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Seasonal Report Archive for The Loon | |
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The 2021-Fall Season 1 August through 30 November 2021 Paul E. Budde, Alyssa L. DeRubeis, Ezra M. Hosch, Doug W. Kieser, and Brian T. Smith |
During the fall 2021 season, a total of 326 species of birds were reported in Minnesota. Among these were five Accidental species (Black-bellied Whistling-Duck (2), Ross’s Gull, Wood Stork, Neotropic Cormorant (2), Ferruginous Hawk, and a remarkable 17 Casual species.
A Black-bellied Whistling-Duck was discovered in Cottonwood in early August and another was harvested in Nicollet in late September; both were first county records. A pair of Brant harvested near Bemidji was the first record for Beltrami County. At least two Harlequin Ducks were seen in Cook County beginning in late October. All three scoter species were widely reported in the state.
White-winged Dove is generally a spring/summer visitor to Minnesota. This season saw the first fall occurrence of this now Regular species since 2016 when one flew past the Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory. An adult female Rufous Hummingbird was another good bird for Duluth; one visited residential feeders from early November through the end of the season.
An estimated tally of 100 Soras at the Old Cedar Avenue Bridge marshes was an impressive new high count. Yellow Rails were found south at the end of September in Ramsey, Nicollet, and Waseca counties, the last one a first county record. At Sherburne N.W.R., the official crane census tallied over 13,000 Sandhill Cranes, the second highest count in the state.
Black-necked Stilts first found in summer remained into the fall season in Swift and Big Stone counties. Whimbrel records are generally limited to Lake Superior shores in the fall; this season was no exception as the only individuals were found at Park Point in Duluth. A total of ten Red Knots was reported from Becker, St. Louis, and Stearns counties in the last half of August. The fifth Ruff seen in the last 20 fall seasons was an adult female in Freeborn County. A Red Phalarope documented in late October was a first record for Brown County.
A long-staying Pomarine Jaeger first seen in Wisconsin waters at the end of September was finally discovered in Minnesota in mid-October at the Superior Entry. A first-cycle Black-legged Kittiwake was seen for over two weeks near Park Point. Several groups of Sabine’s Gulls passed through Duluth in late September; the only other report was a first record for Ramsey County (see front cover). Near the end of the season, the state’s fourth Ross’s Gull was discovered at Point Douglas in Washington County. Unfortunately, this first-cycle gull was found dead three days later. A Lesser Black-backed Gull was a new record for Meeker County, while the first Slaty-backed Gull found south since 2009 was new for Wabasha County. In early August, an adult Least Tern was spotted in Martin County, another county first.
Minnesota’s fifth Wood Stork was seen in early September in Anoka County; all five have been immatures. Two Neotropic Cormorants lingering from the summer season were present in Richfield, Hennepin County. Possibly one of these same birds graced Dakota County with its first record. The state’s second latest Plegadis was found in Kandiyohi in early November.
A Swainson’s Hawk seen along the North Shore was a first record for Lake County, while a sickly Ferruginous Hawk was a second record for the same county. A nest of Barn Owls discovered by MNDOT workers under a bridge they were repairing was a first record for Wabasha County.
Snowy Owls were present in below-average numbers for the fall; Northern Hawk Owls and Boreal Owls were not reported. An adult, gray morph Gyrfalcon was spotted in Duluth near the Lester River. Prairie Falcons were seen in Aitkin, Blue Earth/Nicollet, Otter Tail, and Yellow Medicine counties — the most reports since Fall 1993.
An immature Scissor-tailed Flycatcher was found in Olmsted County in mid-October. Passerine counts at Brighton Beach and Stony Point, both in St. Louis County, produced record-high or near record-high fall tallies of many species: Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned kinglets, Brown Creeper, Purple Finch, White-winged Crossbill, Rusty Blackbird, Northern Waterthrush, Black-and-white Warbler, Cape May Warbler, Northern Parula, Magnolia, Blackpoll, Palm, Yellow-rumped, and Black-throated Green warblers.
A Bohemian Waxwing seen near the end of the season was only the second record for Renville County. More first county records included a Carolina Wren in Meeker, a Mountain Bluebird in Itasca, and a Townsend’s Solitaire in Carlton. A Eurasian Tree Sparrow was also reported from Meeker County, while an apparent House Sparrow X Eurasian Tree Sparrow hybrid was photographed in Blaine.
A Lark Bunting was discovered at Park Point in late September. Nelson’s Sparrows were found widely during their migration, including a first record for Houston County. Other first county records were a Spotted Towhee in Aitkin, a Connecticut Warbler in Redwood, and Black-throated Blue Warblers in Benton and Douglas. Summer Tanagers are more frequently found north than south in the fall, so this season’s four reports from Hubbard, Itasca, and two in St. Louis County was not too surprising. Another first county record was a Blue Grosbeak in Faribault, found, as is often the case for this species, at a gravel pit. Only the fourth fall report of Painted Bunting was a record-late male photographed in Duluth in late November. A Dickcissel in Yellow Medicine County was also record-late.
Weather: Average temperatures during the fall season were above normal for every month, ranging from +2.3ºF in August to +6º in October. This pattern continued the warm streak that had begun in March 2021.
The first major precipitation event of the season was a series of thunderstorms 26–28 August that moved across the southern and central parts of the state. Another line of severe thunderstorms crossed southern Minnesota on 17 September. On 9–10 October severe storms moved into North-central Minnesota and spawned several tornadoes in Park Rapids and farther east in Cook County. The first significant snow across the north arrived with a large storm on 11–13 November that brought precipitation to much of the state.
Documented reports still under review: Barn Owl 9/9–24 Houston (Money Creek Twp.), 10/23–25 Fillmore (Amherst Twp.), 11/11 Houston (Sheldon Twp.).
Insufficiently documented records of Regular species: Golden Eagle 8/12 Lake (extremely early migrant); Orange-crowned Warbler 8/14 Aitkin, 8/28 Benton, 8/30 Big Stone, Meeker (early migrants).
Acknowledgements: Special thanks to Dave Cahlander for building and maintaining the seasonal reports submission and production web pages (http://moumn.org/moureports/season.php) through which most of this data is collected and organized. We are also grateful for the additional data provided for the creation of this report by eBird (http://www.ebird.org, accessed December 2021). Medians of recent arrivals and departures are based on published and unpublished seasonal report data from the 25-year period 1996 through 2020. Weather data is from the Minnesota DNR's HydroClim Minnesota newsletter (https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/hydroclim/index.html). Finally and most importantly, our appreciation goes out to all those who contribute their sightings data to the MOU. We are especially grateful to those who respond to our requests for details and who submit observations online.
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Species |
N | S |
Information |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whistling-Ducks, Geese, Swans, Ducks | |||||
| BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCK (Dendrocygna autumnalis) | 2 | First fall records since 2007: 8/8 Cottonwood JmS, †REn, 9/25 Nicollet (harvested by a duck hunter near the town of Nicollet) ph. JkE, fide GWe. | |||
| Snow Goose (Anser caerulescens) | 13 | 13 | One summered in Hennepin (Loring Park) KDS, m.ob. at least through 9/26. Early north (median 9/6) 9/12–13 Lake (2) GWe, ebd, 9/14 St. Louis H.R.B.O. Early south migrants 9/10–13 Sherburne PLJ, JBh, AvB, 9/13 Washington ebd. High count 11/17 Sherburne (40, near Zimmerman) DlB. Late north 11/4 Pine KPJ, 11/10 Douglas ToR, 11/24 St. Louis (9, Sax-Zim Bog) BLz (median 11/15). Late south 11/30 Rice AvB, but also see winter report (median 12/16). | ||
| Ross's Goose (Anser rossii) | 1 | 5 | One north 9/12 – 11/7 Lake (Two Harbors) ClB, JWL, SLL, GWe, ebd. All south 10/21 – 11/3 Brown (max. 9, season’s high count at Somsen Slough W.M.A.) ph. BTS, MiO, m.ob., 10/21 Ramsey LiH, 11/6 Lac qui Parle KeL, 11/21 Yellow Medicine (4) GWe, 11/29 Washington ebd. | ||
| Greater White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons) | 7 | 21 | Early north (median 10/5) 9/23 St. Louis JLK, 10/3 Pennington (5) DvP, 10/14 Grant (75) PEJ. Early south (median 9/22) 8/21–28 Stevens GWe, BWe, TWe, 9/19 Carver ANy, TWe. High counts 10/18 Grant (310, North Ottawa Impoundment, counted by fives) ebd, 10/22 Lyon (300, near Balaton) GWe. Late north 11/3 Otter Tail (6, Parker’s Prairie) BEc, Traverse (5) RAE, 11/15 Polk TJJ, 11/20 Otter Tail (39, Otter Tail Prairie S.N.A.) AaL, MtS, CLu (median 11/2). See winter report for late south migrants. | ||
| BRANT (Branta bernicla) | 1 | Only the second Minnesota report of two or more together: 11/11 Beltrami (2, “Atlantic” subspecies harvested near Bemidji by a waterfowl hunter) TdN. | |||
| Cackling Goose (Branta hutchinsii) | 22 | 39 | Early north reports all from St. Louis (H.R.B.O.) (median 9/10) 9/11 (1), 9/13 (2), 9/15 (1); away from Duluth, 9/20 Polk (6) HHu. Early south (median 9/18) 9/18 Ramsey (8) ebd, 9/22 Carver ebd, 9/26 Sherburne (3) MwT, ebd, Swift ANy. High counts 11/7 Brown (182, Sleepy Eye W.T.P., counted individually) BTS, 11/12 Clay (80, Cromwell Twp.) PBB. Late north 11/25 Grant (2) CNn, 11/30 Clay (5) ebd, but also see winter report (median 12/17). | ||
| Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) | 34 | 53 | Reported from all counties in the state and throughout the season. High counts 11/6 McLeod (10,000, near Glencoe) BAb, 11/7 Washington (6,000, Lake Elmo Airport) JVA. | ||
| Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) | 2 | All south 8/1–4 and 11/16–30 Hennepin (Old Cedar Ave. Bridge) DCZ, MwT, m.ob., 10/28 – 11/30 Hennepin (East Medicine Lake) DAh, m.ob., 10/29 Isanti (Dalbo W.T.P.) JWH, ph. KEm. No reports of more than one individual. | |||
| Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator) | 32 | 51 | Reported in all regions of the state and throughout the season. High count 10/6 Aitkin (233, Rice Lake N.W.R.) CJE. | ||
| Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus) | 20 | 29 | Early north (median 10/1) 10/3 Otter Tail (6) ebd, St. Louis (2) JuG, 10/12 Becker (17) NaH, TKa. Early south (median 10/11) 10/12–16 Sherburne (max. 25, Sherburne N.W.R.) ebd, 10/16 Lac qui Parle (5) DLP, 10/18 Wabasha (3) PEJ. High count 11/22 Houston (7,000, estimated, near Brownsville) ebd. Late north 11/25 Morrison (74, near Swanville) AaL, CLu, 11/26 St. Louis (34, Mud Lake) JLK, 11/27 Itasca ebd (median 11/29). | ||
| Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) | 33 | 53 | Reported throughout the state and season. High count 9/17 Kandiyohi (400, Foot Lake) CRM, m.ob. | ||
| Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors) | 31 | 51 | Reported thoughout the state and season. High counts 8/19 Sibley (1,275, estimated, High Island Lake) GWe, 8/20 Marshall (750, Agassiz N.W.R.) EHi. Late north 10/29 Pine KDS, GHo, 10/29 – 11/1 St. Louis (Park Point) ebd, 11/4 St. Louis (Western Waterfront Trail) JLK (median 10/30). Late south 11/10 Ramsey JZj, Hennepin (6, Minnesota Valley N.W.R., Bass Ponds) KOC, 11/20 Hennepin (Grass Lake) KBg (median 11/13). | ||
| Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata) | 18 | 45 | High counts 10/3 Pennington (1,000, estimated, Thief River Falls W.T.P.) DvP, 10/23 Pipestone (350, Pipestone W.T.P.) KEm, BAb. Late north 11/6–12 Pine (2, Pine City W.T.P.) ebd, 11/8 St. Louis JuG (median 11/13). See winter report for late south migrants and overwintering birds. | ||
| Gadwall (Mareca strepera) | 25 | 45 | High counts 10/21 Houston (500, Upper Mississippi N.W.R.) ebd, 11/20 Winona (370, Prairie Island Spillway) ebd. Late north 11/17 Mille Lacs HHD, 11/27–28 Beltrami AxB, ebd (median 12/4). See winter report for late south and overwintering birds. | ||
| American Wigeon (Mareca americana) | 22 | 41 | High count 10/21 Houston (800, Upper Mississippi N.W.R.) ebd. Late north 11/28–30 Beltrami (Bemidji) DPJ, DvH (median 11/20). See winter report for late migrants north and south, and for overwintering birds. | ||
| Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) | 34 | 53 | Reported throughout the state. High counts 11/20 Houston (1,500, Upper Mississippi N.W.R.) MaS, 11/1 Dakota (1,400) MwT. | ||
| American Black Duck (Anas rubripes) | 12 | 18 | Reported north away from Lake Superior in Aitkin, Becker, Beltrami, Cass, Hubbard, Marshall, Mille Lacs, Otter Tail, Pine. Early south (median 8/15) 8/21 Hennepin ABL, ebd, 8/23 Dakota (Lakeville) ebd, 9/1 Dakota (max. 5, Burnsville) MAK. High counts 11/15 Wabasha (38, Pool 5) PEJ, 11/7 St. Louis (24, Park Point) KBg, JCJ, MaS, DAh. | ||
| Mallard X American Black Duck (Anas platyrhynchos X A. rubripes) | 3 | 7 | All north 8/5 – 11/29 St. Louis (Park Point) PHS, m.ob., 8/26 Lake (Ojibway & Triangle Lakes) DEa, 9/8 Marshall (Agassiz N.W.R.) ebd. All south 8/1 Hennepin (General Mills Nature Preserve) ebd, 10/3 Sherburne (2, Lake Fremont) ebd, 10/14 Anoka (Springbrook N.C.) ebd, 10/24 Carver (Carver P.R.) TWe, 11/8–27 Ramsey (Vadnais Lake) APi, LiH, m.ob., 11/8 Scott (2, Murphy-Hanrehan P.R.) MSw, 11/28 Scott (Shakopee Mill Pond) MwT, ebd. | ||
| Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) | 20 | 45 | High count 9/18 St. Louis (278, Park Point) IDv. Late north 11/9–11 St. Louis (2, Western Waterfront Trail) JLK, 11/12 Pine (4, Pine City W.T.P.) ebd. See winter report for more late north individuals and for late south migrants and overwintering birds. | ||
| Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca) | 28 | 45 | High count 8/20 Marshall (500, Agassiz N.W.R.) EHi. Late north 11/19–20 Pine (Pine City W.M.A.) KrM, 11/19–23 St. Louis (max. 2) JLK (median 11/18). See winter report for late south migrants and overwintering birds. | ||
| Canvasback (Aythya valisineria) | 18 | 30 | High count 11/15 Wabasha (15,000, Pool 5) PEJ. Late north 11/9 Beltrami (4) DPJ, 11/9–10 Mille Lacs MAJ, 11/15 St. Louis ebd, Traverse DLP (median 12/4). See winter report for late south migrants and overwintering birds. | ||
| Redhead (Aythya americana) | 25 | 35 | High count 10/24 Douglas (140, Osakis W.T.P.) REn, RLF. Late north 11/27–29 Beltrami (max. 8, Bemidji) AxB, DPJ, DvH (median 12/12). See winter report for late south migrants and overwintering birds. | ||
| Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris) | 31 | 40 | High count 11/15 Wabasha (8,000, Pool 5) PEJ. See winter report for late north and south migrants and overwintering birds. | ||
| Greater Scaup (Aythya marila) | 14 | 16 | Early north (median 9/27) 9/24 Pine ebd, 9/27–30 St. Louis (max. 14, Park Point) IDv. Early south (median 10/17) 10/1 Meeker PKF, 10/12 Goodhue PEJ, 10/16 Benton (2) JCa. High counts 11/9 St. Louis (150, H.R.N.R., six-hour count) ebd, 10/3 St. Louis (108, Park Point) IDv. Late north 11/27–29 Beltrami (max. 6) AxB, ebd, 11/29 St. Louis (Park Point) JLK (median 12/16). See winter report for more late north migrants, and for late south and overwintering birds. | ||
| Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis) | 23 | 35 | High counts 11/26 Houston (5,370, Reno Bottoms) EzH, 11/21 Wabasha (2,500, near Altura) MaS. Late north 11/28 Becker NaH, 11/28–30 Beltrami (max. 7) DPJ, ebd, 11/30 Mille Lace PEJ (median 12/18). See winter report for late migrants and overwintering birds. | ||
| Harlequin Duck (Histrionicus histrionicus) | 1 | All north: 10/23 – 11/7 Cook (immature or female, Grand Portage W.T.P.) KRE, m.ob., 10/26 Cook (adult male, Grand Marais Harbor) ebd, 11/19–21 Cook (adult male, Grand Marais Harbor) DFe, LWd. | |||
| Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata) | 9 | 6 | Early north (median 9/30) 9/25 – 10/1 St. Louis (max. 5, Park Point) MwT, IsH, EzH, PHS. Six north records away from Lake Superior: 10/7–9 Itasca (Guile Lake) CRM, m.ob., 10/11–16 Polk (2, Oak Lake) JCJ, SAu, 10/24 – 11/5 Todd (max. 3, Lake Osakis) REn, RLF, m.ob., 10/25 Pennington (2) ANy, 10/28 Hubbard (Garfield Lake) RLF, REn, 10/29 – 11/7 Beltrami (max. 2, Bemidji) DPJ, ebd. All south 10/6–11 Ramsey (2, Bald Eagle Lake) ELC, GWe, DnS, m.ob., 10/16 Lac qui Parle (Salt Lake) DLP, 10/23 Kandiyohi (Green Lake) RAE, MJB, 10/28 – 11/7 Brown (max. 2, Sleepy Eye W.T.P.) SLH, RAE, RBW, MiO, BTS, 11/3–15 Hennepin (max. 2, Medicine Lake) DAh, APi, NSg, m.ob., 11/6–10 Stearns (3, Grand Lake) HHD, DRL, TWe (median 11/24). High count 10/1 St. Louis (5, Park Point and Superior Entry) BKe, PHS. | ||
| White-winged Scoter (Melanitta deglandi) | 7 | 6 | Early north (median 10/6) 9/30 St. Louis (adult male, Park Point) IDv. Additional Lake Superior reports 10/17 - 11/23 St. Louis and 10/30 - 11/7 Cook. Five north reports away from Lake Superior: 10/8–9 Itasca (2, Splithand Lake) CRM, m.ob., 10/26 Morrison (Crane Meadows N.W.R.) MJB, 10/28 Mille Lacs (Mille Lacs Lake) HHD, 11/12 Pine (female, Pine City W.T.P.) ebd, 11/22–28 Beltrami (max. 3, Bemidji) DvH, DPJ, AxB. All south 10/20 Ramsey (Vadnais Lake) LiH, m.ob., 10/21 Benton (2, Little Rock C.P.) MJB, HHD, 10/24 Chisago (Green Lake) ELC, 10/31 – 11/15 Hennepin (max. 3, Bde Maka Ska) ClB, m.ob., 11/5–14 Lac qui Parle (max. 3, Salt Lake) WCM, m.ob., 11/20 Jackson (Sandy Point C.P.) DBz. High counts 11/2 Cook (4) DFN, 11/9 St. Louis (4, Park Point) ebd. Also see winter report for late migrants north and south. | ||
| Black Scoter (Melanitta americana) | 5 | 4 | Early north (median 10/5) 10/17 St. Louis (Stony Point) JWL, IDv, StK, 10/19 St. Louis (2, Park Point) IDv, 10/23 Cook (Hovland) KRE, m.ob. Two north reports away from Lake Superior: 11/19–23 Beltrami (max. 2, Bemidji) AxB, m.ob., 10/24 Todd (2, Lake Osakis) RAE. All south 10/15 Benton (Little Rock Lake West) HHD, DOr, 10/20 Ramsey (Vadnais Lake) LiH, 10/25–26 Chisago (max. 7, season’s high count, Green Lake) RAE, m.ob., 11/5–13 Lac qui Parle (Salt Lake) WCM, m.ob. See winter report for late migrants/overwintering birds. | ||
| Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) | 5 | 4 | Early north (median 10/17) 10/22–25 Lake (max. 2, Two Harbors) KRE, m.ob. Additional north reports away from Lake Superior 10/29 – 11/1 Carlton (Moose Lake W.T.P.) GHo, KDS, 11/7, 11/23 Beltrami (max. 2, Bemidji) DPJ, DvH. All south 11/13 Ramsey (female/immature, Vadnais Lake) DnS, m.ob., 11/24 Meeker (female/immature, Lake Ripley) HHD, MJB, BNn, 11/27 Carver (female/immature, Lake Waconia) BAb, TWe, 11/29–30 Hennepin (Medicine Lake) ebd, m.ob., (2, Lake Independence) SMC. | ||
| Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) | 27 | 43 | Early south (median 9/17) 8/10, 8/25 Lac qui Parle (female/immature, Salt Lake) DLP, WCM, 9/23 Steele (4, Rice Lake S.P.) ebd, 9/24 Freeborn FKB. High count 10/28 Cass (670, Walker W.T.P.) ebd. | ||
| Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) | 22 | 34 | Two summering individuals in Carver (Wahibo Marsh) and Scott (Blue Lake W.T.P.) were still present in early August. Early south migrants 10/1 Hennepin (Deephaven) ebd, 10/7 Hennepin (4, Old Cedar Ave. Bridge) MaS. High counts 11/22, 11/27 Hennepin (800, Lake Minnetonka) TWe. | ||
| Barrow's Goldeneye (Bucephala islandica) | No reports. | ||||
| Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) | 32 | 44 | Reported statewide. High count 11/11 Ramsey (770, Vadnais Lake) LiH. | ||
| Common Goldeneye X Hooded Merganser (Bucephala clangula X Lophodytes cucullatus) | 2 | Two reports: 11/27 Goodhue (adult male, Lake Pepin) ph. †PEJ, 11/29 Wabasha (male, Pool #5) †PEJ. | |||
| Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) | 19 | 20 | Early south (median 10/20) 9/13 Chisago (2, Braham Island) GaJ, 10/19–22 Hennepin (max. 2, several locations) TGi, ebd, 10/22 Ramsey (Vadnais Lake) ebd. High counts 11/27 Goodhue (30,000, Lake Pepin) PEJ, 11/26 Wabasha (5,800, Lake Twp) EzH. | ||
| Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator) | 11 | 20 | Reports from the Northeast spanned the season. Away from Lake Superior found 10/7 – 11/29 Beltrami (max. 8, Bemidji) DPJ, DvH, ebd, 10/23 Hubbard (6) MHe, 10/25 Todd SDi, 10/28 – 11/30 Mille Lacs (max. 3, Mille Lacs Lake) HHD, RAE, PEJ, 11/14 Kanabec (2) SPS, 11/29 Douglas (2, Lake Cowdry) ToR. Early south (median 10/27) 10/2 Redwood (Lower Sioux Community W.T.P.) KRE, m.ob., 10/17–20 Ramsey (max. 4, several locations) KDS, APi, LiH. High count 11/2 St. Louis (110, Park Point) JLK. | ||
| Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) | 15 | 43 | High counts 10/29 Hennepin (460, total from lakes Harriet, Hiawatha and Nokomis) ClB, 10/12 Anoka (373, Rice Creek Chain of Lakes P.R.) ELC. Late north 11/2 Pennington ANy, 11/2–14 Pine TWe, KPJ, 11/4 Carlton ebd (median 11/16). Also see winter report. | ||
| Partridge, Pheasants, Grouse, Turkeys | |||||
| Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) | 31 | 49 | Reported statewide. High counts 11/19 Mille Lacs (60, near Oak Park) ebd, 11/10 Benton (54, near Sauk Rapids) DOr. | ||
| Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus) | 29 | 10 | Reported north from every county but Clay, Grant, Mahnomen, Traverse, Wilkin. Reported south from Stearns, Sherburne, the East-central (Anoka, Isanti, Chisago) and the Southeast (Fillmore, Goodhue, Houston, Wabasha, Winona). High counts 9/26 Cook (10, Lutsen Twp.) ebd, 10/26 Cook (10, Gunflint Trail) ASu, ebd. | ||
| Spruce Grouse (Canachites canadensis) | 6 | Reported north from Cook, Koochiching, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Roseau, St. Louis. High count 9/12 Lake (6, 2 adults and 4 juveniles, north of Isabella) ebd. | |||
| Sharp-tailed Grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus) | 12 | 2 | Two south reports 8/20 Big Stone BRB, 8/21 – 11/6 Lac qui Parle (max. 8, reported from 3 separate locations) EHi, KeL, ebd. North reports from Aitkin, Clearwater, Kittson, Koochiching, Lake of the Woods, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake, Roseau, St. Louis. High counts all from Agassiz Valley Impoundment, on different sides of the county line: 11/30 Marshall (40) HHu, 11/16, 11/25 Polk (35) HHu. | ||
| Greater Prairie-Chicken (Tympanuchus cupido) | 6 | Found north in Becker, Clay, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake. High counts 9/14 Clay (20, Buffalo River S.P.) ebd, 9/22 Red Lake (15, Moran W.M.A.) DvP. | |||
| Gray Partridge (Perdix perdix) | 3 | 13 | Reported north only from the Northwest (Pennington, Polk, Red Lake). Found south in Brown, Chippewa, Cottonwood, Dodge, Freeborn, Goodhue, Kandiyohi, Jackson, Martin, Mower, Pipestone, Renville, Watonwan. High counts 10/31 Polk (16, near Warren) HHu, 11/2 Red Lake (15) ANy, 11/17 Polk (15, Brandt-Angus Impoundment) HHu. | ||
| Ring-necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) | 23 | 52 | Reported as far north as Kittson and Beltrami in the Northwest and St. Louis in the Northeast. High count 10/6 Cottonwood (40, Lake Augusta W.P.A.) KEm. | ||
| Grebes | |||||
| Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) | 33 | 51 | High count 9/17 Kandiyohi (180, counted individually, Foote Lake) CRM, m.ob. Late north 11/14 Itasca (2) ClB, 11/15 St. Louis ebd, 11/23–25 Beltrami (2) AxB, DPJ (median 12/4). Late south 11/29 Washington FJN, m.ob., 11/30 Hennepin ClB (median 12/20), but also see winter report. | ||
| Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus) | 17 | 27 | Early south (median 9/3) 9/5 Sibley (2) RBW, 9/9 Anoka GWe, Benton (7, Little Rock Lake) HHD, 9/11 Isanti ABL. High counts 10/12 St. Louis (191, Park Point) IDv, 10/12 Hennepin (63, total on lakes Harriet and Bde Maka Ska) CMB. Late north 11/25–28 Beltrami AxB, ebd, 11/28–29 St. Louis (2) TWe, JLK, ebd (median 11/24). Late south 11/26 Goodhue SDz, ebd, 11/27 Hennepin CMB, TGi, ClB (median 12/1). Also see winter report for latest migrants north and south. | ||
| Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena) | 23 | 17 | High counts 9/18 St. Louis (23, Stony Point) RyS, 8/3 Cass (21, Takagami Loop) ebd. Late north 11/7 Cook (2) KRE, m.ob., 11/27–28 St. Louis JLK, ebd (median 11/30). Late south 11/8–11 Meeker RAE, HHD, TWe, 11/9 Chisago KRM, 11/11 Big Stone DLP (median 11/19). | ||
| Eared Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis) | 12 | 9 | High count 9/4 Pennington (12, Thief River Falls W.T.P.) JPr. Late north 10/18–19 Marshall (Warren W.T.P.) HHu, 11/2 Pennington (5) ANy (median 10/15). Late south 10/9 Faribault PEJ, Freeborn PEJ, 10/16 Carver JCy, 11/9 Benton HHD (median 10/24). | ||
| Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis) | 5 | 7 | High counts 8/12 Faribault (627, Minnesota Lake) PEJ, 8/8 Douglas (150, Lake Osakis) REn, ebd. Late north 11/7–13 St. Louis (Park Point) ClB, JLK, APi, ebd (median 11/7). Late south 11/4 Rice TFB, 11/6–9 Hennepin (Medicine Lake) JST, KSz, ebd (median 11/16). | ||
| Clark's Grebe (Aechmophorus clarkii) | No fall reports since 2017. | ||||
| Pigeons, Doves | |||||
| Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) | 34 | 53 | Found statewide. High count 11/24 Ramsey (600, railroad yard near Little Pigs Eye Lake) BBr. | ||
| Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) | 19 | 51 | Reported south from every county except Isanti, Washington. In the north, generally reported southwest of a line from Polk to Beltrami to Pine. Only Northeast report: 9/12 St. Louis (Duluth) SCB, PHS. High count 11/16 Olmsted (46, near Dover) LAV. | ||
| White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica) | 1 | The first fall report of this species since 2016: 9/19 St. Louis H.R.B.O. | |||
| Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) | 34 | 53 | Reported from every county. High counts 8/3 Steele (100) PSu, 9/4 Benton (100) DOr. | ||
| Cuckoos | |||||
| Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus) | 2 | 24 | All north 8/8 Crow Wing (Crow Wing Twp.) MJB, 8/29 St. Louis (Park Point) IsH, EzH, ASu, HTo. No counts higher than 3. Late south 9/10 Hennepin (Wood Lake N.C.) ebd, Olmsted (Girl Scout Woods) ebd, 9/27 Nicollet (Swan Lake W.M.A.) BTS (median 9/18). | ||
| Black-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus erythropthalmus) | 17 | 22 | Late north 9/5 Lake SLL, JWL, St. Louis (H.R.B.O. Banding Station) FJN, 9/7 Clay ThH, 10/2 Cook LWd (median 9/19). Highest count only 4 (two pairs). Late south 9/18 Fillmore ToM, Isanti ebd, Scott ebd, Washington BDo, 9/19 Freeborn ebd (median 9/16). | ||
| Nightjars | |||||
| Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor) | 30 | 42 | High count 8/25 St. Louis (5,880, Duluth) RyS. Late north 9/22 Clay (5) ebd, 9/23 Marshall (2) DMz, 10/11 St. Louis (7, near Ely) ebd (median 10/1). Late south 10/6 Blue Earth (17) BHW, Dakota MZa, 10/8 Rice (3) ebd (median 10/9). | ||
| Eastern Whip-poor-will (Antrostomus vociferus) | 7 | 5 | Late north 9/3–4 Kittson (max. 5, Caribou W.M.A.) DvP, 9/7–10 Polk (max. 2, near Crookston) DvP, 9/11 Pine (St. Croix S.P.) DvP, 9/22 Marshall (near Strandquist) HHu (median 9/11). All south 8/1–15 Sherburne (Sherburne N.W.R.) BLz, HHD, 8/4 Anoka (2, Fish Lake N.T.) GrN, 8/22 Carver (Minnesota Valley N.W.R.) JCy, 8/31 Washington (Afton S.P.) KIs, 9/4 Houston (3, Mound Prairie S.N.A.) ebd. | ||
| Swifts | |||||
| Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica) | 24 | 48 | High count 8/21 Washington (1,500, Mahtomedi High School) ECl. Late north, all from St. Louis, 9/16 (3, Moose Valley Banding Station) AVa, 9/25 H.R.B.O., 10/11 H.R.B.O. Late south 10/1 Carver WCM, Ramsey (2) LiH, 10/5 Le Sueur DOr (median 10/5). | ||
| Hummingbirds | |||||
| Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) | 34 | 53 | Reported throughout the state. High counts 8/4 Goodhue (30, residence near Red Wing) PEJ, 9/12 Hennepin (26, Longfellow Gardens, Minneapolis) ebd. Late north 9/26 St. Louis (Park Point) PHS, IDv, 9/28 Itasca ebd, 10/22 Clay (female, Moorhead) LSl (median 9/27). Late south 10/4 Rice ebd, Washington (2) ebd, 10/6–8 Hennepin IVa, RMS, ebd (median 10/14). | ||
| RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD (Selasphorus rufus) | 1 | One north report of this Casual species 11/6–30+ St. Louis (Duluth, adult female which reportedly first appeared in the neighborhood in late October) LME, ph. †REn, ph. †PHS, m.ob., plus photographs from 17 additional observers on eBird. | |||
| Rails, Gallinules, Coots | |||||
| Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola) | 9 | 25 | High counts 8/5 Otter Tail (5, Neumann W.P.A.) KBg, 8/22 Lake (4, Flood Bay State Wayside) JWL. Late north 9/12 Aitkin SKS, 9/13 St. Louis (Hartley Park) JLK, (Voyageurs N.P., Sullivan Bay) ebd, 10/9 Douglas JEl (median 9/16). Late south 10/2 Washington (Belwin Conservancy) RMa, BCo, 10/2–4 Washington (Lake Elmo P.R.) BDo, 10/9 – 11/28 Hennepin (Old Cedar Ave Bridge) ebd, m.ob. (median 10/13). | ||
| Sora (Porzana carolina) | 24 | 41 | High counts 9/11 Hennepin (100, Old Cedar Ave. Bridge, estimated) AFo, 9/21 Freeborn (20, Bhagyam W.P.A., several family groups calling) KEm. Late north 10/23 St. Louis (2) JLK, 10/27–11/1 Pine KrM (median 10/5). Late south 11/28–30 Hennepin (Old Cedar Ave. Bridge) KEm, m.ob. (median 10/16), but also see winter report. | ||
| Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata) | 1 | 5 | One north report 8/5–28 Otter Tail (Neumann W.P.A.) KRE, m.ob. All south 8/1 – 9/5 Sibley (4, Sand Lake; family group continuing from summer) RBW, SLH, PRH, ebd, 8/14–27 Wabasha/Winona (max. 9, Whitewater W.M.A.) TWe, JtM, SDz, ebd, 8/30, 9/11 Wright (adult on 8/30, juvenile on 9/11, Clearwater Lake) HBu, 8/25–29 Sherburne (Stickney Lake) DOr, HHD, MJB, PLJ. | ||
| American Coot (Fulica americana) | 30 | 51 | Reported statewide throughout the season. High count 10/24 Meeker (10,900, estimated by 200s, Lake Washington) MJB. | ||
| Yellow Rail (Coturnicops noveboracensis) | 1 | 3 | One north 9/29 St. Louis (Duluth, injured bird sent to rehab facility) FJN. All south 9/23 Ramsey (Tony Schmidt Park) †LiH, 9/26 Waseca (Lundquist W.M.A.) †KEm, JWH, 10/1 Nicollet (Middle Lake) †APi. | ||
| Cranes | |||||
| Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis) | 33 | 45 | Reported throughout the state though with only scattered reports from the Southwest. High count 11/9 Sherburne (13,130, Sherburne NWR; official refuge crane survey) CyC. Late north 11/12–20 Mille Lacs (max. 3) MAJ, ebd, 11/17 Hubbard (4) REn, ebd, (median 11/14). Late south 11/27 Benton DOr, 11/27 Sherburne (6) PLJ, 11/29 Houston ebd (median 11/29), but also see winter report. | ||
| Stilts, Avocets | |||||
| BLACK-NECKED STILT (Himantopus mexicanus) | 2 | Two south reports of this casual species, both continuing from summer: 8/2–5 Swift (max. 4, Marsh Lake) †DLP, RAE, 8/21 Big Stone (Artichoke Twp.) ph. †GWe. | |||
| American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana) | 3 | 7 | All north 8/5 Grant (max. 8, Elbow Lake) KRE, m.ob., 8/10 Todd (Browerville W.T.P.) REn, RLF, 8/21–22 Marshall (11) DLP, JMJ. All south 8/1–11 Swift (max. 76, Marsh Lake) RAE, DLP, 8/8 Olmsted (3, County 9 Marsh) LAV, JPr, ebd, 8/25 Kandiyohi (Swan Lake) JoS, 9/19 Lyon (2, Coon Creek W.M.A.) GWe, 9/23 Faribault (4, Walnut Lake W.M.A.) ebd. | ||
| Plovers | |||||
| Black-bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola) | 7 | 18 | Early north 8/4 Grant (North Ottawa Impoundment) VRL, 8/14 – 9/5 St. Louis (max. 9, Park Point) IDv, BLz, ebd (median 8/9). Early south 8/15 McLeod RAE, 8/20 Lyon GWe, 8/22 McLeod (Lewis Lake) TWe. High count 9/18 St. Louis (20, Park Point) IDv. Late north 10/16 Marshall KrM, then only from St. Louis where last reported 10/29 (Mud Lake) JLK, (3) H.R.B.O., 10/30 (Superior Entry) m.ob. (median 10/25). Late south 10/23 Swift DLP, 11/2–7 Big Stone (8) DLP (median 11/5). | ||
| American Golden-Plover (Pluvialis dominica) | 16 | 20 | Early north (median 8/16) 8/14 Grant (2) ebd, 8/15–17 St. Louis (Park Point) IDv, 9/5 St. Louis (Port Terminal) JLK, IDv. Early south (median 8/2) 8/13 Big Stone (3) TAT, 8/17 Lyon NMe, 8/29 Dakota PEJ, Martin DBz. High counts 10/25 Big Stone (530, counted by 10s) DLP, 9/18 St. Louis (209, Park Point) IDv. Late north 10/16 Mille Lacs (2) MJB, 10/16–19 St. Louis (max. 5, Park Point) KRE, m.ob., 11/9 Cook (Grand Marais) ebd (median 10/29). Late south 11/13–14 Dakota (3, Lake Byllesby) DWK, EHi, PEJ, VRL, 11/16 Goodhue (2, Lake Byllesby) PEJ (median 11/8). | ||
| Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) | 32 | 52 | Reported statewide. High count 8/8 Lyon (260, Lone Tree Lake) GWe. Late north 10/25 Mille Lacs HHD, 10/30 Lake (Two Harbors) EHi,11/23 Beltrami DPJ, DvH (median 10/25), but also see winter report. | ||
| Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus) | 18 | 34 | See summer report for early southbound migrants. High count 8/15 Sibley (26, High Island Lake) GWe. Late north 10/3 St. Louis H.R.B.O., 10/9–10 Mille Lacs BAb, DFe (median 10/4). Late south 9/27 Meeker ANy, DBz, 10/8 Wright (4) RCl, 10/9 Dakota BxP (median 10/11). | ||
| Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) | No reports. | ||||
| Sandpipers | |||||
| Upland Sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda) | 1 | 18 | High counts 8/2 Brown (20, Stark Twp.) BTS, 8/6 Rock (15) RAE. All north 8/7 Marshall (Agassiz Valley) HHu. Late south 8/22 Hennepin (E. French Lake Rd.) DEl, 8/29 Olmsted ebd, 9/9 Hennepin (Crow-Hassan P.R.) RLR (median 8/24). | ||
| Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) | 1 | Singles reported north 8/12–17 St. Louis (Park Point R.A.) IDv, TCL. | |||
| Hudsonian Godwit (Limosa haemastica) | 1 | No north reports. Only south report 9/15 Chippewa DLP. | |||
| Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa) | 4 | 2 | All north 8/12 St. Louis (2, Park Point R.A.) IDv, 8/15 Grant (Mustinka Slough) ebd, 8/20 Marshall (Agassiz N.W.R.) EHi, 9/4 Kittson (Joe River W.M.A.) ebd. All south 8/3 Big Stone (Hillman Prairie W.P.A.) ebd, 8/21–29 Anoka (2, Rice Lake) ELC, m.ob. | ||
| Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres) | 4 | 7 | All north 8/14 St. Louis (Park Point R.A.) IDv, ebd, 8/21 Marshall DLP, 8/23 Otter Tail (2, Lake Lida) ebd, 9/9–13 Cook (Grand Marais) ebd, 9/11 St. Louis (Park Point R.A.) ALw, m.ob., 9/22–24 St. Louis (Park Point R.A.) TCL, m.ob. See summer report for earliest southbound migrant. All south 8/17 Lyon (Coon Creek W.M.A.) NMe, 8/20 Jackson (Heron Lake Twp.) ebd, Lyon (11, Sham Lake) GWe, Stearns HHD, 8/22 Yellow Medicine (Spellman Lake) GWe, 8/23 Sibley (High Island Lake) RBW, 8/25 Lac qui Parle (Big Stone N.W.R.) WCM, 8/29 Wright (2, Pelican Lake) RCl. | ||
| RUFF (Calidris pugnax) | 1 | One report of this Casual species: 8/18 Freeborn (Albert Lea Lake) ph. †PEJ. | |||
| Stilt Sandpiper (Calidris himantopus) | 16 | 36 | See summer report for early southbound migrants. High count 8/15 Grant (150, Mustinka Slough) ebd. Late north 9/12 Cook ebd, St. Louis GWe, 9/20 Otter Tail (6) ebd, 9/19–28 Becker (max. 6, Hamden Slough N.W.R., Bisson Lake) NaH, (median 9/22). Late south 10/18 Lincoln (11) ANy, 10/23 Lyon GWe, 10/19 - 11/11 Brown (Sleepy Eye W.T.P.) BTS, m.ob. (median 10/19). | ||
| Sanderling (Calidris alba) | 13 | 23 | See summer report for early southbound migrants. High counts 8/28 St. Louis (30, Park Point R.A.) ebd, 9/5 St. Louis (30, Duluth Port Terminal) JLK. Late north 10/29 St. Louis (3, Park Point R.A.) ebd, 10/28–31 Beltrami DPJ, m.ob. (median 10/11). Late south 10/14 Wabasha (2) DBz, 10/17 Sherburne ebd, 10/22 Brown BTS (median 10/21). | ||
| Dunlin (Calidris alpina) | 4 | 12 | Early north (median 9/2) 9/6 Cook ebd, 9/13 St. Louis (Park Point R.A.) IDv, 10/12 St. Louis (Park Point R.A.) IDv. See summer report for earliest south migrant; subsequently reported 8/10 Wright ToL, 8/14 Kandiyohi (2) ebd. High count 10/22 Brown (22, Sleepy Eye W.T.P.) BTS. Late north 10/16 Marshall HHu, 10/26 St. Louis (3) StK, 10/30 Mille Lacs HHD (median 10/31). Late south 11/7 Big Stone (2) DLP, Brown (3) BTS, RBW, 11/14 Dakota PEJ (median 11/8). | ||
| Baird's Sandpiper (Calidris bairdii) | 22 | 42 | See summer report for early north and south migrants. High count 8/19 Stearns (167, Paynesville Twp.) PCC. Late north 9/13 Polk HHu, St. Louis (6) IDv, 9/29 Cook ebd, 10/8 Marshall HHu (median 10/9). Late south 10/9 Pipestone KEm, JWH, 10/18 Lincoln ANy, 11/7–10 Brown RBW, m.ob. (median 11/1). | ||
| Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla) | 28 | 49 | See summer report for early north and south migrants. High counts 8/4 Sibley (1,500, High Island Lake) ASu, 8/23 Stearns (501, Paynesville Twp.) PCC. Late north 9/23 Polk (2) HHu, 10/8 Marshall (2) HHu, 10/9 Otter Tail (12) ebd (median 10/14). Late south 10/23 Lyon (8) GWe, 10/23–24 Brown (Sleepy Eye W.T.P.) BTS, 11/3–6 Brown (juvenile, Sleepy Eye W.T.P.) BTS (median 10/26). | ||
| White-rumped Sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis) | 3 | 10 | All north 8/15 Lake (3, Two Harbors) ebd, 8/17 Becker (Roberg Lake) NaH, m.ob., 8/17–28 Marshall (max. 5, season high count, Warren W.T.P.) HHu, EHi, 8/29 Becker (4, Roberg Lake) ebd. Early south (median 8/16) 8/18 Blue Earth BSa, 8/19 Dakota EHi, Pope (2) ToR. Late south 8/27 Ramsey LiH, 8/28 Cottonwood (2) ebd, 8/29 Wright RCl (median 10/8). Note: undocumented reports of fall migrants prior to August 15th are not published. | ||
| Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Calidris subruficollis) | 8 | 30 | See summer report for early southbound migrants. High counts 8/1 Swift (53, Dublin Twp.) MJB, 8/2 Swift (45, location?) DLP, 8/19 Dakota (33, Braun Turf Farms) LHl. Late north 9/15 St. Louis (3, Park Point R.A.) ebd, 9/25 St. Louis (3, Park Point R.A.) GrS, ClN, 10/7 Lake JLK (median 9/21). Late south 9/8 Renville BTS, m.ob., 9/14 Dakota MwT, 9/12–21 Scott (Marsh W.M.A.) BAb, m.ob. (median 9/22). | ||
| Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos) | 23 | 46 | See summer report for early southbound migrants. High counts 8/4 Sibley (2,000, High Island Lake) ASu, 8/8 Chippewa (338, Shakopee Lake) WCM. Late north 10/16 Grant ebd, 10/16–18 Mille Lacs (Ogechie Lake) HHD, MJB, 10/18–20 Marshall HHu, 11/2 Mille Lacs HHD (median 10/30). Late south 10/29 Olmsted (2) JHD, 11/4 Yellow Medicine WCM, 11/6 Lyon GWe (median 11/11). | ||
| Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla) | 26 | 44 | See summer report for early southbound migrants. High counts 8/8 Chippewa (203, Shakopee Lake) WCM, 8/20 Marshall (200, Agassiz N.W.R.) EHi. Late north 9/18 Mille Lacs (2) MJB, 9/19 Becker NaH, 9/25 Otter Tail (2) ebd (median 9/29). Late south 9/21 Faribault KEm, 9/25 Lyon (Black Rush Lake W.P.A.) GWe, 10/9 Lyon (2, Sham Lake) GWe (median 10/17). | ||
| Short-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus griseus) | 12 | 26 | See summer report for early southbound migrants. High counts 8/4 Sibley (20, High Island Lake) ASu, 8/20 Marshall (10, Agassiz N.W.R.) ebd. Late north 9/2 (2) Becker JJS, JPr, 9/6 Otter Tail ebd, 9/15 Morrison HHD, 10/6–8 Mille Lacs (max. 3, Mille Lacs Lake) HHD, CRM, m.ob. (median 9/5). Late south 9/8 Renville BTS, BAb, 9/12 Cottonwood (5) ebd, 9/21 Brown BTS (median 9/12). | ||
| Long-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus) | 7 | 19 | Early north (median 8/18) 9/16–17 Polk (max. 3) HHu, ebd, 9/28 (5) Becker NaH, Mahnomen (2) ebd. Early south (median 8/10) 8/8 Pipestone ebd, 8/12 Big Stone DLP, 8/15 Olmsted ebd. High count 10/5 Big Stone (34, C.R. 8) DLP. Late north 10/4 Grant (25) AFo, Norman TCL, 10/9 Otter Tail ebd, 10/6–19 Mille Lacs (max. 5) HHD, m.ob. (median 10/19). Late south 10/22 Olmsted (4) MiD, 10/23 Lyon GWe, 10/25 Big Stone (10) DLP (median 10/27). | ||
| American Woodcock (Scolopax minor) | 20 | 13 | High counts 9/30 Sherburne (20, flushed while hunting, Sherburne N.W.R.) AFo, 10/6 St. Louis (5, French Twp.) ebd. Late north 11/24 Beltrami (Library Park, Bemidji) DvH, 11/28 Beltrami (Diamond Point Park, Bemidji, same bird?) ebd, 11/29 Carlton (driving along I-35 N, Esko) FJN, HTo (median 11/1). Late south 11/6 Wright ebd, 11/7 Rice (Carleton College Cowling Arboretum) AvB, MZa, 11/12 Rice TFB (median 11/5). | ||
| Wilson's Snipe (Gallinago delicata) | 29 | 48 | High counts 10/4 Grant (85, Jim Gritman W.P.A.) AFo, 9/11 Rice (57) TFB. Late north 11/9 Aitkin ebd, 11/11–18 Mille Lacs (max. 3, Rum River) MAJ, HHD, RAE (median 11/15). | ||
| Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius) | 32 | 52 | High count 8/1 Clay (16, Red River canoe trip, near Fargo) KCo, THv. Late north 10/2 St. Louis (Pine Forest S.N.A., Park Point R.A., and Western Waterfront Trail) MtS, LiH, JLK, Pennington (2) DvP, 10/9–14 Mille Lacs BAb, m.ob. (median 10/20). Late south 10/10 Jackson (2) KEm, JWH, 10/14 Dodge LHl, 11/3 Hennepin ebd (median 10/16). | ||
| Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitaria) | 29 | 46 | See summer report for early southbound migrants. High count 8/19 Todd (14, Long Prairie W.T.P.) CRM, m.ob. Late north 10/6 Cass NaH, DFe, 10/8 Red Lake SAu, DvP, 10/9–14 Mille Lacs BAb, m.ob. (median 10/4). Late south 10/10 Dakota RBW, 10/12 Houston (2) MJM, 10/14 Dodge LHl (median 10/11). | ||
| Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes) | 30 | 50 | See summer report for early southbound migrants. High counts 8/4 Sibley (500, High Island Lake) ASu, 8/20 Marshall (350, Agassiz N.W.R.) EHi. Late north 10/19–25 Mille Lacs HHD, 10/22–31 Polk (max. 4) HHu (median 10/24). Late south 10/29 Sherburne (5) ebd, NSg, 11/5 Big Stone DLP, 11/6 Lyon GWe (median 11/4). | ||
| Willet (Tringa semipalmata) | 1 | 2 | All north 8/6 Grant (North Ottawa Impoundment) BLz. All south 9/11 Big Stone ph. DLP, 9/12 Cottonwood (Talcot Lake State W.M.A.) ebd. | ||
| Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca) | 29 | 44 | See summer report for early southbound migrants. High count 8/20 Marshall (75, Agassiz N.W.R.) EHi. Late north 11/3 Otter Tail (2) RAE, 11/4 St. Louis (2, Mud Lake) JLK, 11/7 St. Louis (Superior Entry) GrN, BKa (median 11/6). Late south 11/6 Rice AvB, JBh, Wabasha PEJ, Wright (4) ToL, ABL, 11/9 Houston PEJ, 11/10 Olmsted (2) HCT, LAV (median 11/13). | ||
| Wilson's Phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor) | 8 | 20 | High count 8/15 Grant (14, Mustinka Slough) ebd. Late north 8/22 Becker (2) ebd, 8/25 Todd (6) ebd, 9/9 Douglas (2) ebd (median 9/4). Late south 9/18 Lyon GWe, 9/21 Brown BTS, 9/29 Yellow Medicine WCM (median 9/21). | ||
| Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus) | 17 | 28 | See summer report for early southbound migrants. High count 8/19 Douglas (68, Osakis W.T.P.) CRM, m.ob. Late north 9/19 Red Lake (2) DvP, Todd (2) REn, RLF, 10/11 Marshall HHu (median 9/26). Late south 10/9 Faribault (2) PEJ, 10/10 Lyon GWe, 10/10–14 Jackson (max. 2) KEm, JWH, RAE (median 10/8). | ||
| RED PHALAROPE (Phalaropus fulicarius) | 1 | The first fall record since 2018 was found 10/21–24 Brown (Somsen W.M.A.) ph. †BTS, ph. †KEm, m.ob. | |||
| Jaegers | |||||
| POMARINE JAEGER (Stercorarius pomarinus) | 1 | A long staying dark morph first-cycle originally discovered on 9/29 at Wisconsin Point by PHS and Robbye Johnson was later documented on the Minnesota side of the border 10/12 – 11/6 St. Louis (Park Point R.A. and Superior Entry) IDv, †EzH, ph. LiH, †JGW, †DFN, ph. †PHS, m.ob. | |||
| Parasitic Jaeger (Stercorarius parasiticus) | 1 | All reports were from St. Louis: Early north (median 9/6) 9/11 (second-cycle light morph, Superior Entry) EzH, 9/13 (adult, Park Point R.A.) IDv, 9/17 (unaged, Park Point R.A.) JLK. High count 9/18 (4, two adults and two first-cycles, Park Point R.A.) IDv. Late north 9/28 (unaged light morph, Superior Entry) ebd, 10/2 (unaged, Park Point R.A.) LiH, BEA, 10/16–19 (first-cycle dark morph, Superior Entry) EzH, m.ob. (median 10/3). | |||
| Stercorarius jaeger (Stercorarius sp.) | 1 | 1 | First-cycle found 9/18 Sherburne ph. TLM. Others were seen in St. Louis 9/11 (first-cycle dark morph, Superior Entry) EzH, 9/22 (Park Point R.A.) TCL, 9/25 (immature, Park Point R.A.) ClN, m.ob., 9/30 (Park Point R.A.) IDv. | ||
| Gulls, Terns | |||||
| BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE (Rissa tridactyla) | 1 | A well-photographed first-cycle was reported 10/29 – 11/14 St. Louis (Superior Entry and Park Point R.A.) †AFo, †LHl, †JGW, ph. †DnS, ph. †KEm, ph. †REn, ph. †LiH, m.ob. | |||
| Sabine's Gull (Xema sabini) | 1 | 1 | All north 9/18 St. Louis (max. 10, first-cycles, Park Point R.A.) IDv, m.ob., 9/19 St. Louis (6, Park Point R.A.) LME, m.ob., 9/21 St. Louis (Park Point R.A.) AFo, 9/26 St. Louis (2, first-cycles, Park Point R.A.) EzH, IsH. Only south report: 10/3–9 Ramsey (first-cycle, Vadnais Lake) PNi, DnS, ph. †APi, ph. LMS, m.ob. | ||
| Bonaparte's Gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia) | 22 | 37 | Early south (median 8/7) 8/1–8 Stearns (max. 4) ebd, m.ob., 8/6 Rock RAE, 8/8 Benton ANy, m.ob., Goodhue SHo. High count 10/27 Beltrami (460, Lower Red Lake) DvH. Late north 11/30 Aitkin (25) PEJ, Crow Wing (77) PEJ, Mille Lacs (15) PEJ (median 11/25). Late south 11/27 Carver TWe, 11/28 Dakota (2) ebd, Wright DWK (median 11/28), but also see winter report. | ||
| Little Gull (Hydrocoloeus minutus) | No reports. | ||||
| ROSS'S GULL (Rhodostethia rosea) | 2 | A well-photographed first-cycle provided the fourth state and second county record before being found deceased on 11/30: 11/27–29 Washington/Dakota (Point Douglas), found by †BDo and documented by 21 other individuals (The Loon 93:210–213). | |||
| Franklin's Gull (Leucophaeus pipixcan) | 23 | 50 | High counts 10/9 Freeborn (5,700, Albert Lea Lake) PEJ, 10/23 Lyon (3,370, Lyons Twp.) GWe. Late north 11/6 Traverse (3, Arthur Twp.) REn, (150, Wheaton) REn, 11/13 Mille Lacs MAJ (median 11/3). Late south 11/19 Ramsey LiH, 11/20 Lyon GWe, Waseca JWH (median 11/18). | ||
| Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) | 34 | 50 | Found statewide through the end of the season. High counts 10/12 St. Louis (9,100, Park Point R.A.) IDv, 8/1 St. Louis (4,000, Interstate Island W.M.A.) PHS. | ||
| Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) | 25 | 28 | Observed north throughout the season. Scattered reports south in late July, becoming more frequent in mid-August. High counts 10/30 St. Louis (1,124, Superior Entry) MLH, 8/28 St. Louis (632, Port Terminal) PHS. | ||
| Iceland Gull (Larus glaucoides) | 2 | 2 | Early north 10/15 St. Louis (2, adult and first-cycle, both thayeri, Superior Entry) PHS, 10/18 St. Louis (first-cycle thayeri, Park Point R.A.) PHS, 10/19 St. Louis (first-cycle thayeri, Park Point R.A.) IDv. Early south 11/1 Dakota (first-cycle thayeri, SET-Empire mulch site) MwT, 11/1–30 Hennepin (first-cycle kumlieni, East Medicine Lake) †LSw, m.ob., 11/14 Dakota (2, adult and first-cycle, both thayeri, SET-Empire mulch site) MwT. High count 11/28 St. Louis (10, Superior Entry: 5 adults, 3 first-cycle, and 1 third-cycle, all thayeri, and a second-cycle kumlieni) ClN, m.ob. Additional reports of L.g. kumlieni: 11/6 Cook (adult) ClN, 11/22 Wabasha (adult) PEJ. | ||
| Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) | 1 | 4 | All north 9/18 St. Louis (first-cycle, Park Point R.A.) IDv, 9/19 St. Louis (adult, Park Point R.A.) IDv, 10/2 St. Louis (first-cycle, Park Point R.A.) StK, IDv, SNe, 10/15 St. Louis (first-cycle, Superior Entry) PHS, 10/19 St. Louis (first-cycle, Park Point R.A.) IDv, 11/7 St. Louis (Park Point R.A.) LiH, KvM. All south 8/14–20 Meeker (second-cycle, Belle Lake) ToL, m.ob., 8/20 Lyon (third-cycle, Black Rush Lake W.P.A.) NMe, 11/13 Brown (adult, Sleepy Eye W.T.P.) BTS, 11/16 Sherburne (adult, Elk River Landfill) PLJ. | ||
| SLATY-BACKED GULL (Larus schistisagus) | 1 | The first south report of this species since 2009 was an adult found 11/22 Wabasha (Lake Pepin) ph. †PEJ. It was last reported in early December. | |||
| Glaucous Gull (Larus hyperboreus) | 2 | 2 | All north 11/4 St. Louis (second-cycle, Canal Park) MLH, 11/7 Lake (Knife River Marina) LiH, KvM, 11/21 St. Louis (first-cycle, Superior Entry) JDx, ClN, 11/27 St. Louis (first-cycle, Western Waterfront Trail) JLK, 11/28 St. Louis (first-cycle, Park Point R.A.) PHS, (4, all first-cycle, Superior Entry) ClN, m.ob., 11/28–30 (first-cycle, Canal Park) MLH, PHS. All south 11/28–30 Hennepin (first-cycle, Old Cedar Ave. Bridge) SLC, m.ob., 11/28–29 Wright (first-cycle, Howard Lake) DWK, m.ob. | ||
| Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) | Fourth fall season in last five with no reports. | ||||
| LEAST TERN (Sternula antillarum) | 1 | An adult was found 8/8 Martin (Tuttle Lake) †SJD. | |||
| Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia) | 17 | 23 | High count 8/24 Cass (22, Ten Mile Lake) DoH, ebd. Late north 9/21 Kittson DMz, St. Louis ebd, 9/22 Cass (2) AxB (median 9/26). Late south 9/25 Dakota ebd, 9/26 Lyon GWe, 9/27 Carver JCy (median 9/29). | ||
| Black Tern (Chlidonias niger) | 19 | 39 | High count 8/5 Grant (40, Stony Brook Twp.) CRM, m.ob. Late north 9/1 Becker (2) DFe, m.ob., 9/4 Marshall (3) JPr, CRM, m.ob., Pennington (3) JPr, CRM, m.ob. (median 9/7). Late south 9/9 Pipestone (4) ebd, 9/11 Anoka (7) GWe, Goodhue ebd (median 9/16). | ||
| Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) | 9 | 3 | High count 8/7 St. Louis (53, Interstate Island W.M.A.) PHS. Latest north all from St. Louis (Park Point R.A.): 10/3 (8) IDv, 10/12 (3) FKB, 10/18 (1) IDv (median 10/9). All south 8/29 Ramsey (Long Lake) MkC, 9/14 Rice (2, Wells Twp.) ebd, 9/25 Lyon (2, Cottonwood Lake) GWe, 10/9 Lyon (Sham Lake) GWe. | ||
| Forster's Tern (Sterna forsteri) | 18 | 29 | High counts 10/9 Lyon (55, Sham Lake) GWe, 9/19 St. Louis (43, Park Point R.A.) KJB, IDv. Late north 9/29 Douglas (2) JLK, Todd (2) JLK, 10/1 St. Louis (2) IDv, 10/23 Hubbard MHe (median 10/13). Late south 10/3 Waseca KEm, JWH, 10/9 Lyon (55, Sham Lake) GWe, 10/10 Lyon (Black Rush Lake W.P.A.) GWe (median 10/7). | ||
| Loons | |||||
| Red-throated Loon (Gavia stellata) | 1 | All reports from St. Louis, beginning 9/18 (Park Point R.A.) IDv, a high count of 6 on 10/28 (Superior Entry) EHi, and a final report 11/7 (5, Park Point R.A.) MLH, m.ob. (median 10/28). | |||
| Pacific Loon (Gavia pacifica) | 1 | 1 | All north 10/30 St. Louis LHl, 11/1 St. Louis (Park Point R.A.) MLH, 11/7 St. Louis (2, Superior Entry) BKa, 11/8 St. Louis (Canal Park) †ClB, m.ob., 11/10–12 St. Louis (Park Point R.A.) JLK. All south 11/14–20 Blue Earth (Madison Lake) †ChH, JWH, ph. †KEm. | ||
| Common Loon (Gavia immer) | 28 | 30 | High count not representative since peak staging activity was missed: 10/28 Hubbard (272, Kabekona Lake) REn, RLF. Late north 11/24 Hubbard REn, RLF, 11/25 Cook PEJ, 11/27 St. Louis KRE, m.ob. (median 12/3). Late south 11/27 Carver (2) TWe, 11/28 Hennepin (2, Lake Minnetonka) ebd, 11/29 Hennepin (Medicine Lake) RCl (median 12/2). | ||
| Storks | |||||
| WOOD STORK (Mycteria americana) | 1 | The fifth state record was an immature found 9/2 Anoka (Ham Lake) ph. †CAt. | |||
| Cormorants | |||||
| Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum) | 33 | 51 | High counts 10/6 Dakota (3,000, Resurrection Cemetery) BAF, 10/13 Dakota (2,000, Inver Grove Heights) ebd. Late north 11/14 Kanabec SPS, Mille Lacs ClB, St. Louis LiH, 11/18 Mille Lacs (7) RAE (median 11/17). See winter report for late south migrants. | ||
| NEOTROPIC CORMORANT (Nannopterum brasilianum) | 2 | Continuing adults from the summer season were observed 8/2 – 10/1 Hennepin (max. 2, Richfield Lake Park; last date that both birds were observed was 9/21) BAF, m.ob.; what was possibly one of the same birds was also found 8/10–11 Dakota (Augusta Lake) ph. †DWK, ph. †BAb, m.ob. | |||
| Pelicans | |||||
| American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) | 27 | 49 | High counts 8/8 Lac qui Parle (1,452, Marsh Lake) WCM, 10/21 Houston (750, Brownsville Overlook) ebd. Late north 11/13 Hubbard RLF, REn, 11/13–18 Mille Lacs MAJ, m.ob., 11/24 St. Louis (2) ClN (median 11/9). See winter report for late south. | ||
| Bitterns, Herons, Egrets, Night-Herons | |||||
| American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus) | 12 | 16 | High count 8/6 Wright (3, Pelican Lake) DPG. Late north 9/8 Crow Wing ebd, 9/19 Cass ebd, 10/9 Marshall ebd (median 10/11). Late south 10/3 Hennepin HPe, MyP, Ramsey LAt, 10/5–6, 10/20 Lac qui Parle ebd, DLP (median 10/17). | ||
| Least Bittern (Ixobrychus exilis) | 4 | 5 | All north 8/6 Crow Wing (Middle Whitefish Lake) ebd, Otter Tail (south of Fergus Falls) KRE, 8/31 Morrison (Lake Shamineau) HHD, 9/2 Norman (Agassiz-Olson W.M.A.) CRM, m.ob. High count 8/29 Hennepin (3, Wood Lake N.C.) MwT. Late south 9/2 Sherburne (Sherburne N.W.R. Wildlife Drive) EHi, 9/3–4 Hennepin (Wood Lake N.C.) DvN, m.ob., 9/12 Hennepin (Old Cedar Ave. Bridge) BLz (median 9/7). | ||
| Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) | 33 | 53 | High count 8/17 Anoka (60, Rice Creek Chain of Lakes P.R.) DFe. Late north 11/11 Beltrami DvH, 11/12 St. Louis (Western Waterfront Trail) JLK, 11/20 St. Louis (Mud Lake) JLK (median 12/1). | ||
| Great Egret (Ardea alba) | 13 | 48 | High counts 8/4 Anoka (257, Marshan Lake) ELC, 8/21 Pope (250, Minnewaska Twp.) GRe. Late north 10/9 Otter Tail (Orwell W.M.A.) BAr, (C.R. 6) SDi, Traverse DWK, 10/10 Otter Tail NaH, 10/14 Traverse (2, Traverse C.P.) ebd (median 10/20). Late south 11/8 Scott BHe, 11/12 Hennepin KBg, Houston EHi (median 11/10). | ||
| Snowy Egret (Egretta thula) | No reports. | ||||
| Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) | 1 | 1 | Only north report 10/11 St. Louis (6, St. Louis River, W. Water St.) StK. Only south report 10/15 Houston (22, Mound Prairie Twp.) ebd. | ||
| Green Heron (Butorides virescens) | 29 | 47 | High counts 8/10 Ramsey (39, counted individually, Snail Lake R.P.) JKu, 8/2 Scott (20, Murphy-Hanrehan P.R.) LMo, GMo. Late north 9/25 Wadena PJB, 9/27 Carlton ebd, 9/29 Todd JLK (median 10/2). Late south 10/11 Ramsey (2, Vadnais Lake) EzH, LiH, (Maplewood N.C.) JZj, 10/12–17 Dakota RBW, m.ob. (median 10/17). | ||
| Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) | 2 | 9 | High count 8/6 Otter Tail (6, Grotto Lake) KOC, KBg. Late north 8/8 Grant RAE, 8/10–25 Otter Tail (max. 4, Grotto Lake) ebd (median 9/29). Late south 10/17 Hennepin ebd, 10/17 – 11/8 Winona ToM, m.ob. (median 11/6). | ||
| Yellow-crowned Night-Heron (Nyctanassa violacea) | 1 | Only report 8/8 Freeborn AEB. | |||
| Ibises | |||||
| White-faced Ibis (Plegadis chihi) | 2 | All south 8/1 Big Stone DLP, 8/7–13 Big Stone (max. 11, Otrey W.M.A.) DLP, m.ob., 8/12 Big Stone (C.R. 61) DLP, 8/29 Steele (11 of 18 identified as P. chihi, Armstrong Wetland Restoration) DAB. | |||
| Plegadis ibis (Plegadis sp.) | 2 | 4 | All north 8/16 Becker NaH, (Hamden Slough N.W.R.) NaH, 9/7 Grant (Kube-Swift W.M.A.) WPl. All south 8/1–9 Big Stone (max. 12, Otrey W.M.A. DLP, m.ob.; undoubtedly, some of these ibis were identified by some observers as P. chihi. 8/29 Steele (7 of 18 not identified to species, Armstrong Wetland Restoration) DAB, 9/19 Lyon (Coon Creek W.M.A.) GWe, 11/8–9 Kandiyohi (Lake Florida) ebd, SGa. | ||
| New World Vultures | |||||
| Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) | 34 | 53 | High counts 9/30 Blue Earth (289) BHW, 9/25 Blue Earth (247) BHW. Late north 10/24 St. Louis H.R.B.O., Todd (3) REn, RLF, 11/1 St. Louis H.R.B.O., (Stony Point) IDv (median 11/1). Late south 10/30 Goodhue RSA, Scott ebd, 10/31 Hennepin ebd, 11/1 Chisago GRe (median 10/31). | ||
| Osprey | |||||
| Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) | 26 | 38 | High counts 9/21 St. Louis (11) H.R.B.O., 9/5 St. Louis (10) H.R.B.O. Late north 10/15 Otter Tail PEJ, St. Louis (4) H.R.B.O., 10/16 St. Louis H.R.B.O., (2, Stony Point) IDv, JLK (median 10/23). Late south 11/4 Hennepin BeH, 11/5 Wabasha ebd, 11/6 Anoka ebd (median 11/4). | ||
| Kites, Accipiters, Hawks, Eagles | |||||
| Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) | 6 | 7 | Early north (median 9/27) 9/17 Lake (Tettegouche S.P.) ebd, 9/29 St. Louis (immature) H.R.B.O., 10/8 Aitkin ebd, 10/12 St. Louis (Stony Point) StK. Early south (median 10/12) 10/27 Goodhue ebd, 10/31 Blue Earth (immature) BHW, 11/3 Meeker PKF. High counts 10/16 St. Louis (7, H.R.N.R., Summit Ledges) StK, IDv, 11/2 St. Louis (7) H.R.B.O., 11/24 St. Louis (7, H.R.N.R., Banding Station) FJN. | ||
| Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius) | 34 | 53 | High counts all from H.R.B.O. in St. Louis: 9/25 (39), 9/21 (38). Late north 11/26 Crow Wing DMz, 11/28 St. Louis ebd, 11/30 Pine ebd (median 12/11). See winter report for late south migrants. | ||
| Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus) | 33 | 48 | Early south (median 8/13) 8/7 Stearns DnS, 8/19 Hennepin ebd, 8/21 Anoka MWS. High counts 9/8 St. Louis (1,328) H.R.B.O., 9/21 St. Louis (1,129) H.R.B.O. | ||
| Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) | 27 | 49 | High counts 9/11 Blue Earth (25) BHW, 9/12 Blue Earth (11) BHW. Late north 10/31 St. Louis BEA, 11/2 Polk HHu, 11/12 Todd SDi (median 12/15), but also see winter report. | ||
| American Goshawk (Accipiter atricapillus) | 10 | 6 | North reports from Clay, Cook, Hubbard, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Otter Tail, Roseau, St. Louis. All south 10/14 Sherburne (Uncas Dunes S.N.A.) LiH, 10/21 Ramsey (University of Minnesota St. Paul Campus) ANy, Rice (south of Lonsdale) RBW, 10/23 Hennepin (Pamela Park) TAT, 11/19 Ramsey (Vadnais Lake) LiH, APi, 11/22 Sherburne HHD, 11/26 Hennepin (Pond-Dakota Mission Park) TAT, 11/28 Goodhue (Wacouta) PEJ. High counts 10/23 St. Louis (7) H.R.B.O., 10/17 St. Louis (5) H.R.B.O. | ||
| Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) | 34 | 53 | Reported from every county. High counts 8/31 St. Louis (261) H.R.B.O., 10/16 St. Louis (237) H.R.B.O. | ||
| Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) | 14 | 26 | No counts of more than three individuals. Late north 10/16 Otter Tail (Clitherall Lake) BAr, 10/21 Otter Tail (Bluffton Twp.) JSi, 11/2 Douglas JPE (median 10/31). | ||
| Broad-winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus) | 31 | 43 | Highest counts both from St. Louis on 9/21: (13,821) H.R.B.O., (10,512, Brighton Beach) IDv. Late north 10/18 St. Louis (2) H.R.B.O., 10/22 St. Louis (Lester River) KBg, 10/23 St. Louis (Stony Point) StK, IDv, SNe (median 10/21). Late south 10/12 Hennepin SKe, Yellow Medicine BxP, 10/13 Anoka MAJ (median 10/16). | ||
| Swainson's Hawk (Buteo swainsoni) | 6 | 11 | High counts 8/18 Murray (3, Moulton Twp.) KEm, 8/19 Murray (3, Chanarambie Twp.) KEm, 8/22 Pipestone (3, Prairie Coteau S.N.A.) EHi. Late north 9/21 Lake (Stanley Point) ASu, St. Louis (2) IDv, 10/3 Wilkin REn, RLF (median 9/29). Late south 9/25 Houston LHl, 9/27 Blue Earth BHW, 10/9 Pipestone KEm, JWH (median 10/9). | ||
| Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) | 34 | 53 | Reported from every county. High counts 10/17 St. Louis (713) H.R.B.O., 10/16 St. Louis (711) H.R.B.O. Seven Harlan’s reported between 10/8 and 11/20; fourteen Krider’s reported between 9/5 and 11/15, many of which were undocumented. | ||
| Rough-legged Hawk (Buteo lagopus) | 31 | 45 | Early north (median 9/24) 9/22 Norman ebd, 9/24 Beltrami ebd, 9/26 Itasca PLe. Early south (median 10/4) 9/25 Sherburne (2, Sherburne N.W.R.) †ebd, 9/29 Hennepin ebd, Sherburne (Sherburne N.W.R.) PLJ, 10/2 Brown BTS. High counts 10/23 St. Louis (64) H.R.B.O., 10/23 St. Louis (47, Stony Point) SNe, IDv. | ||
| FERRUGINOUS HAWK (Buteo regalis) | 1 | Only report: 8/15 Lake (Old North Shore Rd., reported sick and found deceased the next day) ph. fide SPS. | |||
| Barn Owls | |||||
| BARN OWL (Tyto alba) | 3 | Documented 10/5–12 Wabasha (5 young successfully fledged from a nest under the Hwy. 60 bridge over the Mississippi River; parents were never seen) ph. †RMD, m.ob. Additional records based on remote audio recordings from Houston (Money Creek and Sheldon Twps.) and Fillmore (Amherst Twp.) are still pending consideration by the records committee. | |||
| Screech-Owls, Owls | |||||
| Eastern Screech-Owl (Megascops asio) | 2 | 24 | All north 8/30 Traverse ANy, 9/15 St. Louis (H.R.N.R.) AWi. South reports all south of a line from Big Stone to Stearns to Ramsey. Two individuals noted as gray morphs, one as a red morph. | ||
| Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) | 26 | 44 | Found statewide. | ||
| Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) | 4 | 5 | All north 11/26–30 St. Louis (Sax-Zim Bog) ebd, 11/27 Polk (2, Farley Twp.) SAu, (Keystone Twp.) SAu, 11/28 Clay (Felton Twp.) ebd, Polk (Tabor Twp.) SAu, JCJ, (Euclid) HHu, JMJ, 11/30 Lake (Two Harbors) JWL. All south 11/6 Steele (C.R. 45) ebd, 11/22 Blue Earth (Judson Twp.) ebd, 11/23–26 Hennepin (Minnesota Valley N.W.R.) CJE, m.ob., 11/28 Isanti SPS. | ||
| Northern Hawk Owl (Surnia ulula) | No reports. | ||||
| Barred Owl (Strix varia) | 26 | 34 | Found in every region, though very few reports west of a line from Marshall to Redwood to Martin counties. High counts 8/12 Olmsted (4, Haverhill Twp.) ebd, 9/11 St. Louis (4, Greenwood Twp.) ebd. | ||
| Great Gray Owl (Strix nebulosa) | 4 | Most reports from St. Louis, beginning 8/22 and continuing throughout the season (max. 3) ebd. Additional reports: 9/1 Lake of the Woods ebd, 9/4–20 Marshall ebd, 9/18 Lake ebd. (This is considered a Sensitive Species in eBird and records are not public. This summary includes eBird records although they are not in the M.O.U. database.) | |||
| Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) | 2 | 5 | All north 9/20 St. Louis (Western Waterfront Trail) JLK, 11/20 Polk SAu, plus reports from H.R.B.O. banding station in St. Louis (FJN, ebd): 10/16, 10/19, 11/2 (2), 11/4 (4), 11/5 (2), 11/7 (2), 11/8. All south 10/22–31 Nicollet APi, 10/23 Ramsey (2) ELC, 11/3 Goodhue DBz, 11/8–26 Hennepin (max. 5) JBn, m.ob., 11/17 Rice (Morristown) ebd. | ||
| Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) | 7 | 8 | Reported north from Beltrami, Clay, Kittson, Lake, Mahnomen, Marshall, St. Louis as late as 11/26 Lake JWL, St. Louis ebd. Early south (median 10/12) 10/16 Sibley DWK, 10/19 Lac qui Parle KeL, 11/4 Nicollet TrR, Yellow Medicine WCM. High counts 11/27 and 11/30 Steele (8, Armstrong Wetland Restoration) BHw, ebd. | ||
| Boreal Owl (Aegolius funereus) | No reports. | ||||
| Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus) | 9 | 8 | Found north in Carlton, Clay, Cook, Crow Wing, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Morrison, Otter Tail, St. Louis. Early south 10/9 Wabasha ebd, 10/15 Winona LHl, 10/19 Hennepin ebd. High count 10/23 Carver (5, Carver P.R.) ebd. | ||
| Kingfishers | |||||
| Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) | 32 | 52 | High counts 10/12 Goodhue (12, Cannon River) JtM, SDz, 9/3 Ramsey (7, Mississippi River) JDv. Several north reports into December. | ||
| Woodpeckers | |||||
| Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) | 24 | 47 | High counts 8/20, 9/26 Anoka (15, Fish Lake Nature Trails) MBw, ebd. Late north 10/12 St. Louis ASu, m.ob., 10/17 Crow Wing ANy, 10/19 Otter Tail LHl. | ||
| Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) | 30 | 53 | Reported from every region, though scarce in extreme north where not reported from Marshall, Roseau, Clearwater, Cook. High count 9/27 Ramsey (12) EMH. | ||
| Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) | 33 | 49 | High count 9/15 St. Louis (8) H.R.B.O. Late north 11/5 St. Louis (Cooke St., Duluth) DEd, 11/7 Todd ebd, 11/21 St. Louis (E. 4th St., Duluth) PHS, SCB (median 11/16). | ||
| American Three-toed Woodpecker (Picoides dorsalis) | 1 | Sporadic reports 8/24 – 11/23 St. Louis (male and female but never together, Johnson Rd.) LHl, m.ob., 11/27 St. Louis (2, Alango Twp.) JuG. | |||
| Black-backed Woodpecker (Picoides arcticus) | 7 | Reported from Clearwater, Cook, Koochiching, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Roseau, St. Louis. No counts of more than two individuals. | |||
| Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) | 34 | 53 | Reported from every county. High counts 8/29 St. Louis (15, Park Point R.A.) EzH, IsH, 9/1 Hennepin (15, Minnesota Valley N.W.R.) ebd, 9/21 Hennepin (15, West Medicine Lake Park) MaS. | ||
| Hairy Woodpecker (Dryobates villosus) | 34 | 53 | Reported from every county. High count 9/24 Crow Wing (11, Boom Park) JLK. | ||
| Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) | 34 | 53 | Found throughout the state, but frequency of north reports decreased after mid-November. High counts 9/22 St. Louis (40, H.R.N.R.) FJN, 9/9 St. Louis (36, Hartley Park) JLK. | ||
| Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) | 34 | 47 | Found statewide, though few reports southwest of a line from Lincoln to Martin counties. High count 11/22 Cook (6, Hungry Jack Lodge) ebd. | ||
| Caracaras, Falcons | |||||
| American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) | 34 | 53 | Reported statewide. High counts 9/9 St. Louis (127) H.R.B.O., ASu, 9/21 Lake (105, Two Harbors fairgrounds area) JWL. | ||
| Merlin (Falco columbarius) | 31 | 49 | Reported from 80 counties statewide, a new high. High count 10/11 St. Louis (15, H.R.N.R., Summit Ledges) IDv, Possible early south migrants 8/4 Sibley ASu, 8/7 Faribault BTS (median 8/17). | ||
| GYRFALCON (Falco rusticolus) | 1 | One report, 11/8 St. Louis †AVa, adult gray morph reported from the Moose Valley banding station staffed by H.R.B.O. First fall report since 2015. | |||
| Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) | 19 | 34 | High count 10/9 St. Louis (11) H.R.B.O. Late north away from Duluth 10/19 Lake JLK, 10/22 Becker ebd, 10/30 Lake m.ob. (median 11/12). | ||
| Prairie Falcon (Falco mexicanus) | 2 | 3 | All north 8/12 Aitkin (Turner Twp.) ph. MHJ, 9/7 Otter Tail (south of Rothsay) †BAb. All south, new fall record 8/29 Nicollet/Blue Earth †BHW, 9/27 Blue Earth BHW, 11/4 Yellow Medicine (Mound Spring Prairie S.N.A.) †WCM. | ||
| Flycatchers | |||||
| Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus) | 28 | 50 | High counts 8/21 Carver (11, Carver P.R.) JCy. Late north 9/12 Clay PBB, Douglas ToR, Lake JWL, SLL, 9/16 St. Louis JLK (median 9/20). Late south 9/21 Lac qui Parle KeL, 9/22 Carver TWe, 9/23 Anoka DFe (median 9/23). | ||
| Western Kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis) | 6 | 13 | High counts 8/19 Pipestone (6, Rock Twp.) KEm, 8/7 Traverse (5) MMk. Late north 8/23 Grant CNn, 8/27 Marshall HHu, 9/4 Traverse KEm, JWH (median 9/7). Late south 9/2 Sherburne EHi, 9/3 Big Stone KEm, JWH, 9/5 Lac qui Parle ANy (median 9/6). | ||
| Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) | 33 | 53 | High counts 8/22 St. Louis (62, Stony Point) RyS, 8/23 Cottonwood (51, single group, Mountain Lake Twp.) JnH. Late north 9/12 Aitkin ebd, St. Louis H.R.B.O., 9/15 Crow Wing ebd, 9/21 St. Louis (Brighton Beach) IDv (median 9/18). Late south 9/28 Ramsey LiH, 9/29 Anoka ebd, 10/4 Hennepin ebd (median 9/26). | ||
| SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER (Tyrannus forficatus) | 1 | Only report an immature bird 10/18 Olmsted (Haverhill Twp.) ph. †SHk, ph. †JPr, m.ob. | |||
| Olive-sided Flycatcher (Contopus cooperi) | 22 | 38 | High counts 8/21 St. Louis (7) H.R.B.O., 8/14 Rice (5, Nerstrand Big Woods S.P.) ebd. Late north 9/5 Kittson CRM, m.ob., Roseau ebd, 9/10 Hubbard ebd, 9/12 St. Louis RyS (median 9/12). Late south 9/21 Hennepin (Arden Park) ebd, 9/22 Hennepin (East River Flats Park) ebd, 9/23 Carver ebd (median 9/24). | ||
| Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens) | 33 | 53 | High counts 8/21 Fillmore (20, Forestville / Mystery Cave S.P.) SMl, 8/21 Scott (18, Minnesota Valley N.W.R., Louisville Swamp) ebd, 8/30 Anoka (18) MaS. Late north 9/15 St. Louis ebd, 9/17 Crow Wing LiH, 9/21 Otter Tail ebd (median 9/21). Late south 10/2 Ramsey JZj, 10/3 Waseca PSu, 10/4 Faribault RAE, BTS, MiO (median 10/3). | ||
| Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (Empidonax flaviventris) | 19 | 32 | Reported with identification details from 5 north and 19 south counties. Early south (median 8/17) 8/2 Carver KOC, 8/8 Anoka SRo, 8/10 Faribault RBW. High count 9/1 Ramsey (3, Reservoir Woods) RMD. Late north 8/22 Cook JBs, 8/28 Clay PBB (median 8/31). Late south 9/15 Anoka MAJ, 9/17 Hennepin TWe, 9/21 Ramsey ebd (median 9/15). 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) | 8 | Reported with identification notes from 6 south counties. Notable fall records 8/1–30 Anoka (Rice Creek Chain of Lakes P.R.; first found in late May) SRo, ebd, 8/26 Steele (Rice Lake S.P.) DAB. High count 8/24 Winona (4, Coolidge Creek A.M.A.) ToM. Late south 8/26 Steele DAB, 8/29 Houston ToM, 8/30 Anoka ebd (median 8/17). | |||
| Alder Flycatcher (Empidonax alnorum) | 15 | 16 | Reported with ID notes from 4 north and 7 south counties. No reports of more than 2 individuals. Late north 8/14 Cass ebd, 8/17 St. Louis ebd, 8/28 St. Louis ebd (median 8/24). Late south 9/3 Hennepin ebd, 9/3 Ramsey EzH, LiH, 9/11 Anoka GWe (median 8/31). | ||
| Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii) | 4 | 29 | Reported with identification notes from 1 north and 12 south counties. High counts 8/15 Carver (3) KSo, 8/31 Olmsted (3) JlF. Only north report 8/5 Otter Tail DFe (median late 8/18). Late south 9/8 Carver APi, 9/9 Ramsey ebd, 9/19 Hennepin ebd (median 8/26). | ||
| Least Flycatcher (Empidonax minimus) | 31 | 50 | Identification details from 12 north and 21 south counties. High count 8/22 St. Louis (47, Stony Point) RyS. Late north 9/21 Lake ASu, St. Louis (Brighton Beach) IDv, 10/2 St. Louis (Stony Point) IDv, StK (median 9/18). Late south 9/26 Ramsey CJE, 10/1 Scott BAb, 10/9 Hennepin SKS (median 9/25). | ||
| Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) | 33 | 50 | High counts 8/9 Washington (8, Oakdale Nature Preserve) GrN, 8/16 Dakota (8, Harmon Park) ebd. Late north 10/10 Polk DvP, 10/23–24 Cook (Grand Marais) KRE, LGl, PLJ (median 10/17). Late south 10/30 Dakota ebd, 10/31 Hennepin ebd, 11/29 Scott CRM m.ob. (median 11/2). | ||
| Say's Phoebe (Sayornis saya) | 1 | One continued from the summer season through 9/12 Big Stone (Odessa gravel pits) DLP, TWe, BAb, ebd. Three juveniles observed here 8/1 DLP. | |||
| Vireos | |||||
| Bell's Vireo (Vireo bellii) | 4 | All reports: 8/1 Le Sueur (Kasota Prairie) RBW, 8/14 Wabasha (C.R. 84) TWe, 8/23 Dakota (Minnesota Valley N.W.R., Cliff Fen) MZa, 8/25–26 Winona (Great River Bluffs. S.P.) ToM (median late 8/31). | |||
| Yellow-throated Vireo (Vireo flavifrons) | 28 | 48 | High counts 9/4 Sherburne (14, Sherburne N.W.R.) SMC, 9/6 Le Sueur (12, Sakatah Lake S.P.) ebd. Late north 9/12 Otter Tail ebd, 9/19 Todd SDi, 9/22 Morrison DLP (median 9/20). Late south 9/28 Hennepin ABL, 10/2 Washington ebd, 10/12 Hennepin RTu (median 10/3). | ||
| Blue-headed Vireo (Vireo solitarius) | 29 | 49 | Early south (median 8/20) 8/16 Dakota (Harmon Park) ebd, 8/19 Dakota (Miesville Ravine P.R.) KDS, 8/22 Hennepin CMB, CDg, Ramsey DnS, DFe, Washington PNi. High counts 9/21 St. Louis (14, Brighton Beach) IDv, 9/15 St. Louis (12, Brighton Beach) IDv, 9/22 St. Louis (12, Brighton Beach) StK. All late north reports from H.R.B.O. banding station in St. Louis (FJN): 10/10, 10/12, 10/13 (median 10/11). Late south 10/17 Hennepin (Wood Lake N.C.) KBg, 10/19 Hennepin (Mother Lake) ebd, 10/25 Rice MZa (median 10/19). | ||
| Philadelphia Vireo (Vireo philadelphicus) | 25 | 48 | Early south (median 8/15) 8/15 Blue Earth RAE, 8/17 Sibley RBW, 8/18 Ramsey LiH. High counts 9/6 St. Louis (14, Brighton Beach) IDv, 9/15 St. Louis (9, Brighton Beach) IDv. Late north 9/22 St. Louis (Hartley Park) JLK, 9/24 St. Louis (Brighton Beach) IDv, (Chester Park) LME, 9/25 St. Louis H.R.B.O. (median 9/27). Late south 10/3 Dakota GUn, Hennepin TAT, 10/4 Ramsey (Snail Lake R.P.) ebd, 10/9 Ramsey (Long Lake R.P.) ChP, (median 10/4). | ||
| Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus) | 20 | 52 | High counts 8/31 Big Stone (21, new fall high, Big Stone Lake S.P.) WCM, 8/30 Traverse (14) ANy. Late north 9/14 Clay ebd, 9/18 Morrison HHD, 9/24 Otter Tail ebd (median 9/18), Late south 9/26 Benton DOr, Dakota JDv, 9/27 Ramsey JDv, LiH (median 9/27). | ||
| Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus) | 33 | 51 | High counts 8/29 St. Louis (40, Park Point R.A.) IsH, EzH, 9/6 St. Louis (36, Brighton Beach) IDv. Late north 9/28 Todd REn, 9/29 St. Louis (Indian Point) KEJ, 10/2 St. Louis (Park Point) MtS, (H.R.N.R.) ebd (median 10/10). Late south 10/9 Hennepin TAT, Ramsey ebd, 10/10 McLeod ebd, 10/11 Carver NWi (median 10/8). | ||
| Shrikes | |||||
| Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus) | 2 | 1 | All north 8/2–10 Polk (season high count of 5 on 8/3, 8/4) HHu, ThH, 9/5 Aitkin (Clark Twp.) JLa (median late 8/22). All south 8/4–13 Olmsted (Eyota) LAV, JHD, EHi (median 8/29). | ||
| Northern Shrike (Lanius borealis) | 21 | 35 | Early north (median 10/9) 10/9 St. Louis (Park Point R.A.) ebd, 10/12 St. Louis (Eveleth) ebd, 10/13 Pennington HHu. Early south (median 10/14) 10/12–14 Stearns MtS, MJB, 10/15 Sherburne BBr, 10/16 Carver ChP, ebd. High count 11/27 St. Louis (5, Sax-Zim Bog) ebd. | ||
| Jays, Nutcrackers, Magpies, Crows | |||||
| Canada Jay (Perisoreus canadensis) | 12 | All reports from traditional range. High counts 11/21, 11/25 St. Louis (9, Sax-Zim Bog) StK, HTo, MWS. | |||
| Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) | 34 | 53 | Reports from all counties. High counts from H.R.B.O., St. Louis 9/11 (7,569), 9/10 (6,188). | ||
| Black-billed Magpie (Pica hudsonia) | 20 | Reported from throughout traditional range, plus multiple reports from Cook beginning 9/7 (Tofte) JaJ. High counts 8/4 Hubbard (70) REn, RLF, 8/30 Roseau (40, Roseau W.T.P.) HHu. | |||
| American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) | 34 | 53 | Reported statewide. High counts 10/20 St. Louis (3,118) H.R.B.O., 10/30 St. Louis (819) H.R.B.O. | ||
| Common Raven (Corvus corax) | 31 | 14 | Range expansion continues southward with reports from Pope, Kandiyohi, Scott, Dakota. High count 10/17 St. Louis (121) H.R.B.O. | ||
| Chickadees, Titmice | |||||
| Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) | 34 | 53 | Reported from all counties. High counts 10/16 St. Louis (464, Stony Point) IDv, 10/15 St. Louis (413, Stony Point) IDv. | ||
| Boreal Chickadee (Poecile hudsonicus) | 6 | Reported from Lake of the Woods and Beltrami east to Cook. No counts of more than 3 individuals. | |||
| Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) | 15 | Notable records 8/7 Mower (Oak Park Village) ebd, 8/13 Carver (Carver P.R.) JCy, m.ob. All other reports from normal southeast range north to Chisago. High counts 8/1 Winona (4) ebd, 9/6, 9/19 Fillmore (4, Magelssen Bluff Park) ToM, 10/18 Houston (4, Brownsville overlook) ebd. | |||
| Larks | |||||
| Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris) | 22 | 49 | High counts 11/6 Lyon (300, Vallers Twp.) GWe, 9/9 Steele (60, Somerset Twp.) PSu. | ||
| Martins, Swallows | |||||
| Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia) | 23 | 48 | High counts 8/22 Lac qui Parle (1,000, Salt Lake) ebd, 8/4 Cottonwood (150, Heron Lake) ebd. Late north 9/3 Pine KPJ, 9/6 Otter Tail BAr, 9/9 St. Louis IDv (median 9/7). Late south 9/18 Yellow Medicine GWe, 9/19 Carver ANy, 9/25 Houston BAb (median 9/23). | ||
| Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) | 33 | 53 | High counts 8/27 Stearns (800, Albany W.T.P.) ebd, 8/22 Wright (505, Pelican Lake) RCl. Late north 10/14 Otter Tail PEJ, 10/15 St. Louis H.R.B.O., (Stony Point) IDv, 10/16 St. Louis (Stony Point) LiH, EzH, (Moose Valley banding station) AVa (median 10/2). Late south 10/17 Lac qui Parle RAE, Olmsted JHD, 10/24 Stevens ANy (median 10/21). | ||
| Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis) | 13 | 40 | High counts 8/15 Wabasha (50, Whitewater W.M.A.) ebd, 8/18 Pope (50) BEc, 8/17 Pine (40, Sandstone W.T.P.) SBE. Late north 9/3 Morrison ebd, 9/6 Otter Tail ebd, 9/9 Douglas ebd (median 9/3). Late south 9/26 Anoka ebd, 9/28 Hennepin ebd, 10/9 Carver ebd (median 10/1). | ||
| Purple Martin (Progne subis) | 17 | 47 | High count 8/13 Ramsey (4,500, Bald Eagle Lake) EzH, IsH. Late north 9/5 Grant ebd, 9/6 Otter Tail BAr, 9/7 Becker ebd (median 9/7). Late south 9/10 Ramsey LiH, EzH, JKu, 9/11 Anoka GWe, Carver JCy (median 9/15). | ||
| Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) | 34 | 53 | High counts 8/22 Lyon (315, Cottonwood) GWe, 8/27 Steele (300, Armstrong Wetland Restoration) ALD, CRM. Late north 10/16 Lake EzH, LiH, JWL, St. Louis H.R.B.O., 10/16–17 St. Louis (Stony Point) StK, IDv, EzH (median 10/9). Late south 10/23 Murray KEm, JWH, 10/29 Isanti KEm, 11/4 Yellow Medicine WCM (median 10/24). | ||
| Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) | 27 | 52 | High counts 8/17 St. Louis (1,100, Park Point R.A.) IDv, 8/22 Lake (921, Palisade Head) IDv. Late north 9/21 St. Louis (Brighton Beach) IDv, 9/23 Polk HHu, and then 10/11 St. Louis (H.R.N.R., Summit Ledges) IDv more than 3 weeks after the 9/18 median. Late south 9/17 Rock ebd, 9/18 Yellow Medicine GWe, 9/25 Hennepin KeK, Lyon GWe (median 9/30). | ||
| Kinglets | |||||
| Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula) | 34 | 53 | Early south (median 8/25) 8/18 Carver WCM, 8/22 Hennepin BAF, 8/24 Sherburne ToL. Several very high counts, including record-high 9/22 St. Louis (181, Brighton Beach) StK, SNe, IDv, 10/3 Anoka (115, est., Rice Creek Chain of Lakes P.R.) GWe, 10/2 Brown (75) BTS. Late north 10/24 Cass DoH, Otter Tail LHl, Polk (Crookston) LHl, 10/26 Grant CNn, 11/7 Polk (East Grand Forks Greenway) SAu (median 11/4). Late south 11/15 Hennepin (Wood Lake N.C.) PSm, 11/15–30+ Hennepin (Bass Ponds) DWK, CRM, KBg, RBW (median 11/22). | ||
| Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa) | 30 | 49 | Early south (median 9/17) 8/21 Chisago JSa, 9/15 Anoka GWe, Hennepin LSw. High counts 9/22 St. Louis (861, Brighton Beach) SNe, IDv, StK, 10/4 St. Louis (516, Brighton Beach) IDv. Late north 11/26 Clay DnM, 11/27 Wadena ebd (median 12/10). | ||
| Waxwings | |||||
| Bohemian Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus) | 9 | 1 | Although reported from 9 north counties, all counties west of St. Louis had only one or two reports. Early north (median 9/28) 10/3 St. Louis (13, Stony Point) JLK, 10/10 St. Louis (3, Leander) EHi, 10/16 St. Louis (4, Stony Point) IDv. One south report 11/25 Renville GWe (median 11/18). High counts 11/20 St. Louis (45, Moose Valley banding station) AVa, 11/22 (St. Louis (35, H.R.B.O. banding station) FJN. | ||
| Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) | 34 | 53 | Reported from all counties. High counts 8/17 St. Louis (1,260, East Hillside, Duluth) RyS, 9/6 St. Louis (909) H.R.B.O. | ||
| Nuthatches | |||||
| Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) | 34 | 51 | Reports from all counties except Rock, Jackson. High count 8/30 St. Louis (50, Stony Point) ASu. | ||
| White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) | 34 | 53 | Reported from all counties. High counts 11/2 Otter Tail (32, Otter Tail Lake) TFu, 8/29 Big Stone (22, Big Stone Lake S.P.) BWe. | ||
| Creepers | |||||
| Brown Creeper (Certhia americana) | 29 | 47 | Early south migrants arrived well ahead of (8/27) median, perhaps some were summering birds: 8/1 Hennepin VRL, 8/4 Hennepin EGB, 8/12 Brown BTS, 8/13 Houston EHi. Highest counts all from Brighton Beach in St. Louis: 9/22 (94) IDv, StK, SNe, 9/21 (51) IDv, 9/15 (43) IDv. | ||
| Gnatcatchers | |||||
| Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea) | 10 | 46 | Unusual Northwest record 8/4 Pennington (Black River Twp.) DvP. High counts 8/22 Washington (8, Afton S.P.) JbS, 8/9, 8/20 Dakota (7, Spring Lake P.R.) CJE. Late north 8/30 Traverse ANy, 8/31 Aitkin MAJ, 9/4 Kanabec SPS (median 9/8). Late south 9/19 Lyon GWe, 9/21 Winona ebd, followed by a very late report 10/20 Scott (near entrance to Wilkie Unit) RBW nearly a month after the 9/24 median. | ||
| Wrens | |||||
| Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) | 8 | New county record: 8/31 Meeker (Collinwood Twp.) PKF. Also reported from Blue Earth, Dakota, Fillmore, Hennepin, Ramsey, Wabasha, Winona. | |||
| House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) | 27 | 52 | High counts 8/3 Hennepin (21, Fort Snelling S.P.) ebd, 8/3, 8/21 Steele (12) PSu, 8/28 Pipestone (12, Split Rock Creek S.P.) VKl, Late north 10/3 Wilkin REn, RLF, 10/10 Clay ebd, 10/14 Mille Lacs SMC (median 10/6). Late south 10/14 Sherburne LiH, 10/16 Dakota ebd, 10/17 Anoka ebd, Hennepin ebd (median 10/17). | ||
| Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis) | 16 | 33 | Early south (median 8/31) 8/29 Sherburne PLJ, 9/3 Washington GBu, 9/5 Isanti MHe, Kandiyohi ebd. High counts 10/3 Anoka (13, Rice Creek Chain of Lakes P.R.) GWe, 10/4 Ramsey (7, Reservoir Woods) RMD. Late north 10/14 Clay ebd, Cook JZj, Lake ebd, Mille Lacs HHD, MJB, 10/15 St. Louis FJN, SLF, 10/16 Itasca ebd, Mille Lacs HHD, Pine ebd (median 10/24). See winter report for late south migrants and overwintering birds. | ||
| Sedge Wren (Cistothorus stellaris) | 22 | 47 | High counts 8/4 Goodhue (21, Frontenac S.P.) SDz, 8/3 Rice (20, Carleton College Cowling Arboretum) MZa. Late north 10/10 Clay ebd, Douglas JEl, 10/11 Lake EHi (median 10/13). Late south 10/10 Carver ebd, Hennepin TAT, 10/11 Meeker ANy (median 10/15). | ||
| Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris) | 26 | 49 | High counts 9/4 Lyon (12, Sham Lake) GWe, 9/6 Yellow Medicine (10) GWe. Late north 10/10 Aitkin ebd, Douglas JEl, 10/23 St. Louis JLK (median 10/16). Late south 10/29 Ramsey ebd, 11/6 Lyon GWe, then a late-lingering individual seen 11/20–30+ Hennepin (Old Cedar Ave. Bridge) ABL, m.ob. (median 11/2). | ||
| Thrashers, Mockingbirds | |||||
| Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) | 34 | 53 | High counts 9/6 Ramsey (25, Sucker Lake) MMk, 9/12 Carver (24, Carver P.R.) JCy. Late north 10/26 Itasca REn, 10/30 Lake IsH, EzH, 11/10 St. Louis JLK (median 11/1). Late south 11/7 Hennepin EHi, 11/9 Ramsey ebd, 11/12 Washington CNC (median 11/21). | ||
| Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum) | 15 | 46 | High counts 9/2 St. Louis (6, Western Waterfront Trail) JLK, 8/13 St. Louis (5) ebd. Late north 10/2 St. Louis ebd, 10/6 Norman ShG, HeH, 10/11 Carlton ebd (median 11/20). Late south 10/8 Dakota MwT, 10/9 Hennepin ebd, 11/6 Dakota ebd (median 1/1). | ||
| Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) | 1 | Only report: 8/20 Marshall (Agassiz N.W.R.) EHi. | |||
| Starlings | |||||
| European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) | 34 | 53 | Reported statewide. High count 11/28 Dakota (1,100 at SET-Empire) MwT. | ||
| Thrushes | |||||
| Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) | 28 | 43 | High counts 10/24 Washington (40, Afton S.P.) IsH, EzH, 9/20 Scott (37) ANy. Late north 11/2 St. Louis H.R.B.O., 11/12 Wadena PJB, 11/15 Pine KrM (median 11/30). | ||
| MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD (Sialia currucoides) | 1 | One north report: 10/8 Itasca (Splithand Twp., C.R. 68) ph. †HCT, ph. CRM, m.ob. | |||
| Townsend's Solitaire (Myadestes townsendi) | 5 | 9 | Reported from 14 counties, a new high for the fall season, representing at least 28 individuals. Early north (median 10/10) 10/11 Carlton (Barnum Twp.) ClN, St. Louis (H.R.N.R., Summit Ledges) IDv, 10/12 St. Louis (Stony Point) IDv, StK, (Chester Creek, Duluth) ClN, JDx. Only north report away from the Northeast: 11/28 Beltrami ebd. Early south (median 10/18) 10/7 Washington BDo, 10/30 McLeod (north of Biscay) ph. DWK, 11/3 Stearns HHD, DRL, MtS. Only report of more than one individual: 11/30 Renville (2, Sacred Heart Twp.) BTS. | ||
| Veery (Catharus fuscescens) | 20 | 26 | Unusual fall record: 9/29 McLeod RZi. High count 8/14 St. Louis (12, Hartley Park) JLK. Late north 9/11 Mille Lacs ebd, St. Louis (Brighton Beach) IDv, (H.R.B.O. banding station) FJN, 9/12 St. Louis (Bagley Nature Area, Duluth) ebd, 9/13 St. Louis (H.R.B.O. banding station) FJN (median 9/14). Late south 9/15 Ramsey (Sucker Lakes R.P.) NSg, 9/29 McLeod RZi, 10/3 Ramsey (Reservoir Woods) EmR (median 9/17). | ||
| Gray-cheeked Thrush (Catharus minimus) | 10 | 17 | Early north (median 9/2) 8/18 St. Louis (Duluth Heights) JLK, 8/24 St. Louis (Stony Point) ebd, 8/25 St. Louis (Duluth Heights) JLK. Early south (median 9/1) 8/22 McLeod DWK, 8/26 Ramsey (Maplewood N.C.) ebd, 8/30 Ramsey (Vadnais Lake) DnS. Unusual fall report 9/8 Norman (Gary Pines) DvP. High counts 9/5 St. Louis (43, University of Minnesota - Duluth; nocturnal flight calls) IDv. Late north 10/3 Carlton DRL, Itasca SC, Lake (Two Harbors) IDv, 10/7 Lake (Two Harbors) JLK (median 10/4). Late south 9/30 Ramsey ebd, 10/2 Hennepin ebd, 10/4 Olmsted JHD (median 10/8). | ||
| Swainson's Thrush (Catharus ustulatus) | 28 | 32 | Early south (median 8/14) 8/1 Hennepin TAT, 8/3 Meeker PKF, 8/9 Benton DOr. High counts 9/5 St. Louis (402, University of Minnesota - Duluth; nocturnal flight calls) IDv, 9/4 Aitkin (63, Savanna Portage S.P.; nocturnal flight calls) RMD, 9/7 St. Louis (39, Brighton Beach) IDv. Late north 10/4 St. Louis (Cook) JuG, 10/9 Kanabec SPS, Marshall ebd, St. Louis (Park Point R.A.) SES, EHi (median 10/18). Late south 10/18 Hennepin (Winchell Trail) JHv, 10/21 Hennepin (Westwood Hills N.C.) DAh, Sherburne PLJ (median 10/18). | ||
| Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) | 23 | 29 | Early south (median 9/14) 9/7 Anoka ebd, Dakota ebd, 9/10 Hennepin TBu, 9/11 Ramsey ebd. High counts 10/17 Hennepin (11, Hagemeister Pond Preserve Park) ACr, 10/12 Hennepin (9, T. S. Roberts Bird Sanctuary) ebd. Late north 10/27 Cook ebd, 10/29 Clay ebd, 11/14 Cass REn (median 11/2). Late south, 11/23 Stearns MJB, 11/26 Hennepin ebd, 11/30 Renville BTS (median 12/22). See winter report for late migrants north and south. | ||
| Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina) | 9 | 21 | Notable fall record 8/28, 9/9 Pope RAE. No counts of more than two birds. Late north 8/25 St. Louis LME, 8/30 Mille Lacs HHD, 9/17 Cass ebd, Itasca ebd (median 9/14). Late south, numerous records after the 10/1 median late date, culminating with 10/10 Ramsey LiH, 10/17 Dakota MSw. | ||
| American Robin (Turdus migratorius) | 34 | 53 | Reported statewide. High count 10/12 St. Louis (4,143) H.R.B.O. | ||
| Varied Thrush (Ixoreus naevius) | 1 | Only report 11/20–23 Cass (Hackensack) ph. DoH (median north 11/12). | |||
| Old World Sparrows | |||||
| House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) | 34 | 53 | Reported from all counties. High counts 8/4 Pipestone (200) ebd, 10/9 Ramsey (200, Red Rock Road) LiH. | ||
| EURASIAN TREE SPARROW (Passer montanus) | 1 | New fall record: 10/13 – 11/14 Meeker (near Dassel) ph. †PKF, ph. †TBu, ph. †KEm, m.ob. | |||
| House Sparrow X Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer domesticus X P. montanus) | 1 | Apparent hybrid reported 11/22 Anoka (Blaine) ph. JkS. | |||
| Pipits | |||||
| American Pipit (Anthus rubescens) | 29 | 42 | Early north (median 9/5) 8/29 St. Louis H.R.B.O., 8/30 St. Louis (Forest Hill Cemetery) JLK, 9/3 Koochiching AaL, CLu. Early south (median 9/8) 9/4 Lyon GWe, 9/9 Sherburne ebd, 9/11 Lac qui Parle DLP, Scott BAb, RBW. High counts 10/3 Wilkin (200, Breckenridge W.T.P.) REn, RLF, 9/25 Sherburne (150, Sherburne N.W.R.) ABL. Late north 11/13 St. Louis (Moose Valley banding station) AVa, 11/14 St. Louis (Lester Park Golf Course) ASu, 11/20 Beltrami TKa, all after the 11/9 median date. Late south 11/10–13 Brown (max. 6, Sleepy Eye W.T.P.) BTS, JWH, KEm, 11/13–14 Dakota (max. 35, Lake Byllesby) DWK, EHi, VRL, ebd (median 11/13). | ||
| Finches | |||||
| Evening Grosbeak (Coccothraustes vespertinus) | 11 | Widely reported north, perhaps an echo year from last year’s irruptive event. Only unusual report 9/21 Red Lake (2, Moran W.M.A.) DvP. High counts all from Mary Lou’s Feeding Station near Sax-Zim Bog (St. Louis): 11/24 (30) JHn, 11/23 (28) KTP. | |||
| Pine Grosbeak (Pinicola enucleator) | 11 | Found in all counties northeast of a line from Roseau to Cass to Carlton. Early north (median 10/19) all from St. Louis: 10/1 H.R.B.O., 10/4 (Moose Valley banding station) AVa, 10/10 (Gilbert) EHi. High counts also all from St. Louis: 11/20 (161, Stony Point) StK, 11/7 (123, Stony Point) StK, HTo, 11/8 (113) H.R.B.O. | |||
| House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) | 28 | 52 | Reported across the state. | ||
| Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus) | 31 | 40 | Recorded from typical number of northern and southern counties; scarcest in South-central and Southwest. Early south (median 8/22, but see summer report) 8/1 Hennepin ABL, KOC, 8/5 Ramsey DnS, 8/21 Hennepin NHa. Second highest fall count 10/12 St. Louis (3,250, Stony Point) IDv, StK; also notable was 10/11 St. Louis (2,013) H.R.B.O. | ||
| Common Redpoll (Acanthis flammea) | 31 | 27 | Second consecutive fall with widely distributed reports from all regions, though fewest reports from the southern tier of counties. Record early fall arrival north (median 10/17) 9/21 St. Louis (4) †H.R.B.O., plus more expected arrival dates of 10/16 St. Louis (Stony Point) IDv, 10/17 Cook LWd, St. Louis H.R.B.O., (Stony Point) IDv, StK, JWL. Early south (median 11/1) 10/23 Hennepin ACr, then 10/29 in Benton, Hennepin, Isanti, Washington. High counts all from Stony Point in St. Louis: 11/7 (12,100) StK, HTo, 11/3 (7,010) IDv, 11/9 (6,570) SNe, HTo. | ||
| Hoary Redpoll (Acanthis hornemanni) | 4 | All reports 10/29, 11/6 St. Louis (Moose Valley Banding Station, 2 banded hatch-year birds) †AVa, 10/31 Cook (Grand Portage W.T.P.) m.ob., 11/6 Cook (Taconite Harbor) ClN, Lake (Lakeview Cemetery) MaS, 11/7 Cook (Chicago Bay) m.ob., 11/10 St. Louis (Boulder Trail) JLK, 11/11 Clay (Hawley) PBB, 11/23 St. Louis ebd. | |||
| Red Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) | 9 | 2 | Lowest fall turnout since 2015. Found scattered across the north, including 11/23 Becker (Tamarac N.W.R. Visitors Center) NaH, TKa. All south (median arrival 11/3): 10/30 Ramsey (Vadnais Lake) LiH, 11/2 Ramsey (Northeast Como Park, St. Paul) RMD, 11/9 Ramsey (Shoreview) APi, 11/25 Lyon (Southwest Minnesota State University) NMe. High counts 11/6 Lake (22, Rohweder Memorial Hwy. Wayside) BKa, GrN, 11/8 St. Louis (7) H.R.B.O., 8/9 Lake (5, F.R. 194 in Ely) ebd. | ||
| White-winged Crossbill (Loxia leucoptera) | 28 | 19 | An echo year following last fall’s exceptional irruption, and marking the second best fall for this species in the state. Found in all regions except the Southeast. Remarkably, found in five of ten Southwest counties, beginning 11/5 Jackson (5) KEm. Early north away from boreal habitat: 10/16 Marshall (5, Agassiz N.W.R.) ebd, 10/23 Todd (2) REn, RLF. Early south (median 11/14) 10/29 Isanti DBz, ANy, Sherburne NSg, ebd, 10/30 Dakota ebd. High counts 11/5 St. Louis (1,348, Stony Point, same location as last fall’s record tally) IDv, StK, 11/7 St. Louis (700, Stony Point) StK, HTo, 11/7 St. Louis (634) H.R.B.O. | ||
| Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus) | 28 | 25 | Reported statewide in typical numbers, though with few in the Southwest. Early south (but see summer report) 8/4 Anoka ebd, 8/7 Ramsey BNW, 8/20 Lyon GWe. High counts all from St. Louis: 10/16 (1,796, Stony Point) IDv, 10/20 (859) H.R.B.O., 10/12 (591) H.R.B.O. | ||
| American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) | 34 | 53 | Found in every county. High counts all from Stony Point in St. Louis: 9/25 (320) RyS, 11/5 (268) IDv, StK, 11/6 (194) IDv, StK, HTo. | ||
| Longspurs and Snow Buntings | |||||
| Lapland Longspur (Calcarius lapponicus) | 23 | 29 | Reported statewide. Early north (median 9/14) 9/9 St. Louis H.R.B.O., 9/11 Lake JWL; first reported away from the Northeast 9/12 Wilkin (2) RAE, 9/13 Cass (2) ebd. Early south (median 9/24) 9/23 Carver JCy, 9/24 Ramsey ebd, 9/26 Lyon GWe. High counts 11/7 Blue Earth (1,000, near Lincoln W.P.A.) ChH, 11/13 Brown (500, Burnstown Twp.) KEm, 11/6 Murray (350, Skandia Twp.) GWe. | ||
| Chestnut-collared Longspur (Calcarius ornatus) | No fall reports since 2010. | ||||
| Smith's Longspur (Calcarius pictus) | 4 | 6 | Widely reported, but mostly lone individuals. All north: 9/15 St. Louis H.R.B.O., 10/3 Wilkin (Breckenridge W.T.P.) REn, RLF, 10/17 St. Louis (Park Point R.A.) †JLK, 10/24 Polk (S.R. 9 near Crookston) LHl. All south 10/3 Cottonwood (Rock Ridge Prairie S.N.A.) †LiH, 10/10 Meeker (6, season high count, Dassel) PKF, 10/23 Lyon (North Mahlke Marsh) GWe, 11/6 Lac qui Parle (Salt Lake) †DWK, Murray (Skandia Twp.) GWe, Yellow Medicine (Mound Spring Prairie) REn, RLF. | ||
| Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis) | 28 | 32 | Found in all regions, with fewest reports from the Southeast. Early north (median 10/9) 9/26 Cook (7, Gunflint Trail) ebd, 10/14 Mille Lacs SMC, 10/15 Cook (Taconite Harbor) JZj, 10/16 also in Beltrami, Lake, St. Louis. Early south (median 10/18) 10/18 Washington PNi, 10/19 Ramsey LiH, Stearns MtS. High counts 11/5 Polk (100, 2 separate flocks, Brislet Twp.) HHu, 11/29 Polk (100, Keystone Twp.) HHu, 11/4 Cook (90, Tofte) JaJ. | ||
| Towhees, Sparrows | |||||
| Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum) | 4 | 19 | Reported across regions except Northeast and North-central. Highest count 8/9 Kandiyohi (4, Wilmar) JoS. All north 8/4 Polk (200th St NW near Warren) HHu, ThH, 8/6 Clay (Felton Prairie) BLz, Grant (North Ottawa Impoundment) BLz, 8/27 Becker (Hamden Slough N.W.R.) ebd. Late south 9/27 Renville DBz, ANy, 10/2 Redwood MaS, 10/4 Lac qui Parle ebd (median 9/30). | ||
| Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus) | 3 | 22 | Few north reports but the most south reporting counties ever for fall. North reports were restricted to the Northwest. High counts 8/3 Anoka (6, Ramsey) ebd, 8/4 Blue Earth (6, Garden City) ebd. Late north 8/14 Marshall HHu, 8/15 Polk HHu, 8/27 Clay PBB (median 9/9). All south reports after August: 9/3 Lac qui Parle JWH, KEm, 9/4 Ramsey ebd, 9/5 Sherburne MwT, 9/23 Wabasha PEJ, 10/3 Sibley MaS (median 9/20). | ||
| LARK BUNTING (Calamospiza melanocorys) | 1 | Fifth fall record in the past decade: 9/26 St. Louis (Park Point R.A.) PAl, ebd, †EzH, ph. IsH, ph. †PHS, m.ob. | |||
| Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) | 34 | 52 | Found in all counties except Watonwan. High counts 9/13 Polk (52, East Grand Forks) SAu, 9/20 Fillmore (45, Richard J. Dorer Memorial Hardwood S.F.) ToM, 9/5 St. Louis (44, University of Minnesota - Duluth) IDv. Late north 10/29 Becker NaH, 10/30 Cook GWe, NMe, m.ob., 11/2 Pine KPJ (median 11/11). Late south 11/13 Hennepin KBg, Ramsey ebd, Rock ebd (median 11/22), but also see winter report. | ||
| Clay-colored Sparrow (Spizella pallida) | 28 | 46 | Found across all regions, and like last fall, a notable increase of 32% from the 10-year average number of reporting southern counties. Highest counts all in Polk: 8/13 (20, C.R. 44, Crookston) DvP, (20, Kertsonville Twp.) DvP, 9/3 (20, Euclid) LMc, JPr. Late north 10/11 Lake EHi, 10/11–14 Grant CNn, 10/23 Polk TJJ (median 10/19). Late south 10/17 Washington ebd, 10/18 Dakota KDS, 10/17–19 Hennepin (Bass Ponds) ebd (median 10/18), but also see winter report. | ||
| Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla) | 8 | 49 | Continuing an upward trend since 2014, reported in 24% more southern counties than the 10-year average. Missing from the northernmost tier. High counts 9/6 Fillmore (30, Richard J. Dorer Memorial Hardwood S.F.) ToM, 9/24 Scott (30, Minnesota Valley N.W.R., Louisville Swamp) EHi, 9/5 Hennepin (18, Crow-Hassan P.R.) ALD. Late north 10/2 Clay BAr, 10/3–11 Mille Lacs HHD, 10/17 Otter Tail TFu (median 10/19). Late south 10/26 Olmsted JPr, 10/27 Goodhue SDz, 10/28 Wabasha ebd (median 10/27), but also see winter report. | ||
| Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca) | 29 | 49 | Found statewide. Early north (median 9/19) 9/15 St. Louis (Brighton Beach) IDv, 9/18 St. Louis (Park Point R.A.) MWS, ebd, 9/19 Carlton ebd. Early south (median 9/20) 9/21 Hennepin TAT, 9/22 Ramsey AnA, then 9/23 from seven locations in four counties. High counts 10/15 Ramsey (25, Reservoir Woods) RMD, 10/8 Sherburne (20, Sherburne N.W.R.) ebd, 10/23 Yellow Medicine (19, Oraas C.P.) GWe. Late north 11/21 Cass ebd, 11/22–24 St. Louis ClN, JDx, 11/28 Norman TCL (median 12/16), but see winter report for potential overwintering birds both north and south. | ||
| American Tree Sparrow (Spizelloides arborea) | 29 | 46 | Found in all regions. Early north (median 9/25) 9/26 St. Louis PHS, 10/1 Norman DvP, 10/2 Lake ebd, Polk HHu. Early south (median 9/29) 10/2 Nobles ebd, Ramsey ebd, Sherburne ebd. High counts 10/23 Lake (52, Castle Danger W.T.P.) JWL, SLL, 11/4, 11/7 Hennepin (50, Old Cedar Ave. Bridge) ebd, 10/22 St. Louis (47, Superior Hiking Trail) ebd. | ||
| Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) | 34 | 53 | Seen in every county. Early south (median 9/9) 9/9 Ramsey (two locations) DnS, GWe, m.ob., 9/11 Hennepin KBu, TBu. High counts 10/4 St. Louis (543, Brighton Beach) IDv, 10/14–15 St. Louis (200–250, Meadowlands Twp.) IaG, 10/29 Otter Tail (160, Battle Lake) TFu. Oreganus group recorded in 5 north and 12 south counties between 9/26 and 11/28; all were singles except 11/22 Wright (2) DCk. All north: Becker HeH, m.ob., Clay CMk, Douglas ToR, Grant CNn, Lake JWL, SLL. All south Anoka GWe, Dakota ebd, Fillmore ToM, Hennepin (5 locations) m.ob., Meeker PKF, Redwood GWe, Rice AvB, MZa, Scott BHe, Sherburne MHe, Stearns MtS, Wright (two locations) DCk, ToL, Yellow Medicine GWe. | ||
| White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) | 27 | 47 | Found statewide. Early north (median 9/9) 9/6 Lake JWL, 9/9 Cook ebd, 9/10 St. Louis (two locations) ebd. Early south (median 9/16) 9/8 Hennepin ChP, 9/9 Ramsey (two locations) BAF, NSg, Renville ebd. High counts 9/26 Lake (32, Castle Danger W.T.P.) JWL, 10/2 Cook (25, Grand Marais Harbor) LWd, 10/4 St. Louis (23, Duluth Lakewalk) PHS. Late north 11/15 St. Louis (near Sax-Zim Bog) AVa, ebd, 11/17 Mille Lacs HHD (median 12/17). Late south 11/28 Dakota RBW, 11/29 Goodhue AJF (median 12/20). See winter report for lingering or overwintering birds in north and south. Subspecies Z. l. gambelii reported 9/15 – 10/24 in the following north counties: Lake (two locations) IDv, JWL, St. Louis (three locations) SCB, PHS, m.ob. All south: Hennepin BAF, Ramsey (three locations) ToM, GWe, m.ob., Scott BHe. Maximum count was five individuals. | ||
| Harris's Sparrow (Zonotrichia querula) | 30 | 47 | Found in every region. Early north (median 9/16) 9/12 Cook JGW, 9/15 St. Louis IDv, 9/16 Itasca DMz, Polk HHu. Early south (median 9/22) 9/20–21 Lac qui Parle DLP, KeL, 9/21 Ramsey (3, Snail Lake R.P.) LiH, SBE, (Reservoir Woods) RMD. High counts 10/9 Lac qui Parle (59, Big Stone N.W.R.) DLP, 10/1 Polk (30, 240th Ave. in Warren) HHu, 10/23 Pipestone (30, Northern Tallgrass Prairie N.W.R., Pipestone Creek Unit) BAb, KEm. See winter report for late or overwintering birds north and south. | ||
| White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) | 34 | 53 | Seen in every county. See summer report for some potential summering individuals and early fall migrants. Otherwise, possible early south (median 8/26) 8/13 Anoka DWK, 8/14 Hennepin CMB, 8/25 Dakota ThH, Hennepin EMf. High counts 9/21 St. Louis (710, Brighton Beach) IDv, 9/22 St Louis (683, Brighton Beach) IDv, StK, SNe. Many overwintering records north and south (see winter report). | ||
| Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus) | 23 | 45 | Found in all regions, though few reports in Northeast and North-central. High counts 8/20 Lyon (12, Lyon/Redwood Rd.) GWe, 8/22 Lyon (10, Cottonwood) GWe, 10/2 Clay (10, Bluestem Prairie S.N.A.) BAr, 10/2 Clay (10, Felton Prairie) BAr. Late north 10/14 Clay DPW, Mille Lacs HHD, 11/7 Lake KvM, LiH (median 10/21). Late south 10/23 Hennepin ebd, Lyon (two locations) GWe (median 10/27). | ||
| LeConte's Sparrow (Ammospiza leconteii) | 11 | 38 | Like last year, remarkably widespread in the south with a 65% increase from the 10-year average number of reporting counties. Mostly absent from North-central. Excluding known southern breeding locations, early south (median 9/14) 9/3 Lyon (Cottonwood W.T.P.) GWe, 9/8 Cottonwood KEm, 9/18 Yellow Medicine GWe. High counts 10/6 Cottonwood (15, Lake Augusta W.P.A.) KEm, 10/12 Lincoln (14, Tyler W.M.A.) MiO, BTS, 10/8 Nicollet (12, Courtland Twp.) MiO, BTS. Late north 10/9 Otter Tail BAr, Traverse DWK, 10/22 Polk HHu (median 10/13). Late south 10/16 Cottonwood CAs, AFo, 10/23 Lyon GWe, 10/28 Yellow Medicine TWe (median 10/20). | ||
| Nelson's Sparrow (Ammospiza nelsoni) | 1 | 16 | Resembling 2020, another notable fall season for this species in the south with a 55% increase from the 10-year average number of reporting counties. The only north report was also a new fall record: 9/16 Crow Wing (Milford Mine Memorial Park) †LiH. Found across all southern regions; fewest reports from Central and West-central. Early south (median 9/18) 9/10–15 Hennepin ph. †ebd, SOa, MwT, 9/13–18 Olmsted (two locations) ph. MiD, JWH, SHo, 9/18 Scott AFo. High count 10/2 Olmsted (5, South Landfill Reservoir) KEm, JWH, BLa. Notable reports included a first county record 9/24 Houston LHl, while 10/2 Waseca (Moonan W.M.A.) ph. KEm, JWH is apparently the first for that county since 1892. The long list of N.W.R.s, W.M.A.s and W.P.A.s where many of these individuals were found indicate the value these managed sites hold for Nelson’s Sparrows in Minnesota. | ||
| Henslow's Sparrow (Centronyx henslowii) | 7 | Fewest fall reporting counties since 2015. Reports were from Rice and southward and concentrated in the Southeast. High counts 8/3 Houston (6, Ferndale Ridge) ebd, 8/4 Rock (5, Touch the Sky Prairie N.W.R.) KEm, 8/3 Rice (4, Carleton College Cowling Arboretum) MZa, 8/9 Houston (4, Richard J. Dorer Memorial Hardwood S.F.) ph. ebd, 8/11 Houston (4, Dunn Rd.) ebd. Only reports after mid-August: 8/17 Winona ebd, 9/25 Olmsted (South Landfill Reservoir) ph. JPr. | |||
| Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) | 31 | 51 | Found in all but five counties. High counts 9/4 Pennington (50, Thief River Falls W.T.P.) JPr, 10/3 Wilkin (40, Meadows W.P.A.) REn, RLF, 10/4 Otter Tail (35, Doran W.M.A.) AFo. Late north 10/28 Polk HHu, 10/29 St. Louis StK, 11/9 Lake JWL, SLL (median 11/5). Late south 11/7 Blue Earth ChH, Dakota KDS, 11/24 Washington DFN (median 11/8). See winter report for lingering birds north and south. | ||
| Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) | 34 | 53 | Found statewide. High counts 8/1 St. Louis (36, Western Waterfront Trail) JLK, 10/1 Ramsey (35, Crosby Farm R.P.) GWe, 10/6 Anoka (35, Rice Creek Chain of Lakes P.R.) GWe. Late north 11/20 Itasca ebd, Otter Tail AaL, CLu, MtS, St. Louis StK (median 12/18), but see winter report for overwintering birds both north and south. | ||
| Lincoln's Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii) | 30 | 53 | Reporting counties north and south were up from the 10-year average by 27% and 29%, respectively. Early south (median 8/29) 8/22 Washington GBu, 8/24 Sherburne RCl, 8/27 Kandiyohi ebd. High counts 9/23 Ramsey (30, est., Tamarack N.C.) GWe, 9/26 Hennepin (25, Minnesota Valley N.W.R., Bass Ponds) JCa, 10/9 Lac qui Parle (25, Big Stone N.W.R. Auto Tour) DLP, 9/25 Ramsey (22, Reservoir Woods) RMD. Late north 10/27 Otter Tail TFu, 10/30 Todd TLu, 11/4–27 St. Louis KRE, PHS, m.ob. (median 10/27). Late south 11/6 Ramsey LiH, 11/15 Hennepin ebd (median 11/8). See winter report for late birds north and south. | ||
| Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana) | 34 | 53 | Found in every county. High counts 9/26 Hennepin (54, Minnesota Valley N.W.R., Bass Ponds) JCa, 10/9 Scott (34, Minnesota Valley N.W.R., Louisville Swamp) ebd, 10/3 Steele (32, Armstrong Wetland Restoration) TWe. Late north 10/30 Otter Tail JBu, 11/14 Cass REn, RLF, 11/27 St. Louis KRE, PHS, m.ob. (median 11/1). | ||
| Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus) | 2 | 2 | All north 11/14–18 Aitkin (female type, Aitkin) ebd, ph. LBa, m.ob., 11/13 St. Louis (Park Point R.A.) †APi, JPR. All south 9/26 Hennepin (Hyland Lake P.R.) RBW, 10/20 Hennepin (female type, Clifton French R.P.) ph. ebd, 10/9 Lac qui Parle (male, Lac qui Parle S.P.) †DLP. | ||
| Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) | 6 | 31 | Found in all regions, though most reports from the Minnesota and Mississippi River valleys. High counts 8/12 Winona (10, Great River Bluffs S.P.) ebd, 8/16 Dakota (9, Harmon Park) ebd. Late north 9/3 Hubbard ebd, Kittson (two locations) DvP, 9/10 St. Louis LME, 9/30 Pine SBE (median 10/7). Late south 10/23 Carver JCy, 10/27 Goodhue SDz, 11/30 Hennepin ebd (median 11/10), but see winter for likely overwintering bird. Unusual 9/11 Lincoln (Hole-in-the-Mountain C.P.) TWe. | ||
| Yellow-breasted Chat | |||||
| Yellow-breasted Chat (Icteria virens) | 1 | Third fall in a row with a report; this individual continued from the summer: 8/22 Redwood (Redwood Falls) MaJ. | |||
| Blackbirds, Orioles | |||||
| Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) | 15 | 30 | Found statewide, though most reports from the western half of the state. Northern county reports increased by 53% from the 10-year average. High counts 8/21 Yellow Medicine (400, Lanners W.M.A.) GWe, 8/25 Lac qui Parle (310, Salt Lake) WCM, 8/9 Lac qui Parle (200, 251st Ave. in Bellingham) PNi, DnS. Late north 9/28 Grant CNn, 9/29 Todd JLK, 10/2 Clay CRG (median 10/8). Late south 10/10 Lyon GWe, 10/19 Big Stone DLP, 10/24 Sherburne RCl (median 11/10). | ||
| Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) | 15 | 31 | Found in all regions, though fewest reports from Northeast and North-central. High counts 8/22 Yellow Medicine (385, 460th St. in Hanley Falls) GWe, 9/3 Polk (100, 130th St. SW in Euclid) CRM, m.ob., 8/21 Yellow Medicine (85, Lanners W.M.A.) GWe. Late north all in different locations in St. Louis: 9/22 (East Hillside, Duluth) RyS, 9/24 (Brighton Beach) IDv, 10/12 (Stony Point) StK, IDv (median 9/29). Late south 10/2 Olmsted KEm, JWH, m.ob., 10/5 Dakota KDS, 10/23 Lyon GWe (median 10/5). | ||
| Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna) | 5 | 26 | Birds mostly reported east and south of Cass. Reporting southern counties up 44% from the 10-year average. High counts 9/23 Pine (14, Sandstone) ebd, 9/26 Sherburne (11, Sherburne N.W.R.) LSw, 9/29 Hennepin (11, Crow-Hassan P.R.) HPe, MyP. Late north 9/23–26 (Sandstone) Pine ebd, 10/21 Mille Lacs MAJ. Late south 10/31 Dakota ebd, 11/1 Sherburne SMC, 11/8 Scott BxP (median 10/29). | ||
| Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta) | 17 | 22 | Seen mostly in the western half of the state, Aitkin, and along the North Shore. High counts 8/8 Polk (13, 200th St. NW in Warren) HHu, 10/3 Cottonwood (11, Rock Ridge Prairie S.N.A.) LiH, 10/5 Polk (10, Angus Oslo 4 Flood Control Project) HHu. Late north all in different locations in Polk: 10/27 HHu, 10/28 HHu, 11/4 HHu (median 11/7), but also see winter report. Late south 10/27 Pipestone LVD, 10/28 Yellow Medicine (two locations) TWe (median 11/16). | ||
| Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurius) | 5 | 26 | Seen south of a line from Marshall to Washington. High counts 8/4 Lac qui Parle (5, Big Stone N.W.R.) ebd, 8/4 Polk (5, Brislet Twp.) ThH, 8/5 Otter Tail (5, Orwell W.M.A.) CRM, m.ob. Late north 8/18 Polk DvP, 8/28 Grant CNn, 8/29 Marshall (Old Mill S.P.) TJJ (median 8/21). Late south 8/30 Chippewa WCM, Lac qui Parle FAE, 8/31 Nobles ebd, 9/1–4 Renville ebd (median 8/25). | ||
| Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula) | 28 | 51 | Found across the state. High counts 8/24 Otter Tail (13, Antler Lane) DBi, 8/21 – 9/2 Renville (12, almost daily at 645th Ave. in Franklin) LoH. Late north 9/20–24 Grant CNn, 9/24–26 Otter Tail BAr (median 9/19). Late south 10/3 Anoka GWe, 11/11–12 Hennepin TBu, KBu, 11/24 Olmsted ebd (median 10/11). | ||
| Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) | 33 | 53 | Found in all counties but Clearwater. High counts 10/23 Lyon (5,800, North Mahlke Marsh) GWe, 10/22 Lyon (5,200, Black Rush Lake W.P.A.) GWe, 10/30 Murray (4,200, Rupp W.M.A.) GrS. | ||
| Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) | 20 | 47 | Reported from all regions, though in fewer numbers in northern regions. New fall high count nearly double previous record fall tally (313): 10/12 Dakota (600, 140th St. Marsh) KDS. Additional high counts 8/21 Yellow Medicine (120, Lanners W.M.A.) GWe, 8/20 Lyon (115, Lyon Rd. and Redwood Rd.) GWe. Late north 10/5 Aitkin ebd, 10/19 Red Lake (10) HHu. See winter report for latest north and overwintering south birds. | ||
| Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus) | 27 | 39 | Found statewide. Early north (median 9/12) 9/8 St. Louis (French River mouth) SCB, PHS, (Proctor) ebd, 9/11 St. Louis (Brighton Beach) IDv. Early south (median 9/21) 9/19 Hennepin (Old Cedar Ave. Bridge) ebd, 9/21 Hennepin (Wood Lake N.C.) ebd, 9/22 Olmsted ebd, Ramsey ebd. Impressive high counts both 10/12 in St. Louis: (15,650, Stony Point) StK, IDv, (8,628) H.R.B.O. See winter report for lingering migrants and overwintering birds statewide. | ||
| Brewer's Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus) | 19 | 34 | Detected in all regions, with fewest reporting counties in North-central and Southeast. High counts 10/23 Swift (500, S.R. 104 in Sunburg) GHo, 11/6 Brown (250, Albin Twp.) KEm, JWH, 10/24 Cottonwood (200, Rock Ridge Prairie S.N.A.) KEm, JWH, 11/10 Cottonwood (200, Amo Twp.) KEm. Late north 10/24 Norman LHl, 10/26 Becker NaH, ANy, 11/22–23 St. Louis DEd (median 11/6). Late south 11/10 Cottonwood KEm, 11/11 Big Stone DLP, 11/13–17 Kandiyohi RAE (median 11/15). | ||
| Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) | 34 | 53 | Found in every county. High counts 9/25 Lyon (3,000, Black Rush Lake W.P.A.) GWe, 10/12 St. Louis (2,768) H.R.B.O., 9/28 Olmsted (2,000, Silver Creek Reservoir) JPr. | ||
| Great-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus) | 1 | Sole report came from 9/11 at traditional site in Jackson (4, S.R. 86 and 730th St. in Lakefield Twp.) TWe, BWe. | |||
| Warblers | |||||
| Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla) | 30 | 51 | Highest total of reporting counties in the past decade. High counts 8/30 St. Louis (7, Hartley Park) JLK, 9/15 St. Louis (7, Brighton Beach) IDv, 8/5 Clearwater (6, Itasca S.P.) ebd. Late north 9/22 Morrison DLP, 9/24 Grant CNn, 10/2 Douglas ToR (median 10/1). Late south 10/3 Olmsted ebd, 10/4 Hennepin ebd, 10/18 Olmsted LAV (median 10/21). | ||
| Louisiana Waterthrush (Parkesia motacilla) | 2 | All reports 8/26–31 Ramsey (Sucker Lake) †EzH, MWS, m.ob., 8/16–18 Winona (2–3 birds, Coolridge Creek A.M.A.) ToM, EHi. | |||
| Northern Waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis) | 24 | 41 | Widespread distribution with increases of 36% and 42% from the 10-year county averages in the north and south, respectively. High counts all from Brighton Beach in St. Louis (IDv): 9/5 (19), 9/7 (12), 9/8 (10). Late north 9/26 Todd JLK, 9/27 Lake JWL, 10/10 St. Louis ebd (median 9/28). Late south 10/5–6 Ramsey (two locations) NSg, ebd, 10/23 Hennepin ebd (median 10/5). Unusual fall records 8/27 Kandiyohi (Sibley S.P.) JoS, 9/4 Kandiyohi (Lake Calhoun) MJB, 9/17 Rock (Blue Mounds S.P.) ebd, SAu. | ||
| Golden-winged Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera) | 17 | 42 | Found in all regions. Fewest north reports since 2014, but found in a record number of south counties for fall, including many reports from the Southwest: 8/26 Nobles (Lake Bella) BTS, 8/29 Jackson (Kilen Woods S.P.) DBz, 9/2 Lincoln DBz, 9/3 Rock DBz, 9/19 Lyon (Camden S.P.) GWe. New fall record 9/3 Big Stone (Akron Twp.) KEm. High counts 8/9 Crow Wing (10, Blueberry Bog Trail) MJB, 8/18 Aitkin (8, Big Sandy Lake) ebd, 8/27 Carver (7, Carver P.R.) JCy. Late north 9/12 Itasca ebd, 9/13 Beltrami DPJ, 9/14 Mille Lacs JKu (median 9/14). Late south 9/19 Hennepin ChP, ebd, Lyon GWe, Ramsey ebd, 9/22 Goodhue PEJ (median 9/25). | ||
| Blue-winged Warbler (Vermivora cyanoptera) | 1 | 24 | All sightings southeast of line segments from Pine to Stearns to Brown. Only north reports 8/1, 8/18 Pine (Snake River) ebd, SBE. High count 8/22 Washington (5, Afton S.P.) JbS. Late south 9/9 Carver ebd, Goodhue BxP, 9/10 Olmsted (Quarry Hills N.C.) ebd, 9/11 Olmsted (Isaac Walton Wetlands) ebd. | ||
| Golden-winged Warbler X Blue-winged Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera X V. cyanoptera) | 1 | 4 | Best fall season in at least the past decade. All are Brewster’s type unless noted otherwise. Only north 8/12 St. Louis (Park Point R.A.) ph. †IDv. All south 8/12 Stearns (Mississippi River C.P.) DOr, 8/24 Ramsey (Lawrence’s, Chatham Open Space) ph. †LiH, 9/2 Washington (Afton S.P.) ph. PAl, 9/6 Hennepin (unknown type, Old Cedar Ave. Bridge) ebd. | ||
| Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia) | 32 | 52 | Found in all but three counties. High counts 9/15 St. Louis (116, almost double prior fall record of 60, Brighton Beach) IDv, 9/21 St. Louis (45, Brighton Beach) IDv, 9/8 St. Louis (24, Brighton Beach) IDv, 8/13 St. Louis (22, Park Point R.A.) ebd. Late north 9/29 Grant CNn, 10/2 St. Louis (Stony Point) StK, IDv, 10/3 St. Louis (Hermantown) JLK (median 10/4). Late south 10/3 Dakota GUn, Redwood KRE, 10/8 Washington ebd (median 10/6). | ||
| Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea) | 11 | Best fall season ever for this southerly warbler; 129% increase from the 10-year average number of reporting counties. Most reports between Sherburne and Houston, but also 8/12 Brown BTS. No count exceeded two birds. Late south 8/29 Goodhue ebd, Hennepin ebd, 9/5 Houston (2, Millstone Landing) WCM, ph. SuH, 9/10 Houston (Wagon Wheel Trail) ToM (median 9/2). | |||
| Tennessee Warbler (Leiothlypis peregrina) | 28 | 48 | Found statewide. See summer report for early migrants south. High counts all from St. Louis: 9/15 (109, Brighton Beach) IDv, 9/5 (86, University of Minnesota - Duluth) IDv, 9/4 (57) H.R.B.O. Late north 10/10 Lake (two locations) IDv, JWL, SLL, 10/11–12 St. Louis (two locations) IDv, FJN (median 10/16). Late south 10/16 Hennepin (Old Cedar Ave. Bridge) CRM, m.ob., Ramsey (Fish Creek Natural Area) ebd, 10/25 Ramsey (University of Minnesota - St. Paul) AnA, 11/2 Hennepin (Minnetonka) †KBu, †TBu (median 10/21). | ||
| Orange-crowned Warbler (Leiothlypis celata) | 29 | 51 | Found in all regions. Early north (median 9/2) 9/1 Lake of the Woods DvP, 9/2 Aitkin BAb, Norman CRM, m.ob. Early south (median 9/1) 9/1 Renville SLH, Sibley SLH, 9/2 Meeker PKF. High counts 10/3 Anoka (51, Rice Creek Chain of Lakes P.R.) GWe, 10/1 Ramsey (18, Crosby Farm R.P.) GWe. Late north 10/30 Lake EzH, IsH, 11/4 St. Louis IDv, StK (median 10/28). Late south 10/30 Meeker LiH, Ramsey (4, Sucker Lake) ebd, 10/31 Ramsey (3, Little Canada) ebd, 10/30 – 11/1 Hennepin (Bass Ponds) ebd, DWK, m.ob. (median 11/1), but also see winter report. Note: Insufficiently documented August reports are excluded. | ||
| Nashville Warbler (Leiothlypis ruficapilla) | 33 | 53 | Found in every county except Wilkin. See summer report for early south migrants. High counts 9/21 St. Louis (120, Brighton Beach) IDv, 9/22 St. Louis (82, Brighton Beach) IDv, StK, SNe, 9/19 Lyon (75, Camden S.P.) GWe, 9/9 Anoka (68, Rice Creek Chain of Lakes P.R.) GWe. Late north 10/11 Otter Tail ebd, St. Louis H.R.B.O., (Brighton Beach) IDv, 10/12 St. Louis (H.R.B.O. banding station) FJN, 10/12–14 Grant CNn (median 10/24). Late south 10/20 Hennepin ebd, 10/24 Ramsey (Como Park) ebd, 11/5 Ramsey (College Park, St. Paul) †JhM (median 10/26). | ||
| Connecticut Warbler (Oporornis agilis) | 6 | 12 | Scattered reports across all regions except North-central. Early south (median 8/25) 8/22–26 Ramsey (Chatham Open Space) APi, LiH, 8/25 Wright HHD, 8/27 Ramsey (Sucker Lake) DnS, APi, LiH, ebd, Redwood (320th Street and C.R. 11) RAE. Maximum count was 2 birds. Late north 9/5 Marshall CRM, m.ob., 9/6 St. Louis BEA, 9/26 St. Louis FJN (median 9/17). Late south 9/18 Hennepin (Bass Ponds) ebd, 9/20 Hennepin (T.S. Roberts Bird Sanctuary) ebd, 9/21 Anoka ebd (median 9/21). | ||
| Mourning Warbler (Geothlypis philadelphia) | 15 | 37 | Found in every region. No tally exceeded 4 birds. Late north 9/24 Grant (Delaware Twp.) CNn, 9/27 Grant (North Ottawa Impoundment) ebd, Pennington JMJ (median 9/15). Late south 9/19 Ramsey ebd, 9/21 Anoka ebd, 9/22 Meeker PKF (median 9/28). New fall record 9/6 Martin BTS. | ||
| Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) | 34 | 53 | Reported in every county. High counts 8/22 St. Louis (30, Stony Point) RyS, 9/5 Carver (22, Carver P.R.) JCy, 9/9 Anoka (22, Rice Creek Chain of Lakes P.R.) GWe. Late north 10/10 Douglas JEl, Lake JWL, Polk TJJ, 10/18 St. Louis ebd (median 10/13). Late south 10/23 Carver JCy, Hennepin (Bass Ponds) ebd, 11/15–24 Hennepin (Wood Lake N.C.) BAF, SHF (median 10/25); also see winter report. | ||
| Hooded Warbler (Setophaga citrina) | 3 | All reports: 8/22 Washington (3, two adults and one immature, Afton S.P.) JbS, 8/31 Dakota (Lebanon Hills R.P.) SLP, 9/2 Goodhue (2, Frontenac S.P.) †SDz, 9/23 Washington (Afton S.P.) PAl (median departure south 9/8). | |||
| American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) | 33 | 52 | Found in all counties except Mahnomen and Watonwan. All high counts from St. Louis (Brighton Beach, IDv): 9/15 (205) 9/7 (166), 9/8 (145). Late north 10/2 Lake JWL, St. Louis H.R.B.O., (Stony Point) IDv, StK, (Park Point R.A.) SNe, 10/9 St. Louis (Park Point R.A.) EHi (median 10/11). Late south 10/3 Anoka GWe, Goodhue PEJ, Steele PSu, 10/4 Sherburne LMc, 10/8, 10/13 Hennepin DWK, ebd (median 10/9). | ||
| Cape May Warbler (Setophaga tigrina) | 17 | 19 | Reported in above-average numbers, perhaps due to the continuing spruce budworm outbreak in Canada. Most reports from the northernmost counties and Central and East-central regions. Early south (median 8/22) 8/16 Rice TFB, 8/24 Sherburne LMc, 8/27 in Chisago, Hennepin, Kandiyohi. High counts 9/7 St. Louis (44, Brighton Beach) IDv, 9/8 St. Louis (27, H.R.N.R., Summit Ledges) IDv, 9/11 St. Louis (19) H.R.B.O. Late north 10/16 St. Louis (Stony Point) IDv, LiH, EzH, 10/17 St. Louis (H.R.N.R., Summit Ledges) StK, IDv, 10/21 St. Louis (Stony Point) ebd (median 10/5). Late south 9/22 Hennepin (Minneapolis) SOa, (Winchell Trail) JHv, 9/23 Carver JCy (median 9/30). | ||
| Cerulean Warbler (Setophaga cerulea) | 1 | Only report 9/8 Anoka (Andover) †ebd. | |||
| Northern Parula (Setophaga americana) | 18 | 41 | Highest number of fall reporting counties ever. Early south (median 8/16) 8/14 Chisago BAb, 8/16 Carver ABL, 8/17 Hennepin ebd. High counts 9/15 (30, Brighton Beach) IDv, 9/5 St. Louis (19, University of Minnesota - Duluth) IDv, 9/21 St. Louis (14, Brighton Beach) IDv. Late north 9/24 Crow Wing JLK, 9/25 Cook LWd, 9/26 St. Louis H.R.B.O. (median 10/3). Late south 10/3 Olmsted JHD, 10/8 Hennepin RTu (median 10/3). | ||
| Magnolia Warbler (Setophaga magnolia) | 26 | 51 | Found in all regions. Early south (median 8/16) 8/10 Dakota KDS, ebd, 8/14 Hennepin MZa, 8/15 Ramsey GrN, Stearns DOr. High counts, all from Brighton Beach in St. Louis (IDv), far exceeded prior record (40): 9/15 (359), 9/21 (226), 9/8 (105). Late north all from different locations in St. Louis: 10/3 (Voyageurs N.P.) JMn, 10/4 (3, Brighton Beach) IDv, 10/11 H.R.B.O. (median 10/3). Late south 10/4 Washington GBu, 10/4 Hennepin (Father Hennepin Bluffs) ebd, 10/5Hennepin (Theodore Wirth R.P.) ebd, 10/10 Hennepin (Hyland Lake P.R.) RBW (median 10/7). | ||
| Bay-breasted Warbler (Setophaga castanea) | 27 | 45 | Another spruce budworm specialist doing quite well. Reported from the highest number counties ever for fall. Early south (median 8/19) 8/15 Ramsey GrN, 8/19 Hennepin PRH, 8/20 Isanti MHe. High counts 9/3 Stearns (17, Quarry Park S.N.A.) MJB, 9/5 Kandiyohi (17, Diamond Lake) ebd, 9/9 Anoka (12, Rice Creek Chain of Lakes P.R.) GWe. Late north 9/24 Lake JWL, 10/3 St. Louis (Hermantown) JLK, 10/4 St. Louis (Brighton Beach) IDv (median 9/28). Late south 10/2 Goodhue JtM, Washington (Cottage Grove) PNi, (Grey Cloud Dunes S.N.A.) GWe (median 10/5). | ||
| Blackburnian Warbler (Setophaga fusca) | 22 | 41 | Found in every region. Early south (median 8/8) 8/8 Anoka ebd, Ramsey SPS, 8/10 Sherburne LMc. High counts 8/27 Carver (7, Carver P.R.) JCy, and tallies of 6 from Carver, Lake, Sherburne, Steele. Late north 9/17 Carlton ebd, St. Louis H.R.B.O., 9/19 St. Louis (Lakeside/Lester Park, Duluth) DEd, 9/21 St. Louis (Duluth Lakewalk) SCB, PHS (median 9/23). Late south 9/27 Anoka ebd, 9/27–29 Carver JCy, 9/29 Hennepin ebd (median 9/25). | ||
| Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia) | 33 | 51 | Found in all but three counties. High counts 8/5 St. Louis (31, Western Waterfront Trail) JLK, 8/31 Big Stone (25, Big Stone Lake S.P.) WCM. Late north 9/24–25 Lake (two locations) DnS, JWL, SLL, 10/3 Clay PBB (median 9/27). Late south 9/27 Ramsey (two locations) NSg, ph. LiH, 9/28 Anoka ebd, 10/5 Yellow Medicine WCM (median 9/28). | ||
| Chestnut-sided Warbler (Setophaga pensylvanica) | 29 | 49 | Found in the majority of counties in every region. High counts 9/15 St. Louis (23, Brighton Beach) IDv, 8/15 Ramsey (18, Sucker Lake) GrN, 8/26 Houston (15, Beaver Creek Valley S.P.) ToM. Late north 9/30 Todd JLK, 10/2–3 St. Louis (two locations) FJN, JLK (median 10/1). Late south 10/2–4 Hennepin (three locations) GrS, JCa, ebd, MyP, HPe, CWB (median 10/3). | ||
| Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga striata) | 17 | 34 | Found across the state, though few reports from the West-central. Early north (median 8/22) 8/22 St. Louis RyS, 8/25 St. Louis H.R.B.O., 8/27 Lake ebd. Early south (median 8/22) 8/21–27 Ramsey LiH, m.ob., 8/28 Blue Earth MiO, Hennepin (two locations) KOC, Lac qui Parle DLP, Redwood BTS. High counts all from St. Louis (Brighton Beach, IDv): 9/7 (45), 9/8 (36), 9/11 (34). Late north 10/12–15 St. Louis (two locations) IDv, StK, ebd (median 10/4). Late south 9/27 Washington PNi, 9/29 Faribault ebd, 10/2 Sherburne ebd (median 10/1). | ||
| Black-throated Blue Warbler (Setophaga caerulescens) | 8 | 19 | As exceptional as fall 2020 was for this species, this season was even better. Reported from all regions except Northwest, with concentrations in the Central (8 of 13 counties), East-central (6 of 13), and on its breeding grounds in the Northeast. Early south (median 8/28) 8/22 Ramsey LiH, APi, 8/27 Steele (Rice Lake S.P.) †ALD, 8/28 Hennepin CMB. High count 9/19 Lyon (3, Camden S.P.) ph. GWe. New county records 9/2 Benton (Michaelson Farm W.M.A.) HHD, 9/1 Douglas (Goose Park) †AaL. Late north 9/22 Lake AaL, CLu, TLu, 9/25 St. Louis (Ely) ebd, 9/26 St. Louis (H.R.B.O. banding station) FJN (median 9/28). Late south 9/30 Lac qui Parle DLP, 10/9 Hennepin (St. Louis Park) ebd, 10/12 Hennepin (Mississippi Gateway R.P.) DEl (median 10/12). | ||
| Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum) | 32 | 42 | Found in all regions; fewest reporting counties in the Southwest. Early south (median 8/28) 8/22 Washington BDo, 8/25 Hennepin (Grass Lake) KBg, 8/26 Hennepin (Flying Cloud Fields) JBn. High counts all from St. Louis (Brighton Beach, IDv): 9/24 (520), 10/4 (340), 9/21 (278). Late north 10/29 Lake ebd, St. Louis StK, 10/31 Cook BAb, DnS (median 10/26). Late south 10/22 Hennepin ebd, Olmsted JHD, 10/24–25 Blue Earth ChH, 11/6–11/10 Scott (Blue Lake W.T.P.) RBW (median 10/24). | ||
| Pine Warbler (Setophaga pinus) | 19 | 14 | Majority of birds found east of Clearwater and north of Rice. Outliers were 8/27 Grant (Delaware Twp.) CNn in the north, and 8/15 Blue Earth RAE in the south. High counts 8/15 Hubbard (7, Park Rapids) ebd, 8/1 Lake (5, Superior N.F.) ebd, 9/6 Hubbard (5, Owls Nest Resort) ebd. Late north 9/24 St. Louis ebd, 9/26 Itasca ebd, 9/24, 9/30 Cass ebd (median 9/30). Late south 9/28 Carver JCy, Hennepin SMC, 10/9 Rice ebd (median 10/2). | ||
| Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) | 34 | 53 | Reported from all counties. Early south (median 8/20) 8/7 Sherburne ebd, 8/23 Ramsey ebd, 8/25 Hennepin ebd. All high counts from St. Louis: 9/24 (10,450, Brighton Beach) IDv, 10/12 (4,500, Stony Point) StK, 10/12 (4,100, Stony Point) IDv. Late north 11/9 Cook JGW, 11/13 Otter Tail NaH, 11/14 St. Louis StK (median 11/14). See winter report for overwintering birds south. Subspecies auduboni documented in 8/26 Ramsey (Sucker Lake) †EzH, †MWS, and 9/22 Hennepin (Eastman N.C.) †MkC. | ||
| Black-throated Green Warbler (Setophaga virens) | 22 | 44 | Probably best fall on record, demonstrated by county increases of 35% and 52% from the 10-year average in the north and south, respectively. Noted in all regions, decreasing in abundance to the west. Early south (median 8/19) 8/5 Sherburne HHD, 8/9 Goodhue PEJ, 8/11 Meeker PKF. High counts 9/15 St. Louis (12, Brighton Beach) IDv, 8/7 Lake (9, Kawishiwi Falls) ebd, 8/16 St. Louis (7, Camp du Nord) ebd, 9/12 St. Louis (7, Brighton Beach) IDv. Late north 9/30 Todd JLK, 10/2 St. Louis MtS, 10/3 Cook ebd (median 9/29). Late south 10/4 Faribault RAE, MiO, BTS, Ramsey LHl, 10/10 Hennepin ClB, 10/12 Dakota TSk (median 10/9). | ||
| Canada Warbler (Cardellina canadensis) | 19 | 47 | Found statewide, with the most south reporting counties ever. Early south (median 8/13) 8/8 Anoka SRo, 8/9 Hennepin JBn, Steele PSu. High counts 9/2 Ramsey (8, Sucker Lake) GrN, 8/24 Steele (6, Somerset Twp.) PSu, 8/29 Carver (6, Carver P.R.) JCy, 8/31 Hennepin (6, Wood Lake N.C.) ClB. Late north 9/12 Itasca ebd, 9/13 Clay ebd, 9/15 St. Louis IDv (median 9/17). Late south 9/21 Hennepin HPe, MyP, ebd, Washington (Cottage Grove) PNi, (2, Lake Elmo R.P.) ebd, 9/28 Anoka ebd (median 9/24). | ||
| Wilson's Warbler (Cardellina pusilla) | 27 | 49 | Found in all regions. Early north 8/1 Cook JGW, Lake (Knife Lake, along Canadian border) ebd, 8/8 St. Louis JLK. Early south (median 8/15) 8/7 Anoka (Nowthen) RSk, 8/14 Anoka (Carlos Avery W.M.A.) SRo, Hennepin ebd. High counts 9/1 Big Stone (12, county total) RAE, 8/25 Lac qui Parle (9, Lac qui Parle C.P.) WCM, 9/3 Stearns (9, Quarry Park S.N.A.) MJB, 9/21 St. Louis (9, Brighton Beach) IDv. Late north 9/22 Otter Tail ebd, 9/26 Todd JLK (median 9/22). Late south 9/27 Ramsey GWe, 10/3 Redwood KBg, 10/18 Houston ebd (median 9/30). | ||
| Tanagers, Cardinals, Grosbeaks | |||||
| Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra) | 3 | All north 9/27 St. Louis (Congdon Park, Duluth) †PHS, †SCB, 11/3 Hubbard (Kabekona Lake) RLF, ph. REn, RLF, 10/26 Itasca (adult male, Coleraine; reportedly first seen 10/21) ph. REn, RLF, 10/28 St. Louis (Indian Point) ebd. Third fall in the past decade with no south reports. | |||
| Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea) | 23 | 44 | Found statewide, though few reports from the western third of the state. High counts 8/22 St. Louis (11, Stony Point) RyS, 8/14 St. Louis (6, Park Point R.A.) IDv, 8/29 Carver (6, Carver P.R.) JCy. Late north 9/17 Crow Wing LiH, 9/19 Morrison DOr, 9/22 St. Louis JLK (median 9/25). Late south 10/3 Hennepin TAT, 10/4 Chippewa WCM, 10/5 Hennepin CMB (median 10/4). | ||
| Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) | 27 | 53 | Found in every county southeast and half the counties northwest of a line from Wilkin to Koochiching. High counts 10/16 Hennepin (20, Minnesota Valley N.W.R., Bass Ponds) ebd, 10/23 Hennepin (20, Old Cedar Ave. Bridge) ebd, 10/2 Hennepin (18, T.S. Roberts Bird Sanctuary) JCa. | ||
| Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus) | 31 | 49 | Reported statewide. High counts 8/22 St. Louis (46, Stony Point) RyS, 8/14 St. Louis (22, Hartley Park) JLK, 9/4 Carver (20, Minnesota Landscape Arboretum) ebd, KSo. Late north 9/30 Clay TCL, 10/9 Cook JaJ, 10/10 Carlton ebd (median 10/6). Late south 10/14 Blue Earth ChH, 10/16 Hennepin KBu, TBu, 11/22 Rice ph. ebd (median 10/31). | ||
| Blue Grosbeak (Passerina caerulea) | 11 | Birds found mostly southwest of a line from Big Stone to Faribault; only exception was a continuing male in Hennepin (Flying Cloud Fields) JKu, m.ob. High count 8/6 Pipestone (8, county total) RAE; all other reports were of 3 or fewer birds. New county record 8/7–10 Faribault (Baker Gravel Pit) KEm, JWH, m.ob. Late south 8/31 Pipestone (Edgerton) LVD, 9/2 Pipestone (Split Rock Creek S.P.) KEm, JWH, 9/20 Rock LVD (median 8/26). | |||
| Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea) | 20 | 45 | Found statewide. High counts 8/13 Dakota (16, Cliff Fen Park) MaS, 8/28 Carver (12, Carver P.R.) JCy, 8/1 Clay (10, Red River canoe trip south of Fargo) KCo, THv, 8/2 Ramsey (10, Fish Creek N.A.) JKu. Late north 9/18 Crow Wing LiH, 9/19 Wilkin ebd, 9/26 Todd JLK (median 9/29). Late south 10/9 Hennepin SKS, McLeod LHl, 10/10 Winona DnS (median 10/11). | ||
| PAINTED BUNTING (Passerina ciris) | 1 | Fourth fall record and first since 2006: 11/27 St. Louis (adult male, Duluth Lakewalk) ph. TMT. | |||
| Dickcissel (Spiza americana) | 4 | 36 | Found in every region except the North-central. All north 8/3–4 Marshall (2, Agassiz Valley) HHu, 8/4–23 Polk (three locations) ThH, HHu, 8/4–14 St. Louis (Sax-Zim Bog) ebd, 10/2 St. Louis (2, Stony Point) IDv, StK. High counts 8/6 Rock (19, county total) RAE, 8/2 Winona (12, Lewiston W.T.P.) ToM, 8/2 Pipestone (8, Pipestone N.M.) ebd. Late south 9/5 Olmsted SHk, 10/17 Sibley †TWe, †BWe, and latest record for state 10/28 Yellow Medicine ph. †TWe. | ||