Waterfowl

Casual in all three states but practically regular in the region, Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks appeared as follows: in MN, Nicollet Co 1–6 Aug (Noah Wilkes, m.ob.), in WI, Trempealeau Co 2–25 Aug (m.ob.), Dane Co 31 Aug–1 Sep (Cicero Stewart) and in MI at the Shiawassee NWR, Saginaw Co 1 Sep (Ann Birkam, Chris DeWolfe). Snow Geese were found in typical numbers and distribution. Ross’s Geese were in typical numbers in MN and WI but only one report came from MI. Greater White-fronted Geese provided MN with reports above the 10 year average including a record fall count of 5000 at the Big Stone NWR, Lac Qui Pale Co 24 Oct (Douglas Pierzina) while WI and MI reports were standard. Casual in MI, a Brant was discovered at Edison Park, St. Clair Co 12 Nov (David Boon, Brian McGee). Tundra Swans were widespread and abundant throughout the region with concentrations in the usual areas in southeast MN along the Mississippi River and in and around Saginaw Co, MI. Casual for both MN and WI, Eurasian Wigeons appeared as follows: for MN in the Upper Mississippi River NWR, Houston Co 15–16 Nov (Karl Bardon, Ezra Hosch) and in WI at the Horicon NWR, Dodge Co 20 Oct (Raymie Miller) and at the Nine Springs Natural Area, Dane Co 27 Nov (Fred Dike).

A King Eider was located in MI near New Buffalo on Lake Michigan, Berrien Co 20 Nov (Josh Duis). While further north in the UP at Bay Mills Point, Chippewa Co a hunter shot a Common Eider 26 Oct (Parker Burggren). Harlequin Ducks put in average reports with two individuals in MN along the Lake Superior shoreline. WI had three reports along the Lake Michigan shoreline plus one inland report from Lake Winnebago, Winnebago Co. And MI produced five reports all along the shoreline of various Great Lakes. All three scoter species had essentially identical reports within each state. In both MN and WI all scoter species were seen well from the shores of Lakes Superior and Michigan while providing scattered inland reports. But MI had a “down” year with reports lower than previous years and lower counts of birds. Long-tailed Duck reports in MN were “quiet” with typical reports from Lake Superior and only two inland counties. In WI there were numerous reports from Lakes Superior and Michigan and scattered reports from nine counties and MI had reports from 40 counties almost exclusively from along the Great Lakes shoreline.

Grouse through Cranes

Spruce Grouse were present in the usual areas and numbers in MN along the Canadian border and in MI in parts of the UP. Encouraging were reports from WI in Forest and Vilas counties. Sharp-tailed Grouse reports were typical in MN coming from nine north counties and one south county while in Michigan they were found in the usual areas of the eastern UP. None were reported from WI. Greater Prairie-Chickens were reported from three counties in the northwest of MN while in WI they were found in and around the Buena Vista Grasslands area of Portage Co. The only reports of Gray Partridge came from MN stretching along the Dakota borders and the southern tier of counties within the state. The further east one goes within the region the scarcer Western Grebes become. Noteworthy then were three reports from WI this season from Dane, Bayfield and Douglas Cos.

MN’s ninth identifiable Groove-billed Ani was discovered at the Crookston WTP, Polk Co 2 Nov (Heidi Hughes, Zoey Magner). Rufous Hummingbirds made appearances in MN from Anoka Co 19 Oct–15 Nov (Mike Prieve, m.ob) and in WI from Ozaukee, Dane and Walworth Cos. A Purple Gallinule made a brief appearance in WI at Grant Park, Milwaukee Co 19 Oct (Lorri Howski, m.ob.) while MI birders enjoyed theirs at Galien River CP, Berrien Co 25–30 Oct (Rob Gaba, m.ob.). The only Yellow Rail report came from their typical breeding area in MN, Aitkin Co in August. Sandhill Cranes maintain a strong presence throughout the region. In MN a record fall count of 22,197 was recorded from the Sherburne NWR, Sherburne Co 19 Nov while a new MI high count of 12,605 came from the Shiawassee NWR, Saginaw Co. In MN only vagrant Whooping Cranes originating from the northwestern Canadian flock are acceptable as potentially valid records. Of the two Whooping Cranes that appeared in Wilkin Co, one was banded and GPS monitored, the other was unbanded. Inquiries were made and the banded bird was originally tagged in Canada as a flightless juvenile in August 2023. This year, it left the Canadian breeding grounds on 1 Oct, arriving in MN on 5 Oct, leaving on 11 Nov then arriving on the Texas coast on 20 Nov. This represents the 11th state record for MN since 1900. The unbanded bird’s provenance is unknown.

Shorebirds through Gulls

Black-necked Stilts were only documented once in MN from Grant Co, WI had reports of multiple birds from the Horicon NWR, Dodge Co and they went unreported for the first time in the fall since 2019. Following the previous summer’s most successful year ever for Piping Plovers, they were documented in 11 Michigan counties, four more than the previous fall. They went unrecorded in Minnesota and Wisconsin. An interesting Upland Sandpiper report from Wisconsin was of a nocturnal flight call recorded in Milwaukee, Milwaukee Co 16 Aug. Whimbrels were recorded from two, three and seven counties respectively for Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan mostly from late August through late September and all along the Great Lakes coastline. Red Knots were recorded from two, two and four counties respectively from Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan. With two exceptions all were seen along the shores of the Great Lakes. MN and WI had average, widespread reports of Buff-breasted Sandpipers. While in Michigan numbers were down with reports only from 10 counties. Wilson’s Phalarope reports were in line with recent averages and distribution from MN and WI while MI only received reports from five counties. Red-necked Phalarope reports were widespread and slightly above recent averages for all three states. Casual in Minnesota, Red Phalaropes made appearances as follows: at the Minnesota Valley NWR, Hennepin Co 6–10 Oct (m.ob.) and at the Silver Creek Reservoir, Olmstead Co 17–22 Oct (Jerry Pruett, Nolan Kerr). In Michigan they were found at McGulpin Point Emmet Co 21 Oct, Lighthouse Park, St. Clair Co on 22 Nov and from Woodtick Peninsula, Monroe Co 29 Nov.

MI provided the region’s only Pomarine Jaeger report with a single individual offshore Lake Michigan in Berrien Co 9 Oct (Donald Estep). Parasitic Jaegers put in an excellent showing in MI with 25 reports of which the vast majority came from Whitefish Point, Chippewa Co and from Berrien Co. MN generated three reports from Park Point Recreation Area, Duluth, St. Louis Co and WI had three reports from Wisconsin Pt, Douglas Co plus one from Sheboygan Co. MN provided a potential Long-tailed Jaeger from Polk Co 22 Aug (Heidi Hughes) although details are incomplete. Interesting is that this report follows a pattern of Long-tailed Jaegers appearing in August and September in the western part of the state away from large bodies of water in places where one would not expect them. Long-tailed Jaegers were also reported in WI from Pigeon River Park, Sheboygan Co 13 Sep (Jon Bartell, Matthew Klemme, Braden Ribbens) and from Virmond Park, Ozaukee Co 18 Oct (Jim Frank). From MI there were four separate reports: Whitefish Point, Chippewa Co 9 and 18 Oct, offshore Berrien Co on 15 Sep, and at Sterling SP, Monroe Co on 20 Oct. Minnesota’s 12th Ancient Murrelet was discovered in Silver Bay, Two Harbors, Lake Co 28 Nov (Jim Lind, m.ob.). This is the fifth record in the past four years for MN.

The only Black-legged Kittiwake reports came from MI as follows: Allegan Co 6 Nov, Van Buren Co 30 Nov and two from Lighthouse Park, Saint Clair Co 22 and 24 Nov. Sabine’s Gulls were detected in impressive numbers this season. MN had reports from seven counties, well above the 10 year average of three. WI provided reports from three counties with a high count of eight from Wisconsin Pt., Douglas Co 26 Sep (Stanton Hunter, Peder Svingen). And MI provided counts of 14 offshore from Berrien Co 24 Sep (Donald Estep) and 16 at Lighthouse Park, Saint Clair Co 18 Sep (Aaron Boone, Clifford Jones, John Kuenzli, Caleb Putnam, Tyler Stuart). Little Gulls appeared in 10 MI counties, about double the average in recent years. They were unreported in MN and WI. Rare-regular in WI, a Laughing Gull was reported in Portage Park, Door Co 10 Oct (Candace and Rush Evans). Iceland Gulls in MN were typical with reports and distribution along Lake Superior, the Twin Cities area and the Mississippi River where there is open water. In WI virtually all reports were along Lake Michigan and inland around Madison. MI had reports from 11 counties mostly along the Great Lakes and a few scattered inland.

In MN Lesser Black-backed Gull reports were typical with records from four north and two south counties all of single individuals; in WI virtually all reports were along Lake Michigan and inland in and around Madison and Milwaukee. MI provides the region’s vast bulk of reports with 23 counties reporting including an amazing high count of a flock of 390 gathered on the sandbars of Lake Erie at Woodtick Peninsula, Monroe Co 23 Nov (Robert Irwin, Justin Labadie). Glaucous Gull reports from MN were typical with records from counties along Lake Superior and one inland from Hennepin Co; WI only had four reports of individuals along Lake Michigan. Reports and distribution in MI, nine counties, were consistent with past years occurring along the Great Lakes. Interestingly, with the exception of one record, all occurred in November. Similarly, Great Black-backed Gulls reports and distribution were typically made up of mostly individuals along the Great Lakes with concentrations in southern Lake Michigan, Lake Erie and around the Detroit area.

Terns through Hawks

MN provided the region’s lone Least Tern from Wells, Faribault Co 2–6 Sep (Kathy Carroll, Diane Persons, m.ob.). Arctic Terns provided MN birders with ample opportunities for close study by making two appearances in the state: from White Bear Lake in both Ramsey and Washington Cos 3–13 Oct (Randy Czaia, Liz Harper, m.ob.) and from Lake Mille Lacs, in both Crow Wing and Aitkin Cos 2–8 Nov (Kim and Cindy Risen, m.ob.). One was also documented offshore on Lake Michigan, Berrien Co 15 Sep (Donald Estep). One of three that occurred in the Great Lakes this fall the region’s first Short-tailed Shearwater was discovered in WI at Ashland, Ashland Co 14 Nov (Rowan Gibson, Nick Anich). As of this writing the record is under review by the Wisconsin records committee. Pacific Loons were reported in five, four and three counties respectively for MN, WI and MI mostly along the shore of the Great Lakes with some inland reports as well. A Yellow-billed Loon, potentially MN’s ninth, was documented on Lake Bemidji, Beltrami Co 30 Nov (Alex Burchard, Aiden Saari) but has yet to be reviewed by the state records committee.

Neotropic Cormorants were recorded in WI from Prairie du Sac Dam, Sauk Co 27–30 Aug (Samantha Sequin). Meanwhile in MI, confirmed nesting was documented at Lake St. Clair Metropark, Macomb Co. This is the fourth straight year at this location for this species. Snowy Egret reports were typical from five, one and three counties respectively for MN, WI and MI. Michigan provided the region’s only Little Blue Herons with sightings in Van Buren, Monroe, Washtenaw and St. Joseph Cos. Western Cattle-Egrets showed well in MN with sightings in nine counties, well above the 10 year average of four; WI had standard reports also from nine counties and MI had reports from five. Yellow-crowned Night Heron numbers were standard this season with reports from two, one and one counties respectively in MN, WI and MI. In MN, where their status is in decline, Black-crowned Night Herons were recorded with slightly above average reports in 17 counties with new fall high count of 40 at North Ottawa Impoundment, Grant Co 8 Sep (Phil Chu). White-faced Ibis were well documented in MN from eight counties with reports concentrated in the west-central part of state. A nice high count of 30 came from the North Ottawa Impoundment, Grant Co 5 Sep (Liz Harper). WI had just one report from Trempealeau Co and none from MI.

Two White-tailed Kites graced WI starting with one from the University of Wisconsin Arboretum, Madison, Dane Co 9 Sep (Charles Henrikson) and from Hayfield, Sauk Co 2–26 (Aquila Maximus, m.ob.). MN recorded two Swallow-tailed Kites beginning with one in the Sherburne NWR, Sherburne Co 11 Aug (Michael Metcalf) and followed by one from Kandiyohi Co 31 Aug (Randy Frederickson, m.ob.). MN had a Mississippi Kite at the Bethany Hawkwatch, Blue Earth Co 27 Aug that has yet to be reviewed by the state records committee. A second Mississippi Kite occurred in WI’s Door Co 7 Sep (Candace & Rush Evans). Noteworthy from Wisconsin was a Swainson’s Hawk that appeared in Bayfield Co 4 Sep (Ben Baldwin). The only notable items from the region’s hawk watch sites are record seasonal high counts of 6,184 and 306 respectively for Bald and Golden Eagles from HRBO. Long term declines in Osprey and American Goshawk continue.

Owls through Flycatchers

In MI, Whitefish Point, Chippewa Co hosted its second ever American Barn Owl 23 Oct (Dan Elliot, m.ob.). In a nice increase over previous seasons, Snowy Owl reports came from 12 MN, 14 WI and 13 MI counties all occurring in the latter half of November. There were three Northern Hawk Owl reports from MN including one extreme western report of an individual along the Red River in Polk Co 2 Nov (Anthony and Benjamin Hertzel). Plus a welcome and overdue visitor near Whitefish Point, Chippewa Co was first sighted on 20 Oct. The last fall occurrence of Northern Hawk Owl in MI was 2021. Each state provided single Burrowing Owl records: in MN from Touch the Sky Prairie NWR, Rock Co 19 Aug; in WI from Lake Menomin Park, Dunn Co 21 Sep and in MI, discovered by a couple from New Zealand, once again from Whitefish Point, Chippewa Co 26–30 Sep (m.ob.).

In a harbinger of the forthcoming winter irruption Great Gray Owls were documented from 10 counties across the northern half of MN. This is roughly four times the average counties reported in the fall. “Prolific” is a word given to the abundance of Short-eared Owl reports with MN having double the 10 year average of counties reporting along with a nice high count of 11 at Keystone Woods WMA, Washington Co 9 Nov (Kyle Te Poel); WI reports were numerous through state and above recent years average while MI had reports from 29 counties throughout the UP and LP. Both MN and MI benefited from the beginnings of a Boreal Owl irruption that started in October. Boreal Owls were first banded at HRBO, Duluth, St. Louis Co on 9 Oct. Banding stations at Hawk Ridge, near Lutsen, Lake Co and Tofte, Cook Co banded 37, 68 and 58 Boreal Owls respectively for the season. Nearly all of these were banded in October and November. MI had an impressive showing with reports from five counties and as far south as Emmett Co in the LP with concentrations in Chippewa Co and a high count of five from Baraga Co 27 Oct.

The only American Three-toed Woodpecker sightings came from MN in Koochiching Co 30 Aug of two individuals. Black-backed Woodpeckers were documented in their usual areas in northern MN and in MI’s UP while WI provided one report from Iron Co. WI’s Crested Caracara that was first documented in the spring was last reported from Bayfield Co 6 Sep. MN provided Prairie Falcon sightings from the western part of the state: two juveniles from Marshall Co 2 Aug (Hunter Kasprowicz) and two both from the North Ottawa Impoundment, Grant Co on 9 Aug (Herb Dingmann) and 15 Sep (Ben Fritchman Aguilera).

Ash-throated Flycatchers made three surprising and frustrating appearances in MN all only observed for one day: in Duluth, St. Louis Co 8 Sep (Aiden Saari, August Erickson, Peter Mundale, Asher Olson-Skog), at the Minnesota Valley NWR, Hennepin Co 12 Oct (Ryan Aldrich) and again in Duluth 12 Nov (Neil Brown). These would represent the third, fourth and fifth state records If accepted by the state records committee. MI provided another record from Chippewa Co 8 Nov (Lela Squire). Scissor-tailed Flycatchers were reported as follows: in MI’s Mason Co 9–21 Oct (m.ob.) and Ottawa Co 10–13 Oct (m.ob.) and from MN Grand Marais, Cook Co 27 Oct–9 Nov (Michael Sack, Molly Misfeldt, m.ob.). Rounding out the flycatchers, two Vermilion Flycatchers each put in one day appearances in WI starting at Estabrook Park, Milwaukee Co 4 Oct (Thomas Reich) and one photographed through a kitchen window and present for only 15 minutes near Moquah, Bayfield Co 17 Nov (K. Fuhrman).

Chickadees through Finches

Boreal Chickadees were documented from six counties in the northern part of MN while none were reported from WI and from MI, continuing their decline in that state. Bohemian Waxwing reports were down dramatically from previous seasons. In MN they were reported from seven counties, WI one and MI four. Sage Thrashers made four appearances in the region as follows: from MN Two Harbors, Lake Co 26–28 Oct (Matt Scott, Aaron Ludwig, m.ob.), Duluth, St. Louis Co 7 Nov (Jim Lind, m.ob.), from WI a mist-netted individual at Cedar Grove Hawk Research Station, Sheboygan Co 9 Nov (Daniel Erickson, Charles Giannini, Bridget Schmidt) and Sturgeon Bay, Door Co 23–30 Nov (m.ob.). Northern Mockingbirds can show up just about anywhere within the region as they did in MN and WI with three reports from each state all widely scattered. In MI they were concentrated in the southern half of the LP with one report from the western UP. MN provided the region’s lone Mountain Bluebird with one individual from Brown Co 24 Oct (Alexander R. Watson). Townsend’s Solitaire reports were standard with seven counties from MN, one from WI and two counties reporting from MI. The only Varied Thrush reports were from two MN counties. Eurasian Tree Sparrows were recorded in five and four counties, respectively, for MN and WI. In MN a lone Sprague’s Pipit was discovered in Two Harbors, Lake Co 5 Oct (Jim Lind).

Overall, most winter finches had a “down” year for the region. Reports of Evening Grosbeaks were average to below-average throughout with MN and WI garnering reports from seven counties each all with low numbers of individuals. MN reports for the fall were the lowest in five years. In MI reports were concentrated in the northern LP and scattered around the UP. Pine Grosbeaks reports were unremarkable coming from nine MN counties (below the 10 year average of 11), just two WI counties noted three reports and all MI reports came from either the UP (mostly from Chippewa Co) or from the northwestern LP. Redpolls were also in short supply with MN reporting a below average 24 counties but widespread across the state; WI had scattered reports across the northern third of the state and MI only had reports from eight counties mostly from the UP. Red Crossbill reports were average with 26 counties, mostly northern, reporting from MN; reports were widespread but limited across WI and 19 counties from MI with concentrations in the eastern and western UP. White-winged Crossbills provided the exception with above average reports from 33 MN counties, numerous reports across most of WI and 32 MI counties. All three states provided increased reports over the previous two seasons.

Longspurs through Buntings

Chestnut-collared Longspurs were surprising finds on three occasions: twice from MI’s Whitefish Point, Chippewa Co one individual on 8–9 Oct and a different individual 12 Oct (Clay Bliznick, m.ob.). These represent the eighth and ninth state records. Another showed in WI’s Bayfield Co 28 Oct (Ben Baldwin). MN provided the only Smith’s Longspurs reports from five counties in the usual southwest area of the state plus three others: unusual was one from a northern St. Louis Co farm 22 Sep (Maddi Maccani). Two other reports came from more expected areas along the Lake Superior shoreline: Grand Marais, Cook Co 8 Oct (Kim Eckert) and Park Point Recreation Area, Duluth, St. Louis Co 14 Oct (Larry and Jan Kraemer).

MN provided a nice high count of 24 LeConte’s Sparrows from the North Ottawa Impoundment, Grant Co 27 Sep (Karl Bardon) otherwise they were well represented in the state from 29 counties. WI had reports comparable to previous years from 12 counties while MI, surprisingly, had only one report from Alger Co. Likely due to increased efforts and coverage, MN had its fifth straight year of above average reports for Nelson’s Sparrows with 19 counties reporting; WI and MI reports were standard with three and seven counties respectively.

Spotted Towhees were reported from an impressive seven WI counties. MI had two reports from Whitefish Point, Chippewa Co 25 Oct–1 Nov (Karen Hogan, Teresa Noel, m.ob.) and from Tawas Point SP, Iosco Co 29–Oct 1 Nov (Phillip Odum, m.ob.). Yellow-breasted Chats were recorded as follows: a record late fall for MN, St Louis Co 24 Nov (Jamie Tigges), in WI Forest Beach Migratory Preserve, Ozaukee Co 21 Aug (Lisa Burr) plus Northfork, Vernon Co 18 Aug (Winston & Cheryl Ostrow) and in MI at Oakwoods Metropark, Wayne Co 3 Aug (Suzanne Pudelek).

Yellow-throated Warblers were documented as follows: in MN two fall reports Pope Co 1 Aug (Matthew Zappa) and Mower Co 2 Sep (Henry Hinchcliffe), in WI Lake Mendota, Madison, Dane Co 7 Sep (Fernando Al Assal, Martin Kaehrle, Jeremy Nance) and along the bluffs of the Mississippi River, Grant Co, 3 Sep (Blake Cwynar), and from MI in Iosco Co 30 Nov (Gary and Tess Nelkie). Minnesota’s 11th record Black-throated Gray Warbler remained at the Mississippi West Regional Park, Anoka Co 9–26 Nov (Cole Foster, m.ob.). Western Tanagers put in two appearances starting in MN (last fall record was 2020) from the Silver Bay Marina, Lake Co 26 Oct (Brandon Lentz, m.ob.) and from WI in Marathon Co 2 Nov (Sarah Sabatke). Pending records committee review, a Black-headed Grosbeak was documented in MN from Duluth, St. Louis Co 21 Sep (Peder Svingen). Finally, a WI Painted Bunting appeared along the Sturgeon Canal Trail, Door Co 18 Sep (Candace & Rush Evans).

Report processed by Eric DeFonso, 17 Mar 2025.