Although June was a rather damp month, July and August were drier than normal. Except for a few mid-summer heat spells, the summer was milder than usual. The very cool spring, followed by cooler-than-usual June temperatures, produced an almost mosquito-free situation during early summer, which was a true blessing for those of us who spent numerous weekends up in the northern acid-bog country. Although early August brought on some scorching days near the 100 degree mark, mid-Auguest recorded some new all-time low temperatures down to within a few degrees of freezing. Perhaps due to these unusual climatic happenings, there were some early fall waterfowl movements and it almost seemed that a few of the passerine birds couldn't remember if they were late spring migrants heading north or early fall migrants heading north or early fall migrants heading south. Requests for details on these unusual observations have been sent to various contributors. Unquestionably, the highlight of the season was the nesting colony of White Pelicans discovered out in Lac qui Parle County.

Over 59 observers were afield this summer, gathering data on 233 species of birds. Actual breeding evidence was amassed for only 131 species , however. Although the White Pelican "stole the show" with its first nesting for the state this summer, the Mockingbird and Rubycrowned Kinglet deserve equal billing. Some of the outlandishly early fall migrants in July, when viewed against the late spring migrants in June, lend the impression that Spring gave way to Fall with only two or three weeks of intervening summer! I can't recall anymore extreme dates in the seven years that I've been compiling these reports. Unexpected vi sitors included the European Widgeon and Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. The Acadian Flycatcher returned for its second summer, and the Northern Three-toed Woodpecker reminds us that there is still much we don't know about the birds of the remote northern areas. The Eastern Bluebird was logged from 24 counties which, coupled with the recent winter records, might indicate that it has made its comeback and is now headed for a population peak. The Anoka County record of adult Tennessee Warblers with an immature is very enigmatic. Northerly records continue to accumulate for the Green Heron, Wood Thrush, Louisiana Waterthrush, Dickcissel, Indigo Bunting and Field Sparrow. The Lark Bunting and Baird's Sparrow, those infamous nomads of the prairie, enhanced the summer list, but for the first time in about five summers no one recorded the Blue Grosbeak from our southwestern corner.