Welcome to the North Dakota Rare Bird Alert compiled by the North Dakota Birding Society and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This report was prepared on Tuesday, June 26.

From the “hypothetical” list to confirmed nester in just two weeks. And from “extirpated” to confirmed nester in just under one month.

Earlier this month, we reported the sighting of a SNOWY PLOVER at Long Lake National Wildlife Refuge in Burleigh County. On June 23, refuge manager Paul Van Ningen and his son, Aaron, confirmed the nest the elder Van Ningen and biologist Carol Aron discovered two days earlier. If it stands up, it would be the first state breeding record. Then, on June 24, Dan and Emily Svingen and Mark and Kristin Gonzalez observed an incubating SNOWY PLOVER and eggs on the refuge for the second state breeding record. For more information, contact Dan Svingen at 701-250-4443, ext. 107 or Paul Van Ningen at 701-387-4397.

From Grand Forks County, Dave Lambeth says he has seen pictures of a pair of swans with five young, and believes it’s the first nesting by TRUMPETER SWANS in North Dakota in a century or so. The adults were first seen in late May and early June, and Dave says they are likely from the expanding trumpeter population in northwestern Minnesota. The landowner does not want the exact location disclosed, and Dave says the swans are well out of sight in a remote area. For more information, contact him at davidlambeth58201@yahoo.com.

Also, from Grand Forks County, Eve Freeberg saw a GREATER YELLOWLEGS on June 21, and adds there are 10 or 12 EARED GREBE nests at the Grand Forks Air Force Base lagoons. For details, call her at 701-741-8105.

Bob Anderson discovered a male COMMON MERGANSER on north Hobart Lake near Valley City. Bob says the June 22 sighting was the third time he had seen the species at that location, but he was uncertain whether it is nesting. Bob also flushed a YELLOW RAIL as he was walking to get closer to a singing SWAMP SPARROW. For details, contact him at bob.anderson@vcsu.edu.

Nancy Drew reports a male SCARLET TANAGER in her backyard near Clifford on June 24. She says the bird was at the ground-level bird bath in her garden. She also reports between six and 12 CHIMNEY SWIFTS in her old barn, but very few BARN SWALLOWS or CLIFF SWALLOWS this year. For more information, try ncdrew@polarcomm.com.

Corey Ellingson and Clark Talkington discovered two BELL’S VIREOS at the Fort Rice Historic Site near the community of Fort Rice on June 20. Cathy Clayton had seen a bird at that location on June 10. On June 21, Clark re-found one of the birds at the site, as well as three ROCK WRENS, a BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER at Huff Hills, eight YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS, and 22 LARK SPARROWS. On June 19, Clark birded north and east of the Bismarck-Mandan area. He saw two PIPING PLOVERS, a BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER, most of his 31 AMERICAN REDSTARTS, most of the18 OVENBIRDS, and two VEERIES at Smith Grove as well as a LEAST TERN along Highway 200A in Kidder County; RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, ROCK WREN, and YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT west of Washburn; six GREAT-CRESTED FLYCATCHERS at Smith Grove and west of Washburn; plus 10 FIELD SPARROWS, 22 LARK SPARROWS, and four BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS. Clark also saw a BLUE GROSBEAK at a farm near Double Ditch Historic Site, but a dog kept him from getting very close. For details, call him at 701-663-8103.

Bernice Houser saw and heard the first ORCHARD ORIOLE of the year in her yard near New Town on June 20. Her regular visitors include at least two LAZULI BUNTING pairs and lots of AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES and CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS, plus an occasional CEDAR WAXWING and NORTHERN FLICKER. Contact Bernice at sanishnd@hotmail.com.

That concludes this report from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the North Dakota Birding Society. This report is normally updated each Tuesday. The Fish and Wildlife Service operates 62 National Wildlife Refuges and more than 1,100 Waterfowl Production Areas in North Dakota...offering some of the best birding opportunities in the state. Contact Refuge offices for more information about visiting. For phone numbers of individual Refuges, as well as additional information, go to the Fish and Wildlife Service web site at www.fws.gov. Click on Offices, and click on North Dakota on the map.

Welcome to the North Dakota Rare Bird Alert compiled by the North Dakota Birding Society and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This report was prepared on Tuesday, June 19.

Maybe now that the bulk of the spring migration is over, the really outstanding birds are –well– standing out more. Or maybe we just have more time to look for them.

Dan and Emily Svingen found a singing PROTHONOTARY WARBLER at the Hazelton boat ramp in Emmons County on June 17. Dan says the bird, an “accidental,” was singing from an elm tree at the public site. They could also see four PIPING PLOVERS and three LEAST TERNS on large sandbars upstream from the boat ramp. For details, call Dan at 701-250-4443, extension 107.

Keith Corliss isn’t ready to call it a sure thing, but he believes the two “dirty” goldfinches he saw between Medora and Fryburg on June 15 may have been LESSER GOLDFINCHES. He is hoping somebody else sees the pair, and describes the location as “just east of the east river road, along the Fryburg road.” Keith says he had only a brief look at the birds, but saw quite a few of the species in Nevada last summer. For more information, contact him at kcorliss@forumcomm.com.

Another “accidental” is the EASTERN MEADOWLARK that was singing and calling east and north of the Dawson exit off I-94. Clark Talkington first discovered the bird on June 15, and Paulette Scherr reports it was still at that location in the late afternoon two days later. Clark’s other sightings that day included a breeding adult HORNED GREBE north of Wing in Sheridan County. He says there have only been three nesting locations found in the Bismarck-Mandan area since the 1970s. If you’re interested, contact Clark at ctalkington@bis.midco.net.

There is something about Lake Alice National Wildlife Refuge that attracts a TRICOLORED HERON. Dave Lambeth found the bird on June 14 at the north end of the lake, which is north of Devils Lake, in roughly the same location a member of that species was found last fall. For more information about this bird, listed as an “occasional,” contact Dave at davidlambeth58201@yahoo.com.

Eve Freeberg saw the TRICOLORED HERON at Lake Alice refuge later that day. Her other June 14 sightings included a BLACK DUCK, a LESSER YELLOWLEGS along Highway 20 in Ramsey County, and a large CALIFORNIA GULL colony of 300 adults and 30 or 40 young at Davis Flats near Devils Lake. Back in Grand Forks County, Eve added a late STILT SANDPIPER and the two TRUMPETER SWANS first seen June 4 near Larimore. She says Grand Forks County still has some shorebirds. Eve found SANDERLINGS, SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS, and WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS on June 12. A new yard-bird showed up on June 13. Eve was surprised to hear a BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO calling from outside her window in Grand Forks early that morning. For details on any of those sightings, call Eve at 701-741-8105.

Participants in the Potholes and Prairie Birding Festival the second weekend in June were excited to see and hear a LEAST BITTERN. The bird was located west of the junction of Highways 9 and 281 on June 10, according to Paulette Scherr. She reports that a researcher saw a LITTLE BLUE HERON on one of the nesting islands in Chase Lake, where GREAT EGRETS, SNOWY EGRETS, and CATTLE EGRETS are nesting. Some festival goers located BURROWING OWLS on three different sites on private land about nine miles southwest of Pingree. Paulette says at least five singing male LECONTE’S SPARROWS can be found near the Highway 281 turnoff to Arrowwood National Wildlife Refuge. Although the site is on private land, Paulette says the birds can be easily viewed from the road. And, Paulette adds that two or three YELLOW RAILS were calling on June 8 and at least one on June 12 on the south side of Chicago Lake, which is just north of Chase Lake in west-central Stutsman County. For more information, contact Paulette at 701-285-3341.

The yard-first SAY’S PHOEBE seen by Ann Hoffert at Pipestem Creek south of Carrington on May 15 is now nesting there. Ann believes the bird has added to an existing barn swallow nest under the eave of a granary. On June 10, Ann saw a lone WHITE-WINGED SCOTER just south of McHenry. For details, call Ann at 701-652-2623.

More SNOWY PLOVER sightings: Carol Aron saw two pairs at Long Lake National Wildlife Refuge on June 12 and another pair at the public access point of Big Muddy Lake, three miles north of Dawson. You can reach Carol at 701-355-8506. Daniel Ackerman discovered a pair of SNOWY PLOVERS near the Wilton boat ramp on the Missouri River on June 15. He says they are easily visible from a boat at river mile 1339. Contact him at 701-330-5781.

Jean Legge saw two male and one female BUFFLEHEADS near the north end of Horsehead Lake in Kidder County on June 11. One day earlier, she found a blue-phase SNOW GOOSE standing in a field with several MALLARDS in Griggs County near the Cooperstown Bible Camp. She reports the goose walked away, and there were no other geese in the area. Call Jean at 701-845-4762.

Bob Anderson got a close look at two RED-NECKED GREBES southwest of Pettibone on June 14. While birding between Valley City and Tuttle, he also saw a FERRUGINOUS HAWK nest with three young southeast of Horsehead Lake and multiple Nelson’s SHARP-TAILED SPARROWS, BAIRD’S SPARROWS, LECONTE’S SPARROWS, SPRAGUE’S PIPITS, and CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPURS from Chase Lake to the Tuttle area. On June 12 and 13, Bob birded around Amidon to south of Rhame and Marmarth with Jean Legge. In addition to the species common to that area, they came across seven TURKEY VULTURES near the Burning Coal Vein campground. For more information, contact Bob at bob.anderson@vcsu.edu.

Ron Martin had singing EASTERN TOWHEE and SPOTTED TOWHEE during a June 14 stop in the Turtle Mountains breeding bird survey. He says both species are rare breeders there. The count produced 91 species. Contact Ron at jrmartin@srt.com.

Judith Sparrow and Gary Ash observed two singing male SPRAGUE’S PIPITS at Lostwood National Wildlife Refuge near Kenmare on June 5. The same auto tour route also produced a singing male BAIRD’S SPARROW. You can reach Judith at jsparrow@centurytel.net.

Jesse Kolar saw a flock of 15 SANDHILL CRANES southwest of Amidon on June 14. Contact him at jekolar@hotmail.com.

And, from South Dakota, Dick Kappedal has confirmed nesting by the AMERICAN KESTREL pair he observed earlier at Crooks in Minnnehaha County. However, Dick says he found one dead chick near the nest. For more information, contact him at roughrider@sio.midco.net.

Larry Igl and Steve Peterson saw a BLACK-NECKED STILT on the shore of a large alkali lake in McPherson County, South Dakota, on June 13 and 14. Larry says the stilt was acting as if it had a nest in the area, although no second stilt was seen. On June 16, Larry found a singing male HENSLOW’S SPARROW near Bristol in Day County, South Dakota. For details, call him at 701-253-5511.

That concludes this report from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the North Dakota Birding Society. This report is normally updated each Tuesday. The Fish and Wildlife Service operates 62 National Wildlife Refuges and more than 1,100 Waterfowl Production Areas in North Dakota...offering some of the best birding opportunities in the state. Contact Refuge offices for more information about visiting. For phone numbers of individual Refuges, as well as additional information, go to the Fish and Wildlife Service web site at www.fws.gov. Click on Offices, and click on North Dakota on the map.

Welcome to the North Dakota Rare Bird Alert compiled by the North Dakota Birding Society and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This report was prepared on Tuesday, June 12.

A rare plover tops our report this week.

Dan and Emily Svingen found a SNOWY PLOVER at Long Lake National Wildlife Refuge near Moffit on June 10. They went to the Refuge to check after a researcher reported seeing one or two of the species – considered a hypothetical – a week or so earlier. The Svingens also report quite a few PIPING PLOVERS at the Refuge, with protective cages around the nests. You’re asked to keep about 200 yards away. Dan and Emily also saw a few dozen late SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS and a few WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS, plus Dan’s first June male GREATER SCAUP sightings in North Dakota. They were at the Waterfowl Production Area along US 83 in the northwest corner of the Refuge. For details, contact Dan at 701-250-4443, extension 107.

Clark Talkington birded Emmons County on June 4. He discovered a WILLOW FLYCATCHER at Goose Lake, BELL’S VIREO at the Beaver Bay Recreation Area for the seventh year in a row, two BLUE GROSBEAKS 13 miles southwest of there, and eight RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS at MacLean Bottoms in Burleigh County. For more information, it’s ctalkington@bis.midco.net.

Corey and Linda Ellingson visited the Beaver Bay Recreation Area on June 9. On the way, they saw AMERICAN BITTERN south of Menoken, two ROCK WRENS where they’re typically seen beside Highway 1804 in Emmons County, a couple pairs of LAZULI BUNTINGS, a pair of INDIGO BUNTINGS near the fish cleaning station at the Beaver Bay Recreation Area, along with a young BROAD-WINGED HAWK at the west end of the campground, a SAY’S PHOEBE nest under the overhang at the fish cleaning station, and a calling BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO to the south of the Beaver Bay boat ramp. Moving on to MacLean Bottoms, they added an OSPREY, three or four LEAST TERNS, and a RED-HEADED WOODPECKER. For details, contact Corey at tcellingson@juno.com.

Dennis Wiesenborn turned up a HENSLOW’S SPARROW near Walcott on June 9. He says the bird sang repeatedly and then popped into view for 10 or 15 minutes. His other highlights from northern Richland County included a likely SHARP-TAILED GROUSE, late ALDER FLYCATCHER, and LECONTE’S SPARROW. Moving on to the Pigeon Point Natural Area, Dennis added three or four RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS, RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER, SCARLET TANAGER, four VEERIES, a probable BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO, WILSON’S PHALAROPES, DICKCISSELS, FIELD SPARROWS and LARK SPARROWS. On the other hand, Dennis stumbled onto a dead woodcock on the road.. For more information, call Dennis at 701-297-0981.

Keith Corliss didn’t find anything unusual in the Embden area and at the Alice Waterfowl Production Area in western Cass County on June 10. He recorded 26 SEDGE WRENS, five LECONTE’S SPARROWS, and three Nelson’s SHARP-TAILED SPARROWS. He could not find red-necked grebes, white-faced ibis, and cattle egret, although those species have been at those sites in the past. At home in West Fargo, Keith added a BELTED KINGFISHER to his yard list. Contact him at kcorliss@forumcom.com.

Since early this month, Carlotta Dewald has been getting regular looks at a NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD at a home construction site just northwest of Spiritwood. She says the bird has been flying back and forth across a pasture. You can reach Carlotta at 701-320-3477.

Connie Norheim and Becky Oberlander drove north of Fargo on June 7. They heard two or three DICKCISSELS singing and got to see one of them. For a precise location, call Connie at 701-232-4386.

Dave Lambeth reports at least one DICKCISSEL has made it as far north as Grand Forks. He found it in the Greenway across from the Elmwood entrance on June 11. Returning from the Prairie and Potholes birding festival on June 10, Dave spent some time within the boundaries of the Spirit Lake Reservation where he tallied 83 species. He found 22 RED-NECKED GREBES and several nests on the Reservation. Dave added another pair about three miles west of Petersburg. Contact him at davidlambeth58201@yahoo.com.

A BURROWING OWL was the best bird Ron Martin found during the June 10 Horsehead Lake breeding bird survey. He says he had not seen any of that species in Kidder County for a long time. On June 11, Ron counted 82 species in the Denbigh BBS. Highlights included an AMERICAN BLACK DUCK and 16 SPRAGUE’S PIPITS. You can reach Ron at jrmartin@srt.com.

That concludes this report from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the North Dakota Birding Society. This report is normally updated each Tuesday. The Fish and Wildlife Service operates 62 National Wildlife Refuges and more than 1,100 Waterfowl Production Areas in North Dakota...offering some of the best birding opportunities in the state. Contact Refuge offices for more information about visiting. For phone numbers of individual Refuges, as well as additional information, go to the Fish and Wildlife Service web site at www.fws.gov. Click on Offices, and click on North Dakota on the map.

Welcome to the North Dakota Rare Bird Alert compiled by the North Dakota Birding Society and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This report was prepared on Tuesday, June 5.

A rare duck and a close encounter top our report this week.

Todd Larson found a female BLACK SCOTER at Kellys Slough National Wildlife Refuge near Grand Forks on May 29. He says the scoter was swimming near about five EARED GREBES. Todd also saw DICKCISSEL, about 15 SHORT-EARED OWLS in flight and including two mid-air battles with NORTHERN HARRIERS, two BITTERNS, SEDGE WRENS, MARSH WRENS, and heard SORA and VIRGINIA RAIL calling. Todd had more excitement a couple days later. He saw two likely TRUMPETER SWANS in a wetland near his home just northwest of Larimore on May 31 and June 1. He missed them for the next two days, but they were back on June 4. For details, contact Todd at i81.ou812@yahoo.com.

Dave Lambeth saw the two likely TRUMPETER SWANS near Larimore on June 4, and says they appear to be young birds, and that North Dakota could soon see its first nesting record in over 100 years. On the other hand, Dave says it looks like there won’t be any nesting peregrine falcons in Grand Forks this year. He reports the male has not had any success convincing females to stay, although at least three have made brief visits. You can reach Dave at davidlambeth58201@yahoo.com.

Bob Anderson and Alton Thygerson got very close to two YELLOW RAILS in western Stutsman County on May 31. Bob reports they played the “yellow rail song” and had responses on each side of them until one of the rails was directly between the two of them, who were standing 4 or 5 yards apart. The second rail never got closer than 10 yards. One day earlier, Bob heard a YELLOW-THROATED VIREO calling continuously at Clausen Springs in Barnes County. For more information on those sightings, call Bob at 605-695-1344.

Larry Wilson and his wife came from Texas to bird the Chase Lake loop on June 3. Their list included HORNED LARK, CHIPPING SPARROW, WESTERN KINGBIRD, EASTERN KINGBIRD, BOBOLINK, ORCHARD ORIOLE, BANK SWALLOW, CLIFF SWALLOW, WILLOW FLYCATCHER, SWAINSON’S HAWK, CLAY-COLORED SPARROW, SAVANNAH SPARROW, NORTHERN HARRIER, VESPER SPARROW, UPLAND SANDPIPER, SPRAGUE’S PIPIT, LINCOLN’S SPARROW, BLACK TERN, SONG SPARROW, CASPIAN TERN, FERRUGINOUS HAWK, SNOWY EGRET, and CATTLE EGRET. For details on the Wilson’s sightings, contact them at larryw458@earthlink.net.

Jean Legge spent some time at the Lonetree Wildlife Management Area near Harvey on June 2. She found BELTED KINGFISHERS, NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS, WARBLING VIREO, RED-EYED VIREO, GRASSHOPPER SPARROW, WILSON’S SNIPE, LEAST FLYCATCHER, BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO, SONG SPARROW, BOBOLINK, CLAY-COLORED SPARROW, and many raptors. Near the Wetland Management Area, she added LECONTE’S SPARROW, Nelson’s SHARP-TAILED SPARROW, SEDGE WRENS, and MARSH WRENS. Near Turtle Lake, Jean found a LARK BUNTING on a fence. For details, call her at 701-845-4762.

Ron Martin had a productive visit to Oak Park in Minot on May 31. He saw BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON, BROAD-WINGED HAWK, BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO, COMMON NIGHTHAWK, 35 ALDER FLYCATCHERS, 15 EASTERN KINGBIRDS, 25 RED-EYED VIREOS, SWAINSON’S THRUSH, TENNESSEE WARBLER, CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER, MAGNOLIA WARBLER, 10 AMERICAN REDSTARTS, three CONNECTICUT WARBLERS, three MOURNING WARBLERS, three LAZULI BUNTINGS, and an INDIGO BUNTING.. Ron believes it’s the first time he’s ever had four buntings in Oak Park on the same day. His yard at Sawyer held another CONNECTICUT WARBLER that morning. You can reach Ron at jrmartin@srt.com.

A MOURNING WARBLER made a brief stop in Charles Taft’s yard in west Minot on May 31. He believes it’s a yard-first. Later, a GRAY CATBIRD also checked in, as did a female RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD. Contact Charles at cjtaft@mac.com.

Birders counted 49 species in a June 3 birdwalk at the Cottonwood Campground area near Medora. Corey Ellingson says the highlights included a SWAINSON’S THRUSH, five WILSON’S PHALAROPES, ROCK WREN, WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE, YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS, LAZULI BUNTINGS, and at least two male BULLOCK’S ORIOLES. The group also saw a pair of VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS going into a nest hole along East River Road. For more information, contact Corey at tecllingson@juno.com.

Wanda Peterson reports the BOBOLINKS have been quite active around Cardinal Muench Seminary in north Fargo, and the BALTIMORE ORIOLES have been visiting her backyard for jelly. You can reach Wanda at wandaandjohnp83@aol.com.

Connie Norheim and Becky Oberlander saw a RED-HEADED WOODPECKER near McLean Bottoms, southeast of Bismarck, on May 27. Also nearby was a PIPING PLOVER on one of the sandbars. Elsewhere in Burleigh County, they watched a BURROWING OWL and about one-thousand shorebirds at Long Lake National Wildlife Refuge. Contact Connie at 701-232-4386.

Keith Corliss reports at least two young BALD EAGLES in the nest near Harwood on June 3. He believes it’s the first nest in Cass County in recent times. Keith also saw a lone RUDDY TURNSTONE at the Fargo lagoons, and a small population of DICKCISSELS on the outskirts of West Fargo. Contact him at 701-371-2709.

And, a final reminder about two big birding festivals coming up soon in North Dakota. The Potholes and Prairie Birding Festival runs June 7-10 based in Carrington. The agenda includes field trips to national wildlife refuges, seminars, and more. For more information, call 888-921-2473 or 701-952-5871. Then, it’s the 8th annual Sullys Hill Birding and Nature Festival headquartered at Fort Totten and Devils Lake on June 14-17. It also includes a full schedule of seminars and tours. For details, call 701-766-4272.

That concludes this report from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the North Dakota Birding Society. This report is normally updated each Tuesday. The Fish and Wildlife Service operates 62 National Wildlife Refuges and more than 1,100 Waterfowl Production Areas in North Dakota...offering some of the best birding opportunities in the state. Contact Refuge offices for more information about visiting. For phone numbers of individual Refuges, as well as additional information, go to the Fish and Wildlife Service web site at www.fws.gov. Click on Offices and click on North Dakota on the map.