Fall 1993 in Minnesota was punctuated by early cold fronts with an early movement of passerines, followed by mild weather in late October and most of November that induced a variety of migrants to linger. Later than normal nesting (or possibly re-nesting after record flooding — see Summer report) was suspected among grebes and rails. An incredible season at Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve in Duluth and an impressive list of rarities were notable, even though many of these latter were seen only briefly.

Loon migration was especially noteworthy. Three Red-throateds were reported; this species status continues to vacillate between Casual and rare/Regular in the state, with fall records greatly outnumbered by those from late spring and early summer. Even more outstanding were an unprecedented six Pacific Loons; three of these were away from Lake Superior, where the vast majority of previous fall records have occurred. There were only 14 total records of this Casual species during the past decade (1983–1992).

Five small, young Pied-billed Grebes on 21 August and two downy Eared Grebes on 5 September provided evidence of late nesting among grebes (there was also an unconfirmed report of a “rescued” grebe surviving through late November in a bathtub but no word on the condition of the home owner). Downy moorhens were observed through late August at Carlos Avery WMA and the juvenile Sora turned in (alive) to Tamarac NWR by deer hunters on 8 November was a record late date for northern Minnesota. These few observations cannot represent a trend but how about Yellow Rails still ticking into mid-August in St. Louis County while invasion numbers were recorded a few miles from the MN/ND border at about the same time (North Dakota Natural Science Society Newsletter 11:8–10). The record floods of 1993 in our region must have skewed hatching dates and reproductive success for a variety of species, not just those intimately associated with wetlands.

Among other waterbirds, the migration of Cattle Egrets recapitulated their excellent spring showing in the state. A single Ross's Goose on 18 September established a new earliest fall date and some of the ducks started migrating earlier than usual. Both Black and Surf Scoters were increasingly detected away from Lake Superior and one of the largest “inland” flocks of White-wingeds ever reported in Minnesota was the 15 birds on White Bear Lake, Washington County.

Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve (HRNR) in Duluth had an incredible season, with many new records set for daily counts and season totals. Most incredible was the total of 49,615 hawks (the previous daily high count was 33,588) on 18 September! The 47,922 Broad-winged Hawks counted on that day by a team of observers (including Frank Nicoletti, returning for the third consecutive season) contributed to a new season high for that species and to an all-time record of 148,615 total hawks in one season (the previous high was 85,798 in 1991). The total days (103) and total hours (1094) counting were close to the average of previous years; the excellent flight was attributed to favorable weather for counting, with successive cold fronts early in the season and frequent west to northwest winds (data courtesy of HRNR). A Gyrfalcon and a Prairie Falcon were among the unusual sightings. For the third fall in a row, a Mississippi Kite was reported from Hawk Ridge; unfortunately (as of this writing) only the 1991 record has been documented by the observers for evaluation by the Minnesota Ornithological Records Committee.

The record flooding in 1993 produced abundant habitat for shorebirds but also diluted detection by observers. Upland Sandpipers are rarely detected as fall migrants but one perched on a tombstone in Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis must have been startling! Red Knots continue hard-to-find anywhere in the state although Duluth is still the best place to look. Singles or small flocks of Buff-breasted Sandpipers were widely reported. The only rare shorebirds were the seventh and eighth state records for Red Phalarope, both of which promptly disappeared.

Ray Glassel and Robert Janssen cornered the market on California Gulls this fall. Why is this species not found more regularly during migration along our western border? Few observers study gull movements between feeding areas and roosts; Karl Bardon does and provides unique insights as well as data. Thayer's Gulls must be overlooked away from Lake Superior, if this fall's reports represent usual migration — which may not be the case, since a new earliest fall date was established on 8 October in southern Minnesota. Also of interest was the brief return of a Lesser Black-backed Gull to the same Anoka County fallow field that it had been found in as a spring migrant! For most observers, the adult and two juvenal-plumaged Sabine's Gulls at the DNR's fish hatchery ponds near Lake Tetonka was the 1993 gull event.

The appearance of a first state record Common Ground-Dove at HRNR spiced an otherwise desultory day, especially for the hawk banders who caught it in their nets! An early October influx of emaciated Snowy Owls was followed by healthier individuals in late fall. Minnesota's second Anna's Hummingbird was not correctly identified as such until 18 October; the property owner then requested no birders after the 19th, which was fully respected to the best of my knowledge — a refreshing outcome.

There were few noteworthy data among the flycatchers and thrushes this fall, except for a one day appearance of a Scissor-tailed on Park Point and at least five reports of Townsend's Solitaire, including a first Houston County record. Townsend will be remembered differently this fall, as the state's second Townsend's Warbler put in a brief appearance at the famous Lakewood Cemetery on 27 August. Readers will recall that this location produced a third state record Black-throated Gray Warbler on 31 August 1991. Several species of warblers were detected later than usual, including a record late Louisiana Waterthrush on 4 October, more than two weeks later than any previous occurrence in the state. No fewer than four Summer Tanagers were reported this fall. Other interesting passerine reports are detailed in the species accounts.

In comparison to fall 1992 (which also followed a cool, wet summer), even fewer migration data were available that could be related to nesting success. The only banding data forwarded came from Judith Bell in Dodge County, where peak migration waves were 18 September and 9 October. The former date supports Henry Kyllingstad's report of a warbler wave in Lyon County on 19 September, while warblers were “dripping from the trees” on 18 September in Winona County (CS). Indeed, Ms. Schumacher described an exceptional daily migration of warblers between 3–23 September, mostly in a 50 X 100 meter area along a Prairie Island dike near Winona, with increased numbers of Golden-winged, Magnolia, Yellow-rumped, and Bay-breasted warblers. In contrast, Steve Carlson documented reductions in total migration of nine species through the Twin Cities, including a 30% reduction in Magnolias compared to fall 1991 and 1992. It would be nice to conclude that they preferentially went to Winona this fall; local conditions can certainly explain both short–term and long-term changes in migration. However, Mr. Carlson's impressions were based upon a decade of data and also included his lowest count of Black-throated Greens in nine years (1993 totals were 70% off the nine year average), lowest count of Black-and-whites since 1987 (about 50% of the 1991 and 1992 totals), and lowest count of Canadas since 1986 (less than 50% of 1991 and 1992 totals). My thanks to Ms. Bell, Mr. Carlson and Ms. Schumacher for permission to summarize interpretations of their data.

Have conflicting impressions of warbler migration become the new “norm” in Minnesota? What can we conclude from the fact that not a single vireo of any species was seen by Mr. Kyllingstad in Lyon County this entire season? Should observers focus on Breeding Bird Surveys, single day counts over a large area such as the new North American count held in May, migration surveys such as the now defunct Lakewood Pumping Station Census, or yearly group-specific surveys such as hawks and warblers? Peak numbers and dates of migration are more indicative of population status than record early arrivals and late stragglers, yet these former data are rarely reported (and more difficult to interpret). If year-to-year reports of Loggerhead Shrikes and Henslow's Sparrows really are important, how can we allow for differences in observers' effort, skill, and time? There are no easy answers to such questions. As always, reports in The Loon provide a framework for further inquiry, in addition to their role as chronicle of “The Season”. Thanks to all observers who contribute to this framework, and especially to the seasonal report compilers who build it. I would also like to thank Parker Backstrom for compiling and editing data called in to the Minnesota Bird Report.