Weather this season was interesting though inconsistent in the state. For example, while most of the state in March had near average temperatures, Brainerd was 5 112 degrees below normal and the southeast was almost 3 degrees below average. The high for the month reached 71° at 3 locations and the low was -25° at Beardsley.

Most areas were slightly drier than normal, but the northeast was wet with Tower receiving 3/4" more than the usual precipitation. 33 inches of snow fell on Isabella in March, and on the 16th 49" was on the ground there.

On the other hand, Beardsley received only a trace of snow during the month, and by the 2nd the ground was bare.

Most of the state in April was warmer than usual. Pipestone's temperatures were 4 ° above normal, but Virginia it was a degree colder than usual.

The high was 83 o and the low for the month was -8° at Crane Lake. Dry conditions continued into the month in most areas, though Hallock had almost an inch above the usual precipitation.

Pine River received over 14" of snow during April, and the most snow on the ground was at Sandy Lake where 25" on the 1st melted away by the 16th.

May continued dry in most areas, but Winona received over 6" of ra[n, almost 2" above their average. But the real news in May were the cold temperatures which made the warbler migration virtually nonexistent. Most. areas were from 2 to 3 degrees below average, with wet Winona no less than 6.3° colder than usual. The temperature reached a low of 16° at Moose Lake, and the thermometer in the last half of the month never reached the high of 90° recorded on the 14th at Springfield. And to top off the month and the season, 8 112 inches of snow fell on Grand Rapids on May 19!

Our style in this report is the same as in our two migration reports in 1970. And Marygail Gilly Eckert again helped us compile this report.

SUMMARY: No less than 295 species were recorded this spring, 11 more than last year, and the highest total in the past several years if not the highest ever. It was not necessarily a better migration; there was simply better coverage by the observers. We still only received 59 reports, which was the same as last year's record low number, but it seems that this spring the observers we had were more observant and covered more areas, especially in the north and west. However, of these 59 only 19 were from the north, and even fewer were in the western prairie counties. It is obvious then, that these seasonal reports will continue to be incomplete and even misleading.without more observers, especially in the west and north, Minnesota's two most interesting areas.

There were few "waves" or peaks noted this spring, but the season quite interesting in several respects. Grebes showed up in unprecedented numbers, especially the Eared and Western Grebes which have been uncommon in former years. The heron family contributed several rarities including 2 Snowy Egrets, 2 White-faced Ibis reports, 3 extralimital Yellow-crowned Night Herons in Stearns, Nobles and Cottonwood Counties, and last but not least 7 Cattle Egret reports scattered throughout the state as far north as Agassiz refuge. This last species finally nested this summer in Pope Co., and there is an unconfirmed report of the species nesting the past two years in Grant Co. A number of ducks were interesting, including the impressive and precise peaks at Agassiz, a pair of American Black Ducks nesting in Washington Co. only a few miles from last summer's nesting, a late pair of Harlequin Ducks in April following last winter's influx of this species, a good migration of scoters on Lake Superior plus an inland Common Scoter in Beltrami Co., and the third state record of not one but 4 King Eiders on Lower Red Lake, not on Lake Superior. Both Redshouldered and Northern Goshawks were recorded in late May on the same day in Brainerd, Rough-legged Hawks staged an unprecedented late migration, and both Golden Eagles and Peregrine Falcons appeared in encouraging numbers.

Rails made a good showing, especially the "hordes" of Yellow Rails at the Waubun marsh, and the very elusive Black Rail made a rare appearance at Frontenac. Shorebirds perhaps made the biggest news, with many observers discovering the Marshall sewage ponds, now the best shorebirding place in the state. No less than 34 shorebirds were recorded this spring, and all but 4 of them were found at Marshall. The highlights of this family were 3 Western Sandpiper reports, 2 Buff-breasted Sandpiper records, an impressive peak of Whimbreis at Duluth, more than the usual Knot records including a rare appearance inland in Pennington Co., and the second state record of a Ruff in Sibley Co. The uncommon Iceland Gull made a late appearance at Two Harbors, the very rare Ivory Gull showed up at Knife River only 5 months after last fall's report, and a good peak of 14,000 Common Terns was at Duluth. Rare owls made a good showing: Saw-whet Owls were commoner than usual, there was one record each of the Barn, Burrowing and Boreal Owls, and Great Gray Owls again appeared near last year's nesting area in Roseau Co.

Received too late to include in the main body of this report was a Northern American Three-toed Woodpecker on March 1 south of its normal range in Stearns Co. Only one Varied Thrush was seen this year, and not until March in Two Harbors. Many shrikes were again reported, and again many of them were misidentified. Both a Bell's Vireo and a Henslow's Sparrow, normally recorded only in the south east, appeared west in Jackson and Lyon Counties.

Warblers were extremely late and disappointing in most places, with some areas noting no appreciable migration at all. The Blue Grosbeak continues to occur in the southwest and may be ex

tending its range, since it has been seen in Pipestone Co. sirice 1969. A Baird's Sparrow was again reported at Felton (but with no details}, and Smith's Longspur's again proved their regularity by appearing twice in Lyon Co. R. Ochlenschlager did some good collecting in Wadena Co. where he found a female Red Crossbill with a brood patch, a Red-shouldered Hawk north of its normal range, and both Chestnut-collared Longspur and Sprague's Pipit east of their Felton Prairie.

And it was a poor year for winter finches with few redpolls or siskins reported, and no Pine Grosbeak or White-winged Crossbill reported by anyone.

As a final note to this spring season, KE, PE, and RR found no less than 166 species on the May 15 Big Day. The same basic itinerary as last year was used when 153 were found. 166 is undoubtedly the highest total ever compiled in the state in one day, and certainly one of the highest May counts in the nation. On the same day 160 M. 0. U. members spread out over southwest Minn. to record an aggregate 163 species. Combining these two lists results in a formidable 188 species found in the state in one day!