 |
Seasonal Report Archive for The Loon | |
|
The 1965-Spring Season 1 March through 31 May 1965 Ronald L. Huber |
Due to the inadvertent loss of the
Spring Season manuscript somewhere between
our editor and the printer, it was
thought advisable to salvage some of the
more pertinent data from the 100-plus
hours that went into said report. Well
over 100 observers snowed me under
with their data, providing the most comprehensive
coverage I can recall in the
past sixteen Seasonal Reports. It is
regretted that I cannot use everyone's
initials in this digest, but time and space
limitations necessitate the "skeletonform"
used here. All contributors will,
however, be listed at the end of the report
in the usual fashion.
Summary: The strays and rarities that showed up this spring can't hold a candle to the very early and strange dates that were reported! Some of the species involved are not easily misidentified, but a look at some of the outlandish flycatcher and thrush dates indicates a strong need for the tutoring of our inexperienced observers. Despite complaints by many observers that the cold wet spring resulted in a disappointing migration, 132 observers (count 'em!) rallied to boost the species total to approximately 292 this spring. Due to the superabundance of material received, I have resorted to a brief form of reporting.
If the format used in this report seems satisfactory to the reader, indicate this on the questionnaire that will accompany the forms sent to you for the next season.
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|
Species |
Information |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whistling-Ducks, Geese, Swans, Ducks | |||||
| Snow Goose (Anser caerulescens) | earliest 3-11 Cook Co, several Snows seen by Barbara Sav | ||||
| Greater White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons) | 4-10 Two Harbors, RK; 4-13 Rice Co, CE, PE, JB; 4-15 Stevens Co, RAG and 5-11 Holt, DLO. | ||||
| Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus) | earliest 4-4 Dakota Co, EMB and Willmar, CR; latest 5-29 Wisconsin Point, PBH. See also the Summer Season and Notes of Interest for Summer record in Virginia-Hibbing area (and also Fort William, on the Lakehead). | ||||
| Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) | earliest 4-5 Howard Lake, EC. | ||||
| Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata) | earliest 4-3 Dakota Co, RBJ, FL, EMB, DB. | ||||
| Gadwall (Mareca strepera) | earliest 3-31 Dakota Co, EMB. | ||||
| American Wigeon (Mareca americana) | earliest 3-6 Dakota Co, RBJ (exceptional); next record 4-3 Dakota Co, EMB, DB. | ||||
| Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) | earliest 4-1 Cold Spring, NH. | ||||
| Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca) | earliest 4-3 Dakota Co, RBJ, FY. | ||||
| Canvasback (Aythya valisineria) | earliest 4-2 Winona, KK and St. Paul, ACR. | ||||
| Redhead (Aythya americana) | earliest 4-1 Dakota Co, EWJ, TEM. | ||||
| Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris) | earliest 3-31 Kellogg, DGM. ( | ||||
| Greater Scaup (Aythya marila) | earliest 4-13 St. Paul fide ACR; latest 5-16 Lake Co, RG, RLH, HFH, and 6-1 Lake Co, DP, WRP, RLH. | ||||
| Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis) | earliest 3-27 Olmsted Co, RBJ. | ||||
| White-winged Scoter (Melanitta deglandi) | 5-16 Duluth, RG, HFH, RLH and 6-1 Duluth, DP, WRP, RLH. Common Scoter: 4-17 King Lake, Willmar area, SH, (details?). | ||||
| Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) | latest 5-2 Encampment River, MEP. | ||||
| Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) | earliest 4-1 Dakota Co, FN; latest 5-26 Knife River, RK. | ||||
| Barrow's Goldeneye (Bucephala islandica) | 4-13 Fond du Lac, (south edge of Duluth), JCG, BL, RLH. (See Notes of Interest in previous issue. | ||||
| Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) | earliest 3-31 Howard Lake, EC. | ||||
| Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) | earliest 4-4 Hastings, MIG. | ||||
| New World Quail | |||||
| Northern Bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) | 4-29 Kellogg, DGM; 5-30 Anoka Co, RLH. | ||||
| Partridge, Pheasants, Grouse, Turkeys | |||||
| Spruce Grouse (Canachites canadensis) | 3-15 Cook Co, HH. | ||||
| Sharp-tailed Grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus) | 3-16 Meadowlands, JWG; 3-18 thence into April, Mountain Iron, NJH; 3-27 Biwabik, VFB; 4-3 Two Harbors, RK; 11 observations throughout period, at Rice Lake refuge, CEP. | ||||
| Gray Partridge (Perdix perdix) | many more reports than usual, mostly in March; Wabasha Co, DGM, DB; Dakota Co, RBJ, FL; Hennepin Co, RBJ, FL, TEM; Eyota, FGD; Stevens Co, RAG; Sherburne Co, EAR, RPR. | ||||
| Grebes | |||||
| Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus) | earliest 4-14 Rice Co, OAR. | ||||
| Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena) | earliest 4-8 St. Cloud, NH. | ||||
| Eared Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis) | More reports than usual, and eastward drift noted, even in Wisconsin. 4-11 Duluth, PBH; 4-14 Rochester, JPF; 4-21 Belle Prairie, LSR; 4-22 Holt, DLO; 4-27 Hennepin Co, MHM; 429 Lake Andrew, OP and Rice Co, OAR; 5-1 Cass Co, WJH and 5-6 Duluth, JCG. | ||||
| Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis) | 4-27 Traverse Co, EHH, DB; 4-30 Cook Co, MAF and Holt, DLO; 5-1 Stevens Co, ES; 5-2 Traverse Co, RAG; 5-14 Fargo, LWJ and Grant Co, VFB. | ||||
| Cuckoos | |||||
| Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus) | earliest 5-25 Washington Co, DH; scarce this spring. | ||||
| Black-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus erythropthalmus) | earliest 5-9 Minne- apolis, TKS; not as many as usual? | ||||
| Nightjars | |||||
| Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor) | earliest 3-20 Chippewa Co, PL (unbelievable!); next record 4-15 Duluth, LTM and 4-18 Solomon Lake, TM. All other reports were in May. | ||||
| Eastern Whip-poor-will (Antrostomus vociferus) | earliest 4-12 Warroad, JLR (exceptional); next record 4-29 Mpls, MEH. | ||||
| Swifts | |||||
| Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica) | earliest 4-19 Rice Co, PE, CE, JB and 4-22 Minneapolis, RBJ. | ||||
| Hummingbirds | |||||
| Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) | earliest 5-2 Stevens Co, RAG. | ||||
| Rails, Gallinules, Coots | |||||
| Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola) | earliest 4-8 Olson Lake, DS and Hennepin Co, EMB, RBJ. | ||||
| Sora (Porzana carolina) | earliest 4-19 Anoka Co, WHL. | ||||
| Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata) | 5-5 Hennepin Co, TEM; 5-7 Holt, DLO; 5-10 Hennepin Co, MHM and Duluth fide RN; 5-15 Alberta, ES; 5-25 Hennepin Co, FN, TEM. Northward strays are especially noteworthy. | ||||
| Cranes | |||||
| Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis) | more reports than usual; 4-7 Hennepin Co, RDT; 4-9 Anoka Co, WHL; 4-12 Warroad, JLR; 4-14 McGregor, CEP; 4-16 Warroad, 16, JLR; 420 McGregor, CEP; 4-20 Holt, DLO; 428 Cass Lake, (15), JAM; 4-30 Holt, DLO; 5-8 (1) and 5-10 (9) Two Harbors, RK. | ||||
| Stilts, Avocets | |||||
| American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana) | 5-17 White Bear, ELC, RLH; 5-18 St. Cloud, DHG; also reported from Thief Lake Refuge (Bud Garrish) and Roseau Refuge (Jack Jensen) but no dates given. | ||||
| Plovers | |||||
| Black-bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola) | earliest 5-19 Willmar, DW; latest 6-1 Holt, DLO. | ||||
| American Golden-Plover (Pluvialis dominica) | earliest 4-24 Swift Co, RAG; latest 5-23 Stevens Co, RAG. | ||||
| Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus) | earliest 5-8 Salt Lake, RAG; latest 5-29 Hennepin Co, DB, Winona, WRP, Wabasha Co, WRP and Wisconsin Point, PBH. | ||||
| Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) | 5-14 Fargo, LWJ; 5-29 Duluth, PBH. | ||||
| Sandpipers | |||||
| Upland Sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda) | earliest 4-18 Grant Co, RAG. | ||||
| Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) | 5-20 (1) and 5-28 (2) Duluth, PBH. | ||||
| Hudsonian Godwit (Limosa haemastica) | 4-24 Swift Co, RAG; 5-9 Stevens Co, ES; 5-11 Moorhead, LWJ; 5-15 Dakota Co, FL; 5-16 Stevens Co, RAG; 5-17 Lac qui Parle Co, DB; 5-21 Moorhead, LWJ. | ||||
| Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa) | earliest 4-16 Roscoe, Stearns Co, JIM. | ||||
| Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres) | earliest 5-11 Fargo, LWJ; latest 6-1 Duluth, WRP, DP, RLH. | ||||
| Stilt Sandpiper (Calidris himantopus) | 5-29 Superior, PBH; no other reports! Truly scarce this spring. Semipal·mated Sandpiper: earliest 5-7 Moorhead, LWJ; latest 6-1 Duluth, WRP, DP, RLH. | ||||
| Sanderling (Calidris alba) | earliest 5-18 Wisconsin Point, PBH; latest 6-1 Duluth, WRP, DP, RLH. | ||||
| Dunlin (Calidris alpina) | earliest 5/9 Stevens Co, ES; latest 6/1 Duluth, DP, WRP, RLH. | ||||
| Baird's Sandpiper (Calidris bairdii) | earliest 5-1 Dakota Co, FN; latest 5-31 Moorhead, LWJ and Ramsey Co, TEM. | ||||
| Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla) | earliest 5-1 Dakota Co, FN; latest 6-1 Duluth, WRP, DP, RLH. | ||||
| White-rumped Sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis) | earliest 5-l Dakota Co, FN; latest 5-30 Stevens Co, RAG, ES. | ||||
| Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Calidris subruficollis) | 5-18 Holt, DLO, only report. Scarce this spring. | ||||
| Short-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus griseus) | 5-15 Dakota Co, FL; 5-16 Stevens Co, RAG (both records had call-note identification bases). | ||||
| American Woodcock (Scolopax minor) | earliest 4-12 St. Cloud, NH, DHG. | ||||
| Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius) | earliest 4-15 Grant Co, RAG. | ||||
| Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitaria) | earliest 5-1 Sauk Centre, RPR, Vasa, RBJ, FL and Moorhead, LWJ; latest 5-20 Ramsey Co, ACR and 5-22 Lac qui Parle Co, EMB. | ||||
| Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes) | earliest 4-10 Stevens Co, RAG and Rice Co, JB, CE, PE; latest 5-29 Winona, WRP. Pectoral ·Sandpiper: earliest 4-20 Hennepin Co, TEM; latest 5-29 Winona, WRP. | ||||
| Willet (Tringa semipalmata) | 5-6, Hibbing, HM, SM; 5-8 Moorhead, LWJ and Breadsley, RAG; 5-13 Moorhead, LWJ; 5-25 Duluth, PBH, JCG. | ||||
| Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca) | earliest 4-9 Stevens Co, RAG; latest 5-29 Duluth, PBH. | ||||
| Wilson's Phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor) | earliest 4-29 Montevideo, PGK. | ||||
| Gulls, Terns | |||||
| Bonaparte's Gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia) | earliest 4-19 Hennepin Co, TEM; latest 6-1 Duluth, WRP, RLH, DP. | ||||
| Franklin's Gull (Leucophaeus pipixcan) | earliest 4-6 McGregor, CEP. | ||||
| Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia) | earliest 5-18 Wisconsin Point, PBH; latest 6-1 Duluth, WRP, DP, RLH, and Ramsey Co, TKS. | ||||
| Black Tern (Chlidonias niger) | earliest 4-9 Stevens Co, 80, ES (early!); next record 4-25 Lake Andrew, OP. | ||||
| Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) | earliest 4-16 Rochester, JPF. (early!?). | ||||
| Forster's Tern (Sterna forsteri) | earliest 4-6 Dakota Co, FN. | ||||
| Loons | |||||
| Common Loon (Gavia immer) | earliest 4-1 Dakota Co, FN, EWJ. | ||||
| Cormorants | |||||
| Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum) | earliest 4-10 Salt Lake, RAG. | ||||
| Pelicans | |||||
| American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) | More reports than usual; 4-8 Willmar, TQ; 4-15 Traverse Co, RAG; 4-16 Villard fide NH; 4-19 Rice Co, CE, PE, JB; 4-20 White Rock, LWJ; 4-27 Traverse Co, DB; 4-28 Lake Andrew, OP; 5-2 Grant Co, RPR; 5-10 Holt, DLO. | ||||
| Bitterns, Herons, Egrets, Night-Herons | |||||
| American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus) | earliest 4-8 Douglas Co, MVS; next record 4-21 Cokato, EC and Collegeville, RPR. | ||||
| Least Bittern (Ixobrychus exilis) | There are rarely many reports of this secretive little heron. 5-8 Hennepin Co, DB, RBJ; 5-31 Dakota-Scott Co "ine, JRR. | ||||
| Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) | earliest 3-31 Rice Co, OAR and St. Cloud, fide NH. | ||||
| Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) | On 5-16 and 5-17, two birds were seen at Winona by many observers. This is the fifth Minnesota record and compares nicely with two Wisconsin reports and a nesting as far noth in the Mississippi Valley as Arkansas. | ||||
| Green Heron (Butorides virescens) | earliest 4-23 Weaver, KK. Common Egret: earliest 4-4 St. Cloud, NH; one northerly record of interest on 5-9, about 12 miles N. of Aitkin, Jim Kimball. | ||||
| Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) | earliest 4-7 Stillwater, DH. | ||||
| Ibises | |||||
| GLOSSY IBIS (Plegadis falcinellus) | 5-28 Holt, Marshall Co, DLO. Of added interest, another was seen two days earlier at the Horicon marshes in Wisconsin. Perhaps extending its range northward again? | ||||
| New World Vultures | |||||
| Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) | earliest 4-10 Wabasha Co, RBJ, Dakota Co, ACR, St. Cloud, NH, Rice Co, CE, PE, JB and Hastings, MIG. | ||||
| Osprey | |||||
| Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) | earliest 4-10 St. Cloud fide NH. Peregrine: 4-7 Collegeville, RPR; 4-13 Rice Co, PE; 4-15 Duluth, RBH; 4-26 Collegeville, RPR; 4-29 Isanti Co, RHJ and Collegeville, RPR; 5-2 Grand Lake, NH; 5-7 Holt, DLO; 5-18 Duluth, PBH; an encouraging number of reports. | ||||
| Kites, Accipiters, Hawks, Eagles | |||||
| Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) | 3-6 Anoka Co, FN; 4-11 Holt, DLO; 4-7 Morris, 1 imm, RAG; 423 Hennepin Co, 1 imm, FN, TEM; 4-25 Warroad, JLR, PEB. | ||||
| Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius) | earliest 3-31 Cokato, EC, Kellogg, DGM and Washington Co, DH. | ||||
| Broad-winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus) | earliest 4-13 McGregor, CEP and Rice Co, CE, PE, JB. | ||||
| Swainson's Hawk (Buteo swainsoni) | more records than usual; eastward movement also noted in Wisconsin; 4-15 Big Stone and Lac qui Parle Co's, RAG; 4-17 Rice Co, PE, JB, CE; 4-18 Traverse Co, RAG; 4-22 Eyota, FGD; 4-24 Chippewa Co, PL; 4-25 Morris, RAG and 5-1 Goodhue Co, RBJ. | ||||
| Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) | 4-10 St. Cloud, NH and 4-24 Alberta, Stevens Co, RAG, (good details). Because of the high incidence of melanism in the western subspecies of the Red-tail, the occurrence of the Harlan's Hawk in Minnesota has aroused some controversy. | ||||
| Rough-legged Hawk (Buteo lagopus) | latest 5-9 Hastings, AEA and 5-19 Two Harbors, RK. | ||||
| FERRUGINOUS HAWK (Buteo regalis) | 4-24 Morrison Co, RPR, et. al.; See Notes of Interest in previous issue for details. | ||||
| Screech-Owls, Owls | |||||
| Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) | latest 5-4 Duluth, JKR | ||||
| BURROWING OWL (Athene cunicularia) | 4-21 Grant Co, RAG; 427 Traverse Co, DB; 5-2 Big Stone Co, RAG and Rochester, JPF; 5-22 Traverse Co, EMR | ||||
| Great Gray Owl (Strix nebulosa) | 3-11 Lutsen, Cook Co, LS; 3-16 Beltrami Co, DB; 3-26 Warroad, JLR; also, one found dead about 10 mi S. Williams, Lake-of-the-Woods Co, no date, DLO. | ||||
| Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) | 4-4 Sherburne Co, EAH; 4-14 Warroad, JLR; 4-19 Fargo, MGA; 4-24 Grant Co, RAG. | ||||
| Woodpeckers | |||||
| American Three-toed Woodpecker (Picoides dorsalis) | 3-26 Lutsen, Cook Co, LTM; the southern most state record at Minneapolis on 2-28 by FL, RBJ, HFH was equalled this spring when another adult male (possibly the same bird?) was seen in the T. S. Roberts' Sanctuary on April 19 by Art Bogren and again on 5-12 by Jo Herz, Rachel Tryon and Minnie Swedenborg. Excellent color-photos taken by Alison Bolduc. A fitting climax to the southward invasion of last winter! | ||||
| Black-backed Woodpecker (Picoides arcticus) | 3-16 Beltrami Co, DB; one seen during period, no date(s) given, Hibbing, HM. | ||||
| Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) | on 4-15, 4-18 and 4-24, RAG observed flickers in Lac qui Parle Co that had reddish wing-linings, but he was unable to get good looks at the head patterns. This ties in nicely with several hybrid specimens collected this spring in southwestern Minnesota by Minnesota Museum of Natural History staff members. | ||||
| Caracaras, Falcons | |||||
| Merlin (Falco columbarius) | earliest 3-11 Twig, JCG and 3-22 Minneapolis, RBJ; both quite early. | ||||
| GYRFALCON (Falco rusticolus) | 4-30 Schroeder, Cook Co, MAF (details?). | ||||
| Flycatchers | |||||
| Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus) | earliest 4-26 Washington Co, WWL; next 5-4 Hennepin Co, MHM. | ||||
| Western Kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis) | has swept eastward across our state to breed in southeastern Minnesota and Wisconsin. Earliest 5-5 Stevens Co, RAG and 5-6 Royalton, DHG. | ||||
| Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) | earliest 4-18 Rochester, JPF (exceptional); next records 4-25 Danube, PGK, 4-20 Duluth, LTM plus three records for 5-l. | ||||
| Olive-sided Flycatcher (Contopus cooperi) | earliest 5-7 Hennepin Co, WJB. Good migration with good numbers this spring; a few lingered in southeastern Minnesota and out on the prairies until about the first part of June! | ||||
| Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (Empidonax flaviventris) | earliest 5-14 Rochester, JPF, Hennepin Co, DB, EMB and Douglas Co, MVS. | ||||
| Least Flycatcher (Empidonax minimus) | earliest 4/29 Cass Co, JAM and 5/1 Stevens Co, RAG and Rice Co, CE, PE, JB. | ||||
| Empidonax flycatcher (Empidonax sp.) | earliest 5-5 Rochester, JPF. | ||||
| Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) | earliest 4-8 Dakota Co, FN, Anoka Co, FL and St. Cloud, NH. SAY'·S PHOEBE: Although this species has not yet been recorded in Minnesota, the initial event cannot be far away. Numberous observers saw one at Fargo on 5-10 (LWJ, MGA, et. al.) and it breeds regularly in northwestern Iowa. | ||||
| Vireos | |||||
| WHITE-EYED VIREO (Vireo griseus) | A singing adult male was seen on 5-23 at Wacouta, Goodhue, Co, by Dr. Dwain Warner and his ornithology class. Second Minnesota record. See Notes of Interest elsewhere in this issue. | ||||
| Bell's Vireo (Vireo bellii) | 5-28 Winona, FV; 5-29 Dorer Pools, Wabasha Co, WRP. | ||||
| Yellow-throated Vireo (Vireo flavifrons) | earliest 5-4 Minneapolis, FN, MHM. | ||||
| Blue-headed Vireo (Vireo solitarius) | earliest 4-29 Minneapolis, RBJ. | ||||
| Philadelphia Vireo (Vireo philadelphicus) | earliest 5-5 Roches ter, JPF. | ||||
| Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus) | earliest 5-5 Rochester, JPF and Hennepin Co, MHM, RDT. | ||||
| Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus) | earliest 5-1 McGregor, CEP. | ||||
| Shrikes | |||||
| Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus) | earliest 3-7 Wabasha Co, EMB (exceptional; see Notes of Interest in previous issue); next record 4 10 Red Wing, FL, RBJ. | ||||
| Northern Shrike (Lanius borealis) | latest 4-7 Tofte, MOP, 4-8 Kellogg, DGM, 4-11 McGregor, CEP and 4-19 Minnewaska, EAN (details?). | ||||
| Jays, Nutcrackers, Magpies, Crows | |||||
| Black-billed Magpie (Pica hudsonia) | 3-9 Kelliher, MG; 324 Pope Co, WH; 3-10(1), 3-26(1) and 329( 4) Warroad, JLR, PEB. | ||||
| Martins, Swallows | |||||
| Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia) | earliest 4-21 Rice Co, PE, CE, JB; 4-23 Lasota Lake, RB; next record 4-29 Collegeville, RPR. | ||||
| Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) | earliest 3-22 Hibbing, SM (exceptional; details?); next record 4-8 Rice Co, OAR. | ||||
| Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis) | earliest 4-20 Henepin Co, RDT. | ||||
| Purple Martin (Progne subis) | earliest 4-7 Winona, KK and Willmar, VFO. | ||||
| Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) | earliest 4-17 Winona, KK. | ||||
| Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) | earliest 5-6 Hibbing, HM. | ||||
| Kinglets | |||||
| Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula) | earliest 4-8 Washington Co, JO; many reports on 4-10. American Pipit; earliest 5-7 Holt, DLO and 5-8 Sherburne Co, EAH; latest 5-17 Stevens Co, DB and 5-22 Hibbing, LWJ; these were the only four reports! | ||||
| Waxwings | |||||
| Bohemian Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus) | 3-24 St. Paul, ACR; 3-25 Ironton, Joe Perpich; 3-27 Minneapolis, EWJ and 3-31 Lake Andrew, OP. | ||||
| Gnatcatchers | |||||
| Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea) | more reports than usual: 5-2 Chisago Co, EMB and Minneapolis, FL; 5-4 Minneapolis, EWJ, MHM, FN; Winona Co, DB; 5-9 Washington Co, DH and Collegeville, RPR; 5-16 St. Cloud, NH. May prove to be a regular resident in the St. Cloud area. | ||||
| Wrens | |||||
| BEWICK'S WREN (Thryomanes bewickii) | 4-24 to 4-29 Minneapolis, one bird, MEH, RDT. | ||||
| Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) | 5-9 Frontenac, AEA, BHL, PST, TST, excellent details; 5-21 Minneapolis EWJ (details?); this species is slowly coming back as a breeder in Iowa after several years of extreme scarcity there, so it should be looked for in southeastern Minnesota. | ||||
| House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) | earliest 4-18 Minneapolis, MEH and 4-19 Faribault, OAR; next records 4-22 Eagle Lake, GP and 4-29 Minneapolis, RBJ. | ||||
| Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis) | earliest 4-7 Shotley, Beltrami Co, MG. | ||||
| Sedge Wren (Cistothorus stellaris) | earliest 5-5 Hibbing, HM. Very few reports. | ||||
| Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris) | earliest 4-29 Duluth, JCG. Very few reports. | ||||
| Thrashers, Mockingbirds | |||||
| Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) | earliest 4-28 Bald Eagle, ELC and 4-29 Aurora, VFB. | ||||
| Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum) | earliest 4-10 Minneapolis, FN; next record 4-16 Willmar, LSZ. | ||||
| Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) | more reports than usual: 4-6 Minneapolis, WRP; 5-1 Goodhue Co, 2, RBJ, FL, photographed by DB; 5-4 Duluth, PBH; 5-8 Shotley, MG and Tofte, MOP; 5-9 Grand Lake, NH. | ||||
| Thrushes | |||||
| Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) | earliest 4-1 Rice Co, CE, PE, JB and 4-4 Rushford, FV; many reports -situation hopefully improving. | ||||
| Veery (Catharus fuscescens) | earliest 4-8 Benson, MES (unbelievable! almost certainly a Hermit Thrush); next record 5-7 Bald Eagle, ELC. | ||||
| Gray-cheeked Thrush (Catharus minimus) | earliest 4-10 Rice Co, JB, CE, PE (details?); next record 4-26 Washington Co, DS and 4-27 Duluth, AKA; latest 5-29 Frontenac, RBJ, 5-30 Moorhead, LWJ and 6-2 Collegeville, RPR. | ||||
| Swainson's Thrush (Catharus ustulatus) | either this species has broken all its own arrival date records or there are some misidentifications at hand; reported from the Willmar area on 4-3, 4-10, 4-11, 4-12, Duluth on 4-11 and Encampment Forest on 4-14, all exceptional records: next record 4-28 Hennepin Co, DB, EMB. | ||||
| Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) | earliest 4-5 Willmar, Cloud fide NH. | ||||
| Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina) | earliest 4-11 Solomon Lake, DMH (unbelievable! almost certainly a Hermit Thrush); next record 4-30 Washington Co, WWL (details?); next 5-5 Hennepin Co, EMB. | ||||
| Finches | |||||
| Evening Grosbeak (Coccothraustes vespertinus) | latest in non-breeding areas: 4-29 Mora, RHJ and 5-3 Motley, cw. | ||||
| Pine Grosbeak (Pinicola enucleator) | latest 3-16 Duluth, LTM and 4-7 Duluth fide JCG. Very scare. | ||||
| Common Redpoll (Acanthis flammea) | latest 4-20 Duluth, LP and 4-27 Two Harbors, RK. | ||||
| Hoary Redpoll (Acanthis hornemanni) | latest 4-3 Knife River, with Common Redpolls, FN, TEM. | ||||
| Red Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) | only reports JGH; 4-18 Hibbing, SM and 4-28 Cook Co, HH. | ||||
| White-winged Crossbill (Loxia leucoptera) | except for one unusual report on 4-1 Kellogg, DGM, all other reports were from north of the Twin Cities: Anoka Co, 3-7, FL; Mora, 3-10 and 5-14, RHJ; Collegeville, 4-3, RPR; Duluth, 4-16, PBH; Marshall Co, 310, DLO; Lake Co, 3-18(SM) and 4-4 (TEM); Cook Co, 5-31, HH. | ||||
| Longspurs and Snow Buntings | |||||
| Lapland Longspur (Calcarius lapponicus) | earliest 3-7 Alberta, ES; latest 5-29 Duluth, PBH. SMITH'·S LONGSPUR: 5-2 Breardsley, Big Stone Co, RAG (See Notes of Interest in previous issue). | ||||
| Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis) | latest 4-23 Shotley, MG and 4-29 Two Harbors, RK | ||||
| Towhees, Sparrows | |||||
| Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum) | earliest 4. 2 4 Northfield, OAR; next 5-2 Beardsley, RAG. | ||||
| Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus) | earliest 4-24 Sherburne Co, EAG, RPR; 5-10 Fargo, LWJ and one exceptional record on 5-7 at Schroeder, MOP (details?). | ||||
| LARK BUNTING (Calamospiza melanocorys) | retreated westward again this year and no nests noted in eastern Dakotas; in view of this, these two records are of special interest: May (exact date?), Nobles Co, near Adrian, HSH and 5-11 Grand Marais, BAF (see Notes of Interest in previous issue). | ||||
| Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) | earliest 3-31 Lake Andrew, OP (exceptional; details?); next 4-10 Frontenac, FL, RBJ, and St. Cloud, NH. | ||||
| Clay-colored Sparrow (Spizella pallida) | earliest 4-27 St. Louis Co, VFB, and 4-30 Minneapolis, FL. | ||||
| Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla) | earliest 3-11, Pope Co, MVS (too early, too far north -almost certainly a Tree Sparrow); next 4-9 Rochester, JPF and 4-10 Washington Co, DS. | ||||
| Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca) | earliest 3-30 Minneapolis, FN and 4-3 Morrison Co, LSR; latest 5-1 Morris, RAG, Two Harbors, RK and Shotley, MG. | ||||
| Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) | at least 7 April records; latest 4-29, Washington Co, DS. Tree Sparrow: many reports for last 10 days of April! latest 5-1 Schroeder, MOP. | ||||
| White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) | earliest4-16 Benson, PGK (details?); next 4-24 Murdock, PL; latest 5-23 Duluth, AKA. | ||||
| Harris's Sparrow (Zonotrichia querula) | earliest 4-7 Ramsey Co, ACR; next 4-24 St. Louis Co, VFB: latest 5-23 Hibbing, SM. | ||||
| White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) | earliest 4-17 Minneapolis, RBJ. | ||||
| Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus) | earliest 4-8 Anoka Co, FL; many by 4-18. | ||||
| LeConte's Sparrow (Ammospiza leconteii) | 4-29 Cook Co, MOP (details? Savannah?); 5-22 Hibbing, LWJ, JCG, RLH; these were the only reports! | ||||
| Henslow's Sparrow (Centronyx henslowii) | 5-11 Hennepin Co, RDT. | ||||
| Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) | earliest 4-6 Cook Co, HH (early that far north; details?); next record 4-12 Moorhead, LWJ and 4-13 Rice Co, CE, PE, JB. | ||||
| Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) | earliest 3-10 Whitewater Park, DGM (wintered?); 3-26 Saum, MK (early that far north; details?); 4-4 Dakota Co, EMB. | ||||
| Lincoln's Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii) | earliest 4-2 Duluth, AKA (details?); next 4-13 Bald Eagle, ELC and St. Cloud, NH. | ||||
| Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana) | earliest 4-11 Hennepin Co, DB, EMB; 5 more reports on 4-12 and 4-13. | ||||
| Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) | earliest 4-5 Duluth, AKA, (details?); next 4-23 Ramsey Co, ACR and 4-29 Fargo, MGA. | ||||
| Yellow-breasted Chat | |||||
| Yellow-breasted Chat (Icteria virens) | 5-2 Rochester, JPF (early; details?); 5-8 Rice Co, JB, PE, CE; 5-29 Wabasha-Winona Co line (Dorer Pools), WRP. | ||||
| Blackbirds, Orioles | |||||
| Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) | earliest 4-10 Big Stone Co, RAG; one unusual record, 5-30 Two Harbors, fide RK. | ||||
| Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) | earliest 5-1 Rice Co, PE, CE, JB; next records 5-6 Skull Lake, OP and 5-7 Plainview, DGM. | ||||
| Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna) | earliest 3-29 Goodhue Co, EMB; many from 4-1 to 4-4. | ||||
| Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta) | earliest 3-7 Rice Co, OAR; 3-16 Sauk Rapids, DHG; two records for late March and many by 4-4. | ||||
| Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurius) | 5-9 Dakota Co, MRL; 511 Goodhue Co, DB; 5-14 Kellogg, DGM; 5-15 Willmar, DG; 5-19 Dakota Co, EWJ; 5-31 Morrison Co, NH. | ||||
| Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula) | earliest 4-14 St. Paul, MIG (early! details?); next 4-28 Hennepin Co, EMB and 4-30 Red Wing, HFH. | ||||
| Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) | six reports in March from southern Minnesota; some may have been of wintering birds. | ||||
| Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) | earliest 4-3 Hastings, FL, RBJ. | ||||
| Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus) | earliest 4-1 Minneapolis, MEH; latest 4-30 Ramsey Co, ACR and Schroeder, MOP; two May dates: 5-3 Hennepin Co, RDT (details?) and 5-18 Moorhead, LWJ (exceptional; details?). | ||||
| Brewer's Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus) | earliest 4-1 Collegeville, RPR and 4·4 Pope Co, WH. | ||||
| Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) | earliest 3-7 Willmar, DG; 3-14 Cook Co, AEA (early up there); 3-21 Virginia, NJH. | ||||
| Warblers | |||||
| Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla) | earliest 5-2 Minneapolis, VS; many reports from 5-3 to 5-9. | ||||
| Louisiana Waterthrush (Parkesia motacilla) | 5-13 Minneapolis, FN; 5-16 Anoka Co, LB and 5-22 Anoka Co, ACR; these were the only reports. | ||||
| Northern Waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis) | earliest 4-28 Minneapolis, FL; many by 5-9. | ||||
| Golden-winged Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera) | reported by 17 observers over most of the state, which must tie in with the high incidence of hybrids reported; Winona Co, 5-16, KK; Rochester, 5-17, JPF; Rice Co, 5-11, JB, PE, CE; Goodhue Co, 5-11, DB; Washington Co, 5-14, WWL; Hennepin Co, 5-5 to 5-19, MHM, RDT, JRR, TEM, FN, FL, WJB; Sherburne Co, 6-2, RPR and Kim Eckert; Stearns Co, 5-9, 10 birds, NH; Crow Wing Co, 5-29, MSB; Hibbing, 518( HM) and 5-23(JCG). Note that the records are scattered over ten different counties. | ||||
| Blue-winged Warbler (Vermivora cyanoptera) | reported by 7 observers; Winona, 5-16, FGD, KK; Goodhue Co, 5-15(FL), 5-19(EWJ) and 5-25 (RDT); Nicollet Co, 5-15, MHM; Cokato, 5-17, EC; westward strays are noteworthy. Golden-winged X Blue-winged Hybrids: these were the "talk of the Season" this Spring, and were also noted in Wisconsin; the most frequently occurring hybrid, "Brewster's Warbler", was reported on 5-11 Frontenac, DB, 5-18 Hennepin Co, EMB and 5-20 Minneapolis FN; the less frequently occurring "Lawrence's Warbler" was reported 5-16 Vasa, Jo Herz, 5-23 Vasa, BDC, 5-25 Goodhue Co (Vasa?), RDT, 5-29 Frontenac, RBJ and 6-3 Vasa fide FN; The reports from Vasa were all undoubtedly of the same bird; prior to this year there were, I believe, two Minnesota records for the "Lawrence's" and four records for the | ||||
| Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia) | earliest 4-25 Hennepin Co, WJB and 4-28 Hennepin Co, DH, EMB. !&.. | ||||
| Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea) | 5-8 Frontenac, AEA; 5-11 Goodhue Co, DB and Collegeville, RPR; 5-15 Houston Co, EMB; 5-17 Washington Co, DH; 5-19 Fargo-Moorhead area, many observers (MGA, LWJ, et. al.); 5-28 "abundant" at Winona, KK; northward strays are noteworthy. | ||||
| Tennessee Warbler (Leiothlypis peregrina) | earliest 4-30 Bloomington, JRR. | ||||
| Orange-crowned Warbler (Leiothlypis celata) | earliest 4-22 Hennepin Co, EMB; latest 5-24 Moorhead, LWJ. | ||||
| Nashville Warbler (Leiothlypis ruficapilla) | earliest 5-1 Rice Co, CE, PE, JB. Parul_a Warbler: earliest 4-30 Duluth, LP (details?); next record 5-4 Minneapolis, FN. | ||||
| Connecticut Warbler (Oporornis agilis) | earliest 5-11 Anoka Co, WHL (details?); this shy, elusive species is one of our latest spring arrivals; only other records: Rochester, 522, JPF; Goodhue Co, 5-26, WRP; Hennepin Co, 5-25(DB), 5-30(DB, FN) and 531( TKS); Moorhead, 5-30, 5-31, LWJ; Hibbing, 5-23(JCG) and 5-26(HM). | ||||
| Mourning Warbler (Geothlypis philadelphia) | earliest 5-7 Anoka Co, WHL; next 5-10 Schroeder, MAF (early up there?). | ||||
| KENTUCKY WARBLER (Geothlypis formosa) | 5-16 near Osseo, one or possibly two males, LB; 5-19 Coon Rapids, aberrant singing male, (ap· parently same bird as last summer) took up residence again, DP et. al.; see Notes of Interest in previous issue. | ||||
| Hooded Warbler (Setophaga citrina) | a summer record for Madison, Wisconsin makes this record of special interest: on 5-17 Mrs. Gordon Bergquist of the Willmar area sent these details to Ben Thoma: "... bright yellow all over with a black head and bib-white streak on its head." Although the description leaves much to be desired, the bird could have been the Hooded Warbler or, possibly, one of the hybrids mentioned above? | ||||
| American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) | earliest 5-5 Rochesler, JPF. | ||||
| Cape May Warbler (Setophaga tigrina) | best migration in at least eight years; earliest 5-2 Orr, NJH; next record 5-5 Minneapolis, MEH, RDT; two reports of large numbers: 5-16 Osseo, about 60 birds, LB and 5-17 Washington Co, 75 birds, DS; these concentrations may be without precedent in Minnesota? | ||||
| Magnolia Warbler (Setophaga magnolia) | earliest 5-1 Washington Co, DS and Rice Co, CE, PE, JB. | ||||
| Bay-breasted Warbler (Setophaga castanea) | earliest 5-5 St. Paul, MIG; next 5-9 Isanti Co, MMP. | ||||
| Blackburnian Warbler (Setophaga fusca) | earliest 4-27 Washington Co, WWL (details?); next record 5-5 Rochester, JPF and Hennepin Co, EMB; 5-6 Virginia, VFB (early up there?). | ||||
| Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia) | earliest 5-1 Fargo, fide MGA. | ||||
| Chestnut-sided Warbler (Setophaga pensylvanica) | earliest 5-5 Washington Co, WWL, Rochester, JPF and Hennepin Co, VS. | ||||
| Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga striata) | earliest 4-24 Washington Co, DS (details?); next 5-3 Bald Eagle, ELC and 5-4 Hennepin Co, FL; latest 6-1 Duluth, WRP, DP, RLH. | ||||
| Black-throated Blue Warbler (Setophaga caerulescens) | 5-22 Anoka Co, ACR; 5-29 Fargo, fide MGA; no details on either. | ||||
| Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum) | earliest 4-23 Hennepin Co, TEM, FN and Morrison Co, LSR; many by 5-5. | ||||
| Pine Warbler (Setophaga pinus) | earliest 4-20 Hennepin Co, MEH (details?); next 4-29 Washington Co, WWL and 5-5 Washington Co, DS; all other records 5-11 to 5-22; one of our most misidentified warblers. | ||||
| Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) | earliest 4-11 Minneapolis, DB. | ||||
| Black-throated Green Warbler (Setophaga virens) | earliest 429 Rice Co, PE, CE, JB. Ce rulean Warbler: earliest 5-7 Grand Lake, Stearns Co, 3 singing males, NH; besides the usual reports from southeastern Minnesota, there were two other reports from the St. Cloud area: 5-12 Collegeville, RPR and 5-14 Collegeville, EAH; may prove to be regular breeders in that area. | ||||
| Canada Warbler (Cardellina canadensis) | earliest 5-1 St. Cloud fide NH (details?); next record 5-11 Hennepin Co, DB, EMB. | ||||
| Wilson's Warbler (Cardellina pusilla) | earliest 5-5 Rochester, JPF; interesting late date of 5-31 at Moorhead, LWJ. | ||||
| Tanagers, Cardinals, Grosbeaks | |||||
| Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra) | 5-19 to 5-24, female banded by JCG at Mrs. Arthur Wright's feeder in Duluth where JCG took photos of adult male last year. See Notes of Interest in previous issue. Probably fourth or fifth record for Minnesota. | ||||
| Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea) | earliest 4-29 Wilmar, LSZ (details?); next 5-1 Hennepin Co, TEM and 5-6 Minneapolis, RBJ and Washington Co, WWL. | ||||
| Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus) | earliest 4-14 Ramsey Co, WWL (exceptional; details?); next 5-1 Rice Co, CE, PE, JB and 5-2 Minneapolis, VS. | ||||
| Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea) | earliest 5-6 Goodhue Co, DB. | ||||
| PAINTED BUNTING (Passerina ciris) | 5-12 to 5-16, Schroeder, Cook Co, MAF, JCG, RG, RLH, photographed in color by HFH. Second Minnesota record. See Notes of Interest elsewhere in this issue. | ||||
| Dickcissel (Spiza americana) | earliest 5-1 Dakota Co, FN; next 5-6 Princeton, WJH. | ||||