After two warm springs in 2016 and 2017 and a mix of normal and warm springs in
the several years prior to that, we were due for a cold and snowy spring in
2018. With around 65 inches of snow from January 22 thru April 15 in eastern
Carver County, I was able to salvage March and early April with satisfying
birding.By no means were birds numerous during that time. For the most
part duck numbers were poor. By the time the shallow Rapids Lake finally
cleared completely of ice on April 27, most ducks had bypassed the area for the
spring.Considering the lack of open water for much of the spring, I
actually thought I did pretty well for waterfowl.It was back to a year with
poor Snow and Greater White-fronted Geese for me, but this area does better
with those species during warmer springs. Tundra Swan numbers were good,
though. Despite the cold spring, a brief early warmup the first few days of
March did lead to the earlier than normal arrival of some species including
Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, Sandhill Crane, Killdeer, Fox Sparrow, and
Song Sparrow. For March and most of April I kept looking at the forecast for
the upcoming week with disappointment, as it was obvious that birds were going
to be delayed. The only promising thing I took from the weather early this
spring is that the weather south of the Ohio River was more favorable for
migration in March and April, and birds were on the move. They just weren't
getting terribly far to the north. Following the large mid-April snowstorm in
the area, temperatures finally returned closer to normal by the final 1/3 of
the month, and most snow(except piles) was melted by April 22. The first
larger surge of passerine migrants arrived the 2nd week of April, but the main
thrust of passerine migration didn't begin until the final week of April,
moreso the final 2 days. Even Field Sparrow, which normally arrive in full
numbers by the end of the 2nd week of April, didn't arrive in full numbers
until April 30.Once the weather turned at the end April the gates really
opened, and migration began in earnest. Warbler species variety and numbers
were much better the first 1/3 of May this year than either of the warm springs
of 2016 or 2017.This is likely because most of the nights, beginning in
late April through mid-May, had moderate to strong winds from the south aiding
in migration. There were also a few well-timed early morning rains that
likely led to birds landing here that otherwise may have overflown the area.
Generally, totals for most warbler species this spring were very good.
Including all warbler species my total this spring is up 21.5% compared to last
year. Excluding counts of the common Yellow, Redstart, and Yellowthroat, the
total is up 17% compared to last year. Compared to the mediocre to poor
springs of 2015 and 2016, the 2018 totals are 3-4 times higher than those
years. There were outstanding numbers of many warbler species, but there were
a few declines this year compared to last year.Following the great fall
last year for Winter Wren, this spring was good for the species as well.
While Golden-crowned Kinglet numbers were very good, Ruby-crowned numbers were
closer to average. Blue-headed Vireo numbers were very good, but Philadelphia
Vireo numbers were not. Swainson's Thrush numbers were great, and other
thrush species were average.Migrant sparrow numbers were a bit more
promising this spring.White-throated Sparrow and Lincoln's Sparrow numbers
were very good, and White-crowned Sparrow numbers were not dismal. Fox and
Harris's Sparrow numbers were poor once again, though. With the earlier onset
to migration in May than last year, migration came to an end slightly earlier
as well. The most unusual birds this spring were Swainson's Hawk and
Louisiana Waterthrush at Rapids Lake, White-eyed Vireo and Louisiana
Waterthrush at Carver Park Reserve, and American Bittern at the Minnesota
Landscape Arboretum. With the river trail at Rapids Lake flooded from late
April through most of May, this is the first year I did not bird along the
river during the prime spring migration period in over 10 years. I spent a
lot more of my time west of Rapids Lake.At Carver Park Reserve, I only
covered areas in the southern half of the park(south of Cty. Rd. 11) often
walking 7-8 miles of trails each day I was out. I spend very little time in
the northern half of the park(closer to the nature center) now. I don't think
I've been in that area of the park in the last 2 years.I began hitting my
hiking limit by around May 15, and it took a little more effort to get myself
out after that.I did not go out after May 25, but migration was coming to
an end at that point.From April 27 through May 25, I spent around 110 hours
in the field and walked a total of about 123.75 miles(not including doubling
