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Updated on Wednesday, May 14 at 07:15 AM ET
The most recently received Mail is at the top.


Blue Cotinga,©BirdQuest

14 May Saline Co 5-13-08 [ozbelgnz ]
14 May Arkansas birds [David Clark ]
13 May Belated Fort Leavenworth NAMC [David Williams ]
13 May Tampa Birding [J RM ]
13 May Shawnee county NAMC ReportFwd: eBird Report - Shawnee County, KS, US , 5/10/08 [Dan Gish ]
13 May road runner ["donnie k." ]
13 May Oak Park [Paul Griffin ]
13 May Black-throated Blue--OP Aboretum [Brad Williamson ]
13 May Monday birds []
14 May Pratt area birds 5/13/08 part 2 [mike rader ]
13 May Brown County [kc98 ]
13 May Painted Bunting: yes; Bay-breasted Warbler: no. ["Cheryl K. Miller" ]
13 May Lazuli Bunting at Baker Wetlands [Steve Roels ]
13 May Lake Quivira , Ks, 5/13/08 [mike cooper ]
13 May CB and Nekoma LEPC lek report [Scott Seltman ]
13 May Help wanted in how to view Paul Griffin's web site [Bill and Nancy Beard ]
13 May Bobolink Habitat Becomes Swainson's Hawk Feeding Ground [Bob Broyles ]
13 May Derby Birds - Wood Thrush, Bay-breasted Warbler [Jeff Calhoun ]
13 May Pratt area birds [mike rader ]
13 May HUMMERS ["donnie k." ]
13 May MS Kites in JC (UNCLASSIFIED) ["Keating, Jeff Mr CIV USA IMCOM" ]
13 May Re: Question about finding warblers [Chuck Otte ]
12 May Oak Park [Paul Griffin ]
12 May migration not over (from S. TX.) ["Harrington, Joseph" ]
12 May LASSITER MARSH & PERRY LAKE ["William L. Falk" ]
12 May Yard Birds [Steve Sorensen ]
12 May BU, HV, RN, SF Counties [Gregg Friesen ]
12 May Saturday Great Bend birds [Rob Graham ]
12 May Osprey nest attempt [mike rader ]
12 May Some Riley County birds [Lowell Johnson ]
12 May Orange Variant House Finch [Janet Rebant ]
12 May Oak Park, the field at 93rd N.& 247th W. & the Bobolink field near Colwich [Bill and Nancy Beard ]
11 May Hv Co [RODNEY WEDEL ]
11 May Western Grebe [Paul Griffin ]
11 May Jelly consumption [bvregier ]
11 May Sedgwick County odds and ends ["Cheryl K. Miller" ]
11 May Pony Creek Lake 5/11 [kc98 ]
11 May Hummingbird courtship ["Irwin L. Hoogheem" ]
11 May Backyard Golden-winged [John Schukman ]
11 May weekend birding [Rick Tucker ]
11 May Late post for Saturday [Leon Hicks ]
11 May Wilson area birds 5/11/08 [mike rader ]
11 May Re: Quivira and CB 5/10 [Marvin Kuehn ]
11 May Baker Wetlands: Sunday ["Antonio, Robert J" ]
11 May Sedgwick County weekend birds [PETE JANZEN ]
11 May Saturday Evening: Mississippi Kite ["Antonio, Robert J" ]
11 May Mississippi Kites return to Junction City [Chuck & Jaye Otte ]
11 May Blackburnian Warbler at Cheyenne Bottoms [David Haight ]
10 May Crawford Co., KS birding [Robert Mangile ]
10 May Cassin's Kingbird at Q / 10 May [Scott Seltman ]
10 May Very Warbly [Lloyd Davies ]
10 May Oak Park [Paul Griffin ]

Subject: Saline Co 5-13-08
From: ozbelgnz <ozbelgnz AT SWBELL.NET>
Date: Wed, 14 May 2008 07:14:15 -0500
Left that "unlucky' camera at home by mistake so, we saw, upclose, sitting and 
being cooperative, on MY side of the truck, of course: 

Light colored nighthawk *very neat looking, almost too close for binoculars!
Raccoon, looked like he ate a crawdad, then he saw us and scrammed.
Couple of scissortailed flycatchers 
Lone cattle egret, who was glowingly white next to the dirty cows, actively 
feeding on 'something'. Watched him for quite awhile and only thing I could 
come up with was little itty bitty frogs, it was a wet, marshy grassy area, he 
was right up close to the cow as it munched. This was really neat to watch ! he 
ate at least 25 in the time we watched. 

'Our' owlet must have finally fledged the week we couldn't get down the muddy 
road :( 

We also had a male turkey chasing two girls down the road and a few deer so the 
dogs weren't totally bored, and saw glimpses of indigo blue, probably a indigo 
bunting, but never did see the bird on the road or where we could get some 
glass on it. 

I really think the Great Spirit was saying I need a new LUCKY camera and 
digital video camera  

Dennis went earlier to Kenwood Park looking for baby wood ducks, but didn't see 
any, it's reported there are 13!!! in the cat tails by the bridge by some guy 
he works with's dad, he did get awesome looks at the resident blue heron, and 
also saw a green heron there. 


Don't forget the Smoky Hills Audubon Program Thurs night ! LIVE birds ! Public 
Welcome ! 


Have a wonderfilled day ~
Kat in Salina KS USA
Mid State




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Subject: Arkansas birds
From: David Clark <daclark AT PLANETKC.COM>
Date: Wed, 14 May 2008 01:51:41 -0500
Greetings!

We had a very birdy weekend in Eureka Springs, AR last weekend -  
magnolia, yellow, prairie, Wilson's warblers, American redstarts, blue- 
gray gnatcatchers, summer tanagers, phoebe, great crested flycatcher,  
whippoorwill and chuck-will's widow, red-shouldered hawks' nest with  
two fuzzy babies high in a tree by the gift shop at Blue Spring  
Heritage Center, and the highlight for me . . . .  
drumroll . . . . . . . . . . two roadrunners!  When we got home, there  
was a pair of rose-breasted grosbeaks under the feeder!

Nancy Clark
Shawnee, Johnson County

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Subject: Belated Fort Leavenworth NAMC
From: David Williams <davewilliams8 AT MAC.COM>
Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 23:24:10 -0500
Sorry about the late post.  Tired on Saturday, all day HS graduation  
on Sunday, work and visitors on Monday.  I had a Mourning Warbler in  
the yard tonight, new for the yard list!

Three intrepid birders, John Schukman, John Bollin and Dave Williams  
visited the various habitats at Fort Leavenworth on Saturday, May 10,  
2008 with these results:

I thought that migrants in general were difficult to show  
themselves.   My impression was that there was not a significant wave  
of migrants but we did come up with a nice listing of species.   
Highlights:

21 species of warblers:

Golden-winged - 1 (near the cemetery)
Tennessee - 5 (many more in town, but not surveyed this day)
Orange-crowned - 1
Nashville - 6
N Parula - 21
Yellow - 32
Yellow-rumped - 2
Blackburnian - 6 (these are John & John's. I thought I heard one)
Yellow-throated - 6
Chestnut-sided - 3
Blackpoll - 4
Black-and-white - 2
American Redstart - 101
Prothonotary - 1 (there are more than this present I think)
Ovenbird - 3 (not singing as much as previously, there are more present)
Northern Waterthrush - 1 (singing the previous week, not this week)
Louisiana Waterthrush - 5
Kentucky - 13
Wilson's - 1
C Yellowthroat - 27
Yellow-breasted Chat - 1 (encouraging because I found it in a new  
location for me, after previous known locations have been disturbed)

6 Vireos - Yellow-throated (only 2, numbers way down), Philadelphia,  
Blue-headed, Bell's (only 1 of each), Warbling (6), Red-eyed (21)

Osprey - 1 (in flight over the airfield)
Eastern Wood-Pewee (12, FOS for me)
Least Flycatcher - 2
'Traill's' Flycatcher - 1
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 1
Swainson's Thrush - 10
Wood Thrush - 46
Cedar Waxwing - 17
Summer Tanager - 23
Scarlet Tanager - 3
Eastern Towhee - 23 (and seemed less vocal than last week)
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - 23 (mostly males, some females)
Indigo Bunting - 80 (of mine, I think I saw one female)
Orchard Oriole - 13
Baltimore Oriole - 34


Dave Williams
Leavenworth County

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Subject: Tampa Birding
From: J RM <jrm62030 AT HOTMAIL.COM>
Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 23:19:00 -0500
I just wanted to post and thank all of the people that responded to my query 
about birding in Tampa. In the limited time that I had to bird I ended up with 
25 life birds! I don't know if that would have happened without the great 
advice. 

Thank you all,
Josh Murray
Independence, MO
 
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Subject: Shawnee county NAMC ReportFwd: eBird Report - Shawnee County, KS, US , 5/10/08
From: Dan Gish <gishbear AT COX.NET>
Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 23:13:40 -0400
--
This report of the Shawnee county NAMC is a couple days late, but the 30+ 
observers had a great day on Saturday and logged 143 species. 


Dan Gish
Topeka, Kansas


> Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 19:58:31 -0400 (EDT)
> From: do-not-reply AT ebird.org
> To: gishbear AT cox.net
> Subject: eBird Report - Shawnee County, KS, US , 5/10/08
> 
> 
> 
> Location:     Shawnee County, KS, US
> Observation date:     5/10/08
> Notes: This list refers to the Shawnee County, Kansas NAMC conducted by the 
Topeka Audubon Society on May 10, 2008. Many thanks to the more than 34 
observers and Area Leaders: Janeen Walters, Carol Morgan, Diana Busey. Jim 
Malcom.

Dan Gish, NAMC coordinator > Number of species: 143 > > Canada Goose 230 > Wood Duck 16 > Mallard 52 > Blue-winged Teal 17 > Northern Shoveler 3 > Common Goldeneye 2 > Wild Turkey 51 > Northern Bobwhite 8 > Common Loon 1 > Pied-billed Grebe 2 > Great Blue Heron 45 > Great Egret 1 > Snowy Egret 1 > Green Heron 3 > Black-crowned Night-Heron 1 > Yellow-crowned Night-Heron 1 > Turkey Vulture 109 > Bald Eagle 8 > Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 > Cooper's Hawk 2 > Broad-winged Hawk 1 > Red-tailed Hawk 27 > American Kestrel 5 > Peregrine Falcon (Tundra) 1 > American Coot 8 > Killdeer 40 > Spotted Sandpiper 13 > Upland Sandpiper 6 > Sanderling 8 > Semipalmated Sandpiper 6 > American Woodcock 1 > Rock Pigeon 80 > Eurasian Collared-Dove 24 > Mourning Dove 272 > Yellow-billed Cuckoo 1 > Eastern Screech-Owl 1 > Great Horned Owl 1 > Barred Owl 8 > Common Nighthawk 4 > Chuck-will's-widow 1 > Chimney Swift 435 > Ruby-throated Hummingbird 12 > Belted Kingfisher 11 > Red-headed Woodpecker 18 > Red-bellied Woodpecker 61 > Downy Woodpecker 28 > Hairy Woodpecker 7 > Northern Flicker 8 > Pileated Woodpecker 1 > Olive-sided Flycatcher 1 > Eastern Wood-Pewee 7 > Least Flycatcher 25 > Eastern Phoebe 55 > Great Crested Flycatcher 73 > Western Kingbird 42 > Eastern Kingbird 137 > Scissor-tailed Flycatcher 27 > Loggerhead Shrike 2 > Bell's Vireo 1 > Yellow-throated Vireo 4 > Blue-headed Vireo 5 > Warbling Vireo 22 > Philadelphia Vireo 1 > Red-eyed Vireo 42 > Blue Jay 155 > American Crow 78 > Horned Lark 38 > Purple Martin 91 > Tree Swallow 23 > Northern Rough-winged Swallow 375 > Cliff Swallow 569 > Barn Swallow 287 > Black-capped Chickadee 77 > Tufted Titmouse 65 > Red-breasted Nuthatch 3 > White-breasted Nuthatch 21 > Carolina Wren 44 > Bewick's Wren 1 > House Wren 46 > Sedge Wren 1 > Ruby-crowned Kinglet 9 > Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 23 > Eastern Bluebird 121 > Gray-cheeked Thrush 1 > Swainson's Thrush 30 > American Robin 922 > Gray Catbird 26 > Northern Mockingbird 27 > Brown Thrasher 78 > European Starling 558 > Cedar Waxwing 65 > Golden-winged Warbler 1 > Tennessee Warbler 20 > Orange-crowned Warbler 23 > Nashville Warbler 24 > Northern Parula 34 > Yellow Warbler 245 > Chestnut-sided Warbler 1 > Magnolia Warbler 2 > Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 53 > Black-throated Green Warbler 1 > Blackburnian Warbler 1 > Blackpoll Warbler 20 > Black-and-white Warbler 10 > American Redstart 15 > Prothonotary Warbler 2 > Northern Waterthrush 3 > Louisiana Waterthrush 5 > Kentucky Warbler 1 > Common Yellowthroat 16 > Wilson's Warbler 5 > Summer Tanager 28 > Eastern Towhee 5 > Chipping Sparrow 397 > Field Sparrow 28 > Vesper Sparrow 2 > Lark Sparrow 96 > Savannah Sparrow 55 > Grasshopper Sparrow 22 > Henslow's Sparrow 5 > Song Sparrow 1 > Lincoln's Sparrow 8 > White-throated Sparrow 9 > Harris's Sparrow 93 > White-crowned Sparrow 52 > Northern Cardinal 209 > Rose-breasted Grosbeak 29 > Blue Grosbeak 3 > Indigo Bunting 201 > Dickcissel 106 > Bobolink 38 > Red-winged Blackbird 553 > Eastern Meadowlark 169 > Yellow-headed Blackbird 8 > Common Grackle 1134 > Great-tailed Grackle 19 > Brown-headed Cowbird 136 > Orchard Oriole 15 > Baltimore Oriole 170 > Purple Finch 2 > House Finch 39 > American Goldfinch 187 > House Sparrow 336 > > This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) For KSBIRD-L archives or to change your subscription options, go to http://listserv.ksu.edu/archives/ksbird-l.html For KSBIRD-L guidelines go to http://www.ksbirds.org/KSBIRD-LGuidelines.htm To contact a listowner, send a message to mailto:ksbird-l-request AT listserv.ksu.edu
Subject: road runner
From: "donnie k." <dlknktk AT KANS.COM>
Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 21:48:57 -0500
This evening on a brief trip to the country south of Garfield, Kansas, my 
wife Kathy and I again were lucky enough to see the Road Runner we spotted 
there last fall.  The bird was within 40 yards of where we saw it last 
fall.  Had at least one adult female RT coming to the feeder this 
evening,  along with at least a dozen BAOR.  Where do all these guys come 
from,,,,,,,,,,,besides their mother??   Donnie K. in Larned

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Subject: Oak Park
From: Paul Griffin <pgriffin1 AT COX.NET>
Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 20:38:47 -0500
Hi Folks,

Today, after 4 hours walking around Oak Park, here in Wichita, I saw  
a total of 2 warblers (Redstart male and a Orange-crowned).  Other  
bird watchers had similar experiences.  No new warblers were seen.
It was not only the warblers, but all migrating birds have mostly  
left Oak Park as I found only some Swainson's Thrush's still around.   
With all of the leaves it is very hard to find warblers.  I'm sure we  
will have small groups going through for many days to come.  Maybe,  
like the Bay-breasted Jeff Calhoun and Catherine Lewis found in Crane  
Park in Derby today, also Mike Rader with his finds in Pratt.

Happy Birding,

Paul Griffin

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Subject: Black-throated Blue--OP Aboretum
From: Brad Williamson <brad.williamson AT COMCAST.NET>
Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 20:30:10 -0500
This evening I made a quick run to the Arboretum to check on the flowering
status of some of the arboretum's distinguished woodland wildflowers.  The
flowers weren't blooming yet so I headed back to the truck.  Below the dam
near the two stone pillars that mark the beginning of one of the paths I
literally, nearly ran into a Black-throated blue right at eye-level in some
of the shrubs.  The warbler was preoccupied with feeding and paid little
attention to me.  I followed it and a pair of redstarts around in the
understory below the dam for about 15 minutes.  At one point, the
Black-throated blue was only 3 feet from my shoes in the coral berry....too
cool for more words.

BW

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Subject: Monday birds
From: PamBirdsong AT CS.COM
Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 21:22:11 -0400
Up at Weston Bend, life was good with little wind, and lots of sun in the 
morning. Several people saw the scarlet tanager and the hooded warbler both 
showing off in great light--singing. Later I saw a close up golden winged 
warbler, and a mourning w. Great day. 


Pam Hanson

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Subject: Pratt area birds 5/13/08 part 2
From: mike rader <mike_rader AT HOTMAIL.COM>
Date: Wed, 14 May 2008 01:10:49 +0000
Hi all,

I took a spin around Pratt Co. Lake after work and had 4 Black Terns, my first 
for the year. There were 6 Ring-billed Gulls and a single Forster's Tern there 
as well. Nothing else of note. One sighting from this morning that I neglected 
to mention was two (I presume a pair) Red-breasted Nuthatches calling from some 
cedar trees south of the Doug Reh Chevy dealership a few blocks. There are 
still several Pine Siskins around town too. 


Mike Rader
Pratt, KS

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Subject: Brown County
From: kc98 <kc98 AT JBNTELCO.COM>
Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 20:04:29 -0500
An evening trip to Pony Creek Lake was much more productive than the morning 
trip was. This evening there was a small flock of approximately 12 Willets, 
Wilson's Phalarope, Marbled Godwit, Black Terns, Black-crowned Night Heron, and 
several birds that looked like Dowitchers but I couldn't determine if they were 
the Long or Short-billed. At any rate a great evening, the Marbled Godwit was a 
new one for me. Happy birding to all. Rosella Royer, Sabetha, Brown County, 
kc98 AT jbntelco.com 


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Subject: Painted Bunting: yes; Bay-breasted Warbler: no.
From: "Cheryl K. Miller" <avian67226 AT GMAIL.COM>
Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 20:04:53 -0500
Hi folks.  Crane Park was mostly devoid of birds after work this
evening.  I saw more people than I did birds.

I went over to the canoe launch, and at 6:45 this evening I found a
male Painted Bunting in the parking area (after I returned from
walking 1/2 mile down the levee). He sang the entire time I watched
him. I have to say 10 minutes of watching such a colorful, singing
bird through the open sunroof of my car while I semi-reclined in the
driver's seat was a real treat.  It almost made me forget how busy it
is on campus right now.

I had to call Kevin Groeneweg (who was in California) for directions
to the boat launch (the parks department map is confusing and I have
lost Jeff Calhoun's phone number).  To get there go south on K-15 to
63rd St S.  Turn west, cross the river, go past the Riviera
development (where newbie Jeff found his lifer Long-tailed Duck), and
turn south on Grove.  Take Grove all the way to the end where it
"tees" and turn east on Cider.  At one point Cider turns into 71st St
S and soon after becomes a gravel road. Follow this road to the end
where you can either turn left or go to the archery range (members
only).  Follow the paved road back to the canoe launch site and
parking area.

I also heard a Fish Crow and saw a Wild Turkey in full strut.

-- 
Cheryl

Wichita, Kansas
avian67226 AT gmail.com

"Not to hurt our humble brethren is our first duty to them, but to
stop there is not enough. We have a higher mission: to be of service
to them wherever they require it."--St. Francis of Assisi


Keep cats indoors!
http://www.abcbirds.org/cats/brochure/brochure.htm

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Subject: Lazuli Bunting at Baker Wetlands
From: Steve Roels <steveroels00 AT HOTMAIL.COM>
Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 21:00:15 -0400
Birders,

After jealously hearing my reports of numerous warblers over the weekend (Sarah 
was out of town), Sarah went to hunt for Blackpolls and Chestnut-sideds at 
Baker Wetlands. She was rewarded with a couple Blackpolls, a Magnolia, and most 
remarkably, a Lazuli Bunting. She said she got excellent looks at the bird, 
which was by itself but near a flock of Indigo Buntings, providing a nice 
comparison. The bird was found on the east side of the brushy field east of the 
pump station, near the intersection of the southern trail along the woods and 
the large canal. I'm not sure how often these guys sneak over from Western KS, 
but this is the first report I have heard in the area. 


Cheers,
Steve Roels
Lawrence, KS

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Subject: Lake Quivira , Ks, 5/13/08
From: mike cooper <doctorbird AT KC.RR.COM>
Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 19:37:26 -0500
Just now, while at the dinner table, I noticed a single dark-colored, stocky , 
diving-duck in the middle of the lake. Through the scope there appeared a 1st 
spring female Surf Scoter! This seems like a very late date for this vagrant? I 
called the neighbor to bring the camera and got pretty good images which I'll 
post later with some coaching. 


While I'm reporting:  
the Broad-winged Hawk is still on the nest visible from my back deck.

Participating in the 9th Annual North American Golf Course Birdwatching Open 
last Saturday (an Audubon International-sponsored event for "Audubon 
Cooperative Sanctuary-certified Golf Courses"), we at Lake Quivira GC counted 
84 spp in 12 hrs from within the perimeter of the course. Last yr, with 79, we 
came in 5th in the nation for such certified courses. 


Mike Cooper
Lake Quivira, Ks, Johnson Co. (1 mi. east of I-435 and the Kansas River)
913-268-5068

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Subject: CB and Nekoma LEPC lek report
From: Scott Seltman <sselt AT GBTA.NET>
Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 18:41:17 -0500
I birded a little last evening and this morning with English birders, 
Allan and Penny Gaunt, who came to me via Mark Land.  They are serious 
birders and wanted LIFERS, so I helped them out as best I could.  Their #1 
priority was Lesser Prairie Chicken and that goal was rather easily 
achieved.

Last evening, 12 May, we made a swing thru Cheyenne Bottoms.  Birding was 
pretty slow because of the very high south winds.  We did see 50+ 
Black-bellied Plovers in Pool2 and two pair of Western Grebes on the west 
side of in Pool1 seen from the end of the inlet canal.  Not much else of 
note.  At the campground west of CB HQ we had an Olive-sided Flycatcher, 
my first for Barton County.  Lots of DC Cormorants are occupying new nests 
on islands right now.  Maybe a repeat mass-nesting like last summer?

This AM, 13 May, there were about 11 Lesser Prairie Chickens on the Nekoma 
lek.  They were very active but were hard to hear because of the high 
north winds.  Also present was a male Greater Prairie Chicken that had 
been photographed on the lek a week or so ago by Mike Flieg et.al.  This 
is not the first GRPC in the area, in fact both species were on our old 
yard list and mixed leks have been noted by KDWP nearby, but it was the 
first I had seen in Rush County for at least 5 years.

Afterwards we fought more high winds as we looked for additional target 
species in NW Pawnee, western Rush and eastern Ness counties.  We saw lots 
of grounded migrants at many remote farmsteads, but the only notable find 
was a very vocal Yellow-breasted Chat in extreme NW Pawnee.  Lots of 
Chukars were running loose near a game farm SW of Nekoma.   Isn't that 
great?

Did I remember to mention that it was kinda windy?  Good grief, when is 
March going to end?

Scott Seltman
1968 155th Ave.
Larned, Kansas 67550

"Hey, it's not rocket surgery!" - Oscar Leroy

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Subject: Help wanted in how to view Paul Griffin's web site
From: Bill and Nancy Beard <w2bnn AT COX.NET>
Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 14:45:38 -0500
Some time ago there was a thank you note on the Listserve to a person for a new 
address for viewing Paul's web site on a microsoft computer. I have lost it and 
would really appreciate knowing that. 


Thanks, 
Nancy Beard
w2bnn AT cox.net

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Subject: Bobolink Habitat Becomes Swainson's Hawk Feeding Ground
From: Bob Broyles <bbroyles AT BUTLERCC.EDU>
Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 12:33:24 -0500
Greetings...

  The inevitable has happened, the neighbor swathed and chopped most of 
the alfalfa yesterday, and will probably finish today.  I didn't check the 
remaining acerage of as yet uncut alfalfa for Bobolinks this morning.  

  On the bright side, there were no less than 15 Swainson's Hawks kiting 
in the wind overhead yesterday during the swathing, raking and chopping.  
Only two, the resident pair, were adults, and the rest were immatures... I 
don't think I've seen that many sub-adult Swainson's Hawks hunting in one 
place before.  Often  an immature bird would drop out of the sky and catch 
a rodent, and it could eat in peace if it remained on the ground.  When 
they attempted flight with their prize, one of the adults would drop out 
of the sky in a falconesque closed-winged stoop and attempt to separate 
the predator from its prey.  

  It was interesting to see the numbers increase over time.  At first, 
just the resident pair was overhead, but I guess their body language 
spelled "buffet", because as time went by, more birds would show up, 
again, all sub-adults.  There was a lot of variability in their plumages, 
with one bird almost completely white.  I looked for a Roadside Hawk in 
their numbers, but to no avail.  No dark morphs either.  It was an 
incredible sight, as all 15 hawks at one time remained motionless while 
kiting in the breeze just overhead, no higher than two-to-three times the 
height of the nearby tree canopy!

  My thoughts are that because the sub-adult birds were not "on territory" 
as the adults were, they were free to roam across the countryside and take 
advantage of these types of opportunities.  Surprisingly, the adults 
showed no aggression toward the younger birds other than trying to rob 
them of their prey.  Kinda reminded me of Harris' Hawks group hunting.

  Bob Broyles - Butler County near Towanda.

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Subject: Derby Birds - Wood Thrush, Bay-breasted Warbler
From: Jeff Calhoun <jecalhoun AT WICHITA.EDU>
Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 12:20:19 -0500
Catherine Lewis and I birded around Derby this morning. We had a really 
great day. My lucky streak continues.

Painted Buntings – We only walked around for 15 minutes but we saw / heard 
5 Painted Buntings at the canoe launch site including one female that 
posed in the open. I will have to take a population survey sometime. I 
think that I’d be surprised at how many are there.
Fish Crows – have been present in the area along the river in between 83rd 
and 71st Street South for a month now.
WOOD THRUSH – On the horseback trails behind my family’s field, we chased 
a singing Wood Thrush for 40 minutes. We never did see the bird as 
anything other than a flying flash of brown, but we heard the beautiful 
song at close range over and over and over and over. We also heard another 
distant Wood Thrush. In fact, in one spot we had a close Wood Thrush, a 
distant Wood Thrush, and a nearby Swainson’s Thrush all in song at the 
same time. Incredible! There was one Wood Thrush present in the same area 
in between 15 June and 22 June 2007. Hmmm…
Red-shouldered Hawk – There was no bird on the nest located on the same 
horseback trails, but Catherine did notice that the nest had some greenish 
leaves placed in it. I guess this is an indicator that it has been visited 
recently.
BAY-BREASTED WARBLER – We saw a Bay-breasted Warbler at Crane Park just 
south of the covered shelter. I understand that this is the third year in 
a row at this site.  

Other than Bay-breasted, the Warbler list was kind of pathetic. Yellow, 
Parula, and a possible Magnolia

Paul and McDavitts – What an incredible find with that Western Grebe!! It 
must have been paddling so hard trying to avoid floating to Mulvane. It is 
amazing that it had enough energy to fly wherever it is he is supposed to 
be after all that paddling. This bird is no longer present.

I’ll be looking for Wood Thrush Friday and Saturday morning if there is a 
small group that might like to join.

Jeff Calhoun
Derby, KS  

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Subject: Pratt area birds
From: mike rader <mike_rader AT HOTMAIL.COM>
Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 15:55:40 +0000
Hi all,
 
I thought this morning would be a decent one to go to the woods, south of Lemon 
Park before work. Given the wind switch, etc. I figured I could run into a few 
migrants. Well, it was very few! I had one Swainson's Thrush, 20+ Gray 
Catbirds, 2 Carolina Wrens, 6 House Wrens,one Rose-breasted Grosbeak, 4 Yellow 
Warblers 1 Orchard Oriole and a few other resident birds. I walked around the 
riparian areas east of the office and had a singing Black-throated Green 
Warbler, 4 Yellow Warblers, and a female Wilson's Warbler. There may have been 
another Rose-breasted Grosbeak singing, but it was far away and the wind was 
picking up. There were a dozen or more catbirds here too. Kind of a 
disappointing morning, given the date. Oh, well! 

 
Mike Rader
Pratt, KS
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Subject: HUMMERS
From: "donnie k." <dlknktk AT KANS.COM>
Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 10:14:15 -0500
Had out first two hummers blow in on our south wind yesterday.  Both 
were adult female R.T.    Donnie K. in Larned

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Subject: MS Kites in JC (UNCLASSIFIED)
From: "Keating, Jeff Mr CIV USA IMCOM" <jeff.keating AT US.ARMY.MIL>
Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 09:09:34 -0500
Classification:  UNCLASSIFIED 
Caveats: NONE

Not a new siting, but the 2 Mississippi kites reported by others from JC
this weekend became 4 Mississippi kites last night. I had ample
opportunity to view these birds flying over McDonald's on 6th Street as
I dutifully waited my turn in the drive through lane.

JEFF KEATING
Classification:  UNCLASSIFIED 
Caveats: NONE

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Subject: Re: Question about finding warblers
From: Chuck Otte <cotte AT OZNET.KSU.EDU>
Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 08:40:46 -0500
I held off for a while responding to Daniel's question about where to 
find warblers (not to look wise, merely to find a few minutes to write).

I think that the responses on the list were excellent.  This question, as 
well as the general question of how to bird or where to find birds, are 
asked of me regularly when I do programs on birds and birding.  

1. Going with more experienced birders is always a good start.  There 
are growing numbers of locations where regular bird walks are held.

2. Learn to think like a bird.  Non-birders or beginning birders laugh 
when I say that, but it's true.  Learn the habits and habitats of the 
different species.  Many of us experienced birders know that if you 
want to find Bobolinks in migration, start checking alfalfa fields.  That's 
where we most often find them.  Ya gotta go where the birds are most 
likely going to be.  Of course, in the heart of migration anything can 
happen, but give yourself a step ahead and at least get into likely 
habitat.

3.  Study up ahead of time.  Turn off the television in the evening 
(unless you're checking the Weather Channel to see if the weather 
may be setting up in your favor) and read your bird book.  Select a 
group of possible targets and read everything you can.  Then leave the 
birdbook in the car and spend more time looking at the birds you find, 
and scribbling down notes.  The bird book isn't going to go anywhere, 
but the bird may only be around for a few seconds.

4.  Look with your ears.  Anyone that spends time with a really good 
birder will note that the first clue they get on a bird is often not 
visual,but aural.  Beginning birders on walks assume they need to be 
quiet so they don't scare the birds.  I let them know that they need to 
be as quiet as possible so that THEY can hear the birds.  The name 
birdwatching is a misnomer - it's just as much bird listening.  And I 
have a great deal of respect for those good birders amongst us that do 
have hearing loss, sometimes profound hearing loss.  Spend time 
listening to the bird call recordings.  Just like bird books, buy as many 
as you can afford because no one set of recordings has all the 
different vocalizations and local dialects that the birds can have.  (And 
if anyone can find recordings, really good recordings, of the flight calls 
of longspurs, please let me know!)  Then work, seasonally, at "tuning 
up" your ears.

5.  What's that old joke of the young man asking the old timer in New 
York City how to get to the Metropolitan Opera, and the old man 
answers, practice, practice, practice.  Put yourself on alert to always 
be birding.  A bird flies in front of your car.  You say, it's a cardinal.  
Now quiz yourself how you knew that and why it wasn't a Summer 
Tanager.  Learn how different birds fly and how they perch.  Use the 
General impression of shape and size technique - what some folks call 
jizz.  And to get good at that, you need to watch a lot of birds.

6.  Find a local spot that you can go to on a regular basis.  Even if it's 
just 15 or 20 minutes, if you keep hitting it on a regular basis, you'll be 
amazed at what you can find.  If you can spend 3 or 4 hours daily 
during migration, you will be astonished at what passes through that 
area.

7.  Be persistent.  If you keep trying, you will eventually see "THE" bird.  
Not every bird that you see will you be able to identify, and that's okay.  
Don't give up easily, but keep notes and mark it down as unknown.  
Someday it may make sense, but not today.  We all have nemesis 
birds. That (those) species that we really want to see but just keep 
missing.  (!!*&^%$# Seaside Sparrows anyway!)  Persistence, not to 
the point of obsession, isn't a bad thing.

8.  And sometimes, acknowledge that you just need to be in the right 
place at the right time.  Waves of birds in migration can pass over one 
very likely spot and drop five or fifteen or fifty miles further on.  The 
birds that were reported from south Texas yesterday, may just all of a 
sudden appear on the breeding grounds.  That's the way it goes 
sometimes.

A much longer answer than anyone probably wanted, but just a few 
thoughts on ways to be a better birder, or to find those pesky 
warblers!!

Chuck

-- 
Chuck Otte                      cotte AT oznet.ksu.edu
Past President, National Association of County Agricultural Agents
Geary County Extension Office, PO BOX 28         785-238-4161
Junction City, Kansas 66441-0028             FAX 785-238-7166
http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/geary

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Subject: Oak Park
From: Paul Griffin <pgriffin1 AT COX.NET>
Date: Mon, 12 May 2008 21:54:37 -0500
Hi Folks,

A big change has taken place in Oak Park.  Today there were few  
Warblers in the park, here in Wichita.  The South winds seem to have  
given the birds a reason to head North.  All species seem to have  
departed.  There are more Vireo's than Warblers.  I hope there are  
still some South of us, so far this year hasn't had the variety of  
warbler species as in past years.  If not the bulk of the migration  
is over.  We should know in the next few days.

I did find a nice female Magnolia today.  Other warblers seen:  
Redstart, Yellow, Black and White and Orange-crowned.  No new species  
of any kind.  Almost all of the Orange-crowned seemed to be gone.  A  
few days ago they were everywhere.  It is interesting to note, female  
warblers are showing up, they follow the males.

There just was a post from Joe Harrington from Brownsville, Texas.   
Who reported lots of birds still there.  That's good.  He said keep  
our eyes peeled.  I can do that.

Almost forgot.  For those of you interested, I put a few pictures of  
the Western Grebe I found yesterday near Derby, on my website, here  
is a link:  http://web.mac.com/wingedthings

Happy Birding,

Paul Griffin

  
  

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Subject: migration not over (from S. TX.)
From: "Harrington, Joseph" <jharring AT KU.EDU>
Date: Mon, 12 May 2008 20:58:15 -0500
Hi, all -
 
I'm a KS birder in Brownsville - birded Laguna Atascosa this AM - had LOTS of 
magnolias, chestnut-sided, yellow warblers, redstarts, and red-eyed vireos; 2 
blackburnian, 1 B&W, bay-breasted, Nashville, and black-throated green. And a 
scarlet tanager in the parking lot at the visitor's center. Keep eyes peeled - 
hope they get up north safely and soon! 


Good birding
Joe Harrington
Lawrence 

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Subject: LASSITER MARSH & PERRY LAKE
From: "William L. Falk" <nlwlfalk AT SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Date: Mon, 12 May 2008 20:05:34 -0500
John Johnson & I checked the marshes  AT  vllkey falls they were being 
drained, but we did find the following sandpipers
spotted
lesser yellowlegs
& pectoral
additionally there were 
BW TEAL & NO SHOVELERS
great blue heron
We went over to pardise point & had great looks at a bald eagle on it's 
nest
also included :
turkeys
a brown thrasher
 indigo bunting

LATER
BILL FALK

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Subject: Yard Birds
From: Steve Sorensen <webforbs AT COX.NET>
Date: Mon, 12 May 2008 19:33:22 -0500
Sunday morning (5-11-08) I had two very studly Harris' Sparrows in the 
backyard. I have not seen them since. Sunday was the last day I saw the 
Swainson's Thrush that had been scratching around the leaf litter for 4 days. 


I have the following pairs hanging around our yard:

Northern Cardinal
House Finch
Brown Thrasher
Northern Oriole
Common Grackle
Western Kingbird
Eurasian Collared-Dove
Mourning Dove
American Robin
Blue Jay
House Sparrow

The Cooper's Hawk is nesting in my neighbor's back yard again this year. This 
is the 10th year in a row. 


Steve Sorensen
Valley Center, KS
SG County
webforbs AT cox.net

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Subject: BU, HV, RN, SF Counties
From: Gregg Friesen <friesen_fenton AT YAHOO.COM>
Date: Mon, 12 May 2008 17:26:38 -0700
Jim Nickel, Bob Hoops, and I made a run from an area on the Whitewater River 
near Towanda to Quivira today. Warbler numbers had dropped with the south wind 
with little to show in that area. I suspect a lot took off north either last 
night or this AM. Chipping and Clay-colored Sparrows remain present, however. 
Quivira was very wet with the road wet in places when we arrived and washing 
out as we left (the marsh road on the north end). We had to turn around once. 
Also, the road around the little salt marsh was closed (not sure why, possibly 
water related). Shorebirds included, 


Greater Yellowlegs
Least Sandpiper
Upland Sandpiper
Spotted Sandpiper
Semipalmated Sandpiper
White-rumped Sandpiper
Willit
Wilson's Phalarope
Red-necked Phalarope (3 individuals)
Ruddy Turnstone
Stilt Sandpiper

Snowy Plover
Semipalmated Plover
Killdeer
American Golden Plover
Black-bellied Plover

Fairly good numbers but less variety than expected. No Cassin's Kingbird 
despite looking briefly. The wind was so high we could barely hold scopes and 
bin's steady at times. 118 species total for a good day out. 


Gregg
 
Gregg & Joanna Fenton Friesen
Newton, KS (Harvey County)
Friesen_Fenton ( AT ) yahoo.com


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Subject: Saturday Great Bend birds
From: Rob Graham <graham AT HEARTLAND-IMAGES.COM>
Date: Mon, 12 May 2008 17:02:50 -0500
In between work and family obligations, I tried to survey birds 
within Great Bend and a little ways west. I didn't go east to 
Cheyenne Bottoms. I totalled 51 species for the day, and know I 
missed a few more due to inexperience. The highlight of the day for 
me was finding a White-winged Dove in my yard. This is the first one 
I've seen since 2006 when I had a breeding pair at my old house. 
Warblers included Orange-crowned, Yellow-rumped, and Yellow, with 
several probably missed. I also found several Warbling Vireos.

Rob Graham
Great Bend

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Subject: Osprey nest attempt
From: mike rader <mike_rader AT HOTMAIL.COM>
Date: Mon, 12 May 2008 20:53:51 +0000
Hi all,
 
Gary Keehn, manager of the Banner Creek Lake property in Jackson Co., told me 
late last week that he'd seen an Osprey trying to attempt a nest. The bird was 
using a Bald Eagle practice nest from last year. He has observed the bird 
sitting in the nest tree and also carrying sticks to it and settling in on the 
nest as well. He has not observed a second bird at the nest location, so it may 
be a female getting things ready - in preparation for a male to show up and 
complete the deed. He said he'd keep an eye on things and let me know if he 
sees a second bird and/or the existing bird continues to act like it's really 
nesting there. Maybe someday this species will nest for real. I know the Bone 
Creek site in SE Ks. and maybe another location (Antelope Lake) in NW Ks have 
had birds late in the season, but nothing confirmed to my knowledge. 

 
Mike Rader
Pratt, KS
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Subject: Some Riley County birds
From: Lowell Johnson <ljohnson AT KSU.EDU>
Date: Mon, 12 May 2008 09:11:21 -0500
Haven't been able to get to the computer and post any sightings for the 
last few days, so I will just add a few of the interesting observations. 

On May 4, I spotted my first of the year Philadelphia Vireos in Frank 
Anneberg Park.  With them were 2-3 Empidonax flycatchers which were 
totally silent.  They were obviously brownish above, had a yellow lower 
mandible, short primary extension, and an incomplete but visible eye 
ring. They were in trees along the trail that borders Wildcat Creek.  I 
suspect that they are either Willow or Alder Flycatchers.  I got several 
neat photos of them and will ask Dave Rintoul to post them.  I recognize 
that they were formerly lumped under the name Traill's Flycatcher and 
are difficult to distinguish without their vocalizing.  If anyone has 
suggestions as to their identity, let me know as I hate to title the 
photographs Empidonax sp.

On May 5, I spotted a male Lazuli Bunting in Frank Anneberg Park.  Ted 
Cable tells me that he saw one at his feeder about the same time, and 
Doris Burnett reported seeing one about the same time.  That is almost 
an invasion for this area.

My most interesting sighting was on May  7.  As  I was driving north on 
College Avenue by the stalk field just west of the Agronomy Farm 
buildings, I saw a flock of Mourning Doves alight along with another 
bird which I initially dismissed as a Rock Pigeon.  I wanted to stop, 
but there were cars in both north-bound lanes and no place to pull off.  
After I drove a little further, it dawned on me that the "Rock Pigeon" 
was actually a White-Winged Dove.  It was a light tan, had white wing 
patches running diagonally across each wing, and a more or less rounded 
tail with white tips on the edges in a Lark Sparrow-like pattern.  I was 
later unable to relocate the bird, but am comfortable with the 
identification.  As I recall a White-winged Dove was reported in the 
last year or so in Manhattan, although this was a first here for me.  
However, I have seen them in the Southwest.

On May 8, I spotted my first of year Gray-Cheeked Thrush and on the 11th 
my first of year Green Heron..Warbler watching, however has been 
uninspiring.

Good Birding!

Lowell Johnson

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Subject: Orange Variant House Finch
From: Janet Rebant <gramanet AT RAINBOWTEL.NET>
Date: Mon, 12 May 2008 08:59:28 -0500
I have an orange variant House Finch at my feeders this morning. The only other 
time I have seen that was in Colorado, several years ago. 


I also have a pair of Orioles, a pair of Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Pine Siskins 
and a Catbird along with the usual House Finches, Starling, Grackles, Blue 
Jays, Downy, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Goldfinches, House Sparrows, and Robins on 
the ground. Yesterday I was still seeing the Red-breasted Nuthatch. Hope to 
have lots of time to watch the feeders today to see what else is in the 
neighborhood. 


Janet Rebant 
Horton, KS

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Subject: Oak Park, the field at 93rd N.& 247th W. & the Bobolink field near Colwich
From: Bill and Nancy Beard <w2bnn AT COX.NET>
Date: Mon, 12 May 2008 00:08:26 -0500
We decided to not waste a beautiful afternoon so we checked Oak Park on the SW 
end, where we found Paul Griffin. We watched the small stream there for a while 
and saw some Gray Catbirds, Swainson's Thrushes, a Common Yellowthroat and an 
Orange-crowned Warbler. Paul showed us where the Green Heron was roosting. 
Things slowed down at about 6 so we went to where Pete saw all the shorebirds 
yesterday. There was no visible surface water left, but it was still wet enough 
to attract some birds. The Black-bellied Plovers were gone, but we saw around 
50 Buff-breasted Sandpipers, 2 Baird's Sandpipers, 4 Semipalmated Sandpipers, 
4-6 Upland Sandpipers, about a dozen Killdeer, 10 Semipalmated Plovers and 3 
Horned Larks. A look into the private lake across the marsh yielded a number of 
Wilson's Phalaropes. 


We drove back by the sod circles NW of Colwich and saw at least 50-100 
Bobolinks. They filled the air with their singing. It was a fine outing. I 
don't remember seeing that many Semipalmated Plovers in one place, or that many 
Bobolinks. 


Bill & Nancy Beard
Wichita

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Subject: Hv Co
From: RODNEY WEDEL <redb819 AT SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 20:30:58 -0700
Yesterday during the Hv. co NAMC, Dwight Platt and I thought we had heard a 
White-Eyed Vireo. We chased it for about 45 minutes thru the brush but was 
unable to get any confirming looks. We both went back this afternoon at 
different times to try and relocate. We both were successful. I was watching a 
female Turkey feeding and seeing how close I could get when the WEVI called 
just above me. I got good open looks at it from 15 ft. This was at West Lake 
park. Also found two Yellow Breasted Chats along the road just west of the 
park. 

   
   
  Rod Wedel
  Newton

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Subject: Western Grebe
From: Paul Griffin <pgriffin1 AT COX.NET>
Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 22:23:07 -0500
Hi Folks,

I made a trip down to the canoe launch site this afternoon, near  
Derby to see the Painted Buntings, Jeff Calhoun found the other day.   
I did get distant looks but I was unable to get close.  I had no idea  
they had so much red on them.  Maybe, some other time I can get  
closer.  They were very vocal.  If you go down to see the Painted  
Bunting, don't go through the woods, go along the levee, it's much  
better.

But, there was another bird that was also interesting.  I found a  
Western Grebe on the Arkansas River near the Painted Bunting sight, a  
new bird for me.  A closer look (it was a 100 yards away on the other  
side of the river) though the McDavitts scope (they were also looking  
at the Buntings and didn't mind helping me identify the bird I saw on  
the river) showed how beautiful this bird is, with its red eye  
shinning in the afternoon sun.  Tom and Billie seemed to think a  
Western Grebe was a good find and it is always nice to find a new  
species to look at.  2 new species for the day, that is very nice.   
Even the wind had dropped down and it was a nice afternoon.

Happy Birding,

Paul Griffin 

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Subject: Jelly consumption
From: bvregier <bvregier AT COX.NET>
Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 20:31:41 -0500
Our grape jelly jar is getting a real workout with up to six Orioles in our
back yard at once. But a new wrinkle this year is the occasional visit by
Bluejays to the jelly jar. Now, to top that, we witnessed a male Red-bellied
Woodpecker helping himself today. The competition is growing.

Bob Regier
North Newton 

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Subject: Sedgwick County odds and ends
From: "Cheryl K. Miller" <avian67226 AT GMAIL.COM>
Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 20:31:23 -0500
Hi all. I dropped by Oak Park early this afternoon and was treated to
Yellow, Nashville, Orange-crowned, Blackpoll, and Black-and-white
warblers and an American Redstart.  Art Weigand and I were treated to
super close looks of a female Summer Tanager and a male Rose-breasted
Grosbeak.  We also relocated the White-eyed Vireo.

On the way back from the farm tonight, I meant to stop by the wet
fields at 101st and Ridge Pete had mentioned. Lost in thought, I
forgot about them until I was near 73rd and decided instead to check
out the alfalfa field on the southwest part of the intersection.  My
goodness!  The field was full of Baltimore and Orchard orioles,
Western Kingbirds, Dickcissels, Clay-colored Sparrows, Red-winged
Blackbirds, Common Grackles, a Blue Grosbeak, and an Indigo Bunting.
Perhaps the most out-of-place species was the four Yellow Warblers.
No Bobolinks. :(

One minor Harvey County note:  Eurasian Collared-Doves have taken up
residence on the farm.  I heard them near the house.
-- 
Cheryl

Wichita, Kansas
avian67226 AT gmail.com

"Not to hurt our humble brethren is our first duty to them, but to
stop there is not enough. We have a higher mission: to be of service
to them wherever they require it."--St. Francis of Assisi


Keep cats indoors!
http://www.abcbirds.org/cats/brochure/brochure.htm

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Subject: Pony Creek Lake 5/11
From: kc98 <kc98 AT JBNTELCO.COM>
Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 19:42:07 -0500
Janet Rebant and I made a late trip to PCL today. There didn't seem to be much 
activity. However we did manage to find a Black-bellied Plover by the boat 
dock. It was a first for each of us and a new one for Brown County. We did see 
several Yellow Warblers, a Red-headed Woodpecker but not much else. Even the 
Coot numbers are way down. Happy birding to all. Rosella Royer, Sabetha, Brown 
County kc98 AT jbntelco.com . 


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Subject: Hummingbird courtship
From: "Irwin L. Hoogheem" <Hoogy AT COX.NET>
Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 18:50:46 -0500
Today our Ruby-throats have been busy and went through almost a full container 
of food. This was the first day that we observed the pendulum courtship 
behavior which is suggestive for another year with young Hummers in our "hood". 


Carol & Hoogy
Ogden, KS

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Subject: Backyard Golden-winged
From: John Schukman <schuksaya AT KC.RR.COM>
Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 17:51:57 -0500
 I heard and then found a Golden-winged Warbler in my backyard forest today. 
Others present were Wilson's, Nashville, Am Redstart, LA Waterthrush, N. 
Parula, Tennessee, and Chestnut-sided. 


John Schukman
Leavenworth Co.

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Subject: weekend birding
From: Rick Tucker <rickt AT TERRAWORLD.NET>
Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 16:05:52 -0500
Oh Man!!! I was in Haysville Sat AM at my son's house. I could have joined the 
group in Derby but we had a graduation at Friends Univ and had to leave at 9:30 
AM. I would have loved being with the group. 

The bad tornados started at Chetopa,Ks, about 15 miles south of my farm. 
Picher, Ok, is about 20 miles SE of Chetopa and was hit hard. (Micky Mantle and 
the Boyer brothers of baseball fame grew up in this area) We could see the 
storm ahead of us on our way home from Wichita. We had golfball sixed hail and 
heavy winds here. The strong North winds and cool temps have not slowed down 
birding but with heavy folage it is getting more difficult. Birds seen in the 
neighborhood this AM: 

Yellow Warblers
Common Yellowthroat.
Kentucky Warbler
Northern Parula
Savannah Sparrow
Dickcissel
Indigo Bunting
Spotted Sandpiper (on my dock)
Lots of movement and activity

RickTucker
Parsons

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Subject: Late post for Saturday
From: Leon Hicks <chicks12 AT COX.NET>
Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 16:05:12 -0500
A group of 8 of us birded Crane Park (Derby) the Canoe landing sight along the 
Arkansas River and the area west of Mulvane and Belle Plaine Saturday. While I 
had hoped for a good day of warblers the heavy south wind appeared to have 
moved many of these out of Crane Park. Overall for the day we managed 
Tennessee, Orange-crowned, Yellow, Blackpoll, Black & White, Northern Parula 
and Northern Waterthrush. The lone Eared Grebe that has been hanging out at the 
Belle Plaine sewer ponds for the last 3 weeks had a partner today. Duck species 
here were what was expected with a handfull of Ruddy Ducks present. With all 
the rain alot of the muddy areas that usually hold shoredbirds were flooded out 
but we did manage Killdeer, Lesser Yellowlegs, Spotted and Least Sandpiper and 
several Wilson's Phalaropes. As has been mentioned on other posts we were 
treated to a male Rose-breasted Grosbeak at Crane Park. Several of the group 
also got to see the Painted Buntings at the Canoe Launch area. All in all not a 
bad day but the one observation for the day and this year I have is that I am 
sick and tired of all this wind! 

Good birds to all
Leon Hicks
Mulvane,Ks

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Subject: Wilson area birds 5/11/08
From: mike rader <mike_rader AT HOTMAIL.COM>
Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 20:54:59 +0000
Hi all,
 
Since I was wrapped up in graduation activities for my daughter yesterday and 
didn't have a chance to get out, I took advantage of the nice day today. I had 
4 Swainson's Thrushes in my yard in Wilson, so I thought that a good sign. I 
also had a couple of Yellow Warblers, 1 C. Yellowthroat, and a Red-eyed Vireo 
there as well. 

 
I went out to the Smoky Hill River and to a couple of creeks south of Wilson 
(all in EW Co.) and had lots of migrants, but nothing too exciting. There were 
many (18) Least Flycatchers (some stops with multiple birds), lots of Yellow 
Warblers (40+), 4 C. Yellowthroats and one Nashville Warbler. There were two 
singing Indigo Buntings on the river, along with Bell's (1) and Warbling Vireos 
(3). I had a couple dozen Baltimore Orioles and 5 Orchard Orioles at the river 
as well. Other birds seen were 1 Blue Grosbeak, 1 Rose-breasted Grosbeak, 4 
Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, one Swainson's Thrush, plus many of the summer resident 
species expected here. 

 
I went out for a little while this afternoon to check the Wilson sewer ponds 
and found some good stuff: 

N. Shoveler - 6
Ruddy Duck - 3
Pied-billed Grebe - 1
Eared Grebe - 1
Am. Coot - 1
Killdeer - 1
Spotted Sandpiper - 5
Sanderling - 2
Least Sandpiper - 4
White-rumped sandpiper - 2
DUNLIN - 1 (new species for EW Co.)
Stilt Sandpiper - 1
Wilson's Phalarope - 16
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE - 12 (new for EW CO.)
 
I knew I'd never seen either of the new species for Ellsworth Co., but thought 
maybe they were already on the county list. It was a big surprise to see all 
the Red-necked Phalaropes there. They were very tame, easily approached within 
8-10 feet. 

 
I went over into Russell Co. along the Smoky Hill River after that and had 3 
Eastern Screech Owls, 16 Blue Jays 4 Brown Thrashers and 6 Yellow Warblers. 

 
I had tried Thursday morning (5/8/08) for the Pinyon Jay reported by Dave 
Klema. He and I heard it respond to a call from the iPod a couple of times, but 
we never did get another look. He has a couple of decent photos from the day 
before, confirming the ID. 

 
Mike Rader
Wilson, KS
 
_________________________________________________________________
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Subject: Re: Quivira and CB 5/10
From: Marvin Kuehn <mkuehn AT EMPORIA.EDU>
Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 15:15:38 -0500
Paul McKnab and I spent most of the day at Q focusing on shorebirds and related 
birds. Missed the Cassin's Kingbird but overall satisfied with our efforts. At 
Quivira much more success in the morning. Results of note: 13 willets, 7 hud. 
godwits, 4 ruddy turnstones, 1 dunlin, 20 stilt sandpipers, all the common 
peeps one would expect and 6,001 wilson's phalarope. I'm sure Scott was off on 
his countof 6,000. :-) :-) Black-necked stilts outnumbered avocets 20:1; I 
think we saw less than 10 avovets at Q. As Seltman has indicated wind was from 
the SE and no issue in the morning but about 12:15 the wind changed to the NW 
and wow. As we drove around the east side of CB the wind actually was so strong 
it blew water on our vehicle several times. At CB birding was minimal due to 
wind. Results of note: 7 western grebes, 60 eared grebes (all along the east 
side close to the rocks-often obscured by the tall grass), 1 Whimbrel. Noted 13 
loggerhead shrikes on road from Emporia to Q;! 

 seemed like a lot considering we have had so few in recent months in 
Topeka-Emporia corridor. Roads were better than expected at Q but there were 
some water-covered side roads that we decided not to attempt. Overall, 95 birds 
with only two warblers (not our objective Saturday). 


Marvin Kuehn and Paul McKnab
Emporia,KS

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Subject: Baker Wetlands: Sunday
From: "Antonio, Robert J" <anto AT KU.EDU>
Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 15:10:21 -0500
I walked for about three hours in Baker Wetlands this morning. Got
started about 9:00AM with a strong north wind blowing. It did not
diminish much until I was exiting. Perhaps due to the wind and northward
exits, the morning was not very birdy. I listed 76 species.

Warblers
Yellow- (still abundant)
Common Yellowthroat (even more abundant)
Northern Parula (2 singing)
Yellow-rumped Warbler (2)
Blackpoll (1 singing)
American Redstart (1-a few notes)
Yellow-breasted Chat (1 vocalizing)
Tennessee (1)
Northern Waterthrush (1- vocalized once)

Pied-bill Grebe (1)
American Bittern (2- pair)
Least Bittern (1)
Sora (3-two vocalizing)
Virginia Rail (1-singing)
Wilson's Phalarope (1)
Lesser Yellowlegs (1)
Greater Yellowlegs (2)
Solitary Sandpiper (1)
Black Tern (7)
Little Blue Heron (1) 

Blue-wing Duck (still abundant); Northern Shoveler; American Coot 

Barn; Tree; Northern Roughing; Bank; & Cliff Swallows; Chimney Swifts 

Red-eyed Vireo (2-singing)
Blue-headed Vireo (1)
White-eyed Vireo (1-vocalizing)
Summer Tanager (2 pair & male singing)
Orchard Oriole (1)

White-throated; White-crowned; Lincoln's Sparrows (sparrow numbers down)

A Common Nighthawk has been calling from near the KU Health Center since
Wednesday evening. A pair returns there yearly. I realized today that I
have been referring to the Faul rather than Fauhl blind.

Bob Antonio
Lawrence 

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Subject: Sedgwick County weekend birds
From: PETE JANZEN <pete.janzen AT SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 10:00:39 -0700
THe Derby tour led by Leon HIcks on Sat. turned up some good stuff although I 
had to cut out early. At least 5 singing Painted Buntings at the 71st St. S 
Canoe Launch site, pretty obviously on territory. One wonders how long this 
site has hosted a population of them, as it was only recently "discovered" by 
Jeff Calhoun. Lots of Fish Crows going up and down the river. Next stop....Reno 
County? Just before I left I found N. Parula, N. Waterthrush along the river 
and heard a Pileated Woodpecker. 


After doing a bit of birding at Oak Park I headed out to see if Don Vannoy's 
Bobolinks were still around at Colwich. I saw at least 150 of them in the 
alfalfa plantings at the corners of the sod circles. Certainly the most I have 
seen locally. For those who are not familiar with the Colwich area, from the 
corner of 53rd St. North and 181st St. West at the west edge of Colwich, go 
north on 181st for 3 miles to Hwy. K-96, checking all the alfalfa stands along 
the way. I saw all the Bobolinks along this 3 mile stretch. Some of them were 
right along the road and singing constantly. I also went on out to the Mt. Hope 
Marsh which has a lot of water but not much mudflat at the moment. However, 
just to the west on the SW corner of 247th St. West & 93rd St. North, I found 6 
Upland Sandpipers, 7 Buff-breasted Sandpipers, and 2 Black-bellied Plovers in 
full alternate plumage. These were all close to the road. That corner has 
always been good for shorebirds in spring. Must 

 have good inverts in the soil. On the way home I went up to the flooded field 
at 101st St. North and Ridge Rd. The puddles in the fields are diappearing 
rapidly but still some shorebirds there, including 9 Hudsonian Godwits and 6 LB 
Dowitchers. 


Pete Janzen
Wichita, Kansas

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Subject: Saturday Evening: Mississippi Kite
From: "Antonio, Robert J" <anto AT KU.EDU>
Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 08:12:08 -0500
At a gathering north of the Kaw in extreme NW Douglas County, I observed
a Mississippi Kite performing its airborne acrobatics over cultivated
fields. It was riding and apparently playing in the heavy winds that
surged behind last night's storm. Horned Larks were singing in the
fields at dusk.

Bob Antonio
Lawrence

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Subject: Mississippi Kites return to Junction City
From: Chuck & Jaye Otte <otte2 AT COX.NET>
Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 07:51:22 -0500
Happy Mother's Day to one and all!

While not participating in any NAMC counts, I did sneak over into western 
Pottawatomie County on Saturday morning to do a little county listing. If 
anyone did do an NAMC count for Pott. County, let me know and I'll send you my 
list!  Best find of the day was a Dave Rintoul at the Tuttle River Pond area.  
The chance encounter allowed us to enjoy the birds in the fading morning light 
as rain clouds moved in.  There must be over a half dozen singing Prothonotary 
Warblers in that area!

Annie Baker, Konza Prairie employee who isn't on KSBIRD-L, sent the following 
note from Friday night.  This would be in the same park in Junction City where 
Mississippi Kites nested last year.  She included some nice photos which of 
course I can't share with the whole list.

> We sighted a pair of Mississippi Kite from our backyard Friday May 9 2008
> between 6:35pm and 8:17pm.  Near the top of an Elm tree badly damaged by
> the ice storm, the female sat alone on a bare branch and did not move
> places the entire time. The feathers around her body were fluffed and
> puffed up. The male sat several branches away. We observed copulation (or
> attempted copulation anyway) three times. Each time the male flew to the
> female, mounted her briefly (less than one minute), then returned to a
> nearby branch. Between copulation both kites preened themselves or
> remained still. We saw and heard the female call several times. Shortly
> after one of those times, the male flew to her and mounted her. One time
> the male flew to the female and simply sat next to her on the branch
> without contact. At 8:15pm, the female flew away and the male followed
> approximately two minutes later.
>
>
> Annie Baker
> Junction City, KS


Chuck

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Chuck & Jaye Otte      mailto:otte2 AT cox.net
613 Tamerisk
Junction City Kansas USA 66441
785-238-8800

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Subject: Blackburnian Warbler at Cheyenne Bottoms
From: David Haight <dhaight1 AT SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 00:01:16 -0500
My son Kevin and I saw our first ever Blackburnian Warbler in the grove of 
trees a half mile or so west of the headquarters at Cheyenne Bottoms. We had 
great looks at this male bird and had no doubts in our minds about the 
identification. This is quite an attractive species. We also saw Black Poll 
Warblers, numerous Yellow Warblers and a couple of Rose Breasted Grosbeaks in 
this grove. Kevin also saw an American Redstart at this location. 


David Haight 
Abilene, KS

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Subject: Crawford Co., KS birding
From: Robert Mangile <rmangile AT SURFGLOBAL.NET>
Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 23:19:28 -0500
My wife, Liz, Mavis Benner and I done the migration count today but 
severe weather cut short our efforts.   It was dark and overcast from 
the start and we saw a lot of bird activity most of the day but viewing 
was terrible in bad light.  However we managed to get 89 species.  
Orchard and Baltimore Orioles were everywhere.  Before we left our yard 
we had 7 Baltimore Orioles working the flowers on the Black Locust out 
back. Later we saw a group of about 10 Orchard Orioles fly from a grassy 
field into a nearby small tree.   I cannot recall seeing so many orioles 
in one place as today.   Warblers seen include: Tennessee, 
Orange-crowned, Nashville, Northern Parula, Magnolia, Yellow-rumped, 
Prothonotary, Common Yellowthroat,  and lots of Yellow Warblers (24).   

Saw one Osprey at Bone Creek Lake (maybe they will nest successfully 
this year); lots of Chipping Sparrows and White-crowned Sparrows and 12 
each of Blue Grosbeaks and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks.    But I think the 
three Bell's Vireos and the Magnolia Warbler were the day's best birds.

About 5:30 pm tornados ripped through some of the towns to the south of 
our area.  Much destruction and many deaths and injuries, according to 
the news media.  Things are just now unfolding.

Bob Mangile
Pittsburg, Crawford Co., KS

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Subject: Cassin's Kingbird at Q / 10 May
From: Scott Seltman <sselt AT GBTA.NET>
Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 22:14:09 -0500
Kazmaier and I found a CASSIN'S KINGBIRD among a mixed group of Eastern 
and Western Kingbirds on the west side of Quivira's Big Salt Marsh this 
PM.  We observed the bird for about 10 minutes and managed a couple pics 
before it disappeared.  This is the easternmost Cassin's Kingbird I have 
ever seen and may perhaps be the easternmost record for the state.

From the Big Salt Marsh this bird was due west past the Black Rail fields 
and at the first big grove of trees past the intersection.  It was first 
seen perched among a large group of kingbirds sitting along the barbed 
wire fence on the north side of the road.  I was just counting them when, 
WOW, there it was!  I wouldn't bother chasing this rarity, but if you're 
headed to Quivira anyway, you might wanna swing by for a look.

We managed about 143 species in Stafford Co. today despite strong winds 
from the SE that later turned into gale force winds from the NW.

Notable birds were:  W. Grebe 2, YC Night-Heron 1, Peregrine Falcon 2, 
Black Rail 1, King Rail 2, Hud. Godwit 3, Ruddy Turnstone 1, Dunlin 15, 
Wilson's Phalarope 6,000 est., Philadelphia Vireo 1, Black-capped 
Chickadee 1 [They are rarer than Peregrines!!], RB Nuthatch 3, Blackpoll 
Warbler 1.   Notable miss was [gulp]:    Pied-billed Grebe?!?

Water levels are very high at Quivira but all refuge roads were passable 
by passenger car.  Travel with care, however, on county roads away from 
the refuge.  We drove thru some scary-deep water today in my SUV.  The 
Rattlesnake is near flood stage where it enters Quivira and is still 
rising.  We saw some serious flooding 15 miles upstream that will likely 
arrive at the refuge in a day or two.  BTW, some of the same areas that 
were devastated by tornadoes last May lost all of this year's wheat crop 
to hail last Thursday night.  Incredible!

Scott Seltman
1968 155th Ave.
Larned, Kansas 67550

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Subject: Very Warbly
From: Lloyd Davies <ldavies AT EAGLECOM.NET>
Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 21:30:56 -0500
Terrifically fun day today with a lot of warblers and other birds moving
along the creek in Marion.  Most of these were seen in the backyard abutting
the creek.  Several of these, although common to some of you, were first
timers for me.
 
(3) blue grosbeaks
rose-breasted grosbeak (all four in the practically the same spot - quite
the colors)
yellow warblers
orange-crowned warblers
chestnut-sided warbler (saw either three or one three times - way cool bird
- first time for me)
black-poll warblers (saw several on and off all day - two going to town
singing back and forth)
black and warbler
blue-gray gnatcatchers
wood ducks, cardinals, orioles, deer and three barred owls
Swainsons thrush
 
Also heard my first dickcissels this morning over at the ball fields.
Summer is here - except for the temp.
 
Lloyd Davies
Marion, KS

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Subject: Oak Park
From: Paul Griffin <pgriffin1 AT COX.NET>
Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 21:29:38 -0500
Hi Folks,

Oak Park started slow again, today.  It wasn't until after noon  
before I found any groups of warblers and they were active until the  
front came through about 4 PM.  Not as many birds of all types in the  
park.

New birds seen:  Black-throated Green Warbler, Lark Sparrow.

Warblers seen today:

Black-throated Green
Magnolia
Chestnut-sided
American Redstart
Yellow
Black and White
Nashville
Ovenbird
Tennessee
Orange-crowned

Right now in Oak Park, here in Wichita, we have some of the prettiest  
warblers (my humble opinion of course, they have the most different  
and brightest colors, all males).  Magnolia, Black-throated Green,  
Chestnut-sided and American Redstart.  The Yellow warbler and the  
Nashville are also nice, but not to the level of the previous 4, as  
they have simpler color patterns, with fewer colors.  The Black and  
White I find beautiful in the simplicity of their Black and White  
design.

Happy Birding,

Paul Griffin 

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