Rarities this winter season included two Accidental species (Tufted Duck, Brambling), two Casuals (King Eider, Eurasian Tree Sparrow), and a second winter record (Western Tanager). The Tufted Duck (St. Louis), Bramblings (Becker, Winona), and Eurasian Tree Sparrows (Meeker, Lake of the Woods) were also first county records.

February set snowfall records across the state, with totals up to 40 inches or more in some locations and a severe late-month blizzard in the south. That coupled with cold temperatures resulted in a near absence of any early waterfowl migration into the southern part of the state. Mute Swans were reported from five counties. Although there were many reports from various Twin Cities locations (Hennepin, Scott, Dakota counties) it is likely that just three or possibly four individuals were involved. Blue Lake W.T.P. (Scott County) is consistently one of the best locations in the state for overwintering ducks, both in numbers and diversity. Reports this year included at least 13 species after December, and two additional ones at nearby Shakopee Mill Pond. Midwinter state high counts of Northern Shoveler, Gadwall, Mallard, and Ring-necked Duck came from these two locations.

A female-plumaged Tufted Duck in Duluth provided the second state record; the first occurred a year earlier near Red Wing. This cooperative individual was seen by many through mid January. A King Eider in Duluth (the 23rd state record) was equally cooperative; the immature male was seen by many during its three-week stay in January. Only one scoter was reported—a White-winged in Duluth. The only Long-tailed Duck away from Lake Superior was one in Wabasha County. The only Barrow’s Goldeneye was a female that overwintered in Fergus Falls; possibly this was the same individual present at this location the previous two winters.

Gull reports were generally unexceptional. Two Lesser Black-backed Gulls in December, one in Duluth and one in Minneapolis, were the only reports; this species has occurred in each of the previous ten winters, with all reports except one occurring in December. Scattered Great Black-backed Gull reports from Duluth through mid January likely were all the same adult, making this the second consecutive winter there with just one or two individuals. In contrast, in each of the winters 2008 through 2013 at least seven to nine different birds were present. In the south, no gulls of any species were reported after early January.

Up to two immature Black-crowned Night-Herons in Fergus Falls remained into mid January, providing the first north winter report in over 20 years. A Turkey Vulture in Ramsey County in mid December was the first for that month in over a decade. Wild Turkeys continue to thrive, with reports from a season-record 75 counties, including Kittson and Roseau in the far northwest. Also continuing their expansion in the state, Eurasian Collared-Doves were reported from a season-record 55 counties, including Kittson. A December Wilson’s Snipe near Virginia was the first north winter record in five years. A Pacific Loon in early January in Duluth was only the third state record for that month.

It was a below-average season for most winter owls. Snowy Owls had only a modest showing, with reports from half the number of counties as the previous winter (an invasion year). Only a single Boreal Owl was recorded, unlike last winter when there were reports from nine counties. Except for 2017, only six total Boreal Owls have been reported during the season since winter 2012. Northern Hawk Owl was reported only from Sax-Zim Bog, and possibly all sightings were of the same individual. Great Gray Owls were also scarce, with reports from only three counties (the fewest in over two decades). Nearly all Great Gray reports were from Sax-Zim Bog, and most of those were singles.

For the third consecutive winter season, Gyrfalcons were absent from the state. However, a first Murray County winter record of Prairie Falcon marked the second winter report for this rare species from the last three winters, following a period of ten winters with no records. Merlins also enjoyed a strong showing, being reported from 40 counties, five more than the previous winter season high.

Quite remarkable is the continuing and accelerating southward movement of Common Ravens in the state. Ravens were observed in 46 counties, surpassing last year’s winter season-high count of 42. Almost all of these new observations occurred in southern counties, including a first county record for Scott.

Winter and Carolina wren reports were both well above-average, with Winter Wren sightings in eleven counties, more than doubling the previous season-high of five. Similarly, reports of Eastern Bluebirds, Gray Catbirds, and Western Meadowlarks reached season-highs that substantially exceeded previous years. While increased observer reporting undoubtedly contributed to this phenomenon, the impact of warming climates seems a potential contributing factor.

A similar trend was seen with many species of sparrow this season. Remarkably, Chipping Sparrows were documented from 14 counties, bettering the previous winter season-record by ten counties. (Observers are reminded to continue to document winter sightings of this species.) Field Sparrows, which hadn’t been reported in winter since 2003, were found in seven counties. Numbers of reports of Vesper, Savannah, White-throated, Lincoln’s and Swamp sparrows were also well-above counts from typical winters.

On the other hand, it was a mixed bag for winter finches. Both Purple Finches and Pine Siskins set new season-high marks. However, Common and Hoary redpolls, as well as Red Crossbills, returned to more expected levels following the remarkable invasions of the 2017–18 winter season.

Arguably the event of the winter season was a cooperative Brambling that came to a feeder in Becker County for over a month starting in late January, providing many Minnesota birders with a first opportunity to view this species in the state. A brief appearance of a second Brambling photographed at a feeder in Winona meant two sightings for a species that was last seen in the state in 2015, and in winter in 2001. Equally cooperative was a Mountain Bluebird found during the Cedar Creek Bog CBC that continued in Isanti through most of January. Two reports of Eurasian Tree Sparrows, one far north in Lake of the Woods, were also highly unusual. Lingering migrants into December included Baltimore Orioles in Sherburne and Sibley counties, two Ovenbirds in Hennepin County, and a single December 1 report of a pair of Rose-breasted Grosbeaks in Rice County. Finally, a misguided Western Tanager spent eight days in Chisago County in January.

Weather summary: In contrast to the below normal temperatures of the end of the fall season, December was above-average by 5.6ºF on a statewide basis. Warm weather continued into January, when the state was 9º above normal during the first half of the month. This changed dramatically, however, when the second half of January was 14º below normal. The coldest temperature of the month was in Cotton, which dropped to -56º on 27 and 31 January. The Twin Cities endured an entire night of -50º or colder wind chill temperatures at this same time. February was also cold, with a statewide average temperature of just over 5º, which was almost 10º below normal.

The statewide average precipitation level in December was slightly above normal, with most of the snow and rain falling 26–28 December. January had two major snow events, the first along the I-90 corridor on 18 January, and the second a broader event that affected the central and southern parts of the state on 27–28 January. February was a very active weather month statewide. Five heavy snow storms passed through parts of the state during the first half of the month. These were followed by another heavy snowfall on the 20th. A massive blizzard described as a “bomb” cyclone crippled much of southern Minnesota 22–24 February, bringing 10 to 14 inches of snow and 50 MPH wind gusts to many areas.

Insufficiently documented reports: Greater White-fronted Goose 2/4 Dakota (8) (early migrants only heard at night).

Acknowledgements: We thank Jeanie Joppru for compiling and providing transcripts of Minnesota’s Detroit Lakes weekly birding report. 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 2019). Steve Weston, serving as Minnesota CBC coordinator, compiled vast amounts of data from 83 counts. Medians of recent arrivals and departures are based on published and unpublished seasonal report data from 1993 through 2017. Our appreciation goes out to all our contributors, especially those who respond to our requests for details and who submit observations online.