles Co., HSH, 12-4 Anoka Co., ACR, 12-21 Stearns Co., KE; then no records until 1-11 Washington Co., JO, 1-13 Dakota Co., DB, 1-15 Nobles Co., hundreds, HSH; in northern areas, 2-15 Marshall Co., A WR, 2-25 Crow Wing Co., MSB, 2-25 Roseau Co., PEB. | ||||
| Kinglets | |||||
| Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa) | reported from Stearns, Hennepin, Fillmore, Carver, Wright, Stevens, St. Louis and Morrison Co's.; withdrew from last 3 counties after December. | ||||
| Waxwings | |||||
| Bohemian Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus) | reported from Beltrami, Marshall, St. Louis, Kanabec, Lake, Stearns, Morrison Co's., also Fargo- Moorhead; highest numbers, 2-4 Ely, St. Louis Co., 200+, MSB. | ||||
| Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) | scare this winter; reported from Chisago, Ramsey, Cook, Hennepin, St. Louis, Kanabec, Lake, Stearns, Washington Co's.; also FargoMoorhead. | ||||
| Nuthatches | |||||
| Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) | usual reports from Cook, Lake, St. Louis Co's.; two southerly records 12-3 Anoka Co., 2, ACR; 1-6(ACR), 2-S(JLS), 2-29(JLS) Ramsey Co. | ||||
| White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) | reported from 31 counties all across the state, including the NE corner. | ||||
| Creepers | |||||
| Brown Creeper (Certhia americana) | reported from Stearns, Hennepin, Rice, Winona, Goodhue, Nobles, Yellow Medicine, Carver, Washington, Wabasha, Morrison, Stevens, Wright, Mille Lacs, Ramsey, Anoka, Cottonwood, Chisago, Crow Wing Co's.; also FargoMoorhead. | ||||
| Thrashers, Mockingbirds | |||||
| Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) | 1 at suet feeder until 12-15, Wacouta, Goodhue Co., MH 12-25; Tofte, Cook Co., 1 at feeder fide MOP; 1 at feeder until 1-15, Edina, Hennepin Co. fide Mrs. Telfer; very few winter records for our state. | ||||
| Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum) | 1 all winter at Cascade River, Cook Co., seen on 2-4 by HEP; 1 all winter at feeder, Bloomington, Hennepin Co., MEH. | ||||
| Thrushes | |||||
| Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) | 12-9 Rochester, Olmsted Co., 1, DB; 12-13(JCG), 1-5(MIG), 1-13(JNG), 1-19 (Mrs. Peterson), French River, St. Louis Co., apparently seen into Feb. by someone? These are perhaps first winter records in | ||||
| American Robin (Turdus migratorius) | quite a winter; reported from Hennepin, Stearns, Rice, Goodhue, Carver, Washington, Ramsey, St. Louis, Lake, Cook Co's.; in last 3 counties, along north shore of Lake Superior, 100's were counted in early Feb.!! also FargoMoorhead. | ||||
| Varied Thrush (Ixoreus naevius) | 1-13 Tofte, Cook multiple sighting for state ?); 1-28 Stewart River, Lake Co., 1 ad male, KE; Scott) , Sunfish Lake, Dakota Co. | ||||
| Finches | |||||
| Evening Grosbeak (Coccothraustes vespertinus) | did not get very far south this winter; reported from Marshall, Lake, Chisago, St. Louis, Cook, Kanabec, Carlton, Morrison, Beltrami, Stearns, Hubbard, Lake-of-the-woods, Koochiching, Roseau, Isanti, Itasca, Crow Wing, Washington Co's.; also Fargo-Moorhead. | ||||
| Pine Grosbeak (Pinicola enucleator) | confined to Cook, Lake, St. Louis Co. , with earliest reports 12-2 Hibbing, St. Louis Co., HM; 12-13 Lutsen, Cook Co., LS; 12-15 Tofte, Cook Co., MOP and 12-18 Isabella, Lake Co., LTM. | ||||
| GRAY-CROWNED ROSY-FINCH (Leucosticte tephrocotis) | first seen on 2-2, remained throughout February, Bagley, Clearwater Co. 1 at feeder, photographed by Richard C. Davids. Second Minnesota record. | ||||
| Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus) | obviously widespread because it was reported from 25 counties (compared to 12 counties last winter) all across the state, but everyone commented on the very low numbers this winter. | ||||
| Redpoll (Common) (Acanthis f. flammea) | reported from Cook, Lake, St. Louis, Lake-of-the-woods, Koochiching, Stearns, Hennepin, Goodhue, Chisago, Isanti, Ramsey, Washington Co's.; much scarcer than usual; earliest 12-21 Collegeville, Stearns Co., KE. | ||||
| Redpoll (Hoary) (Acanthis f. exilipes) | 1-5 Gunflint Trail, Cook Co., 1, MIG; only report. | ||||
| Red Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) | usual reports from Cook Lake-of-the-woods, Beltrami Co's; unusual reports, 1-29, 2-8 Morris, Stevens Co. , 7, JAH and 1-9(1) , 1-23(10) Collegeville, Stearns Co., KE. | ||||
| White-winged Crossbill (Loxia leucoptera) | as with above species, usual reports from Cook, Lake, St. Louis and Lake-of-the-woods Co's; several southerly records, 1-25 Morris, Stevens Co., 20, JAH; 12-21(6), 1-22 (20), 1-20(1 0) Collegeville, Stearns Co., KE; several weeks at window feeder, 1, Wacouta, Goodhue Co., MH, extremely isolated record. | ||||
| Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus) | 21 observers report them from Cass, Hennepin, Rice, Lake (12-26, 800+, RK), St. Louis, Carver, Beltrami, Lake-of-the-woods, Koochiching, Stearns, Cook (12-21 , 650), LS, 12-18, 1500, LTM), also Fargo-Moorhead; largest total, Cloquet Valley State Forest on 12-23, 6000 seen on 16 mile stretch of road, J. C. Ryan fide JCG!! | ||||
| American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) | scattered widely across state but in very small numbers Ramsey, Hennepin, Crow Wing, Washington, Hubbard, Chisago, Goodhue, Anoka, Wabasha, Pope, Winona, Fillmore, Stevens, Beltrami, Wright, ยท Morrison, Carlton, Isanti, Rice, Lyon, Carver, Stearns, Cook St. Louis Co's.; also FargoMoorhead. | ||||
| Longspurs and Snow Buntings | |||||
| Lapland Longspur (Calcarius lapponicus) | reported from Nobles, Wabasha, Lyon, Stearns, Redwood, DB) Co's.; two northerly records, 12-14 Lutsen, Cook Co., 1 female, LS; 12-22 Two Harbors, Lake Co., 1 male, JCG, probably late migrants. | ||||
| Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis) | reported from Cook, Lake, St. Louis, Stearns, Lake-of-thewoods, Lyon, Koochiching, Dakota, Pope, Hennepin, Washington, Chisago, Stevens, Morrison, Itasca, McLeod, Rice, Watonwan, Beltrami, Crow Wing, Pine. Roseau, Aitkin Co's. | ||||
| Towhees, Sparrows | |||||
| American Tree Sparrow (Spizelloides arborea) | reported from Hennepin, Carver, Washington, Steams, Chisago, St. Louis, Goodhue, Anoka, Stevens, Big Stone, Ramsey, Wabasha, Olmsted, Fillmore, Dakota, Rice, Lyon, Nobles, Wright Co's.; northerly records Cook Co., Lutsen, 12-17, LS and Schroeder 12-24, MAF; St. Louis Co., Duluth (Congdon 12-4, 1-21 , 1-23, 2-2,2-7, 2-17, one each time, JCG. | ||||
| Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) | numbers down, appearances irregular from Anoka, Mille Lacs, Nobles, Watonwan, Olmsted, Beltrami, Washington, Carver, St. Louis, Cook, Henepin, Lyon, Rice, Isanti, Morrison, Fillmore, Pope, Wabasha, Ramsey, Stevens, Stearns Dakota Co's.; also Fargo- Moorhead. - Oregon Junco - 1-8 Wyoming, Washington Co., 1 banded, FVS; no date, Hugo, Washington Co., GCA; 1-10, 2-28 Carver Co., MHM; seen daily, Bloomington, 1, MEH; 1-30 Cyrus, Pope Co., 1, WH; 1-16, 1-18 Christmas Lake, Hennepin Co., 1, RDT; 12-9(2), 12-21(1) Collegeville, Steams Co., KE; 12-21 Minneapolis, 1, gray hood, pink sides, brown back, MES; it is interesting that only one of the above observations was accompanied by a description. | ||||
| Harris's Sparrow (Zonotrichia querula) | 2 at feeder most of period, Fargo-Moorhead, fide EGA. | ||||
| White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) | 12-23 FargoMoorhead, fide EGA; 1-3 St. Paul, 2, ACR; 2-24 Fillmore Co., 1, AFR; 12-24 to 1-20 Cook Co., Schroeder, 1 daily, MAF; 1-1 through most of Jan. , Duluth, St. Louis Co., 1 injured, KS; 12-27 through winter, 1 imm at feeder, Minneapolis, SAW; more records than usual. Collegeville, Stearns Co., 1, KE. | ||||
| Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus) | Vesper Sparrow: 11-20(1), 11-21(3) Tofte, Cook Co. , MOP; good details; extremely late dates and unusual location. | ||||
| Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) | 12-3 Lyon Co., 8 PE; daily, MAF; 1-5 Grand Marais, Cook Co., 1, MIG; northerly records are noteworthy. | ||||
| Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) | 12-2 Duluth, St. Louis Co., 1, Phyllis Aspoas fide PBH. | ||||
| Blackbirds, Orioles | |||||
| Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta) | 12-23 FargoMoorhead, 1, fide EGA; probably late migrant? | ||||
| Sturnella meadowlark (Sturnella sp.) | 12-8(100), 12-9 (1), 12-10(50), 12-24(200), 12-29(2), Wabasha Co., DGH; very interesting concentrations in view of absence elsewhere in state. | ||||
| Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula) | late Nov. thru 12-9 Duluth, St. Louis Co., 1 female, LP fide JCG. | ||||
| Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) | scarce, reported only from Goodhue, Houston, Hennepin, Rice, Stearns, Stevens and Ramsey Co's. | ||||
| Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus) | reported from Lake, Big Stone, Fillmore, Aitkin, Benton, Lyon, Rice, Hennepin, Pope, Stearns, Scott Co's.; also Fargo-Moorhead. | ||||
| Brewer's Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus) | 12-21 Collegeville, Stearns Co., 1 at feeder, voice noted, KE. | ||||
| Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) | reported from Stearns, Scott, Stevens, Pope, Lyon, Fillmore, Rice, Hennepin, St. Louis, Anoka, Wabasha Olmsted, Houston, Nobles, Cottonwood, Chisago, Ramsey Co's. Mountain Lake, Cottonwood Co. , 1 male, LAF; strangely absent for past few winters. | ||||
| Tanagers, Cardinals, Grosbeaks | |||||
| Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) | reported from Cottonwood, Ramsey, Chisago, Carver, Washington, Stearns, Rice, Stevens, Olmsted, Fillmore, Lyon, Wabasha, Watonwan, Blue Earth, Ramsey Goodhue (63 at one time MH!!) Co's.; also Fargo-Moorhead; several noteworthy northerly records 1-27 Encampment Forest, Lake Co., 1 male, KE; all Dec., Duluth, St. Louis Co., 1 female, 19 Hibbing, St. Louis Co. , 1 daily HM. | ||||