Seasonal Report Archive for The Loon
The 1961-Winter Season
1 December 1961 through 28 February 1962
by Ronald L. Huber

A fair portion of this season's material has already been covered in the 1961 Christmas census, elsewhere in this issue. Therefore I will try to cover those reports which are exclusive of the count period. Reports were received from 33 observers.

Weather: Although early December was rather mild, the remainder of the season was characterized by undulating temperatures with record-breaking cold spells and excessive snowfall.

Open water throughout most of the state was reduced to a minimum by mid-December and remained so through January and February. The north shore was especially hard-hit in this respect.

Key to the Seasonal Report
1.Upper case (LEAST TERN) indicates a Casual or Accidental species in the state.
2.Species are listed in brackets [Whooping Crane] when there is a reasonable doubt as to its origin or wildness.
3.Bracketed text following a species’ name indicates the total number of north and south counties.
4.Dates listed in bold (10/9) indicate an occurrence either earlier, later, or within the three earliest or latest dates on file.
5.Counties listed in bold (Aitkin) indicate an unusual occurrence for that county.
6.Counties listed in bold and with an underline (Becker) indicate a first county record.
7.Counties listed in italics (Crow Wing) indicate a first county breeding record.
8.Totals in bold (150) indicate a total within or exceeding the top three high counts for that species.
9.Totals in bold-italic (55) indicate a CBC total within or exceeding the top three high counts for that species.
10.Dagger “†” preceding observer’s initials denotes written documentation was submitted.
11“ph.” denotes a species documented with a photograph.
12.“v.t.” denotes a species documented by video.
13.“a.t.” denotes a species documented by audio.
14.High counts that are multiples of 100 are assumed or known to be estimates, unless otherwide noted.
The Seasonal Report  is a compilation of seasonal bird sightings from throughout Minnesota. We particularly invite reports from parts of the state that have been neglected or covered lightly in past reports. To become a contributor, contact the Editor of The Loon (editor AT moumn.org).

Species

Information
Whistling-Ducks, Geese, Swans, Ducks
Tundra Swan
(Cygnus columbianus)		P. B. Hofslund received a report that one swan (which could fly) was seen during the first week of January at Sand Lake, near Isabella, Lake County.
American Black Duck
(Anas rubripes)		Jan Green reports 35 at Duluth on December 1. On December 16 she saw them at Two Harbors, Lake County, and on the same date, A. C. Rosenwinkel saw them in Ramsey County.
Green-winged Teal
(Anas crecca)		One adult male was seen by Bob Janssen on February 4 at the Dakota-Hennepin County line just south of Minneapolis.
Canvasback
(Aythya valisineria)		Jan Green reported one female at Duluth on December 1. Avi· faunal Club members saw one adult male on the Dakota-Hennepin County line, just south of Minneapolis, throughout January and February.
Ring-necked Duck
(Aythya collaris)		Jan Green reported one female at Duluth on December 3.
Greater Scaup
(Aythya marila)		One seen at Duluth on December 8 by Jan Green.
Harlequin Duck
(Histrionicus histrionicus)		The male seen on the Christmas count at Duluth was seen again on January 6 by Avifaunal Club members and last seen on January 14 at Lester River, Duluth, by Jan Green.
White-winged Scoter
(Melanitta deglandi)		Four immatures were seen in Duluth harbor on Decem· ber 10 by Jan Green.
Long-tailed Duck
(Clangula hyemalis)		Jan Green reported them between Duluth and Two Harbors, during December and January.
Bufflehead
(Bucephala albeola)		This writer saw five on December 30 between Duluth, St. Louis County and Knife River, Lake County. Jan Green saw one at Duluth on De· cember 1.
Hooded Merganser
(Lophodytes cucullatus)		Jan Green saw one at Duluth on December 1.
Ruddy Duck
(Oxyura jamaicensis)		Six were seen at Pleasant Lake on December 2 by A. C. Rosenwinkel.
Partridge, Pheasants, Grouse, Turkeys
Sharp-tailed Grouse
(Tympanuchus phasianellus)		Several flocks ob· served near Baudette, Lake-of-theWoods County, on December 9 by R. Huber and R. Oehlenschlager.
Greater Prairie-Chicken
(Tympanuchus cupido)		Bob Janssen, Brother Theodore and Richard Oehlenschlager saw 41 near Nimrod, on Feb· ruary 17.
Gray Partridge
(Perdix perdix)		Mrs. B. L. Duckstad saw nine on January 15 at Fertile, Polk County.
Grebes
Horned Grebe
(Podiceps auritus)		One seen at Pleasant Lake, Ramsey County on December 2 by A. C. Rosenwinkel.
Red-necked Grebe
(Podiceps grisegena)		One seen on Febru· ary 19 at Duluth by Jan Green.
Plovers
Killdeer
(Charadrius vociferus)		One seen January 6 by D. Honetschlager in Washington County.
Gulls, Terns
Glaucous Gull
(Larus hyperboreus)		A second year bird was seen by R. Huber on December 30 in Lake Superior on the Lake-St. Louis County line. Five observations of adults and second year birds during January along the north shore of Lake Superior by Jan Green and Avifaunal Club members.
Loons
Common Loon
(Gavia immer)		A. C. Rosenwinkel saw one on December 2 in St. Paul, Ramsey County. Jan Green observed one, in winter plumage, at Duluth, St. Louis County, on December 1.
Kites, Accipiters, Hawks, Eagles
Northern Harrier
(Circus hudsonius)		John Hall saw one on December 6 in Ramsey County.
Sharp-shinned Hawk
(Accipiter striatus)		Gloria Peleaux saw one in Golden Valley, Hennepin County on January 28. Bald Eagle: December 2, one adult, Ramsey County Hall and Rosenwinkel December 28, 10 adults, Washington County Hall and 0. Charley January 6, 2 adults, Cook County, Jan Green January 6, 1 adult, Lake County, Jan Green January 13, 2 adults, Washington County, D. Honetschlager January 14, 1 immature, Lake County, Jan Green January 24, one adult, St. Louis County, Margaret Brown January 28, 3 adults, Wabasha County, R. Janssen February 10, (adult ?), Lake County,
American Goshawk
(Accipiter atricapillus)		A. C. Rosenwinkel saw one January 12 in Ramsey County. Bob Janssen and R. Oehlenschlager saw one near Nimrod, Wadena County on Feb· ruary 17.
Screech-Owls, Owls
Snowy Owl
(Bubo scandiacus)		One reported by Bill Longley at the Carlos Avery Refuge, Anoka County, on December 19. Several present at Duluth throughout December and January, seen by Jan Green and Joel Bronoel. Ray Naddy saw one there on February 10.
Northern Hawk Owl
(Surnia ulula)		One seen by Jan Green at Duluth on December 17 and 18.
Short-eared Owl
(Asio flammeus)		Mrs. H. Kroening saw one at Forest Lake, Washington Coun· ty on January 2.
Northern Saw-whet Owl
(Aegolius acadicus)		On February 23, J. K. Bronoel found one in Duluth.
Woodpeckers
Northern Flicker
(Colaptes auratus)		One seen near Duluth on December 9 by Dennis Meyer.
Jays, Nutcrackers, Magpies, Crows
Canada Jay
(Perisoreus canadensis)		Latest report was February 9, Duluth, Jan Green.
Black-billed Magpie
(Pica hudsonia)		On December 9, R. Huber and R. Oehlenschlager saw five between Washkish, Beltrami County, and Baudette. Oehlenschlager saw them on several occasions between December 18 and December 30 in Wadena County near Nimrod, and again on February 3.
Chickadees, Titmice
Boreal Chickadee
(Poecile hudsonicus)		Present throughout January at Encampment Forest, Lake County, seen by Myrtle Penner, and at Hibbing, St. Louis County, seen by Harriet Micensky. Red-breasted Nutcatch: A. C. Rosenwinkel saw one at Lake Vadnais, Ramsey County on January 27. Myrtle Penner reports them present all December and January at Encampment Forest. Robin: Jan Green received scattered re· ports in the Duluth area from December 12 thru 31.
Larks
Horned Lark
(Eremophila alpestris)		On February 4, A. C. Rosenwinkel saw a flock in Washington County.
Waxwings
Bohemian Waxwing
(Bombycilla garrulus)		Apparently one of the largest invasions in years. Mrs. J. M. Dahm of Winona, Winona County saw a flock of about 200 feeding on hack-berries between January 19 and 27. D. Honetschlager saw a flock in Mahtomedi, Washington County on February 17. R. F. Green and W. Ul vang saw a flock of 185 on December 30 near Duluth. By January 21, the only report at Duluth was a flock of nine seen by J. K. Bronoel.
Finches
Evening Grosbeak
(Coccothraustes vespertinus)		On January 26, a flock of about 75 was seen by Mr. and Mrs. Bryan Southern on Lake Bemidji, Beltrami County. Mrs. B. L. Duckstad of Fertile, reported them on January 15. Mrs. J. M. Dahm, on January 27, reported that flocks of from 6 to 25 have been seen since mid-December at Winona. A. C. Rosenwinkel and many others saw them over most of the winter throughout Ramsey County and the Twin Cities area. Jan Green reports them as present all winter at Duluth with flocks of 30 to 60. F. Miller saw from 6-20 at Eveleth, St. Louis County, during all of December and January. Dean Honetschlager saw them regularly in Washington County between December 15 and February 28.
Pine Grosbeak
(Pinicola enucleator)		Seen at Duluth and Hibbing in fairly large numbers during December and early January, but were reduced to very few in February. In the southern part of the state, they were seen in small numbers during December, but none were reported for January or February. Mrs. B. L. Duckstad of Fertile saw them on January 15.
Purple Finch
(Haemorhous purpureus)		Apparently much reduced since last winter. Reported only by Dean Honetschlager, a few all season in Washington County, and A. C. Rosenwinkel saw three at Lake Vadnais, on December 30. See also the 1961 Christmas census elsewhere in this issue.
Redpoll (Common)
(Acanthis f. flammea)		Well represented on the Christmas Count. Dean Honetschlager saw a flock as late as February 28. On February 10, A. C. Rosenwinkel saw a small flock in Ramsey County. Flocks of from 6 to 40 were seen in the Duluth area by many observers during December and January.
Redpoll (Hoary)
(Acanthis f. exilipes)		On December 9, R. Huber and R. Oehlenschlager collected a specimen 5 miles west of Kelliher, Beltrami County and saw another one two miles north of there. On January 6, members of Avifaunal Club saw two with a flock of Common Redpolls on Minnesota Point, Duluth.
Longspurs and Snow Buntings
Lapland Longspur
(Calcarius lapponicus)		Mrs. Olin saw eight at Big Carnelian Lake, Washington County, no date given.
Towhees, Sparrows
Fox Sparrow
(Passerella iliaca)		Harriet Micensky reported one at Hibbing, during first few days of December. On December 23, another was reported by J. Bero of Duluth.
Blackbirds, Orioles
Common Grackle
(Quiscalus quiscula)		On January 2, A. C. Rosenwinkel saw six in Washington County. One was seen in Duluth on December 31 by Edna Fox.