the more likely Northern Northern Saw-whet Owl (e.g., black facial frames, paler bill or spotted forehead). The trend of unusally warm and dry weather that gave us such a pleasant winter and spring of 1987 continued into June. Temperatures were 3-4°F above average in all regions of the state. It also remained quite dry with rainfall about llf2'' below normal in the southern regions and 2-3" below normal in the central and northern regions. Water levels across the state remained low, and by the end of the month much of the states topsoil moisture was low. In July temperatures remained warm statewide, 2-3°F above average. July also brought rain, some of it accompanied by high winds and hail and some in great downpours such as the record I 0" that fell on the Twin Cities area on July 22 and 23 and caused flash flooding. Overall precipitation was 1-2" above normal in the central, south central and western regions and 2\lz-4" above normal elsewhere.

By the end of the month, topsoil moisture was surplus or adequate in most of the state.

Despite some complaints that it was "too hot" to bird this summer, 63 observers, a greater number than usual, contributed seasonal reports. These birders, along with the statewide U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Breeding Bird Surveys, reported 261 species, fewer than the average for the last ten-year period, and down from last year's 271 species. Most of the state received good coverage, with only notable holes in coverage being in Kittson and Roseau Counties, the northern half of the east central region plus adjacent Carlton County, and in the counties along the Iowa border from Faribault County west.

Compared to the remarkable summer of 1986 and coming on the heels of one of Minnesota's most unusual spring seasons in many years, the summer of 1987 seemed fairly uneventful.

Nevertheless, there were some very interesting and unusual sightings. One of the most exciting was the Magnificent Hum- mingbird, Minnesota's first, seen in Lac Qui Parle County in July by several observers.

Six other casual or accidental summer species were seen, including single Tundra Swans in Aitkin and Wabasha Counties in early July; a pair of Cinnamon Teal in Murray County; a Rough-legged Hawk in Beltrami County, one of the few summer sightings for the state; a Snowy Owl which summered at the Bemidji Airport in Beltrami County; and the first summer sighting in the state of a Yellow-throated Warbler in Goodhue County in early June.

Other seasonal highlights include the first summer sighting since 1982 of a Little Blue Heron at Agassiz NWR; Snowy Egrets seen in five locations; and a Bufflehead in Stevens County, as well as at Agassiz NWR. There were some unusual sightings of regular summer residents far out of their ranges, including a Sharp-shinned Hawk in Murray County; a:n American Avocet on Leech Lake in Cass County; Blue-gray Gnatcatchers in Hubbard County; an American Redstart in Murray County; and a Dark-eyed Junco in Dodge County.

With the early spring migration, there seemed to be fewer stragglers than usual still migrating in June, and there were no records for late migration dates. It appeared that fall migration came early for some birds, and there were record early dates for fall migration of Black-bellied Plovers, Blue-headed Vireos, and, for Cape May and Bay-breasted Warblers.

Our knowledge of the breeding bird population of Minnesota continues to grow through the efforts of the many observers who provided documentation of nesting. This year 783 nest cards, plus documentation on seasonal reports, described 1093 nests, broods or colonies of 159 species. The number of breeding species and nest documentation was down from the last few years but still resulted in valuable records including nearly 100 county first nesting records . Among the highlights of the nesting season were the encouraging reports of Bald Eagle nesting success from a ten year report from the Chippewa and Superior National Forests; the successfully fledged young from two previously released Peregrine Falcons in downtown Minneapolis; the fourth state nesting records for the Northern Hawk Owl and Boreal Owl in Roseau County; three nests each of Acadian Flycatchers and Hooded Warblers; and one nest of a Chestnut-sided Warbler at Murphy-Hanrahan Park; and, with the early start that many birds got, there were more reports than usual of double broods.

The style used in summarizing species accounts follows the style used last year (The Loon 59:20), except that references to species' ranges now follows Robert B.

Janssen's new book, Birds in Minnesota.

Bold italics are used for counties in which positive nesting has been documented for the first time since 1970, and boldface type is used for unusual locations or dates.