The first Calliope Hummingbird to appear in Minnesota gave a totally unexpected cameo performance during the M.O.U. paper session in Minneapolis. Several outstanding rarities were only briefly seen but multitudes enjoyed a most obliging Sage Thrasher that remained in a Richfield community garden for nearly a week!

Fall 1994 in Minnesota lacked weather that is generally considered favorable for migration; across the state and especially along the North Shore unseasonably mild conditions persisted into December. The Lakewood Pumping Station census of fall migration (The Loon 67:47–49) was resurrected after a three year hiatus and tallied only 59,333 migrants during 33 dates of counting between 21 August and 30 October. Only one significant snow storm swept through the state, on Thanksgiving weekend. The seasonal rhythm of successive cold fronts was syncopated at best, with crescendos only during the third week of October. At Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve in Duluth, Frank Nicoletti returned for his fourth season as official counter and unofficial “conductor” of the Bald Eagle Symphony which drew rave reviews.

In spite of these balmy conditions (or in some cases, because of?) an impressive list of rarities was compiled, although many were seen only briefly by a few observers. Predictably, record late dates were submitted for a variety of lingering migrants but especially warblers. Although he characterized the 1994 fall migration of warblers through the Twin Cities as “average,” Steve Carlson noted a peak number of 20 species on 15 September with nine species still present on 16 October.

Red-throated Loon migration was again noteworthy. The four records (involving five individuals) included an exceptional record from Lake Waconia in Carver County. Fall records of this rare/Regular species are greatly outnumbered by those from late spring and early summer. The two records for Pacific Loon (which may have been the same individual) were paltry compared to last fall's six; both were along the North Shore of Lake Superior, where the vast majority of previous fall records have occurred. There are more than 20 records for this Casual species in the past 10 years; it would be a most handsome addition to the list of Regular species in Minnesota!

Most notable among the egrets was the Snowy Egret on 23 October, the latest date on record for the state and one of only two October records ever! The flock of 21 Cattle Egrets in Becker County was an unusual location; once again, the total number passing through the state could not be determined because numbers were not indicated on all reports.

Waterfowl migration received little comment from Seasonal Report contributors. Always unexpected in fall except for the western regions of the state, both location and flock size of the 47 Greater White-fronted Geese in Carver County were startling. Only one Ross's Goose was reported this fall. The largest concentration of waterfowl ever documented in Minnesota occurred on 14 October, when an estimated one million Ring-necked Ducks (60%) and Mallards (40%) were present at Rice Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Aitkin Co. (The Loon 67:38–39). The aerial count of 200,000 Canvasbacks congregating on the Upper Mississippi National Wildlife Refuge by 15 November (fide CS) was encouraging; the total undoubtedly included birds in Wisconsin waters, so it cannot be cited as Minnesota's largest concentration ever. The two female or immature King Eiders just outside the Grand Marais harbor were difficult to observe and nearly impossible to relocate; this was about the twelfth record for Minnesota and the third recent record for Grand Marais. Surf Scoters were detected in at least five locations away from Lake Superior, more than usual. One of the largest “inland” flocks of White–winged Scoters ever reported in Minnesota (25) was discovered on Mille Lacs Lake. This same statement was made last fall, when 15 were found on White Bear Lake, Washington County.

Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve (HRNR) in Duluth startles us in some way every fall: records are made and trends emerge, the energy of seasonal change becomes crystalline in our senses and recapitulates our own existential migration. This season's totals for eagles were stratospheric! Bald Eagles increased from 582 in 1991, 982 in 1992, and 1725 in 1993, to 4368 in 1994. Record one-day high counts for “Baldies” were reset several times, climaxing at 743 on 22 November. Northern Harriers totaled 1390 for the season, breaking a record set in 1976! Sharp-shinned Hawks totaled 19,183 which was about a thousand less than last fall, but still within three thousand of the all-time record of 21,974 set in 1976; as concern mounts about populations migrating along the East Coast (American Birding Association newsletter, Winging It, September 1993 and June 1994) the counts at HRNR become even more important. Golden Eagles escalated to 133 this fall; the previous record was 69 in 1992 and a respectable 58 were tallied in 1993. The 23 Golden Eagles on 24 October was another new one-day high at HRNR while the 3991 Red-tailed Hawks there the same day is the highest daily count anywhere in North America, according to Frank Nicoletti (The Loon 67:9–12). In addition to both eagle species, season-high records for both Red-tails (15,448) and Rough-legged Hawks were set; the latter (1011) broke a record of 739 set in 1975! Mr. Nicoletti counted “in the zone” and into late November (and several weeks after expiration of his contract!) but the total hours (1134) and total days (107) counting increased only slightly from 1993; his dedication alone cannot account for this influx of “the big boys.” These data are courtesy of Molly Evans and HRNR.

Other than a few late dates, shorebird migration was uneventful. The Spotted Sandpiper at Sand Point, Goodhue Co. on 12 November provided the latest date on record for the state. It is unclear whether all the reports of Red Knot from Duluth between 24 August and 4 September referred to the same individual; the population status of this species remains uncertain. An excellent summary of the status of shorebirds in Canada (Bird Trends, No. 3, Winter 1993/1994) is available from the Canadian Wildlife Service; it estimates a stable or (more likely) declining Canadian population of knots while acknowledging limitations of the data regarding all shorebird populations. Compared to last fall's excellent flight, reports of Buff-breasted Sandpiper from only five counties were disappointing; the entire Canadian population has been estimated at only 5,000–10,000 birds (ibid.). Another record late date for Minnesota was the Long-billed Dowitcher in Stevens County on 12 November.

It was the best fall in several years for jaegers; peak number was on 20 September when four (presumably all Parasitic Jaegers) accompanied a single Pomarine Jaeger in a loose flock off Park Point in Duluth, the first report of the latter species since 1982. The Laughing Gull in Otter Tail County on 19 October was unusually late compared to all other Minnesota records (late April – late August). More interesting was the Common Black-headed Gull, one of three found earlier in northwestern Iowa, that obligingly strayed briefly to the north end of Spirit Lake, thus providing a second record for both Minnesota and Jackson County. Thayer's Gulls arrived on the record early date of 5 October in Anoka County with several more in the metro area by mid-October. The adult Lesser Black-backed Gull returned to metro area lakes for its third consecutive year.

All dove species on the state list have now been recorded at HRNR! The state's second White-winged Dove cruised past the main overlook on 15 September. Late fall hummingbirds are always of interest, especially since rare species (cf. both Minnesota records for Anna's) are more likely. However, no one anticipated the appearance of a Calliope Hummingbird in the state! Anticipation is partly based on distribution and patterns of vagrancy which were not reviewed in the previous issue of The Loon. Among states and provinces bordering Minnesota, only one (four records, all in the Black Hills, spanning 23 July–21 August) lists Calliope (South Dakota Ornithologists' Union, 1991, The Birds of South Dakota) and the species is virtually unknown north of Mexico in winter, except for vagrants in Louisiana.

The Calliope Hummingbird breeds in the mountains of western North America, as far north as central interior British Columbia and southwestern Alberta, and east to northern Wyoming, western Colorado and Utah. In migration, the species is only casual east to southwestern Saskatchewan, Nebraska, Kansas, and western and central Texas (American Ornithologists' Union, 1983, Checklist of North American Birds, 6th edition). In 1994, possibly in response to lack of wildflowers due to drought in the West, hummingbirds, especially Calliope, were numerous and widespread in eastern Colorado (H. E. Kingery, 1994, S.A. in American Birds 48:968). Nebraska's fourth state record of Calliope Hummingbird was a male in Sioux County on 23 June (American Birds 49:66) and one (female?) strayed to Finney County, Kansas on 20 July (American Birds 48:959). The unusual number of Calliope Hummingbirds noted during the summer in Colorado, as well as in multiple Texas locales, persisted into fall (American Birds 49:70,76). Late fall produced Minnesota's record, plus at least three more November vagrants cited in American Birds: one adult male on the 5th in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, one banded on the 7th in Hays County, Texas (southwest of Austin), and one discovered on the 12th in Iberville Parish, Louisiana.

Yet another record late date was set by the Eastern Wood-Pewee in Winona County. The account of Minnesota's third Vermilion Flycatcher in Kandiyohi County captures the excitement of finding and documenting rare birds. The two Scissor-tailed Flycatchers in October were the only records all year. The Blue-gray Gnatcatcher through 28 October in Winona County was briefly a record late date, before one appeared on 6 November in Grand Marais, Cook County! The total of nine Townsend's Solitaires reported equaled the fall 1992 total, which heralded the record invasion of 1992-1993; only one of this fall's birds was found away from the North Shore of Lake Superior. The Sage Thrasher in Richfield was definitely the most watched of the six now recorded in the state.

Undoubtedly in response to mild conditions, a litany of late vireos and warblers was reported statewide. New record late dates were set for Philadelphia Vireo, Blue-winged Warbler, Bay-breasted Warbler, and Connecticut Warbler. More (approximately a dozen) than the usual number of Black-throated Blue Warblers were detected as migrants this fall, including a 10 September report from Clay County. Exciting were the Black-throated Gray Warbler documented by a photographer in Chisago County (fourth state record) and the Yellow-throated Warbler (also photographed) in Washington County.

Steve Carlson's analysis of fall warbler migration through the Twin Cities is based upon near-daily counts for more than a decade! Northern Parula, Black-throated Green Warbler and Canada Warbler all returned to near “normal” levels after last year's drop. Magnolia Warbler and Black-and-white Warbler numbers stabilized but remained below 1991 and 1992 levels. Blackburnian Warblers and American Redstarts declined again through the Twin Cities but the most dramatic declines were documented for Bay-breasted Warbler and Wilson's Warbler.

Our ability to understand statewide population trends during migration is limited by lack of data and lack of standardized data analyses. One observer birding with consistent effort in the same location over many migrations can make an impact! My thanks to Steve Carlson for continuing to report his data. Hopefully, the spring and fall seasonal reports will contain more data on peak dates of migration, peak numbers of birds, patterns of migration compared to previous seasons, and population trends in Minnesota over a period of years. Observers are still asked to report earliest and latest dates but these will receive less emphasis in future seasonal reports.

Finally, Oscar Johnson has decided to retire as one of our Seasonal Report compilers. Oscar compiled his first Seasonal Report for the Summer 1979 Issue of The Loon, when he, Don Bolduc and Dick Ruhme put together the 1978 Fall Seasonal Report. This was the first issue where more than one individual compiled the report — an arrangement that continues today. Oscar's contributions are much appreciated, and we would like to thank him for his nearly twenty years of dedication to a most difficult task.

Thanks are due to the many observers, compilers, and editors who make this report possible. Also, to Kim Eckert and Anthony Hertzel who report data from the Duluth and statewide hotlines.