Above normal temperatures in late November continued throughout most of December except for a brief cold snap on 11 December when -3° was recorded in the Twin Cities, the coldest day of the month. Late December was 10–20° above normal statewide, climaxing on Christmas Day when it was 45° in the Twin Cities and 52° in Winona.

With the unusually mild conditions, much of the lake ice remained unstable, and open water was reported as far north as Rainy and Kabetogoma Lakes in Voyageurs National Park in late December for the first time in history. The first significant arctic air mass moved into the state in early January, pushing lows on 4 January to -11° in the Twin Cities and
-23° at International Falls. This cooler weather was short-lived however, as conditions quickly returned to above normal statewide. On 31 January, temperatures climbed to a record 46° in the Twin Cities and 51° at Redwood Falls. December and January were the warmest on record since 1942. February averaged cooler, with arctic fronts bringing peak lows of
-30° at International Falls on 6 February, the lowest temperature in the state for the winter, and -11 on 11 February in the Twin Cities. Temperatures during the last few days of February were not warm enough to bring many early migrants into the state.

Snowfall was light in the south and moderately heavy in the north late in the season. Although storms dumped a foot of snow on the North Shore on 10 January and 14 February, and eight inches on 25 February, these storms brought little but freezing rain to the southern part of the state, with many areas frequently snow-free.

Four species of grebes were seen in December, including a Western Grebe that lingered long enough at Lake Calhoun, Hennepin County to tie the latest date on record. Many species of ducks were found in greater numbers than normal; Green-winged Teal, Northern Pintail, Gadwall, Canvasback, Redhead, and Lesser Scaup all received at least twice as many reports as usual. Up to seven Harlequin Ducks were reported along the North Shore of Lake Superior, including at least two males between the French River and Stony Point all season, providing the first documentation of this species overwintering on Lake Superior. Other sea ducks also made news when as many as four Oldsqauw were reported at different locations in the greater Twin Cities area, including one that spent many weeks at a small aerated pond in Edina! Two December reports of Black Scoters in Cook and Wabasha counties were the latest dates on record, and individual White-winged Scoters in Dakota County in December and Wabasha County in February were respectively the latest and earliest migrants on record. For the first time in many years, a Barrow's Goldeneye overwintered in the Twin Cities, giving many observers a chance to view this casual species. In addition to this adult male reported from the Mississippi River in St. Paul and Black Dog Lake in Burnsville, there was also a well-documented report of a female Barrow's Goldeneye at the St. Paul location in early January.

After a “stratospheric” flight of Bald Eagles at Hawk Ridge last fall (The Loon 67:78) it was not surprising to have new records set for the number of counties in which this species was reported, and for the total number tallied on the Christmas Bird Counts. Other raptors were reported in record numbers as well, including Red-tailed and Rough-legged Hawks, the latter staging in the Sax-Zim bog area of southern St. Louis County where a remarkable 139 were counted on the local CBC. These birds were almost entirely gone by late January however. Although Sharp-shinned and Cooper's Hawks were reported in record numbers, Northern Goshawk reports were down, as is expected during this latter species current population cycle low. Both Northern Harriers and Short-eared Owls, two species which are dependent on microtine rodents, were reported in above average numbers.

The real news among owls however, was the remarkable numbers of Long-eared Owls, with many found roosting in large groups, including 16 in one pine stand in Dakota County, and eight in one willow tree in Hennepin County! This seldom seen species is usually hard to find at any season. In contrast, most northern owls were notable by their virtual absence: few reports of Snowy, Great Gray, Northern Hawk, and Boreal Owls were received.

Gull watchers had a banner season, since a record nine species were found, including several late Bonaparte's Gulls. Among the casual species (which seem regular because they are reported so often), the Twin Cities had both an adult and a first-winter Iceland Gull at Black Dog Lake, as well as the usual adult Lesser Black-backed Gull, which has now been seen at the metro area lakes for the third consecutive year. Duluth had both a first-winter Great Black-backed Gull and a first-winter Black-legged Kittiwake, the latter bird only the third winter record and the latest date ever.

The most outstanding bird of the season, already reported on extensively in previous issues of The Loon, was the Calliope Hummingbird coming to a feeder since early November. Almost as remarkable was the presence of a second species of hummingbird, a Ruby-throated, at a feeder in Goodhue County, which died on 7 December, thus becoming the latest date on record by a month.

A long list of unusual late-lingering passerines was found, including some that even overwintered. Most of these reports came from the Long Meadow Lake area in the Minnesota River Valley, Hennepin County, including the heavily birded Bass Ponds. The following list of species reported here gives an idea of what it was like to bird at a single ideal location during the winter of 1994–95: the state's first documented overwintering Marsh Wren, a Winter Wren, multiple Song and Swamp Sparrows, the sixth December record of a Common Yellowthroat, overwintering Hermit Thrush and Wilson's Snipe, a February Virginia Rail which probably overwintered, and a December Gray Catbird. The total list sounds more appropriate for spring or fall birding than winter!

Exciting passerine finds away from the Bass Ponds area included the state's first winter record of a Lark Sparrow, found in Faribault, Rice County nearly two months later than any previous date. Also noteworthy were two records of Chipping Sparrow, one in Cook County and another in Hennepin County, the latter individual apparently only the third overwintering record. The state's thirteenth Yellow-throated Warbler was found two months later than any previous date when it died at a feeder in Rockford, Wright County on 10 December. The handsome Varied Thrush was welcomed into the state in numbers more than double that of any previous influx.

The Fringillid (“winter”) finch flight was not quite as dismal as previously thought once all the reports were tallied, at least in the north; in the south, the picture truly was dismal, since most of the northern finches were almost entirely absent. Pine Grosbeaks were quite abundant in the far north, but virtually absent in the south for the fourth straight year. Both Red and White-winged Crossbills were present in better numbers than the past few years, although reports were also almost entirely in the north. The Common Redpoll flight was one of the worst on record, but as in 1993 when few redpolls were reported, American Goldfinches and Pine Siskins were particularly abundant in the north. Is there enough competition between these three species of Carduelis to allow the siskins and goldfinches to winter unusually far north when the redpolls are absent? Evening Grosbeaks were not common in the north, and absent in the south. Commenting on the continued lack of most northern finches in the south, some observers suggested that the increase in feeders in northern areas has given finches no incentive to move southward during recent years.

This report summarizes the observations of over 80 seasonal contributors and 44 Christmas Bird Counts, similar coverage to other recent years. Composite species totals for the season during the last ten years (1994–1985) have ranged from 128 to 149, with an average of 142, making this season's 157 species all the more remarkable. Compare this to an average of 136 species for the preceding ten year period (1975–1984). Of even further interest is Robert's account of the winter bird life in Minnesota 60 years ago (Birds of Minnesota, 1932). He listed 112 species recorded during the winter season (there have now been well over 200), of which only 69 were considered regular. A good winter day's birding produced 10–12 species, and Christmas Bird Counts recorded 2–16 species! This year, the Bloomington CBC pushed the total number of species possible within a count circle to an all-time record 66 species! This increase in the numbers of species found during winter is probably a natural outcome of several factors, including the general increase in the number of observers, our knowledge of winter birds and how to find them, and our means of travel throughout the state. New species for the winter season are added virtually every year. One can only wonder what the next winter season will offer!