2019 Outing Highlights
Saturday, 09 November 2019.
Ponca State Park and Kramper Lake
Unexpectedly nice weather was on store for the 11 members participating in our November outing to Ponca State Park and Kramper Lake. The feeders at the park were attracting 13 species of our regular winter visitors with a surprising 12 Blue Jays in attendance. A drive to and through the Park’s grasslands produced another 16 species including unexpected Ring-billed Gulls and Rusty Blackbirds.
The sunny day warmed to 59 degrees as we surveyed the waterfowl at Kramper Lake near Hubbard, NE. There we found a Western, an Eared, 3 Horned and 9 Pied-billed Grebes along with eleven species of ducks and geese. In all we found 45 species of birds before heading to lunch at the Old Dane Golf Course Clubhouse in Dakota City. Additionally, we appreciated meeting Dave and Terri Sage and James Bailey and welcoming back Teri Dolezal.
Bill Huser, Loess Hills Audubon, 712-574-3107.
11-09-2019 Birds—Ponca State Park and Kramper Lake and related areas etc.
Outing—45 species.
Canada Goose
Gadwall
Mallard
Northern Shoveler
Canvasback
Redhead
Ring-necked Duck
LesserScaup
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Ruddy Duck
Wild Turkey
Horned Grebe
Eared Grebe
Western Grebe
Pied-billed Grebe
Bald Eagle
Northern Harrier
Red-tailed Hawk
American Kestrel
American Coot
Ring-billed Gull
Rock Pigeon
Eurasian Collared-dove
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Blue Jay
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
White-breasted Nuthatch
Eastern Bluebird
American Robin
European Starling
American Tree Sparrow
Harris’ Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
Western Meadowlark
Rusty Blackbird
House Finch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow
Saturday, 05 October 2019.
7 Birders participated in our October outing. It was a calm, damp morning with some light rain and a temperature of 55 degrees. The rain came to an end and we found some good birds at Graceland Cemetery including Red Crossbill, White-winged Crossbill, Pine Siskin, Yellow-rumped Warbler and a fly by Cooper’s Hawk. We made other stops at New Lake, Snyder’s Bend, Southwood Conservation Area and related areas. Most of the people had to leave early due to other commitments so we skipped lunch and some birded on the way home.
We recorded a total of 54 species for the day. Other highlights included: American Kestrel, Eastern Phoebe, Eastern Bluebird, and Northern Harrier. Thanks to all who participated.
10-05-2019 Birds—Graceland Cemetery, New Lake, Snyder’s Bend, Southwood Conservation Area, and related areas etc. Outing—54 species.
Highlights underlined
Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Northern Shoveler
Pied-billed Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
American White Pelican
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Northern Harrier
Cooper’s Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
American Coot
Killdeer
Rock Pigeon
Eurasian Collared-dove
Mourning Dove
Belted Kingfisher
Red-headed Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
American Kestrel
Eastern Phoebe
Blue Jay
American Crow
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
White-breasted Nuthatch
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Eastern Bluebird
American Robin
Gray Catbird
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Nashville Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Eastern Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
Vesper Sparrow
Lark Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
Western Meadowlark
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
House Finch
Red Crossbill
White-winged Crossbill
Pine Siskin
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow
Saturday, 7 September 2019.
9 birders participated in our September outing. It was a mostly cloudy morning with a temperature of 65 and a light breeze and temps held fairly steady through the morning. Light rain began to fall around 11:00. Our first stop was at Brown’s Lake where we searched the woods for Warblers but it was fairly quiet until we found a nice pocket of birds near the dock. They were hard to see but we did locate a few Warblers and Vireos among the group. Two Belted Kingfishers also entertained us on the lake shore. Our next stop was Sandhill Lake where we found the 3 American Avocets that had been present there the previous day.
Light rain put a damper on our birding at our next stop at Owego wetlands. We located a few more species before one car headed for home, a 2nd car made stops at ‘the Square’ and both dairy ponds while the 3rd car decided on lunch at the Crossroads Pub in Smithland. It was quiet at the Pub as we began our lunch but then about 25 motorcycles with wet riders showed up. They were enjoying their day too. We recorded a total of 58 species for the day. Other highlights included: Common Yellowthroat, Black & White Warbler, Wilson’s Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Blue-headed Vireo, and Marsh Wren. Thanks to all who participated.
9-07-2019 Birds—Brown’s Lake, Sandhill Lake, Owego Wetlands, the ‘Square’, Dairy Ponds south and north and related areas etc. Outing—58 species.
highlights underlined
Snow Goose
Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Mallard
Northern Shoveler
Ruddy Duck
Ring-necked Pheasant
Pied-billed Grebe
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Northern Harrier
Cooper’s Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
American Avocet
Killdeer
Spotted Sandpiper
Rock Pigeon
Eurasian Collared-dove
Mourning Dove
Belted Kingfisher
Red-headed Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
American Kestrel
Eastern Wood-pewee
Eastern Phoebe
Western Kingbird
Eastern Kingbird
Blue-headed Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
Tree Swallow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Bank Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Barn Swallow
White-breasted Nuthatch
House Wren
Marsh Wren
American Robin
Gray Catbird
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Black-and-White Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Yellow Warbler
Wilson’s Warbler
Northern Cardinal
Blue Grosbeak
Dickcissel
Red-winged Blackbird
Western Meadowlark
Common Grackle
House Finch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow