WESTERN GREAT LAKES 
Providing the second record for Agassiz National Wildlife 
Refuge and the eleventh overall for Minnesota was this 
Snowy Plover at Lansing Parker Pool on 30 May 2009. Pho- 
tograph by Barbara Williams. 
inland report from Dodge 22 Apr OO)- Min- 
nesota had unprecedented numbers counted 
at Duluth, most seen migrating in a westerly 
direction from L. Superior in the early morn- 
ing hours, capped by a state record high of 1 17 
on 3 May (KJB); inland were single Red- 
throateds in Steams 22 Apr (PCC) and Benton 
24 Apr (RLE, m.ob.). The only Pacific Loon 
was at Whitefish Pt., Chippewa, Ml 28 May 
(AMB). Three Eared Grebe reports from Min- 
nesota and six in Wisconsin were near aver- 
age. Wisconsin had 2 Western Grebes, singles 
in Racine 11 Apr QW) and Trempealeau 18 
May (DS). In Minnesota, Clark’s Grebes were 
reported from Meeker 22 Apr (DMF) and 
Anoka 11-12 May (DWK, KL). 
An American White Pelican in Brown, WI 3 
Mar was record early QSw), A Great Egret in 
Cass 6 Mar (DSc) was almost certainly a con- 
tender for the state’s earliest record. Snowy 
Egrets were reported in above-average num- 
bers from both Michigan and Wisconsin; 
Minnesota reported 8 from five counties. A 
Tricolored Heron was at Horicon N.W.R., 
Dodge 24-28 Apr (fide JB). Michigan experi- 
enced a remarkable influx of Cattle Egrets, 
with most appearing 26-29 Apr; the state had 
reports from at least six counties and high to- 
tals exceeding 12 in two counties. Minnesota 
had Cattle Egrets in 14 counties, with peak 
counts of 16 in Douglas and 13 in Grant 10 
May (BWF); Wisconsin had nine reports from 
six counties. The only report of Yellow- 
crowned Night-Heron was of 2 birds in Hen- 
nepin, MN 24-28 Apr (fide AXH). Plegadis ibis 
records have been increasing over the past 
decade; nearly half of Michigan’s records have 
occurred since 2000. This season, no Glossy 
Ibis was reported, but there was a surprising 
influx of White-faced Ibis. Wisconsin had one 
in Dodge 9 May (SF, DG), and Minnesota had 
8 in Big Stone 25 Apr (MJB, SW, EG), while 
Michigan had singles in Wayne 25 Apr-15 
May (WP, m.ob.), Tuscola 21-22 May (m.ob.), 
Washtenaw 21 May (ATC; p.a.), and Berrien 
28 May (TB, MH, p.a.), plus 2 on 15 May+ in 
Monroe (AMB, PCC; p.a.). Minnesota also re- 
ported an unidentified Plegadis in Brown 17 
May (BTS). 
VULTURES THROUGH SHOREBIRDS 
Michigan’s 20th Black Vulture was in Washte- 
naw 1 May OeS); 14 of the 20 records have oc- 
curred in the past decade. Single Mississippi 
Kites graced Milwaukee, WI 2 May (WM) and 
Jackson, MI 15-19 May (DH, LC). Unusual was 
a melanistic Cooper’s Hawk in Lyon, MN 17 
Apr (RJS). Michigan and Wisconsin each had 
single Swainson’s Hawks, birds in Chippewa 13 
May and Polk 21-24 May (TS), respectively. 
Rare were 2 Harlan’s Hawks, one each in 
McLeod 6 Apr (KRE) and Stearns 9 May 
(PCC), and a Ferruginous Hawk in Meeker 4 
May (DMF), all in Minnesota. A tardy Rough- 
legged Hawk was seen in Dane, WI 31 May 
(LA). The only Gyrfalcon was in Michigan’s 
Chippewa 27 Mar (SB, EP), while single Prairie 
Falcons were reported from Rock, WI 4 Apr 
(AP) and Becker, MN 16 Apr (SK). Wisconsin 
had four Yellow Rail reports from four coun- 
ties, about average for spring, while Minnesota 
had first county records in Meeker 2 May 
(D6irBM) and Steams 17 May (RMD). A Com- 
mon Moorhen in Sherburne, MN 25 May+ 
(PLJ) was unusual, as was an 
early migrant Sandhill Crane in 
Wadena, MN 8 Mar (DBM). 
Michigan reported Ameri- 
can Golden-Plovers in excep- 
tionally high numbers, with 
high counts of 95 in Benien 29 
Apr (ATC, m.ob.) and 31 in 
Monroe 25 Apr (WP). Min- 
nesota hosted a Snowy Plover 
in Marshall 30 May (D&BW, 
JMJ) and Piping Plovers in five 
counties; Wisconsin experi- 
enced an average spring for 
Piping Plovers, with singles in 
six counties. A pair of Black- 
necked Stilts returned to last 
year’s nesting location in 
Dodge, WI 25 Apr+ (EH); the same pair was 
likely seen earlier on 25 Apr in Columbia 
(DGr, CM). American Avocets were observed 
in off-the-chart numbers in Michigan, with at 
least 31 birds in four counties; Wisconsin had 
eight sightings in five counties. Michigan had 
at least 35 Willets in seven counties, probably 
the best numbers in the last decade. Unusual 
away from Minnesota’s North Shore were 
Whimbrel reports of 2 in Polk 21 May QCC, 
HHD), 3 in Marshall 23 May (REM et al.), and 
6 in Kandiyohi 23 May (DAB, JWH). Eight 
Whimbrel and nine Hudsonian Godwit re- 
ports from six and nine counties, respectively, 
were above average for Wisconsin. Minnesota 
birders found Red Knots in St. Louis 21 (PHS) 
& 23 May (DWK) and Marshall 23 May 
(REM et al). Wisconsin had seven reports 
from five counties, while all 7 of Michigan’s 
Red Knots were in Bay. Baird’s Sandpiper, a 
casual spring migrant in Michigan, was found 
in Baraga 14 May (LD) and Keweenaw 16 May 
(JK, AL; p.a.). Minnesota had record-early 
Dunlin in Brown 27 Mar (BTS) and a notable 
high count of 480 in Marshall 24 May (PHS, 
m.ob.). Rarely observed spring migrant Buff- 
breasted Sandpipers were found in Swift, MN 
18 May (WCM) and Adams, WI 30 May (DT). 
The only Ruff was in Dakota, MN 14 May 
(JPM, m.ob.). 
GULLS THROUGH NIGHTJARS 
Very unexpected was a Black-legged Kitti- 
wake in Sanilac, MI 2-4 Apr (MW, KO, DHa). 
An impressive 2020 Bonaparte’s Gulls at Du- 
luth 14 May (KJB) were part of a movement 
that brought 2 ad. Little Gulls to the Duluth 
area 14-18 May (KJB, D&SG, PHS). Wiscon- 
sin had Little Gulls in Manitowoc 20 May (CS) 
and Kewaunee 26 May (PS), and Michigan 
had one in Iosco 21 May QBu). Both Laughing 
and Franklin’s Gulls were seen in above-aver- 
age numbers in Wisconsin; Michigan had a 
Laughing Gull in Berrien 30 May (TB) and 
single Franklin’s Gulls in Berrien 18 Apr (RJ, 
AV) and Houghton 14 May QK. LD). Min- 
nesota had the only California Gulls, a subad. 
in St. Louis 4 May QCG; p.a.) and an ad. in 
Marshall 23 May (KRE, m.ob.). Thayer’s 
Gulls, both first-cycle (PHS) and second-cy- 
cle (KJB), were late at Duluth 30 May, as was 
a second-cycle Iceland Gull in St. Louis 18-21 
May (KJB). Still noteworthy in Minnesota 
were single Lesser Black-backed Gulls in Hen- 
nepin 28 Mar-5 Apr (DWK, PEB, WW) and 
The dark iris, reddish orbital ring, and characteristic bill markings can all be seen 
in this "digibinned" image of an adult California Gull at Agassiz National Wildlife 
Refuge, Marshall County, Minnesota 23 May 2009. Photograph by Kim R. Eckert. 
434 
NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS 
