North Dakota Birding Hotline Reports
August 2009
Welcome to the North Dakota Rare Bird Alert compiled by the North Dakota Birding Society. This report was prepared on Tuesday, August 25, 2009.
The shorebirds are taking a back seat this week, as other migrants are showing up.
August 21 was the first day of significant migrant numbers in Minot's Oak Park. Ron Martin found OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, eight LEAST FLYCATCHERS, 10 YELLOW WARBLERS, BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER, NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH, four WILSON'S WARBLERS, two CANADA WARBLERS, two ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS, and two PURPLE FINCHES. One day earlier, a SILVER-HAIRED BAT roosted in Ron's yard near Sawyer. He reports it was the first time he had identified the species. On August 23, the migration was heating up in Oak Park. Ron counted 12 LEAST FLYCATCHERS, ALDER FLYCATCHER, 12 RED-EYED VIREOS, nine WARBLING VIREOS, PHILADELPHIA VIREO, 12 YELLOW WARBLERS, three BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLERS, two NORTHERN WATERTHRUSHES, OVENBIRD, four WILSON'S WARBLERS, and CANADA WARBLER. Ron's August 22 travels took him to Lake Williams, which is near Turtle Lake. He observed lots of shorebirds from the southwest shore. His finds included six BLACK-BACKED PLOVERS, 31 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, three PIPING PLOVERS, two KILLDEER, 375 AMERICAN AVOCETS, two GREATER YELLOWLEGS, two SANDERLINGS, 285 SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS, 13 LEAST SANDPIPERS, seven BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS, two PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, 30 STILT SANDPIPERS, 50 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, and 60 WILSON'S PHALAROPES. Elsewhere in McLean County, Ron found two CASPIAN TERNS in the Garrison Dam area, 46 TURKEY VULTURES at the dam, and a CLARK'S GREBE pair with young at Lake Nettie. Ron's feeders are still attracting BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS and ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS, and he saw a NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH at a nearby creek. Ron notes that a PEREGRINE FALCON has been hanging around the Minot lagoons for two or three weeks. For details on those sightings, contact Ron at jrmartin@srt.com.
Sherry Leslie reported more variety in the bird life in her Burlington yard on August 23. The collection included CANADA WARBLER, AMERICAN REDSTARTS, YELLOW WARBLERS, LEAST FLYCATCHER, EASTERN WOOD PEWEE, CEDAR WAXWINGS, RED-EYED VIREO, CHIPPING SPARROWS, SONG SPARROWS, CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS, and four RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS. For more information, Sherry is at bird_nd@yahoo.com.
From way out west, Mo O'Mara's August 21 work in Golden Valley County brought sightings of BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, SAY'S PHOEBE, juvenile MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS, and three GOLDEN EAGLES. In McKenzie County, she added adult and juvenile SWAINSON'S HAWKS plus three very light-colored RED-TAILED HAWKS. She is at mo1_omara@yahoo.com.
The migration is also heating up in Bismarck's Sleepy Hollow Park. Corey Ellingson's August 20 visit produced only a small flock which included a male BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER, RED-EYED VIREO, three AMERICAN REDSTARTS and a BALTIMORE ORIOLE. But a return visit the following day brought seasonal firsts of TENNESSEE WARBLER, BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER and WILSON'S WARBLER, plus 10 YELLOW WARBLERS, CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER, four AMERICAN REDSTARTS and a GREAT-CRESTED FLYCATCHER, which is less than an annual migrant for the area. Corey also recorded a COMMON NIGHTHAWK. Contact him at crackerjackbirder@bis.midco.net.
Keith Corliss' West Fargo yard attracted a BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER plus a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH on August 19. On the next day, a visit to Armour Park in West Fargo turned up OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, CANADA WARBLER, NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH and AMERICAN REDSTART. Keith is at koolhand@juno.com.
Rick Holbrook's Fargo yard was visited by RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS and TENNESSEE WARBLERS on August 21, while a flock of BALTIMORE ORIOLES and YELLOW WARBLERS stopped by the next day. Contact Rick at fholbrook@cableone.net.
That concludes this week's report from the North Dakota Birding Society.
Welcome to the North Dakota Rare Bird Alert compiled by the North Dakota Birding Society. This report was prepared on Tuesday, August 18, 2009. The next report update will be on August 31, 2009.
Some odd sightings this week, and still plenty of shorebirds.
Dan Svingen discovered his first ever TURKEY VULTURE nest in North Dakota. Actually, his young son did. They first saw a nestling on the side of a cottonwood tree south of Bismarck along the Missouri River on August 16. Further inspection revealed the nest and a nearby adult. For details, contact Dan at 701-250-4443,extension 107.
Dan Ackerman spotted a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE swimming at the east end of Lake Josephine, along ND Highway 3. The location of the August 16 sighting is north of Tuttle. Dan says the bird appeared to be a healthy adult. You can reach him at dackman81@gmail.com.
Mark Gonzalez recorded his earliest-ever RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD in his Bismarck yard on August 14. Another seasonal first that day was a YELLOW WARBLER, and he also saw two RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES. He's at magpie@bis.midco.net.
Corey Ellingson says recent hot weather lowered water levels and produced lots of mudflat habitat at McKenzie Slough, about 16 miles east of Bismarck. He estimated 7500 shorebirds at the site on August 15. Highlights included 40 CATTLE EGRETS, GREAT EGRET, many BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS, four WHITE-FACED IBIS, one adult and two small SORAS, and 14 CASPIAN TERNS. Altogether, there were 18 shorebird species. Back in Bismarck the following day, Sleepy Hollow Park held six YELLOW WARBLERS, four AMERICAN REDSTARTS, and two LEAST FLYCATCHERS. His previous visit to the park on August 11 turned up an OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, a family group of CHICKADEES, HOUSE WREN, and BROWN THRASHER. For details, contact Corey at crackerjackbirder@bis.midco.net.
Erik Bruhnke discovered an OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER near the Jamestown lagoon on August 11. His total of 28 species consisted mostly of waterfowl and shorebirds, plus 12 CLIFF SWALLOWS, 15 CEDAR WAXWINGS, SONG SPARROW, five RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS, and two BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS. Erik counted 19 species when he returned to the lagoon early the next morning. The most common species was WILSON'S PHALAROPE with 359 individuals, but he also observed two HOUSE FINCHES. The highlight of Erik's August 13 visit was a CALIFORNIA GULL among the 17 species. On August 14, Erik moved on to Kellys Slough National Wildlife Refuge near Grand Forks. He recorded 49 species including four GREAT EGRETS, SNOWY EGRET, 20 BLACK TERNS, COMMON TERN, seven FORSTER'S TERNS, three WESTERN KINGBIRDS, EASTERN KINGBIRD, CHIPPING SPARROW, two CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS, two VESPER SPARROWS, and three SAVANNAH SPARROWS. You can reach Erik at birdfedr@hotmail.com.
Charles Taft crammed a lot of birding into five minutes on August 14. His Minot yard attracted YELLOW WARBLER, DOWNY WOODPECKER, RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD, two CHICKADEES, COMMON GRACKLE, MOURNING DOVE, two HOUSE FINCHES, and two PINE SISKINS. Contact Charles at 701-852-1981.
Sherry Leslie had some successful backyard birding at Burlington on August 14. Her sightings included four RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS, five or six BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS, three ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS, YELLOW WARBLERS, 15 AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES, four WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, PINE SISKINS, HOUSE FINCHES, SONG SPARROWS, towhees, GRAY CATBIRDS, wrens, CHICKADEES, DOWNY WOODPECKERS, HAIRY WOODPECKERS, two RED-TAILED HAWKS, CHIPPING SPARROWS, RED-EYED VIREO, and a likely VEERY. For more information, contact Sherry at bird_nd@yahoo.com.
Chris Hiatt covered a lot of territory during the second week of August. Near Ross, he saw a PECTORAL SANDPIPER, added two LEAST TERNS near Dazey, and a field on the west side of Lake Ashtabula produced a BALD EAGLE, GREAT HORNED OWL, YELLOW WARBLERS, CEDAR WAXWINGS, CHIPPING SPARROWS, FIELD SPARROWS, and VESPER SPARROWS. Back at his summer home in Bowman, he watched a pair of ORCHARD ORIOLES. You can reach him at hiattch@sbcglobal.net.
From Horace, Linda Gregg had a YELLOW WARBLER in her backyard trees on August 17. Contact her at lgregg@far.midco.net.
That concludes this week's report from the North Dakota Birding Society.
Welcome to the North Dakota Rare Bird Alert compiled by the North Dakota Birding Society. This report was prepared on Tuesday, August 11, 2009.
If you like shorebirds, there are a lot of them this week.
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Erik Bruhnke visited the Jamestown lagoons, where he found excellent shorebird watching. He counted 23 species during an August 4 outing. Erik saw 12 LESSER YELLOWLEGS, 15 SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS, 45 LEAST SANDPIPERS, five PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, 300 WILSON'S PHALAROPES, 23 BLACK TERNS, and two COMMON NIGHT HAWKS. He returned the following day and recorded 25 species. Newcomers included two GREAT EGRETS, SPOTTED SANDPIPER, two FRANKLIN'S GULLS, and 12 CLIFF SWALLOWS. Erik made two stops at the lagoons on August 6. The morning visit produced 22 species, with COOPER'S HAWK, 20 CALIFORNIA GULLS, BELTED KINGFISHER, WILLOW FLYCATCHER, PURPLE MARTIN, and SONG SPARROW among the highlights. That evening, Erik observed 27 species including two PIED-BILLED GREBES, three juvenile NORTHERN HARRIERS, 27 COMMON TERNS, and a YELLOW WARBLER. On August 9, Erik moved on to Chase Lake National Wildlife Refuge. His 5 1/2 hours there generated sightings of 65 species. He especially enjoyed seeing an adult FERRUGINOUS HAWK and an adult RED-TAILED HAWK at the same time, with a SPRAGUE'S PIPIT singing/displaying nearby. His Chase Lake list also included AMERICAN BITTERN, three GREAT EGRETS, 15 CATTLE EGRETS, three BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS, three NORTHERN HARRIERS, three SWAINSON'S HAWKS, one Eastern and one Krider's RED-TAILED HAWK, three SORAS, two WILSON'S SNIPES, CASPIAN TERN, 20 BLACK TERNS, two COMMON TERNS, three WESTERN KINGBIRDS, 15 EASTERN KINGBIRDS, HORNED LARK, SEDGE WREN, two MARSH WRENS, three CEDAR WAXWINGS, 12 CHIPPING SPARROWS, 17 CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS, five VESPER SPARROWS, two LECONTE'S SPARROWS, two SONG SPARROWS, and 18 BOBOLINKS. For more information, contact Erik at birdfedr@hotmail.com.Wayne Easley reports the Antelope Hills northwest of Harvey are holding good shorebird numbers. On August 5, Wayne and his wife found a marsh containing more than 50 HUDSONIAN GODWITS, 20-30 MARBLED GODWITS, dowitchers, yellowlegs, WILSON'S PHALAROPES, RED-NECKED PHALAROPES, LEAST SANDPIPERS, SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS, BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS, and PECTORAL SANDPIPERS. They also witnessed many pairs of EARED GREBES and a few pairs of HORNED GREBES. At a nearby large lake, they saw a congregation of several hundred TREE SWALLOWS, BANK SWALLOWS, and NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS. ¯For the exact location, contact Wayne at 701-324-2344.
Corey Ellingson did his shorebird watching at McKenzie Slough on August 9. He recorded 64 species in two hours. His list included 17 shorebird species. Among his finds were WOOD DUCK, a brood of eight RUDDY DUCKS, 33 GREAT BLUE HERONS, four GREAT EGRETS, 14 CATTLE EGRETS, 21 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS, 19 WHITE-FACED IBIS in the air at one time plus other scattered singles, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, four PIPING PLOVERS including a juvenile, 320 AMERICAN AVOCETS, 240 STILT SANDPIPERS, 2100 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, hundreds of three gull species, nine CASPIAN TERNS, and 140 FORSTER'S TERNS. Back in Bismarck, Corey observed a BALTIMORE ORIOLE in his back yard. You can reach him at crackerjackbirder@bis.midco.net.
A friend of Dan Buchanan's saw a CHUKAR at New Rockford on August 1. Contact Dan at 701-252-6604.
Mo O'Mara was in Golden Valley County on August 3, where she reported a few more SAY'S PHOEBES, close to where she saw them in the spring. She also witnessed over 40 MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS in a mixed flock of adults and juveniles. Mo was in the North Unit of Teddy Roosevelt National Park the following day. She reported several SAY'S PHOEBES and about 20 MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS. She's at mo1_omara@yahoo.com.
That concludes this week's report from the North Dakota Birding Society.
Welcome to the North Dakota Rare Bird Alert compiled by the North Dakota Birding Society. This report was prepared on Tuesday, August 4, 2009.
A rare gull is at the top of our report this week.
Erik Bruhnke spent the first weekend of August in the Devils Lake area, and had a lot to report. At the top of his list was the adult non-breeding LITTLE GULL he discovered at The Narrows. Among the total of 44 species at the site were three WILLETS, MARBLED GODWIT, two RED KNOTS, SORA, three SANDERLINGS, two EASTERN WOOD-PEWEES, and a RED-EYED VIREO. Erik added 12 species at Shelver's Grove. Highlights there included three WILSON'S PHALAROPES and two SAVANNAH SPARROWS. Moving on to the Devils Lake sewage lagoons and marsh, Erik counted 21 species including a SORA and two BLACK TERNS. He totaled 16 species at Sully's Hill National Game Preserve, including six COMMON TERNS, two FORSTER'S TERNS, five CEDAR WAXWINGS, and three CHIPPING SPARROWS. Erik says he is also keeping an eye on the Jamestown lagoons. You can reach him at birdfedr@hotmail.com.
The West Fargo sewage lagoons have been closely watched recently--and for good reason. Keith Corliss says the shorebird action started picking up in late July. New arrivals on July 30 were a single BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER and BONAPARTE'S GULL. Most common species were LESSER YELLOWLEGS, SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER, LEAST SANDPIPER, and PECTORAL SANDPIPER, but Keith counted almost 100 SEMPALMATED PLOVERS. Contact him at koolhand@juno.com.
Dean Riemer counted 13 RED KNOTS at the West Fargo lagoons on July 31. On the following day, the 18 shorebird species included the red knots plus two BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS and a RUDDY TURNSTONE. You can reach Dean at driemer@kwh.com.
Connie Norheim visited the West Fargo lagoons on August 3 and saw up to five RED KNOTS at one time, plus lots of other shorebirds. She's at 701-232-4386.
Bob Anderson found two BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS at Rendezvous Park in West Fargo on July 28. At the West Fargo lagoons on August 1, he reported RED KNOTS were among the 1000 or so shorebirds present. Bob had a second-hand report of a COMMON LOON at Barnes Lake near Woodworth. He observed two BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS near Cleveland on July 31, and a CASPIAN TERN there one week earlier. On July 31, Bob saw all six grebe species in Kidder County, including CLARK'S GREBE four miles north of Dawson and HORNED GREBE with one young. On July 31, Bob noted multiple LECONTE'S SPARROWS, NELSON'S SPARROWS, BAIRD'S SPARROWS and SWAMP SPARROWS singing, and SPRAGUE'S PIPITS in aerial display and singing. On July 23, Bob saw a SAY'S PHOEBE east of Kathryn, and on July 18, a CLARK'S GREBE with one young on Lake Bertha in Cass County. You can reach him at 605-695-1344.
Wayne Easley and three others drove to the Chase Lake area for some birding on August 1. They reported three SNOWY EGRETS, five GREAT EGRETS, several BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS, two CATTLE EGRETS, and an adult LITTLE BLUE HERON. On the way out, they added a FERRUGINOUS HAWK. You can get more details from Wayne at 701-324-2344.
From Golden Valley County, Mo O'Mara has seen more immature GOLDEN EAGLES in recent days. On July 30, she noted six AMERICAN KESTRELS hanging out together, plus a SAY'S PHOEBE at her work site. Mo also commented that two juveniles have joined the presumed LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE adult. Contact Mo at mo1_omara@yahoo.com.
Here's first notice of the fall meeting of the North Dakota Birding Society. Betsy Batsham-Cunningham says it's September 26-27 in the Devils Lake area. She'd like to get a head count for the boat tour, so let her know if you are going to attend. It's batsham@gra.midco.net.
That concludes this week's report from the North Dakota Birding Society.
