Rare species reported this winter season included two Accidentals (Band-tailed Pigeon, Yellow-billed Loon), and two Casuals (Black-legged Kittiwake, Eurasian Tree Sparrow). Five species provided first county records, including Harlequin Duck (Chisago), Band-tailed Pigeon (Winona), Yellow-billed Loon (Hennepin), Carolina Wren (Sibley), and Townsend’s Solitaire (Steele), and there was one new winter record for the state (LeConte’s Sparrow).

Similar to the previous five winters, there was little evidence of widespread early returning waterfowl into the southern part of the state in late February. Other than Canada, the only goose species reported after December was a Greater White-fronted on the last day of February. Also at the end of February there were scattered south reports of small numbers of likely early migrants of some duck species, but nothing extensive or substantial. The last mild February with an extensive influx of early migrant ducks and geese was in 2017. Mute Swans were reported from five counties, with a total of up to seven individuals, which is typical for recent winters. Winter season totals over the previous decade have ranged from 0–7 individuals, with an average of 4.5. Trumpeter Swans were reported from 63 counties, a new record for the season, although the high count of 420 (Sherburne County) was much lower than last winter’s high count (1,700, Otter Tail County). The statewide Trumpeter Swan total on CBCs was an impressive 5,904 (on 50 of 88 count circles).

Blue Lake W.T.P. and nearby Mill Pond in Shakopee, Scott County, again hosted a good variety of ducks, including 17 species after December. This total included a female Blue-winged Teal in mid February, the first for the state for that month in 36 years. Blue Lake W.T.P. also provided state midwinter high counts for three duck species (Northern Shoveler, Gadwall, Ring-necked Duck). The count of 59 American Black Ducks in early December in Wabasha County set a new winter record. A female Harlequin Duck was discovered in the St. Croix River, Chisago County, in mid January, and continued there into early March. It was reported by over 140 people during its six-week stay. This was the first record in the south half of the state in five years. The only scoter species reported was White-winged, with three of the four records (all singles) away from Lake Superior. Long-tailed Ducks were found in ten counties, including seven away from Lake Superior. The total of 3,839 Common Goldeneyes carefully counted (from video) in late December in Wabasha County (Mississippi River) was the second highest for the winter season and the most in winter in nearly 20 years.

Wild Turkeys continue to thrive in the state. They were reported from 77 counties, the second highest total for the season. The CBC total count for Minnesota was 6,176 (reported on 72 of 88 count circles). In comparison, twenty years ago the 2002 CBC state total was 893 (on 28 of 64 count circles). A Band-tailed Pigeon was photographed perched on conduit on a house in Winona in February, but was not identified until later. This was the 12th record for the state, and the first in nearly 12 years. Eurasian Collared-Doves were found in 63 counties, tying the record number from the previous two winters, although there were no reports from the Northeast region and only two from the North-central. The CBC total for Minnesota, reported on 35 of 88 count circles, was 732. This compares with the total ten years ago (2012) of 278, on 25 of 73 count circles.

A first-cycle Black-legged Kittiwake photographed on Lake Pepin in mid December was the first winter record of this species in nearly seven years, and the first record away from Lake Superior in over five years. Two Great Black-backed Gulls in Duluth throughout the season were the only reports of this species. Numbers have been low in Duluth (1–3 individuals) for the previous six winters as well. In winters 2010 to 2012, at least 8–10 individuals were present but numbers have declined since. A first-cycle Lesser Black-backed Gull was in Duluth through early January, marking the 18th consecutive winter that this species has been recorded in the state. Away from Lake Superior, no gulls of any species were reported after 17 January except one early-migrant Herring Gull in late February in Wabasha County. A Yellow-billed Loon was discovered at Bde Maka Ska in Minneapolis in early December. It was seen by over 80 birders during its short, one-day stay (although some reports suggest it may have been present the previous day). This was the seventh record for Minnesota and the first since 2005; it was also the first record for the south half of the state. Snowy Owls were scarce this winter and were reported from only 14 counties, the fewest in 12 years, and none were found on any CBC. There were no Boreal Owl reports for the first winter since 2015.

For the second year in a row, there were no reports of Gyrfalcon this season. This Casual species is most commonly encountered in winter, but has been spotted in only three of the past ten winters. Prairie Falcons were also not found for the fourth year in a row. By contrast, Merlins were observed in 46 counties, nearly equaling last winter’s season high of 47, and throughout the season in both the north and south.

Several species normally found in winter, albeit in small numbers, were undetected this season. There were no reports of Ruby-crowned Kinglet for the first time since 2015. Similarly, no Gray Catbird observations were recorded for the first time since 2010. Northern Mockingbirds, which are found in about half of winters, were absent for the second year in a row. However, for the fourth year in a row there were sightings of Eurasian Tree Sparrow from multiple counties. Clearly, this species is showing up in Minnesota far more commonly than in the past. Towhees also had a good season with five Spotted and six Eastern towhees being reported, equaling or exceeding previous season records.

Among the winter finches, reports of both redpoll species were down after the strong showing of the 2021–22 winter when Common Redpolls were found in all 87 counties and Hoary Redpolls in 60. This winter Common Redpoll was only reported from 39 counties and Hoary from four counties, all bordering Canada. Similarly, White-winged Crossbill and Pine Siskin numbers were low this past winter. White-winged Crossbills were reported from only nine counties and Pine Siskins from 32, both the lowest totals since 2013. Other winter finches, including Pine and Evening grosbeaks, and Bohemian Waxwings were found in typical levels.

A most unexpected find was the first winter report of a LeConte’s Sparrow, seen and photographed at the Bass Ponds on 17 December. This sighting is more than five weeks later than the previous late date of 10 November (Scott County, 1985). Other late lingering birds included a Pine Warbler found in St. Louis County on 31 December and a Summer Tanager photographed at a feeder in Mower County on 1 January.

Weather summary: After several years of above average winter temperatures, December’s average temperature was about four degrees (F) below normal, the coldest since 2013. January began with above average temperatures, but colder weather prevailed at the end of the month. Still, the month ended 4.8° above normal. February temperatures were near the long-term average. Each month’s lows were in the -30s: -36° at Norris Camp on 7 December, -37° at Celina (St. Louis County) on 29–30 January, and -39° at Kabetogama on 3–4 February.

It was a wet December. The first major storm passed through southern Minnesota on the 9th. Another storm with strong winds, rain, and snow knocked down many trees and caused power outages from the 13th – 17th. A third storm on the 21st – 22nd brought snow statewide, with the highest totals in the Central and East-central regions. The new year brought another large storm on 2–5 January. Most of the snow was south of a line from Madison to Duluth; totals of 15–18" were reported from the Twin Cities and near St. Cloud. Extreme southern Minnesota saw another storm with 6–7" of snow on the 18th – 19th. February saw three more major storms. Moderate to heavy rain fell over much of the state on the 14th, after which temperatures dropped sharply. Another storm on the 21st – 23rd brought 12–20" of snow to the central and southern parts of the state. The season ended as one final storm out of the Dakotas on the 28th brought over one foot of snow to Clay County.

Acknowledgements: 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 2023). Steve Weston, serving as Minnesota CBC coordinator, compiled vast amounts of data from 88 counts. Medians of recent arrivals and departures are based on published and unpublished seasonal report data from 1997 through 2021. Weather data is from the Minnesota DNR’s HydroClim Minnesota newsletter (https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/hydroclim/index.html). Our appreciation goes out to all our contributors, especially those who respond to our requests for details and who submit observations online.