This winter season was notable for a first state record Tufted Duck on the Mississippi River near Red Wing in Goodhue County (The Loon 90:126–128). This adult male was seen by many during its 12-day stay in January. No other Accidental or Casual species was reported, but there were two first winter-season records: a juvenile Broad-winged Hawk on Park Point in Duluth (continuing from November) and an adult light-morph Swainson's Hawk in McLeod County. First county records were established for three species: Boreal Owl in Otter Tail, Northern Saw-whet Owl in Yellow Medicine, and Hoary Redpoll in both Renville and Wabasha.

In contrast to last winter's warm February, which resulted in an early influx of geese, ducks, cranes, and some other species, this February saw below-average temperatures and there was no widespread pattern of early waterfowl migration in the south. Two of the three scoter species were reported — a Surf in Wabasha and White-winged in Cass and Lake counties. Only one Barrow's Goldeneye was reported — a female in Otter Tail.

Eurasian Collared-Doves continue to expand their range in the state. This species was reported from a season-record 52 counties. A Sandhill Crane was found on 1 January at Lake Byllesby (Dakota); and a report of another near this location on 21 February suggests a single bird may have overwintered. Unusual was the absence of Killdeer in the state until the first migrants in late February. A Washington County Calidris sandpiper in December provided the first winter record in over 40 years, but identity to species could not be determined. Two very early Franklin's Gulls photographed in Martin County provided only the second February record for the state. Lesser Black-backed Gull reports were from Duluth and the Twin Cities (as many as three different adults), all from early to mid December. Compared to recent winters, Great Black-backed Gull reports from Duluth were sparse.

After four consecutive winters with few or no Boreal Owl records, this winter there were many, especially in Lake and St. Louis counties but also from seven others including unexpected visitors to Ramsey and Otter Tail. It was an invasion year for Snowy Owls, with reports from 62 counties statewide. In contrast, Northern Hawk Owls were found in only four north counties, well below average; one was found dead along a Chisago roadside.

Red-headed Woodpeckers were found in eight counties, rebounding somewhat from last winter's low of four counties. The Cedar Creek Bog CBC recorded 83 individuals after finding just one on the 2016 count. American Three-toed Woodpeckers continued to be scarce outside of St. Louis County.

For the second consecutive winter, no Gyrfalcons were found during the season. Other falcons had strong showings, especially Peregrine Falcons, which were reported from the highest number of counties on record. Common Ravens were also observed in a record number of counties for the Winter Season, continuing a trend of more southerly sightings for this species.

It was another good year for Townsend's Solitaires, being reported from a season high 23 widely scattered counties. A single mockingbird spent a couple of weeks in December in Duluth for the season's only sighting.

Many winter finches had strong showings during the season. Of particular note, Hoary Redpolls were found in an unprecedented number of counties, including 22 counties in the South. Renville and Wabasha recorded their first Hoary Redpolls. The unprecedented irruption of Red Crossbills that occurred in the Fall Season continued throughout the winter, although with somewhat less intensity. Pine Grosbeaks were also found in the largest numbers since a major irruption in 2012.

Three reports of Spotted Towhees, including an overwintering bird in Ramsey, represented the highest total since the winter of 2000, while a single Eastern Towhee braved conditions into January in Winona. Chipping Sparrow reports continue to increase with four documented birds. A lone Clay-colored Sparrow joined a flock of White-throated and Song sparrows in downtown Minneapolis through December 5th, the first winter report in over ten years. This downtown flock was joined by a Lincoln's Sparrow a week later, one of two reports of this species seldom seen in Winter.

Weather summary: December temperatures averaged almost 5ºF above normal through the 24th, but then fell precipitously to -7º, or 20º below normal. Extremes for the month ranged from 64º in Rochester on 4 December to -45º at Embarrass on 31 December, an unusually high difference of 109º. January began with temperatures well below normal, but three different thaws, one on 7–11 January, another on 18–22 January, and one on 26–27 January, brought average temperatures to near normal. In February, statewide temperatures averaged near 10º, or 6.6º below normal.

Precipitation totals were below normal in December and January, and above normal in February (well above normal in the Northeast). The first winter storm moved through on 4 December. A heavy snowstorm affected the southern half of the state on 22 January, and another moved through the central and southern parts of the state on 22–23 February.

Insufficiently documented reports: Mallard 1/6 Dakota (20,000, Lake Byllesby) (highest winter total ever reported, but with no methodology described to provide credence); American White Pelican 1/18 Yellow Medicine (rare in midwinter); Mountain Bluebird 12/24–1/1 Rice (rare winter visitor); Chipping Sparrow 12/29 Lac qui Parle (late date).

Acknowledgements: We thank Jeanie Joppru and Jim Lind for compiling and providing transcripts of Minnesota's two weekly birding reports. 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. In addition to the data collected through this MOU website, we are grateful for the data provided for the creation of this report by eBird (http://www.ebird.org, accessed March 2018). Steve Weston, serving as Minnesota CBC coordinator, compiled vast amounts of data from 81 counts. Medians of recent arrivals and departures are based on published and unpublished seasonal report data from 1992 through 2016. Our appreciation goes out to all our contributors, especially those who respond to our requests for details and who submit observations online.

¹ Minneapolis, MN; ² Golden Valley, MN.