The Loon, journal of the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union.
The last 2 years are available to MOU members.
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Seasonal Report Archive for The Loon - Longspurs and Snow Buntings | Occurrence | |
| This is the 1930 to present seasonal report archive for The Loon, journal of the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union. The last 2 years are available to MOU members. |
Seasons |
| Species: Longspurs and Snow Buntings |
|
Lapland Longspur Chestnut-collared Longspur |
Smith's Longspur Thick-billed Longspur |
Snow Bunting |
| Chestnut-collared Longspur(Calcarius ornatus) | ||||
| Year | Season | N | S | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1933 | Summer | A vr;rry interesting o.nd now uncommon species is o.c1ded to our list 'dth tho finding of its nest in Pennington County by Swanson. Discovered on June 19th, the nest conta.inod 3 eggs, · · which number has been increased to 4 by the 2oth. The bird wns so tame that Grimes took several photographs of her on the nest from within a few feet without bothering to conceal himself or the enmera. Incidentally, this is, according to records in Dr. Roberts' "Birds of Minnosota.11, the first known nest of this species found in tho state since 1898. | ||
| 1937 | Summer | Four young black-bellied longspurs were seen in their nest near Warren by Rysgaard, Pittelkow, and Risser on June 18. | ||
| 1961 | Summer | Avifaunal Club ptembers saw them during most of the summer between Felton and Ulen. On 17 June, a nest with two nestlings was found. Banded adult female. On 4 July, one large, semiflying young, still in huffy juvenal plumage was captured and banded. On 15 July, a nest with three young and an unhatched egg was found. The young were banded. On 5 August one adult male, seven brown individuals that were either sub-adults or females, and one short-tailed young were seen. | ||
| 1961 | Fall | On 28 Sep., Dr. Breckenridge saw one, either a female or immature, between Felton and Ulen, in Clay County. | ||
| 1962 | Summer | June 9, between Felton and Ulen, Clay Co., nest with 4 eggs, Bob Janssen. | ||
| 1962 | Fall | On Nov. 17, Brother Theodore and R. Huber were observing thousands of Longspurs around Salt Lake, Lac qui Parle Co. For the most part, these birds preferred not to fly, but rather they walked and fed in the fields. In one partie· ular alfalfa field, we were able to walk amongst a rather tame gathering of them, flushing various individuals from five to ten feet ahead of us. Of approximately the first twenty-five, which we carefully checked, most seemed to be Lapland Longspurs, but one was a Chestnut-collared Longspur (white notch on either side of tail) and one, possibly two, were Smith's Longspurs ·. Another late-fallj early-winter record for the Chestnut-collared Longspur was Nov. 12, 1941, six seen with flock of Snow Buntings CMMNH files). | ||
| 1963 | Spring | May 24, between Felton and Ulen, Clay Co., about ten pairs, R. Grant. | ||
| 1963 | Summer | Clay Co., between Felton and Ulen, present all summer and known to breed in area, but actual nest not found this year, Avifaunal Club, and R. Grant. Excellent response from numerous points around the state made this one of the best breeding reports I have assembled during my short tenure. 124 species were reported as breeding with another 34 species observed as summer residents (probably breeding) for a total of 158 species covered in this report. The Bay-brested Warbler nest appears to be the very first for our state The Hawk-Owls reported in the Kelsey area by Strnad may have constituted a family group, if so, this would also be a "first" for Minnesota. Other species reported that have shown very little if any breeding evidence | ||
| 1964 | Spring | 4-25 Beardsley, Big Stone Co, RBJ; 4-25 Felton, Clay Co, several singing males, RG, RLH. | ||
| 1964 | Summer | all summer at the usual spot in Clay Co, between Felton and Ulen, RLH, RG, DM. Part II: Transients | ||
| 1966 | Spring | 5-21, Clay September, 1966 Co, SE of Felton at the usual spot, 5, BL, RG. | ||
| 1966 | Summer | usual area in Clay Co, SE of Felton; on 6-19 RG and RLH noted hundreds in that area in less than half a square mile. Probably heaviest population we've seen there yet. | ||
| 1967 | Spring | 5-20 Clay Co., DB. | ||
| 1967 | Summer | 6-lO(EHH), 6-18(BC, LC, RLH) Clay Co., usual spot near Felton; numbers reduced from last year; a few still in area on 8-7, but on this date we noted that the area had been mown for hay-it will be interesting to see how this affects the wildlife population there in the next few years. | ||
| 1968 | Spring | 5-29 (3,KE), 5-30 (50,AB,RLH) Clay Co., usual spot near Felton. | ||
| 1968 | Summer | 6-3 (EHH), 6-15 (FN/MAS) Clay Co, usual spot SE Felton. | ||
| 1969 | Spring | 5-17 Clay Co., RBJ; 5-24 (2) Clay Co., DB, KP. | ||
| 1969 | Summer | 6-13 Clay Co., 3 pr. JJG, RBJ; 7-19 Clay Co., 7 DB. Both observations in usual spot SE of Felton. Species has been in low numbers last two years perhaps caused by mowing of area or increased rainfall locally which might limit this western species at its eastern limits. Migrant Shorebirds | ||
| 1970 | Spring | 3 reports and 5-23 usual spot near Felton, Clay Co. (3) DB, KE, PE; 5-29 Morris Stevens Co. EB. | ||
| 1970 | Summer | 6-18 Felton, Clay Co. {4 y, one day old) RG, EC, BL; 6-13 Felton {4-5) DB. MIGRANT SHOREBIRDS | ||
| 1971 | Spring | 4 reports Clay Co. 1-IK; 5-22 Felton, Clay Co. KE, RR (6); 5-1 Wilkin VL; 5-l Wadena, 1 female collected by R Oehlenschlager; there are few reports of the species away from Felton, and it is quite interesting that there were 3 reports in 3 different counties on the same day_ | ||
| 1971 | Summer | 6-11 and 6-13 Felton. Clay Co. (5), DB, RBJ; also reported from 2 other locations: 6-13 Averill, Clay Co. (10), RBJ; present all summer at Agassiz Refuge, Marshall Co., JBMH (no details); this species may be more widespread than generally believed. SPRING MIGRANT SHOREBIRDS: | ||
| 1972 | Spring | were noted at the usual location in Clay Co. on 4-29 and 5-27 (JB,KEL A flock of about 100 longspurs were at Rothsay Wildlife Area, Wilkin Co. on 4-23 and at least 12 of them were Chestnut-collared, (KE, JG) . | ||
| 1972 | Summer | nested In Clay; seen there in two locations -Felton (2-3 pair, Averill (10-15 pair), RBJ; last seen 7-31 KRE. | ||
| 1973 | Summer | Nested in Clay (5-26 Felton Prairie HCK), 6-15 KE & RBJ (50 birds), 7-1 PBH. | ||
| 1973 | Fall | Three reports: 8-15 Clay 20) (FL); 9-9 Clay (2) (RBJ); 9-30 Rock (15) (KRE) (one of the few reports away from Clay Co.). | ||
| 1974 | Summer | Nested at Felton prairie, Clay Co. (6-27, two eggs, PH); 30 still present there on 7-28 (KE); also 6-15 and 6-18 at Duluth (D. Scheer, MMC). SPRING MIGRANT SHOREBIRDS | ||
| 1974 | Fall | 8-3 Clay (30) RBJ. | ||
| 1975 | Spring | 2 reports: 4-26 Lac qui Parle CF; 427 Big Stone PG, JC, DY. | ||
| 1975 | Fall | 9-28, 10-4, 10-19 Rock KE; from 1 to 3 birds. | ||
| 1976 | Summer | reported only from the Felton prairie, Clay Co. | ||
| 1976 | Fall | 10-11 Wilkin GO; only report. | ||
| 1977 | Spring | 6 reports: 4-12 Clay (12) JB; 4-24 Clay (20) BC; 5-8 Wilkin (8) LCF ; 5-27 to 5-30 Clay (Felton) DGW, TS, RJ. | ||
| 1977 | Summer | Reported from the Felton prairie, Clay Co. | ||
| 1977 | Fall | Only report 8-15 Clay (DJ). | ||
| 1978 | Spring | 5-14 Clay (14); 5-16 Otter Tail GO; 5-21 Clay SM, SV. | ||
| 1978 | Summer | Seen in Clay (Felton) and Wilkin (6-4, female, GLO). | ||
| 1978 | Fall | Two reports: 10-1 Clay RJ and 10-27 Grant (150+ ) NH. | ||
| 1979 | Spring | Six Reports: 4-18 Clay SM, 4-21 Yellow Medicine KE, 5-19 Clay HK, 5-20 Clay OJ, 5-22 Wilkin GMO, and 5-25 Clay BB. | ||
| 1979 | Summer | Seen in Clay (6-10, D&GW). | ||
| 1980 | Spring | Three reports all from Clay County 4-16 SM, 5-23 NH, 5-24 DGW. | ||
| 1980 | Summer | Seen in Red Lake, Clay (very common Felton Prairie), Traverse (Clifton Twp\ Big Stone (Clinton Twp.). | ||
| 1980 | Fall | One report: 9-3 Clay SM. | ||
| 1981 | Spring | One report: 5-17 Clay KE. | ||
| 1981 | Summer | Seen in Clay (52 males, also females, Felton, DW, LP). The Loon Vol. '54 | ||
| 1982 | Spring | Two reports: 5-15 Clay ANWR, 5-19Clay J. Herman. ; | ||
| 1982 | Summer | Breeding data from Clay. | ||
| 1983 | Spring | Two reports 4/17 Pennington KSS, 4/24 Clay TT. | ||
| 1983 | Summer | Seen in Clay, Norman (near jet. Co. Rds. 18 & 6, KL), Big Stone (Clinton Prairie). | ||
| 1984 | Spring | Four reports 4/23 Clay LCF, 5/19 Clay TBB, Norman ES, 5/27 Clay SC. | ||
| 1984 | Summer | seen as usual at Felton prairie, Clay Co. | ||
| 1985 | Spring | One report 4/7 Clay LCF (earliest date on record). | ||
| 1985 | Summer | Seen at Felton prairie in Clay Co. | ||
| 1986 | Spring | Three reports 4/6 Clay LCF, 5/2 Clay RGJ, 5/25 Clay GS. | ||
| 1986 | Summer | Seen at Felton prairie in Clay Co. | ||
| 1987 | Spring | All reports: 4/24 Felton Prairie, Clay Co. MF, 5/24 Miller Prairie West, Traverse KE, 5/30 Clay TK. | ||
| 1987 | Summer | Nested at Felton prairie in Clay Co. | ||
| 1988 | Spring | Two reports: 5/8 Marshall SKS, 5/22-27 Clay m.ob. | ||
| 1988 | Summer | Only reports: seen in Clay and Big Stone (6/14, BHa). | ||
| 1988 | Fall | One report 8/20 Clay AP, RJ, RG. | ||
| 1989 | Spring | Two reports: 4/18 Clay DJ, 5/27 Lake AB (The Loon 61 :146). | ||
| 1989 | Summer | A pair seen 6/28 Troy Township, Pipestone NO, JP; probable breeding in Clay. | ||
| 1989 | Fall | One report 9/27 Clay PS. | ||
| 1990 | Spring | All reports 5/4 Wilkin FKS, 5/13 Clay DJ. | ||
| 1990 | Summer | Seen at usual Felton Prairie site, Clay Co. | ||
| 1990 | Fall | All reports: 8/22 Clay PS, 9/3 Clay MO. | ||
| 1991 | Spring | Three reports: 5/1 Clay PS, 5/5 Clay MO, 5/24 Clay EL. | ||
| 1991 | Summer | Several reports from traditional site in Clay (probable nesting). | ||
| 1991 | Fall | Late north 8/31 Clay MO. | ||
| 1992 | Spring | Early north 4/17 Clay DN, 5/2 Clay DJ. | ||
| 1992 | Summer | Only report from usual Felton Prairie area in Clay Co. | ||
| 1992 | Fall | One report: 8/14 Clay LCF. | ||
| 1993 | Spring | One report 5/26 Clay PS. | ||
| 1993 | Summer | Observed at usual Felton Prairie location in Clay Co.; plus one bird observed on 6/4 two miles SW of Lockhart in Norman County BBk. | ||
| 1994 | Spring | Early north 5/1 Clay DJ, CS/KC. | ||
| 1994 | Summer | Only report: probable nesting along longspur road in Felton Prairie area, Clay Co. CM. | ||
| 1994 | Fall | One report: 8/17 Clay FL. | ||
| 1995 | Spring | Early north 4/22 Clay SKS. | ||
| 1995 | Summer | Probable nesting at traditional Felton Prairie site in Clay Co.; plus eight singing males present through June within Chester Township in Polk County MCBS, RJ. | ||
| 1995 | Fall | Only report 8/12 Clay DBM. | ||
| 1996 | Spring | Early north 5/4 Felton Prairie, Clay Co. fide AH. | ||
| 1996 | Summer | Only report from traditional Felton Prairie site in Clay County. | ||
| 1996 | Fall | Only report 8/5 Clay TBr. | ||
| 1997 | Spring | Early north 4/25 Clay RO, DWi. | ||
| 1997 | Summer | Observed at traditional Felton Prairie site in Clay Co. | ||
| 1997 | Fall | All reports: 8/8 Felton Prairie, Clay Co. (4) RO, 11/16-17 Aitkin CB, ties the latest date on record for the state. [Corrected] | ||
| 1998 | Spring | Early north 4/24 Clay (Felton) RK, 5/21 St. Louis (Cook sewage pond) RJ. | ||
| 1998 | Summer | Only report from traditional Felton Prairie site in Clay Co. | ||
| 1998 | Fall | Only reports were from Clay (Felton Prairie): 8/11 KB, 8/16 RO. | ||
| 1999 | Spring | Early north 4/7+ (ties second earliest north) Clay (Felton Prairie) SDM. | ||
| 1999 | Summer | Only reported from traditional Felton Prairie breeding site in Clay Co. | ||
| 1999 | Fall | No reports. | ||
| 2000 | Spring | Only reports from Clay (Felton Prairie) where first seen 4/24 (RO). | ||
| 2000 | Summer | Only reported from traditional Felton Prairie breeding site in Clay Co. | ||
| 2000 | Fall | Only reported from Clay (Felton Prairie) where last seen 8/7 RHO. | ||
| 2001 | Spring | Earliest south date and first county record 4/7 Kandiyohi †RAE et al. (The Loon 73:254) Also seen 4/26+ Clay (Felton Prairie) KJB, mob. | ||
| 2001 | Summer | Nested at traditional Felton Prairie site in Clay Co. | ||
| 2002 | Spring | First county record 4/13 Renville (2 in Hawk Creek Twp.) †RPR. Also reported 4/15+ Clay (Felton Prairie) m.ob. | ||
| 2002 | Summer | Only report from traditional breeding site in Clay Co. | ||
| 2002 | Fall | Only found in Clay, 8/10 RHO and 8/25 (2) PHS, presumably both sightings at Felton Prairie. | ||
| 2003 | Spring | Reported 4/13+ Clay (Felton Prairie) PCC, m.ob. | ||
| 2003 | Summer | Unusual summer record 6/4 Pipestone (female flushed off ground at Prairie Coteau S.N.A., singing male nearby) †KLP; also observed at traditional Felton Prairie location in Clay County. | ||
| 2003 | Fall | All reports from Felton Prairie in Clay, where last reported 8/23 RHO. | ||
| 2004 | Spring | Reported 4/15+ Clay (Felton Prairie) DTT, SMT, m.obs., 4/17 Swift (male near Shible L.) †BJU, 5/7 St. Louis (male in pasture at junction of Old North Shore Drive and Homestead Road, Duluth) JCG. | ||
| 2004 | Summer | Reported 6/6–7/27 Clay PHS, m.ob., 6/11 Lac qui Parle (Yellow Bank Hills S.N.A.) †BJU, 7/9 Yellow Medicine (Fortier Twp.) †BJU. | ||
| 2004 | Fall | One report: 9/11 Clay MM. | ||
| 2005 | Spring | Reported 4/16+ Clay (Felton Prairie) BWF, m.obs. | ||
| 2005 | Summer | Reported 6/9, 6/26, 7/2, 7/27 Clay RHO, JMJ, BJU. | ||
| 2005 | Fall | All reports: 9/17 Clay (8 at Felton Prairie) BWF, 10/16 St. Louis (Stoney Point) †JCG. | ||
| 2006 | Spring | Reported from Felton Prairie starting 4/27+ Clay PBB, m.ob. Also seen 4/17 Lac qui Parle (near Big Stone N.W.R.) †BJU. | ||
| 2006 | Summer | Many reports from usual Felton Prairie location in Clay, plus south reports 6/4,24 Pipestone MCBS, 6/25 Lincoln BJU. | ||
| 2006 | Fall | Only report: 8/23 Lac qui Parle (“molting male” at Big Stone N.W.R., Auto Tour Route) BJU. | ||
| 2007 | Spring | 1 | Six reports from Felton Prairie starting 4/15 Clay PBB (median 4/24). | |
| 2007 | Summer | 1 | 1 | Seen throughout the season in Clay (max. 6, Felton Prairie) m.ob. Unusual south 6/9 Pipestone (2, Altona Township) MCBS. |
| 2007 | Fall | No reports. | ||
| 2008 | Spring | 2 | One seen 5/10 Polk (Pembina Trail Preserve) †DLT. All other reports were from Felton Prairie: 5/6 Clay RHO, 5/17 Clay JWH, 5/19 Clay WCM, LBF. | |
| 2008 | Summer | 1 | Found 6/6–7/4 Clay (max. 6) KRE, CMB, RBW, LS. | |
| 2008 | Fall | No reports. | ||
| 2009 | Spring | 1 | 1 | Unusually far east was a male picked out of a large flock of Lapland Longspurs 4/18 Dakota †MDu. All other reports were from Clay: 5/9 RHO, 5/16 DBM, PLJ, 5/21 (nest with 4 eggs) DAC, RBJ, 5/30 (2 adults with 4 chicks) AXH. |
| 2009 | Summer | 1 | All reports from Clay (max. 6, Felton Prairie) m.ob. | |
| 2009 | Fall | No reports. | ||
| 2010 | Spring | 1 | Reported from traditional locations at Felton Prairie, Clay County beginning 5/2 RHO, m.ob. Also see undocumented reports. | |
| 2010 | Summer | 1 | All reports from Felton Prairie in Clay. High count of 5 on 7/9 BJU. | |
| 2010 | Fall | 1 | Only report 8/2 Clay (Felton Prairie) RHO. Median late north 8/23. | |
| 2011 | Spring | 1 | 1 | Only south report 4/28 Lac qui Parle (male, near Plover Prairie) ph. BJU. All north reports from traditional Felton Prairie location where first reported 5/21 Clay (3) RHO (median 4/15). |
| 2011 | Summer | 1 | All reports from Clay (max. 6, Felton Prairie) m.ob. | |
| 2011 | Fall | No reports. | ||
| 2012 | Spring | 1 | Reported from traditional Felton Prairie, Clay County locations; first report 4/28 DaP. | |
| 2012 | Summer | 1 | Reported 6/8–7/8 Clay (max. 5, Felton Prairie) m.ob. | |
| 2012 | Fall | No reports. | ||
| 2013 | Spring | 1 | 1 | One south report, first county record 5/5 Blue Earth (male in Alternate plumage with large flock of Smith's Longspurs, Lincoln W.P.A.) JPr. All north reports from traditional Felton Prairie location, first reports 5/11 RZi, 5/12 ph. GHo (median 4/24). |
| 2013 | Summer | 1 | All reports from Clay (max. 3, Felton Prairie). | |
| 2013 | Fall | No reports. | ||
| 2014 | Spring | 1 | All reports from Felton Prairie in Clay. First reported 5/7 (Assiniboia Skipper Unit) ASM, 5/10 (3) RHO (median 4/24). Several reported high counts of 3 individuals. | |
| 2014 | Summer | 1 | All reports from Clay (max. 6, Felton Prairie). | |
| 2015 | Spring | 1 | All reports from Felton Prairie, Clay, with a high count of only 6 individuals: 5/13 Clay DFe, 5/24 Clay (6) HCT, PEB. | |
| 2015 | Summer | 1 | All reports from Clay (max. 3, Felton Prairie). | |
| 2015 | Fall | No reports. | ||
| 2016 | Spring | 1 | First reported 4/30 Clay ToL (median 4/27). Continuing reports throughout the rest of the season from the Felton Prairie area. High count 5/20 (6) Clay KRE, m.ob. | |
| 2016 | Summer | 1 | 1 | Reported from Clay and 6/18 Yellow Medicine (male and female, 130th St., Canby) GWe. |
| 2016 | Fall | No reports. | ||
| 2017 | Spring | 1 | The decline of this species from its traditional holdout at Felton Prairie continues. Only one report 5/29 Clay LiH. | |
| 2017 | Summer | 1 | Max. 2 birds observed in Clay (Felton Prairie). | |
| 2017 | Fall | No reports. | ||
| 2018 | Spring | 1 | Reflecting this species' demise in the state, these were the only reports for the season, all from the Felton Prairie area in Clay County, all of a single individual: 5/19 PBk, NKu, SKu, 5/20 LiH, ASu, 5/26 MO, 5/31 ASu. | |
| 2018 | Summer | No reports. | ||
| 2018 | Fall | Â No reports. | ||
| 2019 | Spring | 1 | Only reports 5/18–19 Clay (1, Felton Prairie) MwT, IVa. | |
| 2019 | Summer | 1 | Â Reported from Clay (1 or 2, Felton Prairie) MGi, EzH, IsH, NRa, AFo, ASu, AJF. | |
| 2019 | Fall | No reports. | ||
| 2020 | Spring | No reports for the first spring in over 45 years. | ||
| 2020 | Summer | No reports. | ||
| 2020 | Fall | No fall reports since 2010. | ||
| 2021 | Spring | After reports in 40+ consecutive spring seasons, no reports in 2020 or 2021. | ||
| 2021 | Summer | No reports for 2nd consecutive summer. | ||
| 2021 | Fall | No fall reports since 2010. | ||
| 2022 | Spring | 1 | Sole report of one bird from traditional stronghold in state: 4/23 Clay (Felton Prairie) JKh. This was the first spring sighting since 2019 of this songbird. | |
| 2022 | Summer | No reports. | ||
| 2022 | Fall | No fall reports since 2010. | ||
| Recorded in eight of the last ten years, most recently 2023. Rare breeder west. State designation: Endangered. Formerly Regular. | ||||
| Click on the bird name to see a photographic image of the bird. | |
| Column N | Number of counties where the bird was seen in the North. |
| Column S | Number of counties where the bird was seen in the South. |