Date: 10/22/25 11:25 am From: Vic Fondy via groups.io <treasurecreek...> Subject: [sd-birds] Field Trip to Keyhole Dam
The weather forecast looks good, and the Northern Hills Bird Club (NHBC) will conduct a field trip to Keyhole Dam in Wyoming on Saturday October 25, 2025. We'll meet at the Sundance West side Conoco off of I-90 exit 185 at 8 AM. Jen Adams will be leading the trip which will take back roads to Keyhole and around the dam.. The group will have lunch at Pine Haven and birding will end early afternoon around 3 PM. Please bring your hand-held radio if you have one, but I'll have a few extras.
Date: 10/20/25 2:54 pm From: Judy Hengen via groups.io <judyhengen...> Subject: [sd-birds] Canyon Lake Park Survey, RC, Pennington Co. Oct. 20,2025
Canyon Lake Park Survey, Rapid City, Pennington County
October 20, 2025 7:05 AM – 9:30 AM
Surveyors: Rachel Benton, Judy Hengen, Jackie Stucky-Strom
Conditions: Temp: Start: 49 End: 47 Wind (Beaufort Scale): 1-3
gusts of 4
Cloud Cover: 100% to 20% Weather: total clouds to partly sunny and
windy
SPECIES: 25 INDIVIDUALS: 516
Canada Goose 245
Wood Duck 2
Gadwall 53
Mallard 61
Bufflehead 3 FOS
Hooded Merganser 1
Common Merganser 25
Rock Pigeon 34
Eurasian Collared-Dove 1
American Coot 10
Great Blue Heron 3
Osprey 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Belted Kingfisher 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 3
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 7
Black-capped Chickadee 10
European Starling 14
American Robin 18
Cedar Waxwing 1
House Sparrow 16
House Finch 3
Song Sparrow 1
Date: 10/19/25 6:19 pm From: Vic Fondy via groups.io <treasurecreek...> Subject: [sd-birds] Birding today and Whitewood Report
We birded backroads to Bear Butte Lake today, then found US 79 closed both direction with long delays near Newell, so birded backroads to Nisland, BF reservoir, Crooked Oaks Rd, and to Whitewood. Bear Butte Lake had limited birds as there were hunters. Only 1 sighting in Nisland, but Belle Fourche reservoir was about like last week with 100's of ducks , Pelicans and DC Cormorants, all in the south area where diversion water comes in. Ring-billed Gulls and one Great Blue Heron were the only sighting on the water along the reservoir west side. Highlights of the day include 2 different sightings of Gray Partridge, 3 Lewis's Woodpeckers with two on Crooked Oaks Road and one on Eden Road. Ducks were numerous today and included Mallard, Gadwall, Green-winged Teal, Redhead, Canvasback, Common Merganser, and Bufflehead. Raptors were 5 Red-tailed Hawks and our FOS 2 Rough-legged Hawks. European Starlings were the most plentiful bird with several hundred seen and sightings in many location. Other sightings included Mountain Bluebird, lots of Common Grackles, a few Lark Buntings, and a few Juncos. The Vesper Sparrow was not seen today and may have headed South and we had no other sparrow sightings.
At our feeders 1.5 miles south of Whitewood we had two migrant sightings, White-throated Sparrow and Townsend's Solitaire. Our winter Dark-eyed Juncos returned 10/17 and we had a Sharp-Shinned Hawk and Bald Eagle on 10/15. We have our usual Fall species, but the total number of birds at the feeders is below average, maybe because of the good weather.
Date: 10/15/25 2:44 pm From: Michael M. Melius via groups.io <pingothenbingo...> Subject: [sd-birds] Correction Re: FOY Longspurs
Correction in this post about longspurs: HALO should be HOLA. Hello!
Michael
On Wed, Oct 15, 2025 at 12:43 PM Michael Melius <pingothenbingo...>
wrote:
> Chestnut-collared, that is. (CCLO) I really did try to find them in spring
> migration, searching several times east/southeast of the Black Hills in
> April.
>
> Yesterday I made a long circular trip in eastern Custer Co, from Buffalo
> Gap to Folsom and back through Hermosa. I saw a small flock of Horned Larks
> (HOLA) in a prairie dog town, and a possible flock of longspurs over
> stubble fields of an irrigated area near the Cheyenne River. Those were too
> far off to identify.
>
> With the sun going down, I rolled slowly through some flat farmland along
> Spring Creek Cutoff Road. It's a reliable spot for sparrow migration. A
> harrier was hunting there, and soon I saw some small birds milling around.
> I stopped and got out, and immediately heard CCLO calls. They were flying
> so fast, but I was able to get positive ID's on several, with dark breasts
> and prominent white on the tails. Also some definite HALO's mixed in.
>
> Just then a doe with two young were walking across the stubble field
> towards me. I quickly got back in my pickup, so they'd keep coming. Sure
> enough, they started flushing more larks and longspurs. Better yet, they
> turned west, longways through the field, stirring up more birds. There were
> easily over a hundred. When they would alight in the stubble, I searched
> with a scope, but the only bird heads I could see were meadowlarks. There
> were over 20 of these, probably roosting in a pasture across the road.
>
> My experience with such mixed flocks is mostly winter ones, Lapland
> Longspurs and HALO's. As with these CCLO/HALO flocks, it's very difficult
> to tell them apart when flying. As the birds were finally settling down
> last evening, a group of three CCLO came by, calling, and flying their
> bouncy longspur flight, very obvious. Now I wonder: When they fly with
> HALO's, speeding over the ground, twisting and turning, do they adjust
> their flight to more closely match that of HALO's?
>
> Most of the calls I heard were CCLO's. After they'd all settled in, I had
> the pleasure of hearing many of the longspurs making partial calls from the
> stubble, in all directions.
>
> Michael Melius
>
Date: 10/15/25 9:44 am From: Michael M. Melius via groups.io <pingothenbingo...> Subject: [sd-birds] FOY Longspurs
Chestnut-collared, that is. (CCLO) I really did try to find them in spring migration, searching several times east/southeast of the Black Hills in April.
Yesterday I made a long circular trip in eastern Custer Co, from Buffalo Gap to Folsom and back through Hermosa. I saw a small flock of Horned Larks (HOLA) in a prairie dog town, and a possible flock of longspurs over stubble fields of an irrigated area near the Cheyenne River. Those were too far off to identify.
With the sun going down, I rolled slowly through some flat farmland along Spring Creek Cutoff Road. It's a reliable spot for sparrow migration. A harrier was hunting there, and soon I saw some small birds milling around. I stopped and got out, and immediately heard CCLO calls. They were flying so fast, but I was able to get positive ID's on several, with dark breasts and prominent white on the tails. Also some definite HALO's mixed in.
Just then a doe with two young were walking across the stubble field towards me. I quickly got back in my pickup, so they'd keep coming. Sure enough, they started flushing more larks and longspurs. Better yet, they turned west, longways through the field, stirring up more birds. There were easily over a hundred. When they would alight in the stubble, I searched with a scope, but the only bird heads I could see were meadowlarks. There were over 20 of these, probably roosting in a pasture across the road.
My experience with such mixed flocks is mostly winter ones, Lapland Longspurs and HALO's. As with these CCLO/HALO flocks, it's very difficult to tell them apart when flying. As the birds were finally settling down last evening, a group of three CCLO came by, calling, and flying their bouncy longspur flight, very obvious. Now I wonder: When they fly with HALO's, speeding over the ground, twisting and turning, do they adjust their flight to more closely match that of HALO's?
Most of the calls I heard were CCLO's. After they'd all settled in, I had the pleasure of hearing many of the longspurs making partial calls from the stubble, in all directions.
Date: 10/13/25 1:43 pm From: Vic Fondy via groups.io <treasurecreek...> Subject: [sd-birds] Field Trip[ to Keyhole Dam
The Northern Hills Bird Club (NHBC) will conduct a field trip to Keyhole Dam in Wyoming on Saturday October 25, 2025. We'll meet at the Sundance West side Conoco off at I-90 exit 185 at 8 AM. Jen Adams will be leading the trip which will take back roads to Keyhole and around the dam.. The group will have lunch at Pine Haven and birding will end early afternoon around 3 PM. Please bring your hand-held radio if you have one, but I'll have a few extras. I'll send another e-mail on Friday 10.24 confirming the trip after checking weather.
Date: 10/13/25 12:11 pm From: Judy Hengen via groups.io <judyhengen...> Subject: [sd-birds] Canyon Lake Park Survey, RC, Pennington Co. Oct. 13, 2025
Canyon Lake Park Survey, Rapid City, Pennington County
October 13, 2025 7:05 AM – 9:50 AM
Surveyors: Rachel Benton, Laural Bidwell, Judy Hengen, Victoria Hernandez,
Jackie Stucky-Strom
Conditions: Temp: Start: 32 End: 44 Wind (Beaufort Scale): 0 to 3
Cloud Cover: none Weather: sunny, clear and cold (frost)
SPECIES: 24 INDIVIDUALS: 560
Canada Goose 251
Wood Duck 1
Gadwall 35
American Wigeon 4
Mallard 76
Green-winged Teal 6
Hooded Merganser 1
Common Merganser 4
Rock Pigeon 21
Eurasian Collared-Dove 4
American Coot 12
Great Blue Heron 3
Osprey 1
Belted Kingfisher 2
Northern Flicker 3
Blue Jay 5
American Crow 2
Black-capped Chickadee 6
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1
European Starling 53
Townsend’s Solitaire 3
American Robin 11
House Sparrow 31
Common Grackle 24
Date: 10/11/25 4:17 pm From: Vic Fondy via groups.io <treasurecreek...> Subject: [sd-birds] WW North and Home report
We birded WW Valley Road to Nisland then back roads to Belle Fourche Reservoir (Orman) and returned via Crooked Oaks and St. Onge. Several species had large number of birds and were migrating including 1000+ DC Cormorants at Orman. Other migrants today were numerous American Kestrels, American Robins, Mountain Bluebirds, and hundreds of European Starlings. Sightings of interest included 1 White Pelican and Belted Kingfisher (Orman), Lewis's Woodpecker and Eastern Bluebird (Crooked Oaks). Raptors sightings were 3 Red-tailed Hawks and lots of Kestrels. Sparrow sightings included Vesper and Clay-colored, Grebe sightings were Horned and Pied-billed. Thirty-two species for the trip.
Our feeders 1.5 miles south of Whitewood still have below average numbers and useage. One Western Tanager was seen on 10/3 and we have had a White-throated Sparrow for several days. Mourning Doves are still coming in plus the usual resident birds including both Nuthatches, Chickadees, Blue Jays, Downy/Hairy Woodpeckers, House Finches, EC Doves, and lots of Wild Turkeys.
Date: 10/10/25 3:31 pm From: David Strom via groups.io <djstrom...> Subject: [sd-birds] Outdoor Campus West Survey 10-10-2025
The weekly survey at the Outdoor Campus West was conducted on Friday, October 10, 2025, by Judy Hengen, Laural Bidwell, Rachel Benton and Jackie Stucky-Strom. 24 species were identified with a total of 339 individuals.
Canada Goose-9
Wood Duck-1
Mallard-39
American Wigeon-14
Rock Pigeon-8
Eurasian Collared Dove-38
Sharp-shinned Hawk-1
Downy Woodpecker-1
Northern Flicker-11
Blue Jay-6
American Crow-6
Black Capped Chickadee-3
Cedar Waxwing-8
Pygmy Nuthatch-4
European Starling-37
Townsend's Solitaire-6
American Robin-25
House Sparrow-12
American Goldfinch-8
Song Sparrow-2
Spotted Towhee-4
Common Grackle-89
Orange Crowned Warbler-6
Northern Cardinal-1
Start Time: 7:00 AM, 43 degrees, Sky-100% clear, Wind-0
End Time: 9:45 AM, 59 degrees, Sky-25 % clear, Wind-1
Date: 10/8/25 11:52 am From: Judy Hengen via groups.io <judyhengen...> Subject: [sd-birds] Canyon Lake Park Survey, RC, Pennington Co. Oct. 8, 2025
Canyon Lake Park Survey, Rapid City, Pennington County
October 8, 2025 7:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Surveyors: Rachel Benton, Judy Hengen, Jackie Stucky-Strom
Conditions: Temp: Start: 38 End: 59 Wind (Beaufort Scale): 0-1
Cloud Cover: 10% Weather: sunny and cold (frost) to warming
SPECIES: 24 INDIVIDUALS: 417
Canada Goose 95 (1 dead on the spillway)
Wood Duck 8
Gadwall 32
American Wigeon 1
Mallard 69
Hooded Merganser 1
Common Merganser 12
Rock Pigeon 49
Eurasian Collared-Dove 3
American Coot 10
Great Blue Heron 3
Turkey Vulture 2
Osprey 1
Cooper’s Hawk 1
Belted Kingfisher 2
Northern Flicker 5
Blue Jay 5
European Starling 48
Townsend’s Solitaire 2
American Robin 8
House Sparrow 46
Song Sparrow 1
Common Grackle 15
Orange-crowned Warbler 1
Date: 10/6/25 5:17 am From: N Drilling via groups.io <dril0008...> Subject: [sd-birds] Summer Tanager
Yesterday, while returning from the SDOU meeting, I took a wrong turn somewhere southeast of Lake Campbell and found a shelterbelt/feedlot with at least 1000 E. Starlings and BH Cowbirds. Looking around, I spotted a large yellow bird that turned out to be a female Summer Tanager. The location was on 222 St. west of 466 Ave (44.167348, -96.893865). This southern species is a regular spring visitor to South Dakota but fall records are rare and this appears to be a record-late observation.
I also found a Lesser Black-backed Gull roosting with Ring-billed and California Gulls on Sorenson Beach, Lake Poinsett.
Date: 10/3/25 5:43 pm From: David Strom via groups.io <djstrom...> Subject: [sd-birds] Outdoor Campus West Survey 10-3-2025
The weekly survey at the Outdoor Campus West was conducted on October 3, 2025, by Judy Hengen, Laural Bidwell and Jackie Stucky-Strom. 26 species were identified with a total of 188 individuals.
Wood Duck-2
Gadwall-1
Mallard-23
American Wigeon-1
Rock Pigeon-2
Eurasian Collared Dove-21
Belted Kingfisher-1
Downy Woodpecker-1
Northern Flicker-10
Warbling Vireo-1
Blue Jay-9
Black Capped Chickadee-6
Red Breasted Nuthatch-1
Gray Catbird-1
European Starling-24
Townsend's Solitaire-5
American Robin-29
House Sparrow-6
House Finch-2
American Goldfinch-6
White Crown Sparrpw-1
Rusty Blackbird-2
Common Grackle-26
Western Meadowlark-1
Wilson's Warbler-4
Northern Cardinal-2
Start time: 7:00 AM, 50 degrees, Sky-50 cloudy, Wind-0
End time: 10:15 AM, 80 degrees, Sky-30% cloudy, Wind-1
Date: 10/3/25 6:28 am From: N Drilling via groups.io <dril0008...> Subject: [sd-birds] map for this weekend's SDOU meeting activities
Hi all,
If you are going to this weekend's SDOU meeting at Augustana College in Sioux Falls, the SDOU website has a map with the relevant places highlighted in yellow. Under the sdou.org menu, choose SDOU, then meetings, the link <https://sdou.org/SDOU/Meetings/22/Augustana_map.pdf>is at the bottom left. Weather promises to be hot and windy, so for once, no need for rain gear!
Date: 9/29/25 2:37 pm From: Judy Hengen via groups.io <judyhengen...> Subject: [sd-birds] Canyon Lake Park Survey, RC, Pennington Co. Sept. 29, 2025
Canyon Lake Park Survey, Rapid City, Pennington County
September 29, 2025 7:00 AM – 10:15 AM
Surveyors: Laural Bidwell, Judy Hengen, Carol Johnson, Jackie Stucky-Strom
Conditions: Temp: Start: 56 End: 73 Wind (Beaufort Scale): 0
Cloud Cover: 80% to 60% scattered Weather: mostly sunny and warm
SPECIES: 30 INDIVIDUALS: 656
Canada Goose 106
Wood Duck 3
Northern Shoveler 17
Gadwall 23
American Wigeon 4
Mallard 163
Hooded Merganser 1
Common Merganser 10
Rock Pigeon 38
Eurasian Collared-Dove 8
American Coot 13
Spotted Sandpiper 1
Great Blue Heron 2
Turkey Vulture 99
Osprey 1
Belted Kingfisher 3
Northern Flicker 9
Blue Jay 7
Black-capped Chickadee 3
Barn Swallow 4
European Starling 17
American Robin 3
Cedar Waxwing 12
House Sparrow 29
American Goldfinch 2
Song Sparrow 2
Western Meadowlark 1
Common Grackle 69
Orange-crowned Warbler 2
Common Yellowthroat 4
Date: 9/28/25 6:58 pm From: Vic Fondy via groups.io <treasurecreek...> Subject: [sd-birds] Birding and WW Report
We birded today on a quick trip from Whitewood- to WW Valley-St.Onge and the cutoff road to only south Orman Dam. Raptor sightings included 5 Red-tailed Hawks, 1 Northern Harrier, 1 Golden Eagle, 1 Prairie Falcon, and 2 American Kestrels. Attached is a picture of the Prairie Falcon. Other sightings included 40+ American White Pelicans at Orman, Vesper, Lark, and 1 Field Sparrow, Mountain Bluebirds, American Robins, lots of Red-winged Blackbirds, and a few other resident birds. Twenty-one species.
We have been traveling and returned to empty feeders and very few birds at our home 1.5 miles south of Whitewood. The Spotted Towhees. Black-headed Grosbeaks, and Western Tanagers have departed and the only new migrant sighting was one Swainson's Thrush on 9/26. The overall number of birds at the feeders is way down and it is not necessary to fill feeders daily. Fall colors are beautiful and present along Whitewood Creek and the trees are still holding most of their leaves. Weather has been great and it is a very nice Fall so far.
Date: 9/26/25 2:00 pm From: David Strom via groups.io <djstrom...> Subject: [sd-birds] Outdoor Campus West Survey 9-26-25
The weekly survey at the Outdoor Campus West was conducted on September 26, 2025, by Judy Hengen, Laural Bidwell and Jackie Stucky-Strom. 33 species were identified with a total of 279 individuals.
Wood Duck-4
Mallard-23
Rock Pigeon-16
Eurasian Collared Dove-13
Great Blue Heron-1
Turkey Vulture-2
Sharp Shinned Hawk-1
Belted Kingfisher-3
Downy Woodpecker-2
Hairy Woodpecker-2
Northern Flicker-20
Warbling Vireo-2
Blue Jay-7
American Crow-8
Black Capped Chickadee-7
Cedar Waxwing-8
Pygmy Nuthatch-2
Gray Catbird-2
Brown Thrasher-3
European Starling-39
Townsend's Solitaire-6
American Robin-37
House Sparrow-7
American Goldfinch-5
White Crowned Sparrow-3
Lincoln Sparrpw-6
Song Sparrow-3
Spotted Towhee-4
Brown Headed Cowbird-1
Red Wing Blackbird-1
Common Grackle-30
Orange Crowned Warbler-9
Northern Cardinal-2
Start: 7:00 AM, 50 degrees, Sky-100% clear, Wind-0
Date: 9/22/25 11:48 am From: Judy Hengen via groups.io <judyhengen...> Subject: [sd-birds] Canyon Lake Park Survey, RC, Pennington Co. Sept. 22, 2025
Canyon Lake Park Survey, Rapid City, Pennington County
September 22, 2025 6:45 AM – 10:10 AM
Surveyors: Laural Bidwell, Judy Hengen, Carol Johnson, Jackie Stucky-Strom
Conditions: Temp: Start: 53 End: 65 Wind (Beaufort Scale): 0 – 2
last hour
Cloud Cover: 50% to 20% Weather: mostly sunny
SPECIES: 31 INDIVIDUALS: 467
Canada Goose 45
Wood Duck 5
Blue-winged Teal 33
Gadwall 8
American Wigeon 4
Mallard 83
Hooded Merganser 1
Common Merganser 8
Pied-billed Grebe 1
Rock Pigeon 42
Eurasian Collared-Dove 11
American Coot 12
Killdeer 2
Great Blue Heron 3
Turkey Vulture 107
Osprey 1
Belted Kingfisher 3
Downy Woodpecker 2
Northern Flicker 2
Blue Jay 6
Black-capped Chickadee 6
Barn Swallow 3
European Starling 25
American Robin 2
Cedar Waxwing 6
House Sparrow 27
American Goldfinch 6
Clay-colored Sparrow 2
Song Sparrow 4
Common Grackle 6
Common Yellowthroat 1
Date: 9/22/25 11:36 am From: Michael M. Melius via groups.io <pingothenbingo...> Subject: [sd-birds] Broad-winged Hawks, Hot Springs
This morning I was headed to Chautauqua Park and stopped by the courthouse to count the vultures circling over the area--at least 120. Immediately I spotted a Broad-winged Hawk among them. Pretty soon another joined in, eventually five. Also a Red-tail, which helped cinch the ID with a size comparison. When the vultures eventually dispersed, two of the hawks went south with a group, one flew west, the other two I don't know.
Walking a trail near Chauataqua--no small birds to distract me--I found another Broad-winged perched on a tree top. Looking beyond it, I saw a small kettle of buteos. I was able to drive closer and ID them--another dozen Broad-wing's. I'm confident these did not include any of the five I'd seen earlier.
I'd seen a solo Broad-wing over the river near downtown HS several days ago.
