North Dakota Birding Hotline Reports
October 2009
Welcome to the North Dakota Rare Bird Alert compiled by the North Dakota Birding Society. This report was prepared on Tuesday, October 27, 2009.0
Seasonal firsts continue to make their appearances.
Corey Ellingson counted at least five HERMIT THRUSHES, his first of the fall, on October 21 at Sleepy Hollow Park in Bismarck. Other sightings there included ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS, Corey's latest ever. His other seasonal first was a FOX SPARROW in the Highland Acres area, just south of Bismarck State College. You can contact Corey at crackerjackbirder@bis.midco.net.
Clark Talkington found a good variety of bird life on October 26. In the Woodworth area, he saw 150 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, about 12,000 SNOW GEESE, 12 ROSS' GEESE, BLUE-WINGED TEAL, AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN, two SNOWY EGRETS, BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON, 17 GRAY PARTRIDGE, and eight BONAPARTE'S GULLS. In the Dawson area, Clark recorded another BLUE-WINGED TEAL, two SNOWY EGRETS, CATTLE EGRET, two DUNLINS, 12 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, three FRANKLIN'S GULLS, and two BONAPARTE'S GULLS. On October 25, the Tesoro Refinery in Mandan held eight WOOD DUCKS, two red-shafted NORTHERN FLICKERS, two YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, and LINCOLN'S SPARROW, and Clark added a FERRUGINOUS HAWK in southeastern Morton County. In the Dawson area on October 23, he observed about 10,000 LESSER SCAUP and four GREAT EGRETS, while Horsehead Lake offered HERRING GULL, THAYER'S GULL, COMMON TERN, and four AMERICAN PIPITS. McKenzie Slough held AMERICAN BITTERN on October 22 and 25 plus two SANDERLINGS. Clark discovered two BURROWING OWLS in southeastern Morton County on the 22nd. You can reach him at 701-663-8103.
Ron Martin saw two WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS at the Minot lagoons on October 23. On the following day, he saw six COMMON LOONS at Round Lake in McHenry County, plus two GREAT EGRETS and a BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON in Pierce County, plus a WHITE-WINGED SCOTER at Antelope Lake. At the Minot lagoons on October 19, Ron saw a WHITE-WINGED SCOTER, followed on the 20th by 60 AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS, and on the 21st by a PRAIRIE FALCON, SURF SCOTER, and immature Harlan's RED-TAILED HAWK. Ron's yard near Sawyer was visited by a NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL on October 18, and Ron was part of a group that saw 150 SMITH'S LONGSPURS in a pasture in Foster County, and about 20 more in Stutsman County. For details, contact Ron at jrmartin @srt.com.
Rod Fossen had better luck birding than hunting north of Minot in Renville County on October 24. He saw three BALD EAGLES including one juvenile, five NORTHERN HARRIERS, NORTHERN SHRIKE, a very pale GREAT HORNED OWL, plus two SHARP-TAILED GROUSE in Ward County and 40 more in Renville County. Rod's travels took him to the Devils Lake area on October 21 and 22, where he saw a dark Harlan's RED-TAILED HAWK northeast of Devils Lake. He reported that DARK-EYED JUNCOS are common in the area, and he also recorded an adult BALD EAGLE near Norwich. You can reach Rod at rfossen@min.midco.net.
From the Carrington area, Ann Hoffert says TUNDRA SWANS have been hanging around for a couple of weeks. She counted 150 on October 25, along with lots of SNOW GEESE. She's at pipestem@daktel.com.
Betsy Batstone-Cunningham saw a pair of HERMITTHRUSHES in her back yard on the Grand Forks Greenway on October 22. She's at batsham@gra.midco.net.
A RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET landed in Rick Holbrook's Fargo yard on October 24. Details at fholbrook@cableone.net.
Dennis Wiesenborn has been birding north Fargo and Moorhead. On October 25, Trefoil Park held WINTER WREN, two MARSH WRENS, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, and COOPER'S HAWK. The previous day, he saw male and female NORTHERN CARDINALS and a female RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER, plus a large flock of sparrows in Mickelson Park. The flock was mainly DARK-EYED JUNCOS, but included many AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS, SONG SPARROWS, and WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS, but also several FOX SPARROWS and one or two HARRIS' SPARROWS, SWAMP SPARROWS, and LINCOLN'S SPARROWS plus some PURPLE FINCHES and HOUSE FINCHES. The weekend brought sightings of ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, GREAT HORNED OWL, MERLIN, NORTHERN SHRIKE, BROWN CREEPER, GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET, HERMIT THRUSH, PILEATED WOODPECKER, and male RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER. Dennis also reported hundreds of FRANKLIN'S GULLS overhead. Contact him at d.wiesenborn@ndsu.edu.
Keith Corliss birded Elmwood Park in West Fargo on October 22, and saw his first NORTHERN SHRIKE and two AMERICAN WOODCOCKS of the season. He also recorded nine FOX SPARROWS, two EASTERN PHOEBES, 12 HERMIT THRUSHES, and a WINTER WREN. Keith is at koolhand@juno.com.
Mark Otnes found good birding along the river in Wahpeton on October 23. He tallied EASTERN PHOEBE, five HERMIT THRUSHES, three FOX SPARROWS, two CHIPPING SPARROWS, five HARRIS' SPARROWS, and "abundant" WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS and DARK-EYED JUNCOS. However, he reported very little going on at the Mooreton pond. Contact Mark at 701-241-4194.
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, October 20, 2009.
More gulls and more whoopers.
An October 19 trip to the Bismarck landfill brought good gull sightings for Corey Ellingson. He recorded an adult THAYER'S GULL, two adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS, FRANKLIN'S GULL, RING-BILLED GULL, five CALIFORNIA GULLS, and seven HERRING GULLS. At Sleepy Hollow Park, Corey added a GREAT HORNED OWL, BROWN CREEPER, his first GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET of the season, and three late ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS. Corey's yard held four species of finches including AMERICAN GOLDFINCH, PINE SISKIN, and a female/immature PURPLE FINCH. The seven sparrow species included SWAMP SPARROW. You can reach Corey at crackerjackbirder@bis.midco.net.
Clark Talkington found some of those same gull species at the Bismarck landfill on October 14. He observed six FRANKLIN'S GULLS, CALIFORNIA GULL, three HERRING GULLS, and one LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL. A FOX SPARROW showed up in Clark's Mandan yard on October 15. He saw one BURROWING OWL in southeastern Morton County on October 14. On the 13th, Clark birded Barnes Lake in Stutsman County and Horsehead Lake in Kidder County, finding ROSS' GOOSE, 6067 TUNDRA SWANS, four CLARK'S GREBES, SNOWY EGRET, and WILLET. In the Dawson area, he counted 46 CATTLE EGRETS. Around Woodworth, Clark saw four VESPER SPARROWS, nine SAVANNAH SPARROWS, and four SMITH'S LONGSPURS. For more information, call Clark at 701-663-8103.
Dave and Ellin Lindee saw two WHOOPING CRANES west of Ryder on October 17. Bernice Houser found them later in the day, with a large group of SANDHILL CRANES near Ryder. Bernice's yard near New Town hosted RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, and DOWNY WOODPECKER on October 16. On the 18th, she reported two EASTERN BLUEBIRDS checking out a nest box. Contact Bernice at sanishnd@rtc.coop.
Janelle Masters looked unsuccessfully for the Ryder whoopers on October 19. She did see thousands of SANDHILL CRANES, plus MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS, WILSON'S SNIPES, SNOW GEESE, TUNDRA SWANS. and various ducks. She's at 701-224-5525.
Mark Otnes saw HERMIT THRUSH, LINCOLN'S SPARROW, and two PURPLE FINCHES at Crystal Springs in Kidder County on October 16. He said the Dawson Wildlife Management Area had "nothing." At South Lake, he recorded AMERICAN BITTERN, three SNOWY EGRETS, FORSTER'S TERN, and BARN SWALLOW. In Barnes County, along the Highway 10 frontage road, Mark found about 40 of either BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS or AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVERS, as well as AMERICAN AVOCET and two LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS. Mark is at 701-241-4194.
Carl Stangeland's back yard in Jamestown attracted a YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER and WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCHES on October 18. At the dam, he saw a MERLIN with a DARK-EYED JUNCO in its talons. ou can reach Carl at carlcs@daktel.com.
From Bowdon, Larry Jones counted 20-25 EASTERN BLUEBIRDS and a bunch of CEDAR WAXWINGS in his yard on October 17. Other visitors included BLUE JAYS and HAIRY WOODPECKERS. Contact Larry at jljones@daktel.com.
From Grand Forks County, Eve Freeberg saw a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK on October 11, followed by RUSTY BLACKBIRD on October 12 and SNOW BUNTING on October 14. On the 19th, Eve added BALTIMORE ORIOLE, BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER, and FERRUGINOUS HAWK. Contact Eve at birdwmn@gra.midco.net.
Ron Martin recorded a single SURF SCOTER at the Minot lagoons on October 15. He's at jrmartin@srt.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, October 13, 2009.
A rare tern, a rare gull and some whoopers top our report this week.
Corey Ellingson and Ron Martin discovered an ARCTIC TERN off the causeway at Lake Audubon on October 11. Corey believes it's only about the fifth record for North Dakota. They also observed nine COMMON LOONS, three AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS at the Garrison Dam boat ramp, with PECTORAL SANDPIPER nearby, and a first-year THAYER'S GULL. They added that large numbers of BARN SWALLOWS were flying down-river. Corey stopped at the Bismarck landfill on October 9. He found 12 FRANKLIN'S GULLS, 1250 RING-BILLED GULLS, adult CALIFORNIA GULL, three adult HERRING GULLS, and an adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL. At Sleepy Hollow Park, Corey counted ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, and RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS. For details, contact Corey at crackerjackbirder@bis.midco.net.
Dan and Emily Svingen tried unsuccessfully to find the rare tern later that day, but did record two FIELD SPARROWS and an adult THAYER'S GULL in the downstream recreation area at Garrison Dam, a MERLIN at the tailrace, and CACKLING GEESE among the other waterfowl on Lake Audubon. Contact Dan at 701-250-4443, extension 107.
David and Ellin Lindee witnessed two adult and one immature WHOOPING CRANES with a small flock of SANDHILL CRANES two miles southwest of Ryder on October 11. Contact them at daveandellin@srt.com.
David Walsh observed nine WHOOPING CRANES over his home east of Minot during the first full week of October, and his wife reported seeing ten whoopers a couple days earlier. David reported many DARK-EYED JUNCOS, HARRIS' SPARROW, HOUSE FINCHES, BLUE JAYS, DOWNY WOODPECKERS, HAIRY WOODPECKERS, WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, and BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES on October 10. You can reach him at davidw@ndak.net.
Minot visitor Tyler Bell found two HARRIS' SPARROWS, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, four WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS, two BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES, HOUSE FINCH, a strange house finch, and a MERLIN in the South Hill area on October 10. Tyler is at jtylerbell@yahoo.com.
Ron Martin birded Minot's Oak Park on October 6, finding WINTER WREN, two SWAINSON'S THRUSHES, two HERMIT THRUSHES, PALM WARBLER, and FOX SPARROW. One day earlier, the park held BLUE-HEADED VIREO and two RED-EYED VIREOS. The Minot lagoons had nine shorebird species that day. Highlights included two WILSON'S PHALAROPES. Near Sawyer, Ron saw a GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET on October 5, and two immature NORTHERN GOSHAWKS playing tag on October 6. For details, it's jrmartin@srt.com.
More late arrivals in the New Town area. The first WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW of fall reached Bernice Houser's yard on October 9, and the first WHITE-THROATED SPARROW showed up the following day. Bernice saw SANDHILL CRANES over New Town on October 8. She had a YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER in her yard on October 11. Lots of DARK-EYED JUNCOS, two HAIRY WOODPECKERS, HOUSE FINCHES, and BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES were there for the weekend. Contact Bernice at sanishnd@rtc.coop.
Mark Gonzalez reported a busy week for sparrows at his Bismarck yard. For the week ending October 9, he saw HARRIS' SPARROW, WHITE-THROATED SPARROW, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, DARK-EYED JUNCOS, with LINCOLN'S SPARROW, and SONG SPARROW the week before. Other visitors included PINE SISKINS, CEDAR WAXWINGS, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, HOUSE FINCHES, BLUE JAYS, AMERICAN ROBINS, and MOURNING DOVES. Mark is at markgonzalez@fs.fed.us.
From Fargo, Rick Holbrook noted the arrival of FOX SPARROWS on October 6, along with several more DARK-EYED JUNCOS, 6-8 WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS, LINCOLN'S SPARROW, two BLUE JAYS, a pair of COMMON GRACKLES, and large numbers of HOUSE SPARROWS and HOUSE FINCHES. You can reach Rick at fholbrook@cableone.net.
Keith Corliss discovered a MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD in western Cass County, north and east of the Embden exit off I-94 on October 8. His trip to the Fargo lagoons with Patrick Beauzay was rewarded with a lone SURF SCOTER on October 10. Keith is at koolhand@juno.com.
It was the West Fargo lagoons that attracted Dean Riemer's attention on October 9. He recorded 13 DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS, eight MALLARDS, 400 NORTHERN SHOVELERS, four GADWALLS, four RING-NECKED DUCKS, eight LESSER SCAUP, four HOODED MERGANSERS, four BALD EAGLES, 8000 FRANKLIN'S GULLS, BONAPARTE'S GULL, and 100 RING-BILLED GULLS. One day earlier, he estimated the FRANKLIN'S GULL numbers at 10,000. Contact Dean at driemer@kwf.com.
The first two WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS of the season reached Linda Gregg's yard at Horace on October 10. She also had large numbers of HAIRY WOODPECKERS and DOWNY WOODPECKERS, a few RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS, PILEATED WOODPECKER, large numbers of WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCHES and BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES, as well as both slate-colored and Oregon races of DARK-EYED JUNCOS. For details, it's lgregg@far.midco.net.
From Bowdon, Larry Jones reports that a PURPLE FINCH joined numerous AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES at his feeders on October 11. He adds that CHIPPING SPARROWS, CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS, and SONG SPARROWS are hanging on. Contact Larry at jljones@daktel.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, October 6, 2009.
Some seasonal firsts are still showing up.
Bernice Houser saw her first DARK-EYED JUNCOS of the fall near New Town on October 1. That was followed on October 4 by a seasonal first for HARRIS' SPARROWS. Other birds that day included more DARK-EYED JUNCOS, a couple CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS, two BLUE JAYS, and several MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS at two locations south of New Town. For details, contact Bernice at sanishnd@rtc.coop.
Ron Martin recorded his first FOX SPARROW of the season at Minot's Oak Park on October 1. He also watched as a BALD EAGLE took a NORTHERN SHOVELER at the Minot lagoons, cutting the total for the latter species to 7999. Two days later, Ron reported diving ducks moving into the area, and the lagoons held a FERRUGINOUS HAWK and a very late EASTERN KINGBIRD. He also discovered a LECONTE'S SPARROW at Crane Bog, southeast of Granville. For more information, try Ron at jrmartin@srt.com.
Clark Talkington worked and birded at a couple sites west and northwest of Woodworth on September 29. He saw two AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS, 1731 SANDHILL CRANES, 19 RED-TAILED HAWKS, PRAIRIE FALCON, and SPRAGUE'S PIPIT. Stopping at Horsehead Lake and Dewald Slough, Clark added five SNOW GEESE, 389 TUNDRA SWANS, 29 AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS, and 500 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS. Contact him at 701-663-8103.
Larry Jones reports his yard in southern Wells County suddenly got busy on October 4 after a slow summer. He observed BLUE JAYS, AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES, DARK-EYED JUNCOS, SONG SPARROW, CHIPPING SPARROW, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES, TENNESSEE WARBLER, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, a HAIRY WOODPECKER pair, DOWNY WOODPECKERS, and NORTHERN FLICKERS. You can reach Larry at jljones@daktel.com.
Mark Otnes and Keith Corliss witnesses a large number of migrants along the Sheyenne River near West Fargo on October 3. Highlights included a late BAY-BREASTED WARBLER and AMERICAN REDSTART. They also saw GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, NASHVILLE WARBLER, and BLUE-HEADED VIREO. For details, it's markotnes@cableone.net.
A couple notes: the spring meeting of the North Dakota Birding Society is set for Devils Lake on May 22-23. And the Grand Cities Bird Club web site has moved to http://grandcitiesbirdclub.web.officelive.com.
That concludes this week's report from the North Dakota Birding Society.
