Western Great Lakes 
T emperatures were cool across the Re- 
gion. Precipitation was below normal, 
except for southern Wisconsin, the 
southern Lower Peninsula of Michigan, and 
northwestern Minnesota in June. Highlights 
included Brown Pelican in Minnesota, two 
Purple Gallinules in Wisconsin, and Fish 
Crow in Michigan. 
Abbreviations: Horicon (Horicon Marsh, 
Dodge, WI); Murphy-Hanrehan (Murphy- 
Hanrehan Park Reserve, Dakota/Scott, MN); 
Pte. Mouillee (Pointe Mouillee S.G.A., Mon- 
roe, MI); U.P. (Upper Peninsula of Michigan); 
Whitehsh Pt. (Whitefish Point B.O., Chippe- 
wa, MI); Wisconsin Pt. (Douglas, WI). 
WATERFOWL THROUGH RAILS 
In Minnesota, a Greater White-fronted Goose 
in Kandiyohi 1 jun (DBW) was probably still 
northbound, but one in Lac Qui Parle 26 Jul+ 
(PCC) may have summered. Unseasonable 
were Greater Scaup lingering at Duluth, MN 
through 14 jun (ph. PHS), Surf Scoter in 
Manitowoc, WI 1 Jun (TS), White-winged 
Scoter in Itasca, MN 4 Jun (EEO), and Black 
Scoter at Manitowoc 2-7 Jun QS, BD). Michi- 
gan chimed in with Long-tailed Ducks in Al- 
ger through 1 1 Jun (SCH) and Manistee 18 Jul 
(BAA). Wisconsins only report of Gray Par- 
tridge was in Crawford 1 1 Jun (MS). Michigan 
observers commented on the scarcity of 
Northern Bobwhite, with reports limited to 
the s. Lower Peninsula. 
Spring migration of Red-throated Loons 
was well documented at Duluth, MN again 
this summer, including a peak of 16 birds 14 
Jun and 4 birds 26 Jun (PHS); these were 
complemented by sightings off Wisconsin Pt. 
14 Jun-4 Jul (PHS). Red-necked Grebes were 
found in five Wisconsin counties, including 7 
in Winnebago 21 Jun (TZ). Minnesota’s 2nd 
Brown Pelican was often difficult to locate 
during its stay in Le Sueur 27 Jun-2 Jul (CVK, 
WS, ph. RMD). The Region’s only Little Blue 
Heron graced Monroe, Ml 27-31 Jul (WGP). 
Four reports of Snowy Egret were more than 
usual for Wisconsin, and one in Tuscola 10 
Jun QEV) was farther n. than normal for 
Michigan. In Minnesota, up to 8 Snowy 
Egrets were in Grant 22-23 Jul (RPR). Cattle 
Egrets showed well in Michigan, including 
Arenac 4 Jun (DLJ) and Midland 11-30 Jun 
(MKE), but appeared in only three Minnesota 
and three Wisconsin counties. Minnesota had 
ad. Yellow-crowned Night-Herons in Dakota 
21 Jun (RPR) and Hennepin 23 Jul+ (VL). 
Wisconsin’s only Yellow-crowned visited Sauk 
19 Jun (AH). An ad. and an imm. White-faced 
Ibis first found in May (AMB, PCC) both lin- 
gered at Pte. Mouillee through 12 Jun; the 
imm. was still present 30 Jul. Michigan’s 7th 
Swallow-tailed Kite blessed the Pellston Air- 
port, Emmet 4 Jun (DK). In Wisconsin, a Pur- 
ple Gallinule delighted scores of birders in 
Walworth 8-10 Jun (EH); another was found 
dead in Dane 30 Jul QF). Encouraging in Min- 
nesota was a pair of Common Moorhens with 
8 young at Sherburne N.W.R. (PLJ). 
SHOREBIRDS 
Sixty pairs of Piping Plover in Michigan QD 
fide LJD) included a pair nesting at Whitefish 
Pt. for the first time in more than 20 years. 
Eight chicks fledged from four Piping Plover 
nests on Wisconsin’s Apostle Is. QVS). Piping 
Plover breeding was not documented in Min- 
nesota again this year, and that state’s only fall 
migrant was in Rice 31 Jul (TFB), Killdeer 
peaked at 1088 in Lac Qui Parle, MN 26 Jul 
(PCC). Black-necked Stilts summered at 
Horicon again this year, 
including a peak of 8 
birds 19 Jul (WM); else- 
where in Wisconsin were 
singles in Dane 9 Jun 
(MG) and Fond du Lac 26 
Jul (DS). An American 
Avocet in Monroe 23 Jun 
(GN) was unusual for 
Michigan; all other re- 
ports for Michigan and 
Wisconsin referred to 
southbound migrants in 
Jul. All three states re- 
ported Willet; most un- 
usual was one in Bay, MI 
13 Jun (JMS). Single 
Whimbrels transited Pte. 
Mouillee 11-13 Jul (CO,JJ) and Manistee, Ml 
18 Jul (BAA). Spring migration of Hudsonian 
Godwit normally extends into early Jun; an 
apparent fall migrant in Berrien, MI 15 Jul 
(TB) was early. Baerwald also reported a Mar- 
bled Godwit there the same day. 
All three states reported Red Knot. Michi- 
gan had one in Berrien 2 Jun (TB), and up to 
3 were at Duluth, MN 1-5 Jun (KRE, LS, PHS, 
ph. SCZ). Wisconsin had the latest north- 
bound knot in Milwaukee 10 Jun (DG) and 
the first southbound knot in Manitowoc 22 Jul 
(ST). White-rumped Sandpipers peaked at 
457 in Lac Qui Parle, MN 7 Jun (PCC); one 
was still northbound in Milwaukee, WI 12 Jun 
(SE). Michigan accepted a Jun record of 
Baird’s Sandpiper in Marquette on the 1st 
(SH). Burnishing the Region’s only report of 
the season was a Buff-breasted Sandpiper in 
Lac Qui Parle, MN 26 Jul (PCC). A total of 
136 Wilson’s Snipe at Agassiz N.W.R. 31 Jul 
(PHS, JMJ) just missed the all-time record of 
137 for that Minnesota refuge. Southbound 
Red-necked Phalaropes reached Brown, MN 
10 Jul (BTS) and Dodge, WI 19 Jul (CM). 
GULLS THROUGH WOODPECKERS 
In Wisconsin, a Little Gull summered in Man- 
itowoc (m.ob.). All three states reported 
Laughing Gull. Michigan hosted different ads. 
in Berrien 3 & 10 Jim (TB), one at Pte. 
Mouillee 28 Jun (AMB), and another in 
Berrien 26 Jul (MH), Wisconsin had one in 
Milwaukee 1-12 Jun (CP). Minnesota attract- 
ed an ad. in Houston 27 Jul, the first Laughing 
Gull in that state since 1997 (CLW). Single 
Eranklin’s Gulls strayed to Berrien, MI 6 Jun 
(TB) and Kenosha, WI 18 Jun (BCa). Also in 
Kenosha, the Badger State borrowed a Califor- 
nia Gull from Illinois 10 Jul (SF), Elsewhere 
in Wisconsin, the latest of several lingering 
Iceland Gulls was in Manitowoc 26 Jun (CS), 
and a Glaucous Gull loitered in Sheboygan 
until 27 Jun (MBo). More unexpected was 
Michigan’s well-described Glaucous Gull in 
Alger 17 Jul (SCH). Two ad. Pomarine Jaegers 
were reported from a boat off Park Pt., Duluth 
3 Jun Of-K); all but one of Minnesota’s 17 
records are from fall. 
The only Eurasian Collared-Doves outside 
of Minnesota were in Wisconsin at Columbia 
27 Jun (PF). Wisconsin’s 3rd Band-tailed Pi- 
geon was photographed in LaCrosse 20-22 Jul 
This Scissor-tailed Flycatcher delighted scores of observers during its extended stay in 
Dodge County, Minnesota 25 (here 31) July through 3 August 2009. Photograph by 
Douglas W. Kieser. 
600 
NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS 
