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Seasonal Report Archive for The Loon | |
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The 2005-Spring Season 1 March through 31 May 2005 Tom Auer, Paul E. Budde, James W. Lind, and Peder H. Svingen |
Except for record-high counts of Ross's Geese and two Eurasian Wigeon, waterfowl migration was unremarkable. A total of 10 Snowy Egrets was barely more than ¼ of last spring's 36, but Cattle Egrets showed well. The highlight for many observers was the state's second Glossy Ibis, an adult in breeding plumage that stayed put for four days. Frank Nicoletti and Dave Carman conducted the West Skyline Hawk Count in Duluth for the ninth consecutive spring and obtained several noteworthy daily counts.
Shorebird surveys were conducted again this year in Big Stone, Lac Qui Parle, and Traverse counties beginning in April; habitat conditions were not as favorable as last spring, especially after heavy rains in mid-May. The only unusual shorebird species in western Minnesota was the Black-necked Stilt in Big Stone County; another visited Spindler's Pond near Rice Lake State Park and may have been one of the three stilts seen at this pond a year ago. A Long-billed Curlew in Aitkin County was a surprise birthday gift for Warren Nelson. Shorebird migration was poor along the North Shore of Lake Superior; only one Whimbrel and no Red Knots were found, and numbers of Ruddy Turnstones and Sanderlings continued to be low.
Any jaeger is unexpected in spring in Minnesota; three Parasitic Jaegers were carefully identified and photographed together off Park Point in Duluth. The Kanabec County landfill produced first county records for three larid species this spring, including an Iceland Gull and three Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Another Lesser Black-backed furnished a first record for Mille Lacs Lake and graciously wandered between two different counties while doing so. Unlike last spring's adult at the Breckenridge sewage lagoons, the Arctic Tern at Duluth was at the traditional location for this species in late May.
A White-winged Dove photographed in Dakota County was Minnesota's fifth in two years. Observers looking for a Rock Wren at Felton Prairie chanced upon a pair of Say's Phoebes in early May; this species has nested just across the state line in North Dakota, but evidence of breeding could not be found even though this pair lingered well into early July. A total of 31+ Loggerhead Shrikes in 16 counties almost matched last spring's showing, but remained below average compared to the early 1990s for the ninth consecutive spring.
Participants in the annual Hawk Ridge Birdathon found 26 species of warblers in St. Louis County 21 May. Good numbers of warblers emerged at Hole-in-the-Mountain County Park near Lake Benton, Lincoln County on the 24th. Additional peaks included 21 warbler species at Wood Lake, Hennepin County on the 17th (CMB) and 20 species plus a “Lawrence's” Warbler at Murphy-Hanrehan Park Reserve on the 19th (RBW). Two rare warblers were found: Morrison County's first Yellow-throated Warbler near Little Falls and a record-early Worm-eating Warbler banded at Warner Nature Center, Washington County.
Only slightly less than last spring's 11 was an influx of 9 Summer Tanagers. Five Western Tanagers were noteworthy. A Lark Bunting roaming between center and right field was one of several unusual species found at the ballfields in Ely, St. Louis County this season. Record-high numbers of Henslow's Sparrows were tallied in Minnesota this spring and summer. Hooray for CRP! Whether or not the Crop Reserve Program continues long term is unfortunately fraught with uncertainty. Two Black-headed Grosbeaks, two Lazuli Buntings, and the state's fifth Eurasian Tree Sparrow rounded out the list of Casual or Accidental species. Weather Summary: Average temperatures during March were close to normal statewide, though the rest of the season was anything but normal. April started warm and dry, and the first 17 days were 10º F above normal statewide. This weather was more similar to the first half of May. On the 18th, temperatures reached the 80s at International Falls — 100º warmer than the -21º endured on 2 March! During the last week of the month, however, a shift in the jet stream brought a dramatic change in weather as temperatures across the state fell to an average of 10º–12º below normal. On balance, April temperatures averaged 5º above normal. Ice-out occurred three to six days earlier than normal across central Minnesota, and most lakes in northern Minnesota were ice-free seven to ten days ahead of schedule. By 25 April, all lakes in Minnesota were ice-free.
Frequent upper level troughs and Canadian high pressure systems kept temperatures lower than normal for the last month of the season. This May, in fact, was only the second time in 70 years that the Twin Cities airport did not record an 80+ degree day — though International Falls did on the 8th! The statewide average for the month was three degrees below normal.
Precipitation was slightly below average in March and April, while May averaged about one inch above the norm. This was in contrast to states south of Minnesota: Illinois and Missouri experienced their 4th and 6th driest springs, respectively, since 1895. The most notable storm of the season occurred on 18 March when up to 21 inches of snow fell over parts of the South-central and Southeast — one of the heaviest March snowfalls ever recorded in the state.
Undocumented reports: Spruce Grouse 3/19 Aitkin (CR 64); Gyrfalcon 3/7 Kandiyohi; Prairie Falcon 5/6 Otter Tail (Otter Tail Prairie S.N.A.); California Gull 3/30 Dakota (Inver Grove Heights); Northern Shrike 5/22 Dakota; Yellow-throated Warbler 5/22 Dakota; Summer Tanager 5/10–14 Stearns (Kramer L.), 5/11 or 5/12 Nicollet (St. Peter), 5/16 Freeborn (near L. Francis), 5/20 Anoka (Linwood L.); Western Tanager 5/12–18 Crow Wing, 5/13 Rock, 5/17 Freeborn, 5/23 Waseca; Great-tailed Grackle 3/28 Lyon (Sham L.), 4/29 Martin (location?), 5/13 Stearns (Luxemburg Twp.). Acknowledgments: We thank Dave Carman and Frank Nicoletti for data from the West Skyline Hawk Count in Duluth, and Dave Benson, Anthony Hertzel, Jim Lind, and Jeanie Joppru for transcripts of weekly birding reports. Medians of recent arrival and departure dates were calculated by Paul Budde from published and unpublished seasonal report data from 1985 through 2004. We thank all of our contributors and especially those who submit documentation for unusual sightings. We note with sadness the death of Ron Kneeskern in March; his consistent contributions to The Season from Mower County will be missed. 1 2257 Seven Mile Point Road, Allouez, MI 49805.
Only slightly less than last spring's 11 was an influx of 9 Summer Tanagers. Five Western Tanagers were noteworthy. A Lark Bunting roaming between center and right field was one of several unusual species found at the ballfields in Ely, St. Louis County this season. Record-high numbers of Henslow's Sparrows were tallied in Minnesota this spring and summer. Hooray for CRP! Whether or not the Crop Reserve Program continues long term is unfortunately fraught with uncertainty. Two Black-headed Grosbeaks, two Lazuli Buntings, and the state's fifth Eurasian Tree Sparrow rounded out the list of Casual or Accidental species. Weather Summary: Average temperatures during March were close to normal statewide, though the rest of the season was anything but normal. April started warm and dry, and the first 17 days were 10º F above normal statewide. This weather was more similar to the first half of May. On the 18th, temperatures reached the 80s at International Falls — 100º warmer than the -21º endured on 2 March! During the last week of the month, however, a shift in the jet stream brought a dramatic change in weather as temperatures across the state fell to an average of 10º–12º below normal. On balance, April temperatures averaged 5º above normal. Ice-out occurred three to six days earlier than normal across central Minnesota, and most lakes in northern Minnesota were ice-free seven to ten days ahead of schedule. By 25 April, all lakes in Minnesota were ice-free.
Frequent upper level troughs and Canadian high pressure systems kept temperatures lower than normal for the last month of the season. This May, in fact, was only the second time in 70 years that the Twin Cities airport did not record an 80+ degree day — though International Falls did on the 8th! The statewide average for the month was three degrees below normal.
Precipitation was slightly below average in March and April, while May averaged about one inch above the norm. This was in contrast to states south of Minnesota: Illinois and Missouri experienced their 4th and 6th driest springs, respectively, since 1895. The most notable storm of the season occurred on 18 March when up to 21 inches of snow fell over parts of the South-central and Southeast — one of the heaviest March snowfalls ever recorded in the state.
Undocumented reports: Spruce Grouse 3/19 Aitkin (CR 64); Gyrfalcon 3/7 Kandiyohi; Prairie Falcon 5/6 Otter Tail (Otter Tail Prairie S.N.A.); California Gull 3/30 Dakota (Inver Grove Heights); Northern Shrike 5/22 Dakota; Yellow-throated Warbler 5/22 Dakota; Summer Tanager 5/10–14 Stearns (Kramer L.), 5/11 or 5/12 Nicollet (St. Peter), 5/16 Freeborn (near L. Francis), 5/20 Anoka (Linwood L.); Western Tanager 5/12–18 Crow Wing, 5/13 Rock, 5/17 Freeborn, 5/23 Waseca; Great-tailed Grackle 3/28 Lyon (Sham L.), 4/29 Martin (location?), 5/13 Stearns (Luxemburg Twp.). Acknowledgments: We thank Dave Carman and Frank Nicoletti for data from the West Skyline Hawk Count in Duluth, and Dave Benson, Anthony Hertzel, Jim Lind, and Jeanie Joppru for transcripts of weekly birding reports. Medians of recent arrival and departure dates were calculated by Paul Budde from published and unpublished seasonal report data from 1985 through 2004. We thank all of our contributors and especially those who submit documentation for unusual sightings. We note with sadness the death of Ron Kneeskern in March; his consistent contributions to The Season from Mower County will be missed. 1 2257 Seven Mile Point Road, Allouez, MI 49805.
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Species |
Information |
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| Whistling-Ducks, Geese, Swans, Ducks | |||||
| Snow Goose (Anser caerulescens) | Reported from 18 south and 11 north counties in all regions except the Northeast. Early south 3/6 in five counties, including peaks in Nobles (4,600) and Jackson (4,000) DFN, PEJ, Cottonwood (2,000) BRB, and Watonwan (2,000) BRB. Peak north concentrations of “thousands” on 3/26 (early north) in Grant, Wilkin, Otter Tail and Stevens SPM, HFe, 4/1 Traverse (1,800 at Mud L.) KJB. Late south 5/16 Brown BRB, 5/17 Olmsted JWH, PWP. Late north 5/19 Marshall GT, 5/23 Traverse LS. | ||||
| Ross's Goose (Anser rossii) | Observed in 13 south and 6 north counties. Record high counts 3/6 (early south) in Jackson (400+) and Nobles (460+) DFN, PEJ. Otherwise scarce with only 37 birds reported elsewhere (325+ in 27 counties Spring 2004). All north reports: 3/26 Grant and Otter Tail SPM, 3/29 Clay (4) DPJ, 4/1 Traverse (4 at Mud L.) KJB, plus single birds 4/14 St. Louis (Hoyt Lakes) ALE, 5/12 Norman (Ada) PHS. Late south 5/1 Lac qui Parle PHS, ph. MLH, 5/2 Fillmore JJS, HHD. | ||||
| Greater White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons) | Seen in 26 south and 9 north counties, and in all regions except the North-central and Northeast. Early south 3/5 Cottonwood BRB, 3/6 in six counties; peaks 3/31 Traverse (5,000 at Mud L.) KJB, 3/6 Jackson (4,050) DFN, PEJ. Early north 3/5 Otter Tail RAE, HHD, then none until peak north concentrations of “thousands” on 3/26 in Grant, Wilkin, Otter Tail and Stevens SPM, HFe. Late south 5/15 Dakota (4) JPM. No north reports after early April. | ||||
| Cackling Goose (Branta hutchinsii) | Reported from 31 south and 5 north counties, but documented only in 5 counties. Please see winter report for overwintering and early south migrants. Early north (no details) 3/20 Otter Tail BWF, 3/21 Clay BWF. Peak counts 3/31 Traverse (200 at Mud L.) KJB, 3/22 Murray (178 at L. Wilson) KJB. All documented south reports: 3/19 Dakota (5 in Vermillion Twp.) †ADS, 3/31 Carver †WCM, 4/2 Stearns †RPR, 4/9 Hennepin †CFa, 4/30–5/13 Dakota (4 at L. Byllesby) †ADS. Only documented north reports: 4/3 Polk †JMJ, 5/21 St. Louis (Interstate Island, Duluth) ph. †PHS. Observers are asked to document all sightings with notes, photographs, or recordings to improve our understanding of this species in the state. | ||||
| Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) | Reported throughout the state. | ||||
| Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) | Birds of uncertain origin reported 3/6 Nobles and Cottonwood (Cottonwood L.) DFN, PEJ, 4/21 Houston FZL, 4/22 Washington (2 nesting at Lake Carnelian) MPa, 4/25 Meeker (near Cokato) DMF. | ||||
| Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator) | Statewide total at least 263 in 21 south and 21 north counties in all regions. Please continue to report numbers, exact locations and dates of observations. | ||||
| Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus) | Reported from 21 south and 23 north counties, none in Southwest. Early south 3/19 Houston FZL, 3/24 Swift RBJ. Early north 3/29 Clay DPJ and Marshall fide JMJ. Late south 5/1 Big Stone PHS (median 5/5). Late north 5/1 Polk EEF (median 5/28). Peak concentrations 3/27 Houston (2,000+) FZL, 4/9 Polk (1,200) JMJ. | ||||
| Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) | Observed in 49 south and 28 north counties. Early south (but see winter report) 3/4 Waseca JEZ, 3/8 Sherburne HHD. Early north 3/20 Beltrami PJR and Clay fide JMJ, 3/21 Clay BWF. | ||||
| Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors) | Seen in 48 south and 27 north counties. Early south 3/5 Nicollet RMD, 3/8 Sherburne HHD (median 3/12). Early north 3/21 (ties earliest north) Clay BWF, 3/28 Todd BWF (median 3/30). | ||||
| Cinnamon Teal (Spatula cyanoptera) | An adult male 5/26–27 Mahnomen (Oakland Twp.) aggressively courted a female Blue-winged Teal (HHD, RAE, JJS; ph. †PHS). | ||||
| Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata) | Reported from 47 south and 22 north counties. Early south 3/6 Dakota JPM, and Rice FVS et al. Early north 3/23 Clay BWF, 3/26 Douglas SWi. Peak count 4/2 Meeker (800 in Greenleaf Twp) DMF. | ||||
| Gadwall (Mareca strepera) | Seen in 43 south and 15 north counties. Please see winter report for overwintering and early south migrants. Early north 3/5 (ties second earliest north date) Otter Tail RAE, HHD, 3/31 St. Louis MTA. | ||||
| EURASIAN WIGEON (Mareca penelope) | Two records of adult males: 3/28–31 Winona (Verchota Landing) KJB, ph. †JPM, 5/8 Red Lake (Red Lake Falls W.T.P.) †JMJ, ph. †PHS (The Loon 77:260). | ||||
| American Wigeon (Mareca americana) | Reported from 40 south and 18 north counties. Please see winter report for early south migrants; also reported 3/6 in five south counties. Early north 3/31 St. Louis fide DRB, 4/5 Grant and Otter Tail LS. | ||||
| Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) | Reported statewide. | ||||
| American Black Duck (Anas rubripes) | Observed in 14 south and 6 north counties, none in the Southwest. Late south 5/12 Nicollet ChH. Only west reports: 3/31 Douglas SWi, 4/18 Marshall (Agassiz N.W.R.) DPS. | ||||
| Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) | Seen in 30 south and 17 north counties. Please see winter report for overwintering and early south migrants. Early north 3/27 Red Lake JMJ and Polk fide JMJ, 3/28 Todd BWF. | ||||
| Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca) | Observed in 41 south and 21 north counties. Early south 3/6 in four counties. Early north 3/27 Otter Tail DTT, SMT, 3/28 Todd BWF. | ||||
| Canvasback (Aythya valisineria) | Found in 40 south and 16 north counties including St. Louis and Lake in Northeast. Please see winter report for early south migrants. Early north 3/30 Polk EEF, 4/1 Clay BWF. | ||||
| Redhead (Aythya americana) | Observed in 44 south and 18 north counties. Please see winter report for early south migrants. Early north 3/31 Kanabec CAM, 4/2 St. Louis JCG and Clay RHO (median 3/24). | ||||
| Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris) | Seen in 47 south and 28 north counties. Please see winter report for overwintering and early south migrants; arrived 3/5-6 in nine counties. Early north 3/20 Clay RHO, 3/26 Wilkin HFe. Peak count 3/20 Cottonwood (est. 300) BRB. | ||||
| Greater Scaup (Aythya marila) | Reported from 21 south and 12 north counties. Early south 3/6 Jackson DFN, 3/15 Mower RCK (median 3/9). Early north 3/25 Crow Wing RBJ, 3/30 Cass PJR (median 3/31). Late south 5/13 Steele KV, 5/15 Brown BTS. Late north 5/23 Traverse LS, 5/29 Pennington KRE, m.obs. High count 5/10 St. Louis (1,000 at Park Point, Duluth) PHS. | ||||
| Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis) | Seen in 46 south and 25 north counties. Please see winter report for overwintering and early south migrants. Early north 3/23 Clay BWF, 3/30 Kanabec CAM (median 3/16). High count 5/10 St. Louis (250 at Park Point, Duluth) PHS. | ||||
| Harlequin Duck (Histrionicus histrionicus) | All reports: overwintering immature male in Lake (Agate Bay, Two Harbors) seen through 3/15 SLF, m.obs., 3/21–4/28 Cook (3 at Grand Marais) KMH, 4/2–14 St. Louis (Duluth) JCG, MTA, 5/17 St. Louis (Duluth) JEB. | ||||
| Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata) | Reported 5/13–23 St. Louis (max. 3 at Duluth) KRE, MTA, m.obs. | ||||
| White-winged Scoter (Melanitta deglandi) | One (same bird?) reported 4/5–5/28 St. Louis (Duluth) MTA, PHS, m.obs. | ||||
| Black Scoter (Melanitta americana) | All reports: 4/14–15 Dakota (male at Inver Grove Heights) DSc, 5/17–21 (2 at Park Point, Duluth) MSS, m.obs. | ||||
| Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) | Only south report: 3/29 Wabasha (female at L. Pepin) JPM. All north reports from L. Superior: 3/2 Cook (2 at Temperance R.) DCZ, 3/25–4/22 St. Louis (max. 22) JWL, m.obs., 4/16–5/23 Lake (max. 30) JWL, 5/24–28 Cook (max. 15) SPM, DFN. | ||||
| Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) | Seen in 44 south and 23 north counties. Overwintered in Hennepin; early south 3/6 Cottonwood and Jackson DFN, 3/8 Sherburne HHD (median 3/4). Early north (away from L. Superior) 3/29 Marshall GT and Otter Tail DTT, SMT, 4/1 Clay BWF (median 3/22). Late south 5/13 Dakota ADS, 5/30 Lac qui Parle FAE. | ||||
| Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) | Reported from 32 south and 20 north counties. Late south 4/18 Brown BRB, 5/4 Meeker DMF (median 5/12). | ||||
| Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) | Seen in 40 south and 26 north counties. Early south (away from overwintering locations) 3/1 Scott JEB and Washington BRL, 3/6 in four counties. Early north 3/20 Wadena PJB, 3/21 Clay BWF. Peak concentration 3/21 Dakota (159 at Black Dog L.) KJB. | ||||
| Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) | Found in 43 south and 16 north counties. Early north (away from overwintering locations) 3/6 Otter Tail DTT, SMT, 3/21 Clay BWF. Late south 5/3 Steele HHD, 5/9 Steele KV (median 5/25). Peak count 3/21 Goodhue (2,200 at L. Pepin, record-high spring count) KJB. | ||||
| Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator) | Seen in 37 south and 15 north counties in all regions. Early south 3/5 Goodhue BRL, 3/6 Jackson DFN. Early north (away from L. Superior) 3/29 Otter Tail DTT, SMT and Douglas fide JMJ. Late south 5/7 Dakota PEB, 5/14 Steele KV. Peak concentration 5/1 St. Louis (736 on L. Superior, Lester R. to Stoney Pt.) JWL. | ||||
| Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) | Found in 37 south and 12 north counties. No reports from North-central, and only St. Louis in Northeast. Early south 3/6 Dakota PEB and Rice TFB, 3/20 Freeborn AEB (median 3/11). Early north 3/29 Marshall GT, 4/17 Douglas CRM (median 4/5). Unusual location 5/21 St. Louis (Biwabik W.T.P.) ALE. | ||||
| Partridge, Pheasants, Grouse, Turkeys | |||||
| Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) | Found in 54 counties as far north as Polk, Mahnomen, Becker, Wadena, Crow Wing, Aitkin, Pine, Carlton (escaped?). Peak count of 50 in Becker RAE, HDD. | ||||
| Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus) | Seen in 32 counties within range including Dakota (Miesville Ravine) JPM. | ||||
| Spruce Grouse (Canachites canadensis) | All reports: small numbers in two Lake (JMP) and five Lake of the Woods locations (MHK, GMM). | ||||
| Sharp-tailed Grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus) | All reports: Aitkin (27 on 4 leks), Clearwater (max. 19), Kanabec (max. 18), Lake of the Woods (8 at 2 locations), Marshall (1), Pennington (1), Polk (max. 26), Red Lake (12), St. Louis (max. 6 near Meadowlands). | ||||
| Greater Prairie-Chicken (Tympanuchus cupido) | Released birds seen in Lac qui Parle (max. 20), Big Stone; origin of birds in Traverse unclear. All north reports: Becker (max. 14), Clay (max. 19 at 2 locations), Norman, Otter Tail, Polk (max. 10), Red Lake, Traverse (2) SPM, Wadena (18), 3/4 Wilkin (68) JPE. | ||||
| Gray Partridge (Perdix perdix) | Observed in 12 south counties; only Wright and Fillmore in east. All counts one or two birds except 5/25 Lac qui Parle (4) PHS. All north reports: 3/30 Polk (2) EEF, 4/24 Clay (2) RHO, 5/20 Wilkin (3) PHS. | ||||
| Ring-necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) | Recorded in 65 counties as far north as Polk, Mahnomen, Wadena, Todd, Morrison, Mille Lacs, Kanabec, Pine, and Carlton (escaped?). | ||||
| Grebes | |||||
| Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) | Observed in 40 south and 25 north counties. Early south 3/8 Sherburne HHD, 3/21 Olmsted PWP. Early north 3/28 St. Louis SLF, 3/30 Beltrami PJR. | ||||
| Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus) | Seen in 13 south and 17 north counties. Early south 3/30 Hennepin OLJ and Washington BRL, 4/1 Dakota JPM. Early north 4/6 Lake JWL, 4/9 Mille Lacs ASc. Late south 5/10 Olmsted PWP, 5/25 Big Stone PHS. Late north 5/26 Mahnomen JJS, HHD, 5/29 Cook DFN, but see summer report. Peak counts 4/18 St. Louis (240 on L. Superior) MTA, 4/25 St. Louis (830 on L. Superior) JWL. | ||||
| Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena) | Found in 17 south and 14 north counties in all regions. Early south 3/30 Hennepin OLJ, 3/31 Dakota ADS. Early north 4/2 St. Louis ALE, 4/6 Todd fide JMJ. Peak count 4/13 St. Louis (325 in Duluth) MTA. | ||||
| Eared Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis) | Seen in 16 south and 10 north counties, none in North-central. Early south 4/13 Brown BTS, 4/16 Pipestone CFa (median 4/9). Early north 4/12 Polk EEF, 4/17 Marshall DPS (median 4/23). Unusual location 5/14–22 St. Louis (Biwabik W.T.P.) ALE. | ||||
| Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis) | Observed in 19 south and 10 north counties, though none in Southeast. Reported from Hennepin and Dakota in East-central. Early south 4/9 Big Stone DFN, 4/16 Meeker DMF. Early north 4/15 Polk EEF, 4/17 Douglas CRM. Unusual location 5/21–23 St. Louis (Park Point, Duluth) MTA, MLH, MOc et al. | ||||
| Clark's Grebe (Aechmophorus clarkii) | No reports. | ||||
| Pigeons, Doves | |||||
| Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) | Statewide. | ||||
| Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) | Discovered at new locations 4/16+ Jackson (Heron Lake) DDM, BJM (single bird in April, two pair including female on nest 5/23 ph. †PHS), 5/28+ lac Qui Parle (Walter Twp., 2) BJU. On nest 5/8 Houston (Caledonia) FZL and 5/14 Dakota (Farmington) PEB; also reported from known south locations 4/21–30 Chippewa (2 at Milan) DBz, ph. MLH, 4/23 Lac qui Parle (Marietta) FAE et al., 5/29 Swift (2 at Benson) HFe. Though probably correctly identified, photographs were inconclusive for one seen 4/27–28 Winona CA. All north reports were from known locations where previously documented: 3/17+ Grant (4 at Herman) SPM, m.obs., 4/9+ Traverse (4 at Wheaton) SPM, ph. PHS. | ||||
| White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica) | Seventh state record 5/7–8 Dakota (Empire Twp.) ph. BSe (The Loon 77:171). | ||||
| Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) | Reported statewide. | ||||
| Cuckoos | |||||
| Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus) | Reported from nine south counties beginning 5/21 Hennepin HCT (18-year median 5/15). All north reports: 5/17 Kanabec CFa, 5/30 Lake of the Woods MHK. | ||||
| Black-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus erythropthalmus) | Reported from 10 south counties beginning 5/9 Ramsey BRL, 5/18 Rice TFB. Early north 5/15 Otter Tail DTT, SMT, 5/17 Kanabec CFa; also observed in Douglas, St. Louis. | ||||
| Nightjars | |||||
| Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor) | Reported from 25 south and 17 north counties. Early south 5/8 Washington DFN, 5/9 Brown BRB. Early north 5/16 Mille Lacs ASc, 5/17 Clay RHO and Otter Tail DTT, SMT. | ||||
| Eastern Whip-poor-will (Antrostomus vociferus) | Reported from six south counties beginning 5/7 Dakota SWe and Nobles JJS, 5/9 Sherburne PLJ. Exceptional location and second-earliest north date 4/15 Wilkin (300th Ave, 0.5 miles N of 210th St, Tanberg Twp.) CRM et al. Next north arrival not until 5/10 Carlton MSS; also reported from Lake of the Woods, Marshall, St. Louis, Todd. | ||||
| Swifts | |||||
| Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica) | Observed in 40 south and 26 north counties. Peak migration up to two weeks later than normal. Early south 5/5 in five counties, 5/6–8 in ten more. Early north 5/7 Grant JEB and Wilkin PHS, 5/14 in three counties. | ||||
| Hummingbirds | |||||
| Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) | Seen in 28 south and 18 north counties. Early south 5/7 Rice DAB, 5/8 in five counties. Early north 5/7 Wadena PJB, 5/9 in three counties. | ||||
| Rails, Gallinules, Coots | |||||
| Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola) | Reported from 25 south and 17 north counties in all regions. Early south 4/12 Hennepin HCT, 4/13 Sherburne ASc. Early north 4/15 (ties record-early north) Clay fide JMJ, 4/20 Marshall JMJ. Numbers up at Manston W.M.A. and Rothsay W.M.A., Wilkin County, (AXH, PHS). | ||||
| Sora (Porzana carolina) | Reported from 33 south and 24 north counties, but only St. Louis in Northeast. Early south 4/9 Hennepin HCT, 4/10 Steele NFT. Early north 4/15 Marshall (Agassiz N.W.R.) MA, 4/24 Wadena PJB. | ||||
| Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata) | All reports: 5/15 Rice TFB, 5/17 Kanabec (Rum River S.F.) †BWF, HHD, MKr, CAS, JJS. | ||||
| American Coot (Fulica americana) | Observed in 45 south and 18 north counties. Early north (overwintered in Otter Tail) 3/27 Todd BWF, 3/30 St. Louis SLF. Partial albino 5/2 Big Stone (near Thielke L.) SLF; pure white except normal coloration on front of face and flank patch. | ||||
| Yellow Rail (Coturnicops noveboracensis) | One captured in downtown St. Paul was turned in for rehabilitation 4/8 (record-early date) Ramsey fide AXH. Also reported 5/4 Aitkin (total of 7 during survey at Rice Lake N.W.R.) MMc, WEN, 5/6+ Cass (Swamp L.) BJU, RPR, 5/16 Polk (Tilden Twp.) NGE, 5/21 St. Louis (4, Sax-Zim Bog area) m.obs., 5/29 Lake of the Woods (along CR 80) MHK, 5/30 Polk (Dugdale W.M.A.) fide KRE, 5/31 Aitkin (8 near McGregor) ChM, KO. | ||||
| Cranes | |||||
| Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis) | Reported from 25 south and 25 north counties in all regions. Early south 3/8 Sherburne HHD, 3/9 Houston JJS. Record-early north 3/6 Todd fide BWF, then 3/25 Wadena PJB, 3/26–31 in eight counties. Highest reported count 3/31 Polk (4,000) DLT. | ||||
| Stilts, Avocets | |||||
| BLACK-NECKED STILT (Himantopus mexicanus) | Two accepted records: adult male 4/21–24 Big Stone (Centennial W.P.A.) †LWM, †PCC, ph. †PHS, 5/8–10 Steele (one at Spindler's Pond near Rice Lake S.P., same location where 3 found last spring) NFT, ph. KV. | ||||
| American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana) | Statewide total of 52 individuals in nine south and three north counties. Early south 4/10 Anoka (Carlos Avery W.M.A.) SHu, 4/11 Murray (19 at Lake Wilson) JT; also reported from Big Stone (max. 13 in Toqua Twp. on 4/30 DFN, plus 1–3 birds in 3 other locations), Dakota (1), Lac qui Parle (1), Lincoln (1), Meeker (3), Nobles (1), Stearns (1). Early north 5/6 Cass (2 in Poplar Twp.) BJU, 5/7 Grant (2) JEB, RBJ; also seen 5/23 Polk (1) NGE. | ||||
| Plovers | |||||
| Black-bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola) | Observed in only eight counties (16 last spring). All south reports: 4/28 Scott †CMB, LM, 5/16 Big Stone WCM. Early north 5/19 Beltrami JEB, RBJ, 5/20 Wilkin (6) AXH, PHS; also reported from Lake of the Woods (5), Mahnomen, Pennington, St. Louis. All counts single digits. | ||||
| American Golden-Plover (Pluvialis dominica) | Reported from 15 south but only 3 north counties. None in North-central, and only 5/4 (1), 5/13 (4) Olmsted PWP in Southeast, 5/13 Lake (1) JWL in Northeast, and 5/16 Polk (8) in Northwest. Early south (median 4/19) 3/31 Le Sueur KJB, 4/5 Pipestone KRE, 4/10 Lac qui Parle (12) PCC, BR. Early north 4/17 Wilkin CRM. Late south 5/21 Nobles (59 in four flocks) BTS. Highest reported count 4/16 Jackson (180) DDM, BJM. | ||||
| Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) | Reported from 83 counties statewide. One reported 3/2 Houston FZL possibly same as 2/24 (see winter report); early south 3/5 Nicollet RMD, 3/6 Freeborn AEB. Early north 3/21 Otter Tail ARo, 3/23–28 in 11 counties. Highest reported count 4/17 Big Stone (80) JWL, PHS. | ||||
| Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus) | Reported from 20 south and 9 north counties in all regions. Early south 4/20 Dakota BRL, 4/24 Lac qui Parle PCC. Early north 5/7 Grant JEB, 5/8 Traverse (20) PHS. Highest reported count 4/29 Dakota (65+) SWe. | ||||
| Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) | All reports: 5/4 Jackson (CR 2) ET, 5/5–6 Winona (Mud L.) DBz, m.obs., 5/6, 5/16, 5/19 Dakota (2 or 3 different birds at L. Byllesby) m.ob, 5/15 Kandiyohi (section 21, T117N R33W) RSF. | ||||
| Sandpipers | |||||
| Upland Sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda) | Reported from 10 south and 8 north counties, including Lake (5/28, JCG) and St. Louis in the Northeast. No reports from East-central or Southeast regions. Arrived late. Early south (median 4/26) 5/7 Big Stone, Jackson, Stevens. Early north (median 5/2) 5/6 Crow Wing JSB, 5/9 Norman JEB. Highest reported count 5/13 Big Stone (8 on survey route) PHS. | ||||
| Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) | Only report: 5/24 St. Louis LS. | ||||
| LONG-BILLED CURLEW (Numenius americanus) | Second county record 4/16–18 Aitkin (Fleming Twp.) WEN, †CLR, ph. KWR; also documented †CMB, ph. †MLH, ph. JWL, †PHS. | ||||
| Hudsonian Godwit (Limosa haemastica) | Total of 82+ inviduals (347 last spring) in seven south and seven north counties. Early south (median 4/21) 4/24 Big Stone (1) PHS. Early north (median 5/2) 4/20 Aitkin (1) PHS et al., 5/6 Cass (2) BJU. Late south 5/23 Rock (11) PHS, 5/25 Lac qui Parle (1) PHS. Late north 5/30 Traverse (12) KJB, 5/31 Pennington (3) NAJ. Highest reported counts 5/19 Lac qui Parle (15 at Borchardt Rosin W.M.A.) PHS, 5/27 Polk (15 at Crookston W.T.P.) PHS. | ||||
| Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa) | Reported from 9 south and 13 north counties in all regions except the Southeast. Arrived several days earlier than normal (18-year median 4/13 south and north). Early south 4/9 Big Stone SPM, 4/10 Meeker DMF. Early north 4/8 Wilkin GLS, 4/9 Wilkin (20 at Rothsay W.M.A.) CMB. For the second consecutive spring, a large flock stopped over at Interstate Island in the Duluth harbor (75 birds, 5/21 St. Louis ph. PHS); according to RPR, they were probably part of the population breeding around Hudson Bay, Canada. | ||||
| Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres) | Scarce (again) along the North Shore of Lake Superior. Early south 5/17 Lac qui Parle PHS, 5/18–19 Dakota (max. 8) JPM; only other south reports from Big Stone, Kandiyohi (12). Observed in 12 north counties beginning 5/17 Crow Wing CRM et al., 5/20 Wilkin PHS. Late south 5/29 Big Stone (5) KJB. Highest reported count 5/30 Polk (18 at Crookston W.T.P., also late north) KJB. | ||||
| RED KNOT (Calidris canutus) | No reports. | ||||
| Stilt Sandpiper (Calidris himantopus) | Observed in 12 south and 2 north counties. More reports than usual for the second consecutive spring. Early south (median 5/5) 4/28 Scott †CMB, 5/5–7 in three counties. Early north (median 5/15) 5/12 Polk PHS, 5/18 Traverse (3) PHS. Late south 5/29 Big Stone (12) KJB and Steele (1) KV. Late north 5/30 Grant (22) and Polk (2) KJB. Highest reported counts 5/19 Lac qui Parle (87) PHS, 5/23 Rock (121 at Luverne, second highest spring count) PHS, 5/27 Grant (37 at Towner Slough) KJB. | ||||
| Sanderling (Calidris alba) | Reported from five south counties beginning 5/8 Dakota SWe, 5/13 Big Stone (4) PHS. Observed in seven north counties beginning 5/8 Crow Wing KWR, 5/10 St. Louis MTA, PHS. Highest reported counts 5/29 Traverse (33 at Mud L.) KJB, 5/30 Polk (44 at Crookston W.T.P.) KJB. | ||||
| Dunlin (Calidris alpina) | Excellent showing in western regions for the second consecutive spring; reported from 22 south and 10 north counties. Early south (median 4/21) 4/30 Dakota JOt, ADS and Rock m.obs. Early north (median 5/10) 5/7 Grant JEB, 5/8 Traverse PHS. Highest reported counts 5/29 Big Stone (527) KJB, 5/30 Grant (560 at Towner Slough) and Traverse (375 at Mud L.) KJB. Counts in Grant > 320 on four consecutive days in late May KJB. | ||||
| Baird's Sandpiper (Calidris bairdii) | Excellent showing in western regions for the second consecutive spring. Reported from 18 south and 8 north counties; none in the Northeast, and only Olmsted in Southeast, Aitkin in North-central. Early south 4/5 Cottonwood CRM, Hennepin DWK and Rock KRE, 4/6 Dakota JPM and Lyon KRE; also note early surge of 214 in Lac qui Parle 4/10 PCC, BR. Early north (median 4/23) 4/3 Clay (12) PB, 4/24 Traverse (52) PCC, PHS. Late south 5/26 Olmsted PWP, 5/28 Sherburne SMC. Late north 5/30 Grant and Traverse KJB. Highest reported counts 4/24 Lac qui Parle (315, including 220 at Salt L.) PCC, 5/1 Big Stone (515 on survey route, record-high spring count) PCC, PHS. | ||||
| Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla) | Reported from 24 south and 16 north counties. Early south (median 4/18) 4/6 Meeker DMF, 4/13 Dakota ADS. Early north (median 5/6) 5/5 St. Louis MTA, 5/7–9 in four counties. Late south 5/29 Big Stone KJB, 5/30 Steele NFT. Late north 5/30 Grant, Traverse and Polk (total of 22) KJB. Highest reported count 5/18 Traverse (335 at Mud L.) PHS. | ||||
| White-rumped Sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis) | Observed in 13 south and 9 north counties, primarily in western regions; only eastern reports from Dakota and St. Louis. Early south (median 4/29) 5/6 Pope RBJ, 5/7–8 in four counties. Early north (median 5/13) 5/5 St. Louis MTA, 5/7 Grant JEB, 5/8 Traverse PHS. Highest reported counts 5/23 Rock (325 at Luverne) PHS, 5/29 Big Stone (254) KJB. | ||||
| Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Calidris subruficollis) | No documented reports. This species is only a casual spring migrant in Minnesota. | ||||
| Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos) | Observed in 29 south and 13 north counties. Early south (median 4/1) 4/5 Cottonwood CRM and Stearns LS, 4/6 Dakota, Meeker, Steele. Early north (median 4/20) 4/9 Polk JMJ, 4/16 Aitkin KWR. Highest reported count 5/1 Big Stone (223) PCC, PHS. | ||||
| Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla) | Reported from 20 south and 14 north counties in all regions. Early south (median 4/18) 4/5 Stearns LS, 4/9 Meeker DMF, 4/17 Big Stone JWL, PHS. Early north (median 5/4) 4/24 Traverse (2) PCC, PHS, 5/7–9 in four counties. Record-high spring count 5/30 Grant (1,343 at Towner Slough) KJB; 1,190 at same location 5/28 KJB. Noteworthy tally 5/30 Big Stone (624) KJB. | ||||
| Short-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus griseus) | Reported from 16 south and 10 north counties in all regions. Early south 4/29–30 Dakota LS, ADS, 5/3 Waseca JEZ. Early north 5/8 Traverse PHS, 5/9 Polk PHS. Late south 5/29 Steele KV, also see summer report. Highest reported counts 5/16 Dakota (70 at L. Byllesby) JPM, 5/23 Rock (53 at Luverne) PHS. | ||||
| Long-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus) | Late and scarce. Reported from 13 south and 4 north counties, including north birds identified by call 5/8 Traverse (2) PHS, 5/17 St. Louis (1) PHS. Early south 4/30 Dakota SWe and Rock m.obs., 5/1 Big Stone (1) and Lac qui Parle (4) PHS. Late south (vocalized) 5/19 Big Stone (1) and Lac qui Parle (4) PHS. Highest reported count 5/8 Big Stone (30) PHS. | ||||
| Limnodromus dowitcher (Limnodromus sp.) | Unidentified dowitchers on several shorebird surveys, including 5/19 Big Stone (6) and Lac qui Parle (38) PHS, 5/23 Rock (6) PHS. | ||||
| American Woodcock (Scolopax minor) | Observed in 20 south and 17 north counties in all regions. Early south 3/8 Sherburne HHD, 3/17 Dakota TEB. Early north 3/28 Carlton LAW, 3/30 Marshall (Agassiz N.W.R.) TDa. Highest reported count 4/1 St. Louis (4) SLF. | ||||
| Wilson's Snipe (Gallinago delicata) | Possibly overwintered in Hennepin, Scott and St. Louis (please see winter report). Reported from 30 south counties, including probable migrants 3/29 Meeker DMF, 4/1 Ramsey REH and Steele NFT. Observed in 23 north counties beginning 3/31 Otter Tail SPM and Wadena PJB, 4/5 Otter Tail LS and Pine JMP. Highest reported count 4/13 Kanabec (37) JMP. | ||||
| Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius) | Reported from 30 south and 24 north counties. Early south 4/17 Freeborn AEB, 4/19 Brown BTS, plus 10 additional counties by end of April. Early north 4/29 Clay and Polk JPE, 5/6–8 in six counties. | ||||
| Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitaria) | Reported from 25 south and 15 north counties in all regions. Early south (median 4/19) 4/16 Rock RMD, CFa, 4/29 Dakota JOt and Martin JJS. Early north (median 4/30) 5/7 Douglas SNo, 5/8 Crow Wing, Polk, Traverse. Late south 5/29 Houston PHS, also see summer report. | ||||
| Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes) | Observed in 34 south and 21 north counties. Early south 4/2 Meeker DMF, 4/5 Steele KV. Early north 4/16 Aitkin KWR and Wilkin DPS, 4/17 Otter Tail CRM. Late south 5/29 Big Stone KJB, also see summer report. Highest reported counts 5/8 Dakota (500+ at L. Byllesby) SWe, 5/9 Polk (364 at Crookston W.T.P.) PHS. | ||||
| Willet (Tringa semipalmata) | Total of 106+ individuals (244+ last spring) in 13 south and 10 north counties. Early south (median 4/24) 4/19 Rock (4) DBz, 4/24 Murray (3) JT. Early north (median 5/1) 5/5 Crow Wing (7) JSB and St. Louis (2) MTA, JWB. Late south 5/23 Rock PHS, 5/29 Grant KJB. Late north 5/30 Traverse KJB, 5/31 St. Louis JLR. Highest reported counts 5/6 St. Louis (15 at Morgan Park) JWB, DWa, 5/14 St. Louis (20 at Park Point, Duluth) JWL. | ||||
| Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca) | Reported from 26 south and 17 north counties in all regions. Early south 4/2 Meeker DMF, 4/5 Stevens LS. Early north 4/9 Mille Lacs ASc and Polk JMJ, 4/12 Aitkin KWR. Late south 5/29 Big Stone KJB, also see summer report. Highest reported count 5/1 Big Stone (29 on survey route) PCC, PHS. | ||||
| Wilson's Phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor) | Grand total of 1,743+ individuals found in 25 south and 16 north counties, and in all regions except the Northeast. Numbers down from last spring, but similar to Spring 2002. Early south 4/19 Rock (4) DBz, 4/23 Benton HHD. Early north 4/24 Marshall (Agassiz N.W.R.) JMJ, 5/6 Crow Wing JSB and Wilkin DTT, SMT. Highest reported counts 5/9 Polk (246 at Crookston W.T.P.) PHS, 5/15 Clay (260 at Barnesville W.T.P.) CMB, LM. Noteworthy counts 5/8 Traverse (172) PHS, 5/9 Pennington (181) PHS, ~5/10 Yellow Medicine (200) DDM, BJM. | ||||
| Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus) | Total of 31+ individuals (4 reports lacked count data) in 7 south and 6 north counties. All reports from western regions except Brown, Meeker, Wright. Early south 5/7 Nobles JJS, ~5/10 Yellow Medicine DDM, BJM. Early north (median 5/15) 5/14 Clay DPJ, RHO. Late south 5/27 Wright DMF, 5/29 Big Stone (7) KJB. Last seen 5/30 Grant, Polk, Traverse and Wilkin KJB. | ||||
| Jaegers | |||||
| Parasitic Jaeger (Stercorarius parasiticus) | Exceptional spring report 5/21–23 St. Louis (adult light morph with tail streamers, plus two light morphs lacking elongated central rectrices) ph. †JWL, †PHS. Record-high spring count. | ||||
| Gulls, Terns | |||||
| Bonaparte's Gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia) | Reported from 22 south and 17 north counties in all regions. Early south (median 4/4) 4/3 Yellow Medicine WCM, 4/5–9 in six counties. Early north (median 4/13) 4/4–5 Otter Tail DTT, SMT, LS, 4/9 Mille Lacs ASc, Traverse SPM and Wadena HHD. Highest reported count 5/13 St. Louis (flock of 1.400 counted by tens, with an additional 600+ estimated nearby) KRE; largest flock away from Duluth 4/17 Big Stone (450) PHS. | ||||
| Little Gull (Hydrocoloeus minutus) | Only report: adult at Park Point, Duluth 5/13 St. Louis KRE, ph. JWL. | ||||
| Franklin's Gull (Leucophaeus pipixcan) | Reported from 23 south and 7 north counties, primarily in western regions; none in North-central or Northeast, and only Dakota in East-central, Olmsted in Southeast. Early south 4/5 Stearns and Stevens LS, 4/6 Lyon KRE. Early north 4/15 Marshall (Agassiz N.W.R.) MA, 4/16 Wilkin DPS. No significant counts away from nesting colonies; reported as scarce RBJ. | ||||
| Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) | Reported from 75 counties statewide. Please see winter report for earliest migrants; additional arrivals 3/4 Washington TEB, 3/5 Cottonwood BRB, Goodhue BRL and Scott JEB. Early north (median 3/12) 3/6 Otter Tail SPM, early March St. Louis fide DRB. | ||||
| CALIFORNIA GULL (Larus californicus) | Subadult (probably fourth-cycle) 5/7 Wilkin (Breckenridge W.T.P.) ph. †PHS. | ||||
| Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) | Reported from 26 south and 13 north counties statewide. Early south (but see winter report) 3/6 Freeborn AEB, Jackson DFN and Rice DAB, FVS, 3/7 Rice TFB. Early north (away from Lake Superior) 4/3 Wadena PJB, 4/5 St. Louis (1,960 in Virginia) SLF. | ||||
| Iceland Gull (Larus glaucoides) | Only report: 4/16 Kanabec (first-cycle at Mora) ph. JWL, PHS. | ||||
| Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) | Record-high number of reports. A second-cycle bird at Pine Bend landfill 3/31 Dakota PEL may have lingered undetected until 5/31 Dakota (Black Dog L., record-late south) †ADS. Another (probably the same) was at Purgatory Creek in Eden Prairie 5/12–19 Hennepin DWK, †CMB, PEB. An adult at Mora landfill 4/16 Kanabec †CAM was followed by two third-cycle birds 5/14 ph. †CAM. Finally, a second-cycle bird along the west shore of Mille Lacs L. furnished first county records 5/7–9 Crow Wing and Mille Lacs ph. KWR, CLR, JSB et al. | ||||
| Glaucous Gull (Larus hyperboreus) | Only report: 5/11 St. Louis (first-cycle at Interstate Is., Duluth) MLH. | ||||
| Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) | One in its first plumage cycle 3/15 Dakota (Spring Lake P.R.) †CMB may have been the same individual frequenting various Twin Cities locations since early December (please see winter report). | ||||
| Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia) | Reported from 19 south and 11 north counties, primarily in central and eastern regions; only Clay in the Northwest and none in the Southwest. Early south 4/24 Freeborn AEB, 4/28 Winona JJS. Early north 4/17 Otter Tail DPS, 5/5 St. Louis MTA. Late south 5/29 Hennepin SWe, also see summer report. Unusual local concentration at Purgatory Creek in Eden Prairie, Hennepin 5/14 (335, PEB), 5/15 (530+) and 5/16 (550) SWe; the latter represents Minnesota's second-highest count. | ||||
| Black Tern (Chlidonias niger) | Reported from 28 south and 19 north counties, but only St. Louis in the Northeast. Early south 5/6 Cottonwood LBF, 5/7 Stearns STW. Early north 5/7 Clay DPJ, 5/13 St. Louis KRE, JWL. No significant counts. | ||||
| Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) | Seen in 11 south and 13 north counties in all regions, but only Lyon in Southwest, Olmsted in Southeast, and St. Louis in Northeast. Excluding undocumented report 4/17 Steele (Forster's Tern normally arrives in mid-April), early south 5/6 Dakota SWe and Steele NFT, 5/9 Lyon DDM, BJM, 5/11 Rice DAB. Early north 5/5 St. Louis MTA, 5/6 Cass BJU, 5/9 Marshall (3 at Agassiz N.W.R.) †PHS. Late south 5/19 Dakota JPM and Hennepin ADS, 5/27 Sibley JOt. Most of the 800 Sterna, sp. on Mille Lacs L. 5/12 Crow Wing MRN were probably hirundo. | ||||
| ARCTIC TERN (Sterna paradisaea) | One adult 5/20–22 St. Louis (Park Point, Duluth) MLH, †PHS, m.obs. | ||||
| Forster's Tern (Sterna forsteri) | Reported from 31 south and 18 north counties. Early south (median 4/10) 4/10 Freeborn AEB and Hennepin DWK, 4/15 Brown BTS; peak migration 4/24–30 (10 south counties). Early north (median 4/19) 4/17–18 Otter Tail SPM, RBJ, 4/24 Otter Tail DTT, SMT; peak migration 5/9–15 (9 north counties). | ||||
| Loons | |||||
| Red-throated Loon (Gavia stellata) | Only report: 5/13–27 St. Louis (max. 12 at Park Point, Duluth) MLH, MSS, ph. JWL, m.obs. | ||||
| Pacific Loon (Gavia pacifica) | Only report: 4/22 Crow Wing (Mille Lacs L. at Garrison) †AXH. Record-early and one of the few spring occurrences away from L. Superior. | ||||
| Common Loon (Gavia immer) | Reported from 27 south and 26 north counties in all regions. Early south 3/27 Freeborn AEB, 3/29 Rice DAB, TFB. Early north 4/5 Otter Tail SPM and St. Louis SLF, 4/7 Clay fide JMJ. Peak concentration 4/21 St. Louis (71 at W.S.H.C., Duluth) FJN, DSC. | ||||
| Cormorants | |||||
| Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum) | Seen in 38 south and 25 north counties. Early south 3/6 Dakota LS, 3/17 Rice FVS. Early north 4/5 Grant LS, Otter Tail DTT, SMT, LS, and Wadena PJB, 4/6 St. Louis SLF. | ||||
| Pelicans | |||||
| American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) | Reported from 36 south and 21 north counties. Early south (away from Dakota where it overwintered) 3/23 Houston FZL, 4/1 Faribault BRB. Early north 3/31 Otter Tail SPM, 4/5 Becker fide JMJ. Seasonal total of 195 at W.S.H.C. in Duluth (FJN, DSC) down from 490 last spring. | ||||
| Bitterns, Herons, Egrets, Night-Herons | |||||
| American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus) | Observed in 12 south and 20 north counties; none in Southeast and only Murray in Southwest. Early south 4/17 Steele KV, 4/19 Brown BTS. Early north 4/15 Becker fide JMJ, 4/16 St. Louis SLF, ALE and Wilkin CRM et al. High count 5/4 Aitkin (9) WEN, MMc. | ||||
| Least Bittern (Ixobrychus exilis) | All reports: 5/20 Waseca JPS, 5/21 Meeker (Minnesota L.) DMF, 5/23 Polk (Glacial Ridge N.W.R.) RPR, 5/28 Marshall JJS, WCM, 5/29 Houston PHS. | ||||
| Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) | Seen in 44 south and 24 north counties. Early south 3/6 Freeborn AEB and Rice m.obs., 3/7 Olmsted DMA, but also see winter report. Early north 3/22 Pine RBJ, 3/24 Hubbard MAW and Crow Wing MRN. | ||||
| Great Egret (Ardea alba) | Reported from 33 south and 9 north counties; none in Northeast. Early south 3/12 Hennepin RBJ, 3/27 Dakota JOt and Freeborn AEB. Early north 4/3 Otter Tail SPM, 4/12 Aitkin KWR. | ||||
| Snowy Egret (Egretta thula) | Statewide total of 10 birds (36 last spring). Early south 5/6 Winona (Mud L.) JJS, 5/14 Murray (L. Wilson) NED. Singles also reported in Big Stone (Otrey Twp.), Kandiyohi (Nest L.), Meeker (L. Hanson), Brown (New Ulm), Steele (Rice Lake S.P.), Wright (Howard L.), and Olmsted (near Rochester). Only north report: 4/24 Otter Tail (1) SPM. | ||||
| Little Blue Heron (Egretta caerulea) | Only report: 5/10 Mower (adunt at Austin) RCK, ph. JEM. | ||||
| Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) | Best spring showing since 1993, with statewide total of 115+ birds. Early south 4/18 Winona (3) fide DBz, also reported in Big Stone (2), Brown, Carver (4), Dakota (4), Freeborn (3), Hennepin (1), Le Sueur, McLeod (1), Meeker (2), Nobles, Olmsted (6), Rice (11), Rock (1), Scott, Waseca (6), and Wright (3). Early north 4/14 (2nd earliest north date) Otter Tail SPM; six additional birds in two locations in Otter Tail. Also reported in Aitkin (1), Becker (12), Clay (1), Douglas (6), 5/15 Grant (record-high spring count of 31 at Pelican L.) JPE, Marshall (1), Todd (5), and 5/21 Wadena (one in Thomastown Twp.) PJB. | ||||
| Green Heron (Butorides virescens) | Seen in 26 south and 17 north counties. Early south 4/21 Rice TFB, 4/24 Meeker DMF. Early north 5/6 Mille Lacs ASc and Otter Tail MO, 5/8 Polk EEF and Aitkin SLF. | ||||
| Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) | Reported from 19 south and 7 north counties. Early south 3/29 Dakota GW, 4/3 Freeborn AEB. Early north 4/17 Otter Tail CRM, 4/23 Mille Lacs DPS; also seen in Grant, Marshall, Norman, Wilkin. Unusual location 4/27–5/21 St. Louis (max. 2 in Duluth) JWB, m.obs. | ||||
| Yellow-crowned Night-Heron (Nyctanassa violacea) | Only report: 5/12–22 Kandiyohi (adult at Willmar) RSF et al. | ||||
| Ibises | |||||
| GLOSSY IBIS (Plegadis falcinellus) | Adult in alternate plumage 4/19–22 Aitkin (Cedarbrook area) JSB, WEN, ph. KWR; written documentation †PCC, †CFa, †MLH, †PHS, †DTT, †SMT. Second state record. | ||||
| White-faced Ibis (Plegadis chihi) | Accepted records of single birds 4/19 Rock (Hills W.T.P.) †DBz, 5/1 Rock (same location with no intervening sightings; presumably different bird) †RMD et al., 5/13–15 Douglas (Osakis W.T.P.) †JPE. | ||||
| Plegadis ibis (Plegadis sp.) | Unidentified Plegadis ibis 4/30–5/2 Lincoln (2 at Clare Johnson W.M.A.) †BSc, 5/28 Lac qui Parle (7 at Plover Prairie) †DB. | ||||
| New World Vultures | |||||
| Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) | Seen in 46 south and 26 north counties. Early south 3/7 Houston FZL, 3/17 Nicollet RMD (median 3/9). Early north 3/19 Otter Tail ARo, 3/22 St. Louis (W.S.H.C., Duluth) FJN, DSC (median 4/1). Peak count 4/21 St. Louis (93 at W.S.H.C., Duluth) FJN, DSC. Also see Table 1. | ||||
| Osprey | |||||
| Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) | Reported from 28 south and 20 north counties. Early south 3/24 Olmsted DMA, 4/3 Freeborn AEB and Hennepin OLJ. Early north 4/4 Otter Tail ARo, 4/5 Pine RPR. Also see Table 1. | ||||
| Kites, Accipiters, Hawks, Eagles | |||||
| Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) | Reported from five south and seven north counties in all regions except the Southwest and Southeast. South reports from Dakota, Meeker, Rice and Scott in March, then 5/17 Martin (Elm Creek) †PH. Late north (away from Duluth) 4/21 Cook SGu. Numbers down at W.S.H.C., Duluth, where last seen 5/20 FJN (Table 1). | ||||
| Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius) | Reported from 40 south and 29 north counties. Possible early north migrants 3/5 St. Louis MLH, 3/7 Wadena PJB, but see winter report. Peak counts 4/2 Roseau (23) JMJ, PHS, 4/4 Kittson (28) JMJ. Also see Table 1. | ||||
| Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus) | Seen in 28 south and 18 north counties. Early north 3/6 Otter Tail DTT, SMT, 3/17 St. Louis (W.S.H.C., Duluth) FJN, DSC, but see winter report. Apparent migrants last reported south 5/27 Hennepin PEB, 5/31 Anoka PEB. Peak count 4/7 St. Louis (719 at W.S.H.C.; highest in count history) FJN, DSC. Also see Table 1. | ||||
| Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) | Reported from 35 south and 21 north counties in all regions. Early north 3/16 Wadena PJB, 3/18 St. Louis (W.S.H.C., Duluth) FJN, DSC. Also see Table 1. | ||||
| American Goshawk (Accipiter atricapillus) | Observed in four south and eight north counties; no reports from Southwest or Northwest. Late south 3/24 Olmsted DMA, 4/4 Dakota JPM. Also see Table 1. | ||||
| Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) | Observed in 41 south and 31 north counties. Season total of 2,859 at W.S.H.C., Duluth (684 on 3/28; second highest in count history) FJN, DSC. Also see Table 1. | ||||
| Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) | Reported from 17 south and 13 north counties, though none in the Southwest. Early north 3/10 Crow Wing JSB. Unusual locations 3/19 Clay (near Glyndon) DPJ, RHO, 3/19 Clay (Moorhead) DWi, 3/20 Red Lake (Red Lake Falls) †PHS, JMJ, 5/20 Wilkin (2 near Kent) AXH, PHS. All other north reports: Aitkin, Becker, Beltrami, Cass, Mille Lacs, Morrison, St. Louis (total 4 at W.S.H.C., Duluth) FJN, DSC, Todd. | ||||
| Broad-winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus) | Observed in 27 south and 21 north counties in all regions. Early south 4/13 Dakota CMB, LM, 4/14 Waseca JPS. Early north 4/12 Pine JMP, 4/16 St. Louis (W.S.H.C. in Duluth) FJN, DSC. Peak migration 5/6 St. Louis (record W.S.H.C. daily total of 9,206 included several dark morphs) FJN, DSC. Also see Table 1. | ||||
| Swainson's Hawk (Buteo swainsoni) | Reported from 12 south and 3 north counties, mainly in southern and western regions. Early south 4/16 Rock (5) RMD, CFa, 4/17 Fillmore JWH. All north reports: 4/9 Grant SPM, 4/29 St. Louis (adult light morph at W.S.H.C., Duluth, 3 others reported there in May) FJN, DSC, 5/28 Traverse HFe. | ||||
| Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) | Observed in 81 counties statewide. Peak migration 4/2 St. Louis (783 at W.S.H.C. in Duluth) FJN, DSC. | ||||
| Rough-legged Hawk (Buteo lagopus) | Seen in 17 south and 19 north counties. Late south 4/9 Isanti REH, 4/16 Sherburne ASc. Late north 5/21 St. Louis (2) m.obs., 5/25 Lake SPM. Peak migration 4/2 Roseau (66) PHS, JMJ. | ||||
| FERRUGINOUS HAWK (Buteo regalis) | No reports. | ||||
| Screech-Owls, Owls | |||||
| Eastern Screech-Owl (Megascops asio) | All reports south: Big Stone, Brown, Freeborn, Hennepin, Houston, Lac qui Parle, Murray, Ramsey, Rice (gray morph), Rock. Only north report: found dead 3/27 Cass (section 22, T137N R32W). | ||||
| Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) | Seen in 37 counties statewide. | ||||
| Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) | All south reports: 3/3 Dodge KV, mid-March Lac qui Parle fide JMJ. March reports north in Aitkin (2) and Kittson, then 5/1 Roseau (section 34, T161N R35W) JBi. | ||||
| Northern Hawk Owl (Surnia ulula) | Largest documented invasion in state history (The Loon 77:132–140). Pairs lingered into April in St. Louis (4 locations) and one at the Koochiching/Lake of the Woods county line 5/11 may have moved three miles east by early June, but none were known to nest. | ||||
| BURROWING OWL (Athene cunicularia) | One faithfully but fruitlessly attended a burrow 4/30–5/14 Lac qui Parle (Hantho Twp.) ph. MLH et al. The landowner first noted this bird in mid-April fide PHS. | ||||
| Barred Owl (Strix varia) | Observed in 20 south and 15 north counties as far southwest as Cottonwood and Jackson. Highest reported count 5/29 Houston (11 in Houston Twp.) AXH, PHS. | ||||
| Great Gray Owl (Strix nebulosa) | Largest irruption in state history; please see articles in this and future issues of The Loon for details. Lingered through late May in Aitkin, Lake, Mahnomen, Pine, St. Louis; also see summer report for June records, including one in Hennepin! | ||||
| Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) | March reports south in Dakota and Lac qui Parle, followed by 4/3–5 Pope (Walden Twp.) DDM, BJM, LS, 4/16 Rock m.obs., 5/29 Houston (3) AXH, PHS. Early north 3/19 Lake of the Woods JMJ, 3/25 Aitkin KWR; also observed in Lake, Polk, St. Louis. One found dead 4/23 St. Louis (US 169 at Buhl) SLF. | ||||
| Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) | Statewide total of 34 individuals observed in four south and seven north counties; only reports from eastern regions 4/6 St. Louis ALE, 5/8 St. Louis FJN. Migrants mostly indistinguishable from birds reported in winter. Potential early south migrants mid-March Lac qui Parle BJU fide JMJ, 3/30 Waseca JEZ; also seen 4/22 Swift SMC, 4/23 Meeker DMF. All other north reports: Clay (2), Marshall (4 locations), Otter Tail, Polk (4 locations), Roseau (2), Wilkin (up to 11 birds at Rothsay W.M.A. for the season). | ||||
| Boreal Owl (Aegolius funereus) | Largest irruption in state history detected by banding along the North Shore of Lake Superior in late fall and multiple sightings in Aitkin, Lake, and St. Louis during winter season; high mortality beginning mid-January; details will be presented in a future issue of The Loon. Unusual location 3/8 Polk (Fertile) NGE. One heard singing along Stony River F.R. 4/3 Lake MTA, MLH. | ||||
| Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus) | March reports south in Anoka, Dakota, Hennepin, Lac qui Parle and Rice, then 4/30 Houston KAK. Early north 3/19 Lake JWL, 4/1 Polk PHS; also reported from Cass, Cook, Hubbard, St. Louis, Todd. | ||||
| Kingfishers | |||||
| Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) | Reported from 69 counties. Early north (but also see winter report) 3/11 Polk NGE, 3/21 Clay BWF. | ||||
| Woodpeckers | |||||
| Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) | Observed in 29 south and 13 north counties as far north as Kittson, Wadena, St. Louis. About two dozen successfully overwintered south in Anoka (Cedar Creek) JLH; 3/16 Otter Tail probably overwintered north (fide JMJ). Early north 5/9 Norman JEB, RBJ, 5/10 Clay RHO. | ||||
| Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) | Observed in 60 counties as far north as Pennington and Polk in the Northwest, Beltrami and Cass in the North-central, and Carlton and St. Louis (Duluth) in the Northeast. | ||||
| Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) | Seen in 36 south and 27 north counties. Early south 3/27 Freeborn AEB, 3/31 Carver RMD and Waseca REH; peak migration 4/4–10 (12 counties). Early north 3/31 Grant SPM, 4/4 Mille Lacs ASc; peak migration 4/9–16 (10 counties). | ||||
| American Three-toed Woodpecker (Picoides dorsalis) | All reports: through 3/25 St. Louis (McDavitt Rd) m.obs., 5/28 Lake (female near Isabella) DAG, JWL. | ||||
| Black-backed Woodpecker (Picoides arcticus) | Unusual location 5/6 Wadena BJU. Many reports from St. Louis, including up to 5 birds along McDavitt Rd in Sax-Zim Bog; also reported from Carlton, Lake, Lake of the Woods. | ||||
| Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) | Statewide. | ||||
| Hairy Woodpecker (Dryobates villosus) | Statewide. | ||||
| Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) | Observed in 48 south and 29 north counties. Early north 3/12 Clay (overwintered?) RHO, 3/31 Otter Tail SPM; peak migration 4/4–8 in 12 counties. Highest reported count 4/10 Wadena (43) PJB. | ||||
| Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) | Reported from 56 counties in all regions, but only Yellow Medicine in Southwest. | ||||
| Caracaras, Falcons | |||||
| American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) | Reported from 49 south and 27 north counties. Early north (but see winter report) 3/6 Kanabec CAM and Wadena PJB, 3/11 Polk NGE. Numbers down at W.S.H.C., Duluth (Table 1). | ||||
| Merlin (Falco columbarius) | Reported from 11 south and 17 north counties, primarily in western and northern regions. Territorial birds noted in Polk (Crookston) and Red Lake (Red Lake Falls) in early March. Late south (away from the Twin Cities) 5/7 Stevens JEB, 5/10 Waseca JPS. Also see Table 1. | ||||
| GYRFALCON (Falco rusticolus) | Adult gray morph in Dakota (Nininger Twp.) last reported 4/10 (The Loon 77:171). Another adult gray morph 3/21 St. Louis (Virginia) †SLF. | ||||
| Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) | Reported from 16 south and 15 north counties in all regions, but only Jackson in Southwest. Early south (away from known breeding areas) 3/14 Benton HHD. Early north 3/18 Lake JWL, 3/19 Crow Wing MRN. First county occurrence 5/8 Norman JEB, RBJ. Late south (away from known breeding areas) 5/10 Nicollet RMD, 5/15 Brown BTS. Also see Table 1. | ||||
| Prairie Falcon (Falco mexicanus) | One at Western Prairie S.N.A., 4/3 Wilkin †JPE was likely the same individual seen nearby on 4/5 †DTT, SMT. Also see undocumented reports. | ||||
| Flycatchers | |||||
| Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus) | Early south 4/27 Houston OWB, 5/6 Olmsted OWB, Rice DAB, Scott WCM and Steele NFT (median 5/2). Early north 5/6 Hubbard BJU, 5/7 Grant JEB, 5/9 Kanabec and Pine JMP (median 5/8). | ||||
| Western Kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis) | Early south 5/7 Jackson HHD, LS, KRE (median 5/8), then no additional reports until 5/16 Big Stone WCM. High count 10 on 5/20 (Wilkin, AXH, PHS). Early north 5/14 Otter Tail DTT, SMT, 5/17 Wilkin PHS (median 5/11). Away from the western third of the state, only found in Clearwater, Meeker, Sherburne and Anoka (5/26 ABi). | ||||
| Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) | Found in 65% of north and 70% of south counties. Early south arrivals much later than recent median 4/26, but uniformly across the state: 5/6 Cottonwood HHD, Meeker DMF and Watonwan LBF, and in four more counties 5/7. Excluding undocumented reports from early April, early north 5/6 Cass BJU, 5/8 Aitkin SLF (median 5/5). | ||||
| Olive-sided Flycatcher (Contopus cooperi) | Found in 12 north and 20 south counties. Early south 5/5 Scott RBW, 5/8 Meeker DMF, 5/15 Rice TFB. Early north 5/17 Kanabec JJS, HHD, 5/18 Aitkin KWR (median 5/14). Late south 5/31 Anoka PEB; also see summer report. | ||||
| Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens) | Early south 5/8 Meeker DMF, 5/10 Hennepin KAR (median 5/4). Early north 5/9 Mille Lacs ASc, near the median 5/12, but then none until 5/21 Becker JEB. | ||||
| Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (Empidonax flaviventris) | Early south 5/17 Fillmore NBO, 5/20 Hennepin HCT. Also reported with details from Lincoln and Pipestone (PHS), Dakota (JPM), Scott (13 on 5/28 in Murphy-Hanrehan P.R., BAF) and Cottownwood (BRB). Early north 5/20 Wilkin PHS. Note: During spring and fall migration, undocumented records of silent Empidonax flycatchers are not published in this report. Please be sure to indicate calling or singing birds on the seasonal report form. | ||||
| Acadian Flycatcher (Empidonax virescens) | Early south 5/26 Dakota JPM, 5/29 Houston PHS. Reported as early as 5/18, but without details. | ||||
| Alder Flycatcher (Empidonax alnorum) | Early south 5/17 Redwood BRB, 5/20 Waseca JPS, 5/24 Pipestone PHS. Additional reports with details from Big Stone and Houston (PHS), Dakota (JPM), Hennepin (HCT), Cottonwood (BRB), and Anoka (PEB). Only north reports with details 5/24 Pine JMP, 5/29 Pennington BTS. | ||||
| Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii) | Early south 5/8 Fillmore NBO, 5/21 Dakota PEB, 5/28 Hennepin HCT. Additional reports with details from Houston (PHS) and Anoka (PEB). | ||||
| Least Flycatcher (Empidonax minimus) | Early south 5/5 Fillmore NBO, 5/9 Hennepin PEB, 5/10 Waseca JPS. Early north 5/9 Douglas GLS, 5/14 Pine JMP. Additional documented reports from Dakota (JPM), Cottonwood and Redwood (BRB), Renville (LBF), Anoka (PEB), Otter Tail and Clay (GLS), Lake and Cook (DFN). | ||||
| Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) | Reported from 79% of both north and south counties. Early south 3/5 Nicollet RMD, 3/8 Sherburne HHD both preceded recent median (3/22). Early north 4/3 Aitkin KWR, Douglas SPM and Hubbard MAW (median 3/29). | ||||
| Say's Phoebe (Sayornis saya) | A pair found at Felton Prairie 5/15 Clay †CMB et al. lingered through at least 7/2 (ph. JJB, †PCC, ph. JPM, ph. †PHS, †DTT, SMT). | ||||
| Vireos | |||||
| Bell's Vireo (Vireo bellii) | Early south 5/14 Scott JOt, 5/20 Waseca JPS (median 5/15). Also found in Dakota (Murphy-Hanrehan and Cliff Fen) and Wabasha (McCarthy Lakes W.M.A.). | ||||
| Yellow-throated Vireo (Vireo flavifrons) | Early south 5/6 Meeker DMF and Scott WCM, 5/7 Dakota, Goodhue, Hennepin. Early north 5/14 Clay DPJ, 5/15 Morrision HHD, 5/16 Cass, Crow Wing, Mille Lacs. Both arrivals five days later than recent medians. | ||||
| Blue-headed Vireo (Vireo solitarius) | Early south 5/5 Freeborn AEB, Hennepin DCZ and Rice TFB (median 4/28). Early north 5/6 Cass BJU, 5/7 Pine JWL, 5/9 in four more counties (median 5/5). Late south 5/29 Dakota ADS, 5/30 Murray NED (median 5/29). | ||||
| Philadelphia Vireo (Vireo philadelphicus) | Early south 5/5 Scott RBW, 5/6 Martin RBW, 5/8 Meeker DMF (median 5/7). Early north 5/14 Pine JMP, 5/18 Clay RHO (median 5/14). Record-high count 15 at Hole-in-the-Mountain C.P., 5/24 Lincoln PHS. Late south 5/28 Sherburne RBJ, 5/30 Ramsey REH (median 5/30). | ||||
| Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus) | Reported from every region, though fewest observations in the Northeast. Early south 5/5 Waseca JJS, HHD, then five additional counties on 5/6. Early north 5/8 Otter Tail DTT, SMT, followed a week later by 5/15 Morrison HHD. High count 5/29 Houston (10 at Beaver Creek Valley S.P.) PHS. | ||||
| Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus) | Early south 5/5 Meeker DMF, 5/8 Houston FZL (median 5/6). Early north 5/16 Mille Lacs ASc, 5/17 St. Louis SES (median 5/10). At least 150 (previous spring high count 40) found at Hole-in-the-Mountain C.P., 5/24 Lincoln PHS. Four of the five common vireo species were first found south on the same date — a Thursday, not even a weekend! | ||||
| Shrikes | |||||
| Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus) | Statewide total of 31+ birds in 16 counties (5 reports lacked location and count data). Reported from 13 south counties beginning 3/30 Rice TFB, 3/31 Dakota WMS; also seen in Fillmore (2), Freeborn (no data), Hennepin (4/1, Three Rivers Park), Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, Le Sueur (no data), Olmsted (no data), Rock (2), Sherburne (no data), Steele (2), Wabasha (2). North reports included Clay, where as many as four were at Felton Prairie beginning 4/23 (CMN, PHS), 5/15 Morrison (McDougal Nature Conservancy) BWF, HHD, and 5/16 St. Louis (Ely) BET. | ||||
| Northern Shrike (Lanius borealis) | Found in every region, including 16 north and 7 south counties. Late south 4/1 Carver KTP, 4/2 Sherburne LS (median 4/5); an additional late May sighting lacked details. Late north 4/2 Lake of the Woods †PHS, JMJ, 4/3 Pennington †PHS, 4/9 Lake JWL, 4/16 St. Louis SLF. | ||||
| Jays, Nutcrackers, Magpies, Crows | |||||
| Canada Jay (Perisoreus canadensis) | Reported from the boreal region of the state. | ||||
| Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) | Found throughout the state and season. | ||||
| Black-billed Magpie (Pica hudsonia) | Reported from 7 of 10 Northwest and 7 of 10 North-central counties, plus traditional locations in St. Louis. Unusual report 4/8 Cook (Sawbill Trail) CJT. | ||||
| American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) | Noted in all but three counties. | ||||
| Common Raven (Corvus corax) | Most reports were from the northern third of the state, including 9 of 10 Northwest counties. Also found in Mille Lacs, Sherburne, Kanabec, Pine, and Anoka (3/15 Linwood Twp., BRL). | ||||
| Chickadees, Titmice | |||||
| Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) | Found throughout the state. | ||||
| Boreal Chickadee (Poecile hudsonicus) | Reported from Beltrami, Cass, St. Louis. | ||||
| Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) | South reports throughout the season, concentrated in the Southeast. Also reported from Washington (3 miles west of L. Elmo) 4/4–9 DPS and Hennepin (Baker Park) 4/14 fide AXH. | ||||
| Larks | |||||
| Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris) | Found north and south throughout the period, except no Northeast reports. High counts: 500 in Brown (3/20, BRB), 125 in Dakota (3/18, JPE). | ||||
| Martins, Swallows | |||||
| Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia) | Early south 4/10 Hennepin DWK, 4/14 Dakota JPM and Freeborn AEB (median 4/17). Early north 4/28 St. Louis SLF, 5/7 Douglas JEB, 5/8 Wadena PJB (median 5/1). | ||||
| Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) | Early south 3/26 Winona DFN, 3/27 Freeborn AEB (median 3/20). Early north 4/2 Cass MRN, 4/3 Douglas SPM, and Wadena PJB. | ||||
| Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis) | Early south 4/9 Scott RBJ, 4/11 Fillmore NBO, 4/14 Hennepin HCT (median 4/12). All April north reports: 4/23 St. Louis SLF, 4/24 Kanabec CAM (median 4/20). High count 67 in Fillmore (5/14 NBO). | ||||
| Purple Martin (Progne subis) | Early south 4/2 Freeborn AEB, 4/3 Washington DFN (median 4/5). Early north 4/8 Otter Tail SPM, 4/16 Clay DPS, Hubbard MAW and Wilkin CRM (median 4/12). | ||||
| Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) | Early south 4/6 Meeker DMF, 4/7 Sherburne HHD (median 4/12). Early north 4/4 St. Louis SLF, 4/16 Aitkin ASc (median 4/20). | ||||
| Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) | Early south 4/13 Dakota ADS, 4/16 Meeker DMF. All April reports north: 4/21 Otter Tail DTT, SMT, 4/27 St. Louis SLF (median 4/25). Record-high spring count 5/26 Pennington (3,200 at Thief River Falls W.T.P.) RPR. | ||||
| Kinglets | |||||
| Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula) | Early south 3/5 Nicollet RMD (over-wintering?), 3/27 Freeborn AEB, 3/28 Meeker DMF (median 3/26). Early north 4/3 Douglas SPM, 4/4 Mille Lacs ASc, 4/5 Aitkin, Becker, Lake. Late south 5/21 Olmsted JWH, 5/24 Rock PHS. | ||||
| Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa) | Early south 3/5 Nicollet RMD (probably overwintered), 3/20 Meeker DMF, 3/25 Olmsted JJS (median 3/25). Early north 3/25 Beltrami SC, 3/30 Clay PBB, 4/3 Wadena PJB. Late south (away from known breeding locations) 4/17 Fillmore JWH, 4/18 Wabasha JWH (median 5/6). | ||||
| Waxwings | |||||
| Bohemian Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus) | No south reports. North reports from Douglas, Polk (3/26 at Gully Fen), Red Lake, Becker, Crow Wing, Pine, St. Louis, Lake. Highest totals included 500 in Pine (3/14, BBr), and several reports from the W.S.H.C. in Duluth: 3/16 (300+), 3/23 (725) and 4/2 (450+) FJN et al. Last reported 4/15 St. Louis JWL. | ||||
| Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) | Reported statewide throughout the period. High count 1,000+ in Cottonwood (3/6, BRB). | ||||
| Nuthatches | |||||
| Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) | Reported from 23 north and 26 south counties throughout the season. Last south report 5/23 Freeborn AEB. | ||||
| White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) | Found in all regions, throughout the season. | ||||
| Creepers | |||||
| Brown Creeper (Certhia americana) | Found in 16 north and 28 south counties. Early north migrants not separable from wintering birds; first reported 3/1 Kanabec BLA, 3/6 St. Louis MLH. | ||||
| Gnatcatchers | |||||
| Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea) | Early south 4/11 (record early) Brown BTS, 4/15 Rice TFB. Early north 5/6 Otter Tail MO, 5/7 Grant JEB. Most northerly reports were 5/16 Clay DPJ and 5/18 Aitkin KWR. Unusual location 5/7 Jackson (Robertson C.P.) KRE et al. | ||||
| Wrens | |||||
| ROCK WREN (Salpinctes obsoletus) | One reported from rock pile #6002 at Felton Prairie in Clay, where a pair bred last year. First seen 5/10 JEB, RBJ; documented through end of season and into August †CMB, ph. JJB, †PCC, †PHS, †DTT, †SMT. | ||||
| Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) | One individual reported sporadically throughout the season in Hennepin (Old Cedar Ave. Bridge). Only other report: 3/6 Dakota BBB. | ||||
| House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) | Found in a majority of counties in each region. First south reports were right on schedule: 4/17 Blue Earth ChH and Rice TFB, 4/18 Fillmore and Olmsted (median 4/18). Early north 5/5 Otter Tail DTT, SMT, and St. Louis MTA, 5/6 Kanabec BLA (median 4/29). | ||||
| Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis) | Not reported from the western third of the state. Early south 3/29 Rice TFB, 3/30 Hennepin DCZ, 3/31 Scott JEB. Early north 4/6 Clay RHO, 4/7 Hubbard MAW. High count 20 in St. Louis (4/17 Normanna and Lakewood Twps.) TPW. Only May reports south were 5/10 Dakota ADS and Hennepin JOt. | ||||
| Sedge Wren (Cistothorus stellaris) | Early south 4/30 Fillmore NBO and Rice TFB (median 4/27). Early north 5/7 Beltrami BJU and Norman JEB, 5/8 Red Lake JMJ and St. Louis SES (median 5/3). | ||||
| Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris) | Early south 4/24 Meeker DMF, 4/26 Waseca JEZ, 4/30 Rock HHD (median 4/26). Early north 5/7 Beltrami BJU and Norman JEB, 5/8 Otter Tail DTT, SMT (median 5/4). Also notable was one at the Embarrass Rice Paddies in St. Louis (5/28, SES). | ||||
| Thrashers, Mockingbirds | |||||
| Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) | Early south 4/30 Houston DPS, 5/5 Wabasha JLU, 5/6 Meeker, Rice, Steele and Watonwan (median 4/27). Early north 5/5 Polk fide JMJ, 5/9 Kanabec CAM and Mille Lacs ASc (median 5/8). Highest total 20 in Nicollet (5/17, ChH). | ||||
| Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum) | Reported from 24 north and 45 south counties. Early south 4/10 Martin PH and Watonwan DLB, 4/11 Cottonwood and Fillmore (median 4/14). Early north 4/19 Pine JMP, 4/21 Otter Tail DTT, SMT, St. Louis LAW (median 4/25). | ||||
| Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) | A veritable invasion across the state! At least 13 or 14 individuals reported south and 14–16 north. Early south 4/10 Murray fide AXH, 4/17 Mower (Austin) JEM, 4/17–18 Brown (Flandrau S.P.) JSS, BTS. Early north 3/31 Beltrami BJU, 5/10–22 Crow Wing (2) JSB, 5/14 Clay (north of Blazing Star Prairie) RHO, DPJ. Additional south reports in chronological order from Olmsted, Swift, Stearns, Nicollet, Redwood, Hennepin (2), Brown (second location), Scott, Ramsey, Lac qui Parle. Additional north reports from Marshall, Becker, Clay (Gooseberry Park), Cass, Crow Wing (2 birds, seven miles away from the first sighting in this county), Lake, and from five different locations in St. Louis between 5/21 and 5/27. | ||||
| Starlings | |||||
| European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) | Found statewide throughout the period. | ||||
| Thrushes | |||||
| Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) | Reported from the majority of counties in all regions. South reports throughout the season. Early north 3/24 Kanabec BLA, 3/26 Wadena PJB, 3/27 Lake and Todd. Only the Northwest region did not have a March report; first seen there 4/4 Kittson. | ||||
| MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD (Sialia currucoides) | Three reports: 3/12 (ties second earliest north) Wilkin (male) BJU, 3/15 Dakota (Hastings, along CR 42 near 132nd St.) fide AXH, 4/9 Meeker DMF. | ||||
| Townsend's Solitaire (Myadestes townsendi) | Two reports: 3/6 Ramsey AXH, 3/26–28 Sherburne (overwintered at Ann L. Campground) REH, ASc. | ||||
| Veery (Catharus fuscescens) | No reports from the Southwest and only Douglas in the West-central; in all other regions, seen in a majority of counties. Early south 5/6 Meeker DMF, 5/7 Olmsted LAV, 5/9 Hennepin OLJ (median 5/1). Early north 5/9 St. Louis MTA, 5/15 Morrison JJS, HHD (median 5/8). | ||||
| Gray-cheeked Thrush (Catharus minimus) | Found in all regions. Early south 5/4 Steele KV, 5/6 Freeborn, Martin, Meeker, Rice. Early north 5/10 Clay JEB, RBJ, GLS, 5/11 Otter Tail JEB. Late south 5/30 Meeker DMF and Ramsey REH. Late north 5/27 Clay LS, 5/29 Polk KRE. | ||||
| Swainson's Thrush (Catharus ustulatus) | Also reported from all regions. Early south 5/4 Mower HHD, 5/5 Freeborn, Rice, Waseca. Early north 5/5 Clay RHO, 5/6 Cass BJU. Highest reported count 20 (5/20 Hennepin PEB). Observed south through the end of the season. An undocumented mid-April report south was quite possibly the next species (see The Loon 67:44–45). | ||||
| Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) | Seen in all regions. Record early (overwintered?) 3/14 Hennepin CRM. More typical early south reports 4/1 Rice TFB, 4/3 Carver WCM (median 3/29). Early north 4/4 Otter Tail fide JMJ, 4/7 Mille Lacs ASc, 4/8 Morrison and St. Louis. Late south 5/22 Hennepin CRM and Washington (Falls Creek S.N.A.) DFN (median 5/14). | ||||
| Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina) | Absent from the Northwest region. Early south 5/6 Meeker DMF and Steele NFT, 5/7 Freeborn, Jackson, Rice (median 5/1). Early north 5/9 Kanabec BLA and Mille Lacs ASc, 5/14 Aitkin KWR (median 5/8). Undocumented mid-April report south (see The Loon 67:44–45). High count 8 at Beaver Creek Valley S.P. in Houston (5/29, PHS). | ||||
| American Robin (Turdus migratorius) | Reported from all but two south and one north county. Early north 3/21 Clay BWF, 3/23 Otter Tail DTT, SMT, with many more reports over the next few days suggesting a significant influx during the last week of March. Highest total 150+ in Cottonwood (3/26, BRB). | ||||
| Varied Thrush (Ixoreus naevius) | One discovered during the winter season near Sibley S.P. in Kandiyohi lingered through 3/24 fide RJF. Another was seen only on 3/23 Crow Wing (Deerwood Twp.) JSB. | ||||
| Old World Flycatchers | |||||
| NORTHERN WHEATEAR (Oenanthe oenanthe) | Establishing the first spring and third state record was a female photographed by Gail and Sid Stivland near the U.S. Coast Guard Station in Grand Marais, 5/30 Cook (The Loon 77:258). | ||||
| Old World Sparrows | |||||
| House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) | Reported throughout the state. | ||||
| EURASIAN TREE SPARROW (Passer montanus) | Fifth state record 4/16 Cook (Schroeder) ph. †CJT. | ||||
| Pipits | |||||
| American Pipit (Anthus rubescens) | Observed in every region except the North-central. Early south 3/31 Lyon BRL, then none until 4/24 Big Stone PHS and Meeker DMF (median 4/16). Early north 5/7 Grant JEB, 5/8 Crow Wing JSB, 5/9 Lake JWL and Red Lake JEB (median 4/27). Late south 5/15 Hennepin HCT, 5/16 Big Stone WCM (median 5/15). Late north 5/15 Clay JMJ and Polk JMJ (median 5/23). High counts 60 at Crow-Hassan P. R. Hennepin (5/15, HCT). | ||||
| Finches | |||||
| Evening Grosbeak (Coccothraustes vespertinus) | Reported from seven north counties, as far south as Aitkin and as far west as Becker (only report from Northwest). | ||||
| Pine Grosbeak (Pinicola enucleator) | No south reports. Late north 3/17 St. Louis ALE, 20 days prior to the median (4/6). Also reported from Aitkin, Becker, Hubbard, Koochiching, Lake, Lake of the Woods. | ||||
| GRAY-CROWNED ROSY-FINCH (Leucosticte tephrocotis) | One in Pine (please see winter report) lingered at a feeder near Hinckley through early March (The Loon 77:182–183). | ||||
| House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) | Reported statewide. | ||||
| Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus) | Reported from 23 south and 19 north counties. Late south 5/20 Fillmore NBO. Highest reported count 4/28 Fillmore (35 at feeders) NBO. | ||||
| Common Redpoll (Acanthis flammea) | Reported from 21 north and 16 south counties, and in all regions except the Southwest. Late south 4/7 Isanti ASc, 4/10 Sherburne PLJ. Frequent reports north through early April, then late north 4/24 St. Louis ALE, 5/16 Mille Lacs ASc, HHD (median 5/4). Highest reported count 4/1 Crow Wing (50–100) JSB. | ||||
| Hoary Redpoll (Acanthis hornemanni) | Two documented reports: 3/12 St. Louis †MTA, 3/23 Aitkin †KWR. Reported without details from Crow Wing and Lake. | ||||
| Red Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) | Nine reports from six north counties. All reports outside of the Northeast region: 3/12 Becker and Clay BJU, 3/20 Wadena (11) PJB. | ||||
| White-winged Crossbill (Loxia leucoptera) | Only one report! A single male actively calling and displaying 3/13 St. Louis (Duluth) MTA. | ||||
| Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus) | An excellent year with numbers up significantly south and north, including reports from 28 south counties and 23 north counties. Late south 5/27 Dodge KV, 5/30 Hennepin SMC. | ||||
| American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) | Reported statewide. | ||||
| Longspurs and Snow Buntings | |||||
| Lapland Longspur (Calcarius lapponicus) | Observed in 15 south and 5 north counties. Late south 5/7 Stevens JEB, 5/8 Dakota ADS. Late north 4/23 Clay CMN, an astonishing 26 days prior to the median (5/19)! Highest reported count 3/18 Dakota (450) JPE. | ||||
| Chestnut-collared Longspur (Calcarius ornatus) | Reported 4/16+ Clay (Felton Prairie) BWF, m.obs. | ||||
| Smith's Longspur (Calcarius pictus) | Male reported without details in flock of longspurs 5/7 Kandiyohi (East Lake Lillian Twp.) RSF. | ||||
| Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis) | Observed in ten north and six south counties. Late south 3/20 Brown (40) BRB. Late north 4/6 Clay BWF, 4/23 Aitkin WCM, 17 days prior to the median. | ||||
| Towhees, Sparrows | |||||
| Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum) | Early south 4/10 (record-early by four days) Rice FVS, 4/18 Wabasha JWH. Early north 4/23 Clay CMN, followed by eight more north counties after 5/6: Marshall, Polk, Pennington, Wadena, Morrison, Mille Lacs, Kanabec, Pine. | ||||
| Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus) | Reported from ten south and seven north counties, including 5/19 Yellow Medicine WCM. First county occurrence 5/7 Mille Lacs (west shore of Mille Lacs L.) ph. KWR; remainder of north reports from Northwest region. Arrived within two days of recent medians south (4/23) and north (5/4). Early south 4/21, 4/25 Wabasha JJS, LS. Early north 5/5 Polk EEF. Highest reported count 5/29 Washington (6) AWJ. | ||||
| LARK BUNTING (Calamospiza melanocorys) | Two accepted records: adult female 5/26 St. Louis (Ely) BET, †PHS and adult male 5/27–29 Lake (Castle Danger) ph. LL. | ||||
| Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) | Reported from all but eight south and five north counties. Excluding undocumented report 3/5 Nicollet (21 days prior to the median arrival and within one day of the record-early date), early south 3/25 Lac qui Parle FAE, only March report. Early north 4/3 Polk NGE, 4/5 Hubbard RCS and Clay RHO. Highest reported count 5/14 Big Stone (100) JMJ. | ||||
| Clay-colored Sparrow (Spizella pallida) | Reported from 26 south and 26 north counties. Early south 4/6 (recent median 4/21) Stearns DCT, then no reports until 5/4. Early north 5/3 (median 4/27) Beltrami BJU, followed by numerous reports after 5/5. Highest reported count 5/14 Pine (32) JMP. | ||||
| Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla) | Observed in 35 south and 8 north counties, and in all regions except the Northeast. Early south (median 3/30) 4/5 Olmstead LAV, 4/7 Brown BRB and Hennepin LS. Early north (median 4/23) 4/20 Otter Tail DTT, SMT, then no reports until 5/5. | ||||
| Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca) | Reported from 28 south and 14 north counties in all regions. Early south (3/8 Sherburne HHD probably overwintered) 3/21 Steele KV, 3/23 Rice TFB, 3/24 Houston FZL. Early north 4/1 Kanabec CAM and Crow Wing JSB, 4/2 St. Louis ALE; numerous reports 4/5–10, indicating peak migration. Late south 4/16 Pipestone MTA, CFa, RMD, 13 days ahead of the median (4/29). Late north 5/16 Cass JEB. | ||||
| American Tree Sparrow (Spizelloides arborea) | Found in 33 south and 15 north counties. Late south 4/9 Isanti REH, an astonishing 22 days prior to the median (5/1). Late north 4/30 Wadena PJB, nine days prior to that median (5/9). Highest reported count 3/20 Cottonwood (~500) BRB. | ||||
| Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) | Reported from 38 south and 23 north counties in all regions. Late south 5/14 Washington DPS, 5/19 Fillmore NBO. “Oregon” race documented 3/31 Dakota †ADS. Highest reported count 4/3 Beltrami (340) PJB. | ||||
| White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) | Reported from 26 south and 16 north counties in all regions. Early south 5/1 Freeborn AEB, 5/3 Washington DPS; peak migration 5/6–7. Early north (also see winter report) 4/15 Marshall DVE, eight days ahead of the median (4/23). Late south 5/20 Brown JSS and Ramsey NSp. Late north 5/20 St. Louis TPW, 5/22 Lake JWL. | ||||
| Harris's Sparrow (Zonotrichia querula) | Observed in 32 south and 16 north counties in all regions. Early south (no reports of overwintering) 3/27 Martin LBF, 4/13 Brown BTS; peak migration 5/5–14. Early north 4/20 Otter Tail RJo, followed by frequent reports starting 5/5. Late south 5/15 Mower RCK, 5/17 Fillmore NBO. Late north 5/20 Wilkin PHS, 5/21 St. Louis m.obs. | ||||
| White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) | Reported from 39 south and 27 north counties in all regions. Overwintered north and south. Late south 5/20 Hennepin DCZ, 5/17 Nicollet ChH. Highest reported count 4/30 Houston (1,000) DPS. | ||||
| Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus) | Reported from 38 south and 22 north counties in all regions. Early south 3/26 Meeker DMF, 3/28 Dakota JPM, 3/30 Dakota BRL. Early north 4/9 Traverse SPM, Wilkin JOt, and Clay GLS. Two reports from St. Louis: 4/19 SLF and 5/1 SES. Three reports from Lake: 4/18, 5/12, 5/23 JWL. Highest reported count 4/16 Rock (30) CFa, MTA, RMD. | ||||
| LeConte's Sparrow (Ammospiza leconteii) | A mere three south reports: 5/3 Rice TFB (median 4/23), 5/5 Blue Earth HHD, 5/15 & 5/18 Lac qui Parle WCM. Reported from 16 north counties. Early north 5/4 St. Louis TPW, 5/6 Wilkin MO, 5/7 Beltrami BJU. | ||||
| Nelson's Sparrow (Ammospiza nelsoni) | All reports: record-early 5/7 Beltrami BJU, then 5/19 Clay PBB, 5/20 Wilkin AXH, PHS, 5/29 Aitkin KWR, 5/30 Polk m.obs. | ||||
| Henslow's Sparrow (Centronyx henslowii) | Record-early south 4/17–18 Scott (2 seen and heard at Murphy-Hanrehan P.R.) RBW, †CMB, m.obs., 4/18 Wabasha (2 singing at Weaver Dunes) DBz, CH, JWH; also arrived earlier than normal (median 5/16) 4/25 Winona (singing at Great River Bluffs S.P.) SHo. Additional documented reports 5/15 Meeker (Litchfield N.C.) †DMF, 5/15–24 Lac qui Parle (2 singing at Plover Prairie) WCM, †PHS, 5/16 Fillmore (Hvoslef W.M.A.) †NBO, 5/21+ Ramsey (max. 4 at Arden Hills Army Training Site, digital recording) †JPS et al., 5/29 Houston (12 in Houston Twp.) AXH, †PHS. The latter count equaled the state record of 12 at Great River Bluffs (formerly O.L. Kipp) S.P., Winona County, Summer 2000 (The Loon 73:31). Reported without details from Hennepin (2 locations), and Rice. | ||||
| Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) | Reported from 41 south and 29 north counties. Early south 4/6 Meeker DMF and Sherburne ASc, 4/7 Brown BTS and Rice TFB. Early north 4/9 Clay GLS and Traverse SPM. | ||||
| Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) | Reported from all but seven south and three north counties. See winter report for late February reports south; likely early south migrants 3/24 Rice TFB, 3/25 Steele NFT. Early north 3/29 Otter Tail ARo, 4/2 Kanabec BLA. Highest reported count 5/14 Pine (23) JMP. | ||||
| Lincoln's Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii) | Observed in 23 south and 13 north counties, down from the previous spring. Early south 4/16 Rock MTA, RMD, CFa, 4/24 Meeker DMF, 4/25 Rice TFB. Early north 4/20 Otter Tail RJo, then no reports until 5/6. Late south 5/20 Brown JSS, 5/20 Ramsey REH. | ||||
| Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana) | Reported from 38 south and 26 north counties. Early south (but see winter report) 3/20 Hennepin JOt, 3/27 Freeborn AEB. Early north 4/13 St. Louis ALE and Otter Tail DTT, SMT. | ||||
| Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus) | Only report: 5/8 Renville (Olivia) ph. CSH. An apparent hybrid 4/16 Pipestone RMD, MTA, CFa, delivered a Spotted Towhee song, but exhibited an extensive white patch at the base of its primaries. | ||||
| Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) | Reported from 27 south and 10 north counties and remarkably, in all regions. Early south 4/10 Freeborn AEB, 4/13 Rice TFB, 4/14 Goodhue MPa. Early north 5/6 Hubbard BJU, 5/7 Clay RHO, 5/10 Otter Tail SPM; also reported from Kittson, Marshall, Becker, Clearwater, Wadena, St. Louis, Kanabec. | ||||
| Yellow-breasted Chat | |||||
| Yellow-breasted Chat (Icteria virens) | No reports. | ||||
| Blackbirds, Orioles | |||||
| Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) | Observed in 38 south and 19 north counties. Early south 3/25 Lac qui Parle FAE, 4/8 Nicollet BTS. Early north 4/9 Grant SPM. Three Northeast reports: 5/13 Lake JWL, 5/14 St. Louis ALE, 5/21 St. Louis m.obs. | ||||
| Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) | Found in 35 south and 24 north counties in all regions. Early south 5/1 Lac qui Parle PHS. Early north 4/24 (third earliest) Marshall DMy. Highest reported count 5/14 Pine (27) JMP. | ||||
| Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna) | Reported from 35 south and 12 north counties in all regions except the Northwest. Early south 3/16 Fillmore NBO, 3/20 Steele KV. Early north 4/1 Carlton LAW, 4/2 Carlton JWL. Highest reported count 4/2 Sherburne (16) ASc. | ||||
| Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta) | Reported from 39 south and 21 north counties, and in all regions except the Northeast. Early south 3/15 Freeborn AEB, 3/24 Chippewa RBJ. Early north 3/20 Clay DPJ and Wadena PJB. Highest reported count 4/10 Polk (55) EEF. | ||||
| Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurius) | Observed in 24 south and 6 north counties, as far north as Marshall. Early south 5/8 Goodhue DCZ, JWH, 5/12 Steele NFT. Early north 5/18 Traverse PHS and Clay RHO. | ||||
| Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula) | Reported from 39 south and 26 north counties. Early south 4/28 Carver RBJ, then numerous reports after 5/5. Early north 5/7 Otter Tail DTT, SMT, then daily reports. Highest reported count 5/17 Clay (20) MEB. | ||||
| Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) | Reported from 75 counties. Please see winter report for early south migrants. Probable early north migrants 3/6 Otter Tail SPM, 3/10 Traverse and Otter Tail DTT, SMT, 3/13 Todd BWF. Highest reported count 3/29 Cottonwood (600) BRB. | ||||
| Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) | Reported from 67 counties. Early south (but see winter report) 3/9 Winona JJS, 3/24 Olmstead DMA. Early north 4/4 Mille Lacs ASc, 4/5 Otter Tail LS and Pine JMP. Highest reported count 5/14 Big Stone (100) and Lac qui Parle (100) JMJ. | ||||
| Brewer's Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus) | Seen in 23 north and 15 south counties, and in all regions except the Southwest. Early south 3/27 Olmstead DMA, 3/29 Meeker DMF. Early north 4/4, 4/5 Mille Lacs ASc. | ||||
| Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) | Reported from 78 counties. Early south migrants not distinguished from overwintering birds. Early north 3/11 Otter Tail DTT, SMT. Highest reported count 4/1 Steele (100) NFT. | ||||
| Great-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus) | Documented 4/5 Jackson (male at Heron Lake) ph. BRB, 4/16 Rock (five at Hills W.T.P.) †MTA, RMD, CFa, 5/23 Rock (male and 2 females at Hills) †PHS; also reported from usual location in Jackson (near Grovers Lake) beginning 4/4 CRM et al. Undocumented reports from Lyon, Martin, Stearns. | ||||
| Quiscalus grackle (Quiscalus sp.) | A long-tailed grackle with glossy plumage 4/30 Meeker (section 15, Darwin Twp.) was larger than nearby Common Grackles and was probably a Great-tailed, but iris color, head shape, and vocalizations were not described. | ||||
| Warblers | |||||
| Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla) | Early south 5/4 Mower HHD and Stearns DCT, MAJ, 5/5 Hennepin DCZ (median 4/30). Early north 5/6 Pine JMP, 5/8 Aitkin KWR, 5/9 Carlton, Crow Wing, Mille Lacs, Norman, Polk (median 5/4). | ||||
| WORM-EATING WARBLER (Helmitheros vermivorum) | A record-early individual was netted, banded, and photographed at Warner N.C. 4/15 Washington MP, ph. KM, fide PWS. | ||||
| Louisiana Waterthrush (Parkesia motacilla) | Early south (median 4/24) 4/9 Winona PWP, 4/14 Houston (4) OWB, 4/17 Fillmore (2) JWH, 4/21 Winona JJS; also reported from Chisago (5/14 JJS, HHD), Olmsted, Rice, Waseca, Washington (Falls Creek S.N.A.). Only north report 5/10–15 Clay (Felton Prairie) †RHO, BWF, JMJ, SAS, †PHS, DPJ (The Loon 77:259). | ||||
| Northern Waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis) | Found in all regions. Early south 4/16 Hennepin OLJ, then none until 4/28 Brown BTS, 5/5 Fillmore, Freeborn, Meeker, Rice (median 4/26). Early north 5/5 Clay RHO, 5/7 Beltrami BJU, 5/8 Kanabec, St. Louis and Wadena (median 5/4). Late south (away from known breeding locations) 5/24 Lincoln, Pipestone, and Rock PHS. | ||||
| Golden-winged Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera) | Found in every region but the Southwest. Early south 5/6 Rice TFB, 5/7 Ramsey SWe, 5/8 Brown, Goodhue, Washington. Early north 5/6 Hubbard BJU, 5/9 Carlton JWL and Marshall PHS. At Agassiz N.W.R. in Marshall, PHS found a perfectly normal-looking male repeatedly delivering the song of a Blue-winged Warbler. “Lawrence's Warbler” 5/19 Scott (Murphy-Hanrehan P.R.) RBW. | ||||
| Blue-winged Warbler (Vermivora cyanoptera) | Early south 5/5 Fillmore NBO, 5/6 Anoka JLH, Rice DAB and Scott WCM. Unusual location 5/7 Jackson (Robertson C.P.) KRE et al. MAJ and DCT noted this species' gradual displacement of the Golden-winged Warbler in Stearns. In support of this observed expansion were two north reports: 5/7 Beltrami (Pine Tree C.P., record-early north) BJU, 5/15 Morrison (Charles Lindberg S.P.) JJS, BWF, HHD. | ||||
| Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia) | Reported from 23 north and 32 south counties. Early south 4/24 Meeker DMF, then none until 5/4 Mower HHD, 5/5 Dakota, Fillmore, Freeborn, Rice. Early north 5/6 Pine JMP, 5/7 Clay DPJ, St. Louis SES. | ||||
| Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea) | Early south 5/11 Anoka (Kordiak Park in Columbia Heights) fide MLH, 5/13 Houston FZL, 5/14 Hennepin HCT and Ramsey REH, followed by reports from Houston, Dakota, Hennepin, Meeker (5/21, DMF), and Watonwan (5/31, BRB). Only north report: 5/16 Cass (Schoolcraft S.P.) RBJ. | ||||
| Tennessee Warbler (Leiothlypis peregrina) | Reported from 27 north and 35 south counties, in all regions of the state. Early south 5/4 Meeker DMF, 5/5 Fillmore NBO and Freeborn AEB, 5/6 in five additional counties. Early north 5/8 Kanabec CAM, 5/10 Clay JEB and Otter Tail RBJ. High counts 100+ at Hole-in-the-Mountain C.P. in Lincoln (5/24, PHS) and 85 in Fillmore (5/17, NBO). Late south 5/30 Hennepin, Sherburne, Steele. | ||||
| Orange-crowned Warbler (Leiothlypis celata) | Three early south reports preceded the median (4/21): 4/9 (record early) Meeker DMF, 4/15 Hennepin JOt, 4/17 Fillmore JWH. Two north reports in April: 4/21 St. Louis LAW, 4/25 Crow Wing JSB. High count 20 at Hole-in-the-Mountain C.P. in Lincoln (5/24, PHS). Late south 5/20 Hennepin PEB, 5/24 Lincoln, Pipestone and Rock PHS. | ||||
| Nashville Warbler (Leiothlypis ruficapilla) | Reported from 31 south and 19 north counties in all regions. Early south 4/24 Meeker DMF, 5/5 Fillmore NBO, Freeborn AEB and Hennepin DCZ (median 4/26). Early north 5/6 Cass BJU and Pine JMP, 5/8 Carlton LAW and St. Louis ALE (median 5/3). Late south 5/24 Lincoln and Rock PHS, 5/29 Houston PHS. | ||||
| Connecticut Warbler (Oporornis agilis) | Reported from nine north and seven south counties. Early south 5/15 Meeker DMF, 5/17 Big Stone and Lac qui Parle PHS, 5/19 Hennepin CMB. Early north (median 5/17) 5/10 St. Louis DAG, 5/19 Itasca RBJ. Late south 5/29 Scott BAF, 5/30 Hennepin HCT (but also see summer report). | ||||
| Mourning Warbler (Geothlypis philadelphia) | Reported from 19 south and 12 north counties. Early south 5/11 Freeborn AEB, 5/14 Meeker DMF, 5/15 Hennepin DF, then frequent reports through 5/29; also see summer report. Early north 5/7 (second earliest date) Beltrami BJU; otherwise, frequent reports starting 5/17. Highest reported count 5/29 Houston (6) PHS. | ||||
| KENTUCKY WARBLER (Geothlypis formosa) | Sixth consecutive year at Williams C.P. near Mankato 5/11+ Blue Earth m.obs. Also reported 5/19 Dakota (Schaar's Bluff) JPM, 5/30 Scott (Murphy-Hanrehan P.R.) BAF. | ||||
| Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) | Found in 39 south and 28 north counties. Early south 5/5 Freeborn AEB, 5/6 Meeker DMF, LeSueur DPS, Rice DAB. Early north 5/7 Beltrami BJU, 5/9 Mille Lacs ASc and St. Louis MTA, 5/10 Clay DPJ and Pine JMP. | ||||
| Hooded Warbler (Setophaga citrina) | Away from Twin Cities: 5/10 Waseca (Courthouse Park) †JPS, 5/21 Meeker (Litchfield N.C.) DMF. All other reports 5/8–14 Hennepin (Wood Lake) m.obs., 5/15+ Scott (Murphy-Hanrehan P.R.) DFN, PHS, 5/17 Dakota (Lebanon Hills) JPM. | ||||
| American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) | Found in most counties within each region. Early south 5/5 Olmsted LAV and Rice TFB. Early north 5/8 Hubbard MAW and Otter Tail DTT, SMT. Both early arrivals within two days of recent medians. High count 200+ during fall-out at Hole-in-the-Mountain C.P. in Lincoln (5/24, PHS). | ||||
| Cape May Warbler (Setophaga tigrina) | No reports from the West-central or Southwest regions, and only two from the Central and one from the South-central. Early south 5/7 Goodhue PEB, 5/8 Dakota SWe, ADS and Hennepin KTP (median 5/6). Early north 5/16 Itasca DFN, 5/17 Kanabec JJS, HHD. Late south 5/21 Dakota JOt and Olmsted PWP, JWH (median 5/22). | ||||
| Cerulean Warbler (Setophaga cerulea) | Early south 5/6 Scott WCM, 5/7 Olmsted LAV (median 5/8). Also reported from Rice, Nicollet, Brown, Meeker (5/21 Darwin-Dassel Park, DMF), Stearns (5/21, RPR, HHD), Houston, Fillmore, Dakota, Chisago (5/21 along CR 16, 1.0 mile S of CR 71, ABi, REH), and Anoka (5/29 at Carlos Avery W.M.A., JHi). | ||||
| Northern Parula (Setophaga americana) | First found five days later than median south (5/1): 5/6 Meeker DMF and Rice TFB, 5/7 Blue Earth, Freeborn, Jackson (the only report from the western third of the state) and Ramsey. Early north 5/6 Hubbard BJU, 5/8 Kanabec CAM were timely (median 5/7). Late south 5/30 Scott BAF. | ||||
| Magnolia Warbler (Setophaga magnolia) | Found in 17 north and 28 south counties, representing all regions. Early south 5/7 Stearns STW, 5/8 Goodhue JWH, DAB. Early north 5/5 St. Louis FJN, 5/6 Cass BJU, 5/9 Carlton JWL. Late south 5/30 Scott BAF. | ||||
| Bay-breasted Warbler (Setophaga castanea) | Reported from 9 north and 17 south counties. Early arrivals within one day of medians. Early south 5/8 Goodhue DCZ, 5/9 Ramsey BRL and Sherburne PLJ. Early north 5/14 Pine JMP, 5/17 Kanabec HHD, CAM and St. Louis ALE. Late south 5/24 Lincoln PHS, 5/28 Brown JSS (median 5/24). | ||||
| Blackburnian Warbler (Setophaga fusca) | Found in every region, though only one report from the West-central. Early south 5/6 Blue Earth ChH and Freeborn AEB, 5/8 in six additional counties. Early north 5/9 Pine JMP, 5/15 Lake JWL, 5/16 Mille Lacs and St. Louis. High count 25 in Lincoln (5/24, PHS). Late south 5/24 Meeker LBF, Lincoln, Pipestone, and Rock PHS. | ||||
| Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia) | Reported from 27 north and 40 south counties statewide. Early south 4/28 Winona JJS, 5/1 Freeborn AEB (median 4/27). Early north 4/27 Hubbard MAW, 5/6 Otter Tail MO (median 5/5). | ||||
| Chestnut-sided Warbler (Setophaga pensylvanica) | Found in all regions. Early birds arrived within one day of recent medians. Early south 5/6 Steele NFT, 5/7 Dakota ADS, 5/8 in five more counties. Early north 5/7 Beltrami PBD, 5/8 St. Louis SES. | ||||
| Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga striata) | Found in 16 north and 30 south counties. Early south 5/5 Wright KTP, Fillmore NBO and Rice TFB. Early north 5/6 Cass BJU, 5/7 Beltrami BJU (median 5/9). High count 25 in Lincoln (5/24, PHS). Late south 5/30 Rice DAB; also see summer report. | ||||
| Black-throated Blue Warbler (Setophaga caerulescens) | Four south reports: 5/15 Meeker (Litchfield N.C.) DMF, 5/16 Dakota (male in Eagan) DHo, 5/17 Martin (Cedar Lake C.P.) PH, 5/24 Lincoln (Hole-in-the-Mountain C.P.) PHS. All north reports were from the Northeast: 5/7 (second earliest north) St. Louis SES, 5/21 St. Louis (Park Point) fide JWL and Cook (8 singing on Moose Mountain near Lutsen) MWS, 5/22 Carlton LAW, plus three reports from Lake: 5/27 Tettegouche S.P. DFN, 5/28 Stoney Loop Rd. (F.R. 103) JWL, 5/29 Trapper's Lake Rd. (F.R. 369) JWL. | ||||
| Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum) | Found in every region. Second earliest south 4/5 Ramsey †TAN, then more typical reports 4/20 Hennepin DWK and Olmsted LAV (median 4/22). Early north 4/18 (ties second earliest north) Clay RBJ, 5/5 Cass MRN, Otter Tail DTT, SMT and St. Louis MTA. Late south 5/19 Hennepin PEB and Rice DAB, 5/20 Olmsted JWH. | ||||
| Pine Warbler (Setophaga pinus) | All but four reports were from the East-central, Northeast or North-central. Early south 4/14 Ramsey DS, 4/17 Washington DFN, 4/18 Ramsey REH, 4/23 Sherburne HHD; all preceded recent median (4/25). Early north 4/16 Cass DEn, 4/20 Clearwater BAF and Hubbard MAW, 4/22 Crow Wing JSB. | ||||
| Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) | Reported from most counties. Early arrivals within two days of medians. Early south 4/3 Carver and Renville WCM. Early north 4/6 Clay BWF, RHO, 4/9 Becker, Mille Lacs, Traverse and Wadena. High count 200+ in Crow Wing (4/28, JSB). Late south 5/20 Anoka JLH and Dakota LS, 5/21 Stearns HHD, RPR. Female “Audubon's” Warbler documented 5/12 Dakota (Eagan) †ADS. | ||||
| YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER (Setophaga dominica) | Only accepted record: 5/15 Morrison (Belle Plaine C.P.) †BWF et al. | ||||
| Black-throated Green Warbler (Setophaga virens) | Early south 5/6 Freeborn AEB, Hennepin PEB, Meeker DMF and Rice TFB (median 4/29). Early north 5/8 Carlton LAW and Kanabec CAM, 5/9 Marshall and St. Louis (median 5/4). Late south 5/24 Lincoln, Pipestone and Rock PHS (median 5/30). | ||||
| Canada Warbler (Cardellina canadensis) | Found in 17 south and 10 north counties, and in all but two regions. Early south 5/13 Fillmore DFN, then numerous reports 5/17 and 5/19. Early north 5/18 St. Louis ALE, followed by numerous reports 5/21. Both south and north arrivals five days behind median. Late south (but see summer report) 5/28 Scott BAF. Highest reported count 5/28 Scott (7) BAF. | ||||
| Wilson's Warbler (Cardellina pusilla) | Observed in 25 south and 15 north counties. Early south 5/5 Freeborn AEB, 5/7 Jackson LS, Meeker DMF and Dakota ADS. Early north 5/14 Clay RHO, DPJ, 5/17 Kanabec HHD. Late south 5/27 Fillmore NBO. Highest reported count 5/24 Lincoln (15) PHS. | ||||
| Tanagers, Cardinals, Grosbeaks | |||||
| Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra) | Nine documented records, all pertaining to first-spring males except as noted: 4/30 Hennepin (adult male at Coon Rapids Dam) †JMS, 5/7–10 Steele (Owatonna) ph. NFT, 5/8 Goodhue (Hok-si-la Park) CH, JWH, †DCZ, 5/8 Hennepin (Richfield, a few blocks west of Wood Lake N.C.) ph. AB, 5/9–14 Hennepin (Wood Lake N.C., same as 5/8?) †CMB et al., ph. SBM, 5/11–16 Wabasha (East Indian Creek) †SK, RLE et al., 5/17 Washington (age/sex unspecified, banded at Warner N.C.) MP, 5/20 Mower (Grand Meadow W.T.P.) †SLF, 5/21+ Dakota (adult male at Lebanon Hills, third consecutive year at this location) †JPM. Also see undocumented reports. | ||||
| Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea) | Observed in 26 south and 16 north counties in all regions. Early south 5/6 Wantowan LBF, 5/7 Goodhue PEB, 5/8 Houston FZL and Goodhue JWH. Early north 5/17 Kanabec HHD, 5/18 Wadena PJB and Kanabec CAM. Highest reported count 5/19 Fillmore (6) NBO. | ||||
| Western Tanager (Piranga ludoviciana) | Documented 5/10 Waseca (male at Senn-Rich W.M.A., second county record) †JPS, 5/12–15 Beltrami (immature male at Bemidji, third county record) ES, †JMJ, †PHS, m.obs., 5/13 Todd (male east of Long Prairie, second county record) ph. BWF, 5/13–14 Olmsted (male at Oronoco) ph. GEc, 5/14 Pine (male at Duxbury, second county record) ph. TFA. Also see undocumented reports. | ||||
| Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) | Reported from 30 south and 17 north counties in all regions. Northern extent as follows: Clay and Becker in Northwest, Hubband and Cass in North-central, St. Louis and Lake in Northeast. | ||||
| Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus) | Reported from 39 south and 27 north counties in all regions. Early south 5/5 in five counties, then numerous reports through 5/10, indicating a fast and heavy movement. Similar phenology north: arrived 5/2 Crow Wing JSB, then 5/7 in five counties, followed by frequent reports through 5/10. Highest reported count 5/14 Pine (8) JMP. | ||||
| BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK (Pheucticus melanocephalus) | Two accepted records: 5/24 Rock (adult male near Luverne) †PHS (The Loon 77:258–259) and 5/29+ Marshall (adult male near Newfolden) †MBr; also documented by †PCC, †JMJ, †SAS. | ||||
| Blue Grosbeak (Passerina caerulea) | Observed 5/20 Brown BTS, 5/21 Rock NED, 5/24 Rock PHS. | ||||
| LAZULI BUNTING (Passerina amoena) | Two accepted records: 5/13 Steele (male at Owatonna) ph. NFT, 5/18 Meeker (male in Greenleaf Twp.) †DMF. | ||||
| Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea) | Reported from 31 south and 13 north counties in all regions. Early south 4/20 (earliest ever) Rice DAB, then no reports until 5/6 Freeborn AEB. Early north 5/17 Kanabec HHD, Otter Tail PL and Polk EEF. | ||||
| Dickcissel (Spiza americana) | Five reports from four south counties: 5/3 Steele NFT, 5/23 Rock PHS, 5/29 Houston PHS and Murray NED, 5/30 Steele (3) NFT. | ||||