It was a great trip and another one where photos don't do the actual sights any justice. Yosemite and the Sequioa trees have to be seen to be believed.
Saturday, July 20, 1996
Central California Trip ~ July 13, 1996
We returned the rental car and flew back to Allentown through Chicago. On the first leg, our plane deviated around some good-sized thunderstorms.
Up close and personal looks at cumulonimbus clouds (thunderheads).
It was a great trip and another one where photos don't do the actual sights any justice. Yosemite and the Sequioa trees have to be seen to be believed.
It was a great trip and another one where photos don't do the actual sights any justice. Yosemite and the Sequioa trees have to be seen to be believed.
Monday, April 29, 1996
Painted Bunting in Northampton County! ~ April 26, 1996
A message on the 'Birdline' tape machine informed me of a possible male Painted Bunting that was noted at a backyard feeder in Northampton County. I called the lady back and she invited Rick Wiltraut and I to her house possibly see it and document it. The bird showed up soon after we arrived and I was able to get this photo of it through their back window.
Painted Bunting near Delps, Northampton County. Note the blue-violet head, light green back, and orange-red underparts. This adult male was visiting the Kindreds' feeder and represents the 2nd record for Northampton County.
It was a county bird for both of us and the first male that I'd seen in the state.
It was a county bird for both of us and the first male that I'd seen in the state.
Monday, June 19, 1995
North-central United States Trip ~ June 9, 1995
I had planned this trip in a way that I would have the best chances of finding all of the specialties of north-central North America that I had not yet seen. My target birds included six species: Sharp-tailed Grouse, Gray Partridge, Sprague's Pipit, Connecticut Warbler, Baird's Sparrow, and the extremely secretive Yellow Rail. I realistically hoped that I'd see at least four of the six during the trip.
My dad picked me up at around 5:30 AM and drove me to the A.B.E. Airport for my 7:00 AM flight to Detroit. I took Northwest Airlines to Duluth, Minnesota, which entailed a plane change in Detroit and another in Minneapolis where I had lunch and got to see a replica of the "Spirit of St. Louis" that was used in the movie about Lindbergh's solo flight across the Atlantic. I landed in Duluth in the early afternoon. The airport consisted of one main runway and three gates, quite a welcome change from the "madhouses" of Detroit and Minneapolis. In a very short time, I had my luggage in the rental car and headed to the nearest grocery store for supplies (an ice chest with ice and some 'goodies').
I headed west on I-35 and stopped at the Thompson Hill Information Center, a rest area and welcome center located atop a large hill just outside of town that afforded great views of Duluth, the Wisconsin city of Superior, and Lake Superior itself. Farther down I-35, I drove west on Route 210 to the McGregor Marsh.
The rental car at McGregor Marsh outside McGregor, Minnesota.
I searched the area for the spots where a local birder had heard Yellow Rail just two weeks before. I wanted to get my bearings while it was still daylight so when I returned later that night I wouldn't be totally "in the dark". While check out the marsh, I heard a Yellow Rail periodically 'ticking' just south of the junction of Routes 65 and 210. Birds that were seen there included Common Snipe, Tree Swallow, Sedge Wren, Common Yellowthroat, and Swamp and Savannah Sparrow.
I left the marsh and headed north on Route 65 to Road 14. After going about three miles east on Road 14, I stopped at a bog where I was told Connecticut Warblers were possible. There, I found Alder Flycatcher, Eastern Bluebird, Red-eyed Vireo, Ovenbird, and Nashville, Chestnut-sided, and Yellow-rumped Warblers, but no Connecticuts.
I also visited Rice Lake National Wildlife Refuge, but I didn't spend a lot of time there since I wanted to concentrate my efforts on the night search for Yellow Rail. So, I drove to the town of Aitkin and checked into the Ripple River Motel. I took a nap until dusk. When I told the desk clerk that I wanted a wake-up call at 9:00 PM, he questioned me whether I meant "PM" or "AM". I assured him that I meant "PM", but I didn't even try to explain why.
I got up and headed back east to McGregor Marsh. I stopped at the spot where I had heard the rail earlier and rolled down the window. There were at least two Yellow Rails calling roughly 50 yards out in the marsh, so I put on my "Swamp Thing" clothes (old pants, socks, and sneakers) and started out towards the calls. The air temperature was around 50 degrees and the water felt like it was close to freezing. I trudged through the thick grasses and steadily got closer to the birds when it started to rain. As soon as the rain began, their calling stopped. I don't know whether this was normal behavior or just a coincidence. Nevertheless, after standing in the rain in cold, ankle-deep water for an additional 20 minutes, I gave up. I sloshed back to the car and drove back to the motel. At 1:00 AM, I set the alarm clock for 4:00 AM, about a half-hour before dawn.
My dad picked me up at around 5:30 AM and drove me to the A.B.E. Airport for my 7:00 AM flight to Detroit. I took Northwest Airlines to Duluth, Minnesota, which entailed a plane change in Detroit and another in Minneapolis where I had lunch and got to see a replica of the "Spirit of St. Louis" that was used in the movie about Lindbergh's solo flight across the Atlantic. I landed in Duluth in the early afternoon. The airport consisted of one main runway and three gates, quite a welcome change from the "madhouses" of Detroit and Minneapolis. In a very short time, I had my luggage in the rental car and headed to the nearest grocery store for supplies (an ice chest with ice and some 'goodies').
I headed west on I-35 and stopped at the Thompson Hill Information Center, a rest area and welcome center located atop a large hill just outside of town that afforded great views of Duluth, the Wisconsin city of Superior, and Lake Superior itself. Farther down I-35, I drove west on Route 210 to the McGregor Marsh.
I searched the area for the spots where a local birder had heard Yellow Rail just two weeks before. I wanted to get my bearings while it was still daylight so when I returned later that night I wouldn't be totally "in the dark". While check out the marsh, I heard a Yellow Rail periodically 'ticking' just south of the junction of Routes 65 and 210. Birds that were seen there included Common Snipe, Tree Swallow, Sedge Wren, Common Yellowthroat, and Swamp and Savannah Sparrow.
I left the marsh and headed north on Route 65 to Road 14. After going about three miles east on Road 14, I stopped at a bog where I was told Connecticut Warblers were possible. There, I found Alder Flycatcher, Eastern Bluebird, Red-eyed Vireo, Ovenbird, and Nashville, Chestnut-sided, and Yellow-rumped Warblers, but no Connecticuts.
I also visited Rice Lake National Wildlife Refuge, but I didn't spend a lot of time there since I wanted to concentrate my efforts on the night search for Yellow Rail. So, I drove to the town of Aitkin and checked into the Ripple River Motel. I took a nap until dusk. When I told the desk clerk that I wanted a wake-up call at 9:00 PM, he questioned me whether I meant "PM" or "AM". I assured him that I meant "PM", but I didn't even try to explain why.
I got up and headed back east to McGregor Marsh. I stopped at the spot where I had heard the rail earlier and rolled down the window. There were at least two Yellow Rails calling roughly 50 yards out in the marsh, so I put on my "Swamp Thing" clothes (old pants, socks, and sneakers) and started out towards the calls. The air temperature was around 50 degrees and the water felt like it was close to freezing. I trudged through the thick grasses and steadily got closer to the birds when it started to rain. As soon as the rain began, their calling stopped. I don't know whether this was normal behavior or just a coincidence. Nevertheless, after standing in the rain in cold, ankle-deep water for an additional 20 minutes, I gave up. I sloshed back to the car and drove back to the motel. At 1:00 AM, I set the alarm clock for 4:00 AM, about a half-hour before dawn.
North-central United States Trip ~ June 10, 1995
After piling everything in the car, I headed for Gun Lake Road, located between Aitkin and McGregor. I took Gun Lake Road to Fleming Township Road 363 and then turned onto Township Road 380. I parked and walked along an old farm road between two fields to where a Sharp-tailed Grouse lek was known to be. I was hoping that there might be some birds still displaying, although mid-June was a fairly late date for that. I searched the spot with my scope, but to no avail. It was looking grim when, all of a sudden, two Sharp-tailed Grouse took off and flew by me at eye level! I now had my first life bird of the trip. Other birds found there included Northern Harrier, American Kestrel, Killdeer, Yellow Warbler, Savannah Sparrow, Bobolink, and some Blue-winged Teal in a drainage ditch.
I left that area and headed back to the bog along Road 14. Very few birds were singing, but I did manage to find Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Hairy Woodpecker, Veery, and Yellow Warbler there.
I drove through Palisade to Route 169, headed north and then east onto Road 18. I parked and walked along the Grant and Aid Trail, the only other spot in the area I knew about that possibly held Connecticuts. It was a soggy area with stands of spruce and tamarack. I found Northern Flicker, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Cedar Waxwing, Nashville Warbler, and Swamp and White-throated Sparrow, but still couldn't find a Connecticut.
I returned to Route 169 and went to Grand Rapids. There, I started the 8-hour drive on Route 2 to Minot, North Dakota. Along the way, I stopped in Bemidji, Minnesota where I had lunch and saw the large statues of the mythical Paul Bunyan and his ox, Babe.
As I got closer to North Dakota, the miles of wooded areas began to give way to more treeless, open areas. I saw an Upland Sandpiper on a fence along the road. Just before reaching the border, I stopped at a rest area outside of the town of Fisher. A grove of trees surrounded the welcome center building and a small lake was behind it. While there, I was Blue-winged Teal, Ring-necked Duck, Least Flycatcher, Western Kingbird, Tree, Cliff, and Barn Swallow, Gray Catbird, Warbling Vireo, and Northern "Baltimore" Oriole.
I entered North Dakota and passed through Grand Forks. Trees were now restricted to watershed areas and to the yards around people's homes. The farther west I drove, the more numerous the water-filled "prairie potholes" became. The surprising thing to me was that almost every depression that held water also held waterfowl of some kind or another. Frequent stops at these waterholes yielded Pied-billed Grebe, Green-winged and Blue-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, Redhead, Canvasback, American Coot, Common Snipe, and Franklin's Gull. Black Terns seemed to be everywhere. Red-winged and Yellow-headed Blackbirds were present among the cattails.
Yellow-headed Blackbird along Route 2 in eastern North Dakota.
The open field areas produced Swainson's Hawk, American Kestrel, Upland Sandpiper, Eastern and Western Kingbird, and Western Meadowlark.
Just before reaching the town of Granville, I turned north onto 10th Avenue North, the road to Buffalo Lodge Lake, for 1.5 miles and then turned right again onto a dike road that divided a large, wet meadow. I was told that this road passed through excellent Yellow Rail habitat. Unfortunately, a section of the road had been washed out before I reached the prime area. However, birds seen in that area included Northern Shoveler, Swainson's Hawk, American Coot, Wilson's Phalarope, Black Tern, Eastern and Western Kingbird, Marsh Wren, Grasshopper Sparrow, Chestnut-collared Longspur, Bobolink, Western Meadowlark, and Yellow-headed Blackbird.
I decided to go back to Route 2 and try and find my way around to the other side of the washout. After running into two dead-ends, I finally did discover the other half of the road. The beginning of it passed through a slightly higher, drier area where I heard what I was sure was a Baird's Sparrow, but I wasn't able to find it. As I continued along the road, the very gradual downhill slope of the land eventually caused a change from a drier, browner habitat into a wetter, greener area. This wetter, grassy area was the preferred home of the secretive Yellow Rail.
Yellow Rail habitat east of 10th Avenue North, the road to Buffalo Lodge Lake, near Granville, North Dakota.
As I got out of the car, I immediately heard a couple Yellow Rails. However, there was a big problem. They were on the south side of the road just beyond an electrified fence. The thought of crossing and electrified fence while standing in ankle-deep water was not a good one. I had visions of the landowner finding my charred body floating in the marsh and shaking his head when he found out that I died while looking for "a little bird".
It was now late afternoon and, since the rails weren't calling incessantly, I marked the spot with a pile of stones so I'd be able to easily find it later that night.
The stones marked the area where I later saw my Yellow Rail east of 10th Avenue North, the road to Buffalo Lodge Lake, near Granville, North Dakota.
I then headed back to Route 2 and traveled west to Minot where I checked in to the Days Inn Motel. Once again, I was questioned when I told the clerk that I wanted a wake-up call at 8:00 PM, not "AM".
I climbed back into the car and headed back to the spot I marked with the stones. Dusk at this time of the year at this latitude was not until around 10:00 PM. I heard a Yellow Rail calling just beyond the dreaded fence.
I contemplated what the best strategy would be in trying to get a look at this bird. I decided to try and get the bird to come over to my side of the fence. First, I turned the headlights on the area I was standing at; then I played the tape. The bird instantly flew up out of the marsh and crossed the road, landing somewhere behind me. Unfortunately, all I had seen was a dark blur, so I played the tape again. All of a sudden, an extremely loud 'ticking' started right near my feet! I slowly put the tape recorder down in the grass beside the road and turned it on. A few seconds later, the bird popped up through the layers of grass next to the tape player that was only inches from my feet! It remained in full view for about ten seconds before scurrying back into the grass. I couldn't believe I had seen my 'life' Yellow Rail without even leaving the road. Not only was it a fantastic look at a very seldom-seen bird, it was also my 600th A.B.A. area bird. It was then that I realized, regrettably, that had I had my camera, I would have been able to get a picture of it. While there, I also heard other Yellow Rails, an American Bittern, and several Soras and Common Snipe. I headed back to Minot, still amazed that I had seen one of the most sought-after birds in North America.
I left that area and headed back to the bog along Road 14. Very few birds were singing, but I did manage to find Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Hairy Woodpecker, Veery, and Yellow Warbler there.
I drove through Palisade to Route 169, headed north and then east onto Road 18. I parked and walked along the Grant and Aid Trail, the only other spot in the area I knew about that possibly held Connecticuts. It was a soggy area with stands of spruce and tamarack. I found Northern Flicker, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Cedar Waxwing, Nashville Warbler, and Swamp and White-throated Sparrow, but still couldn't find a Connecticut.
I returned to Route 169 and went to Grand Rapids. There, I started the 8-hour drive on Route 2 to Minot, North Dakota. Along the way, I stopped in Bemidji, Minnesota where I had lunch and saw the large statues of the mythical Paul Bunyan and his ox, Babe.
As I got closer to North Dakota, the miles of wooded areas began to give way to more treeless, open areas. I saw an Upland Sandpiper on a fence along the road. Just before reaching the border, I stopped at a rest area outside of the town of Fisher. A grove of trees surrounded the welcome center building and a small lake was behind it. While there, I was Blue-winged Teal, Ring-necked Duck, Least Flycatcher, Western Kingbird, Tree, Cliff, and Barn Swallow, Gray Catbird, Warbling Vireo, and Northern "Baltimore" Oriole.
I entered North Dakota and passed through Grand Forks. Trees were now restricted to watershed areas and to the yards around people's homes. The farther west I drove, the more numerous the water-filled "prairie potholes" became. The surprising thing to me was that almost every depression that held water also held waterfowl of some kind or another. Frequent stops at these waterholes yielded Pied-billed Grebe, Green-winged and Blue-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, Redhead, Canvasback, American Coot, Common Snipe, and Franklin's Gull. Black Terns seemed to be everywhere. Red-winged and Yellow-headed Blackbirds were present among the cattails.
The open field areas produced Swainson's Hawk, American Kestrel, Upland Sandpiper, Eastern and Western Kingbird, and Western Meadowlark.
Just before reaching the town of Granville, I turned north onto 10th Avenue North, the road to Buffalo Lodge Lake, for 1.5 miles and then turned right again onto a dike road that divided a large, wet meadow. I was told that this road passed through excellent Yellow Rail habitat. Unfortunately, a section of the road had been washed out before I reached the prime area. However, birds seen in that area included Northern Shoveler, Swainson's Hawk, American Coot, Wilson's Phalarope, Black Tern, Eastern and Western Kingbird, Marsh Wren, Grasshopper Sparrow, Chestnut-collared Longspur, Bobolink, Western Meadowlark, and Yellow-headed Blackbird.
I decided to go back to Route 2 and try and find my way around to the other side of the washout. After running into two dead-ends, I finally did discover the other half of the road. The beginning of it passed through a slightly higher, drier area where I heard what I was sure was a Baird's Sparrow, but I wasn't able to find it. As I continued along the road, the very gradual downhill slope of the land eventually caused a change from a drier, browner habitat into a wetter, greener area. This wetter, grassy area was the preferred home of the secretive Yellow Rail.
As I got out of the car, I immediately heard a couple Yellow Rails. However, there was a big problem. They were on the south side of the road just beyond an electrified fence. The thought of crossing and electrified fence while standing in ankle-deep water was not a good one. I had visions of the landowner finding my charred body floating in the marsh and shaking his head when he found out that I died while looking for "a little bird".
It was now late afternoon and, since the rails weren't calling incessantly, I marked the spot with a pile of stones so I'd be able to easily find it later that night.
I then headed back to Route 2 and traveled west to Minot where I checked in to the Days Inn Motel. Once again, I was questioned when I told the clerk that I wanted a wake-up call at 8:00 PM, not "AM".
I climbed back into the car and headed back to the spot I marked with the stones. Dusk at this time of the year at this latitude was not until around 10:00 PM. I heard a Yellow Rail calling just beyond the dreaded fence.
I contemplated what the best strategy would be in trying to get a look at this bird. I decided to try and get the bird to come over to my side of the fence. First, I turned the headlights on the area I was standing at; then I played the tape. The bird instantly flew up out of the marsh and crossed the road, landing somewhere behind me. Unfortunately, all I had seen was a dark blur, so I played the tape again. All of a sudden, an extremely loud 'ticking' started right near my feet! I slowly put the tape recorder down in the grass beside the road and turned it on. A few seconds later, the bird popped up through the layers of grass next to the tape player that was only inches from my feet! It remained in full view for about ten seconds before scurrying back into the grass. I couldn't believe I had seen my 'life' Yellow Rail without even leaving the road. Not only was it a fantastic look at a very seldom-seen bird, it was also my 600th A.B.A. area bird. It was then that I realized, regrettably, that had I had my camera, I would have been able to get a picture of it. While there, I also heard other Yellow Rails, an American Bittern, and several Soras and Common Snipe. I headed back to Minot, still amazed that I had seen one of the most sought-after birds in North America.
North-central United States Trip ~ June 11, 1995
I got up at first light and headed back out to the spot where I had heard the Baird's Sparrow the day before. I heard the bird singing as soon as I got there. I played a tape of its call and it flew up and landed on the fence next to the road. After getting good looks at it, I was also able to get some distant photos. However, I wasn't able to locate any of the Sprague's Pipits that were supposedly nearby. While birding along the rest of the road, I found Sora, Upland Sandpiper, Common Snipe, and Marbled Godwits that continually made passes over my head, trying to chase me out of their territory.
Common Snipe east of 10th Avenue North, the road to Buffalo Lodge Lake, near Granville, North Dakota.
Marbled Godwit east of 10th Avenue North, the road to Buffalo Lodge Lake, near Granville, North Dakota.
On the way back out to Route 2, the few trees that were present held a Ferruginous Hawk and a Northern "Baltimore" Oriole.
After heading east on Route 2, I swung northwest on Route 14 and turned into the J. Clark Salyer National Wildlife Refuge. Along the auto tour route, I saw Pied-billed and Eared Grebe, American White Pelican, Double-crested Cormorant, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveler, Blue-winged Teal, Gadwall, Canvasback, Redhead, Lesser Scaup, Ruddy Duck, Northern Harrier, American Kestrel, American Avocet, Willet, Wilson's Phalarope, Franklin's Gull, Forster's and Black Tern, and Eastern and Western Kingbird. About three-quarters of the way around the auto tour, I had to turn around and backtrack because of high water.
I drove back out to Route 14 and headed northwest to the Grassland Auto Tour. This auto tour consisted of two tire tracks through five miles of mixed-grass prairie.
The J. Clark Salyer Grasslands Auto Tour east of Newburg, North Dakota.
Along it, I observed the following: Clay-colored and Savannah Sparrow, Chestnut-collared Longspur, Bobolink, Western Meadowlark, Red-winged, Yellow-headed, and Brewer's Blackbird, and a much better looks at Baird's Sparrow.
Baird's Sparrow along the J. Clark Salyer Grasslands Auto Tour east of Newburg, North Dakota.
I left J. Clark Salyer and continued north to Route 5 where I turned west and drove to Des Lacs National Wildlife Refuge. I stopped at the headquarters near the town of Kenmare and then birded the lake area below. There, I found many of the species I saw at J. Clark Salyer.
Next, I continued west to the famed "Longspur Pasture". The 1979 book, "A Birder's Guide to North Dakota", had mentioned this spot as one of the best places to find Sprague's Pipit and Baird's Sparrow. Although I didn't hear any pipits, I did see Willet, Upland Sandpiper, Marbled Godwit, Horned Lark, Grasshopper and Baird's Sparrow, Chestnut-collared Longspur, Bobolink, and Western Meadowlark, along with a good-sized Jackrabbit.
I returned to Kenmare and headed southwest on Route 52.
Along Route 52 south of Kenmare, North Dakota.
This road followed the Des Lacs River valley all the way into Minot. Common Nighthawks were heard calling overhead.
On the way back out to Route 2, the few trees that were present held a Ferruginous Hawk and a Northern "Baltimore" Oriole.
After heading east on Route 2, I swung northwest on Route 14 and turned into the J. Clark Salyer National Wildlife Refuge. Along the auto tour route, I saw Pied-billed and Eared Grebe, American White Pelican, Double-crested Cormorant, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveler, Blue-winged Teal, Gadwall, Canvasback, Redhead, Lesser Scaup, Ruddy Duck, Northern Harrier, American Kestrel, American Avocet, Willet, Wilson's Phalarope, Franklin's Gull, Forster's and Black Tern, and Eastern and Western Kingbird. About three-quarters of the way around the auto tour, I had to turn around and backtrack because of high water.
I drove back out to Route 14 and headed northwest to the Grassland Auto Tour. This auto tour consisted of two tire tracks through five miles of mixed-grass prairie.
Along it, I observed the following: Clay-colored and Savannah Sparrow, Chestnut-collared Longspur, Bobolink, Western Meadowlark, Red-winged, Yellow-headed, and Brewer's Blackbird, and a much better looks at Baird's Sparrow.
I left J. Clark Salyer and continued north to Route 5 where I turned west and drove to Des Lacs National Wildlife Refuge. I stopped at the headquarters near the town of Kenmare and then birded the lake area below. There, I found many of the species I saw at J. Clark Salyer.
Next, I continued west to the famed "Longspur Pasture". The 1979 book, "A Birder's Guide to North Dakota", had mentioned this spot as one of the best places to find Sprague's Pipit and Baird's Sparrow. Although I didn't hear any pipits, I did see Willet, Upland Sandpiper, Marbled Godwit, Horned Lark, Grasshopper and Baird's Sparrow, Chestnut-collared Longspur, Bobolink, and Western Meadowlark, along with a good-sized Jackrabbit.
I returned to Kenmare and headed southwest on Route 52.
This road followed the Des Lacs River valley all the way into Minot. Common Nighthawks were heard calling overhead.
Sunday, June 18, 1995
North-central United States Trip ~ June 12, 1995
Once again, I left the motel in Minot at first light, but this time I headed for Lostwood National Wildlife Refuge, hoping for the two North Dakota target birds that had eluded me---Gray Partridge and Sprague's Pipit. I was told that the Sprague's Pipit was more vocal in Spring and displayed less as the summer passed. I was also told that the numbers of Gray Partridge had dropped off in recent years, and the best chance to see one would be to drive the back roads through farmland areas in the early morning hours. This is what I did on the way to Lostwood.
Instead of taking Route 2 west to Stanley and then going north on Route 8, I turned off Route 2 at the town of Palermo and took a 14-mile-long dirt road north to Route 50. Several miles north of Palermo, I came over a slight rise in the road and noticed a quail-like bird fly from the shoulder of the road up onto a small hillside. I quickly stopped the car and walked up the hillside to where I saw the bird land in the tall grass. Suddenly, the bird bolted into flight for a good distance and then dropped back into the grass. Luckily, I was able to follow it with binoculars long enough to see the distinguishing rusty face patch and tail of a Gray Partridge before it disappeared out of sight.
I continued up to Route 50 and headed west on Route 8. Several miles up Route 8, I stopped at the refuge headquarters for Lostwood. After picking up some maps and brochures, I headed out on the 7-mile auto tour road. About three miles in, I noticed a group of birds atop a rolling hill. Scoping the spot, I realized that I was watching about 15 Sharp-tailed Grouse still displaying on their "booming grounds".
Sharp-tailed Grouse still displaying on their "booming grounds" along the auto tour in Lostwood National Wildlife Refuge, North Dakota.
Even though the lek was pretty far away, I could easily hear them calling. This was mostly due to the fact that there was no evidence of any human-made sounds anywhere---no cars, no planes, no voices, nothing! In fact, I was the only person on the entire refuge. It was the unique isolation of Lostwood that made it one of my favorite, best-remembered places on the trip.
The wide open expanse of Lostwood National Wildlife Refuge in North Dakota.
Farther down the road, I stopped at the Sharp-tailed Grouse blind. There, I saw more grouse, but it was here that I was told I had my best shot at seeing Sprague's Pipit. All around the blind, I kept hearing the pipits' calls but couldn't locate them. Finally, after walking through the area for about an hour, a Sprague's Pipit flew out in front of me and started climbing in altitude. I followed it with binoculars to what had to be several hundred feet above the ground. After about four or five minutes in the air, the bird dropped like a rock back down to earth and disappeared into the short grass. Baird's Sparrows were also singing in the same area. This was also the spot where I saw the only other person while I was at Lostwood. He was a botanist who drove up in a pickup pulling a horse trailer. We talked about how peaceful the place was as he got his horse out of the trailer and saddled it up. Then, he rode off over the hill into the seemingly endless miles of prairie. It was easy to imagine a wagon train coming over the hill at any moment.
Near the end of the road, I scoped the edges of Upper Lostwood Lake. The brochure stated that this was one of the few places in the area where the endangered Piping Plover still nested. Sure enough, I found two of the plovers working the edge of the lake. I then backtracked to the headquarters, making numerous stops along the way. Birds seen there included Pied-billed Grebe, Blue-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, Gadwall, Ruddy Duck, Sora, Northern Harrier, Willow Flycatcher, Eastern and Western Kingbird, Tree and Barn Swallow, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Vesper, Savannah, Grasshopper, and Clay-colored Sparrow, Bobolink, Western Meadowlark, Brewer's, Red-winged, and Yellow-headed Blackbird, and American Goldfinch. A very small, wooded area held Least Flycatcher, Brown Thrasher, and Warbling Vireo.
I left Lostwood and started the 4-hour drive to Kidder County by way of Minot and Bismarck.
Along Route 50, west of the town of Coulee, I spotted a Ferruginous Hawk.
Ferruginous Hawk west of Coulee, North Dakota.
Temperatures were approaching 90 degrees and I was looking for a shaded place to pull over and rest for a while, but the only trees around were those found in people's yards. Finally, after nearly an hour of searching, I found several trees next to a small marsh that were grouped together enough to shade the car. The small marsh held Black Tern, Tree Swallow, Brown Thrasher, and Yellow Warbler. Next, I stopped at the town of Max to mail some post cards and call home. I drove on to Bismarck where I got something to eat. Then, I founded a shaded church parking lot where I managed to get some more sleep.
After my second one-hour nap, I pushed eastward towards Kidder County.
I left I-94 at the Tappen exit and headed for a large marsh described in Kevin Zimmer's old North Dakota birdfinding guide. There, I heard a Yellow Rail 'ticking', Sora and Virginia Rail calling, and saw Blue-winged Teal, Swainson's and Ferruginous Hawk, Willet, Marbled Godwit, Common Snipe, Black Tern, Horned Lark, Marsh Wren, Common Yellowthroat, Savannah Sparrow, and Yellow-headed Blackbird.
I then headed several miles east to a good-sized salt alkaline lake located northwest of Crystal Springs. There, I spotted Horned and Eared Grebe, American White Pelican, Wilson's Phalarope, and Ring-billed and California Gull, in addition to the previously-mentioned species. At dusk, I headed back to I-94 and drove east to the Ranch House Motel in Jamestown.
Instead of taking Route 2 west to Stanley and then going north on Route 8, I turned off Route 2 at the town of Palermo and took a 14-mile-long dirt road north to Route 50. Several miles north of Palermo, I came over a slight rise in the road and noticed a quail-like bird fly from the shoulder of the road up onto a small hillside. I quickly stopped the car and walked up the hillside to where I saw the bird land in the tall grass. Suddenly, the bird bolted into flight for a good distance and then dropped back into the grass. Luckily, I was able to follow it with binoculars long enough to see the distinguishing rusty face patch and tail of a Gray Partridge before it disappeared out of sight.
I continued up to Route 50 and headed west on Route 8. Several miles up Route 8, I stopped at the refuge headquarters for Lostwood. After picking up some maps and brochures, I headed out on the 7-mile auto tour road. About three miles in, I noticed a group of birds atop a rolling hill. Scoping the spot, I realized that I was watching about 15 Sharp-tailed Grouse still displaying on their "booming grounds".
Even though the lek was pretty far away, I could easily hear them calling. This was mostly due to the fact that there was no evidence of any human-made sounds anywhere---no cars, no planes, no voices, nothing! In fact, I was the only person on the entire refuge. It was the unique isolation of Lostwood that made it one of my favorite, best-remembered places on the trip.
Farther down the road, I stopped at the Sharp-tailed Grouse blind. There, I saw more grouse, but it was here that I was told I had my best shot at seeing Sprague's Pipit. All around the blind, I kept hearing the pipits' calls but couldn't locate them. Finally, after walking through the area for about an hour, a Sprague's Pipit flew out in front of me and started climbing in altitude. I followed it with binoculars to what had to be several hundred feet above the ground. After about four or five minutes in the air, the bird dropped like a rock back down to earth and disappeared into the short grass. Baird's Sparrows were also singing in the same area. This was also the spot where I saw the only other person while I was at Lostwood. He was a botanist who drove up in a pickup pulling a horse trailer. We talked about how peaceful the place was as he got his horse out of the trailer and saddled it up. Then, he rode off over the hill into the seemingly endless miles of prairie. It was easy to imagine a wagon train coming over the hill at any moment.
Near the end of the road, I scoped the edges of Upper Lostwood Lake. The brochure stated that this was one of the few places in the area where the endangered Piping Plover still nested. Sure enough, I found two of the plovers working the edge of the lake. I then backtracked to the headquarters, making numerous stops along the way. Birds seen there included Pied-billed Grebe, Blue-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, Gadwall, Ruddy Duck, Sora, Northern Harrier, Willow Flycatcher, Eastern and Western Kingbird, Tree and Barn Swallow, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Vesper, Savannah, Grasshopper, and Clay-colored Sparrow, Bobolink, Western Meadowlark, Brewer's, Red-winged, and Yellow-headed Blackbird, and American Goldfinch. A very small, wooded area held Least Flycatcher, Brown Thrasher, and Warbling Vireo.
I left Lostwood and started the 4-hour drive to Kidder County by way of Minot and Bismarck.
Along Route 50, west of the town of Coulee, I spotted a Ferruginous Hawk.
Temperatures were approaching 90 degrees and I was looking for a shaded place to pull over and rest for a while, but the only trees around were those found in people's yards. Finally, after nearly an hour of searching, I found several trees next to a small marsh that were grouped together enough to shade the car. The small marsh held Black Tern, Tree Swallow, Brown Thrasher, and Yellow Warbler. Next, I stopped at the town of Max to mail some post cards and call home. I drove on to Bismarck where I got something to eat. Then, I founded a shaded church parking lot where I managed to get some more sleep.
After my second one-hour nap, I pushed eastward towards Kidder County.
I left I-94 at the Tappen exit and headed for a large marsh described in Kevin Zimmer's old North Dakota birdfinding guide. There, I heard a Yellow Rail 'ticking', Sora and Virginia Rail calling, and saw Blue-winged Teal, Swainson's and Ferruginous Hawk, Willet, Marbled Godwit, Common Snipe, Black Tern, Horned Lark, Marsh Wren, Common Yellowthroat, Savannah Sparrow, and Yellow-headed Blackbird.
I then headed several miles east to a good-sized salt alkaline lake located northwest of Crystal Springs. There, I spotted Horned and Eared Grebe, American White Pelican, Wilson's Phalarope, and Ring-billed and California Gull, in addition to the previously-mentioned species. At dusk, I headed back to I-94 and drove east to the Ranch House Motel in Jamestown.
North-central United States Trip ~ June 13, 1995
I drove north on Route 281 to Arrowwood National Wildlife Refuge.
Arrowwood National Wildlife Refuge near Edmunds, North Dakota.
I stopped at the headquarters for information and, unfortunately, found out that their auto tour road was also closed because of the Spring's high water levels. As a result, I was only able to bird the southern part of Arrowwood Lake. Still, I managed to find Western Grebe, American White Pelican, Northern Harrier, Marbled Godwit, Franklin's Gull, Black Tern, Chimney Swift, Willow Flycatcher, Eastern and Western Kingbird, Horned Lark, Purple Martin, Tree and Barn Swallow, Grasshopper and Clay-colored Sparrow, Red-winged and Yellow-headed Blackbird, and American Goldfinch.
Western Grebe at Arrowwood National Wildlife Refuge, North Dakota.
Since the auto tour route at Arrowwood was closed, I decided to drive to Chase Lake National Wildlife Refuge in order to witness the largest nesting colony of American White Pelicans in the world. Access to the lake is very limited and only by special permission, so I had to scope it from about a half-mile away. The islands in the middle of the lake were crammed full of what appeared to be thousands of pelicans. Mixed in with them were large numbers of California Gulls. The only way I was able to identify them was because groups of them left the lake and flew overhead on their way to nearby feeding areas. Armadas of pelicans constantly flew in and out of the lake area and were seen in several nearby ponds.
American White Pelicans near Chase Lake National Wildlife Refuge, North Dakota.
I worked my way over to the marsh above Tappen that I had visited the day before. I stopped the car and heard Yellow Rail calling at the same spot as before. Once again, I put on my "Swamp Thing" outfit and headed out into the marsh. Since the bird was calling in daylight, my hope was to get a photo. I got closer and closer to the call when it suddently stopped. I played the tape of its call, but what I heard was the sound of something moving beneath the layers of short grass. I tried a few more times, but a Virginia Rail answered instead. Then, I noticed something tugging at my shoestring! It was the Virginia Rail. Within seconds of attacking my shoestring, it flew straight up beside me to waist-level and then powered off to another section of the marsh. Birds not seen in the area the day before included Sedge Wren, Swamp and Vesper Sparrow, and Bobolink.
I hopped back on I-94 and drove east towards my next motel in Moorehead, Minnesota, located just across the border from Fargo. I checked into "Motel 75" just in time to see the Flyers lose their last game of the Stanley Cup playoffs. I then called a local birder who gave me some information about Gray Partridge sightings and directions to the Felton Prairie area outside Moorhead.
I stopped at the headquarters for information and, unfortunately, found out that their auto tour road was also closed because of the Spring's high water levels. As a result, I was only able to bird the southern part of Arrowwood Lake. Still, I managed to find Western Grebe, American White Pelican, Northern Harrier, Marbled Godwit, Franklin's Gull, Black Tern, Chimney Swift, Willow Flycatcher, Eastern and Western Kingbird, Horned Lark, Purple Martin, Tree and Barn Swallow, Grasshopper and Clay-colored Sparrow, Red-winged and Yellow-headed Blackbird, and American Goldfinch.
Since the auto tour route at Arrowwood was closed, I decided to drive to Chase Lake National Wildlife Refuge in order to witness the largest nesting colony of American White Pelicans in the world. Access to the lake is very limited and only by special permission, so I had to scope it from about a half-mile away. The islands in the middle of the lake were crammed full of what appeared to be thousands of pelicans. Mixed in with them were large numbers of California Gulls. The only way I was able to identify them was because groups of them left the lake and flew overhead on their way to nearby feeding areas. Armadas of pelicans constantly flew in and out of the lake area and were seen in several nearby ponds.
I worked my way over to the marsh above Tappen that I had visited the day before. I stopped the car and heard Yellow Rail calling at the same spot as before. Once again, I put on my "Swamp Thing" outfit and headed out into the marsh. Since the bird was calling in daylight, my hope was to get a photo. I got closer and closer to the call when it suddently stopped. I played the tape of its call, but what I heard was the sound of something moving beneath the layers of short grass. I tried a few more times, but a Virginia Rail answered instead. Then, I noticed something tugging at my shoestring! It was the Virginia Rail. Within seconds of attacking my shoestring, it flew straight up beside me to waist-level and then powered off to another section of the marsh. Birds not seen in the area the day before included Sedge Wren, Swamp and Vesper Sparrow, and Bobolink.
I hopped back on I-94 and drove east towards my next motel in Moorehead, Minnesota, located just across the border from Fargo. I checked into "Motel 75" just in time to see the Flyers lose their last game of the Stanley Cup playoffs. I then called a local birder who gave me some information about Gray Partridge sightings and directions to the Felton Prairie area outside Moorhead.
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