Seasonal Report Archive for The Loon
The 2021-Summer Season
1 June through 31 July 2021
Ann E. Kessen and Peder H. Svingen

Noteworthy waterfowl during the summer of 2021 included five Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks that spent one day in early July at a farm pond in Sherburne Co., providing a first county record. Also of interest during the season were Mute Swans seen at St. Croix State Park in Pine Co. and at the Old Cedar Avenue bridge and Independence Lake, both in Hennepin Co.

In early June, Lake of the Woods County saw its first Wild Turkey record. An adult male Rufous Hummingbird visited Lake City in Wabasha County for two days in late July. The most exciting bird of the summer was the Limpkin discovered at Paul Hugo Farms W.M.A. in Washington County, a first for the state. Not only was this bird unexpected, but it further delighted birders by remaining in the area from the beginning of June until the middle of July, enabling many folks to see and/or hear it.

Black-necked Stilts were found during the season in Big Stone and Grant counties, with a high count of five at Marsh Lake in Big Stone in June. Whimbrels were discovered both at Park Point Recreation Area in St. Louis County and south of Madelia in Watonwan County, where three were present on June 1. Early June also saw several reports of Parasitic Jaeger from Lake Superior, St. Louis County. That same month also brought a visit from a Laughing Gull near the Detroit Lakes Pavilion in Becker County, providing a first county record. Around the same time a California Gull was discovered in Lake of the Woods County.

Early June in St. Louis County was a good time to see Red-throated Loons on Lake Superior, with a high of 17 seen at Stony Point on June 3. Completely unexpected was a first county record Magnificent Frigatebird soaring over Mille Lacs Lake, Mille Lacs County, on June 8. Documentation included a photo taken by a 12-year old observer. A Neotropic Cormorant spent time from spring into fall on Richfield Lake in Hennepin County. It was joined by a second bird in mid-June, and this bird also stayed into the fall.

Rare herons turned up during the first part of the summer, with a Little Blue Heron providing a first county record in Watonwan and a Yellow-crowned Night-Heron visiting Freeborn County. Also early in the season, it was a surprise to see a Black Vulture rafting with Turkey Vultures over Waite Park for a first Stearns County record. Observers in Minneopa State Park, Blue Earth County, enjoyed seeing a Mississippi Kite at the end of June.

A Scissor-tailed Flycatcher visited Rock County near Luverne in late June and a first county record Acadian Flycatcher was documented in Waseca that same month. Two adult Say's Phoebes with two fledglings were a first county record for Stevens. A pair with three fledglings was also present in Big Stone County, and another individual lingered at Felton Prairie, Clay County.

A site near Belview, Redwood County, hosted a Bell's Vireo in midsummer for a first county record. A big surprise for the summer season was the Townsend's Solitaire found on June 1 at Oxbow Park in Olmsted County. This bird provided only the second summer record in the state. Observers enjoyed Yellow-breasted Chats in Blue Earth, Redwood, and Todd counties, with the last occurrence being a first county record.

In June, Lake of the Woods County hosted an Orchard Oriole for just the second time. Unusual warbler records included a Blue-winged Warbler (first county record) in Schoeman Park, Rock County, a Hooded Warbler (2nd county record) east of Pine City, Pine County, and a Yellow-throated Warbler near Reno in Houston County. Observers in June were pleased to find single adult male Summer Tanagers in Becker and Nicollet counties. Dickcissels are famously irregular in their abundance, and in 2021 they had a VERY good year, with reports from all 87 Minnesota counties.

Weather Summary: June 2021 was the third warmest on record for the state. The statewide average temperature for the month was 5° F above normal. July brought continued warm temperatures, though the statewide average was only 1.4° F above normal.

Besides being warm, both months were also dry as the state’s drought continued. Most regions were several inches below normal in both June and July. Where rain did fall, it was mostly in the Southeast region.

Notable weather events for the season included a severe thunderstorm with large hail across central and southern Minnesota on 17 June, another thunderstorm on 6–7 July across southern and central Minnesota, and a strong thunderstorm that was accompanied by large hail and several tornados centered in Beltrami County.

Insufficiently Documented Reports of Regular Species: Hudsonian Godwit 7/12 Sibley (very early southbound migrant); Long-billed Dowitcher 6/1 Grant (very late northbound  migrant); Sharp-shinned Hawk 6/1–22, 7/24, 7/25 in several south counties (all south reports in summer require solid documentation); Boreal Chickadee 6/18 Hennepin (far out of range); Yellow-rumped Warbler 6/22 Rice (out of range); and Wilson's Warbler 7/11 Carlton, 7/30 Meeker (very early southbound migrants).

Maps: A map is included for each species having at least one confirmed breeding record during 2021 (not necessarily just in summer). A county is colored black to show confirmed breeding, medium gray for probable breeding, and light gray for a summer observation. Those species with no breeding data have no map.

Acknowledgments

Thanks to all who submitted summer reports and breeding records. Your data make this report possible. We are grateful for the data provided by eBird. Thanks also to Paul Budde for compiling early and late dates, to Bob Janssen and Peder Svingen for maintaining a list of county and seasonal occurrence records, and to Dave Cahlander for his work on the online seasonal report. Weather data is from the Minnesota DNR's HydroClim Minnesota newsletter (https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/hydroclim/index.html). Anthony Hertzel and Dave Cahlander produced the maps used in this report.

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

Species

N S

Information

Whistling-Ducks, Geese, Swans, Ducks
BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCK
(Dendrocygna autumnalis)
1 Seen 7/3 Sherburne (5, farm pond near C.R. 3 and C.R. 23) HHD, ph. ASu, ph. ToL, m.ob.
Snow Goose
(Anser caerulescens)
3 Found 6/2 Washington (Lost Valley Prairie S.N.A., with large flyover flock of Canada Geese) NHa, 6/18 – 7/31 Hennepin (Loring Park, Minneapolis) m.ob., 7/12 McLeod (3, Hutchinson) BHa.
Greater White-fronted Goose
(Anser albifrons)
22 Observed 6/1 Dakota (Lebanon Hills R.P.) MwT, 6/7 Clearwater (Gonvick) SDz, 6/7 Redwood (Morgan W.T.P.) JSc, 6/17 Traverse (possible injured wing) DLP.
Canada Goose
(Branta canadensis)
3453
Encountered in every county.
Mute Swan
(Cygnus olor)
11 Seen 6/1 Pine (2, St. Croix S.P.) ebd, 6/8 – 7/31+ Hennepin (Old Cedar Ave Bridge, Minnesota Valley N.W.R.) m.ob., 6/11–13 Hennepin (max. 2, Lake Independence) ph. ABL.
Trumpeter Swan
(Cygnus buccinator)
3345
Found in all regions of state. High count 6/3 Aitkin (348 at Rice Lake N.W.R.) PEJ. First county breeding records: 5/30 Chisago JSa, 8/6 Stevens ebd.
Tundra Swan
(Cygnus columbianus)
No reports.
Wood Duck
(Aix sponsa)
3453
Reported from all counties.
Blue-winged Teal
(Spatula discors)
3146
Observed in all regions. First county breeding record: 7/3 Red Lake KEm.
Northern Shoveler
(Spatula clypeata)
2219
Seen in every region except Southeast.
Gadwall
(Mareca strepera)
1920
Found in all regions except Southeast. First county breeding records: 7/16 Becker ebd, 6/18 Roseau AXH.
American Wigeon
(Mareca americana)
146 Observed in all regions except East-central, South-central, Southeast. Most commonly found in the Northwest.
Mallard
(Anas platyrhynchos)
3452
Reported from every county except Mower.
American Black Duck
(Anas rubripes)
8 Seen in Becker, Clearwater, Cook, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Marshall, Roseau, St. Louis.
Northern Pintail
(Anas acuta)
129
Found in all regions except North-central, Southeast.
Green-winged Teal
(Anas crecca)
2425
Observed in every region. First county breeding record: 6/1 Ramsey ebd.
Canvasback
(Aythya valisineria)
117
Reported from all western regions plus St. Louis, Stearns, Watonwan.
Redhead
(Aythya americana)
2328
Seen in all regions. High count 6/23 Pennington (250, counted by 10s, Thief River Falls W.T.P.) PHS.
Ring-necked Duck
(Aythya collaris)
2923
Found in all regions. First county breeding record: 6/19 Koochiching ebd.
Greater Scaup
(Aythya marila)
1 Observed 6/4 St. Louis (female-plumaged, mouth of French R.) PHS, 6/4 St. Louis (male, Park Point Nature Trail) PHS, ebd.
Lesser Scaup
(Aythya affinis)
1413 Reported from scattered locations in every region except East-central.
Surf Scoter
(Melanitta perspicillata)
1 Seen 6/4 St. Louis (female, Scenic Hwy 61 near French R.) ph. PHS, JLK.
White-winged Scoter
(Melanitta deglandi)
No reports.
Long-tailed Duck
(Clangula hyemalis)
1 Seen 6/3 St. Louis (adult male, Stony Point) IDv, 6/4 St. Louis (adult male, Scenic Hwy 61, between McQuade Rd. and French R.) ph. PHS.
Bufflehead
(Bucephala albeola)
102 Found in all northern regions plus Dakota, Otter Tail, Stearns.
Common Goldeneye
(Bucephala clangula)
193
Observed in all northern regions plus Mille Lacs, Scott, Sibley, and 7/12 Carver †WCM.
Hooded Merganser
(Lophodytes cucullatus)
3144
Reported statewide. First county breeding record: 6/26 Wilkin RMD.
Common Merganser
(Mergus merganser)
174
Seen in every region except Southwest, Southeast. Unusual report 6/8 Freeborn (Arrowhead Point C.P.) †PSu. First county breeding records: 6/18 Becker ebd, 7/12 Douglas LGl.
Red-breasted Merganser
(Mergus serrator)
8
Reported from Beltrami, Cook, Crow Wing, Hubbard, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Marshall, St. Louis. First county breeding records: 6/15 Hubbard ebd, 7/17 Lake of the Woods RBJ.
Ruddy Duck
(Oxyura jamaicensis)
1933
Seen in all regions except Northeast. High count 6/8 Freeborn (161, Arrowhead Point C.P.) PSu.
Partridge, Pheasants, Grouse, Turkeys
Wild Turkey
(Meleagris gallopavo)
3150
Found throughout state. Unusual locations 6/5 Koochiching (2, near Loman) ebd, 6/8 Lake of the Woods (C.R. 95) ASu. First county breeding records: 7/10 Lyon GWe, 8/8 Watonwan KEm.
Ruffed Grouse
(Bonasa umbellus)
257
Reported from every region except Southwest, South-central.
Spruce Grouse
(Canachites canadensis)
3 Observed in Cook, Koochiching, St. Louis.
Sharp-tailed Grouse
(Tympanuchus phasianellus)
91 Seen in all northern regions plus Yellow Medicine. First county breeding record: 7/3 Mahnomen KEm.
Greater Prairie-Chicken
(Tympanuchus cupido)
7 Found in Becker, Clay, Norman, Otter Tail, Pennington, Red Lake, Wilkin.
Gray Partridge
(Perdix perdix)
613 Observed in all western and southern regions plus Renville, Washington.
Ring-necked Pheasant
(Phasianus colchicus)
1952
Reported along and south of a line from Polk to Carlton.
Grebes
Pied-billed Grebe
(Podilymbus podiceps)
2945
Seen in every region. High count 7/11 Grant (50, NW of Wendell) EzH m.ob.
Horned Grebe
(Podiceps auritus)
4 All reports: 6/1 St. Louis ebd, 6/3 Pennington SPS, 6/3 Roseau SPS, 7/18 St. Louis JLK, 7/29–30 Lake ebd, MWS.
Red-necked Grebe
(Podiceps grisegena)
2315
Observed in all regions except Southeast.
Eared Grebe
(Podiceps nigricollis)
810 Reported from scattered locations in all regions except North-central, Northeast, East-central. Unusual report 6/6 Olmsted (Silver Creek Reservoir) ph. LAV.
Western Grebe
(Aechmophorus occidentalis)
1010
Seen in all regions except Northeast, Southeast. High count 7/26 Douglas (143, Lake Osakis in Peterson Bay) REn, RLF.
Clark's Grebe
(Aechmophorus clarkii)
1 One adult seen 7/11, 7/26 Douglas (Lake Osakis in Peterson Bay) EzH, IsH, RLF, REn.
Pigeons, Doves
Rock Pigeon
(Columba livia)
3453
Observed statewide. First county breeding records: 7/4 Isanti MHe, 6/20 Koochiching ebd.
Eurasian Collared-Dove
(Streptopelia decaocto)
2148
Encountered in all regions except Northeast. First county breeding record: 7/14 Cottonwood KEm.
Mourning Dove
(Zenaida macroura)
3453
Reported from all counties.
Cuckoos
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
(Coccyzus americanus)
1445 Found in all regions. High count 6/8 Martin (7 in four locations) ANy. First county breeding record: 7/10 Aitkin ebd.
Black-billed Cuckoo
(Coccyzus erythropthalmus)
3029 Reported from every region. High count 6/19 St. Louis (10, Sax-Zim Bog) ebd.
Nightjars
Common Nighthawk
(Chordeiles minor)
2343 Found throughout state.
Eastern Whip-poor-will
(Antrostomus vociferus)
138 Reported from all regions except West-central, Southwest. Only report from South-central 6/28 Nicollet (C.R. 5) SHo. Most commonly found along northern and eastern borders of state.
Swifts
Chimney Swift
(Chaetura pelagica)
3452
Seen in every county except Watonwan. High counts 6/5 Washington (421, Mahtomedi High School, counted individually as birds entered the roost) EzH, IzH, 7/15 Wabasha (365, St. Felix Catholic Church) ebd.
Hummingbirds
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
(Archilochus colubris)
3049
Found throughout state. High counts 6/6 St. Louis (20, Bergen Lake) NPo, 6/19 Aitkin (18, Jacobson) ebd.
RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD
(Selasphorus rufus)
1 Observed 7/27–28 Wabasha (adult male, Lake City) ph. †DbR.
Rails, Gallinules, Coots
Virginia Rail
(Rallus limicola)
2532
Reported statewide. First county breeding records: 7/13 Benton DOr, 6/26 Cass PNi.
Sora
(Porzana carolina)
2327 Found in all regions.
Common Gallinule
(Gallinula galeata)
17
Observed in Houston, Lyon, Otter Tail (2, Neumann W.P.A.), Ramsey, Sibley, Steele, Washington, Wright. First county breeding records: 7/4 Sibley RBW, 7/26 Steele JmP. Map includes Wabasha breeding record from August.
American Coot
(Fulica americana)
1432
Seen in all regions except Northeast.
Yellow Rail
(Coturnicops noveboracensis)
3 Reported from Kittson, Lake of the Woods, Roseau. Unusual was the lack of reports from Aitkin.
Limpkin
LIMPKIN
(Aramus guarauna)
1 First state record 6/1 – 7/19 Washington (continuing bird found by EzH, IsH at Paul Hugo Farms W.M.A.) documented, photographed, and recorded by m.ob.
Cranes
Sandhill Crane
(Antigone canadensis)
3242
Found throughout state. Unusual number of summer records in Southwest. First county breeding record: 5/25 Brown ARW. High counts 6/24 Clearwater (198 along 580th St.) CRM, 6/14 Polk (190 near Thief River Falls) ebd.
Stilts, Avocets
BLACK-NECKED STILT
(Himantopus mexicanus)
11 Documented 6/6–12 Big Stone (max. 5, Marsh Lake) ph. †DLP, 6/16–21 Grant (North Ottawa Impoundment) †TKa, KTe, †TCL, ebd, 7/1–25 Big Stone (Artichoke L. W.P.A.) ph. †DLP, GWe.
American Avocet
(Recurvirostra americana)
48
Observed in West-central, Southwest plus Marshall, Olmsted, Rice, Roseau. Probable southbound migrants 7/12 Rice (4) GHo. It was otherwise difficult to separate migrants from those summering in w. Minnesota, especially the large numbers at Marsh Lake, e.g., 7/5 Lac qui Parle (50, Marsh Lake) DLP, 7/1 Swift (38, Marsh Lake) DLP, 6/27 Lac qui Parle (26, Marsh Lake) DLP.
Plovers
Black-bellied Plover
(Pluvialis squatarola)
62 Seen in Big Stone, Grant, Marshall, Polk, Red Lake, Roseau, St. Louis, Yellow Medicine. Late spring migrants 6/5 Red Lake SAu, 6/6, 6/8 Yellow Medicine GWe, MGi.
American Golden-Plover
(Pluvialis dominica)
65 Found in scattered locations in all western regions plus Hubbard, Watonwan. Late spring migrants 6/18–26 Cottonwood (injured bird at Talcott W.M.A.) m.ob., 6/20 Big Stone (4) DLP, 6/21 Grant (5) TCL, 6/27 Marshall (1) ph. HHu.
Killdeer
(Charadrius vociferus)
3453
Reported from every county. High count 7/16 Yellow Medicine (406, Curtis Lake) GWe.
Semipalmated Plover
(Charadrius semipalmatus)
822 Seen in all regions except North-central. Late spring migrants 6/15 Nobles (1) KEm, 6/21 Big Stone (7) DLP. First fall migrants 7/17 Jackson, Sibley.
Piping Plover
(Charadrius melodus)
Banded female returned and a pair nested for the 2nd consecutive year at Morris Point, Lake of the Woods County (The Loon 93:169–171).
Sandpipers
Upland Sandpiper
(Bartramia longicauda)
1322
Found in every region except East-central, Southeast. First county breeding record: 6/28 Renville SHo. High count 7/31 Yellow Medicine (37) GWe.
Whimbrel
(Numenius phaeopus)
11 All reports: 6/1 St. Louis (Park Point R.A.) IDv, 6/1 Watonwan (3, 320th St. south of Madelia) ph. KEm.
Hudsonian Godwit
(Limosa haemastica)
43 Northbound migrants in Big Stone (6/9, DLP), Grant, Lac qui Parle, Otter Tail, Polk, Red Lake, Yellow Medicine.
Marbled Godwit
(Limosa fedoa)
127
Seen in Northwest, West-central, plus Clearwater, Lac qui Parle, Lake of the Woods, Stearns, Steele, Watonwan. High count 6/18 Kittson (88, Karlstad W.T.P.) AXH, TBH.
Ruddy Turnstone
(Arenaria interpres)
35 Found in Aitkin, Big Stone, Brown, Crow Wing, Grant, Meeker, Sibley, Stevens. Only fall migrant 7/24–26 Brown BTS, SLH.
Stilt Sandpiper
(Calidris himantopus)
617 Reported from all regions except Northeast. Late spring migrant 6/8 Big Stone DLP. Southbound migrants: early north 7/5 Marshall (1) HHu; early south 7/3 Big Stone (2) GWe.
Sanderling
(Calidris alba)
49 Seen in scattered locations in all regions except Central. Late spring migrants 6/8 St. Louis (5) m.ob., 6/9–10 Big Stone (max. 7) DLP. Southbound migrants: early north 7/22 (1), 7/23 (19) St. Louis ebd, PHS; early south 7/24–25 Brown ((1) BWe, BTS.
Dunlin
(Calidris alpina)
1018 Observed in all regions. High count 6/3 Lac qui Parle (150, Big Stone N.W.R.) ebd. Late spring migrants 6/10 Hennepin DWK, 6/10, 6/12 Grant JMy, ebd. Only fall migrant 7/31 Lac qui Parle PLJ.
Baird's Sandpiper
(Calidris bairdii)
1119 Found in every region. Northbound migrants: late south 6/7 Big Stone, Olmsted, Watonwan; late north 6/8 Polk (3) HHu. Southbound migrants: early north 7/5 Todd (2) REn, RLF; early south 7/11 Sibley (2) JWZ, Yellow Medicine (2) GWe.
Least Sandpiper
(Calidris minutilla)
2143 Observed in all regions. Northbound migrants: late south 6/11 (5), 6/12 (2) Watonwan GUn, ChA; late north 6/10 Marshall (8) ebd, 6/10–12 Grant (max. 10) ebd, JSa. Unclassified midsummer reports 6/18 Yellow Medicine (2) RAE, 6/21 Watonwan (1) RAE; the latter may have been exceptionally late since it was at the same location as 6/11–12. Confounding this analysis were potential early fall migrants 6/1921 (8, North Ottawa Impoundment) Grant ebd, TCL. Early south 6/26 Big Stone (1) LiH, 6/28 in 3 counties. High count 7/16 Yellow Medicine (457, Curtis Lake) GWe.
White-rumped Sandpiper
(Calidris fuscicollis)
917 Reported from all regions. High counts 6/6 Yellow Medicine (260, Curtis Lake) GWe, 6/9 Big Stone (250) DLP. Late south 6/21 Cottonwood KEm, Watonwan RAE. Late north 6/21 Grant TCL, 6/27 Marshall HHu.
Buff-breasted Sandpiper
(Calidris subruficollis)
211 Exceptionally rare spring migrants 6/4 Grant (3, North Ottawa Impoundment) †BoA, 6/6 Yellow Medicine (3, 100th Ave) †GWe; two equally extraordinary reports from Big Stone had no details. Fall migrants seen in at least one county in every region except Northwest, Northeast, Southeast. First to arrive were 7/25 Cottonwood (7) DWK, Steele (12) JWH, KEm; 7/26 Hubbard (3) REn, RLF.
Pectoral Sandpiper
(Calidris melanotos)
1336 Found in all regions. Northbound migrants: late north 6/12, 6/13, and probably the same bird 6/19 Grant (1 at North Ottawa Impoundment) m.ob.; late south 6/17–18 Big Stone (5), 6/18 Yellow Medicine (1) GWe. Unclassified midsummer reports 6/19 Sibley (1) RBW, 6/21 Cottonwood (5) KEm, 6/23 Hennepin (1) RBW lacked details on plumage and molt. Southbound migrants: early north 7/5 Pennington (1) KEm, JWH; early south 7/1 Stearns HHD, 7/3 in three counties. High count 7/31 Yellow Medicine (400, Curtis Lake) EzH.
Semipalmated Sandpiper
(Calidris pusilla)
1531 Observed in every region. High count 6/1 Big Stone (500) DLP represents peak spring passage. Northbound migrants: late south 6/22 Olmsted (4) JlF, JPr, LAV, 6/22, 6/25 Sibley (2) RBW; late north 6/19 Grant (8) ebd, Polk (1) SAu. Southbound migrants: early north 7/3 St. Louis (1) ebd, 7/5 Becker, Marshall, Todd; early south 7/1 Stearns (1) MJB, 7/3 Nobles (1) KBg. Southbound high count 7/24 Yellow Medicine (350, Curtis Lake) EzH, ASu.
Short-billed Dowitcher
(Limnodromus griseus)
516 Seen in every region except Northeast. Late spring migrant 6/17 Big Stone DLP, DOr. Southbound migrants: early north 7/5 Grant (2) ebd, Marshall (2) HHu; early south 7/4 Olmsted (1) MiD, 7/5 Sibley (1) RBW. High count 7/11 Yellow Medicine (17, Curtis Lake) GWe.
Long-billed Dowitcher
(Limnodromus scolopaceus)
1 Early fall migrant vocalizing 7/31 Yellow Medicine (Curtis L.) GWe. Note: Summer reports of this species without details are not published.
American Woodcock
(Scolopax minor)
1410
Observed in every region except West-central. Only report from Southwest: 6/5 Lyon (4, Camden S.P.) †ebd. First county breeding records: 6/1 Carver COg, 6/15 Houston SHo, 6/18 Roseau AXH.
Wilson's Snipe
(Gallinago delicata)
3325 Reported from all regions.
Spotted Sandpiper
(Actitis macularius)
3253
Seen in every county except Aitkin, Clearwater. High count 7/27 Goodhue (33, Mississippi River, Colville to Frontenac) SDz.
Solitary Sandpiper
(Tringa solitaria)
1735 Found in all regions. Late north migrants 6/10 Grant (1) ebd, Koochiching (calling along Toomey Williams Rd in appropriate habitat, but no subsequent reports) ASu, ebd. Southbound migrants: early north 6/23 Marshall (1, Warren W.T.P.) HHu, 6/26 Cook (MNDOT Pit) ebd; early south 6/26 Waseca †DAB, 6/30 Big Stone DLP.
Lesser Yellowlegs
(Tringa flavipes)
2039 Observed in every region. Northbound migrants: late south 6/8 Stearns (1) MtS, 6/13 Isanti (1) DWK; late north 6/9 Marshall (1) ebd, 6/13 Grant (2) JSa. Southbound migrants: early north 6/19 Grant (1) ebd, Polk (3) SAu, 6/24 Clearwater (1) CRM, Marshall (1) ebd; early south 6/17 Lyon (1) RgS, 6/18 Yellow Medicine GWe, 6/21 Sibley RBW. Very small numbers on these dates made it more difficult than usual to separate northbound from southbound migrants (The Loon 74:65–82).
Willet
(Tringa semipalmata)
25 Reported from Anoka, Big Stone, Grant, Marshall, Wabasha, Waseca, Watonwan. Spring migrants 6/8, 6/17 Big Stone DLP; potential fall migrants 7/4 Big Stone (2) DLP, 7/9 Watonwan (1) KEm.
Greater Yellowlegs
(Tringa melanoleuca)
1228 Seen in all regions. Northbound migrants: late north 6/4 Marshall ebd; 6/3 Cottonwood KEm. Southbound migrants: early north 6/21 Grant TCL, 6/22 Marshall (2) ebd; early south 6/29 Lac qui Parle and Swift DLP, Olmsted LAV. Reported without plumage details, location, or number of birds 6/15 Big Stone which precluded classification.
Wilson's Phalarope
(Phalaropus tricolor)
1628
Observed in all regions. First county breeding record: 7/19 Sherburne PLJ.
Red-necked Phalarope
(Phalaropus lobatus)
37 Encountered in Big Stone, Brown, Cottonwood, Grant, Hubbard, Lyon, Marshall, Olmsted, Stearns, Yellow Medicine. Northbound migrants: late north 6/3 Grant WPl, 6/4 Marshall (20, Warren W.T.P.) TFe; late south 6/8 Stearns MJB, MtS, 6/10 Big Stone DLP. Southbound migrants: early north 7/4, 7/5 (2), 7/17 (9) Marshall HHu, ebd; early south 7/21–24 Brown BTS, 7/24 Olmsted m.ob.
Jaegers
Parasitic Jaeger
(Stercorarius parasiticus)
1 Seen 6/1 St. Louis (2, Park Point) IDv, 6/3 St. Louis (Stony Point) IDv, 6/3–4 St. Louis (Park Point) TLz, m.ob., 6/4 St. Louis (Brighton Beach) TLz.
Gulls, Terns
Bonaparte's Gull
(Chroicocephalus philadelphia)
9 Found in Aitkin, Cass, Crow Wing, Grant, Hubbard, Itasca, Lake of the Woods, Mille Lacs, St. Louis. Migrants not separable from summering birds.
LAUGHING GULL
(Leucophaeus atricilla)
11 Observed 6/20–24 Becker (Detroit Lakes) ph. †NaH, m.ob., 6/25 Le Sueur (Sakatah L.) †RBW, †DAB.
Franklin's Gull
(Leucophaeus pipixcan)
1937 Reported from all regions except Northeast. High counts 6/27 Lake of the Woods (1,500, Rocky Point Rd.) ASu, ebd, 7/27 Freeborn (1,500, Myre-Big Island S.P.) ebd.
Ring-billed Gull
(Larus delawarensis)
3247
Seen statewide. Record high count 7/12 St. Louis (30,000 at Interstate Island W.M.A. following restoration efforts for the Common Tern that greatly expanded the surface area of the island) PHS. First county breeding record: 7/2 Otter Tail PLJ.
CALIFORNIA GULL
(Larus californicus)
1 Found 6/24 Lake of the Woods (3rd-cycle, fields west of Rocky Point Rd.) †PHS.
Herring Gull
(Larus argentatus)
127
Observed in all regions except Northwest, Southeast. High counts 7/29 St. Louis (550, Duluth, Port Terminal) PHS, 7/31 Lake (300, Knife River Marina) StK.
Caspian Tern
(Hydroprogne caspia)
1412 Reported from all regions. High count 6/3 Cass (50, Leech Lake, Pelican Island) ebd.
Black Tern
(Chlidonias niger)
2844
Seen in every region except Northeast. High counts 6/4 Lyon (75, Black Rush Lake W.P.A.) ebd, 6/10 Aitkin (75, Rice Lake N.W.R.) ebd, 6/25 Marshall (60, Agassiz N.W.R.) StK, ebd, 7/16 Lyon (60, Coon Creek W.M.A.) GWe.
Common Tern
(Sterna hirundo)
113 Found in all northern regions plus Goodhue, Mille Lacs, Murray, Sibley. High count 6/3 St. Louis (200, Park Point) PHS; at nearby Interstate Island W.M.A., restoration work continued for a second year.
Forster's Tern
(Sterna forsteri)
1725
Observed in every region. High count 7/7 Clearwater (40, Gonvick) ebd.
Loons
Red-throated Loon
(Gavia stellata)
1 All reports: 6/1–3 St. Louis (up to 4, Park Point) IDv, EHi, m.ob., 6/3 St. Louis (17, Stony Point) IDv, 6/4 St. Louis (2, Brighton Beach) TLz.
Common Loon
(Gavia immer)
3025
Found in all regions. High counts 7/27 Hubbard (34, Kabekona Lake) REn, RLF, 7/9 Cass (26, Walker City Park and Jetty) ebd, 7/11 Otter Tail (26, Otter Tail Lake) ebd.
Frigatebirds
MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRD
(Fregata magnificens)
1 Observed 6/8 Mille Lacs (Mille Lacs L., Wahkon Bay) †ThJ, camera phone photo by 12-year old Grant Warner.
Cormorants
Double-crested Cormorant
(Nannopterum auritum)
3050
Reported throughout state. First county breeding record: 6/19 Washington ebd. High counts 7/7 Wright (910, C.R. 5 by Annandale) ABL, ebd, 6/25 Meeker (600, Pigeon Lake Overlook) ebd.
NEOTROPIC CORMORANT
(Nannopterum brasilianum)
1 An adult continuing from spring season was joined by a second bird 6/11 Hennepin (Richfield L.) SLC, ph. †DWK, ph. †PEB, ph. CMB, m.ob. Both remained well into the fall season and were photographed by m.ob.
Pelicans
American White Pelican
(Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)
2748
Encountered throughout state. First county breeding record: 7/3 Douglas AXH.
Bitterns, Herons, Egrets, Night-Herons
American Bittern
(Botaurus lentiginosus)
2318 Found in all regions, though most common in the North. High count 6/18 Koochiching (7, Tom Cod Bay) ebd.
Least Bittern
(Ixobrychus exilis)
722 Observed in every region including St. Louis in Northeast, where rare but seemingly now annual in St. Louis River Estuary.
Great Blue Heron
(Ardea herodias)
3253
Reported from every county except Norman, Pennington. High count 6/29 Washington (130, St. Croix River Boat Ramp and Boom Site) EzH, IsH.
Great Egret
(Ardea alba)
1040 Seen in all central and southern regions plus Becker, Clay, Crow Wing, Hubbard. High count 6/13 Grant (255, Niemackl Lake Park) ebd.
Snowy Egret
(Egretta thula)
23 Found in Clay, Grant, McLeod, Swift, Watonwan (2). All were the first half of June; the Watonwan record may have been continuing from spring.
Little Blue Heron
(Egretta caerulea)
1 Observed 6/6–8 Watonwan (S. of Madelia, next to a Snowy Egret) ph. †KEm, m.ob.
Cattle Egret
(Bubulcus ibis)
11 Singles reported 6/15 Stevens (Morris) ebd, 7/11 Douglas (Alexandria) ebd.
Green Heron
(Butorides virescens)
3447
Seen statewide. Unusually high numbers reported by m.ob. at Snail Lake R.P. in Ramsey in late July.
Black-crowned Night-Heron
(Nycticorax nycticorax)
513
Found in scattered locations in every region except North-central.
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron
(Nyctanassa violacea)
1 Observed 6/1, 6/26 Freeborn AEB, AXH, TBH.
Ibises
White-faced Ibis
(Plegadis chihi)
12 Singles reported 6/3 Grant (North Ottawa Impoundment) WPl, 6/8 Big Stone (Marsh L.) ph. RMD, 6/28 – 7/28 Big Stone (no details, Artichoke W.P.A.) DLP, 6/11–12 Faribault (Minnesota L.) ph. GUn, RWB. Also see Plegadis sp.
Plegadis ibis
(Plegadis sp.)
2 All reports: 6/11–12 Faribault (3, Minnesota Lake) GUn, RBW, 7/30–31 Big Stone (juvenile, Otrey W.M.A.) DLP.
New World Vultures
BLACK VULTURE
(Coragyps atratus)
1 Found 6/6 Stearns (Waite Park) ph. †JOs, †PCC, ph. †DRL, m.ob.
Turkey Vulture
(Cathartes aura)
3453 Seen in all counties. First county breeding record: 7/7 Polk ebd.
Osprey
Osprey
(Pandion haliaetus)
2930
Found in all regions except Southwest. First county breeding records: 7/5 Meeker PKF, 7/17 Olmsted LAV.
Kites, Accipiters, Hawks, Eagles
Northern Harrier
(Circus hudsonius)
3437 Observed in all regions. High count 7/12 Marshall (9, Agassiz N.W.R.) ebd.
Sharp-shinned Hawk
(Accipiter striatus)
16 Observed in all northern regions plus Kanabec, Pine. Note: Undocumented summer reports south are excluded.
Cooper's Hawk
(Accipiter cooperii)
2742
Found in all regions.
American Goshawk
(Accipiter atricapillus)
4 Observed in Cook, Lake, Roseau, St. Louis. All observations were in June.
Bald Eagle
(Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
3353
Reported from every county. First county breeding records: 6/8 Cottonwood KEm, 4/5 Martin PEJ, 6/8 Nobles KEm, 4/24 Steele ebd.
MISSISSIPPI KITE
(Ictinia mississippiensis)
1 Seen 6/30 Blue Earth (Minneopa S.P.) †LiH.
Red-shouldered Hawk
(Buteo lineatus)
1622
Found in every region.
Broad-winged Hawk
(Buteo platypterus)
2828
Reported from all regions. Unusual summer reports 6/2 Renville (Minnesota River Valley) SLH, 7/10 Lyon (Camden S.P.) GWe, 7/18 Redwood (Redwood Falls) JnH.
Swainson's Hawk
(Buteo swainsoni)
711 Seen in all western and southern regions plus Renville. Unusual location 6/6 Winona (3, Utica Twp.) ToM.
Red-tailed Hawk
(Buteo jamaicensis)
3453
Found in all counties. First county breeding record: 7/14 Blue Earth ChH.
Rough-legged Hawk
(Buteo lagopus)
1 Observed 6/9 Roseau (Roseau River W.M.A.) ebd.
Barn Owls
BARN OWL
(Tyto alba)
Please see fall report.
Screech-Owls, Owls
Eastern Screech-Owl
(Megascops asio)
112
Reported from all regions except North-central, Northeast, South-central. Only north report: 7/12 Clay (Moorhead) ebd.
Great Horned Owl
(Bubo virginianus)
2034
Found statewide.
Northern Hawk Owl
(Surnia ulula)
No reports.
Barred Owl
(Strix varia)
2634
Found in all regions. First county breeding record: 5/16 Meeker PKF.
Great Gray Owl
(Strix nebulosa)
4 Seen in Aitkin, Beltrami, Koochiching, St. Louis.
Long-eared Owl
(Asio otus)
11
Nested Polk (Esther Twp., spring record) fide SAu. Also reported 6/1–3 Hennepin (adult and fledgling, continuing from spring season, Richard T. Anderson Conservation Area) m.ob., 6/26 Lake of the Woods (Winter Road Lake Peatland S.N.A.) AxB.
Short-eared Owl
(Asio flammeus)
4 Seen in Beltrami, Kittson, Lake of the Woods, Roseau.
Boreal Owl
(Aegolius funereus)
No reports.
Northern Saw-whet Owl
(Aegolius acadicus)
2 Found 6/6, 6/9 St. Louis ebd, JEl, 6/16 Cook ebd.
Kingfishers
Belted Kingfisher
(Megaceryle alcyon)
3352
Reported from all counties except Stevens, Wilkin. First county breeding record: 6/10 Goodhue BxP.
Woodpeckers
Red-headed Woodpecker
(Melanerpes erythrocephalus)
2346
Found in all regions. First county breeding record: 8/31 Grant CNn.
Red-bellied Woodpecker
(Melanerpes carolinus)
2752
Reported from every region. First county breeding record: 6/20 Grant CNn.
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
(Sphyrapicus varius)
3349
Found statewide. First county breeding record: 7/27 Meeker (fledged young) PKF.
American Three-toed Woodpecker
(Picoides dorsalis)
2 Seen 6/2 Koochiching ASu, 6/7 St. Louis JuG, ebd.
Black-backed Woodpecker
(Picoides arcticus)
8
Observed in Clearwater, Cook, Koochiching, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Roseau, St. Louis, Wadena.
Downy Woodpecker
(Dryobates pubescens)
3453
Seen in all counties.
Hairy Woodpecker
(Dryobates villosus)
3452
Found in every county except Lincoln.
Northern Flicker
(Colaptes auratus)
3452
Reported from all counties except Lincoln. First county breeding record: 9/9 Douglas ebd.
Pileated Woodpecker
(Dryocopus pileatus)
3344
Encountered in all regions. First county breeding record: 6/27 Blue Earth ebd.
Caracaras, Falcons
American Kestrel
(Falco sparverius)
3352
Observed in all counties except Freeborn, Traverse. First county breeding record: 7/15 Benton DOr.
Merlin
(Falco columbarius)
2610
Seen in every region except Southwest, South-central.
Peregrine Falcon
(Falco peregrinus)
913
Seen in all regions except Southwest, South-central.
Flycatchers
Great Crested Flycatcher
(Myiarchus crinitus)
3452
Found in every county except Pipestone. First county breeding record: 6/25 Grant CNn. High count 7/25 Scott (14, Murphy-Hanrehan P.R., Pet Trails) ebd.
Western Kingbird
(Tyrannus verticalis)
1915
Seen in all regions except Southeast. Unusual locations 6/5 St. Louis (Sax-Zim Bog, Arkola Rd.) TWe, BWe, 7/13 Koochiching (Voyageurs N.P.) ebd.
Eastern Kingbird
(Tyrannus tyrannus)
3453
Observed in all counties. High counts both representative of early fall and late spring migration, respectively: 7/27 Polk (25, 145th St., Warren) HHu, 6/1 Polk (23, Angus to Oslo, including 6 individuals in three adjacent cottonwood trees) HHu.
SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER
(Tyrannus forficatus)
1 Observed 6/27 Rock (C.R. 20, Luverne) ph. †SJy.
Olive-sided Flycatcher
(Contopus cooperi)
1616
Reported from every region except Southwest. Predominately found in the northeastern third of the state; high count 6/10 Koochiching (8, Toomey Williams Road) ASu, ebd. Late spring migrants 6/16 Goodhue GRe, 6/19 Isanti ebd. Though usually treated as migrants, consistent mid–late June reports from Anoka (especially Carlos Avery W.M.A.) and Sherburne (Sherburne N.W.R.) in recent years suggest potential for breeding there. Probable fall migrant 7/23 Ramsey ebd.
Eastern Wood-Pewee
(Contopus virens)
3353
Found in every county except Wilkin. High count 6/8 Scott (20, Murphy-Hanrehan P.R., Forest Trails) CAs. First county breeding record: 7/4 Isanti MHe.
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
(Empidonax flaviventris)
137 Reported from all regions except West-central, Southwest, Southeast. Late south migrants 6/4 Rice, Washington (median 6/5). One vocalizing 6/16 Kittson (Pelan W.M.A.) RMD was away from this species’ known breeding range and may have been a very late migrant. High count 6/7 Lake (8, Whyte Road / Stony River F.R.) ASu.
Acadian Flycatcher
(Empidonax virescens)
15
Found in Central, East-central, South-central, Southeast. New county record: 6/19 Waseca (Waseca Courthouse Park, confirmed by voice) BAb. High counts 7/15 Rice (8, 2+ miles of trails at Nerstrand Big Woods S.P.) MDu, 6/13 Houston (7, Beaver Creek Valley S.P.) KRE, m.ob.
Alder Flycatcher
(Empidonax alnorum)
3021
Reported from all regions. Late south migrants (vocalizing, away from known breeding range) 6/19 Rock ebd, 6/22 Rice TFB. High count 6/6 St. Louis (25, Sax-Zim Bog) ASu, ebd.
Willow Flycatcher
(Empidonax traillii)
1550
Widespread in all regions except Northeast and North-central (only detected in Aitkin). First county breeding records: 8/15 Carver KSo, 8/5 Grant ebd.
Least Flycatcher
(Empidonax minimus)
3449
Reported from every county except Dodge, Mower, Wabasha, and Watonwan. First county breeding record: 7/27 Blue Earth BSa.
Eastern Phoebe
(Sayornis phoebe)
3246
Found statewide. Nesting documented in no fewer than 15 counties.
Say's Phoebe
(Sayornis saya)
12
Reported 6/21 Clay (continuing from May, Felton Prairie) LHl, 6/25 – 7/31+ Big Stone (up to 5, including 3 fledglings from pair found in May at gravel pits by Odessa) ph. DLP, LiH, DWK, GWe, WCM, EzH, 7/6 Stevens (2 adults and 2 fledglings, Damen Township) ph. †KEm, JWH. In addition to Stevens, first county breeding record 7/31 Big Stone EzH.
Vireos
Bell's Vireo
(Vireo bellii)
12 Reported from Blue Earth, Dakota, Goodhue, Houston, Le Sueur, Mower, Ramsey, 6/29 – 7/7 Redwood (N of Belview) DFe, m.ob.; also Rice, Scott, Wabasha, Washington.
Yellow-throated Vireo
(Vireo flavifrons)
3347 Found in all regions. High counts 6/12 Sherburne (12, Sherburne N.W.R.) RCl, 6/21 Pope (11, Glacial Lakes S.P.) ebd. First county breeding record: 6/26 Pope ebd.
Blue-headed Vireo
(Vireo solitarius)
14 Encountered in North-central, Northeast plus Marshall, Roseau, Pine. Suitable habitat is lacking at Old Mill S.P., so 6/1 Marshall ebd was likely a migrant.
Philadelphia Vireo
(Vireo philadelphicus)
43 Reported in Cook, Koochiching, Lake, St. Louis, plus late migrants in Anoka, Meeker, and late south 6/3 Hennepin ebd.
Warbling Vireo
(Vireo gilvus)
3353
Found in every county except Wadena. High counts of 14 in 3 Hennepin and 1 Ramsey locations during June. First county breeding records: 7/24 Kittson SAu, 6/19 Washington JEc.
Red-eyed Vireo
(Vireo olivaceus)
3452
Reported from all counties except Pipestone. First county breeding record: 8/25 Lac qui Parle WCM.
Shrikes
Loggerhead Shrike
(Lanius ludovicianus)
48
Seen in scattered locations in all regions except North-central, South-central. Unusual location 6/1 St. Louis (Sax-Zim Bog, near junction of Poplar and Arkola) JLK.
Jays, Nutcrackers, Magpies, Crows
Canada Jay
(Perisoreus canadensis)
9 Reported from all northern regions.
Blue Jay
(Cyanocitta cristata)
3453
Found in all counties. Spring migration along the North Shore extended into June, as shown by high counts 6/1 St. Louis (254, Park Point R.A.) IDv, 6/3 St. Louis (86, Stony Point) IDv, 6/4 St. Louis (53, Stony Point) TLz.
Black-billed Magpie
(Pica hudsonia)
20
Reported from all northern regions plus Otter Tail. High counts 6/18 Roseau (35, single flock) AXH, TBH, 7/17 Marshall (30, roost along 150th Ave NW) TWe, BWe.
American Crow
(Corvus brachyrhynchos)
3453
Found statewide. High count 7/30 Hubbard (350, Willow Road) REn, RLF.
Common Raven
(Corvus corax)
3111
Found in all northern and central regions. High count for a single location 7/30 Hubbard (30, Willow Road) REn, RLF.
Chickadees, Titmice
Black-capped Chickadee
(Poecile atricapillus)
3453
Reported from every county. High count 7/24 Scott (39, Murphy-Hanrehan P.R.) CJE.
Boreal Chickadee
(Poecile hudsonicus)
6
Found in Beltrami, Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, St. Louis.
Tufted Titmouse
(Baeolophus bicolor)
8
Reported from East-central, Southeast, plus 6/26 Martin (Fairmont) ebd. First county breeding record: 8/22 Dakota AFo.
Larks
Horned Lark
(Eremophila alpestris)
2250
Seen south of a line from Roseau to Pine. High counts 7/26 Dodge (30, Blooming Prairie) JPr, JmP. First county breeding record: 7/22 Grant CNn.
Martins, Swallows
Bank Swallow
(Riparia riparia)
3350
Found in all counties except Fillmore, Hubbard, Mower, Wabasha.
Tree Swallow
(Tachycineta bicolor)
3453
Observed in all counties.
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
(Stelgidopteryx serripennis)
3151
Seen in every county except Cook, Itasca, Martin, Wadena, Waseca. First county breeding record: 6/27 Blue Earth REn.
Purple Martin
(Progne subis)
2950
Reported statewide.
Barn Swallow
(Hirundo rustica)
3453
Seen in every county. High count 7/16 Lyon (100, Cottonwood Lake) GWe.
Cliff Swallow
(Petrochelidon pyrrhonota)
3353
Found in all counties except Carlton. High count 6/23 Pennington (400, Neptune Bridge over the Red Lake River) PHS, JMJ.
Kinglets
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
(Corthylio calendula)
101 Reported from North-central, Northeast plus late migrant 6/4 Stearns BoA. High count 6/24 Lake (12, Moose Lake) ebd.
Golden-crowned Kinglet
(Regulus satrapa)
11
Reported from North-central, Northeast plus Roseau. High count 7/21 Cook (21, several mixed flocks at Lower George Lake) ebd represented the beginning of fall migration.
Waxwings
Cedar Waxwing
(Bombycilla cedrorum)
3452
Observed in all counties except Chippewa. High count 7/31 St. Louis (108, Stony Point) StK were early fall migrants.
Nuthatches
Red-breasted Nuthatch
(Sitta canadensis)
2514
Found in all northern and central regions plus Houston, Le Sueur, Lyon. Third consecutive year with at least one midsummer report from Southeast: 6/25 Houston (Reno) †ebd.
White-breasted Nuthatch
(Sitta carolinensis)
3453
Reported throughout state.
Creepers
Brown Creeper
(Certhia americana)
118 Found in all northern regions, Central, East-central plus presumed late migrant 6/2 Goodhue (Frontenac S.P.) †SDz.
Gnatcatchers
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
(Polioptila caerulea)
1243
Reported south of a line from Marshall to Pine. Records continue to accumulate in far Northwest; e.g., 6/23 Marshall (Old Mill S.P.) PHS, JMJ.
Wrens
Carolina Wren
(Thryothorus ludovicianus)
3 Reported 6/2–12 Stearns (St. Cloud) REn, RLF, m.ob., 7/12–25 Hennepin (Minnetonka) ebd, 7/19–21 Scott (Shakopee) RiC, BAb, m.ob.
House Wren
(Troglodytes aedon)
3453
Found in every county. High counts 6/7 Ramsey (35, Crosby Farm R.P.) MaS, 6/15 Murray (22, Lake Shetek S.P.) ebd.
Winter Wren
(Troglodytes hiemalis)
122 Reported from North-central, Northeast plus Chisago, Pine, Stearns. Unusual midsummer report 6/30 – 7/2 Stearns (Quarry Park S.N.A.) DOr, m.ob.
Sedge Wren
(Cistothorus stellaris)
3451 Found in every county except Fillmore, Wabasha. High count 6/19 Marshall (35, Agassiz N.W.R.) ebd.
Marsh Wren
(Cistothorus palustris)
3351
Encountered in every county except Carlton, Houston, Mower. High count 7/3 Lac qui Parle (35, Big Stone N.W.R., Auto Tour Road) ebd.
Thrashers, Mockingbirds
Gray Catbird
(Dumetella carolinensis)
3453
Found statewide. High counts 6/19 Anoka (27, Carlos Avery W.M.A., ~2/mile) RCl, 6/28 Hennepin (25, Old Cedar Ave. Bridge) LSy.
Brown Thrasher
(Toxostoma rufum)
3253
Reported from every county except Mahnomen, Pennington. High counts 6/7 Sherburne (15, Sherburne N.W.R., Wildlife Drive) JGb. First county breeding record: 7/12 Koochiching ebd.
Northern Mockingbird
(Mimus polyglottos)
22 All reports: 6/3 Beltrami (Big Bog S.R.A.) ebd, 6/5 Ramsey (St. Paul) RMD, ph. ELC, 6/20 – 7/6 Clay (pair near Hawley) PBB, ph. PHS, ph. RZi, m.ob., 6/24 Waseca (Courthouse Park) RBJ.
Starlings
European Starling
(Sturnus vulgaris)
3453
Seen throughout state.
Thrushes
Eastern Bluebird
(Sialia sialis)
2942
Found in all regions.
Townsend's Solitaire
(Myadestes townsendi)
1 Observed 6/1 Olmsted (Oxbow Park) ph. †JH, TAN. Second summer record (see The Loon 67:62).
Veery
(Catharus fuscescens)
3324 Reported from all regions except Southwest. High count 6/6 Lake (33, counted individually along Stony River F.R.) FJN, ebd.
Swainson's Thrush
(Catharus ustulatus)
84 Found in North-central, Northeast plus late spring migrants in Jackson, Kittson, Murray, Nicollet, Steele. High counts 7/17 Cook (11, B.W.C.A.W., South Temperance Campsite) TSk, 6/8 Cook (9, Lima Mountain Rd, “The Triangle”) WCM.
Hermit Thrush
(Catharus guttatus)
222
Reported from all northern regions plus Chisago, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Pine, Sherburne. High count 6/6 Lake (20, Stony River F.R.) FJN, ebd.
Wood Thrush
(Hylocichla mustelina)
2538 Found in every region. Unusual reports southwest of Minnesota River Valley 6/8 Martin ANy, 7/20 Nobles ebd. High count 7/10–11 Chisago (10, Wild River S.P.) SMl. First county breeding record: 7/4 Fillmore ebd.
American Robin
(Turdus migratorius)
3453
Reported from all counties.
Old World Sparrows
House Sparrow
(Passer domesticus)
3453
Seen statewide.
Finches
Evening Grosbeak
(Coccothraustes vespertinus)
5 Observed in Clearwater, Cook, Itasca, Lake, St. Louis. High count 7/25 Cook (24, Tofte, Gitchi Gami Trail) MPi.
House Finch
(Haemorhous mexicanus)
3253
Reported from all counties except Roseau, Traverse.
Purple Finch
(Haemorhous purpureus)
255
Found in all northern and central regions. High count 6/17–19, 7/22–27 St. Louis (estimated 25, farm in Meadowlands Twp.) IaG.
Red Crossbill
(Loxia curvirostra)
5 Found in Beltrami, Cass, Cook, Crow Wing, St. Louis.
White-winged Crossbill
(Loxia leucoptera)
6 Found in Beltrami, Cass, Cook, Koochiching, Mille Lacs, St. Louis. High counts 7/14 St. Louis (30, B.W.C.A.W., Pine Lake) JEl, Koochiching (21, Voyageurs N.P. Headquarters Pond) ebd.
Pine Siskin
(Spinus pinus)
1813 Encountered in all regions. First county breeding record: 5/19 Clay ebd.
American Goldfinch
(Spinus tristis)
3453
Reported throughout state. High counts 7/21 Ramsey (40, Battle Creek Park) BBr, ebd, 7/11 Dakota (38, Spring Lake P.R.) MaS.
Longspurs and Snow Buntings
Chestnut-collared Longspur
(Calcarius ornatus)
No reports for 2nd consecutive summer.
Towhees, Sparrows
Grasshopper Sparrow
(Ammodramus savannarum)
2546
Reported from every region, including unusual reports from North-central 6/2–17 Itasca (C.R. 67) KMa, 6/8–24 Koochiching (C.R. 36) ASu, MAJ, PHS. First county breeding record: 6/26 Carver WCM. High count 7/3 Clay (30, Keene Twp., 170th Street N) EzH, JbS.
Lark Sparrow
(Chondestes grammacus)
1533
Found in all regions except Northeast. First county breeding record: 6/18 Big Stone DLP. High count 7/15 Norman (10, Spring Creek Twp.) DvP.
Chipping Sparrow
(Spizella passerina)
3453
Reported from all counties. High counts 6/25 Clay (27, Concordia College) ebd, 6/25 Houston (26, Reno, Hillside Rd.) ebd. First county breeding record: 7/10 Traverse ebd.
Clay-colored Sparrow
(Spizella pallida)
3452
Found in every county except Houston. High counts 6/5 Kittson (47, Caribou W.M.A.) ebd, 7/6 Clay (30, Buffalo River S.P.) ebd.
Field Sparrow
(Spizella pusilla)
1148
Reported along and south of a line from Clay to St. Louis. Unusual location 6/15 St. Louis (Sax-Zim Bog, McDavitt Rd.) KTP. High count 6/26 Hennepin (25, Crow-Hassan P.R.) ebd.
Dark-eyed Junco
(Junco hyemalis)
111
Detected in all northern regions plus Mille Lacs. Late spring migrant 6/16 Dakota ebd. High count 6/13 St. Louis (9, Sax-Zim Bog, Admiral Rd.) GWe.
White-throated Sparrow
(Zonotrichia albicollis)
216
Reported from all northern and central regions plus late spring migrants 6/10 Rock ebd, 6/19 Dakota ebd. High count 6/22 Koochiching (43, Toomey Williams Rd.) DnS.
Vesper Sparrow
(Pooecetes gramineus)
2947
Encountered in every region.
LeConte's Sparrow
(Ammospiza leconteii)
194 Found in all northern and central regions plus Cottonwood, Redwood, Rock (second consecutive year at Touch the Sky Prairie, KEm). First county breeding record: 10/3 Redwood MaS.
Nelson's Sparrow
(Ammospiza nelsoni)
5 Reported from Kittson, Marshall, Pennington, Polk, Roseau.
Henslow's Sparrow
(Centronyx henslowii)
427 Reported from all central and southern regions plus Becker, Clay. First county breeding record: 7/13 Rice MZa.
Savannah Sparrow
(Passerculus sandwichensis)
3450 Reported from every county except Big Stone, Stevens, Yellow Medicine. High count 6/23 Marshall (21) JMJ.
Song Sparrow
(Melospiza melodia)
3453
Found statewide. High counts 7/16, 7/24 St. Louis (58, Western Waterfront Trail) JLK.
Lincoln's Sparrow
(Melospiza lincolnii)
12 Reported from North-central, Northeast plus Kanabec.
Swamp Sparrow
(Melospiza georgiana)
3452
Reported from all counties except Mower. First county breeding record: 6/7 Rice NiR. High count 6/19 Anoka (47, Carlos Avery W.M.A.) RCl.
Eastern Towhee
(Pipilo erythrophthalmus)
2032
Found in every region. High count 7/5 Houston (15, Reno, Hillside Rd.) TWe, BWe.
Yellow-breasted Chat
Yellow-breasted Chat
(Icteria virens)
12 Detected 6/3 Todd RLF, ph. REn, 6/26–30 Blue Earth (Minneopa S.P.) a.t. TWe, DWK, MiO, LiH, 7/5–24 Redwood (Cedar Rock S.N.A.) BAb, a.t., ph. DRL, m.ob.
Blackbirds, Orioles
Yellow-headed Blackbird
(Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus)
3250
Found in every county except Brown, Fillmore, Kanabec, Mower, Pine. High count 6/3 Marshall (200, Warren W.T.P.) HHu.
Bobolink
(Dolichonyx oryzivorus)
3353 Reported from all counties except Todd. High counts 7/10 Lyon (125, Camden S.P.) GWe, 7/6 Polk (75, SE of Gully) DvP.
Eastern Meadowlark
(Sturnella magna)
2037
Encountered in all regions. Unusual locations 6/1 Rock (Blue Mounds S.P.) ebd, 7/17 Wilkin (near Rothsay) ebd. High count 6/11 Hennepin (14, Crow-Hassan P.R.) DCk.
Western Meadowlark
(Sturnella neglecta)
2432
Reported from every region, but most common in western counties. High count 7/3 Clay (30, 170th Street North) EzH, JbS.
Orchard Oriole
(Icterus spurius)
1951
Observed in all regions. Unusual locations 6/5 St. Louis (immature male with female, Alesches’ Accommodations) ph. †Nathan Goldberg, 6/24 Lake of the Woods (second county record, singing male, 64th St NW) PHS. High counts 7/11 Lyon (12, Lone Tree Lake) GWe, 6/19 Yellow Medicine (9, Spellman Lake) GWe.
Baltimore Oriole
(Icterus galbula)
3353
Found in every county except Cook. High counts 6/23 Hennepin (17, Cedar Lake) ebd, 6/27 Hennepin (17, Fort Snelling S.P.) ebd.
Red-winged Blackbird
(Agelaius phoeniceus)
3453
Found statewide.
Brown-headed Cowbird
(Molothrus ater)
3453
Encountered throughout state. Parasitized species included Eastern Kingbird, Red-eyed Vireo, American Robin, House Finch, Lark Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Eastern Towhee, Bobolink, Louisiana Waterthrush, Blue-winged Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Northern Cardinal, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting.
Rusty Blackbird
(Euphagus carolinus)
No reports.
Brewer's Blackbird
(Euphagus cyanocephalus)
3227
Observed in every region except Southeast. High count 6/4 Kittson (50, Caribou W.M.A.) ebd.
Common Grackle
(Quiscalus quiscula)
3453
Seen throughout state. High count 6/20 Otter Tail (212, 190th St, W Alcott Ave to 195th Ave) PHS.
Great-tailed Grackle
(Quiscalus mexicanus)
1
Reported 6/16 – 7/25 Jackson (max. 5, adults feeding 2 or 3 juveniles) JWZ, ClB, a.t., ph. LiH, m.ob.
Warblers
Ovenbird
(Seiurus aurocapilla)
3134
Encountered in all regions. High count 6/6 Lake (45, Stony River F.R.) FJN, ebd.
Louisiana Waterthrush
(Parkesia motacilla)
6 Reported from Blue Earth, Chisago, Fillmore, Houston, Washington, Winona.
Northern Waterthrush
(Parkesia noveboracensis)
174 Found in all northern regions, East-central, plus Mille Lacs. High counts 6/19 Lake of the Woods (10, Zippel Bay S.P.) ebd, 6/25 Lake (8, Spider Island) ebd.
Golden-winged Warbler
(Vermivora chrysoptera)
248 Found in all northern and central regions. High counts 6/5 Aitkin (9, Rice Lake N.W.R.) ebd, 6/13 St. Louis (9, McDavitt Rd.) GWe.
Blue-winged Warbler
(Vermivora cyanoptera)
225
Found within usual summer range, plus extralimital records 7/11 Rock (Schoeman Park) †LiH, 7/27 St. Louis (Duluth, Park Point R.A.) †JLK. First county breeding record: 6/22 Wright MJB.
Golden-winged Warbler X Blue-winged Warbler
(Vermivora chrysoptera X V. cyanoptera)
2 Hybrids of unspecified phenotype reported 6/1 Olmsted ebd, 6/9–10 Hennepin LSy, SGt. “Brewster’s” Warbler seen 6/3–7 Wright DCk, 6/19 Washington ebd, 6/23 Dakota ebd.
Black-and-white Warbler
(Mniotilta varia)
2915 Reported in all northern and central regions plus 6/15 Murray (adult male, Lake Shetek S.P.) ebd, 7/26 Winona (female near McNally Landing) ToM.
Prothonotary Warbler
(Protonotaria citrea)
116
Reported from Central, East-central, Southeast, plus 7/5 Lac qui Parle (near U.S. 75 dam) GWe. High counts 6/14 Carver (8, Minnesota Valley N.W.R., Rapids Lake) JCy, 6/23 Houston (8, Millstone Landing) DvN, ASu.
Tennessee Warbler
(Leiothlypis peregrina)
148 Encountered in all northern regions, East-central, plus early south fall migrants 7/15 Carver WCM, 7/20 Meeker PKF. High count 6/6 Lake (18, Stony River F.R.) FJN, ebd.
Nashville Warbler
(Leiothlypis ruficapilla)
224 Found in all northern regions, Central, East-central. Early south fall migrants 7/17 Washington PNi, 7/25 Hennepin TAT, Ramsey DnS. High counts 7/31 St. Louis (73, southbound migrants at Stony Point) StK, 6/7 Lake (42, Stony River F.R. / Whyte Road) ASu.
Connecticut Warbler
(Oporornis agilis)
7 Found in Beltrami, Carlton, Cass, Koochiching, Lake, St. Louis, Wadena. Record high count 6/10 Koochiching (13, Toomey Williams Road: 11 singing males and one presumed M/F pair) ASu, ebd.
Mourning Warbler
(Geothlypis philadelphia)
196 Reported from all northern regions, Central, East-central. High counts 6/6 Lake (11, Stony River F.R.) FJN, ebd, 7/12 Clearwater (11, Itasca S.P., Schoolcraft Trail) ebd.
Common Yellowthroat
(Geothlypis trichas)
3453
Encountered statewide. High counts 6/19 Anoka (84, Carlos Avery W.M.A.) RCl, 6/12 Sherburne (52, Sherburne N.W.R. Wildlife Drive) RCl.
Hooded Warbler
(Setophaga citrina)
15 Found in Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Pine, Scott, Washington. Second county record 6/7 Pine (private residence east of Pine City) KrM, ebd.
American Redstart
(Setophaga ruticilla)
3451
Reported in every county except Pipestone, Watonwan. High count 6/14 Crow Wing (42, Upper Whitefish Lake, Big Island) BWe, TWe.
Cape May Warbler
(Setophaga tigrina)
9 Reported from all northern regions. High count 6/6 Lake (24, Stony River F.R.) FJN, ebd. Fall migrants 7/29 Polk (East Grand Forks) SAu, 7/31 Cook (flock of 8, Bluefin Bay) LSw.
Cerulean Warbler
(Setophaga cerulea)
13 Encountered in Central, East-central, South-central, Southeast. Found neither farther north than Wright nor farther west than Nicollet. High count 6/23 Houston (6, Reno, Hillside Rd.) ASu, DvN.
Northern Parula
(Setophaga americana)
17 Reported from all northern regions plus Pine. Spring migrant 6/1 Clay ebd. High counts 6/19 St. Louis (8, Bear Head Lake S.P.) ebd, 6/23 Clearwater (8, Itasca S.P.) DnS, PNi. Probable early fall migrant 7/16 Polk (Nielsville) DvP.
Magnolia Warbler
(Setophaga magnolia)
121
Encountered in North-central, Northeast, plus presumed spring migrants 6/1 Brown SLH, 6/6 Mahnomen ebd. High count 6/7 Lake (13, Whyte Road / Stony River F.R.) ASu, ebd.
Bay-breasted Warbler
(Setophaga castanea)
5 Found in Cook, Hubbard (6/23 Lake Alice Bog LHl), Koochiching, Lake, St. Louis.
Blackburnian Warbler
(Setophaga fusca)
16 Encountered in all northern regions plus Mille Lacs. High count 6/7 St. Louis (13, Voyageurs N.P., Echo Bay Trail) ebd.
Yellow Warbler
(Setophaga petechia)
3452
Reported in every county except Mower. High counts 6/19 Anoka (67, Carlos Avery W.M.A.) RCl, 6/4 Sherburne (45, Sherburne N.W.R.—Blue Hill Trail) BoA.
Chestnut-sided Warbler
(Setophaga pensylvanica)
3016 Detected in all northern and central regions plus 7/8 Lyon NMe, 6/7 Rice (2) TFB. High count 6/6 St. Louis (30, Sax-Zim Bog) ebd, ASu.
Blackpoll Warbler
(Setophaga striata)
1 Spring migrants 6/3, 6/4 St. Louis (Sax-Zim Bog) ebd. Early fall migrant 7/27 St. Louis (male, Park Point R.A.) †JLK.
Black-throated Blue Warbler
(Setophaga caerulescens)
3 Found in Cook, Lake, St. Louis.
Palm Warbler
(Setophaga palmarum)
9 Seen in North-central, Northeast. High count 6/18 Beltrami (18, Big Bog S.R.A. boardwalk) TWe.
Pine Warbler
(Setophaga pinus)
218 Found in all northern regions, Central, East-central. High counts 6/23 Clearwater (9, Itasca S.P.) DnS, PNi, 6/19 Cass (8, Norway Beach R.A.) DnS, PNi. First county breeding record: 7/25 Anoka SRo.
Yellow-rumped Warbler
(Setophaga coronata)
191 Encountered in all northern regions plus Benton, Mille Lacs, Pine.
YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER
(Setophaga dominica)
1 Reported 6/21 – 7/5 Houston (Reno, Hillside Rd.) ph. ToM, DvN, ASu, BWe, a.t. TWe. Presumably the same bird as spring, though reportedly “a couple hundred yards” farther up the road.
Black-throated Green Warbler
(Setophaga virens)
18 Found in all northern regions plus Kanabec, Mille Lacs, Pine. High count 7/11 Cook (15, Pincushion Mountain) ebd.
Canada Warbler
(Cardellina canadensis)
122 Found on territory in North-central, Northeast, plus Pine. Late spring migrants 6/1 Dodge TAN, Hennepin ebd. High count 6/7 Lake (13, Gooseberry Falls S.P.) MO.
Wilson's Warbler
(Cardellina pusilla)
4 Observed in Cook, Koochiching, Lake, St. Louis. Last reported 6/19 Koochiching ebd.
Tanagers, Cardinals, Grosbeaks
Summer Tanager
(Piranga rubra)
11 Adult males reported 6/8 Becker (Fig Lake Farm) †HeH, 6/24 Nicollet (Kiwanis Woodchip Trail, Mankato) ebd.
Scarlet Tanager
(Piranga olivacea)
3044
Encountered in every region. High count 6/25 Chisago (8, Wild River S.P.) ebd.
Northern Cardinal
(Cardinalis cardinalis)
2552
Found in all regions. High counts 6/8 Hennepin (20, Hyland Lake P.R.) RCo, 7/28 Dakota (20, Lebanon Hills R.P.) ebd. First county breeding records: 7/24 Cottonwood KEm, 7/18 Pipestone ebd, 7/4 Polk SAu.
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
(Pheucticus ludovicianus)
3353
Reported from every county except Wilkin. First county breeding record: 6/24 Cottonwood KEm. High count 7/7 Houston (16, La Crescent, Turkey Valley Lane) KRz.
Blue Grosbeak
(Passerina caerulea)
18
Reported from West-central, Southwest, South-central, plus Hennepin, Renville. Fifth consecutive year at Flying Cloud Fields in Eden Prairie.
Indigo Bunting
(Passerina cyanea)
3253
Reported in all counties except Kittson, Wilkin. High counts 7/11 Dakota (16, Spring Lake P.R., Bud’s Landing) MaS, 7/19 Hennepin (16, Fort Snelling S.P.) ebd. First county breeding record: 7/18 Meeker PKF.
Dickcissel
(Spiza americana)
3453
Found in all 87 counties during a major irruption including 6/17 – 7/1 Cook (3 locations) PHS, m.ob. High counts 6/30 St. Louis (76, Sax-Zim Bog, S of Arkola Road) PHS, 6/13 Watonwan (75, county-wide) BTS, MiO, 6/7 Carlton (63, Firebird W.M.A. and Automba Road) ASu, 6/16 Aitkin (58, Kestrel Ave.) CLR, KWR. High counts in the Northeast were especially noteworthy given scarcity of suitable habitat compared to other regions; also note 6/8 Koochiching (14, concentrated along one bend of C.R. 6) ASu. In the Koochiching State Forest, two were found singing 6/12 in a clearcut about two miles off Toomey Williams Road TWe, BWe. Major irruptions are thought to be drought-related (The Loon 85:35–42). First county breeding record: 7/5 Benton DOr.