The North Dakota Birding Hotline is operated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the North Dakota Birding Society. To access the telephone birding hotline, call 701-355-8554.
Welcome to the North Dakota Rare Bird Alert compiled by the North Dakota Birding Society. This report was prepared on Tuesday, June 30, 2009.
This week: more Breeding Bird Survey results, plus some other good sightings.
Ron Martin and Charles Taft counted 94 species in the Denbigh Breeding Bird Survey on June 24. Highlights included TURKEY VULTURE, FERRUGINOUS HAWK, SANDHILL CRANE, VIRGINIA RAIL, BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, ALDER FLYCATCHER, COMMON RAVEN, 17 SPRAGUE'S PIPITS, SWAMP SPARROW, BAIRD'S SPARROW, and DICKCISSEL. Ron teamed up with Joe Super for 90 species in the Turtle Mountain Breeding Bird Survey on June 25. They saw six COMMON LOONS, a brood of 14 BUFFLEHEADS, five COMMON GOLDENEYES, seven PILEATED WOODPECKERS, BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE fledglings in both Bottineau and Rolette counties, four ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS, and an ORCHARD ORIOLE, which was Ron's first on the survey in 24 years. For details on those sightings, contact Ron at jrmartin@srt.com.
Clark Talkington completed two surveys, but saw his best birds afterwards. First, on June 22, Clark did the Braddock Breeding Bird Survey in Emmons County, where he saw two WOOD DUCKS, four BUFFLEHEADS, BLUE JAY, BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, and DICKCISSEL. On June 23, he moved on to Kidder County for the Lake George Breeding Bird Survey. There, he saw two EASTERN BLUEBIRDS, two LECONTE'S SPARROWS, two Nelson's SHARP-TAILED SPARROWS, and nine DICKCISSELS. Also on June 23, Clark stopped at the Beaver Bay area of Emmons County. He recorded two BELL'S VIREOS in the recreation area and another nearby. At the west end of the recreation area, Clark found two male BLUE GROSBEAKS with three more in separate locations nearby. His other discovery at the recreation area was a LAZULI BUNTING. For more information, contact Clark at ctalkington@bis.midco.net.
Chris Hiatt is back in North Dakota, but had good birding success in both Dakotas. On June 24, he saw his first-ever PIPING PLOVER at White Lake, which is north of Stanley. It was with more than 200 WILSON'S PHALAROPES, and also present were a few FRANKLIN'S GULLS, BOBOLINKS AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES, four CEDAR WAXWINGS, CANVASBACKS, and NORTHERN PINTAILS. North of Ross, Chris added a WILLET and three BLACK TERNS. South of New Salem, he saw a female MARBLED GODWIT with young, and south of Bowman, he saw his first LARK BUNTINGS of the season. On June 26, just south of Reeder, Chris recorded a RED-HEADED WOODPECKER just inside South Dakota, along with a CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPUR. On June 27, he birded near Ludlow, South Dakota, and saw CHIPPING SPARROW, PRAIRIE FALCON, WILD TURKEYS, AMERICAN GOLDFINCH, and MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD. You can reach him at hiattch@sbc.global.net.
From Valley City, Jean Legge reports that the LARK SPARROWS in her yard have a fledgling, and that the male has resumed singing. Contact Jean at 701-845-4762.
Larry Jones saw a BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO in trees at his farmstead near Bowdon on June 27. He's at jljones@daktel.com.
Janelle Masters and a friend birded Long Lake National Wildlife Refuge and McKenzie Slough on June 30. They report seeing WESTERN GREBES, many with young on their backs at the refuge, and a couple pairs of EARED GREBES with young at McKenzie Slough. You can reach Janelle at 701-224-5525.
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, June 23, 2009.
A lot of birding and a lot of birds in one week.
Dave Lambeth scouted and guided for the American Birding Association conference in North Dakota from June 11-18, much of it in the Turtle Mountains. At Lake Metigoshe State Park, he found a PILEATED WOODPECKER nest with three large young. Dave believes it is only the second nest on record for the Turtle Mountains. Another good find in the park was a RUFFED GROUSE on a drumming log. Of the 10 warbler species he saw during the week, nine of them he saw regularly. The list included MOURNING WARBLER, CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER, and BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER. Dave also found CHIPPING SPARROWS, CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS, SONG SPARROWS, LARK SPARROWS, and Nelson's SHARP-TAILED SPARROW. The week also brought sightings of two NORTHERN CARDINALS singing in the park, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, and two INDIGO BUNTINGS. Dave's drive home to Grand Forks from Minot on June 18 was also productive. He recorded singing SPRAGUE'S PIPIT west of the Denbigh Experimental Forest and also near Highway 2. North of Berwick, Dave saw a WHITE-FACED IBIS, single HORNED GREBES in two locations, three male COMMON GOLDENEYES with one female, about 2500 FRANKLIN'S GULLS, 25 EARED GREBES, 20 FORSTER'S TERNS, LECONTE'S SPARROW, and Nelson's SHARP-TAILED SPARROW. Along old 281 from Churchs Ferry to Highway 19, Dave added 27 GREAT EGRETS in the first two miles, SNOWY EGRET, five BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS, SNOW GOOSE, WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, two COMMON TERNS, and seven pair and 20 lone WESTERN GREBES. In the Davis Flats area across from the Devils Lake lagoon, he saw a large mixed colony of RING-BILLED GULLS and CALIFORNIA GULLS with many young, and about 50 pairs of EARED GREBES with young. For details on any of those sightings, contact him at davidlambeth58201@yahoo.com.
One of the top finds of the week was the female RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD that came to Carl Stangeland's feeder in Jamestown on June 18 and 19. He's at carlcs@daktel.com.
Mark Gonzalez discovered a BLUE GROSBEAK during the Solen Breeding Bird Survey on June 20. He believes it was a first-summer male, and adds that it was the second time in three years for the species on that Breeding Bird Survey. Other sightings along the route that runs through northern Sioux and southern Morton counties included two FERRUGINOUS HAWKS, lots of waterfowl, and a high number of WILD TURKEYS. You can reach Mark at 701-255-0310.
Lillian Crook saw a lone BOBOLINK while canoeing the Little Missouri River near Fairfield on June 20-21. She's at lilliancrook@hotmail.com.
Mo O'Mara's worksite in McKenzie County produced a male BOBOLINK, male LAZULI BUNTING, and BROWN THRASHER on June 22. Contact her at mo1_omara@yahoo.com.
Wayne Easley's party of four drove from Harvey to southwestern North Dakota for some June 21-22 birding. On the way, they saw a pair of FERRUGINOUS HAWKS with three young in a nest south of Steele and a lone PIPING PLOVER at Long Lake National Wildlife Refuge. In the South Unit of Teddy Roosevelt National Park, they saw FIELD SPARROW and a pair of singing OVENBIRDS on the auto tour route. The Burning Coal Vein Campground, which is now closed, produced SPOTTED TOWHEE, LAZULI BUNTINGS, ROCK WRENS, and AMERICAN KESTREL. At Marmarth, they added a pair of SAY'S PHOEBES and orioles. Nearby, several pairs of MCCOWN'S LONGSPURS appeared to be feeding young and there were also numerous CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPURS. On June 19, Wayne reported a lone female BUFFLEHEAD with one young northwest of Harvey. Larry Jones saw a male CINNAMON TEAL north of Bowdon on June 18, plus a TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE in a small cemetery north of Bowdon on June 20. For details, call Wayne at 701-324-2344.
Sherry Leslie found a CINNAMON TEAL near Max on June 18. Back near Burlington, her yard attracted LAZULI BUNTING on June 12 and two BLACK-BILLED CUCKOOS on June 17. She also saw an INDIGO BUNTING near Minot on June 18. Contact her at 725-4389.
Tyler Bell and Jane Kostenko saw the CINNAMON TEAL near Max on June 18. Earlier, Ron Martin and others had seen a hybrid CINNAMON TEALxBLUE-WINGED TEAL, but Tyler says it was not the same bird. Jane also reported seeing WHITE-FACED IBIS at J. Clark Salyer National Wildlife Refuge, RUFFED GROUSE in the Turtle Mountains, and INDIGO BUNTING near Minot. Contact Tyler at jtylerbell@yahoo.com.
During the week of June 10, Jean Legge heard five calling Nelson's SHARP-TAILED SPARROWS, saw several LECONTE'S SPARROWS, abundant COMMON YELLOWTHROATS, two EARED GREBES, and some SEDGE WRENS at a Waterfowl Production Area north of the Rogers exit off I-94. On June 11, Jean saw LECONTE'S SPARROWS near her house at Valley City and saw a RED-NECKED GREBE at Hobart Lake. You can reach her at 701-845-4762.
Mid-June sightings for Eve Freeberg included the SABINE'S GULL we noted last week, plus RUDDY TURNSTONE on June 11, and a late SNOW GOOSE on June 12. She noted that SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS, WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS, and SANDERLINGS seemed to be thinning out in Grand Forks County. Call Eve at 701-741-8105 for details.
Keith Corliss birded south of Fargo in the Forest River area on June 23 and found two adult NORTHERN CARDINALS feeding dependent young. At Orchard Glen, he heard a singing YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO, which was a new county bird for him. On June 16, a visit to the Fargo lagoons turned up the expected species plus a lone male AMERICAN BLACK DUCK, his first of the season. Keith returned to the lagoons with Dean Riemer on June 21, and they saw the duck again. They added a pair of adult BROAD-WINGED HAWKS northwest of West Fargo for what could be the first Cass County nest, persistently-calling (and possibly nesting) ALDER FLYCATCHERS for another county nesting first, and a SAY'S PHOEBE pair nesting near Absaraka. You can reach Keith at koolhand@juno.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, June 16, 2009.
You never know what you might find in a shorebird survey.
Keith Corliss believes he may have stumbled onto a MISSISSIPPI KITE while conducting a shorebird survey on June 10. Keith called it a "possible" sighting, and did not include the location. He may have other information at koolhand@juno.com.
Eve Freeberg discovered an adult SABINE'S GULL northwest of Grand Forks on June 11. Contact her at 701-741-8105.
Bert Filemyr and four other Pennsylvania birders found a drake CINNAMON TEAL at the south end of Long Lake National Wildlife Refuge on June 11. Contact Bert at afilemyr@comcast.net.
Bob Anderson birded Mountrail and Ward counties on June 10 and 11. Highlights included an active LONG-EARED OWL nest in Stave Township of Mountrail County, plus nesting HORNED GREBES--12 birds on five wetlands in Mountrail County. You can reach Bob at 605-695-1344.
Phil Jeffrey recorded a TRICOLORED HERON at J.Clark Salyer National Wildlife Refuge on June 12. He believes the bird was an adult. Contact Phil at phil.jeffrey@gmail.com.
Mo O'Mara recorded a personal first for Golden Valley County. She watched a display by three LONG-BILLED CURLEWS on June 12. Also in the area were two NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS. In McKenzie County, she added a likely LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE. You can reach her at mo1_omara@yahoo.com.
Wanda Peterson observed a lone BURROWING OWL near Leith in Grant County on June 14. She reported the owl disappeared into a hole in a grain field. She also saw a GREAT HORNED OWL in a field near Leith that day. Contact Wanda at 701-293-6059.
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, June 9, 2009.
A wading bird grabs the spotlight this week.
Wayne Easley and three others discovered a LITTLE BLUE HERON along Highway 2 just west of Towner on June 2. It was the highlight of the 101 species they counted during their trek from Harvey to J. Clark Salyer National Wildlife Refuge. On June 4, Wayne was surprised to find a RED-HEADED WOODPECKER in his backyard at Harvey. He says it was only the second in several years. Wayne also noted five active HORNED GREBE nests nearby. You can contact him at 701-324-2344.
Dave Lambeth and others associated with last week's Potholes and Prairie Birding Festival at Jamestown found 10 or more pairs of HORNED GREBES--some on active nests--while scouting for the festival or conducting tours. Dave believes the 15 or more active nests represents a high number for the past 30 years in North Dakota. You can reach him at davidlambeth58201@yahoo.com.
Ron Martin reports still seeing significant migration in the Minot area. Rain brought good numbers of migrants to Oak Park in Minot on June 8. He saw his first BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO of spring plus YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER, 40 ALDER FLYCATCHERS, 20 RED-EYED VIREOS, 150 CEDAR WAXWINGS, eight TENNESSEE WARBLERS, OVENBIRD, and MOURNING WARBLER. On June 2, he saw 12 ALDER FLYCATCHERS, 31 WARBLING VIREOS, 45 RED-EYED VIREOS, SWAINSON'S THRUSH, six TENNESSEE WARBLERS, CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER, MAGNOLIA WARBLER, four BLACKPOLL WARBLERS, five LAZULI BUNTINGS, and a WOOD DUCK brood in Oak Park. A couple highlights from the Potholes and Prairie Birding Festival: Ron, with Corey Ellingson and Clark Talkington, spotted an EASTERN MEADOWLARK northwest of Medina on June 4. On the following day, Ron found a CINNAMON TEAL/BLUE-WINGED TEAL cross at the Jamestown lagoons. On June 7, Ron counted 11 LECONTE'S SPARROWS in the first 10 stops of the Sheyenne Lake Breeding Bird Survey. Later that day, he and Corey Ellingson birded Sheridan and Wells counties. They recorded a singing CONNECTICUT WARBLER in Martin, an alternate-plumaged COMMON LOON on Goose Lake near Harvey, and lots of shorebirds northeast of Harvey. Those birds included two DUNLINS, 20 STILT SANDPIPERS, 50 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES, 500 SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS, and 225 WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS. Contact Ron at jrmartin@srt.com.
Todd Larson says his yard near Larimore still had eight warbler species on June 1. That number included a CAPE MAY WARBLER. For the spring, Todd recorded 21 of the 22 warbler species on the checklist...missing only the black-throated green warbler. On June 4, Todd found a SAY'S PHOEBE west of the town of Kempton, which is south of Larimore. For details, it's 701-330-2598.
A new yard bird for Betsy Batstone-Cunningham. She saw a male INDIGO BUNTING in her yard on June 7, as well as a LARK SPARROW nearby. Contact Betsy at 218-791-6079.
Jean Legge spent a lot of time in Barnes County and some in Kidder and Ransom counties during the first week of June. On June 3, she saw two GRAY PARTRIDGE in Barnes County, while Kidder County produced four BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS, two SPRAGUE'S PIPITS, FERRUGINOUS HAWK, seven BLACK TERNS, five CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPURS, and nine GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS. Her biggest days were June 6 and 7, when she recorded VIRGINIA RAIL, SORA, NORTHERN CARDINAL, 10 EASTERN WOOD PEWEES, EASTERN PHOEBE, two LEAST FLYCATCHERS, five GREAT EGRETS, WILSON'S SNIPE with young, two WILLETS, two COMMON YELLOWTHROATS, AMERICAN REDSTART, BELTED KINGFISHER, seven YELLOW WARBLERS, two PINE SISKINS, three GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHERS, YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER, 20 RED-EYED VIREOS, AMERICAN BITTERN, BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON, three SONG SPARROWS, five MARSH WRENS, 15 RUDDY DUCKS, CANVASBACK, PIED-BILLED GREBE, 12 WESTERN GREBES, SAVANNAH SPARROW, 12 BOBOLINKS, four TURKEY VULTURES, SWAINSON'S HAWK, RED-TAILED HAWK, three NORTHERN HARRIERS, 15 CLIFF SWALLOWS, 25 NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS, three SPOTTED SANDPIPERS, 30 FRANKLIN'S GULLS, five RING-BILLED GULLS, and seven CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS in Barnes County, plus an INDIGO BUNTING south of Fort Ransom in Ransom County. For more information, call Jean at 701-845-4762.
Ben Kessel reports a CEDAR WAXWING invasion at his yard in north Fargo, with 50-100 of the birds at a time in his birdbath and fountain on June 5. Ben is at quietwolf@cableone.net.
Mark Otnes heard a likely EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE calling near his home in Fargo on the evening of June 5. Contact him at 701-241-4194.
An INDIGO BUNTING has been visiting Linda Gregg's feeders at Horace for several days. She's at lgregg@far.midco.net.
Janelle Masters birded the area from McKenzie Slough to Horsehead Lake and Lake Harriet on June 3. Among her finds were AMERICAN BITTERN, PIPING PLOVERS at both McKenzie Slough and Lake Harriet, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS at McKenzie Slough, many calling MARSH WRENS and SORAS, and WILSON'S SNIPES overhead. You can reach Janelle at 701-224-5525.
Mark Gonzalez found VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS in two locations on the Little Missouri National Grassland in McKenzie County on June 2. He also reported CHIMNEY SWIFTS over northwest Bismarck. Contact Mark at 701-255-0310.
Mo O'Mara closed out May with a visit to the grasslands of McKenzie County, where she recorded three male LAZULI BUNTINGS, REDHEADS, and LARK BUNTINGS. In Williston the following day, she reported a flyover by six CHIMNEY SWIFTS. Back in McKenzie County in early June, she saw WILD TURKEYS, NORTHERN HARRIER, RED-TAILED HAWK, AMERICAN KESTREL, EASTERN KINGBIRD, MOURNING DOVE, a shrike, and HORNED LARK. In Golden Valley County on June 2 and 4, she added NORTHERN HARRIER, RED-TAILED HAWK, AMERICAN KESTREL, GOLDEN EAGLES, SWAINSON'S HAWK, PRAIRIE FALCON pair, UPLAND SANDPIPER, MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD, HORNED LARK, KILLDEER, LARK SPARROW, ROCK WREN, SPOTTED TOWHEE, WESTERN KINGBIRD, EASTERN KINGBIRD, SAY'S PHOEBE, MOURNING DOVE, YELLOW WARBLER, BARN SWALLOW, AMERICAN ROBIN, and AMERICAN CROW. You can reach Mo 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, June 2, 2009.
A whole lotta warblers in Grand Forks.
Dave and Cec Lambeth found numbers and variety in warblers at three locations in Grand Forks on May 26. They started out at Memorial Park Cemetery and moved on to two streets in the older part of town. They saw 250 TENNESSEE WARBLERS, two ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS, three NASHVILLE WARBLERS, 50 YELLOW WARBLERS, 32 CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLERS, 17 MAGNOLIA WARBLERS, two YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, 23 BLACKBURNIAN WARBLERS, two PALM WARBLERS, 34 BAY-BREASTED WARBLERS, 52 BLACKPOLL WARBLERS, four BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLERS, 10 AMERICAN REDSTARTS, three OVENBIRDS, a CONNECTICUT WARBLER, two MOURNING WARBLERS, six COMMON YELLOWTHROATS, two CANADA WARBLERS, and the YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER mentioned in previous reports. Other sightings for the day included five male INDIGO BUNTINGS, a male SCARLET TANAGER, and about 50 SWAINSON'S THRUSHES. For details, it's davidlambeth58201@yahoo.com.
Ron Martin encountered abundant water birds and more at J. Clark Salyer National Wildlife Refuge and elsewhere in McHenry County on May 31. His total for the day was 120 species, and he says he didn't look for the 15 or 20 more common birds in the area. Among his finds: seven AMERICAN BITTERNS, three CATTLE EGRETS, 34 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS, nine WHITE-FACED IBIS, YELLOW RAIL, four VIRGINIA RAILS, 50 SORAS, 400 BLACK TERNS, WILLOW FLYCATCHER, 60 LEAST FLYCATCHERS, three COMMON RAVENS, five MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS, three SPRAGUE'S PIPITS, 27 AMERICAN REDSTARTS, 15 NORTHERN WATERTHRUSHES, 55 COMMON YELLOWTHROATS, three LECONTE'S SPARROWS, nine Nelson's SHARP-TAILED SPARROWS, and three SWAMP SPARROWS. For more information, contact Ron at jrmartin@srt.com.
Bob Anderson birded Stutsman and Kidder counties on May 27. He recorded a pair of CLARK'S GREBES near Dawson as well as three BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS and 30 DUNLINS. Bob found Nelson's SHARP-TAILED SPARROWS and LECONTE'S SPARROWS in many locations, including the Chicago Lake area. At one site near Cleveland, he saw 37 BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS, more than 100 SANDERLINGS, hundreds of BAIRD'S SPARROWS, two RUDDY TURNSTONES, many LEAST SANDPIPERS, and a few WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS. At a second spot just west of Jamestown, Bob added hundreds more WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS, 75 DUNLINS, five STILT SANDPIPERS, six AMERICAN AVOCETS, BAIRD'S SANDPIPER, and LEAST SANDPIPER. At Lake Isabel, Bob saw WILLOW FLYCATCHER, LEAST FLYCATCHER, and ALDER FLYCATCHER, plus YELLOW WARBLER and NASHVILLE WARBLER. Back on May 25 at Armour Park in West Fargo, Bob saw BLUE-HEADED VIREO, CANADA WARBLER, and MOURNING WARBLER among 13 warbler species. Contact Bob at 605-695-1344.
Stacy Adolf-Whipp and Paulette Scherr found a neat group of birds along a shelterbelt near Bordulac in Foster County on May 26. The group included SCARLET TANAGER and at least 10 warbler species including BAY-BREASTED WARBLER, CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER, MAGNOLIA WARBLER, and CANADA WARBLER. Others present included RED-EYED VIREO, WARBLING VIREO, BALTIMORE ORIOLE, ORCHARD ORIOLE, WESTERN KINGBIRD, EASTERN KINGBIRD, LEAST FLYCATCHER, OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, and SWAINSON'S THRUSH. For more information, it's sadolf@hotmail.com.
Carl Stangeland had a SUMMER TANAGER in his Jamestown yard on May 26. Other visitors included BALTIMORE ORIOLES and ORCHARD ORIOLES, BLACKPOLL WARBLER, and YELLOW WARBLER. You can reach Carl at carlcs@daktel.com.
Jean Legge heard a BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO calling at Little Yellowstone County Park north of Kathryn on May 27-28. During her time there, she saw a PILEATED WOODPECKER and two YELLOW-THROATED VIREOS. For details, Jean is at 701-845-4762.
Corey Ellingson headed to New Johns Lake on May 26. He discovered a HORNED GREBE on a nest, AMERICAN BITTERN, RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD, OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, VEERY, 30 SWAINSON'S THRUSHES, and 25 GRAY CATBIRDS. The 14 warbler species included NASHVILLE WARBLER, three MOURNING WARBLERS, and CANADA WARBLER. Corey's list also included a LAZULI BUNTING in Sheridan County and 11 ORCHARD ORIOLES. You can reach him at crackerjackbirder@bis.midco.net.
A PHILADELPHIA VIREO showed up in Bob Neugebauer's yard east of Bismarck on May 29. He's at bobneugebauer@yahoo.com.
Dan Rogers accumulated 83 species in Morton County on June 1. He scored his first DICKCISSEL of the year, along with 10 BALTIMORE ORIOLES and 17 ORCHARD ORIOLES, two RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS, and 48 LARK BUNTINGS. You can reach Dan at 701-224-5530.
Janelle Masters found DICKCISSELS, BOBOLINKS, EASTERN BLUEBIRDS and a "mystery" vireo in the Beaver Bay area near Linton on June 1. Contact her at 701-224-5530.
From Hettinger, Jan Sailer was surprised to see a male CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER on the south side of Mirror Lake on May 28. She says it was the first of the species she had seen there. One day earlier, Jan saw an AMERICAN REDSTART. You can reach her at jngsailer@yahoo.com.
Clark Talkington took a report from Dave Griffiths of a LEAST TERN at Mirror Lake in Hettinger on May 27. Clark birded Long Lake National Wildlife Refuge, MacLean Bottoms, Beaver Bay, and the Mandan Tesoro Refinery on May 28. He saw SEMIPALMATED PLOVER at Long Lake refuge, while MacLean Bottoms offered up 
PIPING PLOVER and LEAST TERN. His totals for the day included nine RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS, 25 LEAST FLYCATCHERS, eight WARBLING VIREOS, six RED-EYED VIREOS, 70 HOUSE WRENS, 18 BROWN THRASHERS, 41 YELLOW WARBLERS, 72 COMMON YELLOWTHROATS, 12 FIELD SPARROWS, 35 SONG SPARROWS, six BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS, and 11 ORCHARD ORIOLES. Clark guided visiting birders in late May and early June. At McKenzie Slough, they recorded five WHITE-FACED IBIS, while Horsehead Lake offered most of the six VIRGINIA RAILS and 17 SORAS they saw. They also covered the Sterling to Wing area and Horsehead Lake, finding two SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS, STILT SANDPIPER, four SPRAGUE'S PIPITS, 20 GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS, four BAIRD'S SPARROWS, 14 Nelson's SHARP-TAILED SPARROWS, and 50 CHESTNUT-SIDED LONGSPURS. Moving on to Cross Ranch, Smith Grove, and Huff Hills, they observed a pair of HOODED MERGANSERS, BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO, EASTERN PHOEBE, three BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLERS, 20 AMERICAN REDSTARTS, 12 OVENBIRDS, and two YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS. The visitors closed out their stay at Long Lake NWR, the Dawson area and Beaver Bay Recreation Area. Those sites produced HORNED GREBE, CLARK'S GREBE, AMERICAN BITTERN, GREAT EGRET, SNOWY EGRET, CATTLE EGRET, WHITE-FACED IBIS, PIPING PLOVER, RUDDY TURNSTONE, SANDERLING, COMMON NIGHT HAWK, ALDER FLYCATCHER, BELL'S VIREO, PHILADELPHIA VIREO, SEDGE WREN, LECONTE'S SPARROW, SWAMP SPARROW, and TENNESSEE WARBLER. Contact Clark at 701-663-8103.
While visiting in Bismarck on May 24, Bernice Houser recorded at least a handful of EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES, plus GRAY CATBIRDS, SWAINSON'S THRUSHES, and BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES. Back home in New Town on May 27, she added male MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD and male BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK. Bernice is at sanishnd@rtc.coop.
Mo O'Mara was back in the grasslands of McKenzie County on May 24, where she found a pair of UPLAND SANDPIPERS, RED-TAILED HAWK, MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD, NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS, SPOTTED TOWHEE, CLAY-COLORED SPARROW, and LARK SPARROW. About four miles west of Williston, she had a flyover by a likely COMMON TERN. Contact her at mo1_omara@yahoo.com.
Dennis Wiesenborn birded north Fargo parks over the Memorial Day weekend. He saw or heard ALDER FLYCATCHER, LEAST FLYCATCHER, YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER, GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER, OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, EASTERN WOOD PEWEE and EASTERN KINGBIRD, about 100 AMERICAN REDSTARTS, and 12 warbler species including CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER, BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER, BAY-BREASTED WARBLER, and CONNECTICUT WARBLER. On May 26, his 20 warbler species included NORTHERN PARULA in his backyard and across the river, plus at least six CAPE MAY WARBLERS. He also recorded a flock of CHIPPING SPARROWS. Contact Dennis at 218-287-4420.
Finally, a reminder that the Bismarck-Mandan Bird Club meets at 6:30 pm on Friday, June 5, at the Dakota Zoo in Bismarck. There'll be a short business meeting and a bird walk around the zoo.
That concludes this week's report from the North Dakota Birding Society.
