For the second consecutive fall, unusually mild conditions through late October induced a wide variety of species to linger later than usual; the number of record or near-record late dates this season is staggering. The autumn migration at Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve (HRNR) was highlighted by record seasonal totals for four species, most notably Sharp-shinned Hawk. On the other hand, the “northern owls” were conspicuous by their absence and a November influx of winter finches fizzled out by the end of the period.

The fall occurrence of Red-throated Loon and Pacific Loon on Lake Superior is no longer completely unexpected, but singles were also found on “big lakes” elsewhere. One Red-throated was found on Lake Winnibigoshish, where preliminary surveys of this important pre-migratory fall staging area found numbers of Common Loons consistently above those ever documented for Mille Lacs Lake. Mille Lacs produced the only Pacific Loon away from those on Lake Superior.

Even though American White Pelicans are known to wander eastward in the fall, they are still considered very rare along the North Shore; the size of the two flocks at HRNR was astonishing. Anthony Hertzel's report of first county records for two different species of Ardeidae on the same day was extraordinary. Cattle Egrets have been scarce throughout 1997 and this fall was no exception; only two lingering birds were found. Two White-faced Ibises were reported in southwestern Minnesota, this species could become Regular in Minnesota if the wetlands there received regular coverage. Readers will now find Turkey Vulture following the ibises in the species accounts; other changes in taxonomy and nomenclature were recently outlined by Anthony Hertzel (The Loon 69:212–213).

Due to the mild conditions, waterfowl migration was initially late and then more concentrated than usual, especially in western Minnesota where Lane Ellwanger reported a major southbound movement on 10 November after a cold snap iced over virtually all open water. Still rare in fall, the five Ross's Geese found on 11 September were not only the first for Lake County, but also record early and one of the largest groups ever found in fall. Eric Nelson, refuge biologist at the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge, reported their highest number of Canvasbacks (250,085) since 1978, although only a small portion of this total was in Minnesota waters. The King Eider on 8 November was the fifth to be found in fall along the North Shore in Cook County within the past decade; observers are increasingly aware of when and where to search for this Casual species. A male Barrow's Goldeneye
returned to overwinter for the third consecutive year at the Blue Lake sewage lagoons in Scott County.

The 22,344 Sharp-shinned Hawks at HRNR broke an all-time record from 1976! Seasonal records were also set for Osprey, Merlin and Peregrine Falcon (Table 1). The two Prairie Falcons in Hennepin County included one at the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport that was thought to be a returning individual.

Shorebird migration was protracted again and puzzling; several usually common species including the “peeps” were inexplicably scarce. Reports of the American Golden-Plover were up and included several flocks of 70 or more birds, plus numerous smaller groups of 10–50. It has been ten years since the last Snowy Plover was found in Minnesota; four of the state's seven records have now occurred in late summer/early fall and all but two are from either Lake of the Woods or the northwest region! An adult Semipalmated Plover was found at the Beaver Bay lagoons in Lake County on 25 October; the same two observers found a juvenile there on 26 October 1996 — could this have been the same bird? Open water at these lagoons induced several other shorebirds to linger into November, including a record-late White-rumped Sandpiper on the 10th. Buff-breasted Sandpipers were down significantly, especially in Duluth. Encouraging were the many reports of Red-necked Phalaropes this season; most of these were found on sewage lagoons in the northwest region. Unfortunately, the Red Phalarope on Lake Bemidji could not be refound within hours of its discovery.

The most interesting larid was the first-year Laughing Gull in Grand Marais, the first for Cook County and the latest ever in the state. Unlike most other rarities this fall, both it and the Black-legged Kittiwake in Grand Marais were refound on subsequent days. The first-year California Gull in Dakota County was a most challenging identification; it's possible that immatures are overlooked elsewhere in the state during late summer/early fall when plumages are tricky and observer interest in gulls is low.

The first of two Band-tailed Pigeons at HRNR was photographed before it disappeared; the one that flew by the main overlook six weeks later was most likely a different individual, although its vanishing behavior was similar. Three of the seven Minnesota records are now from Hawk Ridge! Owls, especially the Short-eared Owl were scarce. Peak numbers of the Common Nighthawk along the North Shore in late August were up from last fall.

An unidentified Empidonax in Duluth on the late date of 24 October was intriguing but still most likely a Least Flycatcher. The Say's Phoebe in Grand Marais was yet another good find that could not be relocated. An exact count of 173 Eastern Kingbirds in Big Stone County is mind-
boggling. Although still considered Casual in Minnesota, the balmy weather somehow made one Scissor-tailed Flycatcher seem fewer than expected this season.

Only two Carolina Wrens were reported in all of 1997 and only one was found in 1996. This species has remained scarce since its status became Regular; perhaps the mild winter of 1997–98 will increase its presence in Minnesota. Echoing last fall's commentary on the Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, three were found again along the North Shore of Lake Superior, all between mid–September and late October. Two of this season's Mountain Bluebirds and all of the Townsend's Solitaires were found along the North Shore. In contrast, there was a disappointing total of only three Varied Thrushes, which were confined to southern Minnesota.

Warbler migration was protracted and produced little commentary. Steve Carlson reported very poor warbler migration at Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis. There were however, numerous late stragglers among the vireos and warblers. How many times have 20 or more warbler species lingered into October in Minnesota? Furthermore, a remarkable seven warbler species were reported this November! These late dates are all highlighted in the species accounts; my favorite is the Black-throated Green Warbler in a birdbath on 4 November! Others may choose November's Ovenbird near the Government Center in downtown Minneapolis or the record-late Yellow-breasted Chat in Duluth.

Two Summer Tanagers were found in late October along the North Shore where they are unexpected at any time of year. This season's records of the Spotted Towhee fall neatly into the emerging pattern of late September/early October occurrences in southwestern Minnesota. Larry Dolphin's account of Minnesota's fourth Black-throated Sparrow is both entertaining and instructive documentation. Sparrows lingered in many areas, especially the Le Conte's Sparrow which was found by Robert Janssen alone in at least 15 south counties! The Nelson's Sparrow is rarely detected anywhere during migration and apparently departs the state early; singles were reported from three south locations this fall. Fortunately for the rest of us, Frank Nicoletti likes to count birds and counts whatever comes along; his tally of 1,025 Pine Grosbeaks migrating through HRNR on 3 November is the most ever recorded on one day in Minnesota! An apparent influx of other winter finches fizzled out, although Evening Grosbeaks were reported as far south as Fillmore and Houston counties by the end of the period.

Unconfirmed and Undocumented Reports: Clark's Grebe on 3 August, possibly the same individual seen in early July on Lake Osakis; Yellow-throated Warbler on 6 September in Anoka County. This section does not include records found Unacceptable by the Minnesota Ornithological Records Committee.

Weather Summary: Mostly dry and very mild conditions persisted until November. August was actually one–two degrees cooler than normal across the state. Temperatures throughout September were two–four degrees above normal in all regions and monthly precipitation was about one inch below normal statewide. October was similarly one–two degrees above normal and slightly drier than usual, except in the three north regions (northwest, north-central, northeast) where temperatures were close to normal and precipitation was slightly above average. November produced minimal snow cover but it turned decidedly cool with all regions reporting below normal temperatures; these ranged from 2.5 degrees below normal in the northeast to 5.5 degrees below normal in the southwest.

Acknowledgments: Once again, thanks to Kim Eckert and Anthony Hertzel for summarizing reports called in to the MOU “hotlines” in Duluth and the Twin Cities, respectively. Data from Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve in Duluth were made available by Molly Evans and Frank Nicoletti. Median arrival and departure dates were calculated by Paul Budde.