June 1996 multi-state & province Birding trip report - Birding the Americas Trip Report Repository

Birding the Americas Trip Report and Planning Repository
Return to the Main Index
Return to the North Dakota Index
Return to the South Dakota Index
Return to the Minnesota Index
Return to the Wyoming Index
Return to the Montana Index
Return to the Saskatchewan Index
Return to the Manitoba Index

U.S.A. -- NORTHERN GREAT PLAINS
CANADA -- MANITOBA & SASKATCHEWAN

17 June - 01 July 1996

by Brad Bergstrom

REMARKS:

2838 miles driven from 20 June through 1 July. 207 species total. Virginia's Warbler sighting was 200+ miles out of breeding range; Prairie Warbler sighting was ca. 600 miles out of breeding range. Surprising and/or disappointing failures: owls, in general; Black-billed Cuckoo, Black-headed Grosbeak (visual), Canyon Wren, Golden Eagle, Long-billed Curlew.

Life Birds: McCown's Longspur.

TRIP ITINERARY:

17-20 June -- Northeast North Dakota, esp. from Grand Forks to 20 mi W
20-21 June -- Northwest Minnesota, esp. Agassiz NWR & "Northwest Angle"
21-22 June -- S. Manitoba: Whiteshell Provincial Forest & Park
23-24 June -- S. Manitoba: Riding Mountain NP
24-25 June -- SW Manitoba/SE Saskatchewan prairies
26-27 June -- Western North Dakota, esp. Theo. Roosevelt Nat. Park, Des Lacs National Wildlife Refuge (NWR),
Lostwoods NWR
27-28 June -- [South]east Montana (Wibaux to Alzada), esp. near Baker, Ekalaka (Medicine Rocks SP), Long Pine Hills
28-29 June -- [North]east Wyoming, esp. Devil's Tower Nat. Mon., Thunder Basin Nat. Grasslands
29-30 June -- South Dakota, Black Hills
01 July    -- North Dakota, Missouri Valley area east of Bismark, esp. Lake Oahe & Long Lake NWR

TRIP LIST:

Birds seen (and heard only) in northern Great Plains 17 June - 1 July 1996.

*Abundance Codes: 1 = just one seen (or heard); 2 = 2-8; 3 = 9 to 20 or so;
   4 = scores!; 5 = hundreds!!; 6 = thousands!!!

**Locality Codes & Dates:
   EN = Northeast North Dakota, esp. from Grand Forks to 20 mi W
   NM = Northwest Minnesota, esp. Agassiz NWR & "Northwest Angle"
   M1 = S. Manitoba: Whiteshell Provincial Forest & Park
   M2 = S. Manitoba: Riding Mountain NP
   M3 = SW Manitoba/SE Saskatchewan prairies
   WN = Western North Dakota, esp. Theo. Roosevelt Nat. Park, Des Lacs
        National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), Lostwoods NWR
   EM = [South]east Montana (Wibaux to Alzada), esp. near Baker, Ekalaka
        (Medicine Rocks SP), Long Pine Hills
   EW = [North]east Wyoming, esp. Devil's Tower Nat. Mon., Thunder Basin Nat.
        Grasslands
   SD = South Dakota, Black Hills
   BI = Missouri Valley area east of Bismark, ND, esp. Lake Oahe & Long Lake
        NWR

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                Abundance Code*    Locality Codes**
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gaviidae (loons)
Common Loon                          2            NM, M1, M2

Podicipedidae (grebes)
Pied-billed Grebe                    4            EN,NM,M3,WN,BI
Eared Grebe                          4            WN
Horned Grebe                         1            WN
Red-necked Grebe                     2            NM
Western Grebe                        5            WN,BI
Clark's Grebe                        1            BI

Pelecanidae (pelicans)
American White Pelican               5            EN,NM,M1,M2,M3,WN,EW,BI

Phalacrocoracidae (cormorants)
Double-crested Cormorant             3            EN,NM,M1,EW,BI

Ardeidae (herons)
Great Blue Heron                     2            EN,NM,M1,M2,WN,BI
Great Egret                          1            NM (3 mi from Manitoba)
Black-crowned Night-Heron            2/3          NM,M3,BI

Anatidae (ducks, geese)
Canada Goose                         4            EN,NM,M1,M2,M3,WN,EW,BI
Wood Duck                            2            NM
Green-winged Teal                    3            M1,WN,BI
Blue-winged Teal                     5            EN,NM,M1,M2,M3,WN,EW,BI
Mallard                              5/6          EN,NM,M1,M2,M3,WN,EW,BI
Northern Pintail                     4            EN,NM,M3,BI
Northern Shoveler                    5            EN,NM,M3,WN,BI
Gadwall                              5            EN,NM,M3,WN,EW,BI
American Wigeon                      3            WN,BI
Canvasback                           3            NM,WN,BI
Redhead                              2            M3,BI
Ring-necked Duck                     2            NM
Ruddy Duck                           4            M3,WN,BI
Bufflehead                           2            M2
Common Goldeneye                     2            M2
Common Merganser                     2/3          M1
Hooded Merganser                     2            NM
Lesser Scaup                         3/4          NM,M1,M2,M3,EW

Ciconiidae (New World vultures, storks)
Turkey Vulture                       4            NM,M1,M2,M3,WN,EW,SD,BI

Falconiformes (hawks, falcons)
Bald Eagle                           1            M2
Northern Harrier                     3            EN,NM,M3,WN,EM,BI
Sharp-shinned Hawk                   2            M2
Broad-winged Hawk                    1            M2
Red-tailed Hawk                      3            All 10 localities
Swainson's Hawk                      3            M3,WN,EM,EW,SD,BI
Ferruginous Hawk                     1            WN
American Kestrel                     2/3          EN,M1,M2,M3,EM,EW,SD
Merlin                               1            EW
Peregrine Falcon                     1            M2
Prairie Falcon                       2            EM,EW

Galliformes (upland game birds)
Ring-necked Pheasant                 2            WN,BI
Ruffed Grouse                        2            M1
Sharp-tailed Grouse                  3            M3,WN,EW
Spruce Grouse                        1 hen+chicks M2
Wild Turkey                          2            BI

Rallidae (rails, coots)
Sora                                 3            M3,WN,BI
Virginia Rail                        2            BI
(Yellow Rail)                        3            M3
American Coot                        4            WN,NM,M2,M3,WN,EM,BI

Charadriiformes (shorebirds)
Piping Plover                        3            WN
Killdeer                             5            All 10 localities
American Avocet                      4            EN,M3,WN,BI
Greater Yellowlegs                   2            BI
Solitary Sandpiper                   2            M2
Spotted Sandpiper                    2            WN,BI
Stilt Sandpiper                      2            BI
Upland Sandpiper                     3/4          M3,WN,EM
Willet                               3            M3,WN,BI
Marbled Godwit                       2            EN,WN
Common Snipe                         3            NM,M1,M2,M3,WN,EW,BI
Wilson's Phalarope                   4            EN,NM,M1,M3,WN,EW,BI

Laridae (gulls, terns)
Franklin's Gull                      3            EN,BI
Ring-billed Gull                     4            NM,M1,M2,SD,BI
Black Tern                           5            WN,NM,M3,WN,BI
Common Tern                          1            WN
Forster's Tern                       2            EN,BI

Columbidae (doves)
Rock Dove                            4            EN,NM,M3,WN,EW,SD,BI
Mourning Dove                        6            All 10 localities

Tytonidae (owls)
Burrowing Owl                        1            EM

Caprimulgidae (goatsuckers)
Common Nighthawk                     3            M1,M2,WN,EM,EW,SD
(Poorwill)                           3            EW,SD

Apodiformes (swifts, hummingbirds)
Chimney Swift                        3            EN
White-throated Swift                 4            EM,EW,SD
Ruby-throated Hummingbird            2            EN,M1,M2

Alcedinidae (kingfishers)
(Belted Kingfisher)                  1            M1

Picidae (woodpeckers)
(Downy Woodpecker)                   2            WN,SD
Hairy Woodpecker                     2            EN,M1,SD
Northern Three-toed Woodpecker       1            M1
Pileated Woodpecker                  2            M1,M2
Black-backed Woodpecker              1            M2
Northern Flicker                     4            EN,NM,M1,M2,WN,EM,EW,SD,BI
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker             2            EN,M1

Tyrannidae (flycatchers)
Great-Crested Flycatcher             1            NM
Least Flycatcher                     4            NM,M1,M2,M3,WN
Olive-sided Flycatcher               1            M2
Alder Flycatcher                     2            M1,M2
Willow Flycatcher                    2            EN,WN
Cordilleran (Western) Flycatcher     3            SD
Eastern Wood-pewee                   2            EN,M1,BI
Western Wood-pewee                   3            M2,EM,EW,SD
Eastern Phoebe                       2            NM,M1,M2
Say's Phoebe                         1            EM
Eastern Kingbird                     5            All 10 localities
Western Kingbird                     4            EN,M2,M3,WN,EM,EW,SD,BI

Alaudidae (larks)
Horned Lark                          6            WN,EM,EW,SD,BI

Hirudinidae (swallows)
Purple Martin                        2            M3
Bank Swallow                         3            EM,EW,SD,BI
Barn Swallow                         5            All 10 localities
Cliff Swallow                        6            All 10 localities
Northern Rough-winged Swallow        2            EN
Tree Swallow                         4            NM,M1,M3,WN,BI
Violet-green Swallow                 3            EM,EW,SD

Corvidae (jays, crows)
Blue Jay                             2            EN,NM,M1,M2
Gray Jay                             2            M1,M2
Black-billed Magpie                  2/3          NM,M1,M2,M3
American Crow                        4            EN,NM,M1,M2,M3,EM,EW,SD
Common Raven                         2            NM,M1,M2

Paridae (chickadees)
Black-capped Chickadee               3            M1,M2,EM,EW,SD

Sittidae (nuthatches)
Red-breasted Nuthatch                4            M1,M2,EM,EW,SD
White-breasted Nuthatch              2            SD

Certhiidae (creepers)
Brown Creeper                        2            M1,M2

Troglodytidae (wrens)
House Wren                           3            EN,M1,M2,WN,EM,SD
Marsh Wren                           5            EN,NM,M3,WN,BI
Sedge Wren                           3            EN,M3
Rock Wren                            2            EM,EW,SD

Sylviidae (kinglets)
Golden-crowned Kinglet               1            M1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet                 2            M2,SD

Muscicapidae (true thrushes)
Eastern Bluebird                     3            M3,EM,SD,BI
Mountain Bluebird                    3            M3,WN,EM,EW,SD
Townsend's Solitaire                 1            SD
Veery                                2            NM,M1,M2
Hermit Thrush                        2            M1,M2
Swainson's Thrush                    2            M2,SD
American Robin                       5            All 10 localities

Sturnidae (mimic thrushes, starlings)
Gray Catbird                         2            M3
Brown Thrasher                       2            EN,SD,BI
Sage Thrasher                        2            EW
European Starling                    3            EN,M3

Bombycillidae (waxwings)
Cedar Waxwing                        4            EN,NM,M1,M2,WN,EM,EW,SD

Laniidae (shrikes)
Loggerhead Shrike                    2/3          M3,WN,BI

Vireonidae (vireos)
Philadelphia Vireo                   2            M1
Red-eyed Vireo                       5            All 10 localities
Solitary Vireo                       2            M1,M2
Warbling Vireo                       3            M2,M3,EW,SD

Fringillidae
Emberizinae/Parulini (wood warblers)
Black-and-white Warbler             3            NM,M1,M2,WN
Blackburnian Warbler                3            M1,M2
Black-throated Green Warbler        2            M2
Canada Warbler                      2            M2,M3
Chestnut-sided Warbler              5            NM,M1,M2
(Connecticut Warbler)               1            M2
MacGillivray's Warbler              2            SD
Magnolia Warbler                    2            M2
Mourning Warbler                    2            M2
Nashville Warbler                   4            NM,M1,M2
Orange-crowned Warbler              1            M3
Palm Warbler                        2            M2
Pine Warbler                        1            NM
Prairie Warbler                     1            SD
(Tennessee Warbler)                 1            M1
Virginia's Warbler                  1            SD
(Wilson's Warbler)                  1            NM
Yellow Warbler                      5            All 10 localities
Yellow-rumped Warbler
         Audubon's race               4            EM,EW,SD
         Myrtle race                  3            NM,M1,M2
(Northern Parula)                   1            NM
Common Yellowthroat                 3            EN,NM,M1,M2,M3,WN,SD,BI
Yellow-breasted Chat                2            SD
American Redstart                   4            NM,M1,M2,WN
(Ovenbird)                          3            NM,M1,M2,WN,EM,EW,SD
Northern Waterthrush                1            M2

Emberizinae/Thraupini (tanagers)
Scarlet Tanager                     2            M1,M3
Western Tanager                     3            EW,SD

Emberizinae/Cardinalini
(Black-headed Grosbeak??)           1/2          SD
Rose-breasted Grosbeak              3            EN,M1,M2

Emberizinae/Icterini (blackbirds, orioles)
Western Meadowlark                  5            All 10 localities
Common Grackle                      3            EN,NM,M2,M3,WN,BI
Bobolink                            5            EN,NM,M3,WN,EM,EW,BI
Brewer's Blackbird                  5            M3,WN,EM,EW,SD,BI
Red-winged Blackbird                6            All 10 localities
Rusty Blackbird                     1            M2
Yellow-headed Blackbird             6            EN,NM,M3,WN,EM,EW,BI
Brown-headed Cowbird                4            EN,M3,WN,EM,EW,SD,BI
Baltimore Oriole                    2            EN,M3
Bullock's Oriole                    1            EW
Orchard Oriole                      1            BI

Emberizinae/Emberizini (sparows, buntings, longspurs...)
Spotted Towhee                      4            M3,WN,EM,EW,SD
Baird's Sparrow                     2            WN
Brewer's Sparrow                    4            EW
Chipping Sparrow                    5            All 10 localities
Clay-colored Sparrow                4            EN,M2,M3,WN,EM
Field Sparrow                       4            WN,EW,SD,BI
Grasshopper Sparrow                 3            WN,EM,EW,SD
Lark Sparrow                        4            WN,EM,EW,SD,BI
LeConte's Sparrow                   2            NM
Lincoln's Sparrow                   2            M2
Savannah Sparrow                    4            EN,NM,M3,EM,BI
Sharp-tailed Sparrow                3            EN,NM
Song Sparrow                        3            EN,NM,M1,M2,M3
Swamp Sparrow                       2            M2
Vesper Sparrow                      5            M3,WN,EM,EW,SD,BI
White-throated Sparrow              2            NM,M1,M2
Slate-colored Junco                 2            M1,M2
White-winged Junco                  3            EM,EW,SD
Chestnut-collared Longspur          4            M3,WN
McCown's Longspur                   2            EW
(Indigo Bunting)                    1            EN
Lark Bunting                        6            WN,EM,EW,SD,BI
Lazuli Bunting                      2            WN,EM
Dickcissel                          2            BI

Fringillinae/Carduelini (finches, crossbills)
Evening Grosbeak                    2            M1,M2
(Purple Finch)                      2            EN
Red Crossbill                       4/5          EM,EW,SD
White-winged Crossbill              3            M1
Pine Siskin                         2/3          M1,M2,SD
American Goldfinch                  5            All 10 localities

Passeridae
Motacillinae (pipits, wagtails)
Sprague's Pipit                     3            M3,WN

Ploceinae (weavers)
House Sparrow                       2            EN,SD
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mammals seen: White-tailed Deer, Mule Deer, Wapiti (elk), Moose, Pronghorn, Bison, Coyote, Red Fox, Badger, Raccoon, Striped Skunk, bat spp., Snowshoe Hare, Eastern Cottontail, Nuttall's Cottontail, Beaver, Muskrat, Black-tailed Prairie Dog, Richardson's Ground Squirrel, Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel, Least Chipmunk, Red Squirrel, Gray Squirrel, Fox Squirrel.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brad Bergstrom
e-mail: bergstrm@valdosta.peachnet.edu
Dept. of Biology
Valdosta State Univ.
Valdosta, GA 31698-0015
Home Page-- http://www.valdosta.peachnet.edu/~bergstrm/
----------------------------------------------------------------------------