WESTERN GREAT LAKES 
Part of a broad and strengthening pattern of Midwestern appearances, Min- 
nesota's second Brown Pelican was documented at German Lake, Le Sueur 
County 27 (here 28) June through 2 July 2009. Photograph by Robert M. Dunlap. 
(TR). Totally unexpected was a Snowy 
Owl in Bay, MI 24 Jun (LJD). Continu- 
ing from spring were Chuck-will’s-wid- 
ows in Jackson, WI through 27 Jul (RC) 
and Beirien, MI through 1 Aug (MBu, 
JTW) — the 5th consecutive summer for 
both locations. An ad. male Rufous 
Hummingbird was photographed in 
Bayfield, WI 30 Jul (RSB). Good news for 
Minnesota was a high count of 45 Red- 
headed Woodpeckers including 22 ac- 
tive nests at Cedar Creek S.N.A., Anoka 
(fide ALD). Though similar to last sum- 
mer, six reports of Black-backed Wood- 
pecker was still the most for Wisconsin 
in more than two decades. 
FLYCATCHERS 
THROUGH FINCHES 
Earlier than normal was a southbound 
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher in Hennepin, 
MN 27 Jul (SEC). Acadian Flycatcher was 
found at the n. periphery of its Michigan 
range in Saginaw 10 Jun (LMA) and Mid- 
land 18 Jun-14 Jul (MKE). Minnesota 
welcomed single Scissor-tailed Flycatch- 
ers in Sibley 26 Jun (ph. LLR) and Dodge 25 
Jul+ (MM, m.ob.). Michigan and Wisconsin 
each had one Loggerhead Shrike, in Beirien 12 
Jun (HV, RV) and Sauk until 17 Jun (AH), re- 
spectively; this threatened species was found 
in only six Minnesota counties. White-eyed 
Vireo was scarce in Wisconsin, with only one 
in Green 4 Jun-18 Jul (TCW, PSc) and one in 
Sauk through 12 Jun (TP). In contrast, 16 re- 
ports of Bell’s Vireo in 10 Wisconsin counties 
was more than usual. Brady photographed a 
Black-billed Magpie in Bayfield, WI 5 Jun 
(RSB). Field work started this year for Min- 
nesota’s Breeding Bird Atlas; new county 
breeding records included Black-billed Magpie 
in Crow Wing (JSB) and Common Raven in 
Benton (RBJ). Continuing from spring through 
27 Jul was at least one Fish Crow at Forest 
Lawn Landfill, Beirien. Ml (p.a., TB, ATC, 
m. ob.). Wisconsin’s only reports of Boreal 
Chickadee were in Forest 20 Jun (TP) and Vi- 
las 18 Jul QS). Michigan’s 9th Rock Wren was 
unexpected in St. Clair 1 Jun (ATC, m.ob.); 
most of that state’s records are from fall. Wis- 
consin led the Carolina Wren parade with 
eight reports from six counties. A tardy Gray- 
cheeked Thrush was carefully identified in 
Hennepin, MN 10 Jun (TT). Northern Mock- 
ingbirds sang in six Minnesota counties as far 
n. as Cass and St. Louis. In Wisconsin, a pair of 
mockingbirds nested in Sauk and was ob- 
served feeding fledged young 15 Jul (RH). A 
tardy American Pipit in Cook, MN 5 Jun (RBJ) 
eclipsed 18 at Whitefish Pt. 1 Jun (JR). 
Fall migrant Tennessee Warblers normally 
show up in late Jul; slightly ahead of schedule 
was one in Dane, WI 14 Jul (AP). Three reports 
of Cape May Warbler from three Wisconsin 
counties was the fewest in several decades for 
the Badger State. Wisconsin hosted Yellow- 
throated Warblers in Waukesha 2 Jun-31 Jul 
(TCW, ASz), Crawford 5 Jun (MJ), and at the 
traditional Grant site through 12 Jul (AH). Re- 
markably far n. in Michigan was a Yellow- 
throated Warbler at Ludington S.P., Mason 21- 
27 Jun (DCD). Kirtland's Warbler strength- 
ened its foothold in Wisconsin, with seven or 
eight nests successful out of 11 nests found; at 
least 26 young successfully fledged. Michigan’s 
total of 1795 singing males barely exceeded 
last year's record of 1791 and included 30 in 
the U.P. Another early fall arrival was the Bay- 
breasted Warbler in Hennepin, MN 26 Jul 
(SLC). Cerulean Warbler was found in 11 
Minnesota counties compared to 14 last sum- 
mer. In Michigan, Ceruleans were found in 
good numbers in the s. Lower Peninsula, and 
one strayed n. to the U.P. in Dickinson 4 Jul 
(GC). Refreshing after its absence from Michi- 
gan last summer were 3 territorial Worm-eat- 
ing Warblers; 2 of the 4 males found in spring 
persisted at Warren Dunes S.P, Berrien (BA, 
m.ob.), while another from spring disappeared 
after 1 Jun in Allegan (RB). In Wisconsin, 
Worm-eating Warblers held on at traditional 
locations in Sauk (KK) and Grant QE). Pro- 
thonotary Warblers in Chisago 13 Jun (PEB) 
and Arenac 12 Jul (SJ, SS) were n. of their es- 
tablished ranges in Minnesota and Michigan, 
respectively. Kentucky Warbler in four Wis- 
consin counties was near average. Min- 
nesota’s only report was from Blue Earth 
3-11 Jun (ALD, RBW). Systematic sur- 
veys in Wisconsin's Southern Kettle 
Moraine documented 229 singing Hood- 
ed Warblers in Waukesha, Walworth, and 
Jefferson during Jun (ASz), compared to 
167 last summer. In Michigan, a Hooded 
Warbler was n. of its usual range in Tus- 
cola (MW). Hooded Warblers in four 
Minnesota counties included 31 territo- 
ries at Murphy-Hanrehan (BAF) and one 
far n. of its usual haunts at Hawk Ridge 
Nature Reserve, St. Louis 14 Jun QV). 
Slightly s. of normal was a Canada War- 
bler at Murphy-Hanrehan 14 Jun (BAF). 
Yellow-breasted Chat showed well for the 
2nd consecutive summer in seven Wis- 
consin counties. In Minnesota, 2 territori- 
al males hrst found in spring vied for a fe- 
male’s attention at Hyland Lake Park Re- 
serve, Hennepin 27 Jul (SLC). Elsewhere 
in Minnesota, chats were one-day won- 
ders in Goodhue, Washington, and Winona. 
Summer Tanager is starting to live up 
to its name in the Region. After last sum- 
mer’s absence, Michigan celebrated the return 
of this species to the Wolverine State with 2 at 
Warren Dunes S.P, Berrien 7 Jun-5 Jul (SH, 
m.ob). Wisconsin welcomed a Summer Tanag- 
er in Manitowoc 5 Jun (JT). Minnesota had 
spring overshoots in Aitkin 8 Jun (WEN) and 
Crow Wing 8 Jun QSB); more unusual was a 
first-year male in Washington 12-25 Jul (LH, 
m.ob.). A Spotted Towhee in Kittson 9 Jun (ph. 
RMD) was the first for that nw. Minnesota 
county. Furnishing another county first was a 
Field Sparrow in Koochiching, MN 6 Jun 
(AXH). In Michigan, a Lark Sparrow found in 
spring disappeared after 1 Jun (BCo). Less 
widespread than in recent years, Henslow’s 
Sparrow was still found in 13 Minnesota coun- 
ties; this is likely to change, as fields enrolled 
in the Conservation Reserve Program are con- 
verted back to agriculture. Nelson’s Sparrow 
was not found in Wisconsin this summer for 
the first time in decades, but in Michigan, 
Youngman reported singing birds in Luce 14 
Jun and Houghton 17 Jun (p.a., JAY). Harris’s 
Sparrow lingered until 7 Jun in two s. Min- 
nesota locations. In Wisconsin, a Harris’s per- 
sisted in Buniett through at least 28 Jun (BSc). 
Unusually far s. were tardy White-crowned 
Sparrows in St. Clair, MI 1 Jun (SBH), Mani- 
towoc, WI 6 Jun (BD), and Bay, Ml 8 Jun 
(DLJ). More widespread than usual. Blue Gros- 
beaks were documented in seven Minnesota 
counties, A male Lazuli Bunting in Sibley 18 
Jul (p.a., JCC) would be Minnesota’s first for 
that month. Sixty-six Bobolinks burbling at 
Crow Hassan Park Reserve, Hennepin 10 Jul 
V 0 L U-M E 6 3 ( 2 0 0 9 ) 
NUMBER 4 
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