After two winters of exceptional snow and cold, this season's balmy conditions were a welcome respite. The 158 species reported this season was the second highest ever, falling short of the record 162 species seen during the 1994–95 winter season (The Loon 68:155). More exceptional were the record species counts on the Bloomington (73) and Excelsior (68) CBCs, far surpassing the previous record of 66 species, and attesting to the remarkable variety of birds present in the state this winter. As can be expected from mild winters such as this, many more lingering migrants were seen than normal, a long list of unusual overwintering birds was tallied, there was significant early migration observed in a number of species, and most irruptive species were seen in lower numbers than the previous two winters.

Highlights among the lingering waterbirds include Common Loons recorded in Otter Tail Co. and on the Duluth CBC, a mid-winter report of a Red-necked Grebe at Reads Landing, Wabasha Co., a Black-crowned Night-Heron at Black Dog Lake, Dakota Co., three late Black Scoters at Lake Calhoun, Hennepin Co., multiple reports of Ruddy Ducks with a peak of 23 at Lake Calhoun, and a record number of American Coots. The number of Trumpeter Swans overwintering at Fergus Falls, Otter Tail Co. and Monticello, Wright Co. continues to rise, and once again several Tundra Swans overwintered with the Trumpeters at Monticello.

Exceptional numbers of gulls were seen until early January, with most reports from the North Shore of Lake Superior and Black Dog Lake, Dakota Co. The Lesser Black-backed Gull at Lake City, Wabasha Co. was a first county record, the peak of eleven Thayer's Gulls at Black Dog Lake was a new high count, and the two Glaucous-winged Gulls reported from Duluth-Superior and Grand Marais were only the second and third state records. The reports of Lesser Black-backed, Great Black-backed, and Iceland Gulls foreshadow upcoming regular status for these species; the Lesser Black-backed Gull seen at Lake City, and the four Iceland Gulls continue a trend of more individuals reported from the Twin Cities than the North Shore.

Highlights among lingering landbirds include multiple Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers in January in Minneapolis, a record late Eastern Phoebe on the St. Paul CBC, Marsh Wrens in Hennepin Co. and on the Excelsior CBC, Ruby-crowned Kinglets in Washington Co. and on the Two Harbors CBC, multiple Yellow-rumped Warblers including a remarkable peak of five in Rice Co., a Common Yellowthroat at the Bass Ponds, Hennepin Co., and two reports of Lincoln's Sparrows in Hennepin Co.

Many passerines which normally overwinter in small numbers were reported in record numbers. Most interesting was the exceptional number of Brown Creepers and Golden-crowned Kinglets throughout the state, with a greater number of Golden-crowned Kinglets in the north than the south. Red-breasted Nuthatches were also more widespread than ever before. As many as a dozen Hermit Thrushes were reported. Also of interest was the record number of American Crows and American Robins, highlighted by 10,000 crows seen in Rochester, Olmsted Co. (by far the highest count ever reported in the state) and 505 robins on the St. Paul (northeast suburban) CBC.

One of the key elements to any good winter report is to note which species successfully overwintered. Many individuals of many species often linger well into January (or even later), but then either move elsewhere or perish. Conversely, other individuals of some species begin local or migratory movements throughout February (or even earlier). As a result, it is often very difficult to determine true overwintering status of individual birds based on just a few observations, even in “mid-winter”. In most instances, overwintering status means an individual bird has been seen throughout all three months of the winter. The Millard's observations in Fergus Falls, Otter Tail Co. are a shining tribute to this type of field work. The most interesting species documented successfully overwintering at this site include Pied-billed Grebe, Black-crowned Night-Heron, nine species of ducks, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Merlin (Richardson's race), American Coot, Red-headed Woodpecker, Varied Thrush, Spotted Towhee, and Chipping, Lincoln's, Swamp, White-throated, and White-crowned Sparrows. Both the Black-crowned Night-Heron and the Lincoln's Sparrow are the first confirmed overwintering records in the state, and the Spotted Towhee and Swamp Sparrow are the first overwintering records for the north.

Noteworthy overwintering reports from other areas of the state include Carolina Wrens in Rochester, Olmsted Co. and Bloomington, Hennepin Co., a Northern Mockingbird in Detroit Lakes, Becker Co., Eastern Towhee and Harris's Sparrows in Duluth, St. Louis Co., a midwinter report of a Field Sparrow in Dakota Co., and record numbers of Song, Swamp and White-throated Sparrows. Most interesting was the adult male Barrow's Goldeneye overwintering at the Blue Lake treatment plant, Scott Co. for the third year in a row. This is the fourth year in a row that a male has overwintered in the Twin Cities area, underscoring this species' habit of returning to wintering sites year after year, but belying its true status as a casual vagrant. Of related interest was the Prairie Falcon wintering in Minneapolis for the third time in four years.

The number of northern owls reported was down considerably from the past two winters' invasions, with only average numbers of Great Gray and Northern Hawk Owls, and only one Boreal Owl report. The 56 Snowy Owl reports were actually above average; although few were reported from the northeast, many were seen in the west, highlighted by five on the Crookston CBC. Also of interest here is the very low number of Rough-legged Hawks and Northern Goshawks, and the lower than average number of Northern Shrikes.

The Fringillid (“winter”) finch movement was somewhat mixed, with strong indications that many species moved south early, leaving fewer individuals in the state by mid-winter than areas farther south. This seemed particularly true with Common Redpolls, which were widespread but not in large numbers. A near record number of Hoary Redpolls was seen, but as usual few of them were documented. Purple Finches were very scarce. Red Crossbills were confined to the north, but White-winged Crossbills were quite widespread, with a peak of over 150 as far south as Brown Co. Although there were more Evening Grosbeak reports from the south than usual, these reports were still meager, and the CBC total was exceptionally low.

Early migration of waterfowl, gulls, bluebirds, American Robins, Lapland Longspurs, and blackbirds was well underway during the last week of February. Most interesting among the reports of early migrants was an American Woodcock seen in Houston Co., the state's first February report.

Most species of waterfowl were reported returning in good numbers by 24-25 February, and many species established new record early dates. Although it is often difficult in late winter to distinguish early migrants from previously undiscovered overwintering individuals, it seems likely that most of the dates included in the species accounts this season represent bona fide migrants.

Herring Gulls began building along the St. Croix River near Hastings in early February, showing this species' potential for early migration when the weather is mild. Although Iceland, Thayer's, and Glaucous Gulls have recently been reported annually in southern Minnesota in spring, all three species were seen returning as spring migrants with the Herring Gulls in the latter part of February, which is over a month earlier than the previous earliest dates. Ring-billed Gulls also moved into southern Minnesota in large numbers in late February, and they established a record early arrival date in northern Minnesota when recorded in Otter Tail Co.

The format for this report is similar to previous winters. Overwintering status is noted first, followed by lingering individuals and then potential early migrants. The total number of counties is given for widespread permanent residents, and CBC totals are included for most species as well. In both cases, the number seen last year is given if it differed significantly from this year's. A total of 93 seasonal reports and 55 CBCs were submitted.

I would like to thank Paul Budde who compiled a list of observations from seasonal reports submitted electronically, Anthony Hertzel who compiled a list of sightings reported to the statewide rare bird alert, and Dennis Martin who coordinated the CBCs.