Lou & Jan's Excellent Birding Adventures: July 2021

The Dakotas+
June 1 – June 18, 2021

Our trip to the Dakotas was fantastic. We needed to put on the 5,000 miles to catch up with our lease, since COVID kept us near home for nearly a year. The heart of our target zone started north about 2

miles south of the Canadian border, from there south along the 104th longitude—a stone's throw from the Montana-Dakotas border—through Nebraska and Wyoming, all the way down into northeastern Colorado. Flowing Well Rd heads north from Westby MT to the Canadian border, and crosses back and forth between Montana and North Dakota several times, at one point actually running right on the boundary line. This also happens to be the time zone boundary between Mountain and Central times, so your dashboard clock would jump an hour ahead and a few minutes later, an hour back. It would have been fun to stand on the border with your left side at say 1:00 pm and your right

side at 2:00 pm.

I picked up four new birds on our first day in the target area—Baird’s Sparrow, Sprague’s Pipit, Chestnut-collared Longspur, and Lark Bunting—in that order.

It was a week later before I saw another new bird. Around Rapid City, SD, I picked up Cordilleran Flycatcher and Lewis’s Woodpecker. Next was McCown’s Longspur on a dirt road in the extreme northwest corner of Nebraska. Then came Williamson’s Sapsucker in a picnic area around Lily Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park, CO—which happened to be 15° cooler than to 102° in Fort Collins, where we were staying. Finally, my last new bird was Mountain Plover, which I picked up in western Nebraska on the first day of our return trip

home, making it 9 new birds for the trip, putting me at 598 species since I was born.

Along our journey, high winds blew some debris under the car and it got caught in the wheel drum. Eventually it fell out—no problem. Only stopped twice for speeding, once in South Dakota, and once in Nebraska—but got off with warnings both times, probably because of my charming personality. Our windshield picked up a rock in Iowa and cost $$$ to replace. We beat the record heat by going out just after dawn, returning back before noon.

Here’s a list of all the species we saw on the trip in the order of the locations where we came across them:

1. American Crow, 6-3-2021, Horicon NWR, Dodge County, WI
2. American Robin, 6-3-2021, Horicon NWR, Dodge County, WI
3. American White Pelican, 6-3-2021, Horicon NWR, Dodge County, WI
4. Baltimore Oriole, 6-3-2021, Horicon NWR, Dodge County, WI
5. Barn Swallow, 6-3-2021, Horicon NWR, Dodge County, WI
6. Black Tern, 6-3-2021, Horicon NWR, Dodge County, WI
7. Black-necked Stilt, 6-3-2021, Horicon NWR, Dodge County, WI
8. Blue-winged Teal, 6-3-2021, Horicon NWR, Dodge County, WI
9. Bobolink, 6-3-2021, Horicon NWR, Dodge County, WI
10. Brown-headed Cowbird, 6-3-2021, Horicon NWR, Dodge County, WI
11. Canada Goose, 6-3-2021, Horicon NWR, Dodge County, WI
12. Cedar Waxwing, 6-3-2021, Horicon NWR, Dodge County, WI
13. Common Grackle, 6-3-2021, Horicon NWR, Dodge County, WI
14. Common Yellowthroat, 6-3-2021, Horicon NWR, Dodge County, WI
15. Double-crested Cormorant, 6-3-2021, Horicon NWR, Dodge County, WI
16. Eastern Kingbird, 6-3-2021, Horicon NWR, Dodge County, WI
17. Eastern Wood-Pewee, 6-3-2021, Horicon NWR, Dodge County, WI
18. Forster's Tern, 6-3-2021, Horicon NWR, Dodge County, WI
19. Gadwall, 6-3-2021, Horicon NWR, Dodge County, WI
20. Gray Catbird, 6-3-2021, Horicon NWR, Dodge County, WI
21. Great Blue Heron, 6-3-2021, Horicon NWR, Dodge County, WI

22. Great Egret, 6-3-2021, Horicon NWR, Dodge County, WI

23. Bald Eagle, 6-3-2021, Horicon NWR, Dodge County, WI
24. Northern Rough-winged Swallow, 6-3-2021, Horicon NWR, Dodge County, WI
25. Black-billed Cuckoo, 6-3-2021, Horicon NWR, Dodge County, WI
26. Killdeer, 6-3-2021, Horicon NWR, Dodge County, WI
27. Least Flycatcher, 6-3-2021, Horicon NWR, Dodge County, WI
28. Mallard, 6-3-2021, Horicon NWR, Dodge County, WI
29. Mourning Dove, 6-3-2021, Horicon NWR, Dodge County, WI
30. Northern Cardinal, 6-3-2021, Horicon NWR, Dodge County, WI
31. Purple Martin, 6-3-2021, Horicon NWR, Dodge County, WI
32. Red-bellied Woodpecker, 6-3-2021, Horicon NWR, Dodge County, WI
33. Red-eyed Vireo, 6-3-2021, Horicon NWR, Dodge County, WI
34. Red-tailed Hawk, 6-3-2021, Horicon NWR, Dodge County, WI
35. Red-winged Blackbird, 6-3-2021, Horicon NWR, Dodge County, WI
36. Ring-billed Gull, 6-3-2021, Horicon NWR, Dodge County, WI
37. Rose-breasted Grosbeak, 6-3-2021, Horicon NWR, Dodge County, WI
38. Sandhill Crane, 6-3-2021, Horicon NWR, Dodge County, WI
39. Song Sparrow, 6-3-2021, Horicon NWR, Dodge County, WI
40. Swamp Sparrow, 6-3-2021, Horicon NWR, Dodge County, WI
41. Tree Swallow, 6-3-2021, Horicon NWR, Dodge County, WI
42. Trumpeter Swan, 6-3-2021, Horicon NWR, Dodge County, WI
43. Turkey Vulture, 6-3-2021, Horicon NWR, Dodge County, WI
44. Warbling Vireo, 6-3-2021, Horicon NWR, Dodge County, WI
45. Wood Duck, 6-3-2021, Horicon NWR, Dodge County, WI
46. Yellow Warbler, 6-3-2021, Horicon NWR, Dodge County, WI
47. Veery, 6-3-2021, Horicon NWR, Dodge County, WI
48. Yellow-billed Cuckoo, 6-3-2021, Horicon NWR, Dodge County, WI
49. Caspian Tern, 6-3-2021, North Point Park, Sheborgen County, WI
50. Herring Gull, 6-3-2021, North Point Park, Sheborgen County, WI
51. Harlequin Duck, 6-3-2021, North Point Park, Sheborgen County, WI
52. Red-breasted Merganser, 6-3-2021, North Point Park, Sheborgen County, WI
53. American Goldfinch, 6-5-2021, Clay Co. MN--various, Clay County, MN
54. Clay-colored Sparrow, 6-5-2021, Clay Co. MN--various, Clay County, MN
55. Grasshopper Sparrow, 6-5-2021, Clay Co. MN--various, Clay County, MN
56. Cooper's Hawk, 6-5-2021, Clay Co. MN--various, Clay County, MN
57. Ring-necked Pheasant, 6-5-2021, Clay Co. MN--various, Clay County, MN
58. Upland Sandpiper, 6-5-2021, Clay Co. MN--various, Clay County, MN
59. Brown Thrasher, 6-5-2021, Clay Co. MN--various, Clay County, MN
60. Yellow-shafted Flicker, 6-5-2021, Clay Co. MN--various, Clay County, MN
61. Northern Harrier, 6-5-2021, Clay Co. MN--various, Clay County, MN
62. White-breasted Nuthatch, 6-5-2021, Clay Co. MN--various, Clay County, MN
63. European Starling, 6-5-2021, Clay Co. MN--various, Clay County, MN
64. Marbled Godwit, 6-5-2021, Clay Co. MN--various, Clay County, MN
65. Savannah Sparrow, 6-5-2021, Clay Co. MN--various, Clay County, MN
66. Western Meadowlark, 6-5-2021, Clay Co. MN--various, Clay County, MN
67. American Coot, 6-6-2021, Lake Bertha, Cass County, ND
68. Northern Shoveler, 6-6-2021, Lake Bertha, Cass County, ND
69. Ruddy Duck, 6-6-2021, Lake Bertha, Cass County, ND
70. Yellow-headed Blackbird, 6-6-2021, Lake Bertha, Cass County, ND
71. Bonaparte's Gull, 6-6-2021, Lake Bertha, Cass County, ND
72. Redhead, 6-6-2021, Lake Bertha, Cass County, ND
73. American Black Duck, 6-6-2021, Lake Bertha, Cass County, ND
74. Eared Grebe, 6-6-2021, Lake Bertha, Cass County, ND
75. Baird's Sparrow, 6-7-2021, 13 Mile Landfill--Blacktail, Williams County, ND
76. Golden Eagle, 6-7-2021, 13 Mile Landfill--Blacktail, Williams County, ND
77. Brewer's Blackbird, 6-7-2021, 13 Mile Landfill--Blacktail, Williams County, ND

78. Chestnut-collared Longspur, 6-7-2021, 13 Mile Landfill--Blacktail, Williams County, ND

79. Horned Lark, 6-7-2021, 13 Mile Landfill--Blacktail, Williams County, ND
80. House Sparrow, 6-7-2021, 13 Mile Landfill--Blacktail, Williams County, ND
81. Vesper Sparrow, 6-7-2021, 13 Mile Landfill--Blacktail, Williams County, ND
82. Western Kingbird, 6-7-2021, 13 Mile Landfill--Blacktail, Williams County, ND
83. Cliff Swallow, 6-7-2021, Alkali Lake, Williams County, ND
84. Semipalmated Sandpiper, 6-7-2021, Alkali Lake, Williams County, ND
85. Least Sandpiper, 6-7-2021, Alkali Lake, Williams County, ND
86. American Avocet, 6-7-2021, Flowing Well Rd, Sheridan County, MT
87. American Wigeon, 6-7-2021, Flowing Well Rd, Sheridan County, MT
88. Piping Plover, 6-7-2021, Flowing Well Rd, Sheridan County, MT
89. Sprague's Pipit, 6-7-2021, Flowing Well Rd, Sheridan County, MT
90. White-faced Ibis, 6-7-2021, Flowing Well Rd, Sheridan County, MT
91. Wilson's Phalarope, 6-7-2021, Flowing Well Rd, Sheridan County, MT
92. Wilson's Snipe, 6-7-2021, Flowing Well Rd, Sheridan County, MT
93. Swainson's Hawk, 6-7-2021, N Westby Rd, Sheridan County, MT
94. Bufflehead, 6-7-2021, Medicine Lake NWR, Sheridan County, MT
95. Green-winged Teal, 6-7-2021, Medicine Lake NWR, Sheridan County, MT
96. Lesser Scaup, 6-7-2021, Medicine Lake NWR, Sheridan County, MT
97. Northern Pintail, 6-7-2021, Medicine Lake NWR, Sheridan County, MT
98. Western Grebe, 6-7-2021, Medicine Lake NWR, Sheridan County, MT
99. Willet, 6-7-2021, Medicine Lake NWR, Sheridan County, MT

100. Lark Bunting, 6-7-2021, Rte. 16 just N of Culbertson, Roosevelt County, MT

101. American Redstart, 6-8-2021, T Roosevelt NP--North Unit, McKenzie County, ND
102. Mountain Bluebird, 6-8-2021, T Roosevelt NP--North Unit, McKenzie County, ND
103. Orchard Oriole, 6-8-2021, T Roosevelt NP--North Unit, McKenzie County, ND
104. Red-headed Woodpecker, 6-8-2021, T Roosevelt NP--North Unit, McKenzie County, ND
105. Spotted Towhee, 6-8-2021, T Roosevelt NP--North Unit, McKenzie County, ND
106. Yellow-breasted Chat, 6-8-2021, T Roosevelt NP--North Unit, McKenzie County, ND
107. Black-billed Magpie, 6-9-2021, T Roosevelt NP--South Unit, McKenzie County, ND
108. Black-capped Chickadee, 6-9-2021, T Roosevelt NP--South Unit, McKenzie County, ND
109. Chipping Sparrow, 6-9-2021, T Roosevelt NP--South Unit, McKenzie County, ND
110. House Wren, 6-9-2021, T Roosevelt NP--South Unit, McKenzie County, ND
111. Lark Sparrow, 6-9-2021, T Roosevelt NP--South Unit, McKenzie County, ND
112. Lazuli Bunting, 6-9-2021, T Roosevelt NP--South Unit, McKenzie County, ND
113. Red-shafted Flicker, 6-9-2021, T Roosevelt NP--South Unit, McKenzie County, ND
114. Common Loon, 6-10-2021, Bear Butte Lake, Meade County, SD
115. Audubon's Warbler, 6-11-2021, Custer SP area, Custer County, SD
116. Common Raven, 6-11-2021, Custer SP area, Custer County, SD
117. Eastern Phoebe, 6-11-2021, Custer SP area, Custer County, SD
118. Gray Jay, 6-11-2021, Custer SP area, Custer County, SD
119. Osprey, 6-11-2021, Custer SP area, Custer County, SD
120. Lewis's Woodpecker, 6-13-2021, Custer SP area, Custer County, SD
121. American Kestrel, 6-13-2021, Custer SP area, Custer County, SD
122. Cordilleran Flycatcher, 6-13-2021, Custer SP area, Custer County, SD
123. Black-headed Grosbeak, 6-13-2021, Circle Butte Rd, Sioux County, NE

124. McCown's Longspur, 6-13-2021, Circle Butte Rd, Sioux County, NE

125. Violet-green Swallow, 6-13-2021, Circle Butte Rd, Sioux County, NE
126. Common Nighthawk, 6-15-2021, Pawnee NG, Weld County, CO
127. Broad-tailed Hummingbird, 6-15-2021, Lily Lake--RMNP, Larimer County, CO
128. Slate-colored Junco, 6-15-2021, Lily Lake--RMNP, Larimer County, CO
129. Ring-necked Duck, 6-15-2021, Lily Lake--RMNP, Larimer County, CO

130. Williamson's Sapsucker, 6-15-2021, Lily Lake--RMNP, Larimer County, CO

131. Mountain Plover, 6-16-2021, County Rd 14--Kimball, Kimball County, NE

Saturday, July 17, 2021