Waterfowl through Grouse 

Generally, geese and other waterfowl occurred in higher numbers throughout the region. In MN, most waterfowl reports doubled their 10-year average. A Brant was discovered in MI, Ingham Co 4–9 Jan (Bruce Cohen, m.ob). Harlequin Ducks were reported once from MN inland in Beltrami Co, in WI from five counties and MI had reports from 11 counties with seven from Lake Michigan, one each from Lakes Huron and Superior and two from Sault Ste. Marie. Surf Scoters were reported in average numbers from typical locations along the Great Lakes with increasing numbers in the southern parts of Lakes Huron and Michigan and inland along the Mississippi and St. Croix Rivers. White-winged Scoters were reported in above average numbers across the region likely due to the above normal temperatures and lack of ice. Noteworthy, one White-winged Scoter overwintered in MN at the Blue Lake WTP, Scott Co from December into spring. Black Scoters had average reports both inland and along the Great Lakes coasts. Long-tailed Ducks were reported in above average numbers in all three states with WI having a high count of 120 in Door Co. Barrow’s Goldeneye were reported from five WI counties with a high count of five birds in Milwaukee Co, while MI provided two records: one inland in Schoolcraft Co in the UP and the other from Allegan Co on Lake Michigan.

Spruce Grouse were well represented from eight MN counties, while WI managed reports only from Vilas Co and in MI they were reported in normal numbers and locations in the UP. Sharp-tailed Grouse reports were typical in their ranges and numbers in both MN and MI, while WI their only reports came from Burnett Co with a high count of 67 on 24 Jan. Greater Prairie-Chicken reports came from their usual areas in northwest MN and from Portage Co in WI with a high count of 91. Gray Partridge were reported from 10 MN counties in the northwest and scattered reports south. The last reported WI Gray Partridge in winter was from February 2021. This species is increasingly difficult to find in the Badger State.

Grebes through Gulls

Very uncommon on Lake Superior, an Eared Grebe in the winter season is exceptional. One was documented in WI, Bayfield Co 21 Dec (Ryan Brady). The region’s only unusual hummingbird was a Rufous Hummingbird from WI, Dane Co on 4 Dec. Limpkin reports continued with one from WI at Peshtigo Harbor SWA, Marinette Co 13 Dec (Joan Campbell) and from MI of a single individual that carried over from the fall in Tuscola Co 2 Dec–7 Jan (m.ob.) and one individual in Greenville, Montcalm Co 3–12 Jan (m.ob.). Two out-of-season Whooping Crane reports came from WI in Dane Co late Dec and Dodge Co late Feb. Presumably these are from WI’s reintroduction program.

A Purple Sandpiper was documented in WI, Sheboygan, Sheboygan Co 29–30 Dec (William and Annette McClellan). In MI up to three Least Sandpipers overwintered at the Erie Marsh Preserve, Monroe Co 16 Dec–12 Feb (m.ob.). Nearby a Lesser Yellowlegs lingered at Pte. Mouillee SGA, Monroe Co through 1 Jan (m.ob.). Interestingly, jaegers went unreported this season. MN’s 11th Ancient Murrelet appeared in Two Harbors, Lake Co 9 Dec (Jim Lind, m.ob.). This was the third observation of this species in MN since the fall.

In WI Black-legged Kittiwakes are a review species away from Lake Michigan. Three were reported this season from the Badger State: Washburn, Bayfield Co 12–19 Dec (Ryan Bady), Crawford Co 11 Dec (Joni Welda) and from Marathon Co 15 Jan a bird that was found in a ditch and taken to rehab. The only Little Gull reports came from MI: one from Lake St. Clair, St. Clair Co and from Lake Erie Metropark, Wayne Co. Iceland Gulls were reported in average numbers from WI and MI, while in MN open waters allowed for greater numbers and concentrations with reports from four north and eight south counties. Lesser Black-backed Gulls continued their year-over-year growth in MI with growing numbers at expected locations; in WI reports were above normal and numbers were typical from MN. In MI a Slaty-backed Gull occurred from a known past location at Grace Lake, Wayne Co 31 Jan–5 Feb (Joseph Kurtz, m.ob). WI’s seventh Glaucous-winged Gull came from the Prairie du Sac Dam, both Sauk and Columbia Cos 17–18 Feb (m.ob.). Both Glaucous Gull and Great Black-backed Gull reports were within typical averages and locations.

Loons through Flycatchers 

Up to six individual Red-throated Loons were documented through 9 Dec on Lake Superior in both Superior, WI, Douglas Co and Duluth, MN, St. Louis Co. For MN these represent only the second winter record of this species. MN’s eighth winter record Pacific Loon was also reported from the same area in Duluth, St. Louis Co 2–3 Dec (Peter Mundale, Peder Svingen). Rare in winter, Pacific Loons were also reported from WI in Door Co 2 Dec (Jan Hansen, Jack Swelstad and James Johnson) and from Ashland, Ashland Co 2–7 Dec (m.ob.). A Yellow-billed Loon appeared in Lake Pepin, Wabasha Co 7–9 Dec (Karl Bardon, Paul Jantscher, m.ob.) for MN’s eighth state record.

WI’s second winter record Black Vulture appeared in Veterans Park, Milwaukee, Milwaukee Co 10 Feb (Holden Van Dyke, m.ob.). Golden Eagle reports were average in their numbers and locations. Snowy Owl reports were well below average across the region with MN reports the lowest since 2010 and WI the lowest in the past decade. Northern Hawk Owl reports were also low with only a handful of individuals from four northeast MN counties and none from WI. Great Gray Owl reports were few with individuals from three northern MN counties and one WI report of an individual caught on a trail cam in the Apostle Islands, Ashland Co 2 Jan. Long-eared Owl reports were in average numbers. Short-eared Owl numbers went from low to high starting in MN where reports came from just seven counties, to WI with reports from 23 counties including a nice high count of 14 at the Killsnake Wildlife Area, Calumet Co 3 Dec, to MI where reports were above average especially in the LP including a high count of up to 25 individuals in Jackson Co 4 Jan. The region’s lone Boreal Owl report came from MN in Koochiching Co 29 Feb (Gloria Selberg, Jerry Palm).

American Three-toed Woodpeckers were only reported from four northern tier counties in MN while Black-backed Woodpecker reports came from eight north-central and northeast counties in MN and from Marquette Co in MI’s UP. MI’s second Hammond’s Flycatcher provided one of the region’s most significant rarities at Warren Woods SP, Berrien Co 19–23 Dec (Mike Mahler, m.ob.). Mild weather contributed to several Eastern Phoebe records. MN’s ninth and 10th winter records appeared in Hennepin Co 28 Dec and Itasca Co 29 Dec. And WI had one from Dane Co 16 Dec.

Corvids through Finches

Canada Jays are increasingly harder to find in WI. This season provided two reports from Vilas Co 4 Dec–4 Feb (Mike Peczynski, m.ob) and from Oneida Co 11 Feb (Keith Merkel). Casual in WI, Black-billed Magpies were reported from Washburn Co 27 Jan (Ian Sarmiento) and from Bayfield Co 7 Jan–26 Feb (m.ob.). Boreal Chickadee reports were typical with eight counties reporting from MN, none from WI and from Marquette Co in MI’s UP. A lone Marsh Wren provided MN with a near record late date of 11 Jan in Hennepin Co. A Mountain Bluebird graced WI, Marinette Co 7–13 Jan (Howard Lorenz). The region’s other significant rarity was WI’s first Fieldfare found in Prentice Park, Ashland, Ashland Co 14 Feb and continued into the spring (Tim Oksiuta, m.ob.). Townsend’s Solitaires were reported from 24 MN counties, nearly double their 10-year average; in MI there were 12 reports, triple the five-year average while WI’s reports from five counties was average. Varied Thrush reports were in line with averages for all three states. Four late American Pipits were reported in MN which brings the state’s total for the winter season to seven.

Evening Grosbeaks appeared in average numbers with a notable high count of 245 from MN’s Sax-Zim Bog, St. Louis Co 3 Jan (Kim Risen, m.ob.). A MN Pine Grosbeak report from Marshall, Lyon Co 21–22 Dec (Nolan Meyer, m.ob) in the southwest part of the state was unusual in an otherwise average to below average season for this species. Gray-crowned Rosy-Finches appeared as follows: in WI Sauk Co 11 Dec–8 Jan (Mike Ellery, m.ob.) and at a private residence Lincoln Co 13 Jan 17 Feb (m.ob.) while in MN from Lake Winnibigoshish, Itasca Co 15 Jan–6 Mar (m.ob.). Common Redpoll numbers were average in MI and WI while they were reported in above average numbers in MN’s southern half. Hoary Redpoll reports were average to below average. Red Crossbill reports were above average and widespread throughout all three states. White-winged Crossbill numbers were average in MN, above average in both WI and MI with numerous reports across the UP and northern LP.

Longspurs through Buntings 

Casual in MI, a Smith’s Longspur was at Woodland, Barry Co 11–12 Jan (Eldon and Beverly Dodd, m.ob.). A Lark Sparrow provided MN with its third winter record in Ely, St. Louis Co (Jessica Kainz). Casual in both states, Spotted Towhees were reported from WI and MI respectively: Dodge Co 5 Feb (Michael Yablick) and in Norway, Dickinson Co 3 Dec+ (Vicky Wheeler). Late-lingering Baltimore Orioles were reported from MN in Detroit Lakes, Becker Co 11 Dec (Nancy Henie) and at Ivy Hills Park, Dakota Co 1–2 Jan (m.ob.) and in WI Janesville, Rock Co 3 Dec–9 Jan (David Ryan). WI’s second record Scott’s Oriole appeared for one day only in residential Milwaukee, Milwaukee Co 12 Jan (Zeynep Goktepe, Alex Maurer).

Warblers generated many late reports for the region. Orange-crowned Warblers were found in MN, Lake Co, in WI, Racine and Kenosha Cos and from MI in three UP and two counties in the LP. A single Northern Parula was discovered for one day in WI, Madison, Dane Co 4 Dec (Michael Yablick). Palm Warbler provided MN with its second winter record in Duluth, St. Louis Co 3 Jan (Scott Wolff), and another appeared in MI at Founder’s Landing, Marquette Co 5–16 Dec (Ivan Wiljanen, Beth Olson) and in WI from Milwaukee, Milwaukee Co 13 Jan (Colleen Resendiz). Pine Warblers were documented in MN on the Duluth and Fredenberg CBCs in St. Louis Co 16 and 31 Dec respectively as well as at a private residence feeding station in St. Cloud, Stearns Co 11–17 Jan. One was also present in WI, Glendale, Milwaukee Co 11 Dec–13 Jan (James Shead). MI’s 13th Black-throated Gray Warbler appeared in residential Monroe, Monroe Co 29 Dec–14 Jan (Nina Hana, m.ob.).

Backyard feeders hosted Scarlet Tanagers and gave MN its first winter record in Minneapolis, Hennepin Co 2–5 Jan (Nicolas Purcell) and WI’s third winter record in Oshkosh, Winnebago Co 11 Jan (Steven Thompson). Lastly, feeder-visiting Rose-breasted Grosbeaks appeared in MN in Oak Grove, Hennepin Co 1 Dec (Connor Maloney), in WI in Washburn, Bayfield Co 12 Jan (David Bradley) and in Waukesha, Waukesha Co 25 Jan (Mike Ellery).

Report processed by Eric DeFonso, 03 Nov 2024.