North Dakota Birding Hotline Reports
September 2009
Welcome to the North Dakota Rare Bird Alert compiled by the North Dakota Birding Society. This report was prepared on Tuesday, September 29, 2009.
Gulls, wading birds, yard birds and more this week.
Dave Lambeth and six other members of the North Dakota Birding Society spent six hours on the waters of Devils Lake on September 26, and were rewarded with gulls and grebes. They saw individual SABINE'S GULLS at three separate sites, plus 3000-5000 FRANKLIN'S GULLS, about 400 BONAPARTE'S GULLS, 100 RING-BILLED GULLS, and a lone HERRING GULL. Other sightings included at least 100 WESTERN GREBES and a CLARK'S GREBE. For details, contact Dave at davidlambeth58201@yahoo.com.
Clark Talkington birded the Woodworth area and parts of Kidder and Burleigh counties on September 22. Dewald Slough held 14 TUNDRA SWANS, three AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS, SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, and nearby were two HARRIS' SPARROWS and two WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS. At McKenzie Slough, Clark saw 78 SANDHILL CRANES and three AMERICAN BITTERNS, while a CHUKAR was in the surrounding area. At Lake Isabel, he discovered two CASPIAN TERNS and two FORSTER'S TERNS. In the Woodworth area, Clark observed two CLARK'S GREBES, SABINE'S GULL, and a BAIRD'S SPARROW. Long Lake National Wildlife Refuge hosted a BLACK TERN. For the day, Clark counted 66 GREAT EGRETS, 18 SNOWY EGRETS, and 302 CATTLE EGRETS. Moving on to southeastern Morton County on September 26, Clark located two TURKEY VULTURES being chased by a PRAIRIE FALCON, three GOLDEN EAGLES, another PRAIRIE FALCON, three BURROWING OWLS, four BARN SWALLOWS, ROCK WREN, and two LARK SPARROWS. You can reach Clark at 701-663-8103.
Peder Stenslie took his family to Harmon Lake for some late September birding. They saw two GREAT EGRETS, about 10 DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS, many WILSON'S SNIPES, KILLDEERS, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, GREAT BLUE HERON, two BELTED KINGFISHERS, SPOTTED SANDPIPER, BARN SWALLOWS, SONG SPARROWS, and two likely SPRAGUE'S PIPITS. You can reach Peder at Peder.Stenslie@sendit.nodak.edu.
Janelle Masters saw GREAT EGRETS, CATTLE EGRETS, and 30 SANDHILL CRANES at McKenzie Slough on September 28. She's at 701-224-5525.
Ron Martin and Corey Ellingson birded north-central North Dakota on September 25. They recorded EASTERN TOWHEE and EASTERN SCREECH-OWL at Lonetree Wildlife Management Area in Sheridan County, and flushed a SABINE'S GULLS off ND #3 about four miles south of Rugby. They say the bird was with FRANKLIN'S GULLS. Contact Ron at jrmartin@srt.com.
Wayne and Wanda Easley took Larry and Jan Jones to a marsh near Lonetree Wildlife Management Area on September 26. They recorded 53 GREAT EGRETS, two GREAT BLUE HERONS, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, LESSER YELLOWLEGS, STILT SANDPIPER, SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS, LEAST SANDPIPERS, a flock of AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS, and at least one AMERICAN PIPIT. At a smaller marsh nearby, they added at least 30 WILSON'S SNIPES and a lone SNOW GOOSE. You can reach the Easleys at 701-324-2344.
Dan and Ila Svingen heard two EASTERN SCREECH-OWLS at the corner of East Coulee and Parkview in Bismarck on September 25. Dan found about 1500 gulls at Garrison Dam on September 26. He reports they were mostly FRANKLIN'S GULLS with some RING-BILLED GULLS and at least two HERRING GULLS. He added an immature SABINE'S GULL at the tailrace. Dan and Emily Svingen toured Long Lake National Wildlife Refuge on September 27. About 1100 shorebirds remained near the Stone House. They were mainly LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, with lots of AMERICAN AVOCETS, several PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, a handful of peeps, and a lone BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER. You can find Dan at 701-250-4443, extension 107.
Rod Fossen discovered a TURKEY VULTURE north of Minnewaukan on September 22. He noted that the treed areas around Devils Lake are full of NORTHERN FLICKERS. Contact him at rfossen@min.midco.net.
Dan Ackerman had two COMMON NIGHTHAWKS flying near his Bismarck apartment building on September 23. He's at dackman81@gmail.com.
Doug Norquist also saw a COMMON NIGHTHAWK. It was near Buxton on September 22. Doug is at 701-847-2210.
The first FOX SPARROW of fall showed up in Linda Gregg's yard near Horace on September 26. For details, it's lgregg@far.midco.net.
Connie Norheim reported more birds in her Fargo yard on September 22 than all summer. She saw four NORTHERN FLICKERS, GRAY CATBIRD, COMMON YELLOWTHROATS, HAIRY WOODPECKER, BROWN THRASHER, two EASTERN TOWHEES, HARRIS' SPARROW, LINCOLN SPARROW, SONG SPARROW, WHITE-THROATED SPARROW, HOUSE FINCH, WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE, and MOURNING DOVES. Contact Connie at 701-232-4386.
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, September 22, 2009.
More wading birds than warblers this week. Also a couple calendar items.
Bob Neugebauer found many CATTLE EGRETS and GREAT EGRETS close to the road plus a SNOWY EGRET when he visited McKenzie Slough in Burleigh County on September 19 and 20. Other sightings included BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS, GREAT BLUE HERONS, LEAST SANDPIPERS, PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, AMERICAN AVOCETS, WILSON'S SNIPE, PIED-BILLED GREBE, and WESTERN GREBE. In addition, he saw AMERICAN BITTERNS south of there. Back home, east of Bismarck, Bob's yard was visited by RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD and CONNECTICUT WARBLER. You can reach him at bobneugebauer@yahoo.com.
Corey Ellingson and Ricky Olson spent just an hour at McKenzie Slough on September 17, but were rewarded with a BLACK DUCK in a large flock of MALLARDS, plus two SNOWY EGRETS, three AMERICAN BITTERNS, eight AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS, 16 WILSON'S SNIPES, TENNESSEE WARBLER, three ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS, YELLOW WARBLER, FIELD SPARROW, and two LINCOLN'S SPARROWS. On September 21, Corey saw LEAST FLYCATCHER, WINTER WREN, NASHVILLE WARBLER, WILSON'S WARBLER, and SCARLET TANAGER at Sleepy Hollow Park in Bismarck. Moving on to Long Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Corey added five HUDSONIAN GODWITS, RED KNOT, and BLACK TERN. At Tom O'Leary Arboretum in Bismarck, he recorded red-shafted NORTHERN FLICKER, EASTERN KINGBIRD, and WESTERN TANAGER. For the day, his total was 84 species. You can contact Corey at crackerjackbirder@bis.midco.net.
On September 20, Dan Svingen reported several hundred shorebirds, mostly dowitchers, at McKenzie Slough. He also noted good numbers of waders including AMERICAN BITTERN, CATTLE EGRET, GREAT EGRET, BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON, and GREAT BLUE HERON. On the dry flats to the west, he saw 58 AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS. Contact Dan at 701-250-4443, extension 107.
Clark Talkington birded the Dawson area on September 15, finding 235 CATTLE EGRETS and a CASPIAN TERN. The following day, he collected two FERRUGINOUS HAWKS, two PRAIRIE FALCONS, 13 BURROWING OWLS, and six SMITH'S LONGSPURS in southeastern Morton County. Clark is at 701-663-8103.
Mark Gonzalez nearly ran over a COMMON NIGHTHAWK northwest of Bismarck on September 19. He reported the bird appeared to be injured and unable to fly. Mark is at 701-255-0310.
Ron Martin did much of his early- and mid-September birding in southwestern North Dakota. He saw a RED KNOT at Patterson Lake in Dickinson on September 8. On the 15th, he recorded eight SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS at Bowman-Haley Reservoir, as well as eight AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS, an additional six at Patterson Lake, and one more at Stewart Lake. Previously-reported birds included three BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS at Bowman-Haley and three more at Patterson Lake, and a LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL at Bowman-Haley. The reservoir also produced 15 SPRAGUE'S PIPITS. Closer to home on September 16, Ron counted 100 AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS and a PRAIRIE FALCON at the Minot sewage lagoons. You can reach Ron at jrmartin@srt.com.
On his final couple days in North Dakota for this summer, Chris Hiatt recorded SOLITARY SANDPIPER, four GREAT BLUE HERONS, two COMMON TERNS, AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS, six DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS, and two BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS at a man-made lake south of Center. He also observed a WARBLING VIREO at Patterson Lake in Dickinson. You can still reach Chris at hiattch@sbc.global.net.
Wayne and Wanda Easley found good birding at a small marsh on the Lonetree Wildlife Management Area on September 19. Highlights included 18 GREAT EGRETS, more than 50 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, fewer LESSER YELLOWLEGS, PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, STILT SANDPIPERS, LEAST SANDPIPERS, and a large flock of SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS. Waterfowl included BLUE-WINGED TEAL, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, NORTHERN PINTAILS, and NORTHERN SHOVELERS. They also saw SMITH'S LONGSPUR and COMMON NIGHTHAWK. You can reach Wayne and Wanda at 701-324-2344.
Two seasonal firsts for Connie Norheim on September 21. Her Fargo yard attracted LINCOLN'S SPARROW and WHITE-THROATED SPARROW. She's at 701-232-4386.
Dean Riemer and Keith Corliss headed south of Fargo along the Red River on September 20. At Orchard Glen, they recorded a RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, while Forest River held two LINCOLN'S SPARROWS and two WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS, and Lion's Conservancy Park produced a DARK-EYED JUNCO. Dean is at driemer@kwh.com.
Rick Holbrook's Fargo yard drew several CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS, WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS, and an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER on September 20. You can reach him at fholbrook@cableone.net.
From Horace, Linda Gregg's yard is seeing smaller numbers of BALTIMORE ORIOLES and female ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS than earlier this summer, but she adds they seem to be staying later. Linda still has a large number of RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS. Contact her at lgregg@far.midco.net.
Now the calendar items: the North Dakota Birding Society field trip to Devils Lake is still on for September 26. Gather at the marina near the Spirit Lake Casino at 8:00 am, and bring $20 for the boat ride. If you have questions, call Ron Martin at 701-624-5241. And, Arrowwood National Wildlife Refuge will host a Big Sit on Sunday, October 11 from pre-sunrise to sunset. Biologist Paulette Scherr says it will be on the east side of the lake, across from headquarters. Some facilities, as well as spotting scopes and binoculars, will be available, and Paulette says you don't have to stay all day. For more information, she's at 701-285-3341.
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, September 15, 2009.
A rare gull and rare sandpipers in southwestern North Dakota.
Ron Martin discovered a LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL and three BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS on the west shore of Bowman-Haley Reservoir on September 15. However, he reported very few landbirds. You can reach Ron at jrmartin@srt.com.
It wasn't a great fallout of migrants that Dennis Wiesenborn found on the north side of Fargo and across the river in Moorhead on September 9, but it was his best day so far this fall. At Trefoil and Mickelson Parks, he observed OVENBIRD, BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER, two or three NORTHERN WATERTHRUSHES, BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER, four WILSON'S WARBLERS, CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER, one or two BLUE-HEADED VIREOS, LINCOLN'S SPARROW, and four SWAINSON'S THRUSHES. On the Moorhead side, Dennis saw a MOURNING WARBLER, two BLACKPOLL WARBLERS, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER, three WILSON'S WARBLERS, CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER, two YELLOW WARBLERS, and a PHILADELPHIA VIREO. Some of those were seasonal firsts. You can contact Dennis at d.wiesenborn@ndsu.edu.
Carl Stangeland has been noticing a decline in warbler numbers at Jamestown. Birding the White Cloud Nature Trails near the buffalo statue, he saw his seasonal first RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS and ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS on September 14. Carl is at carlcs@daktel.com.
Corey Ellingson has also detected fewer warblers. However, Bismarck's Sleepy Hollow Park did hold a CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER on the evenings of September 13 and 14. Corey is at crackerjackbirder@bis.midco.net.
The first-of-fall YELLOW WARBLERS showed up in Sherry Leslie's Burlington yard on September 15. Contact her at bird_nd@yahoo.com.
Rod Fossen has had several sightings of what he believes to be two GOLDEN EAGLES in the sandhills region of McHenry County. He has seen the birds between late spring and September 9 in what he calls typical golden eagle habitat. He's at rfossen@min.midco.net.
Clark Talkington birded the Tesoro Refinery area of Mandan on September 8, finding MERLIN, LEAST TERN, and WESTERN KINGBIRD. He also reported a COMMON NIGHTHAWK in Kidder County near Dawson on September 6. Contact Clark at 701-663-8103.
Some recent sightings from McKenzie County: Mo O'Mara found a small group of shorebirds on the Yellowstone River near Sundheim Park on September 6. They included 50 or more KILLDEER, two SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, LEAST SANDPIPER, and a likely BAIRD'S SANDPIPER. Also present were GREAT BLUE HERON, BELTED KINGFISHER, OSPREY, AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN, and COMMON MERGANSER. Mo heard but didn't see YELLOW WARBLERS, CEDAR WAXWINGS, and AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES. You can reach her at mo1_omara@yahoo.com.
Finally, a meeting reminder. The Souris Valley Birding Club will gather at 7:00 pm on September 25 in the small meeting room of the Minot Public Library. Wayne Easley will show some pictures. For details, contact Charles Taft at cjtaft@mac.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, September 8, 2009.
At least three birders will tell you that southwestern North Dakota has had some good birding lately.
Corey Ellingson and Jack Lefor covered Bowman-Haley Reservoir, Hettinger, Mott, and Patterson Lake on September 7, and encountered a good fallout of warblers. At Bowman-Haley Reservoir, they recorded four EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES, ALDER FLYCATCHER, three SWAINSON'S THRUSHES, 30 YELLOW WARBLERS, WILSON'S WARBLER, AMERICAN REDSTART, MOURNING WARBLER, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, and LINCOLN'S SPARROW. Moving on to the Hettinger area, they added PRAIRIE FALCON, 20 more YELLOW WARBLERS, BLACKPOLL WARBLER, MOURNING WARBLER, and three WILSON'S WARBLERS. At Mott, they found a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK as well as about 20 COMMON NIGHTHAWKS overhead. Near Dickinson, Patterson Lake held seven WHITE-FACED IBIS, two MERLINS, two BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER, four MARBLED GODWITS, and a total of about 800 shorebirds. Corey and Jack believe the rest of the warbler species should be arriving in the southwest very soon. You can reach Corey at crackerjackbirder@bis.midco.net.
Also birding that area was Chris Hiatt. On September 3, he reported recent sightings of a WILSON'S WARBLER, plus a SWAINSON'S THRUSH out his back window in Bowman, and his regular visitor, a LEAST FLYCATCHER. Chris stopped at Scranton, Gascoyne Lake, and Bowman-Haley Dam on August 30. He recorded ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, SOLITARY SANDPIPER, PECTORAL SANDPIPER, BAIRD'S SANDPIPER, hundreds of SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS, and a possible LEAST SANDPIPER. Near Gascoyne, he saw a SEMIIPALMATED PLOVER, plus a GOLDEN EAGLE and COMMON NIGHTHAWKS at the dam. Contact Chris at hiattch@sbcglobal.net.
Mo O'Mara visited Sundheim Park on the Yellowstone River on the mornings of August 30 and September 2. She saw CEDAR WAXWINGS in the willows, plus SONG SPARROWS and AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES, and heard YELLOW WARBLERS. On September 2, she reported good views of three GREATER YELLOWLEGS on a sandbar, with 20 KILLDEER nearby, plus four likely juvenile SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS. You can reach Mo at mo1_omara@yahoo.com.
Ron Martin counted 32 COMMON NIGHTHAWKS in a flock near Sawyer on September 2. He says it was the largest flock he had seen in a few years. Ron also reports seeing an EASTERN SCREECH-OWL every few days in Minot's Oak Park. New arrivals at the park in early September included BLUE-HEADED VIREO, SWAINSON'S THRUSH, and MAGNOLIA WARBLER. The nine warbler species he saw on September 1 made it his best warbler day so far this fall. At the Minot lagoons, Ron reported a decent mix of shorebirds, and he says the same PEREGRINE FALCON is there just about every day. For details, Ron is at jrmartin@srt.com.
Sherry Leslie visited Starkweather on September 6, and saw some interesting birds. Among them: two CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLERS, WILSON'S WARBLER, GRAY CATBIRD, LEAST FLYCATCHER, YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER, and BROAD-WINGED HAWK. During the second half of August, Sherry's sightings in the Burlington area included four BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLERS, YELLOW-THROATED VIREO, RED-EYED VIREO, four RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS, towhees, numerous AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES, CHIPPING SPARROWS, HOUSE FINCHES, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES, LEAST FLYCATCHER, and EASTERN WOOD PEWEES. For more information, contact Sherry at bird_nd@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, September 1, 2009.
Some rainy and windy weather turned into a good thing for one birder, but others did well, too.
Rain and northerly winds brought a lot of birds into Grand Forks on August 29. Dave Lambeth recorded 14 warbler species and four species of vireos. The breakdown: 40 TENNESSEE WARBLERS, NASHVILLE WARBLER, two MAGNOLIA WARBLERS, BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER, three BLACKBURNIAN WARBLERS, three BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLERS, 15 AMERICAN REDSTARTS, four OVENBIRDS, four NORTHERN WATERTHRUSHES, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, WILSON'S WARBLER and CANADA WARBLER; YELLOW-THROATED VIREO, two WARBLING VIREOS, PHILADELPHIA VIREO, and 25 RED-EYED VIREOS. Dave's other sightings included first-of-season SWAINSON'S THRUSH as well as three OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHERS in one tree. On August 28, Dave reported good conditions for shorebirds at Kellys Slough National Wildlife Refuge. He observed 15 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, 3000 AMERICAN AVOCETS, 1000 SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS, and an adult PEREGRINE FALCON, which made things interesting for the shorebirds. Between Kellys Slough and Nelson County, Dave counted 65 GREAT EGRETS. For details, you can reach him at davidlambeth58201@yahoo.com.
This can't be good. Eve Freeberg discovered six SNOW GEESE north of US Highway 2, on Ramsey County 4 on August 31. Contact her at birdwmn@gra.midco.net.
From the opposite corner of the State, Chris Hiatt happened on a LAZULI BUNTING while driving along the Missouri River near Burning Coal Vein on August 27. One day earlier, he saw a FERRUGINOUS HAWK near the North Dakota/South Dakota border. Chris got a wonderful surprise on August 30 when a first-winter CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER visited his yard at Bowman. He says the bird was with a possible NASHVILLE WARBLER and a possible SWAINSON'S THRUSH was nearby. Chris reports the chestnut-sided was a lifer for him. For more information, it's hiattch@sbcglobal.net.
Rita Staloch didn't offer an exact number, but says she saw some CINNAMON TEAL at the north end of Minnewaukan on August 26. Contact her at rita_staloch@yahoo.com.
Bob Neugebauer went to northwestern Emmons County on August 25 with a specific photographic goal. He found and photographed a RED-HEADED WOODPECKER. He also visited McKenzie Slough in Burleigh County that day. Although there were fewer birds than earlier, Bob saw two WHITE-FACED IBIS near the road, lots of BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS, PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, STILT SANDPIPERS and LEAST SANDPIPERS; a few LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS and AMERICAN AVOCETS, and various gulls, yellowlegs, plus a few common birds such as KILLDEER. On August 23, Bob was able to capture good photos of a light, juvenile RED-TAILED HAWK near Menoken, plus a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK and a BROAD-WINGED HAWK at McKenzie Slough. You can reach Bob at bobneugebauer@yahoo.com.
From Fargo, Rick Holbrook's yard attracted LEAST FLYCATCHER, LINCOLN'S SPARROW, and female ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK on August 26. He's at fholbrook@cableone.net.
Linda Gregg has had a large number of ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS in her yard at Horace all summer. More recently, she reports improving numbers of RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS, plus a few migrating YELLOW WARBLERS in the past week or so, and a few more CHIPPING SPARROWS. For details, it's lgregg@far.midco.net.
That concludes this week's report from the North Dakota Birding Society.
