ILLINOIS & INDIANA 
Shambaugh, Leland Shaum, Robert E. Shelby, 
Lu Shonk (LuS), Andrew P. Sigler, Beth 
Simkins, Jeff Smith, Jim S. Solum, Leonard 
Stanley (LSt), Lee W. Sterrenburg, Alan E 
Stokie, Douglas E Stotz, Anne Straight, Jef- 
frey 0. Sundberg, Michael Topp, Michael Tra- 
han, Sue & Richard Vernier, Eric W. Walters, 
Tony Ward, Chris J. West, Betsy Whitehead, 
Donald R. Whitehead, Vern Wilkins, David 
E. Willard, Daniel T. Williams, Jr., Geoffrey 
A. Williamson, MatthewJ. Winks. Many oth- 
ers submitted observations but could not be 
personally acknowledged; all have our 
thanks for their contributions. © 
James D. Hengeveld, 6354 Southshore Drive 
Unionville, Indiana 47468, (jhengeve@indiana.edu) 
Keith A. McMyllen, 1405 DeSoto 
O'Fallon, Illinois 62269, (warbler7@sbcglobal.net) 
Geoffrey L Wiifiamson, 4046 North Clark Street, Unit K 
Chicago, Illinois 60613, (geoffrey.williamson@comcast.net) 
Western Great Lakes 
M innesota experienced a very wet 
March; precipitation totals in the 
central and northern portions of the 
state were triple the monthly norm. Wiscon- 
sin and Michigan had normal precipitation 
amounts, and all three states had near-normal 
temperatures. April and May were rather dry 
and cool for both Minnesota and Wisconsin. 
Michigan’s Upper Peninsula was cool and 
dry, especially in May, while the Lower 
Peninsula had near-normal temperatures but 
above-average rainfall. All three states had a 
brief spell of record or near-record tempera- 
tures around 24-27 April, a warm spell that 
ushered in an early push of migrants. 
It was a great season for rarities in Min- 
nesota, with 24 reports of casual or accidental 
species, highlighted by the state’s fifth Gold- 
en-crowned Sparrow, a bird that lingered from 
winter, along with a surprising find of the 
sixth record at a Twin Cities feeder! Michigan 
had its share of rarities, but the season was 
better characterized by large influxes of sever- 
al uncommon species. Large numbers of 
geese, especially Snow and Ross’s, were re- 
ported in March. Late April brought a big in- 
flux of Cattle Egrets, with reports of multiples 
from several counties. 
WATERFOWL 
Greater White-fronted Goose was reported in 
above-average numbers in Michigan, with at 
least 60 from seven counties; Snow Geese are 
rarely seen in large numbers in Michigan, so 
flocks of 84 in Allegan 8 Mar and counts of 
103 and 251 at Shiawassee N.WR., Saginaw 9 
& 17 Mar, respectively (all DJP), were signifi- 
cant. Minnesota’s peak counts for Greater 
White-fronted and Snow Geese were 10,000 
and 5000, respectively, in Jackson 15 Mar 
OCC). Minnesota reported Ross’s Geese from 
27 of 87 counties, including a first for Hous- 
ton 24 Mar (DB). Michigan had at least 20 
birds in seven counties, and Wisconsin had 
reports from 14 counties. A Brant was pho- 
tographed in Marathon, WI 11 May (DaB, JS), 
and 2 flew past Whitefish Pt., Chippewa, MI 
27 May (AMB, PCC), representing only the 
5th spring record in Michigan in the past 10 
years. Minnesota hosted the only Eurasian 
Wigeons, drakes in Wabasha 
28-30 Mar (RMD, DAB, ARW, 
JWH) and Chippewa 10 Apr 
QRa, JP). Single Cinnamon 
Teal were found in Polk, MN 
17 Apr (NE) and Sauk, WI 9 
May (TP, QY, PS). A high 
count for Minnesota was 3245 
Greater Scaup, along with 
3420 unidentified scaup, in St. 
Louis 24 Apr (PHS). Minneso- 
ta had female Harlequin Ducks 
at Duluth, St. Louis 5-6 May 
(KJB, PHS) and 24 May (SMC) 
that may have been the same 
individual, and a male lingered 
through 1 1 Mar along the Min- 
nesotaAVisconsin state line 
(DBa, LS, m.ob.). Wisconsin 
had one stay through 9 Apr in 
Sheboygan (D&MB), while 
Michigan had one through 1 
Mar in Mason (DD). Scoter 
numbers were near normal Re- 
gionwide, highlighted by a 
White-winged in Kandiyohi, 
MN 2 May (D&BM) that fur- 
nished a first county record. 
Long-tailed Duck numbers 
peaked in Michigan with 
10,000 in Ottawa and 5000 in 
Muskegon 4 Mar (CF). Wisconsin had 6000 
Long-taileds in Sheboygan 15 Mar (CW), con- 
trasting with an unusually large high count 
for Minnesota of 232 in St. Louis 6 Mar (PHS). 
A male Barrow’s Goldeneye lingered through 
8 Mar in Douglas, Wl/St. Louis, MN (PHS), 
and another male was found in Itasca, MN 8- 
9 Apr (KT, EEO, m.ob.). 
QUAIL THROUGH IBIS 
Northern Bobwhite continues its precipitous 
decline in Michigan: 1-2 were reported from 
only two counties, compared to nine counties 
two years ago. Wisconsin had an excellent 
spring for Red-throated Loons, with 12 re- 
ports from L. Michigan and L. Superior and an 
Furnishing the first record of Barrow's Goldeneye for Itasca County was this drake 
at Grand Rapids, Minnesota 8 and (here) 9 April 2009. Photograph by Earl E. Orf. 
More often found along the North Shore of Lake Superior in fall, this Harlequin 
Duck was a pleasant surprise at Duluth, Minnesota 5 and (here) 6 May 2009. 
Photograph by Peder H. Svingen. 
VOLUME 63 (2009) • NUMBER 3 
433 
