Although passerine migration was slow to develop and continued well into June for the later migrants, most Minnesota observers appreciated the numbers and variety of warblers during Spring 1995. As in the previous spring, sparse numbers of neotropical migrants arrived during the first ten days of May. Heavy rains fell over the southern two-thirds of Minnesota during the International Migratory Bird Count; the impact remains unclear since data from this Partners in Flight event, first held in 1993, have never been submitted for inclusion in “The Season.” Warbler migration peaked during the third week in May and another new record for county Big Days in Minnesota was set in Roseau County when 162 species were recorded on 27 May.

Red-throated Loons were not reported, a disappointment after last May's concentration off Park Point. All of the “southern” herons were scarce and numbers of Cattle Egrets were only 10% of last spring's total. The highlight of 1995 for a handful of Winona County observers was the long-awaited first Minnesota record of White Ibis. Compared to the few records in nearby states and provinces, this adult in mid-May was surprising; post-breeding dispersal of an adult or wandering in late summer and fall by an immature is less unexpected.

Waterfowl migration was remarkable for the numbers of Greater White-fronted Geese in various North Shore locations, and the third and fourth Duluth records of Ross' Geese. In contrast to recent springs, the only other Ross' were singles and only one of the records was from western Minnesota. Also in western Minnesota, two migrating Ferruginous Hawks and two Prairie Falcons were good finds.

Yellow Rails were reported from 11 counties, more than usual, with most of these in traditional locations. Most unusual were the migrants at the Regal Meadow Nature Conservancy Area, Kandiyohi County. Meanwhile, Common Moorhen continues its precarious presence in southeastern Minnesota.

For the fourth spring out of the past five, shorebird migration was dull. A variety of species, from American Golden-Plover to dowitchers, were sparse in numbers and relatively late. Only one Piping Plover was found during migration and only thirteen American Avocets, lightly scattered across five counties, were reported. In contrast, good numbers of Willets arrived during the last week of April. The four Whimbrels were an excellent find during a Clearwater County Big Day. Hudsonian Godwits were reported from only seven counties (seventeen l.y.) but five Red Knots were found. Baird's and Pectoral Sandpipers were both scarce, especially in northern Minnesota.

For the second spring in a row, Little Gull was found in Hennepin County but not in Duluth! If the concentration of Bonaparte's Gulls reported near Grey Cloud Island, Washington County, becomes a regular spectacle, this may become the new place to look for Little Gull in spring. Three Larids making a strong claim for Regular status in Minnesota are Iceland, Lesser Black-backed, and Great Black-backed Gulls; each were each reported multiple times. All records of these should be carefully documented regardless of status, since species limits remain unclear among the larger gulls and since species not yet recorded in the state may be overlooked if observers become “casual” about dark-mantled gulls.

The only Burrowing Owl was a migrant that could not be relocated. Unusually high numbers of Long-eared Owls had been reported during the winter season, but most of this spring's excess reports were from non-wintering locales. Short-eared Owls sustained their numbers, compared to the ten-year spring average of at least fifteen birds seen in more than eight counties. An influx of Northern Saw-whet Owls into the Duluth area beginning in late February was puzzling; the four found dead probably overwintered locally but others may have been early migrants passing through town.

Vividly reflecting the mildness of the preceding season, a Carolina Wren successfully overwintered in Rice County. Simply vivid was the male Mountain Bluebird seen for three weeks in Washington County, while a female passed briefly through McLeod County. Six additional Townsend's Solitaires were found to complement the overwintering birds on Park Point in Duluth and at Lake of the Isles, Hennepin County; this brought the 1994–95 total to twenty individuals. Meanwhile, five additional Varied Thrushes were discovered and the 1994–95 total became staggering. Yet another indicator of mild conditions was the Gray Catbird that overwintered in Hennepin County, one of the very few that has ever done so in Minnesota.

The Minnesota County Biological Survey continues to discover Casual species on a regular basis; this season's find was a singing Sprague's Pipit on suitable territory in Polk County, the county where nesting was documented in 1988 (The Loon 60:104–108). Possibly in response to publicity about this year's survey by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, reports of Loggerhead Shrikes were significantly up from the past several springs and one in front of the lighthouse at Two Harbors, Lake County was the most unexpected location.

The previously mentioned “excellent migration” of vireos and warblers produced few surprises. Recapitulating Spring 1994, two more White-eyed Vireos were found in the Minnesota River Valley; 22 of the approximately 26 Minnesota records are recent and this species has clearly declared its candidacy for Regular status! There was remarkable agreement among observers regarding the peak migration of vireos and warblers. Peak warbler passage occurred 10–22 May with 26 species on the 18th in Rice County (TBo), 22 species on the 22nd in Lake County (KE, PS), and 20+ species on five dates between the 15th and the 25th in Hennepin County (SC). Blue--winged Warbler is now found somewhere in northern Minnesota each spring; this year's extralimital occurrence was a third record for Otter Tail County. The singing Yellow-throated Warbler at Sibley State Park was undoubtedly the same individual returning from 1994 and it remained on territory well into the summer. Another returning male (fourth consecutive year!) was the Kentucky Warbler at Seven Mile Creek County Park. Concluding this familiar warbler refrain, only one Yellow-breasted Chat was found.

Only one Summer Tanager was reported but Western Tanagers invaded Minnesota in unprecedented numbers. Unfortunately, only seven of the nineteen have been documented by photograph or written details; the other twelve reports of this Casual species (involving thirteen birds) can only be considered “probable.” Although many of the undocumented reports were of birds seen only at feeders by casual observers, it should be noted that virtually none of more than one hundred participants in the M.O.U. Spring Field Trip submitted details for the Western Tanager seen in Crow Wing County. Neighboring states and provinces also experienced an influx, albeit fewer in number: North Dakota (2), southeastern Manitoba (2), Thunder Cape Bird Observatory in Ontario (2), Michigan (2), Wisconsin (3), with none in Iowa (N.A.S. Field Notes 49(3), 1995).

The Black-headed Grosbeak in Clay County and the Painted Bunting in Anoka County were both transients at feeders and did not tarry. Several unexpected passerines were found in the northeast region in late May; in addition to the shrike in Two Harbors, Lark Sparrow was found in three locations along the North Shore, a Grasshopper Sparrow was one of the very few ever found in Duluth, and two Orchard Orioles were reported. Henslow's Sparrow was not reported from its last stronghold at O. L. Kipp State Park.

Weather Summary: March 1995 was mild with few major snowfalls. An early April surge of cold resulted in a record low of 5 degrees for the 4th in Minneapolis. A persistent series of “blocking highs” across northern Canada steered storms just south of Minnesota, resulting in below normal precipitation in the north and temperatures 4–6 degrees below normal across the state during April. This general pattern continued during May; only the Arrowhead received normal precipitation and temperatures. Flooding in the Mississippi River watershed was generally south of Minnesota and spring flooding in southern Manitoba apparently did not extend into northwestern Minnesota. Southwestern Minnesota had slightly above normal precipitation in May but most of the state remained on the dry side, despite the heavy rains on the 13th. Outside of the Arrowhead region, May temperatures averaged 1–3 degrees cooler than normal for the month.

Acknowledgements: Dick Ruhme has announced his retirement from “The Season” after more than 16 years as a compiler. As previously noted in the Summer 1995 issue of The Loon, Dick (along with Don Bolduc and the recently-retired Oscar Johnson) compiled the Fall 1978 Seasonal Report and began the team approach that continues to the present day. We thank him for these many years of dedicated service. As always, our thanks to Kim Eckert and Anthony Hertzel who continue to summarize reports called in to the M.O.U. “hotlines” and thanks to the many contributors to this seasonal summary of birdlife in Minnesota.