Seasonal Report Archive for The Loon
The 2007-Fall Season
1 August through 30 November 2007
Paul E. Budde, Robert M. Dunlap, Douglas W. Kieser, James W. Lind, and William C. Marengo

Minnesota's ninth Black-bellied Whistling-Duck stayed for three days in a secluded park in west Bloomington. Ross's Goose — a much more common spring than fall migrant — made an impressive showing from eight different locations scattered across the state. A Harlequin Duck made a brief appearance in St. Louis County. All three scoters produced record high or second highest fall counts in October. A male Barrow's Goldeneye was photographed in Duluth in early October.

A record early Red-throated Loon was seen in Duluth at the end of August, to be followed a month later by several more individuals. Pacific Loons were recorded in Meeker and Stearns, in addition to one in St. Louis.

Several Iowa birders watched the first confirmed Magnificent Frigatebird soar into Minnesota airspace in early September. Photographs enabled this female to be conclusively identified to species, unlike the prior three encounters with frigatebirds in the state.

An immature Yellow-crowned Night-Heron roosting with Black-crowneds in Minneapolis was an unusual fall record.

Careful study revealed that what was first thought to be a juvenile Gyrfalcon on Minnesota Point was actually a Gyrfalcon X Saker Falcon; further research showed that it had escaped from a falconer in Toronto, Ontario.

The summer Common Moorhen in Waseca lingered through 19 August. Impressive counts of Solitary Sandpiper, Greater Yellowlegs and Lesser Yellowlegs were tallied. The only Whimbrel away from the North Shore was a first county record for Hennepin. Hudsonian Godwits were limited to the western third of the state. Red Knots were reported from two western counties and St. Louis. Seen and documented by many was the juvenile Western Sandpiper found at the Sleepy Eye lagoons in Brown. Two large flocks of Buff-breasted Sandpipers in Chisago and Dakota accounted for more than half the statewide total. Wilson's Phalarope numbers were down, while Red-necked Phalarope numbers were comparable to last fall's exceptional totals.

Duluth produced one Little Gull; two more were found in mid-October at sewage lagoons in Cass. As it has in all recent years, a Black-headed Gull at Big Spirit Lake in Iowa wandered into Minnesota on several occasions. The only California Gull of the season was at Walker in Cass. The first Iceland Gull of the season appeared in Duluth in early November; at the end of the month, birders were watching both an adult and a first-cycle gull at Black Dog Lake in Dakota. Lesser Black-backed Gulls were first found at Black Dog in early September, and two more appeared later in the season in Minneapolis, but Duluth reported no fewer than seven individuals of different plumages! The eleventh(!) individual of this species for the season was a first county record for Stearns.

At least three and possibly four Great Black-backed Gulls were seen — all in Duluth Harbor or Lake Superior between Minnesota Point and Two Harbors. They ranged from a heavily molting adult found in early September on a lake “pelagic” trip to immatures present at the end of the season. Sabine's Gulls were documented from an unprecedented number of locations, including first county records for Lyon, Meeker, and Yellow Medicine, and reports from eight additional counties between 3 September and 6 October.

An immature Arctic Tern made a cameo appearance at Park Point — fashionably later than usual. While the several September Parasitic Jaegers found near Duluth might have been expected, the adult Long-tailed Jaeger that spent 13 days foraging for grasshoppers near Agassiz N.W.R. was certainly not. Amazingly, this bird didn't even qualify as a first county record for Marshall due to a prior (summer!) record from 1898! Another jaeger reported from Lake of the Woods was cautiously left unidentified.

This fall proved to be excellent for doves. Eurasian Collared-Doves continued their expansion, and were reported from 19 counties, including two locations from the northern half of the state. Two different White-winged Doves in Otter Tail and Lake were the third and fourth fall records for the state. Besting all of them was a very cooperative first state record Inca Dove, which spent the entire month of November in Two Harbors.

A few Snowy Owls started showing up towards the end of the season, but Northern Hawk Owls and Great Gray Owls were scarce. No Burrowing Owls had been documented as breeding in the state since 1991, but one pair's summer success in Polk was apparently matched by another pair discovered this season in Pipestone.

For the second consecutive fall, good numbers of American Three-toed and Black-backed Woodpeckers were seen along the North Shore of Lake Superior.

Two Say's Phoebes, found in Sherburne and St. Louis, were each photographed. Carolina Wrens were seen in five counties. Noteworthy was the Philadelphia Vireo found in Jackson — the only county in the state in which it had not been recorded. Each of the counties along Lake Superior produced at least one Mountain Bluebird. Townsend's Solitaire numbers were less than half the 39 found in fall 2006. Two Varied Thrushes were discovered in the Arrowhead during the last three days of the season.

The most notable warblers were two Audubon's race of Yellow-rumped. What was missing for the season in variety was made up for in quantity. Late August produced several 22- and 24-species days, and record high fall counts were tallied for Nashville Warbler, Cape May Warb-ler, Ovenbird, Mourning Warbler, and Canada Warbler. Away from the Northeast region, the only Black-throated Blue Warblers were five individuals found near the Twin Cities.

For the third consecutive fall, a Summer Tanager was found along the North Shore, this year at Stoney Point. Finally, the most unusual passerine of the season was a seventh state record Black-throated Sparrow found and photographed along the southwest shoreline of Lake Winnibigoshish.

Weather summary: The season began with the Northeast and most of the southern half of the state classified as being in Severe Drought. The remainder of the state, aside from the Northwest, was classified as experiencing either Moderate Drought or being Abnormally Dry. In contrast, August brought about twice the expected average rainfall to the southern third of the state; the northern third, however, received only half of normal levels. The most significant rainfall occurred 18–20 August, when much of the Southeast received 6 inches, some areas received 8 to 18 inches, and significant flooding occurred in Fillmore, Houston, and Winona counties.

Most counties experienced well above-average rainfall totals in September, effectively ameliorating the drought conditions in the state. The Arrowhead received significant rainfall during a strong weather system that passed through on 6 September. Mean temperatures for the month were two to four degrees above average across much of the state. A strong cold snap on 15 September brought temperatures into the 20s (F) in many counties, essentially ending the growing (and mosquito) seasons.

Rainfall in October was again well above-average. Statewide, it was the third wettest October on record. The most significant storm of the month moved through the Northeast 18–19 October, bringing gale force winds and heavy rains. For the month, mean temperatures were 4 to 6 degrees above average throughout the state.

The rains essentially stopped in November, as few areas experienced more than an inch in total, and almost all regions were one to two inches below historical average. Temperatures, on the other hand, were two to four degrees (F) above average. There were no major storms during the month, though at the end of the season nearly every county received some snow on 1 December, and some areas received over 12 inches.

Undocumented reports: Harlequin Duck 10/22 Beltrami; BARROW'S GOLDENEYE 10/21 Cook (Grand Portage W.T.P.); Red-throated Loon 11/3 Crow Wing (Mille Lacs Lake at Garrison); IBIS sp. 8/29 Swift (3), 9/3 Big Stone (5), 9/10 Lac Qui Parle (Perry Township.), 9/28 Jackson (Sioux Valley Township); Broad-winged Hawk 10/31 Hennepin (3), 11/2 Wright; Upland Sandpiper 10/18 Meeker; SABINE'S GULL 9/28 St. Louis (7); Loggerhead Shrike 10/29 Dakota; House Wren 11/12 Ramsey.

Acknowledgments: We thank Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory for data from Hawk Ridge in Duluth. Also, special thanks to Anthony Hertzel, Jeanie Joppru, and Jim Lind for providing transcripts of Minnesota's weekly birding reports. Special thanks to Dave Cahlander for building and maintaining the seasonal reports submission website (http://moumn.org/). Medians of recent arrivals and departures were calculated by Paul Budde from published and unpublished seasonal report data from 1985 through 2006. Most importantly, many thanks to all of our contributors. We are especially grateful to those who respond to our requests for details and who submit observations online.

Key to the Seasonal Report
1.Upper case (LEAST TERN) indicates a Casual or Accidental species in the state.
2.Species are listed in brackets [Whooping Crane] when there is a reasonable doubt as to its origin or wildness.
3.Bracketed text following a species’ name indicates the total number of north and south counties.
4.Dates listed in bold (10/9) indicate an occurrence either earlier, later, or within the three earliest or latest dates on file.
5.Counties listed in bold (Aitkin) indicate an unusual occurrence for that county.
6.Counties listed in bold and with an underline (Becker) indicate a first county record.
7.Counties listed in italics (Crow Wing) indicate a first county breeding record.
8.Counts listed in bold (150) indicate a total within or exceeding the top three high counts for that species.
9.Dagger “†” preceding observer’s initials denotes documentation was submitted.
10.“ph.” denotes a species documented with a photograph.
11.“v.t.” denotes a species documented by video tape.
The Seasonal Report  is a compilation of seasonal bird sightings from throughout Minnesota. We particularly invite reports from parts of the state that have been neglected or covered lightly in past reports. To become a contributor, contact the Editor of The Loon (editor AT moumn.org).

Species

N S

Information

Whistling-Ducks, Geese, Swans, Ducks
BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCK
(Dendrocygna autumnalis)
1 Ninth state record 10/28–30 Hennepin (Anderson Lakes Park) JPi, ph. JRa, †CMB, ph. †JPM, ph. NLo, m.ob.
Snow Goose
(Anser caerulescens)
1118 Early north 9/5 St. Louis KJB, 9/7 Kanabec RBW, 9/9 Polk PHS. Early south 9/12 Fillmore NBO, 9/15 Chippewa DWK. Late north 10/14 Marshall PHS, JMJ, 11/10 Clay JWH. Please see winter report for late south migrants and overwintering birds.
Ross's Goose
(Anser rossii)
33 All north reports: 9/17–27 Marshall (Agassiz N.W.R.) GT, 9/24 St. Louis (Virginia) †DBF, †SLF, 9/28 St. Louis (H.R.B.O., Duluth) KJB, 10/13–19 Lake (Two Harbors) †JWL, JCG, †PHS. All south reports: 11/7 Lac qui Parle (Big Stone N.W.R.) BJU, 11/14 Lac qui Parle (Perry Twp.) BJU, 11/26–30 Waseca (Loon L.) †JPS, DAB, 11/30 Steele (L. Kohlmeier) DAB. Also see winter report.
Greater White-fronted Goose
(Anser albifrons)
47 All north reports: 10/17 Marshall (24 at Agassiz N.W.R.) GT, 10/20 Pennington JMJ, 10/21 Clay (13) DWR, 10/26 Douglas PEJ. Early south 10/15–16 Hennepin ADS, m.ob., 10/27 Meeker DMF. Late south 11/26 Waseca JPS, 11/28 Yellow Medicine PME, but also see winter report.
Cackling Goose
(Branta hutchinsii)
1920 Documented in three north counties and seven south counties. Early north 9/13 Lake JCG, 9/14 St. Louis ABL; also 10/1 Cass (Walker City Park) ph. BAW. Early south 9/15 Waseca DAB, JJS, JWH, 9/16 McLeod JLO. Peak counts 10/30 Lac qui Parle (640 at Big Stone N.W.R.) BJU, 11/27 Blue Earth (500) RMD, 9/28 St. Louis (262 at H.R.B.O.) EMG, KJB, 11/3 Rice (200–300 at Alexander Park) †DAB. Late north 11/12 Wadena JWH, 11/18 St. Louis †PHS. See winter report for late south migrants. New county records: 9/28 Roseau BJS, 11/11 Kittson JWH, 11/12 Wadena JWH. 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)
3549 Reported throughout the state and the season.
Mute Swan
(Cygnus olor)
5 Probable wild bird seen 10/14–11/22 Scott (Minnesota Valley N.W.R., Louisville Swamp) †BAF. Birds of uncertain origin 8/13 Freeborn (Upper Twin L.) JWH, 9/14 Sherburne (Sherburne N.W.R.) PLJ, 11/23 Meeker (L. Ripley) DMF, Rice TFB.
Trumpeter Swan
(Cygnus buccinator)
2116 Peak counts 11/21 McLeod (80 at Eagle L.) DPG, 11/22 Goodhue (60 at Kenyon) NFT, 11/8 Isanti (52 at Lundgren L.) DPG.
Tundra Swan
(Cygnus columbianus)
919 Early north 9/27 Pennington JMJ, 10/14 Marshall PHS, JMJ. Early south 10/17 Houston NBO, 10/23 Lac qui Parle BJU. High counts 11/26 Houston (10,150 at Pool #8, includes birds in Wisconsin) Upper Mississippi River N.W.F.R., 11/21 Meeker (800 at L. Evenson) DMF. Late north 11/23 Hubbard PBB, 11/24 Mille Lacs JLO. Please see winter report for late south migrants.
Wood Duck
(Aix sponsa)
2942 High counts 9/27 Houston (235 at Pool #8, includes birds in Wisconsin) Upper Mississippi River N.W.F.R., 8/19 Pine (190 at Sandstone W.T.P.) DWK. Late north 10/21 Koochiching, Lake of the Woods BJU, 10/22 Beltrami BJU, but also see winter report.
Blue-winged Teal
(Spatula discors)
2940 High counts 8/25 Pennington (175 at Thief River Falls W.T.P.) PHS, 8/24 Marshall (155 at Agassiz N.W.R.) PHS. Late north 10/20 Becker HHD, Cass, Hubbard, and Todd BJU, 10/21 Cook RPR. Late south 11/7 Lac qui Parle BJU, 11/16 Dakota DKo.
Northern Shoveler
(Spatula clypeata)
2038 High counts 8/25 Pennington (625 at Thief River Falls W.T.P.) PHS, 10/11 Sherburne (250) ASc. Late north 11/10 Clay JWH, 11/11 Pennington JWH. Please see winter report for late south migrants and overwintering birds.
Gadwall
(Mareca strepera)
1826 High counts 11/13 Houston (8,565 at Pool #8, includes birds in Wisconsin) Upper Mississippi River N.W.F.R., 10/14 Marshall (375 at Agassiz N.W.R.) PHS. Late north 11/10 Beltrami DPJ, 11/11 Mahnomen and Pennington JWH, Marshall fide JMJ.
American Wigeon
(Mareca americana)
1525 High counts 10/29 Houston (2,275 at Pool #8, includes birds in Wisconsin) Upper Mississippi River N.W.F.R., 10/14 Marshall (1,150 at Agassiz N.W.R.) PHS. Late north 11/11 Mille Lacs RBW, 11/16 Cook JLO, DWK. Please see winter report for late south migrants.
Mallard
(Anas platyrhynchos)
3446 Reported throughout the state. High count 11/13 Houston (11,560 at Pool #8, includes birds in Wisconsin) Upper Mississippi River N.W.F.R.
American Black Duck
(Anas rubripes)
715 All north reports: Cass, Clay, Cook, Hubbard, Lake, Pine, St. Louis. Early south 9/1 Sherburne JBB, 9/17 Lac qui Parle BJU.
Northern Pintail
(Anas acuta)
2024 Late north 11/2 Aitkin PEJ, 11/16 Cook JLO, DWK. Please see winter report for late south migrants and overwintering birds.
Green-winged Teal
(Anas crecca)
1825 High counts 11/4 Hennepin (425 at Long Meadow L.) BAF, 10/11 Lac qui Parle (400) BJU. Late north 11/1 Aitkin PEJ, 11/2 Lake HHD (median 11/11), but also see winter report.
Canvasback
(Aythya valisineria)
1327 High count 11/8 Houston (88,600 at Pool #8, includes birds in Wisconsin) Upper Mississippi River N.W.F.R. Late north 11/3 Todd MSK, 11/11 Pennington JWH (median 11/25). Please see winter report for late south migrants and overwintering birds.
Redhead
(Aythya americana)
1827 Late north 11/4 Cass ALB, St. Louis PHS, 11/11 Mille Lacs RBW, Pennington and Polk JWH. Please see winter report for late south migrants and overwintering birds.
Ring-necked Duck
(Aythya collaris)
2932 High count 11/8 Houston (6,825 at Pool #8, includes birds in Wisconsin) Upper Mississippi River N.W.F.R. Late north 11/22 Hubbard PBB, 11/25 St. Louis SLF (median 12/8).
Greater Scaup
(Aythya marila)
610 Early north (median 10/5) 8/25 St. Louis (Duluth) KJB, 9/15 Cass ALB. Early south (median 10/21) 8/24 Brown (Sleepy Eye W.T.P.) †BTS, 10/16 Meeker DMF. High count 10/17 St. Louis (263 in Duluth harbor) PHS. Late north 11/11 Pennington JWH, 11/29 Cass RBW, but also see winter report.
Lesser Scaup
(Aythya affinis)
1523 Late north 11/11 Pennington JWH, 11/18 St. Louis PHS, but also see winter report. More than 3,000 found dead on L. Winnibigoshish in early November, possibly due to exotic snails infested with trematodes (Minnesota D.N.R.).
KING EIDER
(Somateria spectabilis)
1 Sixteenth state record and first for Cass, found on Leech L. on 11/28 (ph. †BAW, DAY).
Harlequin Duck
(Histrionicus histrionicus)
1 Only documented report: 10/5 St. Louis (Park Point, Duluth) †PHS.
Surf Scoter
(Melanitta perspicillata)
74 All Lake Superior reports: 9/29–11/9 St. Louis (Duluth harbor) PHS, m.ob., including 21 (record high fall count) 10/8 KJB, 10/14 Cook (4 at Taconite Harbor) SLF, JWH, 10/27–11/17 Cook (Grand Marais harbor) m.ob. Seven north reports away from Lake Superior: 10/11 St. Louis (2 on Crane L.) DMK, 10/13 Wilkin (Breckenridge W.T.P.) KRE, m.ob., 10/14–15 Cass (1 on Leech L.) DAY, ALB, 10/14–20 Todd (max. 6 on L. Osakis) BWF, m.ob., 10/20 Cass (8 on L. Winnibigoshish) BJU, 11/10 Beltrami (1 on L. Bemidji) DPJ, 11/11 Kittson (Twin Lakes W.M.A. area) BWF, JWH, DBz. All south reports: 10/11 Lac qui Parle (1 at Big Stone N.W.R.) BJU, 10/16–11/25 Meeker (1 on L. Ripley) DMF, 11/12 Houston (1 at Reno bottoms, Mississippi R.) PEJ, DFN, 11/12–13 Ramsey (1 on Bald Eagle L.) CRM, m.ob.
White-winged Scoter
(Melanitta deglandi)
45 All Lake Superior reports: 10/5 Cook (1 at Good Harbor Bay) JPE, 10/6–11/17 St. Louis (Park Point, Duluth) KRE, m.ob., including 72 (record high fall count) 10/21 †PHS, 10/14 Cook (4 at Taconite Harbor) SLF, JWH, 10/27–11/17 Cook (max. 5 at Paradise Beach) BAF, m.ob. Two north reports away from Lake Superior: 10/20–27 Mille Lacs (3 on Mille Lacs L.) ASc, 11/10–12 Beltrami (L. Bemidji) DPJ. All south reports: 11/7 Lac qui Parle (2 at Big Stone N.W.R.) BJU, 11/10 Meeker (L. Washington) DMF, 11/12–13 Swift (1 at Lac qui Parle W.M.A.) BJU, 11/17–27 Wabasha (4 on L. Pepin) BAF, m.ob., 11/23 Mower (1 at Austin) JEM.
Black Scoter
(Melanitta americana)
61 All Lake Superior reports: 9/22–11/12 St. Louis (max. 5 at Park Point, Duluth) SLF, KJB, m.ob., 10/5 Cook (1 at Five Mile Rock) JPE, 10/27 Cook (2 at Taconite Harbor) KRE, m.ob., 11/4–6 Cook (1 at Hovland) KRE, m.ob. Four north reports away from Lake Superior: 10/14 Todd (2 on L. Osakis) BWF, 10/20 Cass (1 on Leech L.) BJU, 10/21 Aitkin (58 on Mille Lacs L.) AXH, 11/11–22 Beltrami (1 on L. Bemidji) DPJ. All south reports: 10/27 Meeker (4 on L. Ripley) DMF, 11/3 Meeker (East L. Ripley) DMF, 11/9 Stearns (2 on Pelican L.) MJB, 11/26 Wabasha (3 on L. Pepin) DBz.
Long-tailed Duck
(Clangula hyemalis)
43 All north reports: 10/13–20 Cass (2 on Leech L.) †ALB, BJU, 10/16 Todd (L. Osakis) JSK, 10/17–11/9 St. Louis (max. 2 at Park Point, Duluth.) PHS, KRE, m.ob., BJU, 10/27 Cook (8 at Good Harbor Bay) fide JWL, 10/27–11/13 Cook (2 at Taconite Harbor) m.ob., 11/2–17 Cook (max. 10 between Hovland and Paradise Beach) DWK, m.ob. All south reports: 11/7 Big Stone (5 on Big Stone L.) BJU, 11/16 Meeker (1 on L. Ripley) DMF, 11/27 Wabasha (1 on Mississippi R.) fide DBz.
Bufflehead
(Bucephala albeola)
1923 Early south 10/1 Wright DPG, 10/2 Chippewa RBJ. Peak counts 11/8 Houston (1,270 at Pool #8, includes birds in Wisconsin) Upper Mississippi River N.W.F.R., 10/22 Beltrami (583 on Lower Red L.) BJU.
Common Goldeneye
(Bucephala clangula)
1619 Early south 10/3 Yellow Medicine BJU, 10/13 Meeker DMF. Peak counts 11/26 Houston (1,555 at Pool #8, includes birds in Wisconsin) Upper Mississippi River N.W.F.R., 11/17 St. Louis (340 in Duluth harbor) PHS.
Barrow's Goldeneye
(Bucephala islandica)
1 Male in eclipse plumage 10/6–7 St. Louis (Park Point, Duluth) †KRE, ph. JWL, †MLH, ph. †PHS.
Hooded Merganser
(Lophodytes cucullatus)
2527 Late north 11/23 Hubbard PBB, 11/24 Mille Lacs JLO, St. Louis LS, but also see winter report.
Common Merganser
(Mergus merganser)
1416 Early south 10/13 Kandiyohi DPG, 10/29 Sherburne PLJ.
Red-breasted Merganser
(Mergus serrator)
65 All north reports: Beltrami, Cass, Cook, Lake, Lake of the Woods, and St. Louis. All south reports: 11/7 Lac qui Parle (Big Stone N.W.R.) BJU, 11/9–18 Houston PEJ, DFN, BAF, 11/10 Meeker DMF, 11/11 Blue Earth RMD, 11/25 Dakota (5) JCC.
Ruddy Duck
(Oxyura jamaicensis)
1437 High counts 10/13 Lac qui Parle (810 on Salt L.) PHS, 9/26 Traverse (352 on St. Mary's L.) BJU. Late north 10/26 Todd RBW, 11/11 Pennington JWH. Late south 11/25 Martin HHD, 11/26 Waseca JPS. Also please see winter report.
Partridge, Pheasants, Grouse, Turkeys
Wild Turkey
(Meleagris gallopavo)
1031 Reported as far north as Kittson and Pennington in the Northwest, Wadena and Cass in the North-central, and Mille Lacs and Pine (max. 85, JMP) in the East-central. Some north reports probably refer to recently released birds.
Ruffed Grouse
(Bonasa umbellus)
188 All southeast reports: 9/5, 10/15 Fillmore NBO, 8/26 Goodhue (Miesville Ravine) SWe, 9/12 Wabasha JWH, 11/24 Winona HHD.
Spruce Grouse
(Canachites canadensis)
5 Reported from Beltrami BJU, Cook JLO, Koochiching (4) BJU, Lake (5 in four locations) SES, JCC, BET, St. Louis (2 in two locations) SES, DMK.
Sharp-tailed Grouse
(Tympanuchus phasianellus)
62 All north reports: Beltrami (1 at Big Bog S.R.A.) BJU, Kittson (5) RBW, Lake of the Woods (2) BJU, Marshall (1 at Agassiz N.W.R.) PHS, JMJ, Polk (6 at Glacial Ridge N.W.R.) BJU. South reports 8/6 Big Stone BJU, 8/22 Lac qui Parle (Big Stone N.W.R.) BJU, 9/8 Lac qui Parle (Walter Twp.) BJU.
Greater Prairie-Chicken
(Tympanuchus cupido)
41 All north reports: 11/10 Clay (18 at Felton Prairie) JWH, 10/12 Norman LBF, 8/31 Polk (2 at Glacial Ridge N.W.R.) BJU, 10/14 Wilkin (43 at Rothsay W.M.A.) JCC. Only south report 11/18 Lac qui Parle (near Louisburg.) BJU, presumably related to D.N.R. releases at Plover Prairie.
Gray Partridge
(Perdix perdix)
310 All north reports: 8/31 Red Lake (3 in L. Pleasant Twp.) BJU, 9/3 Traverse (1 in Croke Twp.) BJU, 11/10–11 Kittson fide JMJ. High counts south 8/24 Lac qui Parle (17 near Louisburg) BJU, 10/12 Cottonwood (12 at Red Rock Prairie) JCC, 8/5 Olmsted (11) JWH. Also reported from Dakota (3), Meeker (2), Pipestone (3), Renville (3), Steele, Stevens, and Yellow Medicine.
Ring-necked Pheasant
(Phasianus colchicus)
1244 Reported as far north as Mahnomen in the Northwest, Wadena and Cass in the North-central, and Kanabec and Pine in the East-central region.
Grebes
Pied-billed Grebe
(Podilymbus podiceps)
2943 High count 10/11 Big Stone (93 on Big Stone L.) BJU. Late north 11/10 St. Louis PEB, 11/11 Beltrami DPJ. Late south 11/19 Olmsted JWH, 11/25 Hennepin PEB, but also see winter report.
Horned Grebe
(Podiceps auritus)
1719 Early north 8/6 Cook JPE, 8/12 St. Louis FKB (median 8/19). Early south reports included an adult in basic plumage first reported in Big Stone in late July, still present 8/22 (BJU), and then 9/8 Lac qui Parle BJU. Late north 11/12 Cook SLF, 11/18 Lake JWL. Late south 11/12 Houston PEJ, DFN, 11/16 Blue Earth RMD, but also see winter report.
Red-necked Grebe
(Podiceps grisegena)
149 High counts 10/7 St. Louis (51) KJB, 10/21 Aitkin (25) AXH. Late north 11/11 St. Louis SLF, 11/23 Lake JWL, but also see winter report. Late south 10/23 Blue Earth RMD, 11/25 Meeker DMF (median 11/10).
Eared Grebe
(Podiceps nigricollis)
910 Late north 9/26 Traverse BJU, 11/3 Todd MSK (median 10/22). Late south 10/4 Lincoln BJU, 10/12 Lac qui Parle BJU.
Western Grebe
(Aechmophorus occidentalis)
715 Unusual location 8/23 St. Louis (2 at Park Point, Duluth) KJB. Late north 10/22 Beltrami BJU, 11/3 Todd MSK. Late south 11/16 Blue Earth RMD, 11/24 Waseca HHD.
Clark's Grebe
(Aechmophorus clarkii)
No reports.
Pigeons, Doves
Rock Pigeon
(Columba livia)
3449 Reported throughout the state.
Eurasian Collared-Dove
(Streptopelia decaocto)
514 Reported from north locations in Otter Tail (Perham), Traverse (Wheaton), and Wilkin (Breckenridge, second county record). First county records: 9/17–23 Itasca (2, Grand Rapids) ph. CMo, †SC, EEO, 11/9 Polk (2, Climax) fide JMJ. Reported from south locations in Blue Earth (Mapleton), Brown (Comfrey and Hanska), Chippewa (Milan), Cottonwood (Comfrey), Dakota (Farmington), Goodhue (Bombay), Jackson (Heron L.), Lac qui Parle (Madison), McLeod, Mower (Adams), Redwood (Morgan), Rock, Swift (Appleton), and Yellow Medicine (Clarkfield).
INCA DOVE
(Columbina inca)
1 A very cooperative adult and first state record was found in a residential backyard on 10/30 in Two Harbors, Lake ph. †JWL, ph. †AXH, †DAB, ph. †KRE, ph. MSS, †PCC, ph. †PHS, †WCM (The Loon 80:54–55). This bird remained into the winter season (12/5).
White-winged Dove
(Zenaida asiatica)
2 Two reports, both first county records: 10/15–21 Otter Tail (northeast of Elizabeth) MSa, ph. †DTT, †JMJ, m.ob., 11/20–21 Lake (Fernberg Trail) ph. fide BET.
Mourning Dove
(Zenaida macroura)
3350 Reported throughout the state.
Cuckoos
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
(Coccyzus americanus)
26 Only north reports: 9/23 Cook (Schroeder) DSp, 10/27 St.Louis MLH. All south reports: 8/2 Fillmore NBO, 8/15 Lac qui Parle BJU, 8/16 Rice DAB, 8/23 Carver JCC and Lac qui Parle BJU, 8/26 Meeker DMF, 8/28 Hennepin OLJ.
Black-billed Cuckoo
(Coccyzus erythropthalmus)
77 All north reports: 8/2 St. Louis TPW, 8/4 Todd CAM, 8/18 Pine HHD, 8/31 Pennington BJU, 9/1 Koochiching JLO, 9/10 St. Louis (Sax-Zim Bog) NAJ, 9/19 St. Louis (Duluth) JWL. All south reports: 8/1 Lac qui Parle BJU and Meeker DMF, 8/2 Lac qui Parle BJU, 8/22–23 Big Stone and Lac qui Parle BJU, 8/24 Swift BJU, 8/25 Hennepin HCT, 8/30 Scott JEB, 9/15 Hennepin HCT, 9/28 Jackson BJU.
Nightjars
Common Nighthawk
(Chordeiles minor)
2425 Late north 9/16 Todd MSK, 9/22 St. Louis (H.R.B.O.) EMG, KJB. Late south 10/3 Rice TFB, 10/4 Sherburne (2) PLJ. High counts 8/23 St. Louis (1,277 at H.R.B.O.) EMG, KJB, 9/20 Nicollet (250) RMD.
Eastern Whip-poor-will
(Antrostomus vociferus)
11 Only north reports from Cass; vocalizing bird last observed 9/2 BAW. Only south reports from Sherburne 8/12 and 9/7 PLJ.
Swifts
Chimney Swift
(Chaetura pelagica)
1332 Late north 9/2 Wadena PJB, 9/3 Traverse BJU, Mille Lacs and Beltrami CRM, then 10/14 Otter Tail (2) KRE. Late south 9/30 Hennepin (2) DWK, 10/6 Hennepin (2) JLO, DAB, JWH. High counts 8/3 Cass (60 entering Walker chimney) RPR, 8/4 Dakota (50) DKo.
Hummingbirds
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
(Archilochus colubris)
2535 Late north 9/28 St. Louis DWR, 9/30 Lake JWL, 10/12 Hubbard fide MAW. Late south 10/6–7 Olmsted LAV, OWB, then 11/1 Ramsey (female-type bird coming to a feeder in North Oaks since early October) AXH. No significant counts.
Rails, Gallinules, Coots
Virginia Rail
(Rallus limicola)
118 Last north report 9/15 Cass ALB, 9/17 Lake (Little Marais) EEO (median 9/10). Last reported south 9/24 Ramsey JBB, 9/28 Jackson BJU (median 10/7).
Sora
(Porzana carolina)
1620 High count 9/5 St. Louis (18, Pike River near Biwabik) SLF. Late north 9/15 Cass ALB, 9/25 Lake (3, Two Harbors high school ponds) JWL. Late south 10/6 Hennepin (3) BAF, HCT, 10/13 Dakota PEJ (median 10/11).
Common Gallinule
(Gallinula galeata)
1 At least one bird from summer at Moonan Marsh in Waseca County last reported 8/4 RMD, 8/19 JWH.
American Coot
(Fulica americana)
2740 High counts 10/13 Kandiyohi (11,000) DPG, 11/4 Hennepin (6,000, Long Meadow L.) BAF. Last reported north 11/12 Becker JWH, 11/23 Hubbard PBB. Reported south throughout the season.
Yellow Rail
(Coturnicops noveboracensis)
No reports.
Cranes
Sandhill Crane
(Antigone canadensis)
2416 High counts 10/6 Kittson (1,000) LW, 9/17 Marshall (500) GT. Late north 11/17 Mille Lacs ASc, 11/24 Pennington JMJ (median 11/4). Late south 11/4 Lac qui Parle (Walter Twp.) BJU, 11/21 Mower JEM (median 11/4).
Stilts, Avocets
American Avocet
(Recurvirostra americana)
13 First county record: 8/12 Sherburne (Big L.) ph. SWo. High counts 24 on 8/17 in Big Stone (Toqua Twp., PHS) and 19 on 9/3 in Traverse (Croke Twp., BJU). Only other report away from the west regions: 8/13 Freeborn (Geneva L.) JWH. Late south 9/22 Lac qui Parle (2 at Salt L.) PCC.
Plovers
Black-bellied Plover
(Pluvialis squatarola)
1117 Early north 8/3 Marshall PHS, JMJ. Early south 8/4 Lac qui Parle PCC, RSF, PHS, 8/5 Jackson KJB. First juveniles 9/8 Marshall (2) PHS. Late north 10/30–11/4 St. Louis (3, Park Point ballfields, Duluth) m.ob. Late south 10/31, 11/5 Dakota (2 in basic plumage) JPM. High counts 10/8 St. Louis (21 at Park Point, Duluth) KJB, 9/23 St. Louis (20 total from Park Point, Hearding Island, Interstate Island, Miller Creek, 40th Ave. West, and Morgan Park) PHS.
American Golden-Plover
(Pluvialis dominica)
825 Early north 8/6 Traverse BJU, then no reports until 8/18 Marshall PHS, JMJ and St. Louis JCC. Early south 8/1 Lac qui Parle BJU. First juveniles 9/8 Marshall (3) PHS. High counts 10/13 Martin (160) RMD and Yellow Medicine (100) PHS, PCC. Late north 10/25 St. Louis DAB, 11/5 Marshall GKn. Late south 10/18 Cottonwood (50) LS, 11/18 Scott (3, Belle Plaine W.T.P.) RBW.
Killdeer
(Charadrius vociferus)
2745 Late north 9/23 Wadena PJB and St. Louis (5) PHS, then none until 10/20 Becker HHD. Late south 11/10 Meeker DMF, 11/11 Stearns HHD. High counts 9/2 Lac qui Parle (408) PCC, 9/3 Traverse (260, section 19, Croke Twp.) BJU.
Semipalmated Plover
(Charadrius semipalmatus)
1124 See summer report for early southbound migrants. First juveniles 8/11 Marshall (1) PCC, 8/12 Jackson (1) KJB. Late north 9/26 Cass (Pelican Island, Leech L.) BAW, 10/14 Marshall (5) PHS, JMJ. Late south 10/13 Kandiyohi DPG, Yellow Medicine (2) and Big Stone PHS, PCC. High counts 8/11 Marshall (99, Agassiz N.W.R.) PCC, JMJ, 8/18 Marshall (57, Agassiz N.W.R.) PHS, JMJ.
Sandpipers
Upland Sandpiper
(Bartramia longicauda)
34 All north reports: 8/6 Traverse (2) BJU, 8/23 St. Louis (H.R.B.O.) EMG, KJB, 8/25 St. Louis (H.R.B.O.) EMG, KJB, St. Louis (location?) ABL, 8/31 Wilkin BJU. Late south 8/10 Jackson KJB, 8/11 Big Stone (2) PHS, RSF, 8/22 Lac qui Parle BJU.
Whimbrel
(Numenius phaeopus)
21 Reported from Park Point, Duluth in St. Louis beginning 8/23 PHS; last reported there 10/19 KJB. Also reported 9/15 Lake (Castle Danger) fide JWL. First county record 8/8 Hennepin (2 at Purgatory Creek in Eden Prairie) HCT, †DWK, m.ob.
Hudsonian Godwit
(Limosa haemastica)
22 All north reports: 8/24 Marshall (10, Agassiz N.W.R.) PHS, 8/31 Marshall (5) ASc, BJU, 9/4 Traverse (Section 19, Croke Twp.) BJU. All south reports: 8/14 Big Stone BJU, 8/23 Lac qui Parle (2, Big Stone N.W.R.) BJU.
Marbled Godwit
(Limosa fedoa)
14 All north reports from Marshall, where last seen 8/11 (3, Agassiz N.W.R.) PHS, JMJ. Late south 8/3 Meeker (3) DMF, 8/11 Big Stone (3) and Stevens (2) PHS, RSF.
Ruddy Turnstone
(Arenaria interpres)
44 See summer report for early southbound migrants north. All south reports: 8/18 Meeker (2) DMF, 8/22 Lac qui Parle (Salt L.) BJU, 8/31 Stearns HHD, 9/29 Brown (Sleepy Eye W.T.P.) BTS. First juveniles 8/25 St. Louis (2) KJB, 8/31 Stearns (1) PCC. Late north 9/23 St. Louis PHS, 9/30 St. Louis KJB. No significant counts.
RED KNOT
(Calidris canutus)
21 All north reports: 8/29–9/15 St. Louis (2, Interstate Island, Duluth) KJB, m.ob., 9/1 Marshall (Agassiz N.W.R.) KRE et al., 9/22 St. Louis MCA. Reported south 8/25 Lac qui Parle (Salt L.) PCC.
Stilt Sandpiper
(Calidris himantopus)
1220 See summer report for early southbound migrants. High count 9/16 Big Stone (391) PCC, 8/24 Marshall (345, Agassiz N.W.R.) PHS. Late north 9/23 St. Louis PHS, 9/26 Traverse (2) BJU. Late south 10/13 Yellow Medicine (4) and Lac qui Parle (4) PHS, PCC.
Sanderling
(Calidris alba)
911 See summer report for early southbound migrants north. Early south 8/18 Meeker (3) DMF, 8/19 Freeborn JWH. First juveniles 8/25 St. Louis (1) KJB and Lac qui Parle (1) PCC. Late north 10/20 St. Louis (8) PHS, 10/30 St. Louis (2) PHS, OWB. Late south 9/30 Sibley HHD, 10/3 Yellow Medicine BJU. High counts 9/24 St. Louis (85, Park Point, Duluth) KJB, 9/25 St. Louis (66, Hearding Island and Duluth Harbor) PHS.
Dunlin
(Calidris alpina)
69 Early north 8/30 St. Louis (juvenile) ph. PHS. Early south 9/16 McLeod PRH, 9/17 Lac qui Parle BJU. Late north 10/21 St. Louis (2) FKB, Lake of the Woods (6) BJU. Late south 10/13 Yellow Medicine (25, high count), Lac qui Parle (3), and Big Stone (8) PHS, PCC.
Baird's Sandpiper
(Calidris bairdii)
1420 See summer report for early southbound migrants. Late north 10/21 Lake of the Woods (4) BJU, 10/29 Clay (2) RBW. Late south 10/13 Yellow Medicine (3), Lac qui Parle (10), and Big Stone PHS, PCC.
Least Sandpiper
(Calidris minutilla)
1933 See summer report for early southbound migrants. Late north 9/26 Traverse BJU, 10/14 Marshall (30, Agassiz N.W.R.) PHS, JMJ. Late south 10/13 Yellow Medicine (23), Lac qui Parle (17), and Big Stone (4) PHS, PCC. High counts 8/11 Marshall (1,132 at Agassiz N.W.R.) JMJ, PCC, 8/18 Marshall (578, Agassiz N.W.R.) PHS, JMJ.
White-rumped Sandpiper
(Calidris fuscicollis)
24 All north reports: 8/24–31 Marshall †PHS, 9/3 Traverse (2) BJU. All south reports: 8/8 Hennepin SWe, 9/7–8 Sherburne ASc, 9/16 McLeod PRH, 9/22 Meeker DMF, 10/13 Lac qui Parle PCC, PHS. No significant counts. Note: Undocumented reports of fall migrant White-rumpeds prior to mid-August are not published.
Buff-breasted Sandpiper
(Calidris subruficollis)
614 See summer report for early southbound migrants. Early north 8/2 St. Louis (11, Park Point, Duluth) TPW, DAG, 8/3 Becker (4) PBB and Marshall (3, Agassiz N.W.R.) PHS, JMJ. Early south 8/1 Lac qui Parle (4) BJU and Dakota (20) JPM. Late north 9/26 St. Louis (Park Point, Duluth) PHS. Late south 9/15 Chippewa (3, Shakopee L.) DWK, 9/20 Rice TFB. First county record: 8/3 Sherburne ASc. High count 9/1 Chisago (110, sod farm on Jeffrey Avenue, northeast of North Branch) MHe, 8/2 Dakota (72) MCA. Statewide total of 301 individuals from 20 counties was relatively low for the fifth consecutive year, when compared with totals of approx. 550 for 2001 and 2002.
Pectoral Sandpiper
(Calidris melanotos)
1734 See summer report for early southbound migrants. First juveniles 8/10 Jackson (1) KJB, 8/17 Stearns (1) PCC. High counts 8/5 Jackson (1,188 at South Heron L.) KJB. Late north 10/21 Lake of the Woods (17) BJU, 10/27 Pennington (4) JMJ. Late south 10/13 Yellow Medicine (55), Lac qui Parle (12), and Big Stone (10) PHS, PCC, 10/17 McLeod PRH.
Semipalmated Sandpiper
(Calidris pusilla)
1525 See summer report for early southbound migrants. High counts 8/6 Jackson (1,256 on South Heron L.) KJB, 8/31 Marshall (916, Agassiz N.W.R.) PHS. Late north 9/23 St. Louis PHS, 10/14 Marshall (Agassiz N.W.R.) PHS, JMJ. Late south 10/3 Sherburne ASc, 10/13 Yellow Medicine (2) PHS.
WESTERN SANDPIPER
(Calidris mauri)
1 Juvenile bird discovered 9/29 in Brown County at the Sleepy Eye W.T.P. (ph. †BTS). This bird remained through 9/30 and was described and photographed by many (†DAB, ph. †PEB, †PCC, †RMD, ph. †KRE, †JPE, ph. †PHS). Sixth documented record in the state.
Short-billed Dowitcher
(Limnodromus griseus)
411 See summer report for early southbound migrants. First juveniles 8/3 Marshall (3) PHS, 8/4 Lac qui Parle (1) PCC, RSF, PHS. Late north 9/5 St. Louis (juvenile identified by voice and tertial pattern) PHS. Late south 9/28 Nobles (2, identified by call) HHD. No significant counts.
Long-billed Dowitcher
(Limnodromus scolopaceus)
415 Early north 8/11 Marshall (1) PHS, JMJ, 8/24 Marshall (5, Agassiz N.W.R.) PHS. Early south 9/2 Lac qui Parle (1) PCC, Nobles BTS, 9/3 Big Stone BJU. First juvenile 9/2 Lac qui Parle (1) PCC. Late north 9/16 Marshall JMJ, 9/22 St. Louis MCA. Late south 10/13 Martin RMD, Lac qui Parle (4) and Big Stone (6) PHS, PCC, 10/23 Cottonwood (7) JLO, DWK. No significant counts.
American Woodcock
(Scolopax minor)
56 Late north 10/23 St. Louis NAJ, 10/27 Clearwater fide JMJ. Late south 10/6 Anoka RBJ, 10/31 Rice DAB.
Wilson's Snipe
(Gallinago delicata)
2125 High count 10/30 Steele (50, Bixby) NFT. Late north 10/20 Todd and 10/22 Mahnomen BJU. Late south 11/12 Houston (41, Wildcat Landing) DFN, Lac qui Parle BJU.
Spotted Sandpiper
(Actitis macularius)
2231 Late north 9/28 Itasca fide JMJ, 9/30 St. Louis KJB, then none until 10/26–27 Cook DAB, MHe, JEB. High count 8/12 Lac qui Parle (49) PCC, RSF, PHS. Late south 10/12 Lac qui Parle BJU, 10/13 Big Stone PHS, PCC.
Solitary Sandpiper
(Tringa solitaria)
2229 See summer report for early southbound migrants. Late north 9/29 Becker DFN, 10/3 St. Louis SLF, then none until 11/7 Marshall (Agassiz N.W.R.) GKn. Late south 10/1 Houston RBW, 10/8 Le Sueur (5) RMD. High count 8/2 Scott (61) BAF.
Lesser Yellowlegs
(Tringa flavipes)
2135 See summer report for early southbound migrants. Late north 10/27 Marshall (Agassiz N.W.R.) RBW and Pennington JMJ. Late south 10/21 Dakota BAF, 11/4 Hennepin HCT. High count 8/3 Marshall (1,676, Agassiz N.W.R.) PHS, JMJ, 8/5 Jackson (1,659 at South Heron L.) KJB.
Willet
(Tringa semipalmata)
24 North reports 8/6 Traverse BJU, 8/11 Marshall JMJ, 8/18 Marshall (juvenile) PHS, JMJ, 8/31–9/1 Marshall PHS, JCC. All south reports: 8/1 Lac qui Parle BJU, 8/3 Meeker (2) DMF, 8/24 Swift BJU, 9/10 Wright DMF; also reported from Big Stone and Jackson. No significant counts.
Greater Yellowlegs
(Tringa melanoleuca)
2131 See summer report for early southbound migrants. Late north 10/28 Polk RBW, 11/2–3 Aitkin PEJ, ASc. Late south 10/21 McLeod PRH, 10/24 Lac qui Parle BJU. High counts 8/18 (180, record high for fall) and 8/11 (154) Marshall (Agassiz N.W.R.) PHS, JMJ.
Wilson's Phalarope
(Phalaropus tricolor)
48 No reports from the northeast. High count 130 at Salt L. in Lac qui Parle County on 8/4 (PCC, PHS). Statewide total only 389, far fewer that last year's fall total of 700. Late north 9/4 Traverse (10) BJU. Late south 9/22 Lac qui Parle PCC.
Red-necked Phalarope
(Phalaropus lobatus)
1112 Early north 8/3 Marshall (5, Agassiz N.W.R.) PHS, JMJ, 8/5 Marshall JMJ, then none until 8/17 Cass (2, Walker W.T.P.) DAY. Early south 8/1 Lac qui Parle (Salt L.) BJU, 8/2 Hennepin (2, Purgatory Creek, Eden Prairie) DWK. Late north 9/26 Traverse (St. Mary's L.) BJU and Cass (Longville W.T.P.) BAW. Late south 9/23 Brown (3, Sleepy Eye W.T.P.) BTS, 9/24 Lac qui Parle (9, Salt L.) BJU, 10/6 Yellow Medicine (1) PCC. High count 8/25 Pennington (214, Thief River Falls W.T.P.) PHS is second highest count for this species in Minnesota (220 were tallied at this same location 8/30/2002 by CRM, m.ob.). Also notable were 54 birds at Salt L. in Lac qui Parle on 9/2 (PCC). Statewide total of 623 individuals in 23 counties.
Jaegers
Parasitic Jaeger
(Stercorarius parasiticus)
1 All reports from St. Louis, beginning 9/4 (dark morph at Park Point, Duluth) DRB, then 9/14 (2 dark morph at Park Point, Duluth) PHS, 9/22 (juvenile) PHS, 9/30 (juvenile at Superior Entry) JCC, MLH.
LONG-TAILED JAEGER
(Stercorarius longicaudus)
1 One adult bird found 8/21 Marshall (just southwest of Agassiz N.W.R.) v.t. †SSw stayed through 9/2 ph. †KRE, ph. †JMJ, ph. †PHS, ph. ALB, ph. DWR. Ninth state record.
Stercorarius jaeger
(Stercorarius sp.)
2 One unidentified Stercorarius jaeger observed 9/3 over Springsteel Island in Roseau was possibly a Long-tailed (DiR, KRE). Another unidentified jaeger was seen 9/14 St. Louis (Park Point, Duluth) at the same time as two Parasitics PHS.
Gulls, Terns
Sabine's Gull
(Xema sabini)
34 More reports than usual, especially from southwestern Minnesota. All north reports: 9/3 Marshall (first-cycle) †PBB, KCR; 9/21–22 St. Louis (up to 3 first-cycle birds at Park Point, Duluth) †KRE, †JWL, ASc, NSc; 9/26 Cass (dead first-cycle gull found at Gull Island, Leech L.) ph. †BAW, DAY; 9/28 St. Louis (1 first-cycle at Superior Entry) †JPE; 10/5–6 St. Louis (first-cycle at Canal Park and Park Point, Duluth) †LBe, ph. MLH, †PHS, ph. SWe. All south reports: 9/16 Lac qui Parle (first-cycle in Agassiz Twp., Big Stone N.W.R.) †PCC; 9/22 Lac qui Parle (2 first-cycle at Salt L.) †PCC; 9/28–10/2 Lyon (first-cycle at Cottonwood L.) ph. †KRE, m.ob.; 10/6 Meeker (first-cycle at L. Ripley) †DMF and Yellow Medicine (first-cycle in Omro Twp., Lanners Lake W.M.A.) †PCC.
Bonaparte's Gull
(Chroicocephalus philadelphia)
2618 See summer report for early north and west-central observations. Early south 8/9 Goodhue (juvenile) BRL. High count of 950 found 10/21 on Mille Lacs L. in Crow Wing, Aitkin and Mille Lacs counties (AXH). Late north 11/23 Mille Lacs ASc, 11/24 Crow Wing JLO. Late south 11/22 Carver (L. Waconia) WCM, 11/25 Wabasha (3, L. Pepin) RBW.
BLACK-HEADED GULL
(Chroicocephalus ridibundus)
1 Observed at usual location at north end of Spirit L./Little Spirit L. along Minnesota/Iowa border in Jackson County beginning 8/10 †JPE, then 9/2 ph. †PHS, ph. †AXH, †PCC. Last observed there 10/12 JCC.
Little Gull
(Hydrocoloeus minutus)
2 All north reports: 9/23–28 St. Louis (winter-plumaged adult at Park Point and Superior Entry) †DRB, LBe, †JPE, 10/16 Cass (2 birds, one at Walker W.T.P. and another at Cass Lake W.T.P. which lingered to 10/20) ph. †BAW, BJU.
Franklin's Gull
(Leucophaeus pipixcan)
1836 High counts 8/8 Jackson (11,000, South Heron L.) KJB, 9/21 Jackson (3,500) DAB, 10/6 Carver (3,440, L. Waconia) WCM. Several unusual reports from Duluth in St. Louis between 8/18 and 9/26 (†PHS, m.ob.). Late north 10/21 Todd RBW and Becker JMJ, then 11/17 (ties second latest north) St. Louis DPG. Late south 10/30 Lac qui Parle BJU and Wright DPG, 11/3 Kandiyohi DPG.
Ring-billed Gull
(Larus delawarensis)
3544 Late north 11/23 St. Louis JCC, 11/24 Mille Lacs DPG. High counts 11/10 Isanti (2,500 in field southeast of S.R. 47 & 285th Ave.) DPG, 9/22 St. Louis (1,892 including Minnesota and Wisconsin sides of Superior Entry and Park Point, Duluth) PHS.
CALIFORNIA GULL
(Larus californicus)
1 First county record: 9/15–16 Cass (Walker City Park, second-cycle bird) ph. †BAW, †DAY, ph. ALB.
Herring Gull
(Larus argentatus)
1726 Early south 8/5 Goodhue LEC, 8/6 Big Stone (3rd-cycle in NW Prior Twp.) BJU (but also see summer report). High counts 10/10 St. Louis (4,100 at Superior Entry, mostly in Minnesota) KJB, 9/22 St. Louis (2,529; total includes Minnesota and Wisconsin sides of Superior Entry and Park Point, Duluth) PHS.
Iceland Gull
(Larus glaucoides)
11 Only north reports from St. Louis: 11/8–17 (first-cycle, Duluth) ph. †KJB, DRB, LBe. Reported south only from Dakota 11/29 (heavily marked first-cycle at Black Dog L.) †JPM, 11/29–30 (adult Kumlien's at Black Dog L.) †BAF, †JPM.
Lesser Black-backed Gull
(Larus fuscus)
13 A remarkable total of eleven individuals were found this season. Seven of these were in Duluth, St. Louis County, including adults 9/22 (DWK, JLO), 10/10 (ph. KJB), 10/11–17 (different adult, ph. KJB); second-cycle birds 9/12 (yellow legs, ph. KJB), 10/10 (pink legs, ph. KJB), 10/11 (third individual, KJB), and one or two birds 11/8–24 (KJB); first-cycle birds 10/5 †PHS and 11/10–17 †KJB, †PEB, ph. †KRE. No more than two individuals were ever seen together. At least one additional, distinguishable adult was also seen at the Superior landfill but was never reported from Minnesota. First reported south 9/5 Dakota (sub-adult in basic plumage) ADS, then 9/21 Hennepin (L. Calhoun) DDo and Dakota (adult in alternate plumage) ADS. High count south was also 2 (adults) on L. Calhoun in Hennepin on 11/21 PEB. Last reported south 11/29 Hennepin (L. Calhoun) JCC. First county record: 10/20 Stearns (bird molting into fourth basic plumage, Maine Prairie Twp., Pearl Lake; bird seen again on 10/27, 11/10, and 11/17 at same location) †PCC, HHD.
Glaucous Gull
(Larus hyperboreus)
22 All north reports: 11/11 Cook (first-cycle at Grand Marais harbor) fide JWL, 11/21 St. Louis (2 first-cycle at Canal Park, Duluth) PHS, 11/21 St. Louis (adult at 27th Ave. W in Duluth) KJB. All south reports: 11/22 Hennepin (first or second-cycle at L. Calhoun) PEB, 11/29 Dakota (adult) JPM, 11/30 Dakota (adult at Black Dog L.) BAF.
Great Black-backed Gull
(Larus marinus)
2 Reports from St. Louis: 9/8 (adult seen on Lake Superior “pelagic” boat trip near Wisconsin Point) m.ob., 11/17 (first-cycle, Duluth harbor) ph. KRE, 11/18 (a second first-cycle gull at the mouth of Miller Creek, distinguishable from 11/17 bird in photographs taken) ph. PHS. At least one of these first-cycle gulls lingered until 11/25 m.ob. One report also from Lake where a second-cycle gull was seen in Two Harbors on 11/23 JWL. Also see winter report.
Caspian Tern
(Hydroprogne caspia)
1114 Early north 8/3 Cass RPR, 8/14 Cass (12 at Pelican Island, Leech L.) ALB. Early south 8/14 Lac qui Parle (2, Big Stone N.W.R.) BJU, 8/16 Dakota ADS. High count 8/31 Dakota (25) JPM. Late north 10/1 Cass (3 at Pelican Island/Gull Island, Leech L.) BAW, 10/6 St. Louis JWL, SWe. Late south 9/10 Dakota (4, Black Dog L.) DWK, 9/11 Ramsey RBJ
Black Tern
(Chlidonias niger)
1220 Late north 9/4 Traverse BJU, 9/6 Douglas HHD. Late south 9/17 Lac qui Parle BJU, 9/21 Jackson (2) DAB. High count 8/8 Jackson (440, South Heron L.) KJB.
Common Tern
(Sterna hirundo)
84 Late north 10/2 Crow Wing (Garrison) MRN, 10/6 Cass (3 at Bear Island, Leech L.) BAW and St. Louis HHD, JWL. All south reports: 8/2 Sherburne PLJ, 8/19 Meeker (Belle L.) DMF, 9/8 Meeker (2, L. Ripley boat landing) DMF, 9/8 Chippewa (south end of Lac qui Parle L.) BJU, 9/9 Lac qui Parle (Wild Wings W.M.A.) BJU. High counts 8/3 Cass (120, Pelican Island) BAW, 8/29 St. Louis (115, Duluth) KJB.
ARCTIC TERN
(Sterna paradisaea)
1 Only report: 10/6 St. Louis (juvenile or sub-adult at Park Point, Duluth) †KRE, m.ob. This is the fifth year this species has been reported in the fall. All prior fall records have been since 2000, from Superior Entry or Park Point, and between 18 and 27 September.
Forster's Tern
(Sterna forsteri)
1212 High count 9/7 Big Stone (56, record fall count) WCM. Late north 9/16 St. Louis (adult in basic plumage at Superior Entry) PHS, 10/1 Cass (Pelican Island/Gull Island, Leech L.) BAW. Late south 10/4 Lincoln BJU, 10/14 McLeod PRH.
Loons
Red-throated Loon
(Gavia stellata)
2 All reports: 8/23–26 (record early) St. Louis (ad. in alternate plumage at Park Point) KJB, †PHS, †JWL, m.ob., 9/27–10/21 St. Louis (max. 3 at Park Point) KJB, †SLF, m.ob.
Pacific Loon
(Gavia pacifica)
12 Only Lake Superior report: 10/7–20 St. Louis (ad. at Park Point) KRE, †PHS, m.ob. Inland reports: 10/14 Meeker (juv. on L. Ripley) †DMF, 10/27–30 Stearns (juv. on Pearl L.) †PCC, m.ob.
Common Loon
(Gavia immer)
2013 High counts 10/22 Beltrami (460 on Lower Red L.) BJU, 10/21 Aitkin (110 on Mille Lacs L.) AXH. Late north 11/18 St. Louis PHS, 11/23 Hubbard PBB, Mille Lacs ASc. Late south 11/22 Hennepin PEB, 11/25 Carver DWK.
Frigatebirds
MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRD
(Fregata magnificens)
1 An adult female photographed 9/2 in Jackson (Spirit L., ph. †SJD, ph. †JGi, †ETh) was the first confirmed record of this species in Minnesota (The Loon 80:106–107), following three prior records of the Fregata genus: 2 individuals in 1988 and another in 2005.
Cormorants
Double-crested Cormorant
(Nannopterum auritum)
2742 High counts 10/20 Ramsey (310 at Pig's Eye Island) RBJ, 8/3 Cass (300 at Pelican Island, Leech L.) BAW. Late north 11/4 Cook KRE, m.ob., 11/17 Otter Tail DTT. Late south 11/24 Rice DAB, 11/25 Houston NBO, Meeker DMF, but also see winter report.
Pelicans
American White Pelican
(Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)
1738 High counts 9/11 Ramsey (426 at Pig's Eye Island) RBJ, 10/9 Blue Earth (400) ChH, 9/26 Lake (105 at Two Harbors) JWL, KRE. Late north 10/14 Marshall JMJ, Wilkin JCC, 10/20 Grant JLO, DWK. Late south 11/25 Houston NBO, 11/27 Lac qui Parle BJU, but also see winter report.
Bitterns, Herons, Egrets, Night-Herons
American Bittern
(Botaurus lentiginosus)
76 Late north 9/17 Marshall fide JMJ, 9/19 St. Louis SLF (median 10/10). Late south 9/29 Le Sueur DAB, RMD, JWH, 10/1 Houston RBW (median 10/15).
Least Bittern
(Ixobrychus exilis)
24 All reports: 8/1 Lac qui Parle (Caerulean W.M.A.) BJU, 8/5 Meeker (Minnesota L.) DMF, 8/11 Jackson (Spirit L.) CH, JWH, JCC, LS, 8/31 Blue Earth AXH, Marshall (Agassiz N.W.R.) BJU, 9/3 Itasca LS, Jackson (Spirit L.) PHS, JWH.
Great Blue Heron
(Ardea herodias)
3146 Late north 10/21 Aitkin AXH and Wadena PJB, 11/24 Crow Wing JLO.
Great Egret
(Ardea alba)
2338 Several reports north of normal range in the North-central and Northwest regions between August and early October. Two northeast reports: 9/16 St. Louis (near Boulder L.) DAG, 9/22 St. Louis MCA. Late north 10/14 Traverse JCC, 10/20 Becker HHD, Grant and Otter Tail DWK. Late south 11/4 Hennepin BAF, 11/10 Meeker DMF.
Snowy Egret
(Egretta thula)
3 All reports: 8/17–20 Lac qui Parle (Lac qui Parle W.M.A.) BJU, 8/27 Benton and Stearns (Mississippi R. in Sartell) HHD, 9/16 Lac qui Parle (2 at Big Stone N.W.R.) PCC, 10/11 Lac qui Parle (Big Stone N.W.R.) BJU.
Little Blue Heron
(Egretta caerulea)
2 Only reports: 8/15 Scott (ad. at Fisher L.) RMD, 8/24 Swift (ad. at Lac qui Parle W.M.A.) BJU.
Cattle Egret
(Bubulcus ibis)
14 All reports: 8/3 Meeker (Ellsworth Twp.) DMF, 8/7 Pipestone (Eden Twp.) BJU, 9/18 Lac qui Parle (2 in Agassiz Twp.) BJU, 9/19 Anoka (near Elk River) CKB, 10/30 Lake (6 near Split Rock R.) fide JWL.
Green Heron
(Butorides virescens)
2127 High count 8/4 Sherburne (12) ASc. Late north 10/2 Cass BAW, 10/3 Todd MSK. Late south 10/4 Faribault RBW and Le Sueur RMD, 10/8 Hennepin DWK.
Black-crowned Night-Heron
(Nycticorax nycticorax)
313 All north: 8/3 Otter Tail (Fergus Falls) DTT, 8/31–9/8 Marshall (Agassiz N.W.R.) BJU, JMJ, 10/6 St. Louis (Park Point, Duluth) SWe. Late south 9/30 Yellow Medicine LS, 10/27 Hennepin HCT.
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron
(Nyctanassa violacea)
1 Only documented report: 9/17–10/6 Hennepin (L. Hiawatha) †DDo, ph. †BAF, †DWK, †CMB, ph. †PEB, m.ob.
Ibises
Plegadis ibis
(Plegadis sp.)
3 All documented reports of unidentified Plegadis: 8/11 Big Stone (Toqua Twp.) †PHS, 8/25–9/9 Big Stone (max. 6 at Toqua Twp.) †PCC, 9/30–10/2 Lyon (2 juv. at Black Rush L.) †KRE, RBJ, m.ob., 10/26–11/1 Houston (Wildcat Landing) †FZL, JWH, NBO, 11/1 Brown (Albin Twp) †BTS. Also see undocumented reports.
New World Vultures
Turkey Vulture
(Cathartes aura)
2243 Peak count 10/4 St. Louis (188 at H.R.B.O.) EMG, KJB. Late north 10/10 Lake JWL, 10/24 St. Louis (H.R.B.O.) EMG, KJB. Late south 10/21 Chisago MHe and Fillmore NBO, 11/10 Swift BJU, but also see winter report.
Osprey
Osprey
(Pandion haliaetus)
2023 Peak count 9/6 St. Louis (18 at H.R.B.O.) EMG, KJB. Late north 10/24 St. Louis BCM, 11/4 Pine RMD. Late south 10/31 Dakota JPM, 11/4 Olmsted JWH.
Kites, Accipiters, Hawks, Eagles
Golden Eagle
(Aquila chrysaetos)
35 All north reports: 9/5 Kanabec CAM, 9/15 Lake (2 at Wilson L. in east-central Lake County, away from Lake Superior) AXH, 10/13 St. Louis ABL, 10/22 St. Louis (2 juveniles at H.R.B.O.) PHS, 10/27 Lake LS, KRE, JCC, 11/4 St. Louis (H.R.B.O.) LS. All south reports: 10/4 Lincoln (adult at L. Benton) BJU, 10/13 Kandiyohi DPG, 11/14 Meeker DMF, 11/28 Lac qui Parle (adult in Perry Twp.) BJU, 11/29 Waseca JJS. No significant counts.
Northern Harrier
(Circus hudsonius)
3337 Peak number 52 on 9/14 at H.R.B.O. in St. Louis. Late north 11/14 St. Louis (H.R.B.O.) EMG, KJB, 11/24 Aitkin and Kanabec DPG.
Sharp-shinned Hawk
(Accipiter striatus)
2034 Record early south (neither with details) 8/4 Brown BTS and 8/5 Anoka DPG (median 8/15). High count 10/3 St. Louis (1,502 at H.R.B.O.) EMG, KJB. Late north 11/4 Cook LS, 11/25 St. Louis (H.R.B.O.) EMG, KJB, but also see winter report.
Cooper's Hawk
(Accipiter cooperii)
2135 High count 9/22 St. Louis (13 at H.R.B.O.) EMG, KJB. Late north 10/21 Morrison CAM, 10/31 St. Louis (H.R.B.O.) EMG, KJB, but also see winter report.
American Goshawk
(Accipiter atricapillus)
62 All north reports: Cass, Koochiching, Lake, Lake of the Woods, St. Louis, Todd. Seasonal total of 200 from H.R.B.O. well below average of 765. All south reports: 11/19 Olmsted JLO, JWH, 11/30 Sherburne ASc.
Bald Eagle
(Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
3344 High counts 11/3 St. Louis (206 at H.R.B.O.) EMG, KJB, 11/18 Houston (195 at Pool 8 of Mississippi R.; includes birds in WI) BAF.
Red-shouldered Hawk
(Buteo lineatus)
612 All north reports: 8/1–10/3 Mille Lacs ASc, 8/1–10/21 Otter Tail DTT, JMJ, DWR, 8/24 Beltrami DFN, 9/17–27 Cass BAW, 9/29 Becker DFN, 10/9 Todd MSK.
Broad-winged Hawk
(Buteo platypterus)
1527 High counts 9/14 St. Louis (8,983 at H.R.B.O.) EMG, KJB, 9/15 Lake (221 at Wilson L., away from Lake Superior.) AXH. Late north 10/6 Pine MHe, 10/13 St. Louis (H.R.B.O.) EMG, KJB. Late south 10/1 Hennepin PEB, 10/13 Scott LEC.
Swainson's Hawk
(Buteo swainsoni)
215 Only north reports: 8/6 Traverse BJU, 9/14–27 St. Louis (total of 5 at H.R.B.O.) EMG, KJB. Late south 10/12 Dakota RLW, JWo, 10/13 Kandiyohi DPG.
Red-tailed Hawk
(Buteo jamaicensis)
3351 Peak count 10/13 St. Louis (835 at H.R.B.O.) EMG, KJB.
Rough-legged Hawk
(Buteo lagopus)
2215 Early north 10/12 St. Louis (H.R.B.O.) EMG, KJB, 10/20 Becker HHD and Cass BJU. Early south 10/4 Lincoln BJU, 10/18 Swift BJU.
FERRUGINOUS HAWK
(Buteo regalis)
No reports.
Screech-Owls, Owls
Eastern Screech-Owl
(Megascops asio)
8 Reported from Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Lac qui Parle, McLeod, Meeker, Rice, Swift. No north reports.
Great Horned Owl
(Bubo virginianus)
2022 Reported throughout the state.
Snowy Owl
(Bubo scandiacus)
51 North reports beginning 11/10 Kittson (near Lancaster) LW, then 11/11 Kittson (near Orleans) LW, 11/14–15 Marshall (Agassiz N.W.R.) MA, 11/16 Cook BRL, 11/19 Polk (near Climax) DLT, 11/26 Roseau (Roseau River W.M.A.) SWd. Only south report: 11/20 Ramsey (Tamarack N.C.) m.ob.
Northern Hawk Owl
(Surnia ulula)
1 All reports: 11/10 St. Louis (near Cotton) BKY, 11/29 St. Louis (S.R. 61/C.R. 42) fide JWL.
BURROWING OWL
(Athene cunicularia)
11 One lingered in Clay from early July until 10/2 (see summer report for more details). A total of 4 birds (2 adults and 2 young, though only one adult and one juvenile documented) was discovered near probable nest site near Edgerton in Pipestone beginning 8/6 ph. DAC, ph. JeF, RBJ and subsequently seen by several observers through 8/18.
Barred Owl
(Strix varia)
1112 Reported in all regions and as far southwest as Brown.
Great Gray Owl
(Strix nebulosa)
1 Only report: 11/22 Lake BET.
Long-eared Owl
(Asio otus)
6 All reports: 11/9–10 Hennepin m.ob., 11/10 Ramsey AXH, 11/11 Rice TFB, 11/17 Blue Earth (3) RMD, 11/21 Meeker DMF, 11/22 Ramsey (different location than previously reported bird) AXH, 11/24 Rice DAB, 11/25 Carver (2, Carver Park Reserve) DWK. No north reports.
Short-eared Owl
(Asio flammeus)
85 Reported from Aitkin, Cass, Itasca, Marshall, Polk, Roseau, St. Louis, and Wilkin in the north and Anoka, Cottonwood, Dakota, Lac qui Parle, and Meeker in the south. Total of 25 individuals reported.
Boreal Owl
(Aegolius funereus)
1 Only report: 11/10 Douglas (injured bird retrieved at Lake Carlos S.P.) fide JMJ.
Northern Saw-whet Owl
(Aegolius acadicus)
54 Early north 8/9 Pine JMP, 8/18–19 St. Louis (juvenile at Park Point, Duluth) JCC, LS, 8/19 Cass DAY. All south reports: 10/29 Hennepin JLO, 11/10 Anoka and Ramsey AXH, 11/12 Rice TFB, 11/22 Anoka (different location than previously reported bird) AXH.
Kingfishers
Belted Kingfisher
(Megaceryle alcyon)
2744 Reported throughout the state. Last reported north 11/3 St. Louis SMC.
Woodpeckers
Red-headed Woodpecker
(Melanerpes erythrocephalus)
925 Reported from Cass, Douglas, Isanti, Itasca, Mille Lacs, Otter Tail, Pennington, Todd, and Wadena in the north; last reported north 9/19 Pennington JMJ. Last reported south 11/11 Blue Earth RMD and Lac qui Parle BJU, but see winter report for overwintering birds. High count 9/8 Anoka (7) RBJ.
Red-bellied Woodpecker
(Melanerpes carolinus)
1944 Reported throughout the state in all regions, including 10/28 Cook fide JWL.
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
(Sphyrapicus varius)
2235 Late north 10/27–28 Cook JCC, LS. Late south 10/30 Anoka JBB, then 11/28–29 Hennepin (juvenile in Bloomington), but see winter report for possible overwintering birds. High count 10/14 Cook (10) JWH.
American Three-toed Woodpecker
(Picoides dorsalis)
5 Reported from Aitkin, Cook, Koochiching, Lake, and St. Louis beginning 10/9 Cook fide JWL. High count 10/22 St. Louis (3, H.R.B.O.) EMG, KJB; statewide count of 20 for the season.
Black-backed Woodpecker
(Picoides arcticus)
10 Reported from Aitkin, Beltrami, Cass, Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Roseau, and St. Louis. High counts 10/22 St. Louis (23, statewide record high count at H.R.B.O., where 83 were seen for the season) EMG, KJB, 10/21 St. Louis (22, between Duluth and Knife River in Lake County) KRE.
Downy Woodpecker
(Dryobates pubescens)
3449 Reported throughout the state.
Hairy Woodpecker
(Dryobates villosus)
3043 Reported throughout the state.
Northern Flicker
(Colaptes auratus)
3144 Reported from all regions of the state, but last reported north 10/28 Clay (2) PBB, 10/29 Carlton LAW. High count 9/26 St. Louis (22) PHS.
Pileated Woodpecker
(Dryocopus pileatus)
2729 Reported from all regions of the state as far southwest as Brown and Lyon.
Caracaras, Falcons
American Kestrel
(Falco sparverius)
2746 Last reported north 11/13 St. Louis JCC, 11/24 Kanabec DPG. Observed south throughout the season.
Merlin
(Falco columbarius)
1920 Juvenile seen 8/7 near L. Hiawatha in Minneapolis (Hennepin County) where probable breeding occurred (BAF, HCT). Early south (median 8/21) 8/22 Brown BTS. Late north 11/10 Beltrami DPJ and Lake PEB, 11/17 St. Louis (Park Point) LAV, but also see winter report.
Peregrine Falcon
(Falco peregrinus)
519 Last reported north 11/5 Lake CRM, 11/10 St. Louis PEB, but see winter report. Observed south throughout the season.
Prairie Falcon
(Falco mexicanus)
11 Two reports: 9/16 Stearns (near Greenwald) †JPE, 10/20 Clay (near Buffalo River S.P.) PBB.
Flycatchers
Great Crested Flycatcher
(Myiarchus crinitus)
1831 Late north 9/3 Traverse BJU, 9/4 Hubbard LBF, followed by 10/27 Lake †BAF, carefully studied to eliminate the possibility of a vagrant Ash-throated Flycatcher (median 9/19). Late south 9/15 Pope HHD, 9/21 Yellow Medicine RBW, 10/6 Ramsey BRL (median 9/22).
Western Kingbird
(Tyrannus verticalis)
68 All north reports 8/6 Traverse (5) BJU, 8/23 Itasca (White Oak L. boat landing) JWL, 8/27 St. Louis (Duluth) KJB, 8/31 Becker DPG, Pennington BJU, 9/2 Roseau CRM (median late north 9/10). Late south 8/24 Swift (2) BJU, 9/4 Lac qui Parle BJU (median 9/9).
Eastern Kingbird
(Tyrannus tyrannus)
2337 High count 8/4 Hubbard (7) PBB. Late north 9/4 Hubbard (2) LBF, Traverse BJU, 9/9 Todd MSK, 9/15 Carlton LAW (median 9/18). Late south 9/10 Benton MRN, Scott JEB, Yellow Medicine BJU, 9/12 Redwood JEB, 9/14 Stevens HHD (median 9/23).
Olive-sided Flycatcher
(Contopus cooperi)
728 Early south (median 8/3) 8/5 Carver DWK, JCC, 8/7 Lac qui Parle BJU, Pipestone BJU, 8/10 Murray HHD. All north reports 8/18 Pine HHD, 8/25 Hubbard JWH, 8/31 Marshall, Norman BJU, 9/2 Todd MSK and finally 9/7 Carlton RBW matching the 9/7 median. Late south 9/10 Dakota DWK, Yellow Medicine (2) BJU, 9/23 Fillmore NBO (median 9/21).
Eastern Wood-Pewee
(Contopus virens)
2535 High count 8/25 Scott (21, Murphy-Hanrehan P.R.) BAF. Late north 9/8 Pine DPG, 9/12 Carlton LAW, 9/15 Lake AXH (median 9/19). Late south 9/22 Washington DFN, 9/23 Fillmore NBO, 9/28 Jackson BJU (median 10/3).
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
(Empidonax flaviventris)
15 All north reports with ID notes: 8/13 St. Louis PHS, 8/28 St. Louis PHS, 9/5 St. Louis PHS. All south reports with notes: 8/16 Sherburne ASc, 8/17 Olmsted JWH, 8/24 Swift BJU, 8/25 Rice DAB, 8/26 Le Sueur RMD, plus birds banded 8/28, 8/31, 9/19 Rice DAT. Reported without details from one additional north and 8 south counties. Note: During spring and fall migration, undocumented records of silent Empidonax flycatchers are not included in this report. Observers are encouraged to include identification details in their reports.
Acadian Flycatcher
(Empidonax virescens)
1 Only report from RBJ on 9/17 in Carver, where heard and seen in his backyard.
Alder Flycatcher
(Empidonax alnorum)
32 All north reports with ID notes: 8/4 Hubbard PBB (vocalized), 8/10 St. Louis SLF (vocalized), 8/12 St. Louis TPW (in-hand), 8/26 Cass MRN (in-hand). All south reports noting vocalizations: 8/15 Lac qui Parle BJU, 8/23 Lac qui Parle BJU, 8/26 Le Sueur (2) RMD. Additional reports without details from two north and five south counties.
Willow Flycatcher
(Empidonax traillii)
4 All reports of vocalizing birds: 8/1 Lac qui Parle BJU, 8/2 Scott (2) BAF, 8/3 Olmsted JWH, 8/23 Blue Earth RMD. Reported without details from an additional six south counties.
Least Flycatcher
(Empidonax minimus)
48 High count 9/5 St. Louis (8) PHS. Late north 9/3 Traverse BJU (vocalizing), 9/5 St. Louis PHS (vocalizing), 9/15 St. Louis PHS (appearance and vocalizations). Late south reports of vocalizing birds 9/12 Wabasha JWH, 9/15 Le Sueur (2) RMD and Scott BAF. Reported without details from an additional 6 north and 20 south counties.
Eastern Phoebe
(Sayornis phoebe)
2444 High count 10/7 Scott (6) WCM. Late north 10/3 Mille Lacs ASc, 10/4 Carlton LAW, 10/9 Otter Tail SPM (median 10/14). Late south reports 10/16 Yellow Medicine RBJ, 10/17 Dakota JEB, Olmsted JWH, 10/19 Hennepin DWK — all well before the 10/31 median date.
Say's Phoebe
(Sayornis saya)
11 Casual species reported during the fall season for the third consecutive year. New county record: 9/9 Sherburne (Sherburne N.W.R.) ph. †SMC. North report 9/25–26 St. Louis (Park Point) ph. †KRE, †JWL, ph. †PHS, LBe was a second county record.
Vireos
Bell's Vireo
(Vireo bellii)
No reports.
Yellow-throated Vireo
(Vireo flavifrons)
1625 High count 8/25 Scott (7, Murphy-Hanrehan P.R.) BAF. Late north 9/4 Hubbard, Wadena LBF, 9/7 Mille Lacs ASc, 9/16 Carlton LAW (median 9/19). Late south 9/22 Anoka JBB, Dakota SWe, Washington LS, 10/8 Ramsey BRL (median 9/27).
Blue-headed Vireo
(Vireo solitarius)
1336 Early south (median 8/20) 8/22 Sherburne ASc, Washington LS, 8/23 Lac qui Parle BJU, 8/26 McLeod PRH. High counts 9/8 Hennepin (6) HCT, 9/9 Lac qui Parle (6) BJU. Late north 9/19 Mille Lacs ASc, St. Louis PHS, 9/22 Crow Wing HHD, St. Louis MCA, (4) ERo, 10/1 St. Louis SLF (median 10/11). Late south 10/3 Ramsey RBW, BRL, Waseca JPS, 10/7 Scott WCM, 10/24 Rock DAT (median 10/16).
Philadelphia Vireo
(Vireo philadelphicus)
1223 New county record: 9/3 Jackson JWH. Early south (median 8/20) 8/15 Lac qui Parle BJU, 8/21 Sherburne PLJ, 8/25 Scott DWK. High count 9/2 Scott (5, Murphy-Hanrehan P.R.) BAF. Late north all from St. Louis: 9/20 PHS, 9/26 LMS, 9/28 SLF (median 9/26). Late south 9/28 Carver WCM, 10/1 Le Sueur RMD, 10/7 Scott BAF (median 10/1).
Warbling Vireo
(Vireo gilvus)
1629 Late north 9/3 Roseau CRM, 9/7 Mille Lacs ASc, 9/22 St. Louis MCA (median 9/10). Late south 9/14 Stevens HHD, 9/15 Martin RBW, Waseca DAB, JWH, 9/16 Lyon DWK (median 9/25).
Red-eyed Vireo
(Vireo olivaceus)
2639 Record-high count 8/28 St. Louis (43 at Southworth Marsh in Duluth) PHS, also 9/2 Scott (37, Murphy-Hanrehan P.R., south trails) BAF. Late north all from St. Louis: 9/28 DWR, JRN, 9/29 JCC, 10/7 SLF (median 9/30). Late south 9/27 Dakota, Scott JEB, 9/28 Ramsey REH, 10/1 Hennepin (2, Westwood N.C.) DWK (median 10/5).
Shrikes
Loggerhead Shrike
(Lanius ludovicianus)
13 Only north report 8/31 Polk BJU. All south: 8/7 Pipestone BJU, 8/11 Dakota LEC, 8/17 Lac qui Parle BJU, 8/19 Dakota ADS (median late 9/4). Also see undocumented reports.
Northern Shrike
(Lanius borealis)
2432 Reported from all regions, but only Yellow Medicine in the Southwest. Early north (median 10/8) 10/11 St. Louis MLH, 10/12 St. Louis JWL, 10/13 Cass BAW. Early south (median 10/16) 10/12 Chisago RBW, Sherburne PLJ, 10/14 Chisago MHe. High count 11/4 Clay (10) PBB.
Jays, Nutcrackers, Magpies, Crows
Canada Jay
(Perisoreus canadensis)
9 Reported from nine counties within normal range. Last year's significant irruption was not repeated, but seasonal movement indicated by numerous late September through late October reports from the North Shore and Duluth was observed.
Blue Jay
(Cyanocitta cristata)
3550 Reported statewide throughout the period. All high counts from H.R.B.O. in St. Louis (EMG, KJB): 4,826 on 9/10, 3,736 on 9/17. Seasonal count of 25,319 at H.R.B.O. High count away from the North Shore 9/25 Nicollet (29) RMD.
Black-billed Magpie
(Pica hudsonia)
14 Reported from seven Northwest and seven North-central counties. High counts 9/3 Marshall (30) PBB, 8/31 Marshall (26) ASc.
American Crow
(Corvus brachyrhynchos)
3449 Reported throught the season statewide. High count 10/11 St. Louis (2,663 at H.R.B.O.) EMG, KJB.
Common Raven
(Corvus corax)
221 All south reports from Sherburne: 8/4 (C.R. 9 between Blue Hill Trail and Old Schoolhouse) JBB, 9/11 PLJ, 11/17 (2, Ann Lake & C.R. 5) ASc, 11/18 PRH. High count 11/16 Lake (60, Castle Danger Landfill) DWK.
Chickadees, Titmice
Black-capped Chickadee
(Poecile atricapillus)
3450 Reported statewide. Major movement reported along the North Shore, with over 200 banded 9/23–27 H.R.B.O. fide DAG.
Boreal Chickadee
(Poecile hudsonicus)
12 Significant North Shore irruption including 27 counted on 10/27 between McQuade Road (St. Louis) and Iona's Beach (Lake) KRE, JWL, m.ob.; 17 reported from St. Louis that same day by JCC; and 15 found in St. Louis between Duluth and Knife River on 10/21 KRE.
Tufted Titmouse
(Baeolophus bicolor)
6 Reported from Dakota, Fillmore, Houston, Olmsted, Rice, Washington.
Larks
Horned Lark
(Eremophila alpestris)
1734 High count 8/4 Chisago (180, North Branch sod farms) DWK. Late north 11/2 Cook DWK, St. Louis FKB, 11/4 Cook LS, HHD but see winter report (median 11/24).
Martins, Swallows
Bank Swallow
(Riparia riparia)
1428 Second highest fall count on record 8/9 Jackson (1,600, South Heron L.) KJB. Late north 9/2 Kittson JCC, CRM, LS, 9/4 Traverse BJU, 9/15 St. Louis LS (median 9/9). Late south 9/12 Brown JEB, 9/15 Le Sueur and Nicollet ChH, 9/16 Lac qui Parle BJU (median 9/17).
Tree Swallow
(Tachycineta bicolor)
2842 High counts 8/18 Mille Lacs (1,000, “thousands along lakefront”) ASc, 9/28 Hennepin (580, Sylvan Lake) PEB, 8/26 Stearns (500, south of Cold Spring) PBD, 8/30 Stearns (500, Albany Ponds) JCC. Late north 9/26 Traverse BJU, 10/9 Lake JWL, Todd MSK 10/10 St. Louis JRN (median 10/2). Late south 10/1 Le Sueur RMD, Wright DPG, 10/3 Waseca (100, Moonan Marsh) JPS, 10/9 Sherburne RBJ (median 10/18).
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
(Stelgidopteryx serripennis)
616 High count 8/14 Big Stone (27) BJU. All north reports 8/1 Cass BAW, 8/4 Pine LS, 8/6 Traverse BJU, 8/31 Polk, Red Lake BJU, 9/4 Traverse BJU, 9/15 Douglas DTT (median departure 9/6). Late south 9/11 Washington RBJ, 9/13 Sherburne RBJ, 9/23 Stevens RBW, well before 10/3 median.
Purple Martin
(Progne subis)
1425 High count 8/3 Cass (500, Pelican Island) BAW. Late north 9/4 Traverse BJU, 9/5 Todd MSK, 9/6 Douglas HHD (median 9/8). Late south 9/2 Jackson BJU, Yellow Medicine RBW, 9/9 Lac qui Parle BJU (median 9/15).
Barn Swallow
(Hirundo rustica)
3446 High count 8/19 Carlton (110) DWK. Late north 9/26 Traverse BJU, 10/9 Lake (5, Two Harbors) JWL, 10/16 Todd MSK (median 10/8). Late south 10/9 Blue Earth (4) ChH, 10/11 Lac qui Parle BJU, 10/13 Lac qui Parle (3) PHS (median 10/17).
Cliff Swallow
(Petrochelidon pyrrhonota)
2136 No significantly high counts reported. Late north 9/2 Clay DPG, Grant, Traverse and Wilkin HHD, 9/4 Traverse BJU, 9/6 Douglas HHD (median 9/15). Late south 9/15 Le Sueur and Nicollet ChH, Pope HHD, Scott REH, 9/24 Lac qui Parle BJU, 10/12 Houston (33) JWH (median 9/28).
Kinglets
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
(Corthylio calendula)
2850 Early south (median 8/28) 8/22 Dakota DDo, 8/26 Dakota SWe, Meeker DMF, 9/1 Lac qui Parle BJU. High counts 10/7 Scott (42, Murphy-Hanrehan P.R., south horse and pet trails) BAF, 10/14 Scott (30, Louisville Swamp) BAF, 10/6 Pine (20, St. Croix S.P.) MHe. Late north 10/22 Beltrami, Lake of the Woods BJU, 10/26 Lake BAF, 10/27 St. Louis SLF (median 11/1). Many south reports through 10/21, then only 10/25 Waseca RBW, 11/8 Ramsey REH, well ahead of the 11/21 median.
Golden-crowned Kinglet
(Regulus satrapa)
2232 First south reports away from known summering locations (median 9/16) 9/25 Lac qui Parle FAE, 9/27 Dakota, Scott JEB, 9/28 Blue Earth JJS, Ramsey REH. Only November north report 11/21 St. Louis FKB.
Waxwings
Bohemian Waxwing
(Bombycilla garrulus)
161 Early north (median 10/4) 9/21 St. Louis ABL, H.R.B.O., 9/22 St. Louis fide JWL, 9/26 Lake (10 at Knife River, including 2 juveniles) JWL, KRE. Arrived throughout the north region by late October. Only south report three birds in a flock of Cedar Waxwings 11/17 Sherburne ASc (median 11/6). High counts 11/16 Cook (120, Grand Marais campground) DWK, 11/22 Lake (120, Knife River) fide JWL.
Cedar Waxwing
(Bombycilla cedrorum)
3447 Found throughout the state. High counts 8/23 St. Louis (706 at H.R.B.O.) EMG, KJB, 10/14 Scott (120) BAF, 8/14 Mille Lacs (100) ASc, 8/30 Anoka (100) DPG.
Nuthatches
Red-breasted Nuthatch
(Sitta canadensis)
3151 Present south from beginning of the period, well-represented in all regions. High count 8/31 St. Louis (176, H.R.B.O.) EMG, KJB.
White-breasted Nuthatch
(Sitta carolinensis)
3448 Reported statewide.
Creepers
Brown Creeper
(Certhia americana)
2027 Early south 8/17 Anoka DWK (same location as summer report). First migrants (median 9/3) 9/12 Wabasha JWH, 9/15 Hennepin HCT and Scott BAF.
Gnatcatchers
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
(Polioptila caerulea)
227 Only north report 9/3 Traverse BJU. Late south 9/16 Brown JSS, 9/21 Renville RBW, 9/22 Fillmore NBO (median 9/24).
Wrens
Carolina Wren
(Thryothorus ludovicianus)
5 All reports 9/10 Fillmore (Forestville S.P.) RLE, 9/15–28 Brown (Lake Hanska C.P.) JEB, JJS, 9/28–10/15 Olmsted OWB, 10/12–11/18 Houston (Reno causeway parking area) JWH, †BAF, 11/28 Dakota JLi.
House Wren
(Troglodytes aedon)
1740 Late north 9/19 Pennington JMJ, 9/22 St. Louis DWK, 9/24 Clay RHO (median 10/4). Late south 10/4 Freeborn RBW, Washington RBJ, 10/7 Scott WCM, BAF, Washington DFN (median 10/16). Also see undocumented reports.
Winter Wren
(Troglodytes hiemalis)
524 Early south (median 9/7) 8/25 Sherburne ASc, 9/8 Lac qui Parle BJU, 9/12 Washington LMS. Late north 10/17 St. Louis (2) SLF, 10/19 Mille Lacs ASc, 10/22 St. Louis LAW (median 10/4). Late south 10/20 Scott BAF, Wright RBW, 10/21 Dakota BAF, Fillmore NBO, 11/24 Hennepin JCC (median 12/13).
Sedge Wren
(Cistothorus stellaris)
829 Late north 9/2 Clay DPG, 9/3 St. Louis (5, also high count) TPW, 9/4 Traverse BJU more than a month before the 10/12 median. Late south 10/3 Olmsted JWH, 10/6 Brown BTS, 10/13 Dakota PEJ (median 10/12).
Marsh Wren
(Cistothorus palustris)
1225 Late north 9/3 Lake of the Woods JJS, CRM, 9/4 Traverse BJU, Wadena LBF, 9/8 Marshall JMJ, well before the 10/13 median. Late south 10/13 Lincoln JCC, 10/17 Hennepin DWK, 10/22 Rice TFB (median 11/4).
Thrashers, Mockingbirds
Gray Catbird
(Dumetella carolinensis)
2542 High count 9/2 Scott (22 along south trails of Murphy-Hanrehan P.R.) BAF. Many north reports through 9/29 Becker DFN, but only two October reports: 10/21 St. Louis SLF and 10/27 Lake JCC (median 10/29). Latest south reports 10/8 Scott RBJ, 10/12 Yellow Medicine BJU, 10/18 Winona JOb, all well before 11/21 median.
Brown Thrasher
(Toxostoma rufum)
1020 Most birds had departed the state well ahead of recent medians, with only one October report north and two south; no November reports. Late north 9/22 St. Louis ALB, 9/29 Cass MRN, 10/10 Todd MSK (median 12/16). Late south 9/28 Jackson BJU, 10/10 Rice DAB, 10/13 Brown JSS, but see winter report.
Northern Mockingbird
(Mimus polyglottos)
21 Only north reports: 9/15 Cook fide AXH and 11/17–29 St. Louis (Hoyt Lakes) †NAJ, LS, JCC, ph. MLH. From the south, only sighting 10/6 Hennepin (Bass Ponds) DSw.
Starlings
European Starling
(Sturnus vulgaris)
3252 Many reports from all regions. High count 9/18 Pope (600) DPG.
Thrushes
Eastern Bluebird
(Sialia sialis)
3045 High count 10/14 Scott (52) BAF. Late north 11/2 St. Louis HHD, 11/3 St. Louis LS, 11/6 Mille Lacs ASc (median 11/14), but also see winter report. Present throughout the period south.
MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD
(Sialia currucoides)
3 All reports from the North Shore: 10/23 Lake (female at Castle Danger W.T.P.) fide JWL; female and immature male present 10/27–11/11 Cook (Grand Marais municipal campground and nearby) SLL, ph. JWL, ph. CGu (male), †KRE, m.ob.; and 11/2 St. Louis (female near Sky Harbor Airport) CMB.
Townsend's Solitaire
(Myadestes townsendi)
56 New county record 11/10 Le Sueur (near Elysian) CAK. First north reports (median 10/12) 10/10 Lake (Knife River) KRE, JWL, 10/20 Cook (Taconite Harbor) fide JWL, 10/24 St. Louis (H.R.B.O.) SPM. Only north report from outside the Northeast 11/13 Clay DWR. Additional south reports 10/28 Dakota (Sand Coulee S.N.A.) LWh, 11/17–25 Olmsted (2 near Oronoco) RLE, ph. JLO, m.ob., 11/17–18 Sherburne (Ann Lake, 4th consecutive year at this location) ASc, PRH, 11/21 Chisago RMa, 11/24 Mower JEM. A total of 17 individuals, compared to 39 reported the prior fall.
Veery
(Catharus fuscescens)
139 Late north 9/1 Marshall HHD, 9/15 Aitkin DPG, Lake AXH (median 9/14). Late south 9/1 Scott BAF, 9/3 Anoka DWK, Lac qui Parle BJU, then no further reports until 9/30 Dakota RLW, well after the 9/17 median.
Gray-cheeked Thrush
(Catharus minimus)
26 All north reports from Cass and St. Louis. Early north (median 9/3) 8/13 St. Louis PHS, 8/28 St. Louis PHS. Early south (median 9/2) 8/29 Hennepin ALD, 9/1 Lac qui Parle BJU, 9/8 Blue Earth RMD, Meeker DMF. Late north 9/19 Cass BAW, 9/29 St. Louis PHS (median 10/3). Late south 10/3 Rice TFB, 10/6 Hennepin JWH (median 10/6).
Swainson's Thrush
(Catharus ustulatus)
1523 Early south (median 8/10) 8/14 Sherburne ASc, 8/22 Lac qui Parle BJU, 8/25 Hennepin DWK. High count 9/15 Lake (20 at Wilson L. in east-central Lake County) AXH. Late north 10/7 St. Louis SES, 10/21 St. Louis PHS, followed by one November report at a feeder near Eldred, 11/14 Polk (no details) DLT (median 10/17). Late south 10/6 Anoka RBJ, Fillmore (2) NBO, Hennepin BAF, DAB, JWH, 10/7 Washington DFN, 10 days prior to 10/17 median.
Hermit Thrush
(Catharus guttatus)
1229 Early south (median 9/12) 9/27 Dakota JEB, 9/28 Jackson BJU, 10/1 Hennepin PEB, Sherburne PLJ. Record high count 10/7 Scott (22, at Murphy-Hanrehan P.R.) BAF. Late north 10/19 Morrison CAM, 10/22 Lake SLF, St. Louis PHS, 11/3 St. Louis SLF (median 10/28). Late south 10/31 Hennepin DWK, 11/4 Scott RBW, but see winter report.
Wood Thrush
(Hylocichla mustelina)
35 After August north reports from Mille Lacs and Norman, the only report was of a record-late bird 11/10–12 Clay (Moorhead) JWH, PBB (median 9/5). Late south reports 8/25 Scott BAF, 8/28 Sherburne ASc, 9/1 Meeker DMF were well before the 10/1 median.
American Robin
(Turdus migratorius)
3249 High count of 1,493 10/10 St. Louis (H.R.B.O.) EMG, KJB. Highest count away from North Shore 10/14 Scott (560) BAF.
Varied Thrush
(Ixoreus naevius)
2 All reports: 11/28+ St. Louis, a male which subsequently over-wintered at an east Duluth feeder fide JWL, 11/30 Lake (male found frozen under feeders in Castle Danger) JWL.
Old World Sparrows
House Sparrow
(Passer domesticus)
2948 Statewide.
Pipits
American Pipit
(Anthus rubescens)
1724 Early north (median 9/10) 8/25 Pennington (Thief River Falls W.T.P., second-earliest fall arrival date on record.) PHS, 8/31 Marshall BJU, 9/4 Marshall BJU. Early south (median 9/15) 9/8 Rice TFB, 9/10 Scott JEB, 9/14 Sherburne ASc. High counts 10/13 Yellow Medicine (151) PHS, 10/28 Dakota (100) JPM, ADS. Late north 11/4 Cook (Grand Marais) LS, 11/6 Cook CRM, 11/11 St. Louis SLF (median 11/4). Late south 11/3 Carver RPR, 11/4 Cottonwood BTS 11/6, Lac qui Parle (28) BJU (median 11/4).
Finches
Evening Grosbeak
(Coccothraustes vespertinus)
10 Total of 21 reports across all north regions, with two from August and the rest from Oct–Nov.
Pine Grosbeak
(Pinicola enucleator)
14 Early north (median 10/19) 10/11 St. Louis KJB, 10/20 Wadena BJU, 10/21 Koochiching BJU, Lake of the Woods BJU, 10/22 Beltrami BJU, Lake SLF. Reports continued steadily throughout November and into the winter.
House Finch
(Haemorhous mexicanus)
2339 Reported statewide.
Purple Finch
(Haemorhous purpureus)
2733 Reported north throughout the season. Early south (median 8/28) 8/26 Fillmore NBO, 8/28 Chippewa RBJ, DAC, 9/1 Fillmore NBO.
Common Redpoll
(Acanthis flammea)
167 Early north (median 10/16) 10/4 St. Louis DWT, 10/16 St. Louis KRE, 10/20 Cass BJU, 10/21 Beltrami, Koochiching and Lake of the Woods BJU, Cook RPR, St. Louis ABL, LS. All south 11/6 Lac qui Parle BJU, Rice TFB, 11/8 Lac qui Parle BJU, 11/16 Fillmore NBO, 11/20 Sherburne JBB, 11/22 Meeker DMF, Wabasha JWH, 11/23 Steele NBO. Peak number 186 at H.R.B.O. on 11/3 (EMG, KJB).
Hoary Redpoll
(Acanthis hornemanni)
2 All north 11/4 Cook HHD, KRE, LS, 11/6 Cook CRM.
Red Crossbill
(Loxia curvirostra)
61 All north reports 8/2 St. Louis (H.R.B.O.) DAG, 10/14 St. Louis ABL, 10/22 Beltrami BJU, 10/27 St. Louis LS, 11/2 Cook DWK, Lake and St. Louis HHD, 11/3 St. Louis LS, KRE, JJS, 11/11 Lake SES, 11/12 Cass BAW, 11/16 Itasca DRM, St. Louis ERo, 11/17 Cook JLO, 11/19 Cass ALB. High count of 31 on 10/23 at H.R.B.O., where 150 reported for the season (EMG, KJB). Only south report 11/4 Olmsted JWH.
White-winged Crossbill
(Loxia leucoptera)
6 All north 8/4 Cook JPE, 8/25 St. Louis ABL, 9/3 St. Louis (5, H.R.B.O.) EMG, KJB, 9/26 Lake JWL, KRE, 10/20 St. Louis RPR, 10/21 Koochiching BJU, 10/26 Cook RBJ, 11/1 Lake RBJ, 11/13 St. Louis JCC, 11/18 Cass DPJ, Kittson LW.
Pine Siskin
(Spinus pinus)
2324 Seven reports in August; also reported througout Sept–Nov. Early south 8/12 Ramsey RTB, 9/15 Le Sueur ChH.
American Goldfinch
(Spinus tristis)
3349 Reported statewide and throughout entire season.
Longspurs and Snow Buntings
Lapland Longspur
(Calcarius lapponicus)
169 Early north (median 9/13) 9/14 Lake JWL, 9/22 St. Louis PHS, MCA, 9/23 St. Louis PHS, ABL. Early south (median 9/24) 9/17 Lac qui Parle BJU, 9/26 Meeker DMF, 10/4 Lincoln BJU. Season high count 10/30 Lac qui Parle (400) BJU. Late north 11/1 Cook RBW, 11/6 Cook CRM, 11/10 Lake PEB. There were a few observations of this species north for the winter. See winter report for both south and north reports. Also, sightings and numbers were down compared to previous seasons.
Chestnut-collared Longspur
(Calcarius ornatus)
No reports.
Smith's Longspur
(Calcarius pictus)
1 Only report 10/15 Cottonwood (8 at Rock Ridge Prairie S.N.A.) RBJ.
Snow Bunting
(Plectrophenax nivalis)
2516 Early north (median 10/5) 10/11 St. Louis KJB, 10/12 Lake JWL, St. Louis JRN, 10/13 Cass ALB, BAW, Mille Lacs ASc, St. Louis JWH. Early south (median 10/18) 10/13 Big Stone PHS, 10/18 Rice TFB, 10/21 McLeod HHD, 10/25 Lac qui Parle BJU. Season high counts: 10/26 St. Louis (165) BAF, 10/28 Roseau (100) BJS, 11/4 Hennepin (90) BAF.
Towhees, Sparrows
Grasshopper Sparrow
(Ammodramus savannarum)
212 Very few reports this season. Only north reports: 8/6 Traverse BJU, 9/2 Clay DPG. Late south 8/22 Lac qui Parle BJU, Rock DAT, 8/24 Swift BJU, 9/12 Brown JEB (median 8/28).
BLACK-THROATED SPARROW
(Amphispiza bilineata)
1 An immature at Lake Winnibigoshish, Painted Turtle campsite, in Cass from 9/22–23 furnished a seventh state record (ph. †BAW, MoM, m.ob.).
Lark Sparrow
(Chondestes grammacus)
611 All north reports: 8/25 Polk and Red Lake HHD, 8/31 Becker DPG, Pennington BJU, 9/8 Kanabec DPG, 9/13 Itasca SC. Late south 9/12 Redwood JEB, 9/21 Dakota SWe, 9/26 Meeker DMF, 9/28 Sherburne ASc.
Chipping Sparrow
(Spizella passerina)
2841 Late north 10/20 Cass and Wadena BJU, 10/21 Beltrami and Lake of the Woods BJU (median 11/4). Late south 10/19 Hennepin MCA, 10/20 Scott DAB, 10/21 Dakota SWe, Olmsted LAV (median 11/11). Season high count 8/31 Lake of the Woods (25) JCC. All reports of this species ceased after the third week of October.
Clay-colored Sparrow
(Spizella pallida)
2023 Late north 9/28 St. Louis DWR, 10/6 Otter Tail NAJ, 10/24 St. Louis BCM (median 10/16). Late south 10/11 Brown JEB, 10/12 Lac qui Parle BJU, 10/26 Stearns STW (median 10/14). Bulk of reports ceased after the first week in October.
Field Sparrow
(Spizella pusilla)
330 All north reports 8/1 Mille Lacs ASc, Otter Tail DTT, 9/12 St. Louis fide JWL (median 10/20). Late south 10/14 Rice JLO, Scott BAF, 10/15 Olmsted LAV, 10/17 Dakota JEB, 10/21 Dakota BAF, Olmsted LAV (median 10/27). Season high count 9/9 Dakota (14) ADS. All reports of this species ceased after the third week of October.
Fox Sparrow
(Passerella iliaca)
1831 Early north (median 9/21) 9/18 Cass BAW, 9/20 St. Louis PHS, 9/21 St. Louis TPW. Early south (median 9/19) 9/15 Waseca DAB, 9/28 Carver JLO, Jackson BJU, Ramsey JBB, Rice DAB, Rock HHD. Late north 11/11 Wadena PJB, 11/14 Itasca LSL, 11/28 St. Louis ERo (median 12/15). Late south 11/21 Steele NFT, 11/25 Carver DWK (median 12/20). The vast majority of reports occurred in October. Please see winter report for late migrants or over-wintering birds north and south. New season high counts: 10/14 Scott (87 total in Minnesota Valley N.W.R. (Louisville Swamp) and S.R.A. (Lawrence Unit)) BAF, 10/21 Hennepin (50 in small woodlot between L. Harriet and L. Calhoun in Minneapolis) PEB.
American Tree Sparrow
(Spizelloides arborea)
2131 Early north (median 9/22) 9/25 St. Louis PHS, 9/29 St. Louis PHS, DWR, 9/30 Cass BAW, ALB. Early south (median 9/30) 10/4 Lincoln BJU, 10/6 Meeker DMF, 10/10 Fillmore NBO. Season high count 10/17 St. Louis (88) PHS.
Dark-eyed Junco
(Junco hyemalis)
3046 Early south (median 9/10) 9/9 Anoka DWK, 9/13 Meeker DMF, 9/21 Anoka JBB, 9/22 Washington LS. Otherwise, reported throughout the state and season.
White-crowned Sparrow
(Zonotrichia leucophrys)
1222 Early north (median 9/10) 9/8 Lake EEO, 9/12 St. Louis ERo, 9/13 St. Louis ABL, SMC. Early south (median 9/16) 9/15 Pope HHD, 9/24 Washington RBJ, 9/25 Sherburne PLJ, 9/27 Dakota JEB. Late north 10/30 Cook SLF, 11/2 Lake LS, ADS, 11/3 St. Louis SLF (median 11/14). Late south 10/21 Dakota SWe, 10/28 Scott BAF, 11/3 Rice DAB (median 11/30). Only a few records for this species were reported during the subsequent winter (see winter report). As with the previous species, there were fewer reports than normal and the number of birds was low.
Harris's Sparrow
(Zonotrichia querula)
1826 Early north (median 9/17) 9/16 St. Louis NAJ, 9/22 Aitkin HHD, Lake JWL, Mille Lacs ASc, St. Louis JLO, DWK, ERo, 9/23 Koochiching JWH. Early south (median 9/22) 9/27 Dakota JEB, 9/28 Carver WCM, Jackson BJU, Murray and Rock HHD, Sherburne ASc. Reports continued for this species both north and south in the winter months (see winter report). Numbers of reports and individuals continue to be low compared to previous seasons.
White-throated Sparrow
(Zonotrichia albicollis)
2646 Early south (median 8/29) 8/25 Sherburne PLJ, 8/29 Sherburne ASc, 8/31 Hennepin ALD, 9/3 Anoka JBB, Scott BAF. Notable high counts: 10/7 Scott (185, Murphy-Hanrehan P.R.) BAF, 9/20 St. Louis (130) PHS. Many winter sightings as well, both north and south (see winter report).
Vesper Sparrow
(Pooecetes gramineus)
1835 Late north 10/9 Clay PHS, Todd MSK, 10/21 Lake of the Woods BJU, Wadena PJB (median 10/20). Late south 10/16 Yellow Medicine RBJ, 10/30 Lac qui Parle BJU, 11/7 Lac qui Parle BJU (median 10/27).
LeConte's Sparrow
(Ammospiza leconteii)
611 Late north 9/28 St. Louis DMF, 10/10 Lake JWL, St. Louis KRE, JWL, 10/13 Wilkin KRE (median 10/3). Late south 10/11 Brown JEB, Lac qui Parle BJU, 10/13 Hennepin HCT, PEB, Meeker DMF, 10/16 Redwood RBJ (median 10/18).
Nelson's Sparrow
(Ammospiza nelsoni)
16 All north reports: 9/29 St. Louis (Minnesota Point) LBe, 10/10 St. Louis (McQuade Rd.) JWL. All south reports: 9/17–18 Lac qui Parle (Lac qui Parle W.M.A. in Lake Shore Twp.) BJU, 9/22 Big Stone RBW, 9/26 Olmsted JWH, 9/28 Blue Earth (Cobb River W.P.A.) RMD, Olmsted (East Landfill Reservoir) JWH, 10/5 Meeker (Litchfield Twp.) DMF, 10/6 Brown (Bashaw Twp.) BTS, 10/11 Brown JEB.
Henslow's Sparrow
(Centronyx henslowii)
5 All reports: 8/1 Lac qui Parle (Plover Prairie S.N.A.) BJU, 8/5 Steele PHS, 8/14 Lac qui Parle (Plover Prairie S.N.A.) KJB, 9/22 Brown (Bashaw Twp.) BTS, 9/27 Blue Earth (Cobb River W.P.A.) RMD, 10/5 Dakota SWe, 10/21 Dakota DKo.
Savannah Sparrow
(Passerculus sandwichensis)
2332 Late north 10/27 Cook JWL, 10/29 Cook SLF, 11/10 Lake PEB (median 11/2). Late south 10/30 Lac qui Parle BJU, 11/3 Scott BAF, 11/4 Cottonwood BTS, Olmsted JWH (median 11/3). Reports of this species basically ceased after the end of October.
Song Sparrow
(Melospiza melodia)
3048 Recorded throughout the season. Reports ceased after third week in November.
Lincoln's Sparrow
(Melospiza lincolnii)
2035 Late north 10/12 Norman LBF, 10/13 Mille Lacs ASc, 10/20 St. Louis SLF, 10/22 St. Louis PHS (median 10/21). Early south (median 8/31) 8/14 Sherburne ASc, 9/1 Lac qui Parle BJU, 9/5 Washington JEB, 9/8 Goodhue SWe, Hennepin HCT, Meeker DMF. Late south 10/19 Hennepin (Westwood N.C.) DWK, MCA, 10/20 Dakota RBJ, Hennepin HCT, Scott DAB, Sherburne RBW, 10/21 Olmsted LAV (median 11/9).
Swamp Sparrow
(Melospiza georgiana)
2538 Late north 10/21 Cook RPR, Koochiching BJU, 10/26 Cook RBJ, 11/12 Lake SLF (median 10/29). Late south 11/11 Hennepin BAF, 11/12 Ramsey CRM, 11/23 Meeker DMF (median 11/22). Season high count 10/6 Hennepin (30, Old Cedar Ave. Bridge) BAF. Most reports of this species ceased after the third week in October.
Spotted Towhee
(Pipilo maculatus)
1 Only report: 9/28 Rock HHD.
Eastern Towhee
(Pipilo erythrophthalmus)
116 Only north 10/7 Todd MSK. Late south 10/14 Scott BAF, 10/18–21 Fillmore NBO.
Yellow-breasted Chat
Yellow-breasted Chat
(Icteria virens)
No reports.
Blackbirds, Orioles
Yellow-headed Blackbird
(Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus)
520 All north reports 8/6 Traverse BJU, 8/24 Marshall PHS, 8/25 Pennington PHS, 9/2 Cass ALB, Roseau CRM, LS, 9/4 Traverse BJU. Most south reports from Southwest and West-central regions. Season high count 9/3 Jackson (375) PHS. Late south 9/21 Jackson JLO, DAB, 9/26 Big Stone BJU, 10/3 Lac qui Parle BJU (median 10/22).
Bobolink
(Dolichonyx oryzivorus)
1313 Aside from high count of 75 in Aitkin on 8/25 (PEJ), relatively low number of observations both north and south. Late north 9/2 Roseau JCC, CRM, LS, Wilkin HHD, 9/15 St. Louis LS, 9/22 St. Louis MCA (median 9/18). Late south 9/10 Yellow Medicine BJU, 9/26–28 Olmsted JWH, 10/11 Brown JEB (median 9/30).
Eastern Meadowlark
(Sturnella magna)
59 All north reports 8/1 Todd MSK, 8/3 Cass BAW, 8/4 Pine LS, 8/9 Pine JMP, 8/10 Aitkin ASc, 8/15 Cass ALB, 10/3 Mille Lacs ASc, 11/7 Todd MSK. Late south 10/12, 10/17 Sherburne ASc, 10/20 Sherburne RBW.
Western Meadowlark
(Sturnella neglecta)
1419 All north reports were from the western part of state except for birds in Cook. Late north 10/20 Wilkin JLO, RPR, Otter Tail JMJ, Todd RBW, 10/22 Wilkin BJU, 10/21–26 Cook RPR, RBJ, 10/28 Otter Tail AJD, 11/7 Marshall GT (median 11/5). Late south 10/16 Cottonwood RBJ, 10/19 Lac qui Parle BJU, 10/23 Cottonwood DWK.
Orchard Oriole
(Icterus spurius)
111 Only north report 8/6 Traverse BJU. All south 8/1 Lac qui Parle BJU, Meeker DMF, 8/3 Sherburne ASc, 8/6 Big Stone BJU, Sherburne PLJ, 8/7 Pipestone BJU, 8/9 Goodhue BRL, 8/10 Murray HHD, 8/14 Lac qui Parle BJU, 8/22 Rock DAT, Washington LS, 8/23 Lac qui Parle BJU, 8/24 Swift BJU, 8/28 Chippewa RBJ, DAC. Reports match typical pattern of end of August departure for this species.
Baltimore Oriole
(Icterus galbula)
1428 Late north 8/31 Norman BJU, 9/2 Grant HHD, Wadena PJB, 9/6 Douglas HHD (median 9/14). Late south 8/30 Dodge RBW, 9/2 Renville RBW, 9/4 Steele NFT, 9/8 Fillmore NBO (median 9/24). Reports of this species ceased after the first week of September, both north and south, which is earlier than normal.
Red-winged Blackbird
(Agelaius phoeniceus)
2845 Observed in all regions. Noteworthy high counts: 9/12 Kandiyohi (100,000) MRN, 9/3 Jackson (9,250) PHS, 10/23 Meeker (3,000) DPG.
Brown-headed Cowbird
(Molothrus ater)
1423 Late north 9/15 Cass ALB, 9/29 Morrison DPG, 10/22 Beltrami BJU, 11/10 Lake PEB (median 9/22). Late south (but see winter report for additional south sightings) 11/3 Rice DAB, 11/17 Winona BAF.
Rusty Blackbird
(Euphagus carolinus)
2115 Early north reports all from St. Louis (median 9/18): 9/12 PHS, 9/14 ABL, 9/15 PHS, LS, JCC, 9/19 SLF. Early south (median 9/21) 9/24 Sherburne PLJ, 9/29 Sherburne DWK, 10/2 Olmsted JWH. Season high counts 11/6 Dakota (1,500) JPM, 10/20 St. Louis (879 at H.R.B.O., where 3,471 reported for the season) EMG, KJB. Late north 11/10 Lake PEB, 11/11 Morrison RBW, 11/20 Lake JWL (median 12/6). Also see winter report.
Brewer's Blackbird
(Euphagus cyanocephalus)
1321 Season high counts 9/16 Jackson (220) DWK. Late north 10/21 Becker, Otter Tail and Polk JMJ, 10/26–27 Cook RBJ, DAB, 11/10 Clay JWH (median 11/7). Late south 10/21 Meeker, Renville HHD, 10/23 Wright DPG, 10/29 Kandiyohi RBW, 11/11 Goodhue JLO (median 11/8).
Common Grackle
(Quiscalus quiscula)
2644 Reported statewide in all regions. As always for this species, see winter report for late migrants and over-wintering birds.
Great-tailed Grackle
(Quiscalus mexicanus)
All reports: 9/16 Jackson (1/2 mile north of C.R. 4 on S.R. 86) DWK, 9/28 Jackson (sections 17 and 20, Minneota Twp; “their voices consisted of varied whistles, shrieks, short growls and some quite loud clacking sounds”) BJU, 10/12 Jackson (730th and S.R. 86 just north of C.R. 4) JCC.
Warblers
Ovenbird
(Seiurus aurocapilla)
1529 High count 9/3 Anoka (27, record high fall count) DWK. Late north 9/15 Cass ALB, St. Louis PHS, 9/24 Carlton LAW, 9/25 St. Louis SLF (median 9/27). Late south 10/7 Scott BAF, 10/21 McLeod PRH, followed by one very late report 11/23 Olmsted HHD.
Louisiana Waterthrush
(Parkesia motacilla)
No reports.
Northern Waterthrush
(Parkesia noveboracensis)
1020 Early south (median 8/7) 8/5 Jackson KJB, 8/14 Lac qui Parle BJU, Rice TFB, 8/15 Sherburne PLJ. High counts of ten birds on 9/1, 8 on 8/25 and 8 on 9/3 all from Scott (Murphy-Hanrehan P.R.) BAF. Late north 9/22 St. Louis DWK, 9/25 Otter Tail DTT, 10/3 St. Louis SLF (median 9/28). Late south 9/28 Jackson BJU, 10/3 Olmsted JWH, 10/20 Washington LMS (median 10/3).
Golden-winged Warbler
(Vermivora chrysoptera)
821 Early south away from known breeding areas (median 8/14) 8/12 Le Sueur JCC, 8/16 Olmsted JWH. High count 8/9 St. Louis (7) PHS. Late north 9/5 Todd MSK, 9/8 Cass MRN, Pine DPG (median 9/9). Late south 9/15 Hennepin HCT and Scott BAF, 9/20 Rice TFB (median 9/22). Two hybrid individuals noted: “Brewster's Warbler” 8/24 Dakota JPM and a female “Lawrence's Warbler” (probably hatch-year) 8/25 Scott (Murphy-Hanrehan P.R.) BAF.
Blue-winged Warbler
(Vermivora cyanoptera)
13 Most reports from Southeast region, ranging north to Chisago and Sherburne and west to Brown. Late south 9/9 Wabasha RBW, 9/11 Fillmore JWH (median 9/12).
Black-and-white Warbler
(Mniotilta varia)
2334 High counts 8/26 Dakota (25) SWe, 8/13 St. Louis (16) PHS. Late north 9/23 St. Louis PHS, ABL, 9/28 St. Louis (3) SLF, 9/30 Clay RHO (median 10/2). Late south 10/3 Waseca JPS, 10/4 Ramsey REH, 10/6 Hennepin BAF (median 10/4).
Prothonotary Warbler
(Protonotaria citrea)
1 Only two reports, 8/11 Dakota LEC and 8/14 Dakota JLO (median late south 9/2).
Tennessee Warbler
(Leiothlypis peregrina)
2431 Present both north and south at beginning of period, see summer report for details. High counts 9/2 St. Louis (74, H.R.B.O.) EMG, KJB, 8/28 St. Louis (73) PHS. Late north 10/9 Carlton LAW, 10/14 Cook JWH, 10/17 St. Louis SLF (median 10/17). Late south 10/13 Dakota RLW, Hennepin SWe, Washington JWo, 10/14 Scott BAF (median 10/16).
Orange-crowned Warbler
(Leiothlypis celata)
1536 Early north (median 8/20) 9/2 Roseau KRE, JCC, CRM, 9/5 Cass LBF, Mille Lacs ASc, St. Louis PHS. Early south (median 8/26) 8/29 Dakota JPM, 9/2 Goodhue SWe, 9/8 Le Sueur JEB. High count 10/7 Scott (23, Murphy-Hanrehan P.R., south horse and pet trails.) BAF. Late north 10/12 St. Louis SLF, 10/13 Mille Lacs ASc, 10/14 Morrison HHD, Traverse JCC (median 10/23). Late south 10/21 Carver DWK, Hennepin SWe, 10/26 Fillmore NBO, 11/1 Meeker DMF (median 10/24). Note: Undocumented August reports were excluded.
Nashville Warbler
(Leiothlypis ruficapilla)
2744 Early south 8/4 Anoka (11) DWK and Dakota DKo, 8/5 Meeker DMF. Exceptional fall migration with several record and near-record high counts reported, including 8/18 St. Louis (116, record-high fall count, Park Point Recreation Area) MLH, 8/27 Dakota (100+ Spring Lake Park) JPM, 8/9 St. Louis (78) PHS. Late north 10/13 St. Louis (Hearding Island) JWH, 10/14 Cook (3) JWH, 10/24 St. Louis BCM (median 10/20). Late south 10/17 Hennepin DWK, 10/19 Hennepin LS, 10/21 Olmsted LAV (median 10/22).
Connecticut Warbler
(Oporornis agilis)
44 All north 8/10 Aitkin (3) ASc, 8/14 Cass ALB, Mille Lacs ASc, 8/26 St. Louis KRE, 9/5 St. Louis PHS, 9/22 St. Louis JLO. All south 8/25 Sherburne ASc, 8/26 Anoka DWK, Goodhue SWe, Meeker DMF, 9/1 Meeker DMF. Median early south 8/23, late north 9/19, late south 9/17.
Mourning Warbler
(Geothlypis philadelphia)
1214 Early south (median 8/16) 8/13 Sherburne PLJ, 8/15 Chisago RBW, 8/16 Olmsted LAV. Season high count 8/17 Anoka (11, record high fall count) DWK. Late north 9/2 Beltrami DWR, Traverse HHD, 9/3 Traverse BJU, 9/5 St. Louis ERo (median 9/14). Late south 9/3 Rice DAB, 9/10 Scott JEB, 9/12 Le Sueur RMD (median 9/30).
KENTUCKY WARBLER
(Geothlypis formosa)
1 Only report 8/31 Blue Earth (apparent adult still at Williams N.C.) AXH.
Common Yellowthroat
(Geothlypis trichas)
2535 Season high count 9/5 St. Louis (17) PHS. Late north 9/27 Mille Lacs ASc, 9/29 St. Louis PHS, m.ob., 10/9 St. Louis SLF (median 10/14). Late south 10/9 Blue Earth ChH, 10/13 Hennepin SWe, 10/20 Washington LMS (median 10/26).
Hooded Warbler
(Setophaga citrina)
2 All reports by BAF 8/2–9/15 from Murphy-Hanrehan P.R. in Dakota and Scott counties, representing a total of 19 territories for the 2007 breeding season. Total of 16 nests found on 12 territories; 6 nests parasitized by Brown-headed Cowbird. Total young fledged from these nests: 22 Hooded Warblers, 2 Brown-headed Cowbirds.
American Redstart
(Setophaga ruticilla)
2735 High count 9/5 St. Louis (28) PHS. Late north 9/28 St. Louis SLF, 10/10 Lake (Knife River) JWL, 10/21 Lake (Two Harbors) LS, KRE (median 10/6). Late south 10/7 Scott BAF, 10/12 Houston JWH, 10/17 Olmsted JWH (median 10/10).
Cape May Warbler
(Setophaga tigrina)
135 All south reports: 8/14 Sherburne ASc, 8/20 Lac qui Parle BJU, 8/26 Anoka DWK, Meeker DMF, 9/15 Waseca DAB, JJS, JWH (median early 8/22, late 9/28). High count of 8/28 St. Louis (32, Park Point, Duluth) KRE equals previous fall record. Two north reports after September, 10/19 St. Louis SLF and 11/12 Lake (adult male at Larsmont Cottages) JWL.
Cerulean Warbler
(Setophaga cerulea)
3 All reports: 8/12 Sibley (Rush River C.P.) JCC, RBW, 9/1 Dakota (immature female) ADS, 9/2 Goodhue SWe (median late south 8/27).
Northern Parula
(Setophaga americana)
518 New county record: 9/8 Big Stone WCM. Early south (median 8/18) 8/18 Hennepin HCT, 8/24 Hennepin JBB, 8/25 Dakota (Schaar's Bluff) DWK, Hennepin HCT, Sherburne ASc. High counts 9/8 Rice (6) DAB, 8/26 St. Louis (5) PHS, 9/2 Dakota (5) JPM. Late north 9/23 St. Louis PHS, 9/24 St. Louis KJB, 9/28 St. Louis SLF (median 9/27). Late south 9/17 Steele JJS, JWH, 9/22 Anoka JBB, Hennepin HCT (median 9/28).
Magnolia Warbler
(Setophaga magnolia)
828 Early south (median 8/15) 8/14 Lac qui Parle BJU, Rice TFB, 8/15 Dakota JPM, Hennepin JBB, 8/17 Olmsted JWH. High counts 8/24 Rice (11) DAB, 8/26 St. Louis (11) PHS. Late north 10/1 St. Louis (2) SLF, 10/9 Lake JWL, 10/14 Wilkin JCC (median 10/1). Late south 10/5 Anoka JBB, Ramsey (7) EMH, 10/6 Hennepin JBB, 10/8 Ramsey (2) BRL.
Bay-breasted Warbler
(Setophaga castanea)
821 Early south (median 8/19) 8/17 Anoka DWK, Olmsted JWH, 8/19 Anoka JCC. High counts 8/26 Anoka (6) DWK, 9/15 St. Louis (5) PHS. Late north 9/7 Pine RBW, 9/8 St. Louis PEB, 9/15 St. Louis PHS (median 9/29). Late south 9/23 Stearns HHD, 9/24 Hennepin JLO, JWH, 10/1 Ramsey BRL (median 10/2).
Blackburnian Warbler
(Setophaga fusca)
1223 Early south (median 8/9) 8/8 Jackson KJB, 8/13 Rice DAT, 8/14 Rice TFB. Late north 9/15 St. Louis PHS, 9/22 St. Louis ASc (median 9/20). Late south 9/9 Anoka DWK, Le Sueur DAB, 9/11 Freeborn CRM, 9/15 Pope HHD (median 9/25).
Yellow Warbler
(Setophaga petechia)
1926 High counts 8/9 St. Louis (34) PHS, 8/13 St. Louis (25) PHS. Late north reports well after the 9/23 median: 10/7 Lake JWL, 10/10 Lake (Knife River) KRE, JWL. Late south 9/12 Brown JEB, 9/15 Le Sueur RMD, ChH, Waseca DAB, JWH (median 9/30).
Chestnut-sided Warbler
(Setophaga pensylvanica)
1532 Early south away from known breeding locations 8/3, 8/5 Blue Earth ChH, 8/8 Jackson KJB. High counts 8/26 Anoka (20) DWK, 8/24 Rice (18) DAB. Late north 9/19 Mille Lacs ASc, St. Louis PHS, 9/22 St. Louis MCA (median 9/28). Late south 9/21 Washington LMS, Yellow Medicine RBW, 9/23 Hennepin BAF, 10/3 Ramsey BRL (median 10/1).
Blackpoll Warbler
(Setophaga striata)
916 Early north (median 8/25) 8/22 Lake JWL, 8/25 Pennington HHD, St. Louis LS, 8/28 St. Louis (11) PHS. Early south 8/15 Dakota JPM, 8/18 Ramsey REH, 8/24 Dakota JPM, Sherburne ASc (median 8/21). Exceptional high counts 9/11 (40, second highest fall) and 9/15 (28) St. Louis (Park Point) PHS. Late north 9/28 St. Louis SLF, 10/7 Lake (Two Harbors) JWL, 10/21 Cook (Father Baraga's Cross) †RPR (median 10/7). Late south 9/16 Hennepin DDo, 9/17 Anoka DPG, 9/20 Anoka REH (median 9/30).
Black-throated Blue Warbler
(Setophaga caerulescens)
16 All south 8/26 Anoka (along Linwood L.) DWK, Goodhue (Miesville Ravine) DDo, 8/31 Rice (banded) DAT, 9/2 Anoka DWK, 9/3 Washington RBW, 9/7 Wright (near Stanley Eddy Park) DMF, 9/13 Hennepin (male at Old Cedar Ave., JEP), 9/22–24 Hennepin (female at Minnehaha Creek) BAF, JLO, JWH, 10/17–18 Hennepin (male at Old Cedar Ave.) fide AXH. Only north report 9/2 St. Louis (female found along Maple Woods Trail at H.R.B.O.) JCG.
Palm Warbler
(Setophaga palmarum)
2026 Early south (median 8/25) 8/22 Lac qui Parle BJU, 8/30 Carver RMD, 9/1 Lac qui Parle BJU. High count 9/23 St. Louis (18) PHS. Late north 10/26 Cook MHe, 10/27 Cook DAB, Lake (Two Harbors) BAF, JWL, 10/30 St. Louis PHS (median 10/23). Late south 10/14 Lac qui Parle (Big Stone N.W.R. Auto Loop) JCC, 10/15 Swift BJU, 10/17 Olmsted JWH (median 10/18).
Pine Warbler
(Setophaga pinus)
187 High count 9/8 Anoka (5, Boot Lake S.N.A.) RBJ. Late north 9/21 Hubbard MAW, 9/22 Aitkin HHD, St. Louis MCA (median 10/3). Late south 9/5 Hennepin DDo, 9/8 Anoka RBJ, 9/9 Anoka DWK (median 9/24).
Yellow-rumped Warbler
(Setophaga coronata)
3145 Of note are two reports of Audubon's race, 11/12–13 Cook (Grand Marais campground) ph. SLF, DBF and 11/12 Dakota †JPM. Early south (median 8/21) 8/26 Meeker DMF, 8/30 Anoka DPG, 9/1 Lac qui Parle BJU. High counts 9/22 St. Louis (645 at H.R.B.O.) EMG, KJB, 9/23 St. Louis (168) PHS. Late north 11/14 St. Louis fide JWL, 11/24, 11/26 Clay RHO (median 11/21). Late south (but see winter report) 10/27 Chisago DWK, Dakota JLO, 11/12 Dakota (Audubon's) †JPM.
Black-throated Green Warbler
(Setophaga virens)
1220 Early south (median 8/20) 8/17 Anoka DWK, 8/22 Fillmore NBO, Washington LS, 8/25 Hennepin HCT. Late north 9/8 Carlton HHD, Lake EEO, Pine DPG, 9/15 St. Louis PHS (median 9/29). Late south 10/1 Houston RBW, 10/3 Rice TFB, 10/4 Faribault RBW (median 10/4).
Canada Warbler
(Cardellina canadensis)
616 New fall season high count 8/24 Rice (12) DAB. Late north 9/7 Mille Lacs ASc, 9/8 St. Louis LAV, 9/22 St. Louis MCA (median 9/15). Early south (median 8/13) 8/9 Sherburne PLJ, 8/13 Dakota DAT, 8/14 Rice TFB. Late south 9/8 Goodhue SWe, 9/17 Anoka DPG, 9/20 Rice TFB (median 9/23).
Wilson's Warbler
(Cardellina pusilla)
1728 Late north 9/19 Mille Lacs ASc, 9/27 St. Louis SLF, 9/30 St. Louis KJB (median 9/22). Early south (median 8/15) 8/17 Sherburne ASc, 8/18 Meeker DMF, 8/19 Dakota ADS. Bulk of south migrants occurred from mid-August to mid-September. Late south 9/24 Hennepin JWH, 9/30 Lyon HHD, LS, JJS, 10/7 Hennepin BAF, Le Sueur JJS (median 9/25).
Tanagers, Cardinals, Grosbeaks
Summer Tanager
(Piranga rubra)
1 Only report 10/21–23 St. Louis (female at Stoney Point) KRE, LS, NRi.
Scarlet Tanager
(Piranga olivacea)
718 Late north 9/2 St. Louis ABL, 9/9 Lake EEO, 9/15 Cass ALB (median 9/21). Late south 9/13 Olmsted JWH, 9/15 Carver WCM, 9/17 Anoka DPG (median 10/2).
Western Tanager
(Piranga ludoviciana)
No reports.
Northern Cardinal
(Cardinalis cardinalis)
1644 Reported throughout all regions. Unusual were 8 in Cook on 10/28 (KRE).
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
(Pheucticus ludovicianus)
2131 Late north 9/12 St. Louis ERo, 9/15 St. Louis PHS, 9/21 Morrison DTM, JeM, 9/23 Wadena PJB (median 9/29). Late south 9/24 Fillmore NBO, 9/28 Fillmore NBO, Jackson BJU, 10/13 Dakota RLW, Washington JWo (median 10/15).
Blue Grosbeak
(Passerina caerulea)
4 All reports: 8/7 Pipestone (4 singing males in central Osborne Twp. and another singing male at the gravel pit in section 27, Rock Twp.) BJU, 8/10 Murray and Pipestone HHD, 8/11 Nobles BTS, Pipestone (gravel pits just northwest of Edgerton) RBW, Rock (Blue Mounds S.P.) RBW, 8/22 Rock DAT.
Indigo Bunting
(Passerina cyanea)
931 As in last year, low number of reports north. Late north 9/22 Traverse RBW, 9/29 St. Louis JCC (median 9/23). Many south reports throughout August to mid-September. Late south 9/24 Washington RBJ, 10/4 Hennepin JWH (median 10/10).
Dickcissel
(Spiza americana)
212 Only north reports: 8/1 Mille Lacs ASc, NSc, 8/20 Cass ALB. Late south 8/22 Rock DAT, 8/24 Swift BJU, 9/3 Lac qui Parle BJU, 9/15 Lac qui Parle (Salt L.) DWK (median 8/21).