WESTERN GREAT LAKES 
Estabiishing Minnesota's sixteenth record was this juwnile 
Red Phaiarope at Two Harbors 22 October 2008. The state's 
first record was also in Lake County, on 17 October 1963. 
Photagmph by Shavm C Herman. 
awassee 11-19 Sep (DPe). Michigan congre- 
gated 142 Wilson’s Snipe in Jackson 3 Nov 
(DH, RHe). Wisconsin reported exceptional 
numbers of Red-necked Phalaropes, with 21 
reports from 12 counties, but Minnesota’s to- 
tal of 276 birds in 30 counties was less than 
half of the last two fall migrations. Single Red 
Phalaropes graced Whitefish Pt. 5 Oct (p.a., 
TB, K&RC, CN), Two Harbors, MN 22 Oct 
(ph. SCZ), and Pte. Mouillee 26 Nova- (p.a., 
AMB, GB, PCC, BM). 
GULLS THROUGH HUMMINGBIRDS 
Wisconsin had three reports of Sabine’s Gulls 
including an “inland” bird in Dane 25 Oct 
(ST). Minnesota’s only documented records 
were 2 juvs. in Cass 7 Sep (DAY) and one in 
Brown 12-13 Sep (ph. LS, m.ob.). Michigan 
had an ad. Black-headed Gull in Allegan 20 
Oct (p.a., RBr). Wisconsin reported Little 
Gulls in Douglas 17 Sep (TP) and Vernon 17 
Nov (AP). Minnesota’s only Little Gull away 
from Duluth was an ad. in Beltrami 14-15 Sep 
(DPJ). An influx of Franklin’s Gulls into nine 
Michigan counties included 17 birds in Alle- 
gan, at least 11 in Berrien, and up to 18 in In- 
gham. Wisconsin birders found Franklin’s in 
seven counties. Possibly related to this influx 
was a high count of 75,0004- Franklin’s Gulls 
at Pelican L., MN 1 Oct (BWF). A Mew Gull 
passed through Milwaukee, WI 15 Sep (DG). 
Casual in Michigan, a California Gull strayed 
to Berrien 24 Nov (p.a., TB). Minnesota re- 
ported 4-6 Iceland Gulls, and Wisconsin had 
singles in Dane 21 Nov (ST) and Douglas 30 
Nov (PHS). At least 4 Parasitic Jaegers were 
documented at Wisconsin Pt. 16-24 Sep 
(m.ob.), some of which were among the 3 
Parasitics and 5 unidentified jaegers at Du- 
luth, MN this fall. 
Providing Minnesota’s first record was a 
Long-billed Murrelet at Duluth 4 Nov (PHS, 
ph. AXH, ph. MSS, DOK). This species was al- 
ready on the hypothetical list for Wisconsin 
based on two sight records, so it represented 
the first confirmed record for the Region. An 
Ancient Murrelet at Whitefish Pt. 31 Oct 
(p.a., DJ) was followed by an unidentified 
murrelet 5 Nov (p.a., CN). Furnishing Michi- 
gan’s 13th and 14th records of White-winged 
Dove were singles in Mackinac 7 Sep (B&JB) 
and Lapeer 29 Oct (MC). Snowy Owls in 12 
Minnesota, 10 Wisconsin, and 13 Michigan 
counties clearly signaled an invasion, with 
35+ individuals in the U.P. At least 11 North- 
ern Hawk Owls were found in Minnesota, and 
Michigan reported singles in Houghton 25 Nov 
(NA, TA) and Chippewa 30 Nov+ (JN). High 
numbers of Boreal Owls banded along the 
North Shore (FJN) were harbingers of anoth- 
er winter irruption. Michigan’s 4th Green Vio- 
letear lingered in Kent 18-28 Oct (SN). Three 
Rufous Hummingbirds were reported: ad. 
male in Ottawa, MI 7 Nov+ (NG, m.ob.), ad. 
female in Saginaw, MI 12-28 Nov (p.a., ATC), 
and imm. male in Dane, WI 15-30 Nov (AP). 
WOODPECKERS 
THROUGH FINCHES 
Three American Three-toed Woodpeckers in 
ne. Minnesota and one in Marquette, MI 5 Oct 
(RB) closed the books on the recent irruption 
of this species. However, a total of 43 Black- 
backed Woodpeckers migrated past Hawk 
Ridge this fall (KJB), and 
some reached s. Minnesota 
in Sherburne 18 Oct+ (2 or 3 
birds, SLo, m.ob.), Dakota 
29 Oct (females in two loca- 
tions, ADS, OSM), and 
Anoka 19 Nov (BRL). An 
optimistic Acadian Fly- 
catcher was digitally record- 
ed calling on territory in 
Waukesha, WI 23 Sep (ASz). 
Obligingly crossing the 
county line was a Say’s 
Phoebe at Arnheim, Bara- 
ga/Houghton, MI 29 Sep 
(MHe). Houghton also at- 
tracted a Western Kingbird 6 Sep (MHe). Wis- 
consin welcomed Western Kingbirds in Dodge 
9 Sep (DT) and Kewaunee 17 Oct (PS). 
In Minnesota, the White-eyed Vireo from 
Jul was still present in Scott 7 Sep (BAF, 
D&BM), and a juv. showed up in Nicollet 14- 
17 Nov (ph. RMD). In Wisconsin, a White- 
eyed Vireo lingered in Grant until 30 Sep (ASt, 
LD). Wisconsin had 18 reports of Gray Jays 
from eight counties, including one as far s. as 
Eau Claire 27 Sep (SBe). Multiple reports of 
Boreal Chickadees in six Wisconsin counties 
were the most in decades for the Badger State. 
In Minnesota, Rock Wrens warmed the cock- 
les of birders’ hearts at Inspiration Peak 19 Sep 
(ph. D&ST) and Grand Marais 25 Sep-2 Oct 
(SC, m.ob.). Away from its usual se. Minneso- 
ta haunts were Carolina V/rens in Otter Tail 21 
Oct-23 Nov (ph. D&ST) and Itasca 2-18 Nov 
(ph. K&BZ). Extremely late for Michigan was 
a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher in Wayne 28 Nov 
(RD). A Mountain Bluebird migrating past 
Hawk Ridge 27 Oct (KJB) was only the 2nd 
Minnesota report for 2008. A Townsend’s Soli- 
taire in Ashland, WI 12 Nov (RSB) and 3 in 
Minnesota were fewer than normal. Varied 
Thrush was also scarce, with 6 in Minnesota, 
3 in Wisconsin, and one in Michigan for a 2nd 
Washtenaw record 22 Nov+ (m.ob.). 
Fall warbler migration was anemic, with 
few highlights apart from lingering individu- 
als. Tardy for Michigan were a Nashville War- 
bler in Alger 15 Nov (SCH), a Northern Paru- 
la in Bay 20 Oct (GP, EP), and a Chestnut- 
sided Warbler in Delta 22 Nov (DPa, SH). 
Minnesota reported Black-throated Blues in 
seven s. counties, including the first for Pope 
20 Sep (D&BM). Wisconsin chimed in with a 
late Black-throated Blue Warbler in Milwau- 
kee 25 Oct (ASz). A Yellow-throated Warbler 
at Duluth 9 Sep O&LK) was the first for ne. 
Minnesota, while one in Delta 1 Nov (SH, 
MHe) was late and unusual for the U.P Also 
late for Michigan were a Palm Warbler in 
Marquette 19 Nov (ZG, JH, MHu), a Worm- 
eating Warbler in Ontonagon for two weeks 
through 20 Nov (BC), and a Northern Wa- 
terthrush in Oakland 20 Oct-2 Nov (MT, 
KO); the latter took up residence in the bird 
seed aisle of a Lowe’s store! Out of range was 
a Hooded Warbler at Duluth, MN 13 Sep 
(K&CR). Hooded Warblers lingered until 7 
Representing the first confirmed record for the Western Great Lakes region and a 
first for Minnesota was this Long-billed Murrelet at Duluth 4 November 2008. Pho- 
tograph by Mark Stemaas. 
VOLUME 63 (2009) • NUMBER 1 
87 
