 |
Seasonal Report Archive for The Loon | |
|
The 2008-Winter Season 1 December 2008 through 28 February 2009 Paul E. Budde, Bruce A. Fall, James P. Mattsson, and Andrew D. Smith |
Two and possibly a third Greater White-fronted Goose over-wintered in Scott. An immature Snow Goose over-wintered north in Cass. The presence of several Cackling Geese in Dakota and Ramsey in January was noteworthy. Continuing the trends of recent years, Trumpeter Swans were less concentrated and more widely distributed, and Tundra Swans were few owing to another very cold December. Surprising was an apparently wild Mute Swan in mid-February in Lake. Wood Ducks over-wintered at the Bass Ponds in Hennepin and possibly in four additional East-central counties based on January reports. January reports of other dabblers include Gadwall in Washington and American Wigeon in Olmsted. In January Canvasbacks were found north in Beltrami and Clay, as well as with four other Aythya divers south. In the “Ho hum, just another...” category, a male Harlequin Duck in full breeding regalia over-wintered for the second consecutive year in the Prescott, WI, area including Washington and Dakota counties. Sea ducks included a White-winged Scoter in mid-January in Dakota/Washington, a hefty 57 Long-tailed Ducks in St. Louis in late February, and an over-wintering male Barrow's Goldeneye in Duluth.
An ultra-dependable covey of up to nine Gray Partridge near Hastings wowed many from late December through February. The state's four grouse species appear to be stable or increasing. Wild Turkeys have become so abundant that some of us are longing for the good ol' days when squirrels were the biggest problem at our bird feeders!
A very early Turkey Vulture in Henn-epin was most unexpected. Both Red-shouldered Hawk and Golden Eagle seemed especially plentiful this season.
Very unusual was presumably the same Virginia Rail flushed mid-December and again early January in Hennepin. Also in that county, a window-killed American Woodcock was found mid-February.
Six individual Iceland Gulls were present between Duluth and Black Dog Lake. Great Black-backed Gulls made a big showing with a minimum seven present in Duluth as well as a high count record of three seen together in both Duluth and at Black Dog in Dakota.
A rare visitor south and found by a non-birder, a very unexpected (and well photographed) Northern Hawk Owl in Nicollet brought joy to only a few lucky birders.
Seven Carolina Wrens, four Winter Wrens, and 12 Hermit Thrushes were unusually high numbers for this season. Thirteen Townsend's Solitaires and 22 Varied Thrushes were more typical.
At a Duluth feeder, a sixth state record Golden-crowned Sparrow played cat and mouse with birders mid-December through end of the period. The immature bird was very unpredictable and often absent for several days at a time. A most unusual and record-late Rose-breasted Grosbeak visited a Wayzata feeder in Hennepin through 1 January.
While Pine Grosbeak, Red Crossbill, and Evening Grosbeak were relatively scarce, a few “winter finches” were remarkable. White-winged Crossbills staged their largest invasion in perhaps 20 years plunging deep below our border. Likewise, Common Redpoll, Hoary Redpoll, and Pine Siskins were present in irruptive numbers throughout the state.
Weather summary: December brought multiple snow storms to the state, and set records for the month in some areas. Monthly mean temperatures were four to eight degrees below historical averages, making this the coldest December since 2000. The cold temperatures continued throughout January, though precipitation levels fell to below average levels across most of the state. Finally, in February both snowfall and temperatures returned to near normal levels.
Undocumented reports: Mute Swan 12/10 Dakota; Common Loon 2/22 Lake; Chipping Sparrow 12/8 – 1/13 Hennepin.
Acknowledgments: Thanks to all of you who submitted seasonal reports and documentation, especially to those using the on-line seasonal report at <http://moumn.org/moureports/season.html>. Special thanks to Dave Cahlander for his continuing efforts to streamline and improve this process. Carl Greiner, serving as Minnesota Christmas Bird Count coordinator, compiled and summarized vasts amounts of data from 68 CBCs. Reports of winter owls were mapped by Michael Hendrickson; these compilations were invaluable for sorting the data into reasonable counts. Finally, thanks to Anthony Hertzel, Jeanie Joppru, and Jim Lind for their tireless compilations of weekly birding summaries available via the RBAs and on-line.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Species |
N | S |
Information |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whistling-Ducks, Geese, Swans, Ducks | |||||
| Snow Goose (Anser caerulescens) | 1 | 2 | Immature blue morph over-wintered 12/1 – 1/31 Cass BAW, HHD. Only south reports 12/5 Meeker DMF, 2/28 Jackson (probable early migrant) PEJ. | ||
| Ross's Goose (Anser rossii) | 1 | One present 2/10–20 Olmsted (Silver Lake, Rochester) LAV, JWH. | |||
| Greater White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons) | 5 | Over-wintered Scott. A single bird present 1/1 to early February at Old Mill Pond in Shakopee was joined by a second and possibly a third individual and remained through the month DWK, CMB, PEJ. First migrants reported 2/28 Jackson, Nobles, Murray, Pipestone. | |||
| Cackling Goose (Branta hutchinsii) | 11 | Only documented mid-winter (January) reports: 1/2 Dakota (6) and 1/3 Ramsey (26) AXH. Several late February reports probably represent early migrants. | |||
| Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) | 8 | 36 | “High” counts were surprisingly low compared to past winter seasons. Totals of 500 for Clay 12/20 PBB and Olmsted 1/1 OWB suggest that no one took time to count geese at Black Dog! | ||
| Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) | 1 | 1 | An apparently wild bird photographed in Lake (Burlington and Agate Bays) 2/16–17 was most unexpected given the declining populations to the east in Michigan and Wisconsin ph †JWL, LS, ph PHS. | ||
| Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator) | 9 | 17 | Numerous reports of widely distributed birds, but a relatively low “high” concentration of only 207 reported from Wright 12/4 DPG. Other notable concentrations were found 1/14 Otter Tail (100) fide JMJ and 1/7 Washington (50, Pine Tree Lake) fide U.S.F.W.S. Midwinter Waterfowl Survey. | ||
| Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus) | 4 | The recent trend of low numbers for the winter period continued. All reports: 12/2 Sherburne (2) DPG, 12/6 Hennepin (40) DWK, 12/12 Hennepin (5) DDo, 12/13 Sherburne (8) DDo, 1/1 Winona (3) RNe, 1/6 Scott PEJ, 2/28 Scott PEJ. | |||
| Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) | 1 | 9 | One north report 12/1 Cass (Powers Twp) BAW. Over-wintered Hennepin (3, Bass Ponds) DWK. Other January reports of individuals from McLeod, Ramsey, Scott, and Wright. | ||
| Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata) | 3 | All reports: 12/12 Scott (Blue Lake) DWK, 12/13 Scott (Minnesota Valley N.W.R.) CRM, 2/7 Sibley (2, Le Sueur) DPG, 2/16–24 Dakota (female, Black Dog Lake) PEJ. | |||
| Gadwall (Mareca strepera) | 7 | Male over-wintered through at least January in Washington (Prescott) JPM, ADS, BAF. Other reports included 2/7 Ramsey (4, Kaposia Landing), 2/14 Scott (3, Mill Pond), 2/27 Winona (42, possible over-wintering?) PEJ. | |||
| American Wigeon (Mareca americana) | 1 | Only report 1/1 Olmsted (male, Mill Creek, Chatfield) JWH. | |||
| Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) | 10 | 28 | High counts 2/15 Dakota (4,000, Black Dog Lake) BAF, 12/20 St. Louis (1,195, Duluth CBC) PHS, 12/20 Clay (500, Moorhead W.T.P.) PBB. | ||
| American Black Duck (Anas rubripes) | 2 | 14 | High counts: 12/27 St. Louis (17, Duluth) PHS, 2/25 Scott (13, Mill Pond) PEJ. Also reported north 1/27 Cass (2, Pine River dam) BAW. | ||
| Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) | 1 | 3 | No January reports. Only north report 12/20 Clay (Moorhead W.T.P.) PBB. South reports throughout February from Scott (4, Mill Pond) PEJ, DWK and 2/16 Dakota (9, Black Dog Lake) PEJ. | ||
| Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca) | 2 | All reports: 2/14 Scott (female at Mill Pond) PEJ, 2/19 Olmsted (female near Silver Lake.) JWH. | |||
| Canvasback (Aythya valisineria) | 2 | 3 | All north 12/20, 1/6 and 1/12 in Clay (Moorhead W.T.P.) PBB, RHO; 1/1 Beltrami DPJ. An adult male was present from mid-December to mid-January Dakota/Washington near Prescott m.ob. Only other south report 12/26 Goodhue (Colville Park) DBM. | ||
| Redhead (Aythya americana) | 10 | Male present entire month of January Washington/Dakota near Prescott JPM, BAF, DFN, MJB. Also reported 1/25 Ramsey (male, Kaposia Landing) BAF. February reports from Jackson, Lac qui Parle, Nobles, Olmsted, Scott. | |||
| Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris) | 9 | As many as 10 present through January in Scott (Blue Lake W.T.P.) PEJ, DWK, DFN. Other January reports 1/19 Wabasha (Read's Landing) PEJ, 1/31 Stearns (Mississippi River, Sartell) MJB. | |||
| Greater Scaup (Aythya marila) | 3 | Female present 12/13 through 1/11 Dakota/Washington (Prescott area) m.ob. Only other report 2/11 Lac qui Parle (female) BJU. | |||
| Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis) | 4 | 4 | All north 12/1 Cass BAW, Todd MSK, 12/27 St. Louis SLF, 1/1 Beltrami DPJ. Male present 12/16 – 1/11 Dakota/Washington (Prescott area) m.ob. | ||
| Harlequin Duck (Histrionicus histrionicus) | 1 | 2 | Possibly the same female-plumaged bird present 12/11 and 12/20–21 at the mouth of the French River, St. Louis HWi, ph. †KRE, PHS. Most unexpected was a stunning alternate male, almost certainly the same individual that over-wintered at this same spot last year, present 12/13 through the end of the season in Dakota/Washington (Prescott, WI area) DWK, m.ob. This plumage is rarely seen in the state away from Lake Superior. | ||
| White-winged Scoter (Melanitta deglandi) | 1 | 2 | Only north report 2/1 St. Louis (bird in flight, Lake Superior) FKB. An immature/female-type present 12/13–19 Dakota/Washington PEJ, JPM, ADS, DWK, BAF and again 1/18 Dakota (Prescott area) †BAF. | ||
| Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) | 2 | An impressive high count of 57 reported 2/23 St. Louis (Duluth Twp) PHS. All other reports: 12/13 Morrison FGo, MJB, 12/18 St. Louis KRE, 12/20 St. Louis (11) KRE. | |||
| Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) | 2 | 2 | All reports: 12/1 Cass BAW, 12/5–7 St. Louis DBF, 12/7 Dakota MDu, 1/10 Ramsey BAF, 2/7 St. Louis DWK. | ||
| Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) | 9 | 18 | High counts: 1/4 St. Louis (595, Duluth) PHS; 1/3 Dakota (~800, Mississippi River, Prescott, WI area, most in Dakota and Washington) BAF; 2/24 Dakota (650, Black Dog Lake) PEJ. | ||
| Barrow's Goldeneye (Bucephala islandica) | 1 | Probably the same adult male found 11/1 (Park Point) over-wintered in the Canal Park area of Duluth and was last seen in early March ph. †PHS, †MLH, †KRE, m.ob. | |||
| Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) | 3 | 8 | All north: 12/1 St. Louis (male over-wintered on Silver Lake in Virginia through 2/8) SLF; 12/2 Cass (female, Gull Lake) BAW; 1/19 Polk fide JMJ, 2/16 St. Louis (male, near WLSSD W.T.P., Duluth.) PHS. Found during January in five metro area counties at usual open water sites. | ||
| Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) | 4 | 19 | Two north reports away from Lake Superior: 1/2 Morrison (Little Falls dam) DPG, 2/3 Cass (Pillager dam) BAW. High counts south 12/28 Goodhue (15,810) SWe, 2/8 Dakota (1,450, Black Dog Lake) PEJ. | ||
| Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator) | 2 | 4 | High count 2/15 St. Louis (30, Canal Park, Duluth.) JWH. Also notable 1/31 Cook (2) AXH. Only January report south 1/3 Ramsey (2) BAF. Also reported south in Goodhue (12/2), Dakota (beginning 2/8), and Washington (2/28) during the season. | ||
| Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) | 2 | All reports: 12/15–16 Washington (female, Point Douglas) DWK, JPM, 2/28 Jackson (probable early migrant) PEJ. | |||
| Partridge, Pheasants, Grouse, Turkeys | |||||
| Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) | 11 | 32 | Introductions now established in well over one-half of the state's counties with exceptions of Northeast, North-central, and Southwest. Expanding in Northwest as evidenced 1/8 Pennington (17) fide JMJ. High counts 2/21 Dakota (106) TJM, 1/19 Morrison (73) MJB. [Corrected] | ||
| Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus) | 14 | 3 | Third consecutive year of cyclic increases statewide. No reports received from Southeast. | ||
| Spruce Grouse (Canachites canadensis) | 3 | Several reports from Lake throughout period with a high count of 12 on 2/11 (Sand River area) MLH. Also reported 1/2 Lake of the Woods CWG, 1/27 St. Louis fide JWL. | |||
| Sharp-tailed Grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus) | 10 | 1 | High count 1/18 Kittson (126) LW. All south reports: 1/29 Lac qui Parle (Louisburg), 2/3 Lac qui Parle (28, Plover Prairie.) BJU. | ||
| Greater Prairie-Chicken (Tympanuchus cupido) | 1 | 1 | Minnesota's prairie-chicken population has increased substantially in recent years, now standing at more than 1,600 adult males. The D.N.R. expects more than four times that number of birds in the fall population. High count 2/18 Wilkin (75) RGj. All south 2/3 Lac qui Parle (4, Plover Prairie) BJU. | ||
| Gray Partridge (Perdix perdix) | 5 | 5 | All north reports: 12/3 Kittson fide JMJ, 1/10 Polk (20) fide JMJ, 2/14 Roseau (2) JCC, 2/18 Wilkin (6) fide JMJ, 2/20 Kittson fide JMJ, 2/28 Red Lake fide JMJ. A very cooperative covey of up to nine present 12/26–2/28 near Hastings at 180th and Joan Ave. m.ob. | ||
| Ring-necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) | 11 | 47 | High count 1/18 Brown (149, 85 in one group) BTS. Interestingly, no reports from Northwest where most if not all birds are presumed to be of game farm origin. | ||
| Grebes | |||||
| Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) | 1 | Only report 1/7 Rice TFB. | |||
| Pigeons, Doves | |||||
| Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) | 23 | 49 | Reported everywhere. | ||
| Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) | 4 | 15 | High counts 12/31 Blue Earth (15, Mapleton) ChH, 1/2 McLeod (13, Stewart) JCC, 1/30 Dodge (13, Claremont) DAB, 2/4 Brown (10, Hanska) BTS, 2/8 Brown (10, Comfrey) DAB. All north reports 12/5 Clay (2) MO, 1/4 Otter Tail SPM, 1/19 Wilkin (5, Rothsay) SPM, 2/19 Itasca (Grand Rapids) fide JWL. | ||
| Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) | 9 | 36 | High counts 12/27 Meeker (41, Litchfield CBC) MJB, 2/10 Goodhue (39) LEC, 12/8 Otter Tail (23) fide JMJ. | ||
| Rails, Gallinules, Coots | |||||
| Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola) | 1 | Most unusual was a well-described individual 12/19 and 1/1 Scott (Wilkie Unit, Minnesota Valley N.W.R.) †DWK. | |||
| American Coot (Fulica americana) | 2 | 7 | All north 1/12 Clay (2, Moorhead W.T.P.) RHO, 1/14 Otter Tail fide JMJ. All January reports south 1/1 Scott DWK, JLO, 1/2 Dakota AXH, DFN, 1/3 Scott MDu, 1/6 Scott PEJ. | ||
| Sandpipers | |||||
| American Woodcock (Scolopax minor) | 1 | Exceptional early migrant 2/16 Hennepin (struck a building and died) fide AXH. | |||
| Wilson's Snipe (Gallinago delicata) | 2 | All south 1/20 Scott (Wilkie Unit, Minnesota Valley N.W.R.) CMB, 2/19 Nicollet (Seven Mile Creek C.P.) RMD. | |||
| Gulls, Terns | |||||
| Bonaparte's Gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia) | 1 | 1 | One north report 12/1 Cass (3, Gull Lake) BAW. A rehabilitated first-cycle bird was released 12/9 at Black Dog Lake, Dakota, and documented later that day by BAF, JPM. | ||
| Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) | 4 | 8 | Notable for winter were 3 on 12/1 in Cass (Gull Lake) BAW. North reports in February lacked documentation. High count 12/7 Dakota (50, Black Dog Lake) MDu. | ||
| Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) | 2 | 8 | High counts: 12/12 Dakota (1,500, Black Dog Lake) BAF, 12/5 St. Louis (560, 378 at 27th Ave West and 182 at Canal Park, Duluth.) PHS. Only January report north 1/18 Lake (41) RPR. Indicative of cold conditions, last reported south 1/6 Dakota (Black Dog Lake) MDu. | ||
| Iceland Gull (Larus glaucoides) | 2 | 3 | Three individuals north. First-cycle in St. Louis (Duluth) lingered from fall until 12/2 KJB. Another first-cycle found in St. Louis (Superior Entry) 12/1–7 KJB. Probably same first-cycle individual present 1/30 – 2/16 St. Louis was found in Lake 2/20 PHS. Three reports south, also. An adult Kumlien's persisted from 11/30 – 1/4 (see Fall report) in Dakota (Black Dog Lake) / Washington (Pt. Douglas) †PEB, †BAF, ph. †JPM, ADS, m.ob. Also, at least one first-cycle reported 12/4–25 ph. †JPM, †BAF, m.ob. and a second-cycle reported 12/16 – 1/2 at Black Dog Lake and Prescott area †BAF, †JPM, m.ob. | ||
| Iceland Gull (Thayer's) (Larus g. thayeri) | 2 | 5 | High count 12/1 St. Louis (11, Duluth) KJB. Two adult and one third-cycle present 12/5 in Duluth (Canal Park) with at least one adult (same?) possibly persisting through mid-February †PHS. Also north, one adult 1/29–30 Lake (Knife River) KRE, PHS. Numerous reports south from early winter staging areas in Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, and Washington counties, where last reported 1/4 Washington JCC. | ||
| Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) | 3 | Infrequently seen, a first-cycle bird continued from late November (see Fall report) through at least mid-December in Ramsey, Dakota, and Washington †BAF, †PEB, ph. JPM. Also, a second-cycle bird was well described 12/13 Ramsey (Hardman Ave.) KJB, †BAF, †PEB. | |||
| Glaucous Gull (Larus hyperboreus) | 2 | 3 | High count north 12/15 St. Louis (15, Superior Entry) KJB, 2/11 and 2/16 St. Louis (10, including 2 adults, WLSSD W.T.P. and Canal Park, Duluth) PHS. High count south 12/11 Dakota (9, including 1 adult, Black Dog Lake) JPM. Numerous December reports from usual Dakota/Washington metro sites. | ||
| Herring Gull X Glaucous Gull (Larus argentatus X L. hyperboreus) | One report 12/13 St. Louis (Duluth) †KRE, †PHS. [Corrected] | ||||
| Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) | 1 | 5 | A minimum of seven individuals based on age class present in Duluth during period and seen by many: 12/1 St. Louis (3 first-cycle at Superior Entry) KJB, 12/5 St. Louis (fourth-cycle and 2 first-cycle, Superior Entry) KJB, 11/24. – 12/15 (4th-cycle) †PHS, 12/12 (2nd-cycle) †PHS, 12/16 (1st-cycle) †PHS, 2/1 (4th-cycle, probably same bird as one seen first half of Dec.) †PHS, 2/1–11 (adult) CLW, ph. †PHS. At least three 1st-cycle individuals present throughout December in Dakota/Washington and seen together 12/5 at Black Dog Lake JPM, BAF, PEB. The 3 in St. Louis and Dakota set a record high count for the state. | ||
| Loons | |||||
| Common Loon (Gavia immer) | 1 | A very late bird was found 12/1 in Cass (Shingobee Twp) BAW. (See also undocumented reports). | |||
| Cormorants | |||||
| Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum) | 2 | Single birds reported from Dakota (Black Dog Lake) and Ramsey (Kaposia Landing, Mississipi River) throughout the period ADS, BAF, MJB. | |||
| Pelicans | |||||
| American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) | 2 | Multiple reports from two metro locales: 12/5 – 1/1 Dakota (up to 6 birds, at least two injured, Black Dog Lake) BAF, DWK, JPM, ADS; and Ramsey/Dakota (3 with injured wings, Kaposia Landing) BAF, JPM, AXH. | |||
| Bitterns, Herons, Egrets, Night-Herons | |||||
| Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) | 2 | All reports: 12/13 Ramsey (2) BAF, 12/20 Rice DAB, 1/3 Ramsey (2) BAF, 1/25 Ramsey (2) BAF, 2/1 Ramsey (3) BAF, 2/21 Ramsey BAF, 2/22 Ramsey BAF. | |||
| New World Vultures | |||||
| Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) | 1 | Early south migrant 2/25 Hennepin (soaring over Ft. Snelling) PEB. | |||
| Kites, Accipiters, Hawks, Eagles | |||||
| Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) | 4 | 10 | Total of 20 individuals reported. All north: 12/22 Morrison (adult, Earaux W.M.A., Little Falls CBC) FGo, 12/31 Wilkin (2, Rothsay W.M.A.) BWF, JWH, 1/1 Lake of the Woods (adult, Beltrami Island CBC) †MHK, 1/31 Wilkin HHD. All south: 12/17 Blue Earth (adult) ChH, 12/28 Goodhue DAB, 1/10 Wabasha PRH, 1/18 Winona (3; wintering pair near Rushford, immature in Wiscoy Twp.) JWH, 1/25 Goodhue (subadult near Red Wing) JWH, Le Sueur/Scott (immature, Ney N.C.) RMD, 2/3 Lac qui Parle (immature, Big Stone N.W.R.) BJU, 2/4 Fillmore DBz, 2/6 Rice DAB, 2/7 Wabasha (adult, Theilman area) DBM, 2/16 Houston CRM, 2/24 Blue Earth DHr. | ||
| Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius) | 2 | 10 | All north: 12/4 Marshall fide JMJ, 12/9 Morrison MJB. All January reports south: 1/1 Meeker DMF, 1/20 Scott CMB. | ||
| Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus) | 5 | 25 | Only January reports with details 1/4 St. Louis PHS, 1/20 Hennepin DDo. | ||
| Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) | 6 | 16 | Again, most reports without details. Only documented reports: 12/5 Otter Tail (adult) DST, 12/20 St. Louis (Duluth CBC, Miller Creek off 27th Ave West) ph. PHS. Other notable, though undocumented, records: 12/6 Kanabec HHD, 1/25 Lac qui Parle (Mount Wickham.) BJU. | ||
| American Goshawk (Accipiter atricapillus) | 5 | 5 | All north reports from St. Louis: 12/20 (immature, Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve) TPW, 12/22 (adult, Sax-Zim CBC), 12/25 (adult, Lakewood Twp) TPW. Additional north reports 12/23 Cass DAY, 1/1 Lake of the Woods (2, Baudette CBC) fide JMJ. All south: 12/16 Lyon RJS, 1/2 Benton (immature) DPG, 1/27, 2/5 Meeker (immature, same bird?) DMF, 2/4 Sherburne DDo, 2/7 Stevens ABL, 2/20 Sherburne ASc. | ||
| Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) | 23 | 38 | High count 2/22 Ramsey (55, Mississippi River, Kaposia Landing to Hardman Ave.) BAF. Numerous reports statewide. | ||
| Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) | 10 | January reports: 1/1 Hennepin RBW, 1/2 Hennepin DWK, 1/3 Ramsey AXH, 1/14 Dakota JPM, 1/21 Hennepin CMB, 1/22 Nicollet RMD, 1/31 Blue Earth ChH, Hennepin DWK, MDu, Rice and Steele JWH. | |||
| Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) | 8 | 46 | Over-wintering adult in St. Louis (WLSSD W.T.P., Duluth). Numerous reports south of a line from Clearwater County to Duluth. | ||
| Rough-legged Hawk (Buteo lagopus) | 18 | 38 | Reported more widely than usual, most reports of light-morph birds. High count 12/7 Aitkin (5) DWK. | ||
| Screech-Owls, Owls | |||||
| Eastern Screech-Owl (Megascops asio) | 1 | 9 | Reports of about 15 individuals, mostly gray morphs. As usual, most reports from Southeast but also reported 1/5 Todd (CAM) in the north, 2/28 Lac qui Parle (BJU) in the west, 2/22 Nobles (BTS) and 12/17 Lyon (Marshall CBC) in the Southwest. | ||
| Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) | 11 | 27 | Reported throughout state except extreme northeast (Lake, Cook). Total CBC count below 20-year average and only 55% of last year's count. Earliest report of adult on nest 2/8 Ramsey AXH. | ||
| Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) | 6 | 7 | Approximately 18 individuals reported statewide, the lowest total since the recent peak of 114 tallied during the winter season 2005–06. All north reports split between St. Louis (Duluth) and far northwest counties. South reports all in Southeast or East-central counties plus Lac qui Parle in the far west. Many observers were able to see at least one at the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport. A total of six individuals recorded on CBCs, including three in Duluth. | ||
| Northern Hawk Owl (Surnia ulula) | 10 | 1 | A respectable 35–40 individuals reported north in a rectangle formed by Carlton and Lake in the Northeast and Roseau and Clearwater in the Northwest. Eleven individuals tallied statewide on CBCs. Totals were up somewhat from previous two years, but paltry compared to the mega-invasion of 2004–2005 when 154 were estimated in December alone including a North American CBC record of 42 on the Sax-Zim count (see The Loon 77:132–140). Unexpected was a brief visit by a single bird that pushed south into Nicollet where it was initially found by a non-birder and was well-documented ph. †ChH, ph. RMD. | ||
| Barred Owl (Strix varia) | 8 | 19 | An impressive 21 tallied 12/8 Stearns (Cold Spring) MDN. Statewide, 38 recorded on CBCs which is equal to 20–year average. None reported north of a line from Carlton to Clay counties. | ||
| Great Gray Owl (Strix nebulosa) | 8 | Approximately 30 individuals reported during the period, all north of a line from southern St. Louis to Hubbard counties. A total of 5 on CBCs was double last year's total but well below 20–year average of 18. | |||
| Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) | 1 | 9 | A total of 11 individual statewide with 3 tallied on CBCs. | ||
| Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) | 2 | 2 | All north 12/17 Marshall (Agassiz N.W.R.), 1/3 Roseau (Roseau CBC) fide JMJ. All south 12/18 Olmsted (rural Salem Corners) JWH, 2/19 Lac qui Parle (Plover Prairie) BJU. | ||
| Boreal Owl (Aegolius funereus) | 5 | A conservative estimate of 17 individuals, mostly from St. Louis and Lake counties in the Northeast, including one found dead 1/10 Lake (Two Harbors) JWL. In the Northwest, birds reported 1/7 Beltrami and 1/16 Polk ph. fide JMJ. | |||
| Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus) | 3 | 8 | About average numbers reported statewide — 3 north and 10 south. All north: 1/2 Lake of the Woods (Beltrami Island CBC) fide JMJ, 2/4 Carlton (heard at Cloquet Forestry Center) fide JWL, and 2/21 St. Louis (Duluth) fide JWL. Most south reports from East-central region. Also reported 2/4 Nicollet RMD, 2/7 Goodhue (Hok-si-la Park) DBM, and 2/11–24 Rice TFB. Recorded on Excelsior, Bloomington and Beltrami CBCs. | ||
| Kingfishers | |||||
| Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) | 1 | 10 | One north report 12/1 Cass (Gull Lake) BAW. All south reports (7 individuals) from East-central region plus 1/26 Olmsted JWH. | ||
| Woodpeckers | |||||
| Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) | 5 | 4 | Above normal numbers north with 9 individuals. Only 5 reported on Cedar Creek Bog CBC, down from a whopping 29(!) last year. Interesting was a report of an immature coming to a feeder 2/4 Carver (Minnesota Valley N.W.R.) fide ALD. The high count came from the Hutchinson CBC with an impressive 25. | ||
| Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) | 16 | 38 | Reported statewide except in extreme Northwest and Northeast. A total of 946 on CBCs was 70% above 20–year mean. The second highest ever statewide CBC total of 80 came from the St. Paul Northeast Suburbs CBC (the record 82 was set on the Winona CBC in 1999). | ||
| Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) | 1 | 8 | One north report 1/15 Crow Wing (feeder) JSB. All south reports: 12/7–27 Carver (immature, feeding on suet) JCy, 12/20 Sibley ph. fide RMD, 12/20–23 Rice LEC, 12/23–27 Nicollet RMD, DBM, 12/28 Goodhue SWe, 1/1 Ramsey (2) AXH, 1/4 Mower ARW, 1/14 Wright RLL, 1/17 Rice HHD, 2/5–6 Winona (Winona City) JWH, DBz. Twelve individuals reported on 8 CBCs statewide. Once again, efforts from observers to document this species in winter with photographs and/or detailed notes are much appreciated. Sapsuckers pose an identification challenge at the species level, and also include the possibility of hybrid individuals. | ||
| American Three-toed Woodpecker (Picoides dorsalis) | 5 | Following last year's invasion (total of 35!), this season's number's were much lower but a still respectable 11 individuals. Birds were found in a triangle formed by Aitkin, Lake of the Woods, and Lake counties, including a high of 3 found 2/7 Itasca fide JWL. A total six individuals recorded on these CBCs: Beltrami, Ely, Grand Marais, and Rice Lake N.W.R. (3). [Corrected] | |||
| Black-backed Woodpecker (Picoides arcticus) | 9 | 3 | A minimum 29 individuals found within normal range north including an impressive 8 individuals reported on the Rice Lake N.W.R. CBC. At least 6 individuals reported south: 12/2–13 Sherburne (2, Blue Hills Trail) DPG, m.ob., 12/6 Anoka DWK, BRL, CKB, 1/7–24 Stearns (2, St Wendel Tamarack Bog S.N.A.) MJB, m.ob., 2/4 Sherburne (Blue Hill Trail) DDo, 2/18 Stearns (female, Avon Hills S.N.A.) MJB. Statewide CBCs tallied 21 individuals on 10 counts, up 71% from 20–year average. [Corrected] | ||
| Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) | 23 | 43 | High count of 200 tallied 12/27 on St. Paul NE Suburban CBC. Total count statewide (2,973) was up 33% over 20–year average. Seen on every CBC count with the exception of the Grand Forks-East Grand Forks CBC. | ||
| Hairy Woodpecker (Dryobates villosus) | 24 | 40 | Recorded statewide. High count 103 tallied 12/27 on St. Paul NE Suburban CBC. Only absent from the Grand Forks-East Grand Forks CBC. | ||
| Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) | 4 | 21 | All north 12/6 Clay fide JMJ, 12/23 Otter Tail fide JMJ, 12/25 St. Louis (feeder in Duluth) ph. fide JWL, 2/15 Beltrami (feeder) fide RPR. All south reports within an area from Kandiyohi south to Brown, then east to Fillmore and north to Washington. Statewide CBC total of 159 up 166% over 20–year average. | ||
| Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) | 22 | 29 | Reported throughout the season in all regions. A CBC total of 398 represents a 59% increase over 20–year average. High CBC tallies of 32 shared by both Crosby and St. Paul NE Suburban counts. | ||
| Caracaras, Falcons | |||||
| American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) | 5 | 25 | Unusual north report 12/2 Beltrami JEB; otherwise, seen in normal number of counties. | ||
| Merlin (Falco columbarius) | 1 | 12 | A total of 25 individuals reported. Only north report 12/31 Wilkin (Rothsay W.M.A.) JWH. | ||
| Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) | 1 | 5 | All north were from Duluth, St. Louis: 12/18 (2, Port Terminal) PHS, 12/20 (2, Duluth CBC) PHS, 1/1 (Port Terminal) PHS. South reports away from traditional sites 1/29 Hennepin (I-494 and Xerxes Avenue S.), 1/26 Dakota (adult female, 220th St., Farmington) JPM. | ||
| Shrikes | |||||
| Northern Shrike (Lanius borealis) | 20 | 29 | Reported statewide except extreme northeast (Lake and Cook). Total CBC count (139) similar to 20–year average. High CBC count (13) 12/27 St. Paul NE Suburban. | ||
| Jays, Nutcrackers, Magpies, Crows | |||||
| Canada Jay (Perisoreus canadensis) | 8 | Found in normal numbers within range. High count (26) 1/2 Beltrami Island CBC. | |||
| Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) | 30 | 49 | Reported from an impressive 79 counties including the four “corner counties”. | ||
| Black-billed Magpie (Pica hudsonia) | 8 | Numbers and counties down from recent years. CBC total only 37% of the 20-year average. | |||
| American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) | 25 | 51 | Reported statewide and absent only on the Beltrami Island CBC. High count 2/7 Hennepin (4,000) BAF. [Corrected] | ||
| Common Raven (Corvus corax) | 21 | 6 | Reported within range north. Becoming annual south, with reports from several observers in Sherburne (in or near Sherburne N.W.R.), Anoka (12/13 PEB, 12/30 DPG), Wright (12/8 CRM). | ||
| Chickadees, Titmice | |||||
| Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) | 28 | 48 | Found statewide throughout the season. | ||
| Boreal Chickadee (Poecile hudsonicus) | 6 | Reported from Aitkin, Carlton, Itasca, Lake, Lake of the Woods, St. Louis — comparable to the 2007–2008 winter season but well below the ten counties where reported in the two prior winters. High count apart from CBCs was 5 on 2/7 in St. Louis (Sax-Zim Bog) TJM. | |||
| Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) | 6 | Most northerly report 12/12–13 Dakota (Inver Grove Heights) MJM. Others reported from Fillmore, Goodhue, Olmsted, Rice, Winona. | |||
| Larks | |||||
| Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris) | 14 | 48 | All January reports north: 1/1 Todd (Todd CBC) FGo, 1/17–19 Morrison MJB (Little Elk W.M.A.). Widespread reports south with non-CBC high count 12/16 Lyon (203) RJS. CBC high count Cottonwood (685). | ||
| Kinglets | |||||
| Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula) | 1 | Only report 12/14 Olmsted (near Oronoco) JWH. | |||
| Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa) | 3 | 9 | All north reports: 12/6 Clay (8 at Buffalo River S.P.) †PBB, Kanabec HHD, 12/20 Cook (Grand Marais CBC). South reports from Anoka, Blue Earth, Brown, Kandiyohi, Nicollet, Scott, Sherburne, Stearns, Wright in December, then only 1/17 Wright (2) DMF, 2/4–8 Brown (2) BTS, DAB, 2/12 Sherburne ASc. | ||
| Waxwings | |||||
| Bohemian Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus) | 6 | 2 | North reports from Aitkin, Beltrami, Itasca, Lake of the Woods, Roseau, St. Louis. All south reports: 12/8 Sherburne CRM, 1/9 Chisago (25, Taylors Falls) RMa. High counts excluding CBCs: 12/23 St. Louis (289) SLF, 2/16 St. Louis (100, Ely) LS. | ||
| Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) | 17 | 31 | Reported from all regions throughout the season. High counts 12/12 Carlton (350, Cloquet) MSS, 12/20 Dakota (190) SWe, 12/23 St. Louis (145, Park Point, Duluth) PHS, 12/20 St. Louis (142 in a single flock, Park Point, Duluth) PHS. | ||
| Nuthatches | |||||
| Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) | 22 | 19 | All reports northwest of a line from Mower to Polk counties except for February reports from Cottonwood and Lac qui Parle. | ||
| White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) | 27 | 46 | Reported from 84% of counties. High counts apart from CBCs: 12/17 Lyon (25) RJS, 12/30 Lac qui Parle (16) RJS. | ||
| Creepers | |||||
| Brown Creeper (Certhia americana) | 10 | 25 | Reported from all regions except the Northwest, though not quite as widespread as the prior winter. Over-wintered in Hennepin (Golden Valley) where found through 2/26 ALD. High count 12/27 Washington (9) SLP. | ||
| Wrens | |||||
| Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) | 3 | 3 | More winter reports than usual. One found in Otter Tail in October lingered until 12/10 †DST. Another reported in November from Wabana Lake, Itasca was refound 12/12 fide JWL. Multiple reports from Washington until 2/7 were all presumably of an individual frequenting a residence since July 2008. As many as 2 were in Olmsted 12/20 – 1/4 †JHD, ph. TGr, JWH, JLO. Another individual present since mid-August was photographed in western St. Paul, Ramsey 1/1 ph. AXH. | ||
| Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis) | 2 | A total of four birds for the season: one reported from the Minnesota River Valley below Pond Dakota Mission Park, Bloomington, Hennepin 12/13–20 DWK, †MAO, DAC; another was in Winona 12/14 DBz; two were found along Rice Creek in Fridley 12/20 SSC. | |||
| Thrashers, Mockingbirds | |||||
| Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum) | 1 | One making daily visits to a feeding station in Faribault, Rice County beginning in early December was documented 1/18 †DAB. | |||
| Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) | 1 | 1 | One discovered in mid-November in Cass (Walker) lingered until 12/3 BAW. Another first reported from Minneopa S.P. in Blue Earth on 11/30 was still present 12/1 DBM. | ||
| Starlings | |||||
| European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) | 21 | 47 | Found in all regions. High count 12/28 Wabasha (426) DAB. | ||
| Thrushes | |||||
| Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) | 1 | 17 | Only north report 12/15–18 Itasca (McKinney Lake) ph. KZi. Widely reported south throughout the season. High counts 12/14 Dakota (14, Spring Lake P.R., Schaar's Bluff) ADS, 12/28 Goodhue (12, Hay Creek area) DDo, 1/2 Washington (12) LS. | ||
| Townsend's Solitaire (Myadestes townsendi) | 2 | 4 | A total of 13 individuals. Seven north reports from St. Louis: 11/12 – 1/6 St. Louis (9400 block of Congdon, Duluth; bird with apparent broken leg) FKB; 11/29 – 1/25 Virgina (seen sporadically until it died from an apparent window collision) ph. DBF, †SLF; 12/25 Hartley N.C. fide JWL; 12/27 Fredenburg CBC JRN; 1/3 near intersection of London Rd. and Superior St., Duluth (near location where found last January) PHS; 1/9 near the Ely Golf Course fide JWL; 1/17–2/15 E. Flynn Rd., just east of CR 33 JWL, SLL, ph. PHS. Away from St. Louis was a first county record for Cass on 1/1 †DAY. South reports include one found in mid-November at Ann Lake in Sherburne that was joined by a second bird 12/13 ASc, DDo, where both remained through the season's end. Additional south reports: 12/23 Meeker (section 4, Darwin Twp.) DMF, 12/28 – 1/11 Hennepin (Lake Rebecca P.R.) ph. †RLL, †DWK, JLO, RBW, WCM; 2/8–21 Brown (Bashaw W.M.A.) ph. †BTS, mob. | ||
| Swainson's Thrush (Catharus ustulatus) | 1 | Only the second winter report ever in the state was one found on 12/13 in Steele †NFT. | |||
| Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) | 6 | A total of 12 birds, at least one of which over-wintered. Two in Blue Earth: 12/22 Minneopa S.P. ChH., 1/10 near Indian Lake C. P. ph. RMD, ChH. One in Dakota 12/13 Ritter Farm Park SLP. Seven in Hennepin: 12/13 – 1/3 Big Willow Park, Minnetonka ALD; 12/6 – 2/21 in the Minnesota River Valley west of Pond Dakota Mission Park, Bloomington DWK (2 on 12/13 DWK, 3 on 12/19 DWK, 2 on 12/20 †MAO, DWK, DAC); 1/17 Old Cedar Avenue Bluff Trail DWK, 1/17 Bass Ponds DWK, 1/17 Richard T. Anderson Park, Eden Prairie DWK. One in Rice 12/6–1/7 TFB. One in Washington 12/27 Warner N.C. fide JLH. One in Wright 1/3 near Lake Maria S.P. †JCC. | |||
| American Robin (Turdus migratorius) | 18 | 38 | Reported statewide throughout the season, though north reports grew less frequent as the season progressed. High counts 1/10 Blue Earth (1000+) ChH, 12/27 Dakota (733) SWe. Several other flocks of 400+ birds were reported, though none exceeded 100 after 1/10. | ||
| Varied Thrush (Ixoreus naevius) | 8 | 3 | a total of 22 individuals. Ten north reports away from St. Louis: 11/27 – 12/19 Becker ph. SEi; 11/30 – 12/2 Clearwater (north of Itasca S.P.; photograph in Park Rapids Enterprise newspaper) fide DPJ; 12/13 Cass (Hackensack) BAW; 12/16–22 Morrison (Little Falls) ph. FGo; 12/17–19 Pine PWi; 12/21 until April Crow Wing (Deerwood Twp.) JSB; 1/2 Lake (approx. four miles west of Finland along SR 61) fide JWL; 1/10 Becker (Pickerel Lake) fide JMJ; 1/25, 2/1 Pine (male along eastern boundary of Andrews S.F.) †RLa; 2/14 Cass (male at Pleasant Lake.) ph. BAW. Six additional north records from St. Louis: 11/29 – 12/8 Ely (East Main Street) BET, mob. 11/30 – 1/3 Lake Vermilion, near Cook ph. fide JWL; 12/20 Duluth (Charlotte St./Eileen Ave.) fide JWL; 12/28 between Ely and Tower JWH; 12/30 – 1/4 Duluth (2200 block of West 4th Street) ph. SCZ, ph. PHS; 1/4 near Embarrass ph. †CWG. Six south individuals: 12/20 Winona ph. fide CWG; 12/28 Wabasha (CR 5 west of Lake City) †DAB, †GDB; 1/3 Wabasha (Greenfield Twp.) ph. SWe; 2/5–6 Winona (Homer) DBz, JWH; 2/6–14 Ramsey (adult male in Roseville, reportedly first appeared in December 2008) ph. EHa, †BAF, †DWK, mob; 2/27 Washington (Dellwood) fide AXH. | ||
| Old World Sparrows | |||||
| House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) | 20 | 48 | Reported from all regions statewide throughout the period. The number of reports has been slowly but consistently increasing over the last five–year period, perhaps due to less reporting bias from observers. High count was 12/8 Anoka (151) CKB, a modest number for this ubiquitous species. | ||
| Finches | |||||
| Evening Grosbeak (Coccothraustes vespertinus) | 7 | 2 | Number of reports was the lowest of the previous five–year period. Similar to the pattern shown by Pine Grosbeaks, this species was observed primarily within range north until mid-February when reports abruptly stopped. High count was 2/16 Lake (70) MJB, with all additional counts less than half that number. Rarely reported south in recent decades, but for the second year in a row, were 12/24 Ramsey †FTM, a calling bird of undetermined gender, and 2/2 Carver †WCM, a female bird briefly visiting the observer's feeder — a welcome trend if it persists! | ||
| Pine Grosbeak (Pinicola enucleator) | 12 | Reported almost throughout the season and within usual range until mid-February when reports abruptly stopped. Lowest number of reporting counties in the last five years, following a year that had the most reports from the previous five-year period. High count was from the Baudette CBC (33). | |||
| House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) | 10 | 43 | Highest number of reports over the last five years. Seen throughout the season and in all regions south of a line from Kittson in the far Northwest, to Cass in the North-central, and to Chisago in the East-central Region; absent from the Northeast. This pioneering species continues to consolidate its status in the state as a year-round resident. High count 1/19 Olmsted (35) LMg. | ||
| Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus) | 16 | 26 | Highest number of reports since the 2003–2004 Winter Season, beating last year, another high year. Reports were scattered throughout all regions of the state, and spanned the entire reporting period. However, high counts were again far below the four digit numbers reported three years ago, with the best showing 2/28 Fillmore (30) NBO. | ||
| Redpoll (Common) (Acanthis f. flammea) | 29 | 49 | Continuing the major invasion first noted in the Fall Seasonal Report, and reported from all regions and throughout the season statewide except for nine counties in the western third of the state. Redpolls literally seemed to be just about everywhere. Again, high counts appeared to be mostly estimated numbers, and include: 1/24 Hennepin (250) ABL, and 2/16 Itasca (250) JCC. Possibly more accurate were 2/15 Anoka (213) CKB, and the Pine County CBC (211, SE Quadrant). Also see the Spring Seasonal Report. | ||
| Redpoll (Hoary) (Acanthis f. exilipes) | 8 | 8 | A major invasion by this species, the largest since Winter 1999–2000. Reported from the far Northwest and Northeast regions and spearheading through the state deep into the South-central region, 1/26–31 Blue Earth †RMD, ChH, JCC. Absent from the West-central, Southwest, and Southeast regions. Numerous reports throughout the season in the northern regions and from Sax-Zim Bog, as expected. The high count there of six documented individuals spanned the reporting period, and were observed by numerous birders. Accidental in the South, there was a new county record 1/31 Brown †BTS; and another notable record 1/7 Meeker †DMF. Most observations south occurred from late January through February and beyond. All other south observations with good details include: 2/2 Anoka ph. †CKB and 2/4 Anoka (2) ph. †DPG at different locations, 2/16 Hennepin ph. †ABL, 2/19–23 and 2/26–28 (same bird) Dakota †ADS, ph. †JPM, m.ob., 2/21 Dakota (different location) ph. †MAO, 2/24 Kandiyohi †JoS, and 2/27 Stearns †MJB, where last documented in 1969! Also see the Spring Seasonal Report. The Seasonal Report editor and compilers would like to thank the many observers who took time to document their reports of this species. Reported from an additional nine north and four south counties with either no or insufficient details. | ||
| Red Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) | 10 | 1 | Reports were nearly the same as last year, and once again this species remained relatively scarce overall. High count (an estimated total) 1/30 Lake (40) KRE. The only south report was 12/13 Sherburne ASc. There hasn't been a significant invasion of this species in the state for nearly 25 years. Perhaps we're due for another? | ||
| White-winged Crossbill (Loxia leucoptera) | 19 | 44 | Probably the highlight of the season for many observers was the remarkable invasion of this colorful species, perhaps the largest since Winter 1989–90. Seen in all regions and throughout the season statewide, but only in scattered locations throughout the western third of the state. All high counts were apparently estimated, and all were from the south, including: 1/25 Dodge (100) JLO, DWK, and Wabasha (100) JWH, and 1/26 Steele (100) FVS. The extent of the invasion was widespread well beyond Minnesota's borders and is considered perhaps the largest in recent memory. | ||
| Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus) | 28 | 45 | A major invasion by this species, with reports throughout the season and from all regions in the state. High count was 1/31 Pennington (150) JMJ. Also see the Spring and Summer Seasonal Reports. | ||
| American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) | 20 | 47 | Highest number of reports from the previous five–year period, coinciding with the major invasion of the previous four species above. Most numerous in the south, with all high counts coming from this region, leading with 12/13 Fillmore (200) NBO. | ||
| Longspurs and Snow Buntings | |||||
| Lapland Longspur (Calcarius lapponicus) | 7 | 24 | Number of reports similar to last year. No significant numbers were reported north. High counts 2/16 Brown (750 total in 4 distinct flocks) WCM, 12/2 and 12/7 Steele (100) NFT. CBC high count 108 (Rochester). | ||
| Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis) | 23 | 41 | Number of reports was similar to the previous year. Reports widespread throughout the state including several high counts of 400 or greater: 1/23 Red Lake (500) SAS, 1/1 Lake of the Woods (475) JMJ, 12/28 Kanabec (450) DPG, 12/16 Lyon (427) RJS, and 1/10 Blue Earth (400) ChH. CBC high counts 1,325 (Cottonwood), 1,178 (Baudette). | ||
| Towhees, Sparrows | |||||
| Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) | 2 | One at feeder 12/20 Stearns †MJB (St. Cloud CBC). Also see undocumented records. | |||
| Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca) | 1 | 5 | All reports: 12 reported from 8 CBCs, including one at Duluth D.N.R. office through 1/15 St. Louis fide JWL, and one that over-wintered from 12/29 through end of period at Minnesota Valley N.W.R. headquarters feeders in Hennepin m.ob. Also reported 2/27 Blue Earth, Brown, Nicollet, and Renville RJS. CBC high count 4 (Bloomington). | ||
| American Tree Sparrow (Spizelloides arborea) | 14 | 41 | Somewhat more reports than in recent years. North reports widespread except extreme Northwest. Northeast reports include 1/15 St. Louis (2) JWL and 1/17 Cook (2) SMc, suggesting over-wintering. High counts 12/19 Redwood (172) RJS, 12/20 Stearns (160) MJB. CBC high count 365 (Bloomington). | ||
| Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) | 17 | 48 | High count (165) 12/28 Wabasha DAB. CBC high counts Henderson (673), Rochester (653). “Oregon” subspecies reported 12/30 Brown †BTS, 1/13 Hennepin †DDo, and 1/15 – 2/8 Hennepin (Minnesota Valley N.W.R. headquarters) †ALD, †PEB, DWK; also from 5 CBCs(2 only partially within Minnesota), with a high count of 3 (Fargo-Moorhead). | ||
| White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) | 3 | All reports: 12/20 McLeod PRH, 12/1–15 Rice TFB, 12/20 Sibley (Henderson CBC) ph. ABS. | |||
| GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW (Zonotrichia atricapilla) | 1 | Immature present at Duluth feeder from 12/14 through end of period in St. Louis (see also Spring report) ph. BSn, †JWL, †KRE, †PHS. This was the sixth state record, three of which were in 2008. | |||
| Harris's Sparrow (Zonotrichia querula) | 1 | 1 | Fewer reports than in recent previous years. All reports: 12/13 Cass BAW, 12/13 Brown BTS. Also reported from Fairmont and Grand Rapids CBCs, without details. | ||
| White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) | 1 | 3 | Fewer reports than in recent previous years. All north 12/4, 1/8 Douglas fide JMJ. Also reported from Bemidji, Cook, Duluth, and Ely CBCs. High count 2/14 Hennepin (small flock of 5 near downtown Minneapolis) BAF suggests over-wintering. | ||
| Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) | 8 | One overwintered through 2/27 in Brown BTS. Several other January reports. CBC high count 8 (Bloomington). | |||
| Lincoln's Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii) | 1 | Only record 12/17, 12/24 Hennepin (New Hope feeder) ph. LSc, DBM (second latest date south). | |||
| Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana) | 1 | 1 | All reports: 12/3–4 St. Louis †DBF, SLF, 12/19 Scott DWK, and 2 on Excelsior CBC in Hennepin 12/20. | ||
| Blackbirds, Orioles | |||||
| Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) | 1 | Only report 1/3 Kandiyohi (adult male in flock of Red-winged Blackbirds) RSF. | |||
| Sturnella meadowlark (Sturnella sp.) | 3 | All reports: 12/3 Brown BTS, 12/19 Lamberton CBC, Blue Earth ChH, 1/26 Lac qui Parle BJU. The latter two were reported as Western Meadowlark (S. neglecta) but without indicating how they were identified to species. | |||
| Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) | 2 | 14 | Fewer reports than the last two years. All north 1/1 Todd MSK, 2/8 Morrison (5) MJB. High count 12/13 Brown (25) BTS. CBC high count 600 (New Ulm). | ||
| Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) | 4 | All reports: 12/14 (4), 2/24 (2) Dakota (Hampton feedlot, probably over-wintered) ADS, JPM, 12/20 Hennepin (21 including 19 at a Richfield feeder) JCC, 12/29 – 1/29 Hennepin (up to ten — 8 males, 2 females — at Minnesota Valley N.W.R. headquarters feeders) JPM, ALD. | |||
| Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus) | 1 | 1 | Fewer reports than in the previous several years. All reports: 1/2 Douglas JPE, 2/7 Nobles (2) DAB, RMD. Also reported on 7 CBCs, with high counts of 2 (Cottonwood, Fairmont). | ||
| Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) | 1 | 11 | All north reports: 12/23 Beltrami (2) CKB. No reports from Southwest or Southeast counties. No numbers greater than 2 were reported. CBC high count 55 (Mankato). | ||
| Warblers | |||||
| Pine Warbler (Setophaga pinus) | 2 | All south: 12/20 – 1/5 Olmsted (Rochester) †JHD, ph. TGr, JWH, JLO; 12/24–27 Ramsey ph. REP. | |||
| Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) | 3 | Reported from 5 of the last 6 winter seasons. All reports: 12/1 Blue Earth (Minneopa S.P.) DBM, 12/22 Blue Earth (Minneopa S.P.) ChH, 1/3 Wright (3: 2 at Montissippi C.P. MJB, and a third report without details as part of the Wright CBC), 1/11 Hennepin (Lake Rebecca P.R.) LS, JWH. | |||
| Tanagers, Cardinals, Grosbeaks | |||||
| Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) | 12 | 42 | Widespread reports but none north of a line from Pine to Clay counties, except for CBC reports as far north as Grand Marais, Cotton, Grand Rapids, and Bemidji. No significant numbers were reported. CBC high count 273 (Henderson). | ||
| Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus) | 1 | Only report, adult male coming to a Wayzata feeder in Hennepin through 1/1 (record late date) ph. JJW, RBJ. | |||