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Seasonal Report Archive for The Loon | |
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The 2020-Spring Season 1 March through 31 May 2020 William C. Marengo, and Brian T. Smith |
The state’s fifth Bullock’s Oriole and seventh Townsend’s Warbler highlighted this season in which 318 species were reported. In addition to those two Accidentals, the list of Casual species found was long, and many were represented by multiple records — Eurasian Wigeon (two records), Black-necked Stilt (three), California Gull (three), Glossy Ibis (two), Barn Owl (one), White-eyed Vireo (one), Mountain Bluebird (three), Eurasian Tree Sparrow (three), Kentucky Warbler (one), Yellow-throated Warbler (six), Painted Bunting (two). Not to be outdone, several Rare-Regular species were found in record numbers.
Early northbound geese began arriving in Minnesota at the very end of February and were reported in the northern half of the state after the first week of March. Two drake Blue-winged X Cinnamon Teal were found in the second half of April; since this hybrid is so common in the state, special care should be taken to document any apparently pure Cinnamon Teal found. A drake Eurasian Wigeon provided a first record for Becker County, while another graced Pelican Lake in Wright County for two days. A tally of 15,000 Greater Scaup at Park Point in Duluth was record-high. Two Harlequin Ducks were in Grand Marais until early May; another was found along the Rainy River in late May. Scoters were sparse in Minnesota this season. Surfs were found on Lake Winona and in Duluth, three White-wingeds were in St. Louis County, but Blacks were absent.
A first county record of White-winged Dove for Polk was also record early for the state by nine days; another was a second record for Blue Earth County where it appeared in the same yard as the first one did in May 2017.
An Eastern Whip-poor-will calling in Morris provided a first record for Stevens County. Record early Virginia Rails were discovered at three different Hennepin County locations. Common Gallinules made an excellent showing, with reports from seven south counties, tying the most ever for the spring season.
Four Black-necked Stilts in three counties, including first records for Cottonwood and Freeborn, extended the spring streak of this species to nine seasons. Piping Plovers are found in an average of 1.5 counties each spring. This season produced six individuals in seven different counties, including a first record for Freeborn County — an outstanding tally for the season. During spring, Whimbrels are more readily found in the northern half of the state than south. This is true even if one ignores data from the Lake Superior shoreline, which is the best place to look for them in this season. This year, Whimbrels were found in a record ten counties, two south and eight north. A flock of 210 Willets in St. Louis County smashed the previous high count for the northern counties in the state (40, Agassiz N.W.R.) and provided the second highest count ever statewide.
The only jaeger for the season was a light-morph adult at Park Point in late May. Several gull species were found north in notable concentrations — 1,200 Franklin’s Gulls at Agassiz N.W.R., 20,000 Ring-billed Gulls at Interstate Island W.M.A., and 2,000 Herring Gulls at Park Point. Three reports of California Gulls, including a first for Scott County, matched the total for this species over the entire prior ten spring seasons. Iceland Gulls (mostly Thayer’s) were only found in five counties around the Twin Cities and Duluth. Lesser Black-backeds appeared in 11 counties, the most ever for any season. On the other hand, Great Black-backeds were only seen in Duluth, where now they’ve been seen every spring for 13 years.
South reports of Red-throated Loon average one every two years, so individuals in both Rice and Sherburne counties were nice discoveries; all north reports came from St. Louis. Three Snowy Egrets was the lowest spring total since 2015, while one Little Blue Heron in Grant was average for a spring season. Cattle Egrets were widely reported southwest of a line from Polk to Dakota counties.
The movement of Plegadis ibis through Minnesota this season was spectacular, only surpassed by spring 2013. The state’s 12th and 13th records of Glossy Ibis were found in Jackson and Watonwan counties, the latter a first for that county; all but one of these 13 records have been in spring. White-faced Ibis were record early south in Lyon County and in record high spring numbers in Jackson County. Their presence in 18 south counties was the most ever; only spring 2013 saw a more widespread presence when they were located in 17 south and 9 north counties. Only the second apparent hybrid of these two species was found this season, the first being also in 2013.
A Barn Owl discovered deceased in Corcoran was only the second record for Hennepin County; the first was in September 1965 and prior to the establishment of the state’s records committee. Two additional reports from Houston County are still pending before that committee. Snowy Owls were the scarcest they’ve been in any spring since 2011. Northern Hawk Owls were found in Aitkin, Hubbard, and St. Louis counties during the first half of March, then none until individuals were reported from Lake in late May. Lake County also hosted a Great Gray Owl in late May — a possible breeder? Only one Boreal Owl was detected, in late March along the Gunflint Trail in Cook County.
Prairie Falcons were reported during the first week of March from both Rock and Rice counties; the latter report was a county-first. Six reports of Say’s Phoebes was triple the average number reported in recent spring seasons; this year’s individuals provided first records for Isanti and Stearns counties. A White-eyed Vireo in Carver Park Reserve was the only record for this species.
Common Ravens were found in 16 south counties — double the average over the prior ten spring seasons; one in Kandiyohi was a county-first. As ravens expand southward, Tufted Titmouses are heading in the opposite direction and provided Kanabec with a first county record this season. Carolina Wren reports were also up; their eight south reports set a new high total for spring.
Mountain Bluebirds were found in Becker, Clay, and Yellow Medicine. A Townsend’s Solitaire in early March at the Sand Dunes State Forest was not unexpected as they often overwinter there, but one in Duluth at Park Point in late May was extraordinary. The only Varied Thrush found was in Anoka County in late March. This season’s three Eurasian Tree Sparrows didn’t quite match last spring’s four, but one of them did provide a first record for Fillmore County.
Among the lingering winter finches, Pine Grosbeak and Common Redpoll numbers were quite low, and no Hoary Redpolls were found. It was a good, though not great, year for both crossbills. Smith’s Longspurs were seen in three counties, which is only slightly below average; what was notable about them was that their window of occurrence in the state was so narrow this year — only a five-day period in mid-April.
Spotted Towhees were seen in Morrison and Lyon counties, and an apparent Spotted X Eastern towhee hybrid was photographed in Blue Earth County. Spring 2019’s third and fourth state record of Bullock’s Oriole was followed by another this season in Crow Wing County. Great-tailed Grackles have been increasing their foothold in the southwestern corner of the state recently; this season one was as far north and east as Meeker, a first record for that county.
Warblers also produced a number of first county records, including Prothonotary Warbler for Martin, Connecticut Warbler for Sibley, Hooded Warbler for Aitkin, and Pine Warbler for Cottonwood County. A Kentucky Warbler at Camden State Park was only the second record for Lyon County. Yellow-throated Warbler numbers in the southeastern quadrant of the state continued to grow and this year produced first records for Benton, Chisago, and Isanti counties. Perhaps the best warbler found this season was the state’s seventh Townsend’s Warbler in late April, a first for Washington County.
Twenty-eight Summer Tanagers was the highest season-tally ever in Minnesota and included a first record for Koochiching County. Seven Western Tanagers couldn’t quite match spring 2019’s eight, but it was still well above the recent average of five and included a first county record for Fillmore. An apparent Rose-breasted X Black-headed Grosbeak was nicely photographed at Forestville State Park. Two male Painted Buntings were found in May, one a first record for Big Stone County. With these records, there have now been 30 Painted Buntings found in the state — almost all adult males, a few immature males, and none identified as a female. Are we missing half of the Painted Buntings that visit Minnesota? (For the quibblers, there is one record of a female from 1893, but Roberts passed that bird off as an escaped cage bird due to feather wear. See The Loon 37:150 for more on that story.)
Weather: March began with above normal temperatures in the south and below normal in the north, including a month-low of -30ºF in Cotton on 2 March. That low was followed by the month’s high, 64ºF, only a week later in the Southwest. April was cooler than usual, in part due to near-record lows experienced mid-month in parts of the state. May saw a strong warming trend as the statewide average temperature for first half of May was 5.8ºF below normal, while the second half was 2.3ºF above normal.
March monthly precipitation totals, most of which occurred in the second half of the month, were generally above normal across the eastern half of the state and below normal in the Northwest. A storm brought strong winds and heavy rain south and snow north on 28–29 March. In the first days of April a strong cold front brought heavy snow and ice to the Northwest. Another storm brought 6–7 inches of snow to central and southern parts of the state on 12 April. A low pressure system that crossed the state 16–17 May brought soaking rains, including 2.9 inches to the Twin Cities. In spite of this event, precipitation totals for the Twin Cities were near normal, in contrast to well above normal totals for the Southeast and below normal levels for northern Minnesota.
Documented reports still under review: Barn Owl 3/11, 4/25 Houston (Perkins Valley).
Insufficiently documented records of Regular species: Cinnamon Teal 4/22 Morrison (no details; Blue-winged Teal X Cinnamon Teal is not an unusual hybrid in Minnesota); Short-billed Dowitcher 4/30 Steele (early date; see The Loon 89:160–161); American Woodcock 3/7 Todd (early north date); Northern Shrike 5/12 St. Louis (season’s latest by three weeks); Swainson’s Thrush 4/12 Meeker (very early); Grasshopper Sparrow 3/24 Hennepin (record early by two weeks); Clay-colored Sparrow 3/31 Washington (also record early; description doesn’t rule out winter Chipping Sparrow).
Acknowledgments: With this report Bill Marengo is stepping down from his position as a co-author of the spring and fall Seasonal Reports. In addition to his other services to the MOU, Bill has been writing these reports since the Fall 2005 report — a fifteen-year tenure, for which we are extremely grateful. Special thanks to Dave Cahlander for building and maintaining the seasonal reports submission and production web pages (http://moumn.org/moureports/season.php) through which most of this data is collected and organized. We are also grateful for the additional data provided for the creation of this report by eBird (http://www.ebird.org, accessed June 2020). Medians of recent arrivals and departures are based on published and unpublished Seasonal Report data from the 25-year period 1995 through 2019. Finally and most importantly, our appreciation goes out to all those who contribute their sightings data to the MOU. We are especially grateful to those who respond to our requests for details and who submit observations online.
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Species |
N | S |
Information |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whistling-Ducks, Geese, Swans, Ducks | |||||
| Snow Goose (Anser caerulescens) | 12 | 44 | Earliest south migrants at the end of February, followed by 3/1 Faribault (4) RLF, REn, Nobles (3, Okabena Lake) KEm, 3/4 Lyon (5) GWe, and reports from 12 additional counties on 3/7. Early north 3/8 Grant (200, North Ottawa Impoundment) WPl, 3/8–16 Traverse DLP, ANy, 3/9 Aitkin (2) KCR. High counts 3/30 Clay (40,000, near Moorhead) ebd, 3/25 Grant (12,000, North Ottawa Impoundment) REn, RLF. Late south 5/25 Blue Earth ChH, 5/29 Nicollet ChH, 5/30 Yellow Medicine NMe (median 6/8). Late north 4/28 Marshall (2) JHs, 5/1 Lake JlB, 5/29 Clay (3) CMk (median 5/30). | ||
| Ross's Goose (Anser rossii) | 7 | 21 | Earliest south migrants 2/29, followed by 3/4 Lyon (20) GWe and in seven counties on 3/7. All north 3/8–21 Grant (max. 50, North Ottawa Impoundment) WPl, m.ob., 3/25 Otter Tail (5) REn, RLF, Wilkin (5) REn, RLF, 3/26 – 4/9 Traverse DLP, ANy, 3/27 – 4/1 Clay (max. 6) PBB, m.ob., 4/4 Itasca SC, TCL, 4/6 Douglas ANy. High count 3/7 Jackson (150, estimated count) PEJ, DFN. Late south 5/12 Lyon RLF, REn, RJS, 5/17–18 Carver MwT, JTg (median 5/14). | ||
| Greater White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons) | 13 | 52 | Please see winter report for early south arrivals. Early north (median 3/20) 3/8 Grant (10) WPl, Traverse DLP, 3/14 Traverse KEm, JWH, 3/20 Otter Tail (400) HeH, ShG, Grant (2) CNn. High counts 3/7 Nobles (6,000, near Bigelow) ASu, EzH, IsH, 3/7 Jackson (5,215) PEJ, DFN. Late south 5/16 Martin JGW, m.ob., 5/16–24 Stearns (max. 2, Albany W.T.P.) DGu, PLJ, PCC (median 5/26). Late north 5/14 Grant (4) WPl, 5/20 Norman JH, 5/29 Otter Tail TFu (median 17). | ||
| Cackling Goose (Branta hutchinsii) | 12 | 45 | See winter report for early south migrants. Early north (median 3/17) 3/8 Traverse DLP, 3/21 Becker (2) MO, Kanabec JBU, 3/22 Grant (6) MKu. Descriptions provided in varying detail from 18 counties. High counts 3/15 Big Stone (150, Big Stone Lake) KEm, JWH, 3/9 Lyon (130, Balaton) GWe. Late south 5/2 Chisago ELC, 5/3–7 Faribault (2) PEJ (median 5/13). Late north 4/10 Clay (2) LEv, 5/15 Carlton ebd (median 5/21). | ||
| Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) | 34 | 53 | Reported from all 87 counties. | ||
| Greater White-fronted Goose X Canada Goose (Anser albifrons X Branta canadensis) | 1 | 2 | Three reports with scant to no details: 3/7 Lac qui Parle FAE, 3/9 Lyon GWe, 3/28–5/9 Cass DoH, ebd. | ||
| Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) | 5 | All reports: 3/8 – 5/25 (1, Minnesota Valley N.W.R., Old Cedar Ave. Bridge) ph. †CSl, CSc, m.ob., 3/10–11 Scott (1, Minnesota Valley N.W.R., Wilkie Unit) ph. BAb, HHD, 3/11 Kandiyohi (1, Lake Lillian) RAE, 3/27 Steele (1, Armstrong Wetland Restoration) LiH, 4/4 Rice (1, Sprague Lake) RBW, DWK. | |||
| Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator) | 33 | 53 | Reported statewide, including 3/9 Pipestone (8) VKl and 3/15–17 Rock (6) ebd, m.ob. There were several high counts of 200+ birds reported in March, but none explicitly identified why the swans were this species. | ||
| Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus) | 23 | 49 | Early south away from overwintering individuals (median 3/6) 3/2 Houston (12) SHo, Ramsey (4) ebd, 3/2–7 Hennepin (8) SOa, ACr, 3/4–7 Rice TFB. Early north (median 3/18) 3/8 Traverse DLP, 3/21 Becker MaJ, Kanabec SPS, JBu, 3/21–22 Grant (max. 300, North Ottawa Impoundment) MaJ, MKu. High count 3/15 Houston (2,250, near La Crescent) LHl. Late south 5/10 Hennepin ebd, Anoka (2) ebd, 5/19 Carver COg (median 5/5). Late north 5/9 Cass (3) ebd, Clay (14) PBB, 5/10 Otter Tail (2) ebd, 5/28 Hubbard (2) ebd (median 5/28). | ||
| Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) | 32 | 53 | Reported statewide. See winter report for overwintering and early south migrants. Early north 3/8 Traverse DLP, 3/12–14 Douglas (max. 8) BEc. High counts 3/15 Sibley (300, near Jessenland) JWZ, 3/17 Sherburne (250, Island View Park) JOs. | ||
| Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors) | 33 | 53 | Reported from every county but Koochiching. Early south 3/1 Nobles (2, Okabena Lake) RLF, m.ob., 3/7 Rock (3) REn, RLF, CLu, 3/8 Winona (4) ebd. Early north 3/29–30 Grant (max. 5, North Ottawa Impoundment) CRa, ebd, 4/1 Clay TCL. High count 4/27 Yellow Medicine (400, Timm Lake) ebd. | ||
| Blue-winged Teal X Cinnamon Teal (Spatula discors X S. cyanoptera) | 3 | All reports: 4/18–23 Goodhue (adult male, Lake Byllesby) RBW, MZa, †TGi, 4/21 – 5/2 Dakota (adult male, same individual reported from Goodhue side) FFa, ph. BHe, ph. TGi, EzH, 4/23 Freeborn (adult male) ph. †PEJ. | |||
| Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata) | 30 | 53 | Reported in 83 counties. As many as 17 overwintered Scott (Blue Lake W.T.P.) Early north (median 3/23) 3/17 Becker NaH, Traverse DLP, 3/25 Grant (20, North Ottawa Impoundment) REn, RLF. High count 4/15 Grant (400, North Ottawa Impoundment) ToR. | ||
| Gadwall (Mareca strepera) | 29 | 53 | Reported statewide. See winter report for overwintering and early south migrants. Early north (median 3/16) 3/8 Traverse DLP, 3/17 Clay (2) CMk, 3/24 Grant WPl. High counts 3/13 Houston (400, near La Crescent) LHl, 3/25 Grant (350, North Ottawa Impoundment) REn, RLF. | ||
| EURASIAN WIGEON (Mareca penelope) | 1 | 1 | All reports: 4/6 Becker (adult drake, Hamden Slough N.W.R.) BDS, ph. REn, m.ob., 4/16–17 Wright (adult drake, Pelican Lake boat launch) ph. †DWK, ph. †KEm, m.ob. | ||
| American Wigeon (Mareca americana) | 29 | 53 | See winter report for overwintering and early spring migrants. Early north (median 3/26) 3/22–25 Grant (max. 57, North Ottawa Impoundment) MKu, WPl, REn, RLF, 3/26 Clay ebd. High counts 4/15 Grant (140, North Ottawa Impoundment) REn, RLF, 3/10 Lyon (130, Green Valley W.M.A.) GWe. | ||
| Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) | 33 | 53 | Reported from every county but Lake of the Woods. High counts 3/10 Lyon (13,500, estimated by groups of 50–100, Green Valley W.M.A.) GWe, 3/7 Nobles (8,000, estimated, Bigelow W.M.A.) IsH, EzH, ASu. | ||
| Gadwall X Mallard (Mareca strepera X Anas platyrhynchos) | 1 | One reported 3/23 Freeborn (drake “Brewer’s Duck,” Geneva Lake) ph. †PEJ. | |||
| American Black Duck (Anas rubripes) | 8 | 22 | High counts 3/26 St. Louis (23, Park Point) JLK, 3/12 Dakota (14, Lake Byllesby) PEJ. Late south 5/14 Stearns PCC, 5/25 Wright JCr, 5/29 Steele SHo (median 5/20). | ||
| Mallard X American Black Duck (Anas platyrhynchos X A. rubripes) | 3 | 5 | Five south reports: 3/1 Scott IVa, MwT, Wright ASu, 3/11 Winona PEJ, 3/23 Freeborn PEJ, 3/27 Hennepin ClB. Three north reports: 3/14 Otter Tail ebd, 3/27 – 5/10 St. Louis BEA, m.ob., 5/25 Kanabec ASu. | ||
| Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) | 23 | 50 | See winter report for overwintering and early south migrants. Early north (median 3/16) 3/8 Traverse DLP, 3/21 Todd RAE, 3/24–25 Grant (max. 110, North Ottawa Impoundment) WPl, REn, RLF. High count 3/7 Nobles (1,000, Bigelow W.M.A.) EzH, IsH, ASu. | ||
| Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca) | 28 | 52 | Overwintered south in several counties. First migrants detected 2/29 in Stearns, then 3/1 Nobles (max. 32, Okabena Lake) REn, RLF, KEM, Rice TFB. Early north (median 3/25) 3/16 Morrison MJB, 3/24–25 Grant (max. 23, North Ottawa Impoundment) WPl, REN, RLF. High counts 3/11 Nobles (150, Fenmont W.M.A.) KEm, 4/20 Stearns (125, Getchell Lake) MJB. | ||
| Canvasback (Aythya valisineria) | 24 | 53 | Early south (median 2/28) 3/1 Wabasha PEJ, 3/3 Watonwan (2) STa, and in Jackson, Martin, Murray, Nobles, and Rice on 3/7. Early north (median 3/27) 3/22–24 Grant (max. 20, North Ottawa Impoundment) MKu, NaH, WPl. High counts 3/24 Wabasha (2,500, Pool #5) PEJ, 4/5 Kandiyohi (900, Lake Lillian) JCC. | ||
| Redhead (Aythya americana) | 27 | 53 | Early south (median 2/23) 3/1 Goodhue PEJ, Nobles (max. 7, Okabena Lake) RLF, m.ob., Rice TFB, Sherburne (2, Ellison Park) BAb. Early north (median 3/20) 3/22–26 Grant (max. 40, North Ottawa Impoundment) MKu, WPl, SDz, 3/26 Traverse DLP. High counts 3/24 Wabasha (975, Pool #5) PEJ, 4/5 Kandiyohi (750, Lake Lillian) JCC. | ||
| Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris) | 33 | 53 | Reported in every county but Red Lake. See winter report for overwintering and early south migrants. Early north (median 3/16) 3/8 Traverse DLP, 3/22–23 Grant (max. 7, North Ottawa Impoundment) MKu, NaH. High counts 3/13 Houston (1,500, Upper Mississippi River N.W.R.) ASu, 4/10 Freeborn (1,000, Geneva Lake) JBu, 4/12 Aitkin (1,000, Rice Lake N.W.R.) LBa. | ||
| Greater Scaup (Aythya marila) | 24 | 50 | Early south away from overwintering areas (median 3/4) 3/1–8 Nobles (max. 40, Okabena Lake) RLF, REn, m.ob., 3/7 Olmsted (Silver Lake) MiD, 3/8 Lac qui Parle (2) REn, RLF, Rice DAB, ANy. Early north (median 3/31) 3/20 St. Louis (Interstate Island W.M.A.) PHS, 3/24–25 Grant (max. 20, North Ottawa Impoundment) WPl, REn, RLF. High count 4/20 St. Louis (15,000, Park Point; counted by hundreds and then thousands.) JLK. Late south 5/9 Chisago (2) ebd, Stearns (2, Albany W.T.P.) MJB, 5/12 Winona (2) MJM, 5/13 Redwood MiO, JSc (median 5/18). Late north 5/24 Douglas RAE, 5/26 Hubbard REn, RLF, and in St. Louis through 5/30 BEA, but also see summer report (median 6/2). | ||
| Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis) | 29 | 53 | Overwintered in Scott. Early south (median 2/22) 3/1 Goodhue PEJ, 3/1–3 Nobles (max. 9, Okabena Lake) RLF, m.ob., 3/2 Big Stone DLP. Early north (median 3/13) 3/12–14 Douglas (18) BEc, 3/17 Becker NaH, Clay (Moorhead W.T.P.) CMk. High counts 4/20 St. Louis (3,000, Park Point) KRE, 4/5 Houston (2,500, Upper Mississippi River N.W.R.) ASu. | ||
| Ring-necked Duck X Lesser Scaup (Aythya collaris X A. affinis) | 2 | Two reports: 3/13 Winona (male, Pool #5) †PEJ, 4/11 Freeborn (male, Geneva Lake) ph. †PEJ. | |||
| Harlequin Duck (Histrionicus histrionicus) | 2 | Two north reports: 3/27 – 5/9 Cook (2, Grand Marais Harbor; likely the same pair reported during winter) LWd, m.ob., 5/25 Koochiching (male, Rainy River; first reported on Ontario side 5/20) ph. JVM. | |||
| Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata) | 1 | 1 | All reports: 4/4–7 Winona (male, Lake Winona) LRd, m.ob., 5/14–17 St. Louis (1, Park Point) JGz, PSk, JLK, JPR. | ||
| White-winged Scoter (Melanitta deglandi) | 1 | All reports: 5/14 St. Louis (2, Stoney Point) StK, St. Louis (1, Park Point) MLH. | |||
| Black Scoter (Melanitta americana) | No reports. | ||||
| Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) | 5 | 4 | Four south reports: 3/7–10 Anoka/Hennepin (1, Coon Rapids Dam) ARh, 3/11–24 and 4/17 Wabasha (two different juveniles, Pool #5), 3/15–20 Rice (1, Cannon/Wells lakes causeway) †DAB, MwT, m.ob. Two north reports away from Lake Superior 4/1–2 Douglas (1, Lake Le Homme Dieu) JPE, 4/20 Mille Lacs (juvenile, Lake Mille Lacs) PEJ. Also reported through 5/6 in Lake, and through 5/24 in Cook and St. Louis. High count 5/20 Cook (48) PEJ. | ||
| Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) | 30 | 53 | Overwintered in Scott. Early south (median 3/5) 3/1 Goodhue JPR, Nobles RJF, REn, KEM, 3/5 Lyon GWe, Ramsey KSi, 3/7 Jackson PEJ, DFN. Early north (median 3/21) 3/4 St. Louis (Silver Lake) NPo, 3/17 Pine (2) ebd, 3/20 Otter Tail HeH, ShG. High counts 4/5 Houston (150, Upper Mississippi River N.W.R.) ASu, 4/5 Steele (150: 100 at Rice Lake S.P., 50 at Armstrong Wetland Restoration) ClB. Late south 5/25 Steele JMn, 5/27 Brown STa, 5/31 Hennepin MZa (median 5/31). | ||
| Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) | 32 | 52 | High count 4/10–22 Itasca (500, Lake Winnibigoshish) TCL. Late south 5/23–31 Hennepin (1, French Lake) DWK, ClB, MZa. | ||
| Bufflehead X Common Goldeneye (Bucephala albeola X B. clangula) | 2 | Two reports: 3/2 Wright (male, Ellison Park) PLJ, 3/27 Wabasha (female, Pool #4) ph. †PEJ. | |||
| Barrow's Goldeneye (Bucephala islandica) | No reports. | ||||
| Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) | 30 | 53 | Reported statewide. See winter report for overwintering and early south migrants. Early north (median 3/10) 3/6–7 St. Louis (Silver Lake) JuG, ebd, 3/8 Cass (2) ebd, Pine ebd, Traverse DLP. High counts 3/14 Le Sueur (100, Tetonka Lake) ebd, 4/8 Stearns (100, Albany W.T.P.) SCh. | ||
| Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) | 28 | 53 | High counts 3/11 Hennepin (300, Old Cedar Ave. Bridge) MSw, 3/31 Lyon (238, Cottonwood Lake) RJS. Late south 5/19 Sherburne (Sherburne N.W.R.) ebd, 5/21 Chisago (Braham Island) GaJ, 5/23 Carver (Minnesota Valley N.W.R.) JCy (median 5/21). | ||
| Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator) | 24 | 50 | Overwintered in Goodhue. Early south (median 3/4) 3/7–8 Nobles BTS, DWK, 3/8 Carver (2, Minnesota Valley N.W.R.) JCy, DWK, 3/11 Wabasha PEJ. Early north (median 3/31) 3/9 Lake (2) ebd, 3/22 St. Louis (2, Stoney Point) StK, 3/23 Cook (6) ebd. High count 4/20 St. Louis (428, W.S.H.C. - Enger Tower) JPR, FJN. | ||
| Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) | 22 | 52 | Overwintered in Scott. Early south (median 3/7) 3/1 Chippewa (1, Rice Park) AaL, CLu, 3/4 Lac qui Parle DLP, 3/7 Hennepin (2, Minnesota Valley N.W.R.) DgC, m.ob. Early north (median 3/30) 3/30 Traverse ANy, 3/30 – 4/11 Grant (max. 35) REn, CRa, m.ob. High count 4/21 Rice (695, Cannon Lake) KEm, JGW. | ||
| Partridge, Pheasants, Grouse, Turkeys | |||||
| Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) | 31 | 53 | Reports from 84 counties, the highest number ever in the spring season; birds were not reported only from Koochiching, Lake of the Woods, Roseau. High count 3/3 Traverse (72, Browns Valley) ebd. | ||
| Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus) | 29 | 15 | Found throughout normal range, essentially northeast of a line from Norman to Stearns to Fillmore. Spring drumming counts were believed to be statistically unchanged in 2020 according to MN DNR. (Counts weren’t conducted in the southeastern part of the state due to COVID restrictions.) | ||
| Spruce Grouse (Canachites canadensis) | 5 | Sporadic reports throughout the season from Cook, Lake, St. Louis. Also reported 5/8–18 Koochiching (max. 5, the season’s high count, all near Big Falls) ebd, 5/13 Itasca SC. | |||
| Sharp-tailed Grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus) | 13 | 1 | One south report: 4/30 Yellow Medicine (1, Mound Spring Prairie) BRB. High count 3/1 Polk (24, Agassiz Audubon Sanctuary) HHu. Additional north reports from Aitkin, Carlton, Clay, Clearwater, Kittson, Koochiching, Lake of the Woods, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Red Lake, and St. Louis. | ||
| Greater Prairie-Chicken (Tympanuchus cupido) | 6 | All reports were from counties in the Northwest and West-central regions: Becker, Clay, Norman, Polk, Red Lake, and Wilkin. High count 5/7 Wilkin (25) SHo. | |||
| Gray Partridge (Perdix perdix) | 4 | 10 | Most reports from the southern third or Northwest region of the state. High count 3/7 Pennington (6, near Saint Hilare) SHo; all other reports were of 1–2 birds. | ||
| Ring-necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) | 19 | 53 | Reported south of a line from Norman to Carlton. High count 3/31 Otter Tail (45, Otter Tail Prairie S.N.A.) REn, RLF. | ||
| Grebes | |||||
| Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) | 25 | 52 | Early south (median 3/7) 3/5–6 Scott (Blue Lake W.T.P.) BAb, HHD, PEJ, 3/7 Rice RBW, TFB. Early north (median 3/23) 3/21 Becker NaH, RAE, 3/26 Itasca TCL, 3/27 Crow Wing (3) PSP, Itasca (2) TCL. High counts 4/20 Dakota (42, Orchard Lake) ADS, 4/2 Olmsted (41, County 9 Marsh) LAV. | ||
| Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus) | 24 | 44 | Early south (median 3/23) 3/13 Houston ASu, 3/27–28 Hennepin (2, Purgatory Creek Wetlands) CMB, m.ob. Early north (median 4/5) 4/8–11 St. Louis PSk, JfD, 4/10 Aitkin EEO, Becker ASM, Cass TCL. High count 4/27 Hennepin (186, counted individually) CMB. Late south 5/15 Anoka RP, RCl, 5/20–22 Hennepin CRa, ClB, CWB (median 5/24). Late north 5/24–26 Polk (max. 6, Agassiz Valley) HHu, JCJ, 5/30 Marshall (Agassiz Valley) HHu (median 6/6). | ||
| Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena) | 25 | 34 | Early south (median 4/2) 4/3 Sherburne (2) PLJ, MaJ, and then from Goodhue, Hennepin, Steele, Waseca, Washington on 4/4. Early north (median 4/7) 4/5 St. Louis JLK, 4/9–10 Lake (2) ABm. High count 4/29 St. Louis (262, Park Point) JLK. | ||
| Eared Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis) | 12 | 26 | Early south (median 4/10) 4/7 Washington PNi, 4/10 Olmsted LHl, Ramsey LiH, 4/11 Brown (2) BTS, Dakota (2) ASu. Early north (median 4/18) 4/26–29 Grant (2) WPl, LBa, 4/27 Norman ANy, 4/28–29 Marshall (2) ANy, HHu. High count 5/23 Polk (35, Agassiz Valley Impoundment) HHu. | ||
| Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis) | 9 | 12 | Early south (median 4/10) 4/14 Blue Earth BHW, 4/24 Benton HHD, BWF, 4/25 Sherburne ebd. Early north (median 4/20) 4/22–28 Grant (max. 8) CNn, MO, 4/26 Douglas (12) JCC, 4/28 Clay TCL. High count 5/25 Freeborn (16, Myre-Big Island S.P.) ebd. | ||
| CLARK'S GREBE (Aechmophorus clarkii) | No reports. | ||||
| Pigeons, Doves | |||||
| Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) | 34 | 53 | Reported from every county. High counts 3/6 Scott (200, Minnesota Valley N.W.R.) ebd, 4/11 Ramsey (200, Pig’s Eye R.P.) AHn. | ||
| Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) | 20 | 50 | Found in most counties southwest of a line from Kittson to Itasca to Pine. High count 3/7 Dakota (18, Miesville) KDS, AJF. | ||
| White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica) | 1 | 1 | Two reports: 4/6–7 Polk (private residence, near Tympanuchus Prairie) ph. SJo, REn, RLF, 4/28–5/2 Blue Earth (1, private residence, Lake Crystal) RJA, ph. †ChH, ph. KEm. | ||
| Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) | 34 | 53 | Reported from every county. High counts 4/28 Marshall (32) JHs, 3/1 Wabasha (22) MNb. | ||
| Cuckoos | |||||
| Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus) | 4 | 24 | Early south (median 5/15) 5/12 Houston (Reno) MaJ, 5/15 Carver (Carver P.R.) JCy, 5/16 Ramsey (Arden Hills) CMu. All north 5/23 Pine (Chengwatana S.F.) ebd, 5/25 Pine KrM, Polk (Warren) HHu, 5/28 Douglas (Lake Carlos S.P.) ebd, 5/29 Kittson JMs. Highest tally only 2. | ||
| Black-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus erythropthalmus) | 14 | 25 | Early south (median 5/9) 5/11 Ramsey EzH, IsH, 5/14 Meeker LiH, 5/14–17 Mower SWm. Early north (median 5/16) 5/21–23 Crow Wing ebd, 5/23 St. Louis (Stone Lake Rd.) MHu, St. Louis (C.R. 5 south of Meadowlands) ebd, Wadena ABL. Highest count only two. | ||
| Nightjars | |||||
| Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor) | 23 | 50 | Early south (median 5/3) 5/3 Washington (Grey Cloud Dunes S.N.A.) DSh, 5/4 Faribault BAy, 5/6 Washington ebd. Early north (median 5/11) 5/16 Morrison SEm, 5/17 Otter Tail (2) JsS, 5/19 Mahnomen JH. High count 5/25 Olmsted (70, Lake Zumbro) SHo. | ||
| Eastern Whip-poor-will (Antrostomus vociferus) | 11 | 19 | Early south (median 4/29) 4/27 Houston KAB, 4/27–29 Scott ebd, RiC, 4/29 Lyon (Marshall) NMe, GWe. Early north (median 5/7) 5/1 Becker HeH, 5/2 St. Louis MPi, 5/5 Crow Wing PSP. High counts 5/22 Sherburne (5, Sherburne N.W.R.) DgM, 5/29 Cass (5, near Motley) ebd. New county record 5/20 Stevens (Morris) DEg. | ||
| Swifts | |||||
| Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica) | 30 | 48 | Early south (median 4/21) 4/19 Ramsey (2) CMu, 4/23 Hennepin ASu, 4/24 Dakota MwT, Murray (2) RJS, ebd, Ramsey (6) ebd. Early north (median 5/1) 5/2 Grant ebd, 5/2–6 St. Louis (max. 6, W.S.H.C.) FJN, m.ob., 5/3 Clay (2) PBB, Kanabec SPS. High count 5/23 Lake (182, Mary MacDonald Center, roost site) PgR. | ||
| Hummingbirds | |||||
| Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) | 31 | 51 | Early south (median 5/1) 4/30 Houston KRz, Washington ebd, 5/1 Dakota GRe, Goodhue PEJ, m.ob., Hennepin ebd, Olmsted SHk, Ramsey PAl, Steele NFT. Early north (median 5/5) 5/3 Douglas JPE, Itasca (2) ebd, 5/4–5 Crow Wing MJB, m.ob., 5/5 Cass DoH, Todd SDi. High counts 5/28 St. Louis (18, Bergen Lake) NPo, 5/26 Lake (12, Two Harbors) ebd. | ||
| Rails, Gallinules, Coots | |||||
| Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola) | 21 | 47 | All March reports south (median 4/15): 3/11–18 Hennepin (Old Cedar Ave. Bridge) TAT, m.ob., 3/17 Hennepin (Westwood Hills N.C.) SMC, 3/22 Hennepin (Bass Ponds) ebd. Early north (median 5/1) 4/25 Otter Tail (Buse Twp.) ebd, 4/25–28 Otter Tail (Eagle Lake Twp.) JsS, 4/30 St. Louis JPR. High count 5/12 Jackson (6, Christiania W.P.A.) RLF, REn. | ||
| Sora (Porzana carolina) | 28 | 51 | Early south (median 4/12) 4/1–5 Olmsted MHn, REn, RLF, Wabasha LHv, ASu, 4/4 Benton HHD, Washington GJa. Early north (median 4/23) 4/24 Clay ebd, 4/25 Crow Wing PSP, Morrison ebd, 4/26 Otter Tail ebd. High count 5/23 Wilkin (13, Manston W.M.A.) AaL, CLu. | ||
| Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata) | 7 | All south 5/2 Nicollet (2, Swan Lake W.M.A.) KEm, JWH, 5/10–27 Sibley (1, Sand Lake) BWF, ANy, m.ob., 5/11–15 Steele (1, Ellendale W.T.P.) DBz, PSu, m.ob., 5/12–23 Lyon (2, Black Rush Lake W.M.A.) GWe, ph. †NMe, 5/20–25 McLeod (1, Ras-Lyn W.M.A.) ph. †DPG, DBz, 5/29–31+ Goodhue (2, Cannon Valley Trail) ebd, m.ob., 5/31 Waseca (1, Moonan Marsh) PSu. | |||
| American Coot (Fulica americana) | 19 | 52 | Overwintered in Scott. Early south (median 3/1) 3/1 Nobles (Okabena Lake) RLF, REn, 3/4–7 Ramsey (Lake Como) ebd, 3/7 Hennepin (Minnesota Valley N.W.R.) CRM, m.ob., Scott BAb, m.ob. Early north (median 3/20) 3/8 Traverse DLP, 3/14 Otter Tail ebd, 3/25 Grant (North Ottawa Impoundment) REn, RLF. High counts 4/11 Hennepin (1,800, Old Cedar Ave. Bridge) BBr, 4/10 Freeborn (1,500, Geneva Lake) JBu, 4/21 Carver (1,500, Lake Waconia) JWZ. | ||
| Yellow Rail (Coturnicops noveboracensis) | 5 | 1 | One south: 5/15–28 Anoka (Carlos Avery W.M.A.) RMD, LiH, JGW. All north: 4/30 Itasca (private property) †SC, 5/6 Hubbard RLF, REn, 5/12–27 Aitkin (max. 6, McGregor Marsh) JuW, m.ob., 5/23 Roseau JPR, 5/24 Lake of the Woods (9, season’s high count, Norris Roosevelt Rd.) JPR. | ||
| Cranes | |||||
| Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis) | 33 | 44 | Early south (median 3/10) 3/6 Houston (2) ebd, 3/7 Hennepin (2) CRM, m.ob., Ramsey (2) LiH, Rice (max. 7) DAB, MZa, Washington (max. 4) KvM, m.ob. Early north (median 3/17) 3/8 Pine ebd, 3/11 St. Louis (4) LSh, 3/12 Morrison DLP. High counts 3/21 Wabasha (100, near Wabasha) ebd, 4/7 Clay (100, Spring Prairie Preserve) LSl. | ||
| Stilts, Avocets | |||||
| Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus) | 4 | All south: 4/27 Hennepin (2, Colman Lake) ph. JMn, RBW, 5/3 Cottonwood (1, Warren Lake) ph. †JWH, KEm, m.ob., Freeborn (1) ph. †PEJ. | |||
| American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana) | 4 | 24 | Early south (median 4/14) 4/15–16 Lyon (max. 7) NMe, m.ob., 4/17 Lac qui Parle DLP. All north 4/11–22, 5/14–18 Grant (North Ottawa Impoundment) REn, RLF, m.ob., 4/28 Kittson (4, near Karlstad) MGi, Marshall (4, Agassiz Valley Impoundment) HHu, JHs, 5/24 Todd (1, Browerville W.T.P.) AaL. High count 5/3 Olmsted (18, Willow Creek Reservoir) MiD. | ||
| Plovers | |||||
| Black-bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola) | 4 | 18 | Early south (median 4/30) 4/27 Le Sueur BAb, 5/2 Hennepin (Colman Lake) FFa, JMn, 5/3 Jackson (2) KEm, JWH. Early north (median 5/16) 4/26 Clay (Swede Grove Lake) ph. †PBB, 5/15 Grant CNn, 5/16 Clay (6, Swede Grove Lake) PBB. High counts 5/14 Yellow Medicine (13, Timm Lake) KRo, 5/15 Rice (11) TFB. Late south 5/24–26 Yellow Medicine (Timm Lake) JWH, KEm, JGW, GWe, 5/29 Stearns (Albany W.T.P.) PCC (median 6/7). Late north 5/28–30 St. Louis (Park Point) JDx, m.ob., but also see summer report (median 6/6). | ||
| American Golden-Plover (Pluvialis dominica) | 5 | 18 | Early south (median 4/5) 4/10–11 Yellow Medicine (Timm Lake) REn, RLF, GWe, 4/11 Dakota (4) ASu, 4/22 Steele LMS. All north 5/14–24 (max. 3, North Ottawa Impoundment) WPl, 5/20 (1), 5/30 (17) Marshall (Agassiz Valley Impoundment) HHu, 5/22–31 Kanabec (max. 2) HHD, m.ob., 5/23–31 St. Louis (max. 2, Park Point) JLK, m.ob., 5/31 Lake (2, Beaver Bay W.T.P.) JlB, ABm. High count 4/26 Lac qui Parle (69, near Madison) KeL. Late south 5/25 Yellow Medicine (2, Timm Lake) FFa, 5/29–30 Stearns (Albany W.T.P.) MJB, AAL, CLu (median 6/8). See summer report for late north migrants. | ||
| Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) | 34 | 53 | Reported from all 87 counties. Early south (but also see winter report) 3/1 Carver JCy, Houston DBz, Rice MZa, Rock REn, RLF, Scott MaJ, Washington ebd. Early north (median 3/15) 3/8 Traverse DLP, 3/10 Pine (2) LEv, 3/14 Traverse KEm. High count 4/17 Yellow Medicine (115, Timm Lake) GWe. | ||
| Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus) | 8 | 40 | Early south (median 4/20) 4/18 Lyon RJS, 4/20 Rock RLF, REn, 4/21 Blue Earth STa, Dakota DVe. Early north (median 5/7) 5/2 St. Louis StK, 5/13 Clay (8) TCL, PBB, 5/15 Grant CNn, Kanabec SPS. High counts 5/14 Yellow Medicine (165) NMe, GWe, 5/15 Dakota (120, Lake Byllesby R.P.) BHe. See summer report for late migrants statewide. | ||
| Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) | 7 | All reports: 4/17 Rock (Ash Creek farm pond) ph. †REn, RLF, 4/23 Pipestone (Pipestone W.T.P.) VKl, ph. †NMe, ph. †KEm, 4/27 Lyon (Green Valley W.M.A.) ph. †NMe, m.ob., 5/3 Freeborn (State-line Lake) ph. †PEJ, 5/14 Dakota/Goodhue (Lake Byllesby R.P.) WCM, †PRH, ph. PAl, m.ob., 5/15 Swift (Marsh Lake Dam) WGe. | |||
| Sandpipers | |||||
| Upland Sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda) | 7 | 14 | Early south (median 4/26) 4/28 Jackson BTS, 4/30 Cottonwood TAT, 5/1 Lyon GWe. Early north (median 5/3) 5/2 Grant (2) ebd, 5/3 St. Louis (2) ClN, 5/4 Clay LSl. High count 5/17 Grant (4, North Ottawa Impoundment) WPl. | ||
| Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) | 8 | 2 | All south 5/15 Mower (Dexter W.T.P.) ANy, ph. DnS, m.ob., 5/31 Steele (Armstrong Wetland Restoration) BAb. Reported north in St. Louis from 5/15 (3) JGz through 5/31 (Park Point R.A., 10, season’s high count) ebd, but also see summer report. Also found north 5/15 Kanabec (South Fork Twp.) ph. †SPS, Marshall (4, Agassiz Valley Impoundment) ph. HHu, Wilkin (Wolverton Twp.) AaL, CLu, 5/24 Cook (2, East Cook) ebd, Grant (North Ottawa Impoundment) DWK, Lake (Knife River Marina) JWL, 5/25 Aitkin (8, Rice Lake N.W.R.) KCR, m.ob. | ||
| Hudsonian Godwit (Limosa haemastica) | 7 | 30 | Early south (median 4/19) 4/18 Big Stone DLP, Dakota CJE, Hennepin (3) BeH, Lyon (max. 6) NMe, m.ob., Redwood (max. 4) MaJ, m.ob., Rock (2) ASu, Yellow Medicine (max. 4) NMe, m.ob. Early north (median 5/11) 5/12 Grant REn, m.ob., 5/13 Clay (2) PBB, TCL. High counts 5/14 Yellow Medicine (71, Timm Lake) NMe, GWe, 5/16 Freeborn (44) DFN. Late south 5/26 Big Stone (3) DLP, Yellow Medicine GWe (median 5/31). Late north 5/26–27 St. Louis JLK, m.ob., 5/31 Grant (North Ottawa Impoundment) MO (median 5/31), but also see summer report for additional late migrants statewide. | ||
| Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa) | 13 | 24 | Early south (median 4/13) 4/13 Big Stone DLP, 4/15 Rock (3) ebd, 4/16 Dakota PEJ, m.ob., Swift DLP. Early north (median 4/12) 4/21 Clay (2) PBB, Otter Tail ShG, HeH, 4/22 Grant (3) CNn. High counts 5/19 Yellow Medicine (22, Wood Lake Twp.) RJS, 5/13 Swift (15, Marsh Lake) DLP. | ||
| Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres) | 7 | 24 | Early south (median 5/11) 5/12 Cottonwood (2) KEm, m.ob., 5/13 Lyon (8) NMe, Redwood RAE, m.ob., Stearns DOr, m.ob. Early north (median 5/14) 5/14–15 Grant (max. 5) WPl, m.ob., 5/15 Marshall HHu, m.ob., Pine LEv. High counts 5/14 Pipestone (26, Pipestone W.T.P.) VKl, 5/14 Yellow Medicine (11, Timm Lake) NMe, GWe. Late south 5/23 Carver COg, Lac qui Parle (5) WCM, 5/26 Kandiyohi (max. 3) DWK, m.ob., Yellow Medicine GWe (median 6/1). Late north all from St. Louis 5/29–31 (max. 3) JLK (median 6/3), but also see summer report for additional late migrants north and south. | ||
| Stilt Sandpiper (Calidris himantopus) | 3 | 32 | Early south (median 5/1) 4/23–24 Yellow Medicine (max. 3) GWe, m.ob., 4/24 Redwood MJB, 4/27 Kandiyohi SGa. All north 5/15–31 Grant (max. 3) CNn, m.ob., 5/15–26 Kanabec SPS, m.ob., 5/16 Clay PBB. High counts 5/14 Yellow Medicine (78, Timm Lake) NMe, GWe, 5/14 Steele (40, Armstrong Wetland Restoration) DWK. Late south 5/26 Yellow Medicine (15) GWe, 5/28 Sherburne PLJ (median 6/3), but also see summer report. | ||
| Sanderling (Calidris alba) | 5 | 25 | Early south (median 5/4) 5/2–3 Stearns (max. 3) PCC, m.ob., Yellow Medicine REn, m.ob., 5/3 Steele DAB, m.ob. Early north (median 5/8) 5/6 Crow Wing (4) ASu, 5/14 Douglas MJB, St. Louis (50, Park Point R.A., season high count) JGz, m.ob. Notable report 5/14 Isanti (Isanti W.T.P., second county record) CRM, m.ob. Late south 5/30 Pipestone (5) VKl, 5/30–31 Stearns (max. 2) MtS (median 6/6). Late north 5/30–31 Kanabec (max. 3) SPS, St. Louis (max. 2) BEA, m.ob. (median 6/9); also see summer report. | ||
| Dunlin (Calidris alpina) | 14 | 40 | Early south (median 4/16) 4/8 Yellow Medicine GWe, 4/11 Dakota ASu, Freeborn (2) PEJ, Jackson KEm, JWH, Lyon (2) NMe, Yellow Medicine (7) FFa, m.ob. Early north (median 5/9) 4/28 Kittson MGi, 5/2 Clay ebd, Grant NaH. High counts 5/20 Redwood (180, Timm Lake) WCM, 5/15 Freeborn (170) PEJ. See summer report for late migrants statewide. | ||
| Baird's Sandpiper (Calidris bairdii) | 5 | 37 | Early south (median 4/4) 4/1 Lyon (7, C.R. 5) GWe, 4/5–7 Lyon (max. 3, Russell gravel pit) NMe, m.ob. Early north (median 4/23) 4/27, 5/1 Clay (max. 4) PBB, 5/1–2 Grant MO, m.ob. High count 5/13 Yellow Medicine (150, Timm Lake) RJS. Late south 5/26 Big Stone (4) DLP, Goodhue PEJ, Yellow Medicine (2) GWe, 5/27 Kandiyohi (5) MJB (median 6/6). Late north 5/23 Grant ebd, 5/25–27 Kanabec (max. 4) MJB, m.ob (median 6/3). Also see summer report for late migrants north and south. | ||
| Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla) | 18 | 50 | Early south (median 4/10) 4/4 Rock ABL, 4/5 Lyon (5, Russell gravel pit) NMe, m.ob., 4/6 Lyon (3, 190th St., Marshall) GWe. Early north (median 5/3) 4/29 Douglas ebd, 4/30 – 5/5 Grant (max. 5) MGi, m.ob., 5/5 Clay (8) PBB, m.ob. High counts 5/14 Yellow Medicine (2,040, Timm Lake) NMe, GWe, 5/13 Yellow Medicine (300, Timm Lake) RJS. See summer report for late migrants statewide. | ||
| White-rumped Sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis) | 9 | 35 | Early south (median 4/29) 4/18, 4/25 Lyon ph. RJS, m.ob., 4/24–25 Rock (max. 3) ASu, m.ob., 4/25 Brown BTS. Early north (median 5/13) 5/13 Clay (3) TCL, m.ob., Crow Wing LnH, 5/19 Grant (2) ebd. High count 5/25 Yellow Medicine (380, Timm Lake) WCM. See summer report for late migrants statewide. | ||
| Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Calidris subruficollis) | No reports. | ||||
| Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos) | 9 | 46 | Early south (median 3/31) 3/23–24 Steele ebd, m.ob., 3/26 Scott (2) ebd, 3/31 Rock ASu. Earliest north reports (median 4/14) were from North Ottawa Impoundment in Grant, starting 4/11 (4) SDi; subsequently reported 4/22 Morrison SEm, 4/27 Clay PBB. High count 5/14 Yellow Medicine (1,180, Timm Lake) NMe, GWe. Late south 5/29 Lac qui Parle (15) KeL (median 6/10). Late north 5/26 Kanabec LS, m.ob., St. Louis JPR, FJN (median 6/7), but see summer report for additional late migrants statewide. | ||
| Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla) | 16 | 43 | Early south (median 4/14) 4/11–18 Dakota (max. 3) ASu, m.ob., 4/16 Yellow Medicine REn, m.ob., 4/18 Lyon (max. 2) RJS, m.ob., Redwood AaL, CLu. Early north (median 5/4) 4/27 – 5/1 Clay PBB, 5/2 Grant (10) ebd, 5/12 Crow Wing JnP. High counts 5/27 Swift (500, Marsh Lake) DOr, 5/28 Big Stone (460, Marsh Lake) GWe. See summer report for late migrants north and south. | ||
| Short-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus griseus) | 9 | 38 | Early south (median 4/29) 5/1 Lyon (6) GWe, NMe, 5/1–2 Yellow Medicine (max. 12) RJS, m.ob., 5/2 Rice (5) DAB. Early north (median 5/11) 5/12–13 Crow Wing JnP, m.ob., 5/13 Clay (max. 24) TCL, m.ob., 5/14 St. Louis (2) JuG. High count 5/14 Yellow Medicine (51, Timm Lake) NMe, GWe. Late south 5/19 Waseca ANy, Yellow Medicine (2, single birds at two locations) RJS, m.ob. (median 5/31). Late north 5/19 Kanabec SPS, 5/22–23 Grant JMn, m.ob. (median 5/27), but also see summer report. Note: Reports of Short-billed Dowitchers prior to 1 May without details are not published in these Seasonal Reports. (See The Loon 89:160–161.) | ||
| Long-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus) | 4 | 31 | Early south (median 4/18) 4/7 Dakota MaJ, 4/11 Lyon (3) NMe. Earliest north reports (median 5/6) were from North Ottawa Impoundment in Grant starting 5/3 (max. 5) LSl, m.ob.; subsequently reported 5/15 Becker NaH, Clay (8) TCL, Pine (5) ebd. High count 5/1 Yellow Medicine (71, Timm Lake; counted) RJS, m.ob. Late south 5/16 Olmsted LAV, Sibley RBJ, 5/16–17 Stearns (max. 2) PCC, m.ob. (median 5/19). Late north 5/17 Clay (max. 8) TCL, m.ob., Grant (4) WPl (median 5/19). | ||
| American Woodcock (Scolopax minor) | 26 | 49 | Early south (median 3/13) 3/8 Blue Earth (3) ChH, Carver JCy, Dakota (2) AJF, Hennepin (Richardson N.C.) FFa, (Old Cedar Ave. Bridge) RTu, Houston KAB, Rice TFB, Winona DBz. Early north (median 3/25) 3/24 Crow Wing ebd, Otter Tail (2, Campbell) WPl, 3/26 Douglas ebd, Otter Tail (Elizabeth Twp.) ebd, St. Louis (5) JHn, Todd ebd. High counts 3/29 Mower (12, Honey Tree Farm) SWm, 5/15 Goodhue (10, Frontenac S.P.) LHl. | ||
| Wilson's Snipe (Gallinago delicata) | 32 | 50 | Likely overwintering individuals were reported 3/1 Olmsted JPr, JmP, 3/4 Scott (Minnesota Valley N.W.R.) FFa, 3/7 Scott (Marsh W.M.A.) BAb, 3/8 Martin (2) BAb, 3/9 Hennepin (2) IVa. First south migrant 3/24 Fillmore ASu. Early north (median 3/31) 3/27 Kanabec (2) SPS, 3/29 Todd (2) REn, m.ob. High counts 4/14 Yellow Medicine (31, 470th St., Cottonwood) GWe, 4/16 Lyon (31, 150th Ave., Coon Creek Twp.) REn, m.ob. | ||
| Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius) | 32 | 51 | Early south (median 4/19) 4/14 Lyon GWe, 4/15 Rock ebd, 4/17 Wright ebd. Early north (median 4/29) 4/22 Grant CNn, 4/23 Morrison AaL, m.ob., 4/29 St. Louis JLK. High count 5/16 Goodhue (16, Lake Byllesby) PRH. | ||
| Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitaria) | 18 | 46 | Early south (median 4/18) 4/16 Nicollet MGi, 4/16–17 Yellow Medicine GWe, 4/18 Lyon MaJ, Rock (2) ASu. Early north (median 4/29) 4/24 Todd REn, m.ob., 4/26 Kanabec SPS, 4/27 St. Louis ebd. High count 5/18 Goodhue (15, Frontenac S.P.) AJF. Late south 5/23 Washington EzH, 5/26 Dakota KDS, Hennepin ebd (median 5/31). Late north 5/23 Kanabec SPS, 5/26 Morrison SEm, 5/28 Clay (5) ebd (median 6/2). Also see summer report for additional late migrants north and south. | ||
| Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes) | 28 | 53 | Early south (median 3/29) 3/28 – 4/2 Rock (max. 7) JWH, m.ob., 3/31 Blue Earth ChH, 4/2 Yellow Medicine (3) RJS. Early north (median 4/6) 3/30, 4/6 Wilkin ebd, ANy, 4/7 Crow Wing LS, 4/10 Clay LSl. High counts 4/26 Lac qui Parle (1,000, 140th St., Manfred Twp.) KeL, 5/4 Redwood (600, Timm Lake) ASu. Late south 5/28 Big Stone GWe, 5/30 Stearns HHD, 5/31 Le Sueur RBW (median 6/7). Late north 5/26 Kanabec SOa, 5/26–31 St. Louis (max. 18) JGz, m.ob. (median 6/8). Also see summer report for additional late migrants statewide. | ||
| Willet (Tringa semipalmata) | 10 | 37 | Early south (median 4/23) 4/16 Yellow Medicine REn, m.ob., 4/19 Lyon (reports of single birds from two nearby locations, possibly involving the same bird) NMe, RJS, Scott (2) BHe. Early north (median 4/30) 4/25 St. Louis ebd, 5/1 Grant (8) MO. High counts 5/13 St. Louis (210, Park Point R.A.) NMt, 5/1 Yellow Medicine (83, Timm Lake) RJS, m.ob. Late south 5/22 Dakota ebd, Meeker PLJ, 5/24 Scott RBW, m.ob., 5/31 Washington MBw (median 5/29). Late north 5/19 Grant (3) ebd, 5/20 Roseau StK, 5/23 Clay PBB (median 6/1). | ||
| Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca) | 26 | 51 | Early south (median 3/23) 3/15 Lyon (Cottonwood) GWe, 3/24 Houston ASu, Lyon (Cottonwood W.T.P.) GWe. Early north (median 4/7) 3/31 Grant REn, m.ob., 4/4 Aitkin SC, 4/6 Wilkin ANy. High count 4/11 Yellow Medicine (100, Timm Lake) MaJ. Late south 5/20 Hennepin VRL, Redwood ANy, WCM, 5/26 Big Stone DLP (median 6/4). Late north 5/24 Lake ABm, 5/25 Aitkin (2) KCR, m.ob., 5/30 Kanabec SPS (median 6/5). | ||
| Wilson's Phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor) | 17 | 43 | Early south (median 4/22) 4/18 Mower KEm, 4/21 Rice TFB, Yellow Medicine GWe. Early north (median 4/27) 4/27 Norman ANy, 4/30 Grant (3) MGi, 5/1 Clay PBB. High counts 5/7 Pipestone (100, Pipestone W.T.P.) VKl, 5/14 Pipestone (100, Pipestone W.T.P.) VKl. | ||
| Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus) | 7 | 16 | Early south (median 5/11) 5/10 Dakota KDS, 5/14 Brown SLH, Olmsted LHl, Watonwan MiO, m.ob. Early north (median 5/17) 5/14 Douglas (4) MJB, 5/15 Marshall (4) JHs, 5/18 Morrison HHD. Late south 5/27 Faribault PEJ, Sibley RBW, 5/28 Big Stone (2) GWe (median 6/3). Late north 5/25 Kanabec (2) MJB, m.ob., 5/29 Kittson (6, season high count, Hallock W.T.P.) CRM, m.ob., (2, Lake Bronson W.T.P.) CRM, m.ob. (median 6/2). See summer report for additional late migrants north and south. | ||
| Jaegers | |||||
| Parasitic Jaeger (Stercorarius parasiticus) | 1 | A light-morph adult was seen 5/25 St. Louis (Park Point R.A.) MLH, PHS, SCB, JLK. | |||
| Gulls, Terns | |||||
| Bonaparte's Gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia) | 25 | 51 | Early south (median 4/1) 3/31 Lyon (2) ANy, Winona ebd, 4/1 Olmsted (5) MHn. Early north (median 4/12) 4/10 Carlton RAE, 4/11 Grant (6) MO, Kanabec SPS. High counts 5/13 St. Louis (1,860, Park Point R.A.) NMt, 5/4 Pine (510, Pine City W.T.P.) MJB. Late south 5/22 Carver (2) WCM, 5/25–28 Scott RBW, m.ob. (median 5/31). Late north 5/29 Kittson (3) CRM, m.ob., St. Louis (13) PAl (median 6/12). Also see summer report for additional late migrants statewide. | ||
| LITTLE GULL (Hydrocoloeus minutus) | No reports. | ||||
| Franklin's Gull (Leucophaeus pipixcan) | 14 | 36 | Early south (median 3/25) 3/30 Lyon (4) GWe, 3/31 Jackson (2) ASu, 4/3 Scott (2) PRH, m.ob. Early north (median 4/9) 4/1 Todd REn, RLF, 4/11 Otter Tail MO, 4/15 Clay (2) PBB, Grant (2) ToR. High counts 5/30 Marshall (1,200, Agassiz N.W.R., road east of headquarters) ebd, 5/4 Polk (500, C.R. 11, Crookston Twp.) SAu. | ||
| Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) | 33 | 53 | Early south (median 2/26) 3/1 Rock REn, m.ob., 3/4 Dakota (max. 5) GUn, m.ob., 3/5 Hennepin (2) BeH. Early north (median 3/9) 3/4–5 St. Louis (2, Canal Park) ebd, 3/8 St. Louis (mouth of Miller Creek) FJN. High counts 5/6–16 St. Louis (20,000, Interstate Island W.M.A) PHS. | ||
| CALIFORNIA GULL (Larus californicus) | 1 | 2 | Three reports: 3/15 Scott (adult, Shakopee) ph. †MwT, 3/23 Dakota (adult, 140th St. Marsh) MwT, †DWK, m.ob., 5/10 Clay (adult, Clay County Landfill) †PBB, m.ob. | ||
| Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) | 24 | 41 | Overwintered north. Early south (median 2/23) 3/5 Scott RBW, 3/7 Le Sueur RBW, Rice DAB. High counts 5/13 St. Louis (2,000, Park Point R.A.) NMt, 4/4 Isanti (1,000, pig farm, Stanford Twp.) RCl. | ||
| Iceland Gull (Larus glaucoides) | 1 | 5 | All south 3/21 Dakota (adult, L. g. thayeri, Spring Lake P.R.) EzH, IsH, 3/23 Dakota (140th St. Marsh) ASu, m.ob., 3/25 Ramsey (Lake Johanna) LiH, 3/26 Dakota (Spring Lake P.R.) AJF, 4/3–4 Scott (first-cycle, L. g. kumlieni, Spring Lake) ANy, m.ob., 4/11 Anoka (first-cycle, L. g. thayeri, Lake George R.P.) EzH, IsH, 4/19 Hennepin (Lake Harriet) ASu. Overwintered north in St. Louis, with season high count 4/19 (2, first-cycle and third- or fourth-cycle, L. g. thayeri, mouth of Miller Creek) ClN; reports of first-cycle L. g. thayeri from various locations through 5/22 (Park Point R.A.) PHS. Only north reports of L. g. kumlieni were first-cycles: 4/8 (Park Point R.A.) PHS, 4/13 (St. Louis Bay) PHS. | ||
| Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) | 2 | 9 | All south 3/29 Wright (adult, Pelican Lake) ToL, 3/31 – 4/2 Kandiyohi (adult, New London and Arctander Twps.) RSF, JoS, m.ob., 3/31 – 4/9 Scott (max. 2, adults, Spring Lake) BAb, m.ob., 4/10–18 Anoka (adult, Lake George) DWK, m.ob., 4/10–12 Isanti (max. 2, adults, German Lake) DWK, ANy, m.ob., 4/17 – 5/9 Sherburne (max. 3, adults, Elk River Landfill & Lake Fremont) PLJ, MJB, m.ob., 4/23 Freeborn (adult) ph. †PEJ, 5/5 Hennepin (first-cycle, Colman Lake) ASu, m.ob., 5/13 Lyon (first-cycle, Black Rush Lake W.P.A.) ph. †NMe, m.ob. All north 5/10 Clay (adult, Clay County Landfill) ebd, St. Louis (adult, W. Knife River Rd.) JWL, m.ob. | ||
| Glaucous Gull (Larus hyperboreus) | 2 | 5 | All south 3/15 Scott (first-cycle, Shakopee) RBW, m.ob., 3/16 Hennepin (adult, Minnesota Valley N.W.R.) ASu, 3/23–24 Dakota (first- or second-cycle, Spring Lake) PNi, m.ob., 4/10–22 Anoka (first-cycle, Lake George) DWK, m.ob., 4/25 Sherburne (Lake Fremont) PLJ. Overwintered north along the North Shore. High count 4/18 St. Louis (6, W.S.H.C.) FJN, m.ob. Late north 5/13 St. Louis (Park Point R.A.) NMt, 5/14 Cook (Tofte) JaJ, 5/15 St. Louis (W.S.H.C.) FJN (median 4/28). | ||
| Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) | 1 | Only reported from St. Louis County: 4/11 (first-cycle, Park Point R.A.) StK, 5/2 (adult, Park Point R.A.) StK, 5/20 (no age details, Park Point R.A.) PAl, m.ob. | |||
| Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia) | 19 | 38 | Early south (median 4/23) 4/20 Olmsted (2) ebd, 4/21 Rice TFB, 4/22 Rock (2) ebd. Early north (median 4/30) 4/22 Beltrami REn, m.ob., 4/27 Cass (2, Walker W.T.P.) TCL, 5/2 Cass (2, Cass Lake W.T.P.) DPJ, Pine (2) TJo. High counts 5/16 Carver (61, Lake Waconia) WCM, 5/11 Hennepin (45, Minnesota Valley N.W.R.) ebd. | ||
| Black Tern (Chlidonias niger) | 23 | 49 | Early south (median 4/30) 4/29 Redwood (Westline W.M.A.) KEm, (Timm Lake) REn, m.ob., 4/30 Freeborn PEJ, 5/2 Watonwan APi, m.ob., Yellow Medicine REn, m.ob. Early north (median 5/8) 5/11 Clay TCL, 5/14 Douglas MJB, m.ob., Grant (100) WPl, Pine (max. 200) SBE, m.ob., Todd (14) AaL, m.ob. High counts 5/14 Goodhue (760, combined total from Lake Pepin, Little Goose Lake, North Lake, and Lake Byllesby) WCM, 5/14 Steele (500, Armstrong Wetland Restoration) MaS. | ||
| Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) | 14 | 25 | Early south (median 4/27) 5/2 Dakota (2) DGu, 5/8 Hennepin (2) ebd, 5/9 Goodhue SWe, RDa. Early north (median 5/4) 5/4 Crow Wing ASu, 5/5 St. Louis (25, Park Point R.A.) ClN, (Interstate Island W.M.A.) PHS. High count 5/20 St. Louis (750, Park Point R.A.) PHS, m.ob. Late south 5/23 Kandiyohi SGa, JWd, 5/25 Lyon (5) NMe, 5/30 Steele (4) JHl (median 6/1). | ||
| Forster's Tern (Sterna forsteri) | 24 | 50 | Early south (median 4/10) 4/7 Wabasha PEJ, 4/10 Dakota (4) ebd, Yellow Medicine (3, Timm Lake) GWe. Early north (median 4/19) 4/26–27 Becker NaH, ANy, 4/26 Douglas (3) JCC, 4/27 Otter Tail (8) KTe, Pennington ANy. High counts 5/29 Faribault (45, Minnesota Lake) KEm, 5/11 Faribault (44, Wells W.T.P.) KCR, LBa. | ||
| Loons | |||||
| Red-throated Loon (Gavia stellata) | 1 | 2 | All south 4/19–20 Rice (Cannon Lake) ph. BHw, †DAB, 4/20–28 Sherburne (Lake Fremont) PLJ, ph. ToL, m.ob. All north reports were from St. Louis County where first found (median 5/6) 5/1 (Park Point R.A.) StK, SNe, 5/2 (16, season high count, Park Point R.A.) StK, 5/5 (max. 13, Park Point R.A.) ClN, m.ob. Last north report 5/30 (2, Park Point R.A.) MaJ (median 6/8), but also see summer report. | ||
| Pacific Loon (Gavia pacifica) | No reports. | ||||
| Common Loon (Gavia immer) | 28 | 47 | Early south (median 3/23) 3/23–24 Ramsey (max. 2, Lake Como) JbS, m.ob., 3/25 Sherburne PLJ, 3/26 Anoka MAJ, Ramsey (Crosby Farm R.P.) KSz, Winona DBz. Early north (median 3/28) 3/30 Otter Tail ebd, 3/31 Cass ebd, 4/1 Douglas ToR, Itasca ebd. High count 4/22 Beltrami (162, Mississippi River) REn, m.ob. | ||
| Cormorants | |||||
| Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum) | 27 | 52 | Early south (median 3/14) 3/7–8 Rice NiR, m.ob., 3/11 Olmsted JPr, m.ob., 3/13 Houston (4) ASu, Nicollet APi. Early north (median 3/29) 3/26 Otter Tail (1, Riverside Park) HeH, ShG, 3/30 Grant ebd, 3/31 Otter Tail (20, Riverside Park) WPl. High counts 5/14 Meeker (1,600, Pigeon Lake) LiH, 5/13 St. Louis (675, Park Point R.A.) NMt. | ||
| Pelicans | |||||
| American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) | 32 | 52 | Early south (median 3/16) 3/8 Houston (30, Houston Twp.) ToM, (20, La Crescent) ebd, (19, Mississippi River) ebd, (25, Brownsville Twp.) KHg, ToM, (15, Trailhead Park) DJa, 3/15 Winona RLF, REn. Early north (median 4/5) 3/28 Grant (25, North Ottawa Impoundment) ebd, 4/1 Grant (2, Delaware Twp.) CNn, 4/4 St. Louis (5, W.S.H.C.) FJN, m.ob. High counts 5/28 Big Stone (2,400, Marsh Lake) GWe, 5/22 Meeker (750, Pigeon Lake) PLJ. | ||
| Bitterns, Herons, Egrets, Night-Herons | |||||
| Least Bittern (Botaurus exilis) | 3 | 11 | Early south (median 5/10) 5/5 Washington IsH, 5/9 Scott ebd, 5/12 Houston BWF, ANy. All north 5/23 Wilkin (C.R. 15, Rothsay) AaL, m.ob., 5/23–25 (Manston W.M.A.) AaL, m.ob., 5/24–27 St. Louis (Mud Lake) HTr, m.ob., 5/30 Marshall (Agassiz N.W.R.) ebd. Highest tally only 2. | ||
| American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus) | 24 | 29 | Early south (median 4/13) 4/5 Wabasha ASu, 4/11 Hennepin JQn, Kandiyohi JoS, Redwood RJS. Early north (median 4/17) 4/19 Traverse ebd, 4/21–24 St. Louis (max. 2) JLK, m.ob., 4/24 Aitkin (4) JGz, Cass DAY, Pine KrM. High counts 5/12 Aitkin (9, McGregor Marsh) JGz, PSk, 5/23 Wilkin (7, Meadows W.P.A.) AaL. | ||
| LITTLE BLUE HERON (Egretta caerulea) | 1 | Only report: 4/26 Grant (North Ottawa Impoundment) ph. MoB. | |||
| Snowy Egret (Egretta thula) | 1 | 2 | All south 4/18 Big Stone (Artichoke Lake) DOr, m.ob., 5/20 Redwood (near Milroy) ANy. Only north report: 4/28 Clay (Maria Lake) †PBB, ph. †TCL. | ||
| Yellow-crowned Night Heron (Nyctanassa violacea) | No reports. | ||||
| Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) | 2 | 13 | Early south (median 4/2) 4/2–7 Hennepin (max. 2, Veterans Memorial Park) DWK, m.ob.; no south reports away from this location until 4/19 Olmsted LAV. Early north (median 4/17) 4/25 – 5/2 Otter Tail (3, Grotto Lake) ebd, m.ob., 4/30 Grant (North Ottawa Impoundment) MGi. High count 4/29 Hennepin (13, Veterans Memorial Park) SBM, MMk. | ||
| Green Heron (Butorides virescens) | 20 | 46 | Early south (median 4/20) 3/18 Chisago ebd, 4/16 Scott ebd, 4/18 Dakota ebd. Early north (median 5/2) 4/27 – 5/2 Crow Wing DMz, PSP, 5/2 Grant ebd, Pine KrM. High counts 5/5 Hennepin (6, Veterans Memorial Park) JCa, 5/25 Washington (6, Lake Oneka) ebd. | ||
| Great Egret (Ardea alba) | 14 | 48 | Early south (median 3/22) 3/17 Anoka (3) ebd, 3/23–24 Ramsey ebd, 3/24 Houston ASu. Early north (median 4/1) 3/31 – 4/7 Otter Tail (max. 4) WPl, m.ob., 4/7 Becker (2) NaH, 4/9 Grant REn, m.ob. High counts 4/24 Swift (137, Lake Hassel) REn, m.ob., 5/2 Otter Tail (100, Grotto Lake) MO. | ||
| Western Cattle-Egret (Ardea ibis) | 3 | 9 | All reports southwest of a line from Polk to Hennepin. All south 4/18 Dodge (C.R. G) LAV, ph. †KEm., 4/20 Faribault (Walnut Lake W.M.A.) ph. REn, RLF, 5/2 Dakota (2, 140th St. Marsh) ebd, m.ob., 5/3–4 Brown (Sleepy Eye W.T.P.) STa, m.ob., 5/5 Meeker (5, season high count, 310th St., Swede Grove Twp.) BoJ, ph. PKF, Pipestone (Pipestone W.T.P.) VKl, 5/14 Wright (C.R. 18, Buffalo Twp.) LiH, 5/16 Jackson (3, Anderson Park) ebd, 5/27 Faribault (3) PEJ, 5/30 Steele (Armstrong Wetland Restoration) JHl. All north 5/7 Polk (Climax) ph. fide HHu, 5/14 Otter Tail (Elizabeth Twp.) ebd, 5/29–30 Otter Tail (Fergus Falls) WPl, NaH, 5/31 Grant (North Ottawa Impoundment) WPl. | ||
| Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) | 27 | 53 | Overwintering individual reported 3/1 Rice TFB. Early south migrants (median 3/6) 3/6 Washington (Stillwater) GDr, 3/8 Rice (2) JWZ, m.ob., Stearns AaL, CLu, Washington (Lake Elmo R.P.) TFe, (Oakdale Nature Preserve) JDS. Early north (median 3/18) 3/8 Pine ebd, 3/25 Becker NaH, Carlton SKe, LSh. High count 3/27 Hennepin (173, Marshall Terrace Park) SKS. | ||
| Ibises | |||||
| GLOSSY IBIS (Plegadis falcinellus) | 2 | Two reports of this Casual species: 4/25–26 Jackson (C.R. 66, Lakefield) BWF, ph. †FFa, ph. †KEm, †JWH, m.ob., 5/14 Watonwan (320th St. Marsh) ph. †KEm. | |||
| White-faced Ibis (Plegadis chihi) | 3 | 18 | A large influx of this species occurred south and west of a line from Marshall to Olmsted. Early south (median 4/23) 4/11 Lyon (Black Rush Lake W.P.A.) NMe, m.ob., 4/16 Big Stone (2) DLP, 4/18 Hennepin BeH, Lyon (30, combined total from Island Lake & Green Valley W.M.A.) NMe, m.ob., Redwood/Yellow Medicine (8, Timm Lake) ASu, RAE, m.ob., Steele DAB. All north 4/29 – 5/2 Grant (North Ottawa Impoundment) LBa, m.ob., 5/1–3 Marshall (2, Agassiz Valley Impoundment) HHu, m.ob., 5/23 Wilkin (Wolverton Twp.) AaL, m.ob., 5/25–27 Grant (max. 14, North Ottawa Impoundment) MO, WPl. High count 4/25 Jackson (47, C.R. 66, Lakeville) REn, m.ob. Late south 5/24 Lyon ebd, Olmsted MHn, m.ob., Yellow Medicine (6) NMe. See summer report for additional records both north and south. | ||
| Glossy Ibis X White-faced Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus X P. chihi) | 1 | Just the second record of this apparent hybrid for the state occurred 5/15 Brown (Mulligan W.M.A.) ph. †BTS. (See The Loon 86:158–159 for a note on the first presumed hybrid.) | |||
| Plegadis ibis (Plegadis sp.) | 1 | 6 | All south 4/18–19 Steele (2 in addition to 2 P. chichi, Armstrong Wetland Restoration) DAB, 5/14 Stearns (6, Albany W.T.P.) MJB. Only north report: 5/18 Grant (2, North Ottawa Impoundment) JH, m.ob. (Birds identified in other reports at the species level not included here.) | ||
| New World Vultures | |||||
| Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) | 34 | 53 | Early south (median 3/7) 3/7–8 Fillmore (max. 4) ebd, Olmsted ebd, 3/8 Dakota MaJ, Dodge (2) HHu, Goodhue PEJ, Winona ebd. Early north (median 3/24) 3/7 St. Louis ebd, 3/8 Pine CRa, 3/9 Morrison MEm. High counts 4/11 St. Louis (336, W.S.H.C.) FJN, m.ob., 4/19 St. Louis (276, W.S.H.C.) FJN. | ||
| Osprey | |||||
| Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) | 27 | 38 | Early south (median 3/25) 3/29 Wright MJB, 3/31 – 4/1 Dakota ebd, 4/1 Anoka RLR, Redwood TAT. Early north (median 4/2) 4/2 Douglas JPE, 4/5 Todd TLu, 4/7 Cass BEc, Crow Wing ebd. High count 4/30 St. Louis (20, W.S.H.C.) FJN, m.ob. | ||
| Kites, Accipiters, Hawks, Eagles | |||||
| Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) | 3 | 16 | South reports in March and early April from 16 counties, last reports 4/23 Lac qui Parle KeL, 5/2 Hennepin RBJ (median 4/20). Frequent north reports throughout March and April with peak northbound movement in mid March and last reports 5/9 St. Louis (C.R. 49) JHn, 5/12 St. Louis (W.S.H.C.) FJN, 5/27 St. Louis (W.S.H.C.) FJN (median 5/6). High counts 3/11 St. Louis (33, W.S.H.C.) FJN, m.ob., 3/8 St. Louis (23, W.S.H.C.) FJN. | ||
| Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius) | 33 | 53 | Reported from every county but Red Lake. Overwintered south in multiple locations. Early north (median 3/10) 3/2–6 St. Louis (Sax-Zim Bog) ebd, m.ob., 3/4 Morrison TLu, 3/6 Clay PBB. High counts 4/11 St. Louis (10, Sax-Zim Bog) ClN, 3/31 Rock (7, Blue Mounds S.P.) ASu. | ||
| Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus) | 24 | 41 | Reported south and north from the beginning of the season. High counts 4/23 St. Louis (283, W.S.H.C.) FJN, m.ob., 5/5 St. Louis (157, W.S.H.C.) FJN, m.ob. | ||
| Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) | 26 | 49 | Early north (median 3/12) 3/2–8 St. Louis FJN, 3/8 Cass ebd. High counts 4/5 Houston (7, Hillside Rd., Reno) ASu, 4/5 St. Louis (7, W.S.H.C.) FJN, m.ob. | ||
| American Goshawk (Accipiter atricapillus) | 9 | 4 | All south 3/1 Murray (Currie Dam) AaL, m.ob., 3/6 Redwood TAT, 3/11 Hennepin (Westwood Hills N.C.) ebd, 4/14 Dakota (Eagan) ebd. North reports from Polk, Clay, Douglas, Crow Wing, Itasca, Aitkin, Carlton, St. Louis, Cook. | ||
| Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) | 34 | 53 | Reported from every county. High counts 5/27 St. Louis (407, W.S.H.C.) FJN, 3/11 St. Louis (355, W.S.H.C.) FJN, m.ob. | ||
| Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) | 11 | 29 | Most reports from the Southeast, East-central, and Central regions. Probable earliest north migrant appeared in February. High count 3/26 Hennepin (4, Purgatory Creek Park) ebd. Notable records 4/25 Watonwan DAB, 5/7 Freeborn (Myre-Big Island S.P.) KHg. | ||
| Broad-winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus) | 28 | 46 | Early south (median 4/7) 4/3 Dakota (Inver Grove Heights,) ebd, 4/4 Dakota (Lilydale R.P.) BBr, m.ob., Ramsey ebd. Early north (median 4/12) 4/7 Todd REn, m.ob., 4/15 St. Louis (Cloquet Line) ebd, 4/16 St. Louis (Cook) JuG. High counts 5/4 St. Louis (873, W.S.H.C.) FJN, 4/26 St. Louis (660, W.S.H.C.) FJN. | ||
| Swainson's Hawk (Buteo swainsoni) | 4 | 15 | Early south (median 4/3) 4/11 Fillmore (2) LHl, 4/14 Lincoln ASu, 4/17 Pipestone (4, 2 in two different locations) RJS. Early north (median 4/18) 4/11 Clay PBB, 4/26 St. Louis (W.S.H.C., adult dark-morph) FJN, 4/27 St. Louis (W.S.H.C., adult light-morph) FJN, m.ob. High count 4/26 Nobles (4, Grand Prairie Twp.) REn, m.ob. | ||
| Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) | 32 | 53 | Found in every county except Cook, Lake of the Woods. High counts 4/5 St. Louis (785, W.S.H.C.) FJN, m.ob., 4/11 St. Louis (413, W.S.H.C.) FJN, m.ob. B. j. harlani documented 3/8–23 Houston (La Crescent) ph. DJa, ph. ToM, 3/23 Otter Tail (Henning) ph. FFa, 4/13 Dakota ADS. “Krider’s” subspecies documented 3/31 Rock (Blue Mounds S.P.) †ASu, 5/9 Lincoln (Lake Benton) ph. ASu, 5/23 Otter Tail (C.R. 73 & C.R. 124) ph. JTa, 5/31 Grant (Ashby) †KCR, ASu. | ||
| Rough-legged Hawk (Buteo lagopus) | 24 | 43 | High counts 4/23 St. Louis (27, W.S.H.C.) FJN, m.ob., 4/11 St. Louis (25, W.S.H.C.) FJN, m.ob. Late south 4/30 Brown MiO, 5/7 Lac qui Parle ASl, 5/10 Cottonwood MkC (median 5/9). Late north 5/6 St. Louis (W.S.H.C.) FJN, (Lester Park) ebd, 5/18 St. Louis (W.S.H.C.) FJN, 5/27 St. Louis (W.S.H.C.) FJN (median 5/25). | ||
| Barn Owls | |||||
| AMERICAN BARN OWL (Tyto furcata) | 1 | One found dead in a field 4/16 Hennepin (Corcoran) ph. †AXH (The Loon 92:193). | |||
| Screech-Owls, Owls | |||||
| Eastern Screech-Owl (Megascops asio) | 2 | 17 | South reports widespread. North reports 3/14 Traverse KEm, 5/29 Otter Tail TFu. Three individuals noted as gray morphs, none as red morphs. | ||
| Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) | 21 | 43 | Reported throughout the season and state. Adults on nests or with newly fledged young in 5 north and 11 south counties. | ||
| Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) | 3 | 1 | High count 3/20 Polk (3, Sherack Rd.) JHs. Only south 3/10 Stearns BRB. Late north reports all from Polk, where last reported from two locations 3/26 (near the towns of Warren & Euclid) HHu (median 4/20). | ||
| Northern Hawk Owl (Surnia ulula) | 4 | Reported north in St. Louis from Sax-Zim Bog through 3/14 m.ob. Additional north reports 3/8 Aitkin KCR, 3/13–14 Hubbard REn, m.ob., May 20–22 Lake (two separate locations) ebd. (This is considered a Sensitive Species in eBird and records are not public. This summary includes eBird records although they are not in the M.O.U. database.) | |||
| Barred Owl (Strix varia) | 22 | 40 | Found in almost every county east of a line from Jackson to Roseau. Several high counts of up to five individuals. | ||
| Great Gray Owl (Strix nebulosa) | 3 | Found in Marshall, Koochiching, St. Louis, Lake. (This is considered a Sensitive Species in eBird and records are not public. This summary includes eBird records although they are not in the M.O.U. database.) | |||
| Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) | 3 | 7 | Late south 4/6 Kandiyohi JoS, m.ob., 4/10 Blue Earth ChH, 4/18 Sibley DWK. Also found south in Hennepin, Isanti, Scott, Sherburne. All north 4/10 St. Louis (2, approximately one mile apart) ClN, 5/22 Lake ebd, 5/30 Cook JGW. | ||
| Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) | 2 | 7 | Found south in Carver, Cottonwood, Hennepin, Lac qui Parle, Steele, Washington, Yellow Medicine; last reports 4/11 Hennepin ADS, Yellow Medicine FFa, m.ob., 4/15 Cottonwood BRB, 4/22 Washington EzH. All north 3/12 Clay (Spring Prairie Preserve) PBB, 4/18 Kanabec SPS. High count 3/27–29 Steele (4, Armstrong Wetland Restoration) LiH, m.ob. | ||
| Boreal Owl (Aegolius funereus) | 1 | The only report was of one calling 3/20 Cook (Gunflint Trail) JGW, ebd. | |||
| Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus) | 6 | 6 | Regularly reported south early in the season, with last reports 4/4 Washington PAl, 4/15, 4/22 Sherburne ebd. North reports from Crow Wing, Koochiching, Itasca, St. Louis, Lake, Cook. | ||
| Kingfishers | |||||
| Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) | 32 | 53 | Early north (median 3/24) 3/31 Crow Wing PSP, Itasca TCL, St. Louis JLK. High count 4/17 Dakota (5, Cannon River) ebd. | ||
| Woodpeckers | |||||
| Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) | 22 | 46 | Earliest south reports (median 4/12) likely pertain to overwintering individuals 3/1–6 Anoka (3) DCk, FFa, 3/7 Rice RBW. Early north reports much earlier than recent arrival dates (median 4/22) and probably also pertain to overwintering birds 3/3 Pine ebd, 3/6 Wadena PJB, 3/8 Morrison (2) ebd. High count 3/10–13 Winona (10, Great River Bluffs S.P.) ebd, m.ob. | ||
| Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) | 27 | 53 | Found statewide, though fewest reports from the Northwest. High counts 5/2 Ramsey (13, Crosby Farm R.P.) JlS, 4/19 Ramsey (12, Crosby Farm R.P.) DAd, 5/6 Scott (12, Murphy-Hanrehan P.R.) BxP. | ||
| Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) | 33 | 52 | Early south (median 3/26) 3/4 Hennepin BAF, 3/17 Dakota (Lake Byllesby) DVe, 3/20 Dakota (Red Oak Park) AFo. Early north (median 4/2) 3/28–3/31 St. Louis MPi, 4/1 Cass (2, Ten Mile Lake) DoH, m.ob., 4/2 Becker NaH, Cass (Polana) ebd, Crow Wing ebd, Grant CNn, Pine KrM. High count 4/24 Fillmore (13, Magelssen Bluff Park) ToM. | ||
| American Three-toed Woodpecker (Picoides dorsalis) | 2 | All reports: 3/3–12 St. Louis (Sax-Zim Bog) ebd, m.ob., 3/4 St. Louis (4, Carpenter Rd., Cook Twp.) JuG, 3/20–5/25 St. Louis (max. 2, Johnson Rd., Cook Twp.) JuG, 5/6 St. Louis (2, Ralph Rd., Cook Twp.) JuG, 5/19 Koochiching (Toomey Williams Rd.) AMe. | |||
| Black-backed Woodpecker (Picoides arcticus) | 7 | 1 | Overwintering individuals south continued through 5/19 Sherburne (max. 2, Sherburne N.W.R., Blue Hill Trail) PLJ, m.ob. North reports from Beltrami, Koochiching, Aitkin, Carlton, St. Louis, Lake, Cook. High count 5/9 St. Louis (3, Sax-Zim Bog) ebd. | ||
| Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) | 34 | 53 | Reported from every county. High counts 4/4 and 4/11 Hennepin (30, Old Cedar Ave. Bridge trails) MaS, 4/6 Hennepin (23, Minneapolis) ebd. | ||
| Hairy Woodpecker (Dryobates villosus) | 33 | 52 | Found statewide. High count 4/2 Hennepin (12, Minneapolis) ebd. | ||
| Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) | 34 | 53 | North reports 3/2–12 Cook JaJ, 3/15 Otter Tail JsS from overwintering locations; 3/15 Clay PBB may have been an early migrant (median 3/26). High count 4/25 St. Louis (87, Park Point R.A.) StK. “Red-shafted” subspecies observed 4/14 Olmsted (Chester Woods) JmP. | ||
| Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) | 29 | 49 | Reported statewide, but with fewest reports from the Southwest region. High count 5/14 Scott (7, Murphy-Hanrehan P.R.) BrT, TSk. | ||
| Caracaras, Falcons | |||||
| American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) | 34 | 53 | Reported statewide. Early north (median 3/9) 3/2 Todd ebd, 3/3 Todd RAE, HHD, 3/4 Pine KrM, St. Louis NPo. High counts 4/11 St. Louis (16, Sax-Zim Bog) ClN, 3/8 Lincoln (9, north of Verdi) REn. | ||
| Merlin (Falco columbarius) | 26 | 39 | Early north migrants (median 3/12) 3/1 Polk SAu, 3/3 Grant WPl, 3/7 Polk ebd. High counts 5/2 St. Louis (6, Park Point R.A.) ebd, 4/1 St. Louis (5, Enger Park Golf Course) NSn. Late south migrants 5/11 Goodhue ebd, 5/19 Scott BHe, 5/29 Winona ebd. | ||
| Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) | 17 | 36 | Overwintered widely south and in Duluth north. Early south migrants (median 3/13) 3/4 Scott RBW, 3/6–8 Blue Earth ChH, 3/14 Watonwan MiO. Early north away from Duluth 3/7 Itasca TCL, 3/30 Clay ebd, 4/15 Grant REn, RLF. High count 5/5 St. Louis (5, W.S.H.C., 4 migrants and resident adult) FJN, JPR. | ||
| Prairie Falcon (Falco mexicanus) | 2 | New county record 3/7 (River Bend N.C., Faribault) Rice †DAB. One additional south report, 3/1 Rock †PRH. | |||
| Flycatchers | |||||
| Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus) | 30 | 52 | Early south (median 4/30) 4/27 Anoka (Mississippi West R.P.) DFe, Dakota AJF, 4/30 Anoka (Blaine) ebd, Fillmore ToM, Hennepin ebd. Early north arrivals one week late (median 5/7) 5/14 Crow Wing PSP, Otter Tail ebd, LSl, 5/15 Pine SNe, 5/16 Clearwater AaL, TLu, CLu, LoM. High counts 5/28 Carver (15, Carver P.R.) JCy, 5/23 Stearns (12, Quarry Park S.N.A.) MJB. | ||
| Western Kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis) | 9 | 10 | Early south (median 5/7) 5/6 Lyon (Russell) GWe, ANy, 5/9 Lincoln ASu, JSu, 5/15 Lyon (Lynd) NMe. Early north (median 5/12) 5/12 Grant WPl, Wilkin RLF, REn, 5/17 Clay (2, Felton Prairie) PBB. High counts 5/22 Clay (5, Felton Prairie) TCL, 5/29 Kittson (5, Kennedy) CRM. | ||
| Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) | 32 | 53 | Early south (median 4/26) 4/22 Scott BHe, 4/26 Sherburne ebd, Washington ebd, 4/27 Dakota AJF. Early north (median 5/8) 5/6 Clay NaH, HSh, LSl, 5/7 Todd ebd, 5/8 Becker NaH, Crow Wing NSg, PSP. High counts 5/24 Hennepin (20, Crow-Hassan P.R.) MZa, 5/23 Jackson (19, Jackson W.T.P.) JoS. | ||
| Olive-sided Flycatcher (Contopus cooperi) | 23 | 44 | Early south (median 5/9) 5/3 Hennepin ebd, 5/6 Dakota KDS, 5/7 Yellow Medicine SDz. Early north (median 5/13) 5/14 Clay ebd, 5/16 Clearwater TJJ, Otter Tail TFu, 5/18 Otter Tail WPl, Pine ebd. Notable report 5/23–25 Wilkin (Rothsay) AaL, CLu, RAE. High count 5/13 Chisago (4) ebd. See summer report for late south migrants (median 6/11). | ||
| Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens) | 27 | 52 | Early south (median 5/6) 4/22 Isanti (Wayside Prairie C.P.) DPG, 5/4–6 Hennepin (Creekside) DdS, 5/6 Hennepin (Powderhorn Park) IVa. Early north (median 5/12) 5/13 Grant CNn, Todd LBa, 5/14 Pine LEv, 5/15 Morrison SEm, High count 5/28 Carver (17, Carver P.R.) JCy. | ||
| Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (Empidonax flaviventris) | 13 | 33 | Reported with identification notes from 20 south, but only 2 north counties. Early south (median 5/13) 5/14 Hennepin CMB, 5/15 Isanti JSa, 5/16 Hennepin ClB, Martin KEm, JWH. Early north (median 5/20) 5/18 St. Louis HTr, 5/21 St. Louis BHo. Outstanding high count 5/26 St. Louis (21, Park Point R.A.) PHS. Late south 5/30 Steele PSu, 5/31 Hennepin BAF, but see summer report (median 6/6). | ||
| Acadian Flycatcher (Empidonax virescens) | 9 | Reported with identification notes from 6 south counties. Early south median 5/22 Rice TFB, 5/23 Wright ToL, 5/24 Scott LiH. High count 5/27 Washington (3, Crystal Spring S.N.A.) APi. | |||
| Alder Flycatcher (Empidonax alnorum) | 20 | 40 | Reported with identification notes from 26 south and 5 north counties. Early south (median 5/16) 5/19 Waseca PSu, 5/20 Brown SLH, 5/23 Hennepin TAT, ebd, Jackson JoS. Early north (median 5/21) 5/3 Clay PBB, 5/25 St. Louis SLF, 5/26 St. Louis ASu, Douglas HCT. High counts 5/27 Steele (6) PSu, Scott (5) WCM. | ||
| Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii) | 4 | 34 | Reported with details from 22 south counties, one north. Early south (median 5/10) 5/14 Fillmore REn, RLF, Steele PSu, 5/15 Hennepin LAi, 5/16 Ramsey EzH. All north (median 5/28) 5/28 Clay PBB. High counts 5/26 Hennepin (8) CMB, 5/31 Waseca (4, Blowers Park) PSu. | ||
| Least Flycatcher (Empidonax minimus) | 33 | 53 | Reported with details from 30 south and 14 north counties. Early south (median 5/1) 4/27 Carver JCy, Lyon NMe, 4/28 Sherburne JOs, 4/29 Meeker BNn, McLeod MJB, RJS. Early north (median 5/10) 5/1 Clay CMk, Grant CNn, 5/7 Grant CNn, 5/17 Koochiching ph. AMe. High counts 5/19 Mower (54, Grand Meadow W.T.P.) JCa, 5/26 St. Louis (31, Park Point R.A.) PHS. | ||
| Empidonax flycatcher (Empidonax sp.) | 10 | 30 | Rivaling the earliest Empidonax flycatchers identified to species were two individuals from the West-central region: 4/27 Lac qui Parle KeL, 4/28 Yellow Medicine JH. | ||
| Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) | 33 | 53 | Early south (median 3/21) 3/15 Hennepin ebd, Houston RLF, REn, 3/18 Stearns ebd. Early north (median 3/30) 4/1 Clay TCL, 4/2 Douglas JPE, Morrison SEm, Pine KrM, Todd RAE. High counts 4/15 Dakota (20, 140th St. Marsh) CRa, DAd, 4/4 Washington (15, Mississippi Dunes Golf Course) GJa. | ||
| Say's Phoebe (Sayornis saya) | 1 | 5 | Reported from a record 6 counties. Five south reports (median 5/4) 4/14–23 Dakota (140th St. Marsh) RkS, †PRH, †LS, ph. KDS, m.ob., 4/16 Isanti (Spencer Brook Twp.) ph. JPr, 4/18 Big Stone ph. DLP, 4/19 Lyon (Lynd) †NMe, GWe, RJS, 5/15 Stearns (Albany W.T.P.) ph. DRL. One north (median 5/8) 5/25–31+ Clay (Felton Prairie) ANy, SC, m.ob. | ||
| Vireos | |||||
| White-eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus) | 1 | One report 5/1 Carver (Carver P.R., Grimm Rd. Picnic Area) †JCy. | |||
| Bell's Vireo (Vireo bellii) | 8 | Early south (median 5/15) 5/13 Wabasha RLF, REn, 5/16 Dakota (Lake Byllesby R.P.) JCa, 5/19 Dakota (Minnesota Valley N.W.R., Cliff Fen) MwT, Rice TFB. Notable reports 5/25 Mower (Cartney W.M.A.) SHo, 5/22 Olmsted (Chester Woods) LAV, 5/25–30 Olmsted (Suess W.M.A.) SHo, m.ob. Also reported from Hennepin, Scott, Washington. Highest tallies only three. | |||
| Yellow-throated Vireo (Vireo flavifrons) | 32 | 49 | Early south (median 5/2) 4/27 Goodhue ebd, 5/1 Houston ASu, 5/2 Hennepin SOa. Early north (median 5/9) 5/9 Pine KrM, Todd SDi, 5/11 Crow Wing DMz. High count 5/27 Scott (13, Murphy-Hanrehan P.R.) BHe. | ||
| Blue-headed Vireo (Vireo solitarius) | 27 | 48 | Early south (median 4/28) 4/25 Ramsey MRe, WRe, Watonwan BWF, 4/26 Lyon REn, RLF, GWe, Washington RZi. Early north (median 5/3) 4/24–27 Todd REn, RLF, 4/27 Clay ebd, 5/1 Carlton ebd, St. Louis LME. High counts 5/16 Redwood (11, Alexander Ramsey C.P.) RJS, 4/28 Lyon (9, S.W.M.S.U.) NMe, 5/16 Mower (8) SWm. Late south 5/28 Stearns STW, 5/29 Washington JDS (median 6/1). | ||
| Philadelphia Vireo (Vireo philadelphicus) | 10 | 44 | Early south (median 5/7) 5/4 Hennepin MaS, 5/6 Pipestone ebd, 5/8 Freeborn ASu, Ramsey DFe. Early north (median 5/14) 5/14 Becker HeH, ShG, 5/21 St. Louis ebd, 5/22 Clay TCL, Lake JWL, Polk JCJ, SAu. High counts 5/26 St. Louis (4, Western Waterfront Trail) JLK, 5/26 St. Louis (4, Park Point R.A.) JfD, PHS, 5/29 Goodhue (4, Cannon Valley Trail) ebd. Late south 5/31 Dakota ebd, but also see summer report (median 6/1). | ||
| Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus) | 29 | 51 | Early south (median 5/1) 4/30 Brown MiO, Dakota AJF, Hennepin, Houston KEm, Ramsey ebd, 5/1 also in Lac qui Parle, Rice. Early north (median 5/8) 5/5 Todd RLF, REn, 5/11 Douglas ToR, 5/13 Pine SBE. High counts 5/20 Hennepin (14) CMB, 5/23 Hennepin (14, Wood Lake N.C.) ebd. | ||
| Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus) | 33 | 51 | Early south (median 5/6) 5/2 Carver JTg, Rice ebd, 5/3 Anoka ebd, Hennepin KMo. Early north (median 5/10) 5/12 Carlton ebd, 5/13 Todd LBa, ebd, 5/14 Morrison DLP. High counts 5/27 Scott (23, Cleary Lake R.P.) BxP, 5/27, 5/30 Steele (23, Somerset Twp.) PSu. | ||
| Shrikes | |||||
| Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus) | 2 | 6 | Early south (median 3/25) 3/24 Houston ASu, 4/14 Dakota (140th St. Marsh) NSg, 4/15 Dakota (Hastings Sand Coulee S.N.A.) AJF. All north (median 5/15) 5/3 Mahnomen (Tulaby Lake) ebd, 5/11 Clay (Felton Prairie) TCL, (Bluestem Prairie) RLF, REn. | ||
| Northern Shrike (Lanius borealis) | 21 | 33 | Notable spring record 3/7 Red Lake SAu. High count 3/8 St. Louis (5, Sax-Zim Bog) ebd. Late south 4/8 Dakota FFa, Lac qui Parle DLP, 4/10 Hennepin TLo, 4/17 Dakota MwT (median 4/9). Late north 4/15 Douglas ToR, 4/19 St. Louis ebd, 4/22 Otter Tail JsS (median 4/19). | ||
| Jays, Nutcrackers, Magpies, Crows | |||||
| Canada Jay (Perisoreus canadensis) | 9 | Reported from traditional northeast range. High counts 3/7 St. Louis (15, Sax-Zim Bog) ebd, 5/23 St. Louis (13, three family groups) AXH. | |||
| Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) | 34 | 53 | Reported statewide. High counts all from Park Point, St. Louis: 5/1 (1,325) SNe, StK, 5/13 (510) NMt. | ||
| Black-billed Magpie (Pica hudsonia) | 20 | All reports from traditional range. High counts 3/7 Red Lake (8) SAu, JCJ, 4/19 Itasca (8) TCL. | |||
| American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) | 34 | 53 | Reported statewide. High counts 3/7 Olmsted (200, Silver Lake) JPr, 3/2 Hennepin (150, Minneapolis) IVa. | ||
| Common Raven (Corvus corax) | 32 | 16 | Reported throughout expected range. Many reports of wanderers outside this range as this species continues to expand south. New county record 3/31 Kandiyohi RSF. First spring records 5/18 Pope DOr, 3/6 Scott RAE where also reported 5/14 BAb. Other out-of-range reports 4/7 – 5/19 Dakota/Goodhue (Miesville Ravine P.R.) m.ob., 3/8 – 5/31 Hennepin (Crow-Hassan P.R., Lake Rebecca P.R., Minneapolis) †ClB, m.ob., 3/18 Meeker (Lake Betsy) MJB, 4/9 Wilkin (Prairie View Twp.) BEn, RLF, 5/23 Wilkin (Rothsay) AaL, CLu. High counts 4/24 St. Louis (41, W.S.H.C.) JPR, FJN, 4/30 St. Louis (29, W.S.H.C.) JPR, FJN. | ||
| Chickadees, Titmice | |||||
| Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) | 34 | 53 | Reported from all counties. High counts 4/15 Carver (48, Carver P.R.) JCy, 3/18 Hennepin (47, Elm Creek P.R.) ebd. | ||
| Boreal Chickadee (Poecile hudsonicus) | 3 | Reported from Cook, Lake and St. Louis. High count 3/14 St. Louis (4) JuG. | |||
| Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) | 1 | 13 | New county record and only north report: 4/26 Kanabec ph. †SPS. Other reports outside of normal range 3/14 Anoka ebd, 3/9 Freeborn AEB, 3/24 Sibley SaM. High counts 4/5 Houston (6, Reno, Hillside Rd.) ASu, 3/15 Goodhue (5) ebd, 4/2, 4/4 Fillmore (5) ToM. | ||
| Larks | |||||
| Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris) | 28 | 53 | Very few reports from the Northeast. High counts 3/8 Traverse (100, Leonardsville Twp.) REn, RLF, 3/9 Dakota (90, Great Western Industrial Park) IVa. | ||
| Martins, Swallows | |||||
| Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia) | 27 | 48 | Early south (median 4/16) 4/11 Dakota (Lake Byllesby) ASu, 4/12 Dakota (140th St. Marsh) MwT, 4/19 Ramsey LiH. Early north (median 4/29) 4/26 Kanabec SPS, 5/2 St. Louis JPR, FJN, Todd RLF, REn. High counts 5/29 Clay (150, gravel pit, Felton) CRa, 5/15 Meeker (100, Greenleaf Lake S.R.A.) ebd. | ||
| Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) | 34 | 53 | Early south (median 3/19) 3/24 Houston ASu, 3/26 Dakota JMs, 3/27 Dodge ebd. Early north (median 4/2) 4/5 Crow Wing DMz, 4/6 Otter Tail JsS, St. Louis ebd. High counts 5/4 Yellow Medicine (1,850, Spellman Lake) GWe, 4/16 Hennepin (650, Old Cedar Ave. Bridge) JCa. | ||
| Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis) | 26 | 48 | Several south arrivals prior to the 4/11 median: 4/1 Yellow Medicine GWe, 4/5 Houston REn, RLF, 4/10 Houston DSt. Early north (median 4/21) 4/22 Pine MJB, 4/23 Morrison AaL, CLu, 4/25 Crow Wing ebd, Pine KrM. High counts 5/25 McLeod (69, Schaefer Prairie) DSh, 5/10 Goodhue (60, Frontenac S.P.) MaS. | ||
| Purple Martin (Progne subis) | 25 | 48 | Early south (median 4/6) 4/5 Houston (Reno Bottoms) REn, RLF, ASu, 4/8 Rice DAB, 4/9 Houston (Brownsville) SHo. Early north (median 4/13) 4/12 Pine MJB, 4/23 Beltrami DPJ, 4/24 Cass DAY, DoH, Douglas JWZ, Todd REn, RLF. High count 5/26–31 Wright (100, one colony) ToL. | ||
| Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) | 34 | 53 | Early south (median 4/8) 4/4 Hennepin SDz, 4/5 Houston REn, RLF, ASu, Washington ebd, Winona ebd. Early north (median 4/17) 4/21 Todd ebd, 4/23 Becker ShG, HeH, St. Louis FJN, JPR. Record-high count 5/9 Pipestone (400, total over all five ponds at the Pipestone W.T.P.) JCa. | ||
| Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) | 30 | 53 | Early south (median 4/16) 4/17 Dakota ebd, Hennepin JQn, 4/20 Rock REn, RLF. Early north (median 4/25) 4/22 Douglas ebd, 4/25 Wadena PJB, 4/26 Aitkin SC, Grant ebd. High counts 5/16 Hennepin (400, Old Cedar Ave. Bridge) BBr, 5/4 Yellow Medicine (275, Spellman Lake) GWe. | ||
| Kinglets | |||||
| Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula) | 31 | 53 | Early south (median 3/27) 3/25 Ramsey LiH, 3/27 Dakota AJF, 3/31 Lincoln ANy, Lyon GWe, Olmsted LHl, JHD, Rock ASu. Early north (median 4/4) 4/1–2 Grant CNn, 4/3 Todd TLu, 4/4 Cook FFa, LnH, Otter Tail MO, Pine KrM. High count 4/28 St. Louis (53, Park Point R.A.) StK. Late south 5/23 in Dakota, Hennepin, Lyon, Ramsey, Waseca, Washington, then 5/24 Hennepin ebd (median 5/27). | ||
| Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa) | 28 | 51 | Early south migrants (median 3/22) 3/15 Brown JCC, Dakota BDo, LiH, 3/16 Rice NiR. Early north (median 3/27) 3/28 Pine KrM, 3/31 Pennington ebd, 4/1 St. Louis JDx, Todd REn, RLF. Several very high counts 4/25 St. Louis (64, Park Point R.A.) StK, 4/22 Ramsey (38, Villa Park, Roseville) GDi, 4/13 Anoka (32, Fish Lake Nature Trails) ebd, 4/6 Dakota (30, Spring Lake Park P.R.) IsH, EzH. Late south 5/9 Fillmore JCC, 5/16 Chisago ebd, Scott NHa, 5/30+ Sherburne PLJ, ebd (median 5/9). | ||
| Waxwings | |||||
| Bohemian Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus) | 4 | 1 | Very few reports, mostly from St. Louis County. Only south report 3/12 Stearns (Melrose) ebd (median 3/6). High counts 3/26 St. Louis (55, W.S.H.C.) FJN, JPR, 3/8 St. Louis (50, Ely) ASu. Late north 3/28 Polk SAu, 4/21 St. Louis ebd (median 4/19). | ||
| Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) | 32 | 49 | Present north and south as the period commenced. High counts 5/31 Roseau (246, Warroad Point) StK, 5/9 Anoka (150, Country Lakes Park) ebd. | ||
| Nuthatches | |||||
| Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) | 30 | 24 | High count 3/8 St. Louis (16, Sax-Zim Bog) ebd. Probable late south migrants 5/10 Carver WCM, 5/15 Olmsted JCC. | ||
| White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) | 32 | 53 | Not reported from Koochiching, Mahnomen. High counts 4/17 Douglas (20) ebd, 4/11 Scott (17, Murphy-Hanrehan P.R.) MAK. | ||
| Creepers | |||||
| Brown Creeper (Certhia americana) | 29 | 48 | High counts 4/4 Hennepin (20, Old Cedar Ave. Bridge) MaS, 4/28 St. Louis (16, Park Point R.A.) StK. Late south 5/22 Ramsey LiH, 5/23 Hennepin ebd, 5/24 Hennepin ebd (median 5/16). | ||
| Gnatcatchers | |||||
| Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea) | 9 | 50 | Early south (median 4/21) 4/18 Nicollet ebd, 4/19 Hennepin (Lake Harriet) ASu, 4/20 Hennepin (Minnesota Valley N.W.R., Bass Ponds )AWi, Early north (median 5/5) 5/1 Pine KrM, 5/2 Todd RLF, REn, 5/3 Douglas LSl. High counts 5/7 Washington (21, Afton S.P.) ebd, 5/14 Scott (17, Minnesota Valley N.W.R., Louisville Swamp) ebd. | ||
| Wrens | |||||
| Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) | 8 | Reported from eight counties, a new spring season high. Unusual spring records: 4/12 – 5/22 Blue Earth (Mankato, all same individual?) ChH, KRo, DBz, 4/5 Chisago (Franconia) EWe, 5/18–26 Washington (Stillwater) ebd. Also reported from Hennepin, Houston, Olmsted, Ramsey, and Winona. | |||
| Northern House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) | 32 | 53 | Early south (median 4/17) 4/2 Fillmore ToM, 4/16 Brown ebd, 4/18 Dakota AJF, Goodhue EAa, Ramsey BNW, NV. Early north (median 4/30) 4/28 Becker HeH, ShG, Polk ebd, 4/29 Pine LEv, 4/30 Todd RLF, REn. High counts 5/13 Rice (28, west side of Cannon River Wilderness Park) DAB. | ||
| Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis) | 16 | 37 | Early south migrants (median 3/25) 3/26 Dakota ebd, Lyon NMe, 3/28 Ramsey SHu, 3/30 Dakota ebd, Winona LHl. Early north (median 4/9) 3/20 Todd (Long Prairie) TLu, 4/2 St. Louis MPi, 4/5 Pine TPW. High counts 4/4 Hennepin (12, Old Cedar Ave. Bridge) MaS, 5/9 St. Louis (6, Boulder Lake E.L.C.) JfD. Late south 5/19 Rock ebd, Steele ANy, 5/22 Anoka DPG (median 5/15). | ||
| Sedge Wren (Cistothorus stellaris) | 31 | 50 | Early south (median 4/28) 4/24 Carver WCM, Rice TFB, Steele MAJ, Yellow Medicine KEm, SHo. Early north (median 5/1) 4/27 Pine TPW, Todd REn, RLF, 4/30 Itasca SC, Morrison ebd. High counts 5/26 Anoka (23, Carlos Avery W.M.A.) ebd, 5/15 Steele (20, Armstrong Wetland Restoration) PNi, 5/26 Morrison (20, Crane Meadows N.W.R.) SEm. | ||
| Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris) | 21 | 51 | Early south (median 4/24) 4/22 Dakota ebd, Yellow Medicine NMe, 4/23 Winona LHl. Early north (median 5/5) 5/7 Wilkin SHo, 5/8 Becker SHo, NaH, ASM, 5/10 Marshall JCJ. High counts 5/18 Grant (20) JH, 5/19 Clay (20, Gruhl State W.M.A.) ebd, 5/30 Cottonwood (20) ebd. | ||
| Thrashers, Mockingbirds | |||||
| Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) | 32 | 53 | Early south (median 4/25) 4/18 Hennepin ebd, 4/23 Washington (Grey Cloud Dunes S.N.A.) ebd, 4/24 McLeod BHa, Rock ASu, Washington (Oakdale) ebd. Early north (median 5/2) 4/27 Carlton RyR, 5/3 St. Louis JLK, 5/6 Crow Wing ebd, Grant CNn. High counts 5/22 Carver (30, Dakota Rail Trail) ebd, 5/25 Sherburne (30, Sherburne N.W.R., Blue Hill Trail) CBt. | ||
| Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum) | 31 | 53 | Overwintering individual reported 3/12 Anoka ebd. Possible very early south arrivals (median 4/9) found 3/13 Houston ASu, 3/26 Lyon RJS. Early north (median 4/20) 4/11 Kanabec SPS, 4/19 Mille Lacs ebd, 4/23 Otter Tail JsS. High counts 5/1 Washington (15, Grey Cloud Dunes S.N.A.) ASu. | ||
| Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) | 3 | 6 | All south (median 4/23) 5/7–8 Carver ph. BDc, m.ob. 5/10–16 Goodhue (Frontenac S.P.) MaS, ph. JDy, 5/12–13 Hennepin (Fort Snelling S.P.) MaS, ph. MZa, m.ob., 5/16 Dakota (Lake Byllesby R.P.) †KTP, 5/18 Washington (Carpenter N.C.) BDo, 5/24 Scott (Murphy-Hanrehan P.R.) LiH, 5/27 Scott (Jordan) CnM, ph. JnM, m.ob. All north (median 5/3) 5/20 Becker (Tamarac N.W.R.) ph. DMz, Clay (Hawley) ph. †PBB, 5/25 St. Louis (Western Waterfront Trail) †JLK. | ||
| Starlings | |||||
| European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) | 34 | 53 | Reported statewide. High counts 3/23 Lyon (2,000, Black Rush Lake landfill) GWe, 3/14 Dakota (1,000, Hampton feedlot) MWS. | ||
| Thrushes | |||||
| Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) | 32 | 53 | Present south as the season commenced. Early north (median 3/16) 3/10 Morrison DLP, 3/11 Todd TLu, 3/12 Otter Tail WyR. High counts 3/21 Winona (20, Great River Bluffs S.P.) ebd, 3/27 Hennepin (20, Crow Hassan P.R.) TLo, 5/19 Wright (20, Hasty) MLk. | ||
| MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD (Sialia currucoides) | 2 | 1 | One south report of this now-Casual species: 4/28–29 Yellow Medicine (male, Sioux Agency Twp.) ph. †JH, ph. KEm, ph. NMe. Two north reports, 3/21–26 Becker (female, Dunton Locks C.P.) †MO, m.ob., 4/11–13 Clay (male, north of Rollag) †PBB, ph. †LBa, MO, HeH, ShG. | ||
| Townsend's Solitaire (Myadestes townsendi) | 1 | 1 | One south 3/6 Sherburne (Sand Dunes S.F.) JOs. One north 5/23 St. Louis (Park Point R.A.) JLK. | ||
| Veery (Catharus fuscescens) | 32 | 46 | Early south (median 5/2) 4/28 Hennepin (Cedar Lake) ebd, 4/30 Dakota DVe, Hennepin (Wood Lake N.C.) RLF, REn, 5/2 Houston AaL, CLu. Early north (median 5/7) 5/4 Cass DAY, 5/6 St. Louis JfD, 5/7 Otter Tail ebd. High counts 5/23 Washington (29, Mahtomedi, pre-dawn calls) EzH, 5/26 Anoka (14, Carlos Avery W.M.A.) ebd. | ||
| Gray-cheeked Thrush (Catharus minimus) | 19 | 46 | Early south (median 5/3) 4/27 Hennepin SBM, Houston SHo, 4/29 Lyon REn, NMe, RLF, Ramsey JbS. Early north (median 5/7) 5/4 Grant CNn, 5/5–7 Clay (Moorhead) ebd, 5/7 Itasca EEO. High counts 5/23 Washington (36, Mahtomedi, nocturnal flight calls) EzH. Late south 5/24 Carver JCy, Hennepin (four locations) KeL, EMf, RTu, TJo, 5/25 Hennepin (Minnesota Valley N.W.R. headquarters) RTu, Washington JDS, 5/28 Hennepin (Richardson N.C.) MkC (median 5/27). Late north 5/27 Douglas RAE, 5/28 Cass DoH, 5/30 Douglas LGl (median 5/28). | ||
| Swainson's Thrush (Catharus ustulatus) | 27 | 53 | Early south (median 4/28) 4/23 Olmsted ebd, 4/24 Ramsey PAl, 4/25 Brown BTS, Goodhue ebd. Early north (median 5/2) 4/28 Clay LSl, St. Louis (Park Point R.A.) StK, JLK, 4/29 St. Louis (Canal Park) PHS, 4/30 Todd AaL, CLu. High counts 5/23 Washington (340, Mahtomedi, nocturnal flight calls over 2.5 hours) EzH, 5/17 Lyon (75, Camden S.P.) NMe. Late south 5/29 in Chisago, Hennepin, Lac qui Parle, Meeker, Rice, Scott, 5/30 Isanti RZi, Pipestone VKl (median 6/2). | ||
| Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) | 30 | 47 | Early south (median 3/28) 3/2 Wright IVa, 3/11 Lyon GWe, 3/25 Ramsey LiH. Early north (median 4/4) 4/1–2 Clay (max. 5, Moorhead) DnM, TCL, 4/3 Cass BEc, Grant CNn, Todd TLu. High counts 4/28 St. Louis (19, Park Point R.A.) StK. Late south 5/20 Brown ebd, Hennepin ebd, Scott NVs, Wabasha ebd, 5/23 Chisago DPi, 5/31 Sherburne ABL (median 5/21). | ||
| Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina) | 22 | 45 | Rare spring record 5/16 Nobles ebd. Early south (median 5/1) 4/28–30 Hennepin (Veterans Memorial Park) DGu, PSt, 5/1 Hennepin (two other locations) ebd, 5/2 Carver ebd, Houston LHl. Early north (median 5/9) 5/4–9 Todd ebd, 5/9 Pine KrM, 5/12 Carlton ebd. High counts 5/21 Scott (12, Murphy-Hanrehan P.R.) BxP, 5/23 Stearns (10, Quarry Park S.N.A.) MJB. | ||
| American Robin (Turdus migratorius) | 34 | 53 | Reported in every county. High counts 4/3 Beltrami (800, Bemidji) AxB, 4/17 Aitkin (540) CLR. | ||
| Varied Thrush (Ixoreus naevius) | 1 | Only report: 3/30 Anoka CGr, ph. SaK. | |||
| Old World Sparrows | |||||
| House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) | 32 | 53 | Reported everywhere except Koochiching and Marshall counties. High counts 3/22 Hennepin (125) GrS, 3/22 Ramsey (103) DnS. | ||
| Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) | 1 | 2 | All south reports, 3/1 – 4/5 Dakota (continuing at a feeder in Ravenna Twp. since prior fall; final date is approximate) JRd, IVa, AJF, GUn, DGu; first county record 4/8 Fillmore ph. ToM; 4/18 Dakota (2, Burnsville) ph. DEn. One north 5/29–31+ Lake (Two Harbors) SLL, JWL, ph. LBa, JBu. | ||
| Pipits | |||||
| American Pipit (Anthus rubescens) | 9 | 36 | Early south (median 3/29) 3/29 Lyon (Sham Lake) GWe, 3/31 Jackson ASu, 4/5 Lyon (Coon Creek Twp.) NMe, 4/10 Lyon (Lynd) REn, RLF then numerous reports beginning 4/11. Early north (median 4/24) 4/19 Kanabec SPS, 4/22 Grant CNn, 4/24 Clay PBB. High counts 5/13 Clay (50, Sabin) ebd, 5/3 Clay (40, Ulen) PBB. Late south 5/17 Stearns AaL, CLu, 5/19 Steele ANy, 5/21 Hennepin RZi (median 5/21). Late north 5/17 Pine ANy, 5/19 Kanabec (40) SPS, 5/22 Kanabec (Oglivie) CRM, m.ob. (median 5/25). | ||
| Finches | |||||
| Evening Grosbeak (Coccothraustes vespertinus) | 7 | Reported throughout the season from its normal range of Northeast and a few North-central counties. Also, 4/5 Todd ph. NaH. High counts 3/3 St. Louis (19, Sax-Zim Bog) ebd, 5/11 Cook (15) JaJ, 3/22 St. Louis (14) ebd, 3/29 St. Louis (12) FJN. | |||
| Pine Grosbeak (Pinicola enucleator) | 2 | Only three reports of five individuals from Lake and St. Louis represents the lowest total reported in over ten years. Last report 3/12 St. Louis (1) ebd. | |||
| House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) | 32 | 52 | Reported statewide. Notable high count 3/29 Dakota (36) ebd. | ||
| Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus) | 31 | 33 | Reported throughout the state all season with most reports northeast of a line from Freeborn to Clay counties. Few reports in the Southwest. Notable high count 3/30 and 4/20 St. Louis (30) IaG. Late south 5/20 Goodhue MNb, Ramsey ebd, Scott MaS, 5/24 Chisago ebd, 5/27 Pope MJB (median 5/21). | ||
| Redpoll (Common) (Acanthis f. flammea) | 8 | Showing the nomadic nature of this species, there were only nine reports for the entire season. Compare this to 2019 spring with over 1,200 reports. All reports 3/5 Cook IHu, Polk SAu, 3/9 Beltrami ebd, 3/11 St. Louis MPi, 3/15 Marshall JHs, Polk SAu, 4/19 Pine ebd, 5/9 Itasca ebd, Otter Tail JSi. | |||
| Redpoll (Hoary) (Acanthis f. exilipes) | No reports. | ||||
| Red Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) | 9 | 7 | Found throughout the season in Northeast and North-central regions with scattered reports from East-central region and Clay. High counts 5/23 St. Louis (20) ebd, 4/11 Cook (14) LWd, 5/25 Carlton (13, Moose Lake W.T.P.) JPR, 3/4 Cook (11) JlB, 4/26 St. Louis (11, Hartley N.C.) JfD, 5/23 St. Louis (11) NMt. | ||
| White-winged Crossbill (Loxia leucoptera) | 8 | 1 | Only south report 4/22 Hennepin (Baker P.R.) ebd. Reported throughout the season in North-central and Northeast regions, continuing into the summer season. High counts 3/14 Cook (15) ABm, 3/8 St. Louis (14) ebd, 5/23 Lake (12, Stony River Rd.) JWL. | ||
| Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus) | 28 | 17 | Found in nearly every north county and scattered counties south for the duration of the season. Notable high counts all from 3/14 Cook (108, Sawbill Trail; 75, different location along the Sawbill Trail; 73, Perent Lake Rd.) ABm. | ||
| American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) | 34 | 52 | Reported statewide with these amazing high counts all from St. Louis 5/3 (1,518, systematically counted at Stoney Point) StK, 5/1 (256, W.S.H.C.) JPR, FJN, 5/2 (215, Stoney Point) StK, 5/2 (110, W.S.H.C.) JPR, FJN. | ||
| Longspurs and Snow Buntings | |||||
| Lapland Longspur (Calcarius lapponicus) | 12 | 43 | With few winter observations, presumed early migrants north 3/8 Traverse REN, RLF, 3/22 Wilkin FFa, MaJ. High counts 3/8 Traverse (1,200) REn, RLF, 3/14 Nicollet (400) GLa, 3/14 Rice (400) DAB. Late south 5/11 Dakota MGi, 5/14 Watonwan DGu, 5/18 Scott ebd (median 5/8). Late north 5/5 Clay ebd, 5/9 Cook COg, 5/16 Clearwater TJJ (median 5/20). | ||
| CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPUR (Calcarius ornatus) | No reports for the first spring in over 45 years. | ||||
| Smith's Longspur (Calcarius pictus) | 1 | 2 | All reports 4/14 Lincoln ASu, 4/15 Traverse (Wheaton W.T.P.) REN, RLF, 4/18 Rock MaJ. | ||
| Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis) | 21 | 15 | High counts 3/20 Otter Tail (140) ShG, HeH, 3/14 Isanti (100) KrM. Late south 3/21 Fillmore ebd, Washington BDo, 3/22 Olmsted LHv, 4/13 Benton HHD (median 4/11). Late north 4/24 Cass LS, Cook LWd, Itasca TCL, (4) ebd, 4/25 Pine KrM (median 5/5). | ||
| Towhees, Sparrows | |||||
| Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum) | 13 | 32 | Early south (median 4/23) 4/21 Ramsey ebd, 4/25 Washington DGu, Wright MLk, 4/26 Cottonwood JnH, Dakota ebd. Early north (median 5/3) 5/5 Pine LEv, 5/6 Clay (Felton Prairie) RLF, REn, 5/10 Clay (Clay County landfill) ebd. High counts 5/27 Clay (26, Felton Prairie) ASu, AAz, 5/25 Washington (17, Grey Cloud Dunes S.N.A.) SKS. Rare spring record: 5/23 Lake (Two Harbors) JWL. | ||
| Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus) | 10 | 43 | Early south (median 4/20) 4/15 Mower SWm, 4/21 Dakota (140th St.) KDS, (Lake Byllesby) KBg. Early north (median 5/2) 4/27 Clay PBB, Red Lake ANy, 5/2 Morrison ebd, Polk SAu. High counts 5/9 Wright (8) ToL, 5/6 Dakota (6, Miesville Ravine) DVe, 5/9 Wabasha (5) JDy. | ||
| Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) | 34 | 53 | Early south (median 3/23) 3/24 Fillmore ASu, Hennepin (Richardson N.C.) MMk, Scott ebd, 3/25 Hennepin (New Hope) MaJ. Early north (median 4/10) 3/29 Douglas JsS, 4/2 Kanabec ebd, 4/4 Crow Wing LnH. High counts 5/10 Lyon (80, S.W.M.S.U.) NMe, 5/4 Polk (58, East Grand Forks) SAu. | ||
| Clay-colored Sparrow (Spizella pallida) | 31 | 53 | Early south (median 4/21) 4/18 Jackson ebd, 4/22 Dakota (140th St. Marsh) ebd, 4/23 Dakota (Heritage Village Park) ebd, Fillmore ToM. Early north (median 4/27) 4/24 Otter Tail SDi, 4/26 Cass DAY, 4/27 Clay PBB, Grant CNn, Todd REn, RLF. High counts 4/30 Rock (30, Luverne City Park) ebd, 5/10 Carver (28, Carver P. R.) JCy. | ||
| Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla) | 9 | 51 | Early south (median 4/2) 3/30 Brown SLH, Olmsted SHk, 3/31 Rock ASu. Early north (median 4/17) 4/6 Todd REn, RLF, 4/11 Pine ebd, 4/12 Morrison TLu. High counts 5/8 Lyon (34, Camden S.P.) GWe, 4/24 Sherburne (30, Sherburne N.W.R.) MaS, 4/29 Winona (30, Whitewater W.M.A.) ebd, 5/13 Lyon (30, Camden S.P.) NMe, 5/15 Olmsted (30, Chester Woods) BLa, 5/31 Nicollet (30, Fort Ridgely S.P.) ChA. | ||
| Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca) | 29 | 50 | This season continued the trend of earlier than normal spring arrivals. Presumed first migrants south (median 3/13) 3/1 Olmsted ebd, Wabasha MNb, 3/7 Goodhue AJF, KDS, 3/9 Hennepin CRM, m.ob., Carver ebd. Early north (median 3/28) 3/30 Crow Wing ebd, Wadena PJB, 3/31 Grant CNn, Polk SAu. High counts 4/5 Yellow Medicine (73, Spellman Lake) GWe, 4/11 Kanabec (36) SPS, 3/30 Olmsted (35, Chester Woods) JPr, JmP. Late south 5/7 Nicollet ebd, 5/8 Dakota ebd, 5/9 Ramsey LiH (median 5/4). Late north 5/10 Crow Wing BKn, 5/17 Beltrami ebd (median 5/13). | ||
| American Tree Sparrow (Spizelloides arborea) | 27 | 52 | High counts 4/10 Aitkin (85, 390th St., Aitkin) CLR, 3/31 Jackson (76, South Heron Lake) ASu, 3/14 Freeborn (50, Myre-Big Island S.P.) SHo. Late south 5/9 Ramsey ebd, Swift ebd, 5/11 Stevens ebd, 5/12 Dakota ebd (median 5/8). Late north 5/10 Cook LWd, 5/11 St. Louis (Duluth) SCB, PHS, 5/15 St. Louis (Longyear Lake) ebd (median 5/12). | ||
| Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) | 32 | 53 | High counts 4/3 Hubbard (250, Kabekona Lake) RLF, REn, 3/31 Jackson (240, South Heron Lake) ASu, 4/3 Cass (211, Gull Lake R.A.) ebd, 4/5 Lake (160, Lind House) SLL. Late south 5/20 Sherburne ebd, 5/21 Goodhue DGu, 5/23 Meeker PKF. “Oregon” group reports were widespread from 13 south and five north counties from early March to late April with 5/22 Cass ph. DoH being the latest report. | ||
| White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) | 22 | 49 | Early south (median 4/21) 4/5 Olmsted LAV, 4/7 Washington ASu, 4/14 Pipestone VKl. Early north (median 4/26) 4/23 Grant CNn, 4/28 Todd SDi, 4/29 Polk ebd. High counts 5/7 Lac qui Parle (26) KeL, 5/3 Fillmore (20, Lost Creek Hiking Trail) KeA. Late south 5/24 Dakota DVe, Hennepin MZa, Rice DAB, 5/25 Blue Earth ChH, Goodhue ebd (median 5/21). Late north 5/25 St. Louis (W.S.H.C.) FJN, 5/26 Cook LWd, St. Louis (Park Point) JfD, JWL, NPo, PHS (median 5/27). “Gambell’s” subspecies reported south 4/28 – 5/10 Fillmore ToM, 4/30 Hennepin VRL, Scott BHe, 5/4 Yellow Medicine GWe, 5/5 Lyon GWe, 5/18 Hennepin BAF. | ||
| Harris's Sparrow (Zonotrichia querula) | 24 | 46 | Early south (median 4/4) 3/16 Rock ANy, DBz, 3/29 Lyon GWe, 3/31 Rock (Blue Mounds S.P.) ASu, (Schoeman Park) ASu, 4/1 Yellow Medicine GWe. Early north (median 4/28) 4/23 Clay (River Oaks Park) CMk, 4/27 Wilkin LSl, 5/1 Clay (Cromwell Twp.) PBB, Douglas ToR, Otter Tail ebd, Polk SAu. High counts 5/13 Wilkin (20, Breckenridge) ebd, 5/7 Lac qui Parle (17, Prairie Marsh Farm) KeL. Late south 5/21 Hennepin ebd, Nobles ebd, 5/22 Kandiyohi JoS (median 5/24). Late north 5/22 Polk SAu, Todd SDi, 5/23 Cass SC (median 5/23). | ||
| White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) | 32 | 53 | Wintered widely south and in the Northeast. Early south migrants (median 3/18) indistinguishable from those that overwintered. Presumed early north (median 4/13) 4/1 Todd ebd, 4/4 Cook LWd, Lake SLL, JWL, St. Louis ebd. High counts 5/13 St. Louis (215, Park Point R.A.) NMt, 5/1 Hennepin (200, Minnesota Valley N.W.R., Headquarters) RTu. Late south 5/29 Dakota BAF, 5/31 Hennepin LS, NiT (median 5/27). See summer report for lingering migrants south. | ||
| Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus) | 26 | 52 | Early south (median 3/27) 3/17 Blue Earth ChH, 3/27 Lyon NMe, Nobles ASu, 4/1 Dakota ebd, Lyon RJS. Early north (median 4/12) 4/6 Grant ANy, Otter Tail JsS, 4/7 Todd REn, RLF. High counts 5/1 Washington (20, Grey Cloud Dunes S.N.A.) ebd, 4/12 Dakota (16, 140th St. Marsh) RLF, REn. | ||
| LeConte's Sparrow (Ammospiza leconteii) | 17 | 11 | Early south (median 4/20) 4/22 Yellow Medicine (Timm Lake) NMe, (Dell Clark Lake) RJS, 4/27 Dakota KDS, Ramsey LiH, SBE, Washington CSl. Early north (median 5/1) 4/23 Clay ebd, 4/26 Grant MO, 4/28 Morrison ebd, St. Louis StK. High counts 5/17 Polk (10, C.R. 46, Crookston) SAu, 5/17 Polk (6, Pankratz Memorial Prairie) JCJ. | ||
| Nelson's Sparrow (Ammospiza nelsoni) | 3 | 2 | Nine individuals reported. All south 5/16–17 Carver (1, Tiger Lake) FFa, MaJ, MwT, 5/24–26 Yellow Medicine (max. 2, Timm Lake) KEm, JWH, JGW, NMe, GWe. All north 5/20 St. Louis (1, Sax-Zim Bog) ClD, 5/21 Pennington (1, 390th Ave NE) ebd, 5/23 Roseau (2, Roseau Lakebed) JPR, 5/24, 5/29 Clay (1–2, Gruhl State W.M.A.) PBB, CMk. | ||
| Henslow's Sparrow (Centronyx henslowii) | 20 | Early south (median 4/30) 4/23 Wright RBd, 4/25 Carver JCy, Freeborn LAV, Washington RLR. High counts 5/24 Hennepin (11, Crow-Hassan P.R.) MZa, 5/22 Washington (6, Afton S.P.) BDo. | |||
| Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) | 34 | 53 | Early south (median 3/31) 3/27 Lyon (Green Valley W.M.A.) NMe, (Cottonwood W.T.P.) GWe, Steele ASu, LiH, 3/30 Winona LHl. Early north (median 4/14) 4/4 Todd REn, 4/22 Otter Tail ebd, Pine KrM. High counts 4/27 Ramsey (82, University of Minnesota agricultural fields) ebd, 5/20 Washington (30, Forest Lake Airport) DnS, 5/12 Clay (25, Spring Prairie Preserve) RLF, REn. | ||
| Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) | 34 | 53 | Presumed first south migrants at the end of February, followed by 3/2 Mower LHI, 3/4 Washington ERH, JZj. One report north 3/2 Todd (2) ebd was likely overwintering. Presumed early north migrants (median 3/23) 3/27 Grant JPr, Pine (2 locations) SBE, ebd, then also in Cass, Clay, Wilkin on 3/8. High counts 4/11 Hennepin (100, Old Cedar Ave. Bridge) MaS, 5/23 St. Louis (75, Park Point.) JCa, 4/28 St. Louis (67) PHS. | ||
| Lincoln's Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii) | 25 | 51 | Early south (median 4/11) 4/4 Hennepin MaJ, Lyon REn, RLF, Meeker PKF, Sherburne ebd, 4/5 Scott and Yellow Medicine. Early north (median 4/21) 4/23 Todd TLu, 4/26 Otter Tail SDi, 4/27 Clay ebd, Wilkin LSl. High counts 5/13 Lyon (16, S.W.M.S.U.) GWe, 5/14 Hennepin (12, Minnesota Valley N.W.R., Bass Ponds) JCa. Late south 5/24 Hennepin (Wood Lake N.C.) SSc, Meeker ebd, Murray ebd, 5/25 Hennepin (Westwood Hills N.C.) JBn, Ramsey ebd (median 5/26). | ||
| Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana) | 31 | 53 | Away from known wintering locations, early south (median 3/22) 3/1 Jackson RLF, REn, 3/15 Hennepin IVa, Houston RLF, REn, Ramsey ebd, 3/16 Hennepin. Early north (median 4/14) 3/30 Todd TLu, 4/5 Todd RAE, 4/10 Douglas ebd, St. Louis JLK. High counts 4/28 St. Louis (43, Park Point R.A.) StK, 5/24 Anoka (40, Carlos Avery W.M.A.) EzH. | ||
| Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus) | 1 | 1 | Two individuals: 4/28–29 Lyon (male) ph. MOs, m.ob.; one continuing from winter last reported 4/22 Morrison (male) SEm, MEm. | ||
| Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) | 17 | 42 | A report 3/22 Ramsey ebd is suspected to be an overwintering individual. Presumed early south migrants (median 4/13) 4/2 Hennepin ebd, 4/4 Houston KRz, and then also in Fillmore, Ramsey, Washington on 4/5. Early north (median 5/3) 4/7 Todd REn, RLF, 4/28 Crow Wing LnH, 5/5 Cass ebd. High counts 5/10 Sherburne (24, Sherburne N.W.R.) RCl, 5/15 Washington (22, William O’Brien S.P.) BDo, LiH, 5/1 Washington (20, Grey Cloud Dunes S.N.A.) ASu, 5/9 Winona (20, Whitewater W.M.A.) ebd. | ||
| Spotted Towhee X Eastern Towhee (Pipilo maculatus X P. erythrophthalmus) | 1 | One report 5/14 Blue Earth †ChH. | |||
| Yellow-breasted Chat | |||||
| Yellow-breasted Chat (Icteria virens) | 2 | All south 5/14 Fillmore (Forestville S.P.) ph. ToM, 5/29–31 Wabasha PEJ. | |||
| Blackbirds, Orioles | |||||
| Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) | 26 | 51 | Following its typical distribution, most reports were southwest of a line from Houston to Kittson counties. Early south (median 3/27) 3/9 McLeod BDc, 3/10 Lyon GWe, 3/25 Yellow Medicine GWe. Early north (median 4/10) 4/6 Becker NaH, 4/9 Grant (North Ottawa Impoundment) REn, RLF, 4/11 Grant (S.R. 9, Herman) REn, RLF, (Niemackl Lake Park) MO, 4/17 Traverse WCM. High counts 5/4 Yellow Medicine (140, Spellman Lake) GWe, 5/28 Wright (100, Pelican Lake) ebd. | ||
| Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) | 31 | 50 | Early south (median 5/3) 5/3 Steele ANy, JMn, 5/4 Carver JWZ, Redwood MaJ, ASu. Early north (median 5/6) 5/6 Mille Lacs MAJ, 5/7 Mille Lacs BAb, 5/8 Otter Tail SHo, 5/11 St. Louis ebd. High counts 5/13 Stearns (30, Albany W.T.P.) ebd, 5/24 Lyon (25, Black Rush Lake W.P.A.) ebd, 5/30 Clay (24, Felton Prairie) CRa. | ||
| Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna) | 16 | 39 | Early south (median 3/15) 3/8 Carver JCy, Fillmore DBz, Houston ToM, Martin BAb, Rice TFB. Early north (median 3/23) 3/26 Todd REn, RLF, 3/30 Crow Wing MAJ, 4/1 Pine KrM. High counts 4/21 Hennepin (24, Crow-Hassan P.R.) MaS, 4/25 Washington (16, Afton S.P.) DTr, JEd. | ||
| Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta) | 24 | 48 | Early south (median 3/12) 3/1 Rock RLF, REn then from seven additional counties on 3/7. Early north (median 3/17) 3/8 Clay PBB, Grant WPl, 3/10 Becker NaH. High counts 3/25 Lyon (19) GWe, 4/28 Clay (17, Felton Prairie) ebd, 5/15 Clay (14, Spring Prairie Preserve) TCL. Unusual report that was nicely photographed 4/7 Cook (Grand Marais Harbor) ph. LWd. | ||
| Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurius) | 13 | 46 | Reported throughout the state except for the North-central and Northeast regions. Early south (median 5/5) 4/29 Fillmore (Rushford Village) ToM, 5/3 Fillmore (Forestville S.P.) ToM, MHn, 5/4 Cottonwood ASu, Houston KRz, Meeker TNe, Pipestone VKl. Early north (median 5/13) 5/9 Douglas ebd, 5/14 Otter Tail (Fergus Falls) WPl, 5/17 Otter Tail (Eagle Lake Twp.) JsS, Todd TLu. High counts 5/21 Dakota (10, Lake Byllesby) ebd, 5/25 Yellow Medicine (9, Upper Sioux Agency S.P.) WCM, 5/23 Murray (8) GWe, 5/23 Hennepin (7, Crow-Hassan P.R.) BeH. | ||
| BULLOCK'S ORIOLE (Icterus bullockii) | 1 | Fifth state record 5/4–8 Crow Wing (male, Riverton) ph. BUk, ph. RZi, ph. †LS, ph. †WCM, m.ob. | |||
| Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula) | 33 | 53 | Reported from every county except Traverse. Early south (median 4/28) 4/26 Carver JCy, 4/28 Brown JSc, Hennepin ebd, Lac qui Parle KeL. Early north (median 5/4) 5/1 Todd RLF, REn, 5/3 Crow Wing LS, Douglas LSl. High counts 5/14 Goodhue (30, Cannon Valley Trail) ebd, 5/16 (25, Rice Creek North Regional Trail) Ramsey LiH, EzH, 5/13 Washington (24, Lake Elmo P.R.) ebd, 5/16 Dakota (23, Lake Byllesby R.P.) JCa. | ||
| Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) | 34 | 53 | Overwintered statewide. Presumed early north (median 3/12) 3/1 Itasca SC, 3/2 Todd ebd, 3/6 Otter Tail JsS. High counts 3/10 Lyon (6,000, Green Valley W.M.A.) GWe, 3/25 Yellow Medicine (3,300) GWe, 4/6 Becker (3,000, Hamden Slough N.W.R.) REn, RLF, HeH, ShG. | ||
| Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) | 34 | 53 | Found in every county. See winter report for overwintering south birds. Presumed first migrants (median 3/12) 3/6 Redwood KEm, 3/8 Dodge DAB, ANy, Goodhue JZj, Jackson DWK. Early north (median 4/4) 3/15 Clay ph. PBB, 4/3 Otter Tail ebd, 4/4 Douglas MO. High counts 4/10 Lyon (150) REn, RLF, 5/9 Carver (110, New Germany area) IVa. | ||
| Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus) | 22 | 48 | Early south (median 3/6) 3/1 Carver JWZ, 3/2–3 Dakota (180th St. Marsh) FFa, MwT, and also in Dodge, Fillmore, Jackson, Ramsey, Waseca on 3/8. Presumed early north (median 3/22) 3/9 Otter Tail JsS, 3/11 Douglas BEc, 3/28 Grant MO. High counts 3/26–28 Houston (200, S.R. 26, La Crescent) DSt, ToM, 4/6 Dakota (120, 140th St. Marsh) ebd. Late south 5/9 Yellow Medicine GWe, 5/18 Hennepin ebd (median 5/5). Late north 5/8 Crow Wing PSP, NSg, Pine KrM, St. Louis KEJ, 5/17 Marshall HHu (median 5/12). | ||
| Brewer's Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus) | 29 | 42 | Early south (median 3/18) 3/9 Redwood RJS, 3/14 Brown BTS, Rock ABL, 3/16 Hennepin ebd. Early north (median 4/3) 4/2 Grant CNn, 4/4 Pine KrM, ebd, 4/5 Todd REn, RLF, 4/9 Wadena PJB. High counts 3/28 Steele (80) MaS, 4/11 Wright (51, Pelican Lake) RCl, 5/12 Clay (46, Felton Prairie, Assiniboia Skipper Unit) TCL. | ||
| Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) | 34 | 53 | Reported in all counties. See winter report for overwintering birds. Spring arrivals indistinguishable from overwintering birds south. Early north (median 3/10) 3/7 Red Lake JCJ, SAu, 3/11 Lake ebd, 3/14 Aitkin SKS. High counts 4/1 Yellow Medicine (3,350, Spellman Lake) GWe, 3/31 Jackson (1,500, South Heron Lake) ASu, 4/10 Yellow Medicine (1,150, Timm Lake) GWe. | ||
| Great-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus) | 7 | The most spring reports ever. All south (median 4/15) 3/31 Jackson (South Heron Lake) ASu, 4/7, 5/9–31+ Watonwan (near Madelia) BHW, m.ob., 4/11 Yellow Medicine (Timm Lake) REn, RLF, 4/11 – 5/12 Jackson (S.R. 86, Lakefield area) FFa, m.ob., 5/11 Pipestone (Pipestone N.M.) VKl, 5/14–15 Meeker (Ellsworth Twp., Section 13) LiH, BNn, 5/20–23 Lyon (Black Rush W.P.A.) WCM, PME, m.ob, 5/23 Nobles MAJ. High count only a disappointing 2. | |||
| Warblers | |||||
| Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla) | 31 | 53 | Early south (median 4/27) 4/28 Brown SLH, Cottonwood KEm, Hennepin DWK, DCZ, WPe, Lyon NMe, RJS, Nicollet RHh, 4/29 Mower, Olmsted, Ramsey, Rice. Early north (median 5/3) 4/30 Cass (Cottagewood Drive) BEc, Douglas MO, Todd RLF, REn, 5/3 Cass (Deep Portage Learning Center) ebd, Pine ebd, KrM. High counts 5/17 Lyon (65, Camden S.P.) NMe, 5/22 Carlton (30, Jay Cooke S.P.) LAi. | ||
| Louisiana Waterthrush (Parkesia motacilla) | 11 | Early south (median 4/16) 4/26 Fillmore ToM, 4/30 Houston KEm, SHo, 5/1 Washington FFa, MaJ, Winona ToM. High count 5/14 Houston (4, Beaver Creek Valley S.P.) RLF, REn. | |||
| Northern Waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis) | 25 | 49 | Early south (median 4/24) 4/22–25 Hennepin (T.S. Roberts Bird Sanctuary) TAT, GrS, 4/23–25 Dakota (Miesville Ravine P.R.) DVe, MwT, MiT, 4/25 Hennepin (three additional locations). Early north (median 5/2) 4/29 Todd REn, RLF, 5/2 Lake ebd, 5/3 Kanabec SPS, 5/4 Clay PBB. High counts 4/28 Hennepin (18, Veterans Memorial Park) SBM, 4/29 Lyon (15, S.W.M.S.U.) REn, RLF. Late south 5/29 Hennepin ebd, 5/31 Anoka DFN, but also see summer report (median 5/29). | ||
| Golden-winged Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera) | 26 | 47 | Early south (median 5/4) 5/1 Carver JTg, 5/2 Hennepin ebd, 5/5 Houston SDz, 5/6 Brown SLH. Early north (median 5/10) 5/14 Crow Wing LoM, Pine LEv, 5/15 Carlton HGe, Crow Wing PSP, LoM, Kanabec SPS, Otter Tail ShG, HeH. High counts 5/20 Pine (16, Saint Croix S.P.) TJo, 5/22 Chisago (10, Wild River S.P.) ebd, 5/25 St. Louis (10, Sax-Zim Bog) ebd, 5/16 Carver (9, Minnesota Valley N.W.R., Rapids Lake) JCy, 5/25 Cass (9) REn. Presumed late south migrants away from breeding areas 5/29 Hennepin HPe, MyP, Washington JDS, 5/30 Carver ebd, Washington DFN, JZj (median 5/28). | ||
| Blue-winged Warbler (Vermivora cyanoptera) | 1 | 35 | Reported from its typical range in the Southeast, East-central, South-central and Central regions. Early south (median 5/2) 4/28 Rice TFB, 5/1 Houston ASu, 5/2 Hennepin SOa, Houston LHl, AaL, LAV, CLu, 5/3 Houston LS, FFa, MaJ. All north 5/20 Pine TJo. High counts 5/21 Carver (12, Carver P.R.) ABl, 5/20 Scott (11, Murphy-Hanrehan P.R.) BxP, 5/22 Washington (11, Afton S.P.) BDo, 5/27 Scott (11, Cleary Lake R.P.) BxP, 5/22 Fillmore (10, Forestville S.P.) ToM. | ||
| Golden-winged Warbler X Blue-winged Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera X V. cyanoptera) | 6 | One “Lawrence’s” 5/4 Houston SHo. Five “Brewster’s” 5/17 Stearns †PCC, Steele PSu, 5/19 Dakota (Red Oak Park) AFo, 5/22–29 Isanti (Irving and John Anderson C.P.) JCC, ph. DWK, DPG, 5/24 Dakota (Whitetail Woods R.P.) DVe. Two didn’t fit either type well: 5/13 Ramsey (Hidden Falls R.P.) JbS, 5/16 Steele PSu. | |||
| Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia) | 31 | 53 | Early migrants south this season (median 4/22) starting with a record early 4/1 Lyon (S.W.M.S.U.) †NMe, 4/10–11 Washington ebd, JDS, 4/21 Hennepin DyL. Early north (median 5/1) 4/27–29 Clay (River Oaks Park) ebd, TCL, 4/28 Grant CNn, 4/29 Clay (M.B. Johnson Park) PBB, 4/30 Todd AaL, CLu. High counts 5/17 Lyon (28, Camden S.P.) NMe, 5/18 Lincoln (13, Hole-in-the-Mountain C.P.) RJS, 4/28 Lyon (12, S.W.M.S.U.) NMe. | ||
| Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea) | 20 | With some exceptions reported from its typical Southeast and East-central regions starting south (median 5/4) 4/30 Ramsey BSf, 5/1 Hennepin MSc, Houston ASu, Ramsey ebd, Winona ToM. High counts 5/14 Houston (5, Millstone Landing) RLF, 5/23 Dakota (5, Hastings) LHl. Noteworthy out-of-range reports 5/9 Benton (Bend in the River R.P.) DOr, HHD, 5/6 Freeborn (Myre-Big Island S.P.) ToM, 5/22 Martin (Bright Lake C.P.) MAJ, 5/16–18 Olmsted (Kutzky Park) JPr, 5/13 Redwood (two locations) MiO, JSc, 5/24–27 Yellow Medicine (Upper Sioux Agency S.P.) KEm, JWH, JGW, m.ob. | |||
| Tennessee Warbler (Leiothlypis peregrina) | 31 | 52 | Early south (median 4/29) 4/25 Ramsey BNW, 4/28 Dakota ebd, Scott RiC. Early north (median 5/7) 5/1 Pine KrM, ebd, Todd RLF, REn, 5/7 Cass ebd. High counts 5/16 Carver (54, Minnesota Valley N.W.R., Rapids Lake) JCy, 5/17 Rice (50, Two Rivers Park) DAB. Late south 5/31 Houston DWK, but also see summer report (median 6/7). | ||
| Orange-crowned Warbler (Leiothlypis celata) | 25 | 51 | Early south (median 4/19) 4/18 Ramsey (Rice Creek North Regional Trail) ebd, Washington DSh, 4/19 Hennepin ASu, JBn, Ramsey (Swede Hollow Park) ebd. Early north (median 4/23) 4/22 Morrison ebd, Polk TJJ, 4/23 Becker ebd, Clay ebd, Grant CNn. High count 4/28 Lyon (30, S.W.M.S.U.) NMe. Late south 5/24 Hennepin ebd, 5/25 Lincoln KEm, JGW, Ramsey ebd (median 5/25). Late north 5/25 Becker ebd, 5/26 St. Louis (Park Point) BEA, JLK, (Western Waterfront Trail) JLK, 5/27 St. Louis (Park Point) ebd (median 5/28). | ||
| Nashville Warbler (Leiothlypis ruficapilla) | 30 | 53 | Early south (median 4/26) 4/23 Hennepin (Minnesota Valley N.W.R., Bass Ponds) VRL, 4/26 Hennepin (T.S. Roberts Bird Sanctuary) MaJ, and also in Carver, Hennepin (Pamela Park), Ramsey, Scott on 4/27. Early north (median 5/3) 4/30 Pine (Chengwatana Twp.) SBE, 5/1 Todd RLF, REn, 5/3 Lake JWL, Pine (Pine City Twp.) KrM. High counts 5/13 Cass (40) ebd, 5/22 St. Louis (32, Stoney Point) NMt. Late south 5/29 Dakota BAF, Hennepin DSh, but also see summer report (median 6/1). | ||
| Connecticut Warbler (Oporornis agilis) | 8 | 21 | Early south (median 5/11) 5/4 Hennepin KTP, 5/14 Scott BAb, 5/16 Brown SLH, Nobles BTS, Olmsted JPr, LHv. Early north (median 5/17) 5/19 Aitkin LBa, 5/20 St. Louis ebd, 5/21 Douglas JPE. Long expected first county record 5/23 Sibley (Rush River C.P.) DAB. High counts 5/17 Carver (3) ebd, 5/23 Hennepin (3, Wood Lake N.C.) TAT, 5/24 Koochiching (3, Toomey Williams Road) LBa, 5/28 Lincoln (3, Hole-in-the-Mountain C.P.) RJS. Late south 5/28 Kandiyohi JWd, Lincoln RJS, 5/30 Washington EzH (median 5/30), but also see summer report. | ||
| Mourning Warbler (Geothlypis philadelphia) | 23 | 42 | Early south (median 5/8) 5/4 Swift DLP, 5/8 Hennepin (French R.P.) ebd, 5/13 Hennepin (Minnetonka) BLW, Lac qui Parle DLP, Sherburne JOs. Early north (median 5/14) 5/14 Becker HeH, ShG, 5/17 Todd TLu, and in Aitkin, Carlton, Otter Tail, St. Louis on 5/20. High counts 5/26 St. Louis (4, Park Point R.A.) JfD, JPR, FJN, JWL, 5/28 St. Louis (4, Hartley Park) JLK. Late south 5/31 Olmsted KEm, JWH, Sherburne NMe, Washington RNe (median 6/5), but also see summer report for late south migrants and possible breeding. | ||
| KENTUCKY WARBLER (Geothlypis formosa) | 1 | One report 5/23 Lyon (Camden S.P.) JWH, a.t. †NMe, a.t. †JGW, a.t. †KEm, RJS. | |||
| Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) | 33 | 53 | Early south (median 5/1) 4/27 Dakota (Hastings S.N.A.) ebd, 4/28 Lyon GWe, 4/29 Dakota (180th St. Marsh) IVa, Hennepin JBu, Meeker PKF. Early north (median 5/7) 5/5 Otter Tail WPl, 5/7 Crow Wing ebd, 5/11 Douglas ebd. High counts 5/24 Anoka (105, Carlos Avery W.M.A) EzH, 5/19 Sherburne (42, Sherburne N.W.R.) RCl, 5/31 Wabasha (41, Whitewater W.M.A.) CBv. | ||
| Hooded Warbler (Setophaga citrina) | 1 | 11 | The most spring observations and number of counties reported in over 10 years. Early south (median 5/8) 5/1 Carver (Carver P.R.) JCy, 5/2 Hennepin (Minneapolis, Warehouse District) ph. ebd, Sherburne (Sherburne N.W.R., Blue Hill Trail where one has occurred annually since 2016) ebd, m.ob. Also recorded in Dakota at Empire Twp., Lebanon Hills R.P. and Gores Pool W.M.A.; in Hennepin at Powderhorn Park, T.S. Roberts Sanctuary, Wood Lake N.C., and Old Cedar Avenue Bridge; in Scott at traditional locations in Murphy-Hanrehan R.P.; in Ramsey at Tamarack N.C.; and in Washington at William O’Brien S.P. and Afton S.P. Unusual south reports 5/18 Watonwan BAb, 5/21–22 Olmsted (Kutzky Park) LAV, MiD, 5/22 Rock (Blue Mounds S.P.) ph. LDW, 5/29 Wabasha SHo. One north report 5/23 Aitkin (near Aitkin airport) TBk. | ||
| American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) | 33 | 53 | Early south (median 5/3) 5/2 Carver JTg, Hennepin KeK, also in Dakota, Meeker, Steele, Washington on 5/3. Early north (median 5/7) 5/4 Todd RLF, REn, 5/9 Crow Wing ebd, Otter Tail ebd. High counts 5/16 Nobles (250, Kinbrae Lake, single location over three-hour period) BTS, 5/23 St. Louis (84, Park Point R.A.) JCa, 5/20 Nicollet (60, Seven Mile Creek C.P.) IVa. | ||
| Cape May Warbler (Setophaga tigrina) | 18 | 32 | Early south (median 5/5) 5/3–6 Olmsted (Kutzy Park) ebd, JPr, JmP, 5/5 Yellow Medicine GWe, 5/6 Hennepin MaS. Early north (median 5/8) 5/11 Carlton ebd, 5/13 Cass ebd, 5/14 Becker ShG, HeH, St. Louis StK, NMt, JuG. High counts 5/21 Carlton (20, Moose Lake W.T.P.) ebd, 5/22 St. Louis (13, Stoney Point) NMt. Late south 5/25 Hennepin ebd, Scott ebd, Washington ebd (median 5/24). | ||
| Cerulean Warbler (Setophaga cerulea) | 13 | Reported mostly from its normal range in the Southeast and East-central along the Mississippi and St. Croix river valleys, northwest to Stearns and along the Minnesota River Valley to Nicollet. Early south (median 5/5) reported only from Houston County beginning 5/3 FFa, MaJ, m.ob. through 5/14. Then away from Houston 5/14 Goodhue ebd, 5/15 Scott AFo, Washington AJF, Nicollet ChH. High counts 5/12–14 Houston (5, near Reno) m.ob. One report from a less expected location 5/24 Lyon (Camden S.P.) NMe. | |||
| Northern Parula (Setophaga americana) | 19 | 46 | Early south (median 5/1) 4/28 Cottonwood KEm, Lyon GWe, Olmsted MHn. Early north (median 5/6) 5/12 Itasca SC, 5/13 Carlton ebd, Cass ebd, Crow Wing LnH, St. Louis NMt. High counts 5/14 Pine (8) KrM, 5/16 Ramsey (8, Vadnais Lake) EzH, 5/22 St. Louis (8, Stoney Point) NMt, 5/24 Lake (8, C.R. 6 near Finland) ABm. Late south 5/25 Cottonwood MAJ, Lincoln KEm, JGW, Rice BAb, Scott CUn, GUn, 5/27 Hennepin JhM, DSh, Washington BDo, JDS (median 5/27). | ||
| Magnolia Warbler (Setophaga magnolia) | 26 | 51 | Early south (median 5/5) 5/2 Hennepin ebd, 5/3 Washington ebd, 5/5 Dakota JPE, Hennepin ASu. Early north (median 5/8) 5/2–8 Grant CNn, 5/8–9 Crow Wing (Brainerd) ebd, 5/10 Otter Tail ebd. High counts 5/26 St. Louis (37, Park Point R.A.) PHS, 5/16 Mower (20, Red Rock Twp.) SWm, 5/24 Clay (20, Buffalo River S.P.) TCL. Late south 5/28 Kandiyohi RAE, Lac qui Parle DLP, Lincoln RJS, Pipestone TJJ, Ramsey SPS, but also see summer report (median 6/2). | ||
| Bay-breasted Warbler (Setophaga castanea) | 21 | 37 | Ea rly south (median 5/7) 5/5 Dakota JPE, Wright ebd, 5/9 Goodhue ebd. Early north (median 5/12) 5/15 Otter Tail HeH, ShG, 5/16 Cass ebd, Crow Wing AaL, CLu, TLu. High counts 5/22 Dakota (8) ebd, 5/26 St. Louis (7, Park Point R.A.) NPo, 5/22 Blue Earth (5) ebd. Late south 5/26 Fillmore SHo, Washington BDo, 5/27 Anoka LBi (median 5/26). | ||
| Blackburnian Warbler (Setophaga fusca) | 27 | 46 | Early south (median 5/3) 5/1 Anoka RaJ, Houston ASu, 5/2 Hennepin CMB, WPe, JCa. Early north (median 5/7) 5/2 Cass DoH, 5/6 Todd ebd, 5/7 Itasca SC, Todd ebd. High counts 5/16 Carver (12, Minnesota Valley N.W.R., Rapids Lake) JCy, 5/16 Goodhue (12, Frontenac S.P.) BLa. Late south 5/27 Hennepin DSh, Scott JGW, 5/28 Olmsted ebd, 5/30 Washington KEm, JWH, ELC (median 6/1). | ||
| Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia) | 33 | 53 | Only missed in Traverse County. Early south (median 4/25) 4/24 Hennepin ebd, Murray RJS, 4/25 Anoka ebd, Washington BDo. Early north (median 5/4) 5/1 Otter Tail ebd, 5/1–2 Todd RLF, REn, 5/2 Grant MO, Pine ebd, St. Louis StK. High counts 5/24 Anoka (100, Carlos Avery W.M.A., over five-mile stretch) EzH, 5/23 St. Louis (64, Fish Lake Reservoir, over 4.8 miles) NMt. | ||
| Chestnut-sided Warbler (Setophaga pensylvanica) | 31 | 52 | Early south (median 5/4) 4/28 Cottonwood KEm, Hennepin KvM, 5/2 Steele ebd, 5/3 Ramsey LiH, Rice ebd. Early north (median 5/8) 5/9 Pine KrM, 5/13 St. Louis ebd, and also in Carlton, Crow Wing, Itasca, Morrison on 5/14. High counts 5/26 St. Louis (25, Park Point R.A.) JfD, 5/28 St. Louis (22, Western Waterfront Trail) ebd, 5/15 Hennepin (20, Minnesota Valley N.W.R., Bass Ponds) LKt. | ||
| Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga striata) | 29 | 49 | Early south (median 5/4) 5/3 Ramsey LiH, 5/5 Dakota JPE, 5/6 Hennepin WPe, 5/7 Steele PSu. Early north (median 5/8) 5/7–13 Becker NaH, ASM, 5/13 Cass DoH, Douglas ToR, Grant CNn, St. Louis ebd. High counts 5/17 Rice (15, Two Rivers Park) DAB, 5/25 Carlton (12, Moose Lake W.T.P.) JPR, 5/26 St. Louis (12, Park Point R.A.) JfD. Late south 5/29 Mower RAE, Waseca RAE, Washington JDS, 5/30 Hennepin ebd (median 5/31). Late north 5/31 Kittson StK, Roseau StK, St. Louis MWS (median 6/3). See summer report for late migrants statewide. | ||
| Black-throated Blue Warbler (Setophaga caerulescens) | 3 | 8 | With a few exceptions, south reports were from the the Twin Cities area. Early south (median 5/11) 5/7 Houston (Reno area) ebd, 5/13 Hennepin (Wood Lake N.C.) VRL, 5/14 Hennepin (Arden Park) ebd, McLeod BHa, 5/16 Hennepin (T.S. Roberts Sanctuary) LS, Ramsey (Resevoir Woods) LiH, RMD. All north reports limited to Northeast starting (median 5/17) 5/21 Cook PEJ, St. Louis (H.R.N.R.) ebd, 5/22 Cook DFN, Lake DFN, St. Louis (Stoney Point) NMt. High count 5/24 Lake (6) DFN. Late south 5/23 Ramsey LiH, 5/24 Hennepin (Eden Prairie) SMl, 5/25 Hennepin (Howe neighborhood, Minneapolis) ebd, 5/27 Hennepin (Minnesota Valley N.W.R., Bass Ponds) DSh (median 5/24). | ||
| Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum) | 28 | 52 | Early south (median 4/20) 4/14 Anoka DFe, Hennepin ebd, Olmsted KHo. Early north (median 4/24) 4/22 Otter Tail WyR, 4/27 Clay TCL, and in Cass, Douglas, Marshall, St. Louis on 4/28. High counts 5/13 Hennepin (75) CRa, 5/13 Hennepin (50, Minnesota Valley N.W.R.) RTu, 5/14 St. Louis (50, Mud Lake) JPR, 5/13 Anoka (44, Rum River Central R.P.) ebd. Late south 5/26 Anoka SJo, 5/27 Hennepin JST (median 5/23). | ||
| Pine Warbler (Setophaga pinus) | 20 | 26 | Early south (median 4/19) started with a near-record early 3/16 Dakota (Miesville Ravine) ph. FFa, 4/7 SKS, 4/17 Hennepin LAi. Early north (median 4/21) 4/25 Kanabec ebd, 4/26 Beltrami DPJ, Pine ebd, Wadena ANy. High counts 5/1 Washington (6, Crystal Spring S.N.A.) MaJ, 5/2 Beltrami (6, Lake Bemidji S.P.) ebd, 5/16 Chisago (6, Lawrence Creek S.N.A.) DSh, 5/16 Chisago (6, Wild River S.P.) ebd, 5/16 Clearwater (6, Itasca S.P.) TJJ. New county record 4/25 Cottonwood (Talcot Lake W.M.A.) ph. †KEm, a.t. SHo, DAB, JWH. | ||
| Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) | 31 | 53 | Early south (median 3/29) 3/25 Hennepin ACr, 3/27 Ramsey ebd, 3/28 Anoka RLR. Early north (median 4/1) 4/1–2 Crow Wing LoM, 4/2 Cass ebd, Morrison SEm. High counts 5/13 Otter Tail (253, Battle Lake) TFu, 4/30 Sherburne (240, Sherburne N.W.R.) ebd, 4/28 Hennepin (200, Minnesota Valley N.W.R., Bass Ponds) MaS, 4/30 Sherburne (200, Lake Fremont) SMC, 4/30 Washington (200, Lake Elmo R.P.) ebd, 5/5 Clay (200, Maria Lake) TKa. Late south 5/30 Pipestone VKl, Washington JDS, 5/31 Stearns MtS, but also see summer report (median 5/30). One “Audubon’s” subspecies reported 5/5 Clay (Maria Lake) †TKa. | ||
| Yellow-throated Warbler (Setophaga dominica) | 6 | The most reports ever. All south: 4/12–15 Olmsted ph. REJ, 4/26–27 Benton (residential St. Cloud) ph. DOr, HHD, MJB, 4/30 – 5/16 Houston (third year in a row at this location: Hillside Rd. near Reno; continued into the summer season) SHo, †KEm, m.ob, 5/18 Isanti (Anderson C.P.) †LiH, 5/19–23 Ramsey (Vadnais Lake; also see summer season) †EzH, ph. LiH, ELC, DNS, 5/30 Chisago (Lawrence Creek S.N.A.) ph. †KEm, JWH, ELC. | |||
| TOWNSEND'S WARBLER (Setophaga townsendi) | 1 | Seventh state record 4/27 Washington (Oakdale Nature Preserve) MNn, PNn, DPn, †EzH, ph. †DnS, m.ob. | |||
| Black-throated Green Warbler (Setophaga virens) | 20 | 42 | Fewer reports in the western third of the state. Early south (median 4/30) 4/23 Carver ebd, Washington (Cottage Grove) PNi, and in Hennepin, Ramsey, Washington (Oakdale Nature Preserve), Winona on 4/27. Early north (median 5/4) 4/22 Cass ebd, 4/29 St. Louis ebd, 5/1 Todd RLF, REn. High counts 5/22 St. Louis (20, Stoney Point) NMt, 5/22 Lake (15, Split Rock Lighthouse S.P.) ebd, 5/20 St. Louis (14, H.R.N.R.) JfD. Late south 5/30 Dakota ebd, Goodhue ebd, but also see summer report (median 5/29). | ||
| Canada Warbler (Cardellina canadensis) | 22 | 48 | Early south (median 5/9) 4/30 Hennepin TDv, 5/3 Olmsted SHo, 5/10 Goodhue MaS. Early north (median 5/14) 5/13 Cass ebd, 5/18 Carlton HTr, Morrison HHD. High count 5/26 St. Louis (17, Park Point R.A.) PHS. Late south 5/28 Hennepin ebd, 5/30 Olmsted BLa (median 6/1). | ||
| Wilson's Warbler (Cardellina pusilla) | 18 | 52 | Early south (median 5/4) 4/29 Hennepin ebd, 5/2 Carver JCy, NWi, Houston AaL, LAV, CLu, LHl. Early north (median 5/10) 5/7 Crow Wing BAb, WCM, 5/12 Otter Tail WPl, St. Louis ebd. High counts 5/17 Mower (30) SWm, 5/26 St. Louis (30, Park Point R.A.) JfD. Late south 5/29 Ramsey ebd, Scott HCT, 5/30 Pipestone VKl (median 5/30). Late north 5/30 Cook ebd, Lake JBu (median 6/11). See summer report for more late north migrants and potential breeders. | ||
| Tanagers, Cardinals, Grosbeaks | |||||
| Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra) | 5 | 14 | Reports of approximately 28 individuals produced the highest spring total ever. Early south (median 5/3) 4/27–30 Blue Earth, 5/2 Goodhue (near Red Wing) PEJ, Olmsted (Root River Park) JLA, 5/4–5 Stearns (St. Cloud) †PCC, m.ob., 5/5 Hennepin (Champlin) HoH, 5/8–11 Meeker (Dassel) PKF, m.ob. All north 5/4 Itasca SC, 5/10 Becker (near Frazee) ebd, NaH, 5/10–11 Otter Tail DbA, 5/12 Douglas (Noonan’s Park) AyE, 5/21 Becker (Detroit Lakes) WBr, 5/22 Koochiching (near Ray) JMn, ph. KDA, 5/26 Otter Tail (Inspiration Peak S.P.) WPl. | ||
| Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea) | 25 | 46 | Early south (median 5/5) 4/25 Ramsey (Lake Phalen) ebd, 5/2 Carver ebd, 5/3 Ramsey (Battle Creek Park-West) LiH. Early north (median 5/10) 5/14 Todd MJB, 5/16 Clearwater ebd, Crow Wing AaL, CLu, TLu, Grant CNn, Otter Tail ebd. High counts 5/23 Washington (10, Mahtomedi) EzH, 5/16 Mower (9) SWm, 5/23 Carver (8, Minnesota Valley N.W.R., Rapids Lake) JCy. Unusual county record 5/16–23 Nobles (Kinbrae Lake) BTS, MAJ. | ||
| Western Tanager (Piranga ludoviciana) | 3 | 4 | All reports this season came from birds visiting feeders. All south 5/1–2 Lyon (Ghent) RBg, 5/2 Ramsey (Vadnais Heights) ebd, 5/8 Fillmore (Harmony) ph. AJa, ASu, 5/28 Brown (New Ulm) fide BTS. All north 5/5–6 Wilkin (Breckenridge) fide EzH, RLF, ph. REn, 5/9 Otter Tail (Friberg Twp.) ph. IMF, 5/14 Morrison (Pike Creek Twp.) FGo, 5/23 Otter Tail (Newton Twp.) ph. ApH. | ||
| Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) | 21 | 52 | Reported from all regions though fewer observations in the Northwest and North-central and only from Polk north of a line from Norman to Cook (inclusive). High count 4/16 Scott (37, Prior Lake) TmZ. | ||
| Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus) | 33 | 53 | Early south (median 4/28) 4/26 Ramsey ebd, 4/27 Le Sueur DOr, Renville WCM, Winona ebd. Early north (median 5/3) 5/2 Pine KrM, Todd RLF, REn, 5/3 Kanabec SPS. High counts 5/16 Mower (25) SWm, 5/15 Washington (24, William O’Brien S.P.) BDo, LiH, 5/9 Carver (22, Minnesota Valley N.W.R., Rapids Lake) JCy. | ||
| Rose-breasted Grosbeak X Black-headed Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus X P. melanocephalus) | 1 | One found 5/3 Fillmore (Forestville S.P.) ph. ToM. | |||
| Blue Grosbeak (Passerina caerulea) | 8 | Early south (median 5/20) 5/13 Redwood (Tiger Lake W.M.A.) RJS, 5/15 Hennepin (fourth consecutive year at Flying Cloud Fields and continuing into the summer season) m.ob., 5/17 Rock (Blue Mounds S.P.) ebd. Also 5/24 Blue Earth ChH, 5/25 Lincoln (near Lake Benton) KEm, JWH, JGW, 5/27 Lyon (near Russell) GWe, 5/27 Swift (fourth consecutive year at location near Appleton) DOr, 5/27 Yellow Medicine (near Granite Falls) GWe. | |||
| Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea) | 29 | 49 | Early south (median 5/3) 5/1 Carver JCy, 5/2 Freeborn AEB, Hennepin DvN, Ramsey ebd, 5/3 Freeborn AEB, Ramsey LiH, Winona CBv, 5/4 Stearns ebd. Early north (median 5/9) 5/13 Crow Wing PSP, Todd ebd, 5/14 Douglas LGl, 5/15 Cass ebd, DoH, Morrison SEm, 5/16 Carlton ABL, Cass ebd, Itasca ebd, Pine ebd, St. Louis NPo, NMt, Todd AaL, CLu. High counts 5/30 Dakota (14, Spring Lake P.R.) ebd, 5/23 Hennepin (12, Fort Snelling S.P.) ebd, 5/24 Houston (12, Reno) ebd, ASu. | ||
| PAINTED BUNTING (Passerina ciris) | 2 | Two reports, both males: 5/10–11 Olmsted (Kutzky Park) ph. LHv, 5/23 Big Stone (feeder east of Ortonville) ph. EHg. | |||
| Dickcissel (Spiza americana) | 24 | Early south (median 5/9) 5/8 Dakota DSh, 5/9 Rock ebd, 5/14 Steele JHl, 5/20 Washington ASu. High counts 5/29 Olmsted (5, Rock Dell W.M.A.) TCL, 5/31 Rice (5, Prairie Creek W.M.A.) GHo, 5/28 Scott (4, Geis Lake) ebd. | |||