Nebraska Birds

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Nebraska Birds

Updated on Friday, March 12 at 09:56 PM ET
The most recently received Mail is at the top.

12 Mar Belated Fontenelle Wetlands report (3/10 [Justin Rink ]
12 Mar Longspurs [Jan Johnson ]
12 Mar Re: Spring is coming (Waxwing FYI) [Justin Rink ]
12 Mar Fontenelle Forest ["Phil Swanson" ]
12 Mar Oak Lake gulls and more [Jim Mountjoy ]
12 Mar Oak Lake Gulls 3/12 ["Jorgensen, Joel" ]
11 Mar Oak lake gulls 3/11 ["flyingcarlini" ]
12 Mar Tens of thousands of geese. [Theresa Pester ]
12 Mar Possible California Gull, Oak Lake, Lincoln [Jim Mountjoy ]
12 Mar Spring is coming ["kcarnes68" ]
11 Mar Bellevue Birds [Loren Padelford ]
11 Mar Oak lake gulls 3/11 ["flyingcarlini" ]
11 Mar Pawnee and Branched Oak 3/10 Oak Lake 3/11 [Ruth Stearns ]
11 Mar Fillmore County report/ York co eagle ["Wic7ita" ]
10 Mar RBMG ["Clem Klaphake" ]
10 Mar Re: Oak Lakes to tree swallows at Jack Sinn []
10 Mar Peregrine Falcon ["wallie2fargone" ]
10 Mar New arrivals ["Eades, Rick" ]
10 Mar Looking for Volunteers for Eastern Nebraska Greater Prairie-Chicken Surveys ["acliske" ]
10 Mar Thayer's and Glaucous Gulls: Oak Lake [Daniel Leger ]
10 Mar Waterfowl,Raptors,and Prairie Chickens:Spring is Here! ["LJH" ]
9 Mar Peregrines and a Curlew name Sandy ["Jorgensen, Joel" ]
9 Mar Thayer's Gull and Grackle ["Jorgensen, Joel" ]
09 Mar Cranes, Branched Oak Lake, etc. [Jim Mountjoy ]
8 Mar Scottsbluff ["Alice Kenitz" ]
8 Mar Re: New Bird List [Don and Shirley Maas ]
08 Mar Re: geese-- opinion time ["LJH" ]
08 Mar Lincoln Salines/Whitehead/Shoemakers 3/07/10 ["Edward" ]
8 Mar Branched Oak Birds [Ruth Stearns ]
8 Mar Grackles ["Clem Klaphake" ]
7 Mar Franklin County 3/7/10 [Robin and Lanny ]
7 Mar Forest Lawn Cemetery- Omaha 3/7- SEOW [Justin Rink ]
7 Mar Spring Birds - Longspurs ["Clem Klaphake" ]
7 Mar birds and travels [Jeanine Lackey ]
7 Mar eastern edge of Rainwater Basin ["Jorgensen, Joel" ]
07 Mar FOS Cedar Waxwings ["jerrynickersonnebraska" ]
07 Mar New Bird List ["bbrukner" ]
07 Mar Re: geese-- opinion time []
7 Mar Re: geese-- opinion time ["Ross Silcock" ]
7 Mar Unusual Eur Collared-Dove (ECDO) in Waterloo, NE ["Ross Silcock" ]
07 Mar More Spring Birds ["Wic7ita" ]
07 Mar Lincoln Saline Wetlands 3/06/10 ["Edward" ]
6 Mar Swamp Sparrow and Killdeer [RICHARD H SCHMID ]
6 Mar Golden Eagles!! ["Marty Mathieson" ]
06 Mar Snow Geese ["Jjeth" ]
6 Mar Re: March 4, Spring coming to Lancaster County []
6 Mar Killdeer ["Eades, Rick" ]
6 Mar RE: White Eurasian Collared-dove ["Walker, Thomas" ]
6 Mar Re:Changes ["Juanita Rice" ]
06 Mar Re: Spring in Fillmore County ["Wic7ita" ]
6 Mar Charadrius vociferus [Jeanine Lackey ]
5 Mar gulls ["Kathy DeLara" ]
06 Mar Branched Oak 3/05/10 ["Edward" ]
5 Mar Re: geese-- opinion time ["Rob Parsons" ]
5 Mar Re: geese-- opinion time ["leamarart" ]
06 Mar geese-- opinion time ["pastorpaultdunbar" ]
5 Mar White Eurasian Collared-dove ["Kathy DeLara" ]
5 Mar Re: Redpolls - Stanton Co. [Justin Rink ]
05 Mar Northern Goshawk in Lincoln [Jim Mountjoy ]
05 Mar Spring in Fillmore County ["Wic7ita" ]
4 Mar Re: I just couldn't stand it anymore! I had to go to G.I.! ["Clem Klaphake" ]
04 Mar Redpolls - Stanton Co. []
4 Mar Re: I just couldn't stand it anymore! I had to go to G.I.! [Linda Deeds ]
04 Mar I couldn't stand it anymore! I had to go to G.I. ["Edward" ]
04 Mar I just couldn't stand it anymore! I had to go to G.I.! ["Edward" ]
3 Mar Spring is in the air [Jeanine Lackey ]
3 Mar News on the web [Robin and Lanny ]
1 Mar RE: Western weekend (in praise of Nebraska birding) ["Walker, Thomas" ]
01 Mar Re: Birding Questions ["garoberts2" ]
01 Mar Nebraska Conservation News - March ["acliske" ]
28 Feb Western weekend (in praise of Nebraska birding) - long [Jim Mountjoy ]
01 Mar Western weekend (in praise of Nebraska birding) [Jim Mountjoy ]
1 Mar Birder's World ["Alice Kenitz" ]
01 Mar Re: Freshman Birder Migration Question. ["Edward" ]
01 Mar Re: Cass/Otoe []
28 Feb Re: A few birds [Linda Deeds ]

Subject: Belated Fontenelle Wetlands report (3/10
From: Justin Rink <spindalis79 AT yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:56:39 -0800 (PST)

Wet lands is an understatement. During the afternoon of 3/10 I ventured out to Fontenelle. Nothing really of note, the usual late winter/early spring transient species were present. I did hear a BROWN CREEPER and saw the large flocks of geese that others have been witnessing. There were also a pair of BARRED OWLS conversating back and forth with one another. Spring is beginning to trickle in, though barely. Some of the new migrants included R-w Blackbirds and a single Killdeer. I walked the pond trail to the boardwalk, then I trekked Gifford Road over to North Stream Trail. I then took the Cottonwood Trail back to the parking lot. The complete e-bird report is below: Location:    Fontenelle Forest Observation date:    3/10/10 Number of species:    27 Greater White-fronted Goose    250 Snow Goose    200 Ross's Goose    5 Cackling Goose    30 Canada Goose    100 Common Merganser    9 Red-tailed Hawk    1 Killdeer    1 Barred Owl    2 Red-bellied Woodpecker    4 Downy Woodpecker    5 Hairy Woodpecker    2 Northern Flicker    1 American Crow    4 Black-capped Chickadee    17 White-breasted Nuthatch    12 Brown Creeper    1 American Robin    24 European Starling    22 American Tree Sparrow    17 Song Sparrow    1 White-throated Sparrow    1 Dark-eyed Junco    27 Northern Cardinal    9 Red-winged Blackbird    14 House Finch    2 American Goldfinch    3 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) Going back even further to Monday (3/08) I had a few FOS species in and around work including KILLDEER and COMMON GRACKLE. A MERLIN was witnessed flying over Saddle Creek Rd. in Midtown.   On 3/05 I witnessed a HARLAN'S HAWK flying over Indian Creek Nursery. Good birding. Justin Rink Midtown Omaha, Douglas Co., NE spindalis79 AT yahoo.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Longspurs
From: Jan Johnson <bluebird47 AT cedarwb.net>
Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:46:06 -0600

There have been larger than normal flocks of birds along the roads when I drive to school. The poor shape they're in doesn't allow stopping to view any birds. But I finally did so tonight and found a couple flocks of Lapland Longspurs. One flock was about 1,500 birds. Here at home I have a flock of Red-wing Blackbirds in the yard. I counted 6 Rusty Blackbirds amongst them tonight. Of course, my Screech Owl is daily entertainment in the yard, too. I'm hoping to finally get out and find something else this weekend. What a horrible winter it's been and this past week of rain and drizzle has just compounded the misery of the situation. Jan notes-from-a-bird-brained-quilter.blogspot.com http://web.me.com/bluebird47 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Re: Spring is coming (Waxwing FYI)
From: Justin Rink <spindalis79 AT yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:29:32 -0800 (PST)

Hi Ken. Ā Cedar Waxwings winter in the U.S. all the way down to Panama.Ā They can be found during the winter in Nebraska.Ā What you are experiencing in Florida is staging.Ā The congregate before heading north.Ā They are a social species so large flocks are common on the wintering grounds.Ā This species does winter in Florida and often in large numbers as well. Ā Individuals will sometimes linger in the south into May or early June. Ā Hope this helps. Ā Justin Rink Midtown Omaha, Douglas Co., NE spindalis79 AT yahoo.com --- On Fri, 3/12/10, kcarnes68 wrote: From: kcarnes68 Subject: [NEBirds] Spring is coming To: NEBirds AT yahoogroups.com Date: Friday, March 12, 2010, 11:43 AM Ā I know that this is for NE birds, but I am in Florida right now. We are seeing huge flocks of cedar waxwings here. I didn't know that they gathered in such groups. I imagine that they are here waiting for the right moment to fly north. When I say hundreds in a group I am not exaggerating. Where do waxwings winter? Central or South America? Ken Carnes Lincoln [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Fontenelle Forest
From: "Phil Swanson" <pswanson19 AT cox.net>
Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:59:40 -0600

At Fontenelle Forest today I saw my FOY Killdeer, Northern Harriers, Rusty BB, and Red-winged Blackbirds. Also saw White-fronted Geese, Snow and Ross's Geese, Canada and Cackling Geese, Mallards and Pintails. Phil Swanson Papillion [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Oak Lake gulls and more
From: Jim Mountjoy <jmountjo AT knox.edu>
Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:42:23 -0600

Yes, yet another Oak Lake report! I stopped by in mid-afternoon today (it is pretty close to UNL), and could not relocate the possible California Gull. However, I finally did connect with the Glaucous and Thayer's Gulls - only took me three tries! Also, this morning a FOY Belted Kingfisher was rattling out there, and in the pm I saw 2 male Hooded Mergansers in the thin strip of water at the edge of the lake. This is a place worth checking more than once... Also saw some of the thousands of Snow Geese that Theresa Pester mentioned continuing west over the middle of Lincoln in the early afternoon. Jim Mountjoy Lincoln
Subject: Oak Lake Gulls 3/12
From: "Jorgensen, Joel" <Joel.Jorgensen AT nebraska.gov>
Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 13:27:09 -0600

Hi all: I stopped by Oak Lake during lunch and relocated the Glaucous and Thayer's Gulls. As you would expect, gull numbers have increased, the increase mostly coming from the Ring-billed contingent. Probably ~500 gulls present. This also got me thinking about the all-time gull list at this (these?) little urban impoundments. The species that I know of that have been recorded here are: Franklin's Gull Laughing Gull Bonaparte's Gull Ring-billed Gull Thayer's Gull Herring Gull Glaucous Gull Black-legged Kittiwake Not bad, and there are a few other species that will probably be recorded here in the future. - Joel XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Joel Jorgensen Nongame Bird Program Manager Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Lincoln, NE 68503 402.471.5440 joel.jorgensen AT nebraska.gov XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Oak lake gulls 3/11
From: "flyingcarlini" <flyingcarlini AT yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 21:54:06 -0000

Hello Birders, Headed out into sleet and poor visibility this morning with little hope we'd see the 1st winter Thayer's and 1st winter Glaucous. Almost immediately saw the Glaucous towering over some Ringed-bills. It fell into the ice once while walking around. Just after Ruth arrived it took flight ENE with another gull and disappeared into the snowy sky. Yesterday saw the Thayer's in that same area N. of parking lot. BIG Thanks to Joel and Dan for finding these lifers and to Justin for the heads up! John Carlini & Shari Schwartz, Lincoln
Subject: Tens of thousands of geese.
From: Theresa Pester <warblerluvr AT yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 11:04:27 -0800 (PST)

I must be on and east to west flyway. Just the same as last year there are tens of thousands of snow and blue geese flying over from east to west.. I wish I would have times how long this has been going on. It's just like the Eveready Bunny, it keeps going and going. I know for sure 5 minutes since I first saw it. Who knows how long it was going on before I saw them. Theresa Pester Walton [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Possible California Gull, Oak Lake, Lincoln
From: Jim Mountjoy <jmountjo AT knox.edu>
Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 11:56:42 -0600

This morning I made another check of Oak Lake, and while I failed again to find Thayer's or Glaucous (must have pretty bad timing...), I did see a first winter gull that seemed a good candidate for a California Gull. I would like a better view of some details, and it would be good to see it in flight as well, but I though it worth mentioning as something to look for if people are checking out the lake anyway. Jim Mountjoy Lincoln
Subject: Spring is coming
From: "kcarnes68" <kcarnes68 AT yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:43:30 -0000

I know that this is for NE birds, but I am in Florida right now. We are seeing huge flocks of cedar waxwings here. I didn't know that they gathered in such groups. I imagine that they are here waiting for the right moment to fly north. When I say hundreds in a group I am not exaggerating. Where do waxwings winter? Central or South America? Ken Carnes Lincoln
Subject: Bellevue Birds
From: Loren Padelford <lpdlfrd AT cox.net>
Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 22:36:54 -0600

Hi Birders, This afternoon, 3/11, we found 25 Common Mergansers and 4 Ring-billed Gulls in the open water in the marina area at Haworth Park in Bellevue. A couple large flocks of Red-winged Blackbirds flew over also. South of Offutt AFB in the flooded fields along La Platte Road there were: 6 Woodducks, 15 Redheads, 25 Ring-necked Ducks, 20+ White-fronted Geese along with many Canada Geese and Mallards. There were a few flocks of Snow Geese flying over the area. Loren and Babs Padelford Bellevue, NE lpdlfrd AT cox.net [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Oak lake gulls 3/11
From: "flyingcarlini" <flyingcarlini AT yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 22:05:04 -0000

Hello Birders, Headed out into sleet and poor visibility this morning with little hope we'd see the 1st winter Thayer's and 1st winter Glaucous. Almost immediately saw the Glaucous towering over some Ringed-bills. It fell into the ice once while walking around. Just after Ruth arrived it took flight ENE with another gull and disappeared into the snowy sky. Yesterday saw the Thayer's in that same area N. of parking lot. BIG Thanks to Joel and Dan for finding these lifers and to Justin for the heads up! John Carlini & Shari Schwartz, Lincoln
Subject: Pawnee and Branched Oak 3/10 Oak Lake 3/11
From: Ruth Stearns <ruthstearns AT yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 10:19:10 -0800 (PST)

We drove around both Pawnee and Branched Oak yesterday, Canada Geese, Tree Sparrows, Robins, House Sparrows, Starlings, Crows, Red Wing Blackbirds, Cardinal and a pretty Bluebird at Pawnee about mid morning....then at Branched Oak watched 5 to 6000 Snows fly over from southeast to north west in many waves over about 15 minutes in Area 1, also about 44 or so Tree Sparrows. Enjoyed watching a Tom and two female turkeys in area 2, along with a couple of Canada Geese, 7 Flickers, a Cardinal, Red tail, 2 Blue Jays and 2 Juncos. 6 more Turkeys were by the side of the road as we pulled out of area 2. On the west side of the lake, in a cornfield were 200 or so Canadas with 8 to 10 White Fronts, 8 mallards and 2 dozen American crows.   Watched a female Harrier in the road to Liebers point.   More Tree Sparrows, a Bald Eagle, Crows and Ringbills finished off the Branched Oak drive, as well as watched an immature Bald Eagle on the ice at the dam.   Found that same large flock of Canadas, Cacklings, White Fronts and Redheads as reported by Larry Einemann on West Raymond Road near highway 79, but no one was there this morning when I was back there about 10am. I did check out Oak Lake this morning (9:30) and met two birders who kindly shared their scope with me as it snowed, as we watched the Glaucous Gull.   What fun! The Thayer's was not in sight, and the Glaucous took off while we were there.   I returned about 11, and did not see the Glaucous, but did see the Thayers.   I checked out Whitehead Saline Wetlands, but without a scope, many of the waterfowl I was seeing were too far away to identify.  (and it was pouring out) Did see about 8 Shovelers, which was a first for this year.   Ruthie Stearns 402 328-9859 ruthstearns AT yahoo.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Fillmore County report/ York co eagle
From: "Wic7ita" <juanitapat AT csus.edu>
Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:14:57 -0000

Common grackles were here Sunday, March 7, in company with red-winged blackbirds. The Great-Tailed Grackles seem to have moved on. Lots of ducks in the air and around a wetland/compensation area on HWY 81 about 2 mi north of Fairmont. Two red-tailed hawks within 100 feet of each other not far from the wetlands I mentioned above. Northern harrier. American Kestrel. Here's the intriguing observation: Sunday, March 7, (mostly snow)geese flowing over from east to northwest, horizon to horizon. I stood watching for ten minutes and they were still materializing at the edge of vision. Wednesday, March 10, there were big and numerous flocks of geese coming from north to SOUTH, as if they'd run into winter up there and were going back! The JUNCOS RETURNED. Having been almost all gone last week, they showed up yesterday--again, the sense that "we've been up north and no way we're staying there." American Robins in full force, and the Eurasian C-Doves whooping up a storm. Bald Eagle at Hwy 81 and Big Blue just south of McCool (York county) yesterday, March 10. Juanita Rice, Fairmont (Fillmore)
Subject: RBMG
From: "Clem Klaphake" <ckavian AT cox.net>
Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 23:18:17 -0600

I checked out the wetlands area of Fontenelle Forest today, but found nothing of significance. Then drove south of Bellevue in Sarpy County and found large flocks of Canada, Snow, and White-fronted Geese in the cornfields. Mixed in with the geese were 15+ Wood Ducks. Then checked out Beach Road sandpit lake and found it still frozen except for the edges and: - 2 Red-breasted Mergansers - 8 Common Mergansers - 6 Common Goldeneye - 1 Ring-billed Gull - 1 Bald Eagle on the same nest that was successful last year. Clem Klaphake Bellevue, NE [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Re: Oak Lakes to tree swallows at Jack Sinn
From: larryeinemannl AT aol.com
Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:30:02 EST

Hi! It seems that Dan Leger beat me to Oak Lakes this morning. I arrived about 8:45 on March 10, 2010. I was at Whitehead Saline Wetlands prior to that. I corroborate Dan's sighting of the Thayer's gull (seen the day before by Joel) and the glaucous gull. There were also ring-billed and herring gulls present along with a hooded merganser. Earlier at WSW on N.27th were a couple of hundred Canada geese along with 1 cackling goose and about 100 ring-billled gulls. Also present were northern pintails (10), mallards, wood ducks (9), 4 green-winged teal, 5 northern shovelers, 1 American wigeon, 1 gadwall, 2 American coots (FOY) and a killdeer. A mile north of Shoemaker Marsh on N.27 was a huge flock of 2000+ red-winged blackbirds along with about 15 brown-headed cowbirds and about 15 common grackles. (It is hard to determine makeup of such a large group that is milling and flying about.) At one time they were briefly harassed by a merlin. About two miles northeast was another flock of about 600 red-winged blackbirds. Large flocks of blackbirds were encountered elsewhere in northern Lancaster County, but often were too far away to identify. Jack Sinn Memorial WMA from US 77 to N.112 on Ashland Road was teeming with waterfowl. Some 10000+ snow geese interspersed with Ross's geese whitened some areas. There were sizeable numbers of Canada, cackling, & greater white-fronted geese also. Most ponds were still frozen over; however a few had a few feet of open water around the shores. Gadwalls, mallards, green-winged teal and pintails were also present along with 5 canvasbacks (FOY). The area also had an adult bald eagle and red-winged blackbirds and one field had 10 killdeer. A Cooper's hawk and a northern harrier plus quite a few red-tailed hawks were also present. I saw no rough-legged hawks here or elsewhere. Two weeks ago the area was a rough-legged refuge. A small pond (partially open) farther east had 8 common goldeneyes, 3 lesser scaup, 9 hooded mergansers, 5 ring-necked ducks, 16 common mergansers and two tree swallows (FOY). I wonder how the swallows will fare with the snow and cold wind coming by Thursday and Friday? An immature bald eagle was also present. Notably absent were horned larks. None were sighted over the 70 miles of country roads traveled. There were many muddy roads, some very soft. Do not expect easy traveling under those conditions. Last week horned larks were common on the roads and along them; today none were sighted. Since the lakes (Holmes, BOL, Oak, and Capitol Beach) are still frozen, waterfowl are attracted to shallower ponds or runoff pools. Just west of Raymond in a roadside pool were about 470 Canada, 70 greater white-fronted & 40 cackling geese and 5 redheads (FOY). Branched Oak Lake was not too good. It remains 99% frozen. Present were herring and ring-billed gulls, perhaps about 100 crows, a number of bald eagles, a coyote walking on the ice. A few acres of open water on the northwest arm had about 400 common mergansers, a few pintails, gadwalls, 4 common goldeneyes, 5 hooded mergansers, mallards and some green-winged teal. Walking through a stream bed area at Area 9 produced no woodcocks as were previously reported. A short walk on the south side produced a chickadee and a fox sparrow. Absent for the day were downy woodpeckers. Eastern meadowlarks were not observed yet at sites they normally occur in later on. According to Rick Eads report a few easterns have made it into the area. I heard a western meadowlark at Jack Sinn and at Arbor Lake. By the time I arrived at BOL I was running out of time so did not cover it adequately. Did not have time to get to Pawnee Lake. The winter doldrums have receded and spring has slowly come upon us over the past week. Get out and enjoy; the birding scene changes every day. Good birding! Larry Einemann Lincoln, Nebraska In a message dated 3/10/2010 7:10:13 A.M. Pacific Standard me, dleger1 AT unl.edu writes: Hi folks, Thanks to Joel's report yesterday, I went over to Oak Lake at 8:15 this morning and quickly found the immature Thayer's Gull. As an added bonus, there was a very pale immature Glaucous Gull in the same area. At one point they were no more than 2-3 feet apart, taking turns at what appeared to be a picked-over fish carcass. The lake is still mostly ice. I got excellent looks through the scope since the gull flock isn't too far away from land. Both birds were in a large flock of mostly Ring-billed Gulls, with quite a few Herring Gulls, adults and immatures. The area is what I would describe as the north end of the lake, to the NW of the parking lot at Sun Valley and Charleston Streets. Ah, the joys of spring migration! Dan Leger Lincoln [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Peregrine Falcon
From: "wallie2fargone" <jonasbirds AT gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 23:38:19 -0000

NEBirdsters, While walking to my car after work in downtown Omaha (16th and Cummings)I had the pleasure of finding a Peregrine Falcon resting on its freshly killed Rock Pigeon three feet away from my passenger side door. I tried to snap off a photo with my phone camera but with no success. After a short period it got wary of me watching it and took its meal around the corner to a vacant parking lot. A nice after work surprise. Jonas (omaha)
Subject: New arrivals
From: "Eades, Rick" <rick.eades AT nebraska.gov>
Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:50:08 -0600

In NW Lincoln this afternoon, I saw my first grackles (common and great-tailed) of the year and heard the first eastern meadowlarks singing. Rick Eades Lincoln [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Looking for Volunteers for Eastern Nebraska Greater Prairie-Chicken Surveys
From: "acliske" <jill AT nebraskabirds.org>
Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:33:10 -0000

If you're from eastern Nebraska, consider volunteering to run a Greater Prairie-Chicken lek survey route or two this April. No prior survey experience is necessary. We will conduct these surveys only in April 2010, so you would not be making a long-term commitment. Each route is twenty miles long and will be surveyed only once. You'll stop about every one mile (20 total stops) and get out of your car for two minutes to listen and scan for prairie-chicken lek activity. A route will take about an hour to complete, not including your travel time to and from your home. For more information, including a map of route locations, visit the GPC survey webpage on the Bird Partnership website. The lek survey routes are portions of BBS routes. If you have a BBS route in eastern Nebraska, we would love it if you would consider adding an extra run this April, since you know where the usual stop points are. Happy Spring, Jill Nebraska Bird Partnership [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Thayer's and Glaucous Gulls: Oak Lake
From: Daniel Leger <dleger1 AT unl.edu>
Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 09:10:02 -0600

Hi folks, Thanks to Joel's report yesterday, I went over to Oak Lake at 8:15 this morning and quickly found the immature Thayer's Gull. As an added bonus, there was a very pale immature Glaucous Gull in the same area. At one point they were no more than 2-3 feet apart, taking turns at what appeared to be a picked-over fish carcass. The lake is still mostly ice. I got excellent looks through the scope since the gull flock isn't too far away from land. Both birds were in a large flock of mostly Ring-billed Gulls, with quite a few Herring Gulls, adults and immatures. The area is what I would describe as the north end of the lake, to the NW of the parking lot at Sun Valley and Charleston Streets. Ah, the joys of spring migration! Dan Leger Lincoln [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Waterfowl,Raptors,and Prairie Chickens:Spring is Here!
From: "LJH" <rogercheryl AT q.com>
Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 04:05:58 -0000

This past week I've been birding in Garden,Morrill,Grant,and Kieth Counties. Here are the highlights. Garden Co.,around Lewellen: Gadwall 4 Bufflehead 6 Goldeneye 3 Canvasback 1 Lesser Scaup 1 Coot 1 Sandhill Crane(on our way up there were only about 50,but on our way back there were well over 1,500) Morrill Co. ,Mostly Bridgeport SRA:(totals for the week) Redhead 7 Gadwall 5 Ring-necked Duck 2 Common Merganser 2 Canvasback 5 Lesser Scaup 11 Snow Goose 2 Goldeneye 3 Cackling Goose 6 B-capped Chickadee (We both heard two-note spring call) R-legged Hawk 1 (a dark-morph male) Osprey 2 Grant Co. ,around Whitman Goldeneye 7 Coot 2 Canvasback 14 Redhead 12 Common Merganser 20 Ring-necked Duck 1 Lesser Scaup 20 Trumpeter Swan 5 (Two of these were among the other ducks, giving us a true appreciation of how big they really are) Ferruginous Hawk 1 (My mom was especially pleased to see this one. She has hypothisized for two years that "those big, very light-bellied Hawks that we could never see well enough to positively ID" were Ferruginous Hawks. And ,as often happens in our birding ventures, she has been proven right) Northern Harrier 2 R-legged Hawk 2 American Kestrel 1 Greater Prairie Chicken 5 (While we didn't hear or see them "booming," we did see two males put their "ears" up and fight with each other for a few minuets. Could they have been establishing dominance for the best spots on the leking grounds? Kieth Co. Lake Ogallala Bufflehead 6 American wigeon 5 Lesser Scaup 20 Gadwall 10 Readhead 8 Canvasback 4 Bald Eagle 1 All in all an excellent week of birding which resulted in over a dozen new county species, bringing my total county species list to 520. As far as the birds are concerned, this winter(aptly named "The Winter of Our Discontent"in the last NOU newsletter) is over! HOORAY!!! May the coming spring bring you many new species, Good birding too all, Luke Hamilton Bridgeport NE
Subject: Peregrines and a Curlew name Sandy
From: "Jorgensen, Joel" <Joel.Jorgensen AT nebraska.gov>
Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 16:22:37 -0600

Hi all: My mindset has changed like the weather. I am now thinking spring. With that said, I would like to remind folks of a couple things going on in the Nebraska bird world that you can access from you computer. First, our Peregrine Webcam is up and running. While the birds are not sitting on eggs or anything quite yet, a single falcon will make an occasional appearance around the nest box. Activity should increase in the coming weeks. We usually have eggs by early April. Please remember that streaming video can be watched by clicking on the image. Also, do not forget about the Kestrels, that webcam is on, but not much going there just yet. Likewise, activity should pick-up soon. The NGPC Peregrine Webpage can be found at: http://www.ngpc.state.ne.us/wildlife/webcam/peregrine/default.asp Second, you may remember (and think we forgot) about our 2 satellite-tagged Long-billed Curlews. I've been receiving a few emails recently asking, what's up dog?? In November, we lost Bailey's signal. However, Sandy's signal is still going strong, but she just hasn't moved much over the past 6 months. We are hopeful that the transmitter will continue to function through the spring migration, which may start, heck, anytime for all we know. We will be updating that webpage frequently if and once she begins migrating north. That webpage is at: www.birdsnebraska.org Good birding. - Joel XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Joel Jorgensen Nongame Bird Program Manager Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Lincoln, NE 68503 402.471.5440 joel.jorgensen AT nebraska.gov XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Thayer's Gull and Grackle
From: "Jorgensen, Joel" <Joel.Jorgensen AT nebraska.gov>
Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 13:47:47 -0600

Hi all: Over the noon hour I found a pale first-year Thayer's Gulls at Oak Lake with about 200 Ring-billed and 40 Herring Gulls.. On the drive to work this a.m., I saw my first Common Grackle for the year. - Joel XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Joel Jorgensen Nongame Bird Program Manager Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Lincoln, NE 68503 402.471.5440 joel.jorgensen AT nebraska.gov XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Cranes, Branched Oak Lake, etc.
From: Jim Mountjoy <jmountjo AT knox.edu>
Date: Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:11:48 -0600

On Sunday, my wife and I traveled to the Grand Island/Kearney area for our first visit of the season with the cranes. The birding actually started in my backyard early in the morning with my FOY Common Grackle. The crane numbers exceeded my expectations for what I understand is a slow starting season. We found impressive flocks to the east of Alda Bridge early in the day and near the Rowe Sanctuary later in the day. In between, we visited Funk WPA where water levels did not seem very high. There were good numbers of Mallards and N Pintails, along with some Green-winged Teal and a couple of N Shovelers in one pond in the southern part of the area. The north end was quite dry, although some ducks & geese, including a few Redhead, were in a wet corn field. Flocks of Lapland Longspurs were also flying around overhead. Other highlights for the day included one male Yellow-headed Blackbird east of Alda Bridge, Brown-headed Cowbirds mixed in with starlings in a feed lot, Western Meadowlarks starting to sing, and an adult White-crowned Sparrow along with several Harris' Sparrows at the Rowe Sanctuary's feeders. Late in the day today, Dan Leger and I visited Branched Oak Lake. We were mostly searching for spring, but our first notable bird was a reminder of winter - a young Glaucous Gull out among the many Herrings and Ring-bills. A Killdeer flying over was more in line with hopes for a change of season. Along the road to Lieber's Point a Red-shouldered Hawk was perched on a telephone pole, just as previously reported by Ruthie Stearns. We also encountered 5 young Bald Eagles at Area 9 on the north side of the lake, in addition to 1 or 2 adults seen out on the ice of the lake. A little later, also in Area 9, we finally encountered our primary quarry, a displaying American Woodcock. It twittered and beeped away, despite the increasingly large raindrops that soon caused us to scurry back to the car. On the whole, spring seems to be winning. Jim Mountjoy Lincoln NE
Subject: Scottsbluff
From: "Alice Kenitz" <akenitz AT prairieweb.com>
Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2010 14:39:22 -0700

Hi all, Drawbaughs had a Mourning Dove in their yard this morning. Maybe spring will come after all!! Alice Kenitz Gering [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Re: New Bird List
From: Don and Shirley Maas <snowbirds2012 AT gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2010 14:02:10 -0700

I'm all for a Hot Tub List. I got a Cooper's Hawk, American Kestle and two Canada Gesse and this AM from my resort pool here in AZ. There were probably more species but viewing was tough because of rain at the time. The things we have to suffer through. Don Maas [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Re: geese-- opinion time
From: "LJH" <rogercheryl AT q.com>
Date: Mon, 08 Mar 2010 19:29:25 -0000

Paul, On the "blue" goose I think that you can safely call it a hybrid. The "grin line", the fuzzy outline of the white on the head and the darker wing coverts all point to the Snow Goose. The Hybrid Canada is a much tougher call, and while we can never be 100% sure in such cases, I'm leaning toward the Graylag Goose mainly because of body shape. Also because of the lack of blackish marks on the belly that I would expect to see if it were a hybrid with a GW-F Goose. Thanks for sharing these excellent photos of some odd-looking and rare hybrid geese. Good Birding to you Luke Hamilton Bridgeport, NE
Subject: Lincoln Salines/Whitehead/Shoemakers 3/07/10
From: "Edward" <edwodonnell AT yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 08 Mar 2010 19:16:10 -0000

Hola, I went back to Lincoln Saline Wetlands since I had such good luck the day before, but it was pretty much a wash. A handful of Canada Geese, a Ring necked Duck, 4 Northern Shovelers, 3 Common Goldeneyes and lots of Ring billed Gulls. However I did get an ok shot of a White crowned Sparrow. They were mixed in with a larger group of Tree Sparrows and a Harris's Sparrow or two. Just not a lot going on there. I decided to hop on I-80 and see if there was any open water on Whitehead Wetlands. It can be a pretty good spot because you can park in the Countryside Suites Motel and get a good view of it. It's filled quite nicely with only a little bit of ice left. I could see maybe 100 Canada Geese and and 100 Mallards at the far East side, but decided to take a few shots anyway. Looking at the pictures later blown up, I could see that there were also a few Green winged Teal, Northern Pintails and 8 Wood Ducks mixed in. Another part of that Marsh was full of Ring Billed Gulls. This might be a good place to check out now and then. Here's the exact location of the parking lot if you're not sure. 40.880444,-96.680065 Copy the coordinates put them in the Google Search box and hit enter. Now click on the map that appears on the upper Left. Now you can zoom in or out. Then I went up to Shoemakers. Although I didn't see much of anything other than lots of Red winged Blackbirds, the Marsh has open water in it. Ed, Lincoln.
Subject: Branched Oak Birds
From: Ruth Stearns <ruthstearns AT yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2010 06:51:56 -0800 (PST)

Yesterday afternoon we drove around Branched Oak Lake.   The most fruitful part of the drive was going in the road to Lieber's Point, where the Red-Shouldered Hawk from a week ago was back in the same spot.   A Lapland Longspur joined a pair of Horned Larks on the road. Driving back out an hour or so later, spotted an American Woodcock bobbing around under one of the pine trees on the north side of the road near the entrance booth. (2:30pm) A female Wood Duck in the nearby stream was another first for the year.   Also seen were Canada Geese, Bald Eagles, Ring-billed gulls, Red tails, Blue Jays, Flickers, American Crow, Tree Sparrow, Cardinal, Junco, Gold finch, House Finch, WB Nuthatch, Robins, a treeful of Cedar Waxwings, and a thousand or so Red-Wing Blackbirds. Ruthie Stearns ruthstearns AT yahoo.com 402 328-9859 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Grackles
From: "Clem Klaphake" <ckavian AT cox.net>
Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2010 08:56:28 -0600

Had my first the spring Common Grackles show up this morning at my feeders. Clem Klaphake Bellevue, NE [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Franklin County 3/7/10
From: Robin and Lanny <snowbunting AT rcom-ne.com>
Date: Sun, 7 Mar 2010 21:54:23 -0600

Hi Nebraska birders, Sunday March 7, Robin and I tried to find a few birds in Franklin County. I will list our highlights with further detail in the text that follows. Snow Goose Bufflehead Common Goldeneye Common Merganser Sharp-shinned Hawk Cooper's Hawk Bald Eagle Eastern Screech-Owl Black-billed Magpie Cedar Waxwings Cedar Waxwings were everywhere inside the Naponee Cemetery. We saw a Cooper's Hawk southwest of Naponee, but still in Franklin County. We saw several Bald Eagles today, three may have been a family group. We saw two juveniles flying with an adult. We saw enormous numbers of Snow Geese. We saw Common Mergansers flying up and down the Republican River. We saw a Sharp-shinned Hawk at the Bloomington Republican River Bridge. We heard a Black-billed Magpie at Ash Grove WMA. At a pond in the hills southwest of Franklin we saw a pair of Common Goldeneye and a pair of Bufflehead. Robin added four birds to her Franklin County list for a new total of 137. I added three birds to my Franklin County list for a new total of 138. May your birds be lifers and your troubles temporary. good birding and goodbye, Lanny Lanny Randolph south central Nebraska Kearney County 2028 34th rd Minden, Ne. 68959 308-216-0427 SnowBunting(at)rcom-Ne.com
Subject: Forest Lawn Cemetery- Omaha 3/7- SEOW
From: Justin Rink <spindalis79 AT yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 7 Mar 2010 17:13:33 -0800 (PST)

This afternoon I went out and birded for a couple hours at Forest Lawn Cemetery. While I was walking a road that was sloping downhill I heard a commotion of Blue Jays behind me coming from a Cedar. These were later joined by a couple of American Crows. I walked up to where the mobbing was taking place. Soon, a medium-sized pale owl bolted out of the tree.  I lost sight of the bird, though the bird was then flushed again. I looked up in time to see a couple of Am. Crows in pursuit of a male SHORT-EARED OWL which was circling his way up on a thermal, and soon disappeared out of sight. Other highlights included the return of EASTERN BLUEBIRDS, a few PINE SISKINS, and a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH. One of the SISKINS was singing voraciously and incorporated mimicked phrases from Downy Woodpecker, House Finch, House Sparrow, D-E Junco, and Evening Grosbeak into it's concierto. The complete e-bird report is below: Location:    Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Cemetery) Observation date:    3/7/10 Number of species:    20 Canada Goose    41 Short-eared Owl    1 Red-bellied Woodpecker    3 Downy Woodpecker    6 Hairy Woodpecker    4 Blue Jay    13 American Crow    5 Black-capped Chickadee    17 Tufted Titmouse    2 Red-breasted Nuthatch    1 White-breasted Nuthatch    13 Eastern Bluebird    4 American Robin    27 European Starling    4 Dark-eyed Junco    16 Northern Cardinal    10 House Finch    4 Pine Siskin    17 American Goldfinch    3 House Sparrow    3 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) Good birding, Justin Rink Midtown Omaha, Douglas Co., NE spindalis79 AT yahoo.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Spring Birds - Longspurs
From: "Clem Klaphake" <ckavian AT cox.net>
Date: Sun, 7 Mar 2010 18:36:26 -0600

I dorve around southern Saunders County for a short time this afternoon - Ashland, Ceresco, and Memphis SRA. Overall lots of birds on the move: - 1000-1200 Lapland Longspurs (generally north and west of Ashland) - 3000-4000 Snow Geese - Ross's mixed in - Large flocks of Canada Geese with Cackling mixed in - 45 Redhead Ducks - 2 Lesser Scaup - 2 C. Goldeneye - 1 N. Harrier (female) - 2 Rough-legged Hawk (both light) - 3 Kestrel (2 male and 1 female) - 2 Bald eagle - 15 Red-tailed Hawks - 12 Killdeer - 40+ Horned Lark - 42 Cedar Wawing (Memphis SRA) - 1 Hairy Woodpecker ( " " ) - 2 Western Meadowlark - singing - numerous other meadowlark species - 7 Eurasian Doves (Memphis area) - 50+ Tree Sparrows - 2000-2500 Red-winged Blackbirds (with a casual look it appeared to be generally 1/3 females and 2/3 males) A few shallow wetlands have mostly opened up, but the larger lakes were still frozen over. Lots of standing water in corn and soybean fields. Clem Klaphake Bellevue, NE [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: birds and travels
From: Jeanine Lackey <jeanine.dinan AT gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 7 Mar 2010 17:10:23 -0600

Hi, While driving back roads from Hordville to Valparaiso this morning I stopped at a few flooded crop fields and wetlands that had filled with snow melt. Ducks and geese were everywhere.....mostly pintails, mallards,and Green-winged Teal,and mixed groups of white fronts and Canada's. Also of note were the huge flocks of Horned Larks and longspurs flying in a northern direction. Beware though, some county roads were impassable due to muddy conditions. On March 5th saw: Whooping Crane Prairie Falcon Bald Eagle(immatures and adults)all in one location. That's all for now. Jeanine Lackey -- J-9 I still hear your voice on warm summer nights, whispering like the wind....
Subject: eastern edge of Rainwater Basin
From: "Jorgensen, Joel" <Joel.Jorgensen AT nebraska.gov>
Date: Sun, 7 Mar 2010 15:39:07 -0600

Hi all: I took a drive mid-day and visited Oak, Capitol Pawnee, and Branched Oak Lakes and then headed out to western Seward County. As reported by others, the lakes remain frozen with only a few RB Gulls (and eagles on BOL) sitting on the frozen water. The wetlands in the eastern RWB still have some ice, but are coming alive. In the RWB, I saw: Canada, Cackling, Snow, Ross's, Gr. White-fronted Geese Mallards Gadwall N. Pintails Am Wigeon Green-winged Teal No. Shoveler 9 Wood Ducks Canvasbacks Redheads Lesser Scaup 3 Greater Scaups Ring-necked Ducks ~50 Sandhill Cranes flying over North Lake Basin 2 Rough-legged Hawks 5 No. Harriers Killdeer thousands of Lapland Longspurs Red-winged Blackbirds ~30 Great-tailed Grackles near Emerald Flocks of ducks and geese appeared to be arriving all the time, also saw several flocks moving west along the interstate on the way home, apparently headed for the RWB Finally, on 28 February, I saw a Rough-legged Hawk in western Richardson County. -Joel ======================================= Joel Jorgensen Nongame Bird Program Manager Wildlife Division Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Lincoln, NE 68503 402-471-5440 joel.jorgensen AT nebraska.gov ***NOTE NEW EMAIL ADDRESS*** [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: FOS Cedar Waxwings
From: "jerrynickersonnebraska" <jmulliken AT microlnk.com>
Date: Sun, 07 Mar 2010 18:19:58 -0000

Here on the farm we had a flock of 30 or so Cedar Waxwings this morning. Also a robin or two. Other birds have been here all winter: Darkeyed Junco Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker American Goldfinch Bluejay Harris Sparrow Northern Cardinal Jerry Mulliken Nickerson, NE Dodge County
Subject: New Bird List
From: "bbrukner" <bbrukner AT cox.net>
Date: Sun, 07 Mar 2010 17:20:10 -0000

Sure everyone has their life list, yard list, state list and so on. But we have started a Hot Tub List. While on vacation in Maui last month and while relaxing in said hot tub in upcountry Maui, a short-eared owl or pueo flew directly over us heading down the mountain slope. Very beautiful as it headed into the sunset. One bird down and who knows how many to come! Dave and Barb Brukner
Subject: Re: geese-- opinion time
From: <mbrogie AT esu1.org>
Date: Sun, 07 Mar 2010 11:03:20 -0600

Paul, Ross, and others: Maybe a bit of Snow Goose genetics. On closer inspection: The bird does seem to have a slight concave look to the bill; where it touches the feathers. Snow Geese have a pronounced concave appearance in this area. Ross's Goose (where the feathers and bill meet) have a nearly straight line from the point where the maxilla touches the forehead to the gape (where the mandibles join). Mark A. Brogie 508 Seeley, Box 316 Creighton, NE 68729 (402) 358-5675 mbrogie AT esu1.org ----- Original Message ----- From: Ross Silcock Date: Sunday, March 7, 2010 9:23 am Subject: Re: [NEBirds] geese-- opinion time > Paul et al- > > The blue goose looks like a hybrid Ross's/Snow to me- the white > face is shaped a bit oddly, the grinning patch is a bit too > strong, and the bird looks too long-necked and bulky. All > subjective points, of course- > > Ross > > Ross Silcock > P.O. Box 57 > Tabor, IA 51653 > New Zealand Land and Pelagic Bird Tours > http://www.rosssilcock.com > > > > From: pastorpaultdunbar > Sent: Friday, March 05, 2010 8:49 PM > To: NEBirds AT yahoogroups.com > Subject: [NEBirds] geese-- opinion time > > > > Alright, what do you all think? > > I've posted pics of 2 different birds I saw today, both in a large > flock of Canada and Cackling Geese, with a few Greater White- > fronted Geese and a couple Snows mixed in. These were up near the > Platte River in Hall County. > > One is a Canada Goose hybrid. Is it crossed with a domestic > Graylag? Feral greylag? Greater White-front? Other? Some combo? > > The other is a "blue goose," but is it purely Ross's or mixed with > some Snow? > > Paul > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Re: geese-- opinion time
From: "Ross Silcock" <silcock AT rosssilcock.com>
Date: Sun, 7 Mar 2010 09:23:50 -0600

Paul et al- The blue goose looks like a hybrid Ross's/Snow to me- the white face is shaped a bit oddly, the grinning patch is a bit too strong, and the bird looks too long-necked and bulky. All subjective points, of course- Ross Ross Silcock P.O. Box 57 Tabor, IA 51653 New Zealand Land and Pelagic Bird Tours http://www.rosssilcock.com From: pastorpaultdunbar Sent: Friday, March 05, 2010 8:49 PM To: NEBirds AT yahoogroups.com Subject: [NEBirds] geese-- opinion time Alright, what do you all think? I've posted pics of 2 different birds I saw today, both in a large flock of Canada and Cackling Geese, with a few Greater White-fronted Geese and a couple Snows mixed in. These were up near the Platte River in Hall County. One is a Canada Goose hybrid. Is it crossed with a domestic Graylag? Feral greylag? Greater White-front? Other? Some combo? The other is a "blue goose," but is it purely Ross's or mixed with some Snow? Paul [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Unusual Eur Collared-Dove (ECDO) in Waterloo, NE
From: "Ross Silcock" <silcock AT rosssilcock.com>
Date: Sun, 7 Mar 2010 09:19:35 -0600

Hi all: Jan Greer of Council Bluffs sent a photo of a cool-looking ECDO in Waterloo, NE. Check it out at http://www.rosssilcock.com/WaterlooNEbirds2.jpg Ross Ross Silcock P.O. Box 57 Tabor, IA 51653 New Zealand Land and Pelagic Bird Tours http://www.rosssilcock.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: More Spring Birds
From: "Wic7ita" <juanitapat AT csus.edu>
Date: Sun, 07 Mar 2010 14:51:35 -0000

Saturday, March 6 3400 snow geese, in a cornfield just north of Geneva, near water; about a third were dark adults. (very rough estimates) Two groups of mixed Canadas & Cackling: 17 Canada, 9 Cackling 40 Cackling, 6 Canada. Wow, do the Common Canada look HUGE in a flock predomminantly tiny. Actually I can't be sure the Cackling were not Aleutian???I didn't check neck-rings. 12 Northern pintail, predominantly male 2 Northern Shovelers, 1 m, 1 F Red-winged blackbirds Common grackles (a few in the mix).
Subject: Lincoln Saline Wetlands 3/06/10
From: "Edward" <edwodonnell AT yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 07 Mar 2010 03:32:27 -0000

Hola, another awesome day so I made a quick run over to the Lincoln Saline Wetlands (Northeast side of Capitol Beach). I mainly wanted to see if the ice on Capitol Beach Lake and the little pond with the red bridge over it had melted yet. Nope, they still have ice, but I don't think they will for very long. It's going fast. I popped my head over into Oak Creek, and that's where the action was. The ice is all gone and the creek is running high. For the day I saw: 12 Wood Ducks 16 Mallards 1 Coot Several hundred Ring-billed Gulls. They just kept coming and coming. I think they were landing on the ice on Capitol Beach Lake. Heard a Killdeer. 6 Red Winged Blackbirds 1 Cardinal 100s of Canada Geese 1 Kestrel 1 RT Hawk 20 Northern Shovelers Here's one that flew by: http://www.flickr.com/photos/30500320 AT N06/4412716180/sizes/l/ Now for the good stuff. 1 Male and Female Common Merganser http://www.flickr.com/photos/30500320 AT N06/4412717062/sizes/l/ It's not great, but it's a new bird for me so I'll take it! 8 Common Goldeneyes. http://www.flickr.com/photos/30500320 AT N06/4412718138/sizes/l/ Kind of a new bird for me. My previous photo left a lot to be desired. This one is far more convincing. 6 Ring-Necked Ducks. http://www.flickr.com/photos/30500320 AT N06/4412715410/sizes/l/ This is a new bird for me too! I saw a Muskrat swimming around with a mouth full of weeds, heard a frog and saw 12 or so Deer. It was a great day today! Ed, Lincoln
Subject: Swamp Sparrow and Killdeer
From: RICHARD H SCHMID <SCHMID_R AT msn.com>
Date: Sat, 6 Mar 2010 17:18:43 -0600

Bird banding at Aksarben Aquarium (Schramm Park SRA in Sarpy Co) today was very successful. We had lots of juncos and chickadees, and a few other good birds, including a Swamp Sparrow. Later in the day at Chalco Hills (also in Sarpy Co), I saw and heard my FOY Killdeer. There is also an active Red-Tailed Hawk nest that is easily visible from the road just east of the dam and north of the soccer fields. Good birding - Rick _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Powerful Free email with security by Microsoft. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/201469230/direct/01/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Golden Eagles!!
From: "Marty Mathieson" <mmathieson AT charter.net>
Date: Sat, 6 Mar 2010 16:22:22 -0600

Hello everybody! My better half and I went to La Mexicana, ate, then went south on the road from Gibbon to I-80. We were crossing the first Platte River bridge when we spied two huge birds flying low toward us! When they got closer we saw the gold on their throats then the lower one pulled up sharply (trees) and they caught the thermals, drifting south!. Thoughts of Killdeer were forgotten. We saw the gold on the backs of their necks as they retreated. Oh, Wow! further on a pair of Bald Eagles were nearer the Shelton bridge. Lots of Redwings, too. Marty Mathieson, Eastern Buffalo County NE. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Snow Geese
From: "Jjeth" <jjeth AT yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 06 Mar 2010 20:14:38 -0000

The Snow Geese are now here by the thousands. Jim Etherton 2 miles west of Doniphan, NE
Subject: Re: March 4, Spring coming to Lancaster County
From: larryeinemannl AT aol.com
Date: Sat, 6 Mar 2010 14:57:18 EST

Hi! I finally have a little time to post my March 4, 2010 sightings. I started the day not expecting too much. All lakes and reservoirs remain frozen over. I stopped at SW 126 between O and A, finding a large mixed flock of horned larks (~300) and Lapland longspurs (~100). Only a few sightings of 1 or 2 were seen after that along the roads. I figured that these were probably birds coming up from the south. Prior trips in the countryside over the past 2 months produced small flocks of 1 to 55. That was when snow covered most fields, forcing birds to forage on the roads. As I scanned the larks and longspurs, I was delighted to see groups of geese fly over in small flocks of several to several hundred. Some were too far away to identify, except as dark geese. Flocks were either Canadas or white-fronteds; often they were mixed with larger numbers of cacklings and a few snow geese. Some flocks had four kinds of geese in them. I kept seeing geese fly NW until early afternoon when none were moving. At Pawnee Lake I found some geese on the ice and shore including Canadas--270, G. white-fronteds--30, cacklings--8; 1 snow and 2 Ross's. I was surprised to find 5 ring-billed gulls along one of the beaches. I tramped through the areas where the fox sparrows overwintered, finding none, perhaps they moved on. At BOL I found a scattering of Canada geese around the lake with a few cackling geese. The biggest concentration of geese was on the grassy areas west of the marina with ~800+ Canada geese, ~60 cackling geese & 30 greater white-fronted geese; 6 ring-billed gulls and 9 crows were foraging on the ice at the mouth of the east marina bay. It was rather exciting seeing the start of spring migration after a slow winter. I was checking for eastern phoebes and tree swallows since the day was so pleasant, yet they too shall come in the next week or two. Good birding! Larry Einemann Lincoln, Nebraska In a message dated 3/6/2010 8:18:44 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, thomas.walker AT nebraska.gov writes: I have had birds just like that in my yard in Brady in the past. At least two of them at different times (as in one in 2007 and one in 2009). T. J. Walker - District Manager, Wildlife Division - Partners Section Nebraska Game and Parks Commission 301 East State Farm Road North Platte, NE 69101 Office Phone 308-535-8025 Cell Phone 308-530-7659 ________________________________ From: NEBirds AT yahoogroups.com [NEBirds AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Kathy DeLara [renosmom AT charter.net] Sent: Friday, March 05, 2010 7:09 PM To: NEBirds Subject: [NEBirds] White Eurasian Collared-dove Yesterday we had a white Eurasian Collared-dove in our yard. I also saw one last year and Drawbaughs had one in their yard in Scottsbluff last year so there are a few of them around ( or I guess it could be the same one) This time I got a few poor pictures of it and posted them on my website http://www.wyoneb.net/-delara/RecentSightings.htm Kathy DeLara Mitchell Ne [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Killdeer
From: "Eades, Rick" <rick.eades AT nebraska.gov>
Date: Sat, 6 Mar 2010 11:12:58 -0600

Saw and heard three killdeer at Nine-Mile Prairie this morning. Lots of vocal Canada geese overhead. Rick Eades Lincoln [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: RE: White Eurasian Collared-dove
From: "Walker, Thomas" <thomas.walker AT nebraska.gov>
Date: Sat, 6 Mar 2010 10:16:24 -0600

I have had birds just like that in my yard in Brady in the past. At least two of them at different times (as in one in 2007 and one in 2009). T. J. Walker - District Manager, Wildlife Division - Partners Section Nebraska Game and Parks Commission 301 East State Farm Road North Platte, NE 69101 Office Phone 308-535-8025 Cell Phone 308-530-7659 ________________________________ From: NEBirds AT yahoogroups.com [NEBirds AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Kathy DeLara [renosmom AT charter.net] Sent: Friday, March 05, 2010 7:09 PM To: NEBirds Subject: [NEBirds] White Eurasian Collared-dove Yesterday we had a white Eurasian Collared-dove in our yard. I also saw one last year and Drawbaughs had one in their yard in Scottsbluff last year so there are a few of them around ( or I guess it could be the same one) This time I got a few poor pictures of it and posted them on my website http://www.wyoneb.net/-delara/RecentSightings.htm Kathy DeLara Mitchell Ne [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEBirds/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEBirds/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: NEBirds-digest AT yahoogroups.com NEBirds-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: NEBirds-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Subject: Re:Changes
From: "Juanita Rice" <juanitapat AT csus.edu>
Date: Sat, 6 Mar 2010 08:17:09 -0600

Did I say Chipping? I mean American Tree Sparrows! Juanita [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Re: Spring in Fillmore County
From: "Wic7ita" <juanitapat AT csus.edu>
Date: Sat, 06 Mar 2010 14:16:47 -0000

It's in THIS message I said Chipping Sparrows for American Tree Sparrows. And I am chagrined and apologetic for I appended this correction to the wrong message, so now I want to correct THAT! Juanita Rice, Fairmont
Subject: Charadrius vociferus
From: Jeanine Lackey <jeanine.dinan AT gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 6 Mar 2010 07:14:04 -0600

Was out walking this morning on a county road west of Grand Island....heard and observed a Killdeer. The robins and Red-winged Blackbirds were also up early. Jeanine Lackey Hall County [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: gulls
From: "Kathy DeLara" <renosmom AT charter.net>
Date: Fri, 5 Mar 2010 21:32:55 -0700

Ed's post reminded me that I saw 3 Ring-billed Gulls in Scottsbluff this morning. First I've seen since sometime in November Kathy DeLara Mitchell NE [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Branched Oak 3/05/10
From: "Edward" <edwodonnell AT yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 06 Mar 2010 04:11:10 -0000

Hello, It was really nice again, so I thought I'd jet off to B.O. for the heck of it. I don't know how thick the ice is in the middle, but around the edges it's showing signs of weakness. I can see small pools of open water. Not much going on there. Saw 10 or so Tree Sparrows 13 RT Hawks I don't know how interesting this is, but I saw 3 Immature Bald Eagles standing out on the Ice and one flew over my head an hour or so later. So 3 or 4 Bald Eagles. I wasn't expecting to see Gulls, but I saw 30 or so very disappointed Ring-Billed Gulls standing around on the ice. 4 Turkeys took their time crossing the road in front of me. They were just begging to have their picture taken. It's just a Turkey, but it's as close as they've ever allowed me to get. http://www.flickr.com/photos/30500320 AT N06/4409546945/sizes/l/ Ed, Lincoln
Subject: Re: geese-- opinion time
From: "Rob Parsons" <parsons8 AT mts.net>
Date: Fri, 5 Mar 2010 21:42:25 -0600

Hi Paul, and any other NEBirders who are interested, Great photos of a couple of funky geese. My opinion on the Canada Goose hybrid is it's a domestic cross. Note the really large posterior--no wild goose is shaped like that. So I really think a White-front can be ruled out as the other (i.e. non Canada) parent, in spite of the hint of white at the base of the bill. Now, whether the domestic Greylag parent was wild type coloring or white is tougher to say, although I lean toward non-white. As far as the "Blue" Goose goes, it's certainly mainly Ross's. The head shape, thick neck and stubby bill certainly look good. Unfortunately, neither of the photos give a good size comparison to any other bird, but my impression is it looks small. Are you concerned about the so-called "grin" line? I wouldn't be. Although Ross's Geese usually don't show one, the key word is *usually* because there are exceptions. Perhaps the exceptions do owe something to Snow Goose origin--the two definitely are known to hybridize, but I really don't think I see anything else that point toward Snow, rather than Ross's. Well, other than the fact "Blue" Ross's Geese are very rare. If there's anyone with more experience with hybridizing of Snow & Ross's Geese than I have, please chime in. I think this would be a great learning experience for many of us. Cheers, Rob Parsons Winnipeg, MB CANADA parsons8 AT mts.net
Subject: Re: geese-- opinion time
From: "leamarart" <leamarart AT cox.net>
Date: Fri, 5 Mar 2010 21:26:19 -0600

Last year my grandson shot by accident a blue morph of a Ross's goose and had it mounted by BirdmanStudios.com. It looks just like the one you photographed. I have a photo of the mounted bird. He said it was extremely rare. If you want to contact him, let me know, and I will put you in touch. Marian Leach Omaha ----- Original Message ----- From: pastorpaultdunbar To: NEBirds AT yahoogroups.com Sent: Friday, March 05, 2010 8:49 PM Subject: [NEBirds] geese-- opinion time Alright, what do you all think? I've posted pics of 2 different birds I saw today, both in a large flock of Canada and Cackling Geese, with a few Greater White-fronted Geese and a couple Snows mixed in. These were up near the Platte River in Hall County. One is a Canada Goose hybrid. Is it crossed with a domestic Graylag? Feral greylag? Greater White-front? Other? Some combo? The other is a "blue goose," but is it purely Ross's or mixed with some Snow? Paul [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: geese-- opinion time
From: "pastorpaultdunbar" <pastorpaultdunbar AT yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 06 Mar 2010 02:49:21 -0000

Alright, what do you all think? I've posted pics of 2 different birds I saw today, both in a large flock of Canada and Cackling Geese, with a few Greater White-fronted Geese and a couple Snows mixed in. These were up near the Platte River in Hall County. One is a Canada Goose hybrid. Is it crossed with a domestic Graylag? Feral greylag? Greater White-front? Other? Some combo? The other is a "blue goose," but is it purely Ross's or mixed with some Snow? Paul
Subject: White Eurasian Collared-dove
From: "Kathy DeLara" <renosmom AT charter.net>
Date: Fri, 5 Mar 2010 18:09:32 -0700

Yesterday we had a white Eurasian Collared-dove in our yard. I also saw one last year and Drawbaughs had one in their yard in Scottsbluff last year so there are a few of them around ( or I guess it could be the same one) This time I got a few poor pictures of it and posted them on my website http://www.wyoneb.net/-delara/RecentSightings.htm Kathy DeLara Mitchell Ne [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Re: Redpolls - Stanton Co.
From: Justin Rink <spindalis79 AT yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 5 Mar 2010 16:16:33 -0800 (PST)

Mark, Ā Did he sift through them at all to search out one or two with the "frosty rump?"Ā It's possible, especially in a flock that size.Ā Ā A HoaryĀ showed up in Evanston, IL (Chicago) around this time about ten years ago. Ā Good birding. Ā Justin Rink Midtown Omaha, Douglas Co., NE spindalis79 AT yahoo.com --- On Thu, 3/4/10, mbrogie AT esu1.org wrote: From: mbrogie AT esu1.org Subject: [NEBirds] Redpolls - Stanton Co. To: NEbirds AT yahoogroups.com Date: Thursday, March 4, 2010, 9:23 PM Ā Duane Wolff called me today saying this morning around 11:00 he found a flock of well over 200 Redpolls at his farm (southeast of Norfolk-along the Elkhorn River). Mark A. Brogie 508 Seeley, Box 316 Creighton, NE 68729 (402) 358-5675 mbrogie AT esu1. org [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Northern Goshawk in Lincoln
From: Jim Mountjoy <jmountjo AT knox.edu>
Date: Fri, 05 Mar 2010 16:15:44 -0600

This morning while I was walking the dog, I saw a VERY large accipiter fly across Sheridan Blvd. in Lincoln, near the intersection with Sewell (this is a bit SW of 27th and South). I was looking south, so only saw the bird in silhouette at that point, but the size and powerful flight made me think this was very likely a Northern Goshawk. The bird disappeared into dense tree tops (many conifers), but it seemed possible it might land in the area so I walked south on Sheridan scanning for the bird, and turned west on Lake St. I had more or less given up on relocating the bird, and was walking east on Lake when suddenly I saw the bird overhead. I was a bit too stunned to get the binoculars up immediately, so I was looking tail-on at the bird flying south by the time I got the bins on it. However, the overhead view with naked eyes gave me a good enough view of structure (very large, heavy-bodied, slightly pointed wings, not terribly long tail) and flight style (slowish, deep and steady wingbeats) to convince me that this was indeed a goshawk. I suspect this bird was just passing through, but I will certainly be looking for it again, and will post if it is re-sighted. Jim Mountjoy Lincoln NE
Subject: Spring in Fillmore County
From: "Wic7ita" <juanitapat AT csus.edu>
Date: Fri, 05 Mar 2010 15:08:00 -0000

Where have all the juncos gone? Only 4-5 remain. Geese in the air the last 2 days: all Canada so far. The big news is 17 Great-Tailed Grackles: on Monday, 3/1 there were four (2M 2F). Yesterday there were 17: 11M, 6 F. What a racket! Also notable: Cardinals singing House Finch singing 4 Red-tails in 6 miles. American Kestrel Tuesday 3/2 2 Northern Harriers last Sunday, 2/28. M/F Cooper's hawk over the yard this morning 3/5 4 Brown-headed Cowbirds Chipping sparrows increased to about 13 in thawed area of pocket prairie/yard. FOY American Robin (1!) Woodpeckers calling & drumming. Flickers "fleer"ing. Otherwise the same: American goldfinch the most populous bird in the yard. Hairy, Downy, Red-bellied WPs, Flickers,WB Nuthatches Harris' Sparrow. etc. Juanita Rice, Fairmont
Subject: Re: I just couldn't stand it anymore! I had to go to G.I.!
From: "Clem Klaphake" <ckavian AT cox.net>
Date: Thu, 4 Mar 2010 23:15:46 -0600

Ed, If it is mainly cranes you want to photograph I would wait about 2 more weeks. Also if you have never gone into a blind at Rowe Sanctuary it is worth doing it at least once in the morning and once in the evening mainly for the experience and photo opportunity. Clem Klaphake Bellevue, NE ----- Original Message ----- From: Edward To: NEBirds AT yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, March 04, 2010 5:00 AM Subject: [NEBirds] I just couldn't stand it anymore! I had to go to G.I.! (I hope this doesn't post twice) and I had to do it now! It was a great day and the weather looks like it will turn sour towards the end of the week. So I made a break for it. "Ed....the birds are here." Yes they are, and there's gonna be a lot more tomorrow! I just have the feeling that today was the start of the big wave. I got to the little observation deck on the Platte River bridge south of Alda about 1:00 p.m. I could hear the Cranes the second I got out of the car. However, at that time and place they were mostly drowned out by the sound of Canada Geese, Snow and Greater White Fronted Geese that were on the Ice in the River about 1/2 mile South. 1. At that place on the river there were two channels open with mostly Ice in the middle, but the ice is going quick. I heard it cracking the whole time I was there. 2. Every little pond I saw in the area was still frozen over. Goose collection on the river http://www.flickr.com/photos/30500320 AT N06/4405160559/sizes/l/ (If you have a good internet connection or are patient, you can click on Original size to pick out individual birds...if you feel like it) Shortly after I got out of the car I saw these two Hawk like birds playing around with each other in the air. I thought it might be some kind of Hawk mating ritual because it didn't look like they were fighting. What do you know? They weren't Hawks. They were two immature Bald Eagles...so I guess they were just playing Doctor or something. http://www.flickr.com/photos/30500320 AT N06/4405215771/sizes/l/ Not long after that I saw a Northern Harrier in pretty much the same place. http://www.flickr.com/photos/30500320 AT N06/4405215149/sizes/l/ And about 100 or so Northern Pintails http://www.flickr.com/photos/30500320 AT N06/4405212989/sizes/l/ I could still hear the Cranes, but only a few flew over. http://www.flickr.com/photos/30500320 AT N06/4405979406/sizes/l/ I decided to head South over the bridge for about a mile and then head east down that road with the S-curves. I went that way because this is the way I went last year almost to the day and I saw lots of Cranes in the fields that I could get close to. Oh, and also because I don't know any secret places or people that live around there to let me on their property. Well today, I didn't see much of anything. I could still hear them, but I wasn't seeing any in the fields. I figured I'd just go to the place I went last year where I saw the Bald Eagle and look around a bit and turn around. It looks like S. 60th Rd/County Rd. 22 on the map. and that's where I finally saw a bunch of Cranes on the ground. There must have been a couple thousand West of the Road. I couldn't get any closer so I just fired off shots from there. http://www.flickr.com/photos/30500320 AT N06/4405055609/sizes/l/ and this one http://www.flickr.com/photos/30500320 AT N06/4405058153/sizes/l/ While I was there I saw a Mature Bald Eagle and a Kestrel. It was getting late so I went back to the Observation Deck and decided to hang out until sunset. Man, did they ever come in big time. Everything! The Cranes, Geese, Ducks, even Red-Winged Blackbirds started filling the trees. It was unbelievable. I realize all of the people reading this have witnessed it, but how can you really describe this to someone that hasn't? I just don't think you can. It almost appeared that they were all a little confused by the ice on the river, because all of their flight seemed so random. I watched flock after flock turn around several times, but maybe I'm just Anthropomorphizing and this is normal for them to do. I didn't see a lot of people out either. Even at dusk there was only one other person at the observation deck, but I think that will change in the next few days. I could still hear all that noise in my head an hour after I got home. I'm going back again. I need to get some good close ups. I just didn't have any opportunity today to get any closer than 3 blocks away. But, yeah Man, they should be coming in thick now. I had a great day and I'm going back a couple more times. Uggh, I took around 500 shots today. Culling through them isn't as awesome as it sounds. It's aggravating and I'll probably keep maybe 25. Ed, Lincoln. P.S. Any grammar, spelling and/or punctuation errors are accidental and beyond my control. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Redpolls - Stanton Co.
From: <mbrogie AT esu1.org>
Date: Thu, 04 Mar 2010 20:23:26 -0600

Duane Wolff called me today saying this morning around 11:00 he found a flock of well over 200 Redpolls at his farm (southeast of Norfolk-along the Elkhorn River). Mark A. Brogie 508 Seeley, Box 316 Creighton, NE 68729 (402) 358-5675 mbrogie AT esu1.org [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Re: I just couldn't stand it anymore! I had to go to G.I.!
From: Linda Deeds <ldeeds AT wildblue.net>
Date: Thu, 4 Mar 2010 15:30:42 -0600

You're right, the feeling of all those wings and cries is indescribable, although many people have tried. Great post, Ed, thanks! Linda Lincoln County On Thu, Mar 4, 2010 at 5:00 AM, Edward wrote: > I realize all of the people reading this have witnessed it, but how can you > really describe this to someone that hasn't? > I just don't think you can.
Subject: I couldn't stand it anymore! I had to go to G.I.
From: "Edward" <edwodonnell AT yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 04 Mar 2010 08:08:21 -0000

and I had to do it now! It was a great day and the weather looks like it will turn sour towards the end of the week. So I made a break for it. "Ed....the birds are here." Yes they are, and there's gonna be a lot more tomorrow! I just have the feeling that today was the start of the big wave. I got to the little observation deck on the Platte River bridge south of Alda about 1:00 p.m. I could hear the Cranes the second I got out of the car. However, at that time and place they were mostly drowned out by the sound of Canada Geese, Snow and Greater White Fronted Geese that were on the Ice in the River about 1/2 mile South. 1. At that place on the river there were two channels open with mostly Ice in the middle, but the ice is going quick. I heard it cracking the whole time I was there. 2. Every little pond I saw in the area was still frozen over. Goose collection on the river http://www.flickr.com/photos/30500320 AT N06/4405160559/sizes/l/ (If you have a good internet connection or are patient, you can click on Original size to pick out individual birds...if you feel like it) Shortly after I got out of the car I saw these two Hawk like birds playing around with each other in the air. I thought it might be some kind of Hawk mating ritual because it didn't look like they were fighting. What do you know? They weren't Hawks. They were two immature Bald Eagles...so I guess they were just playing Doctor or something. http://www.flickr.com/photos/30500320 AT N06/4405215771/sizes/l/ Not long after that I saw a Northern Harrier in pretty much the same place. http://www.flickr.com/photos/30500320 AT N06/4405215149/sizes/l/ And about 100 or so Northern Pintails http://www.flickr.com/photos/30500320 AT N06/4405212989/sizes/l/ I could still hear the Cranes, but only a few flew over. http://www.flickr.com/photos/30500320 AT N06/4405979406/sizes/l/ I decided to head South over the bridge for about a mile and then head east down that road with the S-curves. I went that way because this is the way I went last year almost to the day and I saw lots of Cranes in the fields that I could get close to. Oh, and also because I don't know any secret places or people that live around there to let me on their property. Well today, I didn't see much of anything. I could still hear them, but I wasn't seeing any in the fields. I figured I'd just go to the place I went last year where I saw the Bald Eagle and look around a bit and turn around. It looks like S. 60th Rd/County Rd. 22 on the map. and that's where I finally saw a bunch of Cranes on the ground. There must have been a couple thousand West of the Road. I couldn't get any closer so I just fired off shots from there. http://www.flickr.com/photos/30500320 AT N06/4405055609/sizes/l/ and this one http://www.flickr.com/photos/30500320 AT N06/4405058153/sizes/l/ While I was there I saw a Mature Bald Eagle and a Kestrel. It was getting late so I went back to the Observation Deck and decided to hang out until sunset. Man, did they ever come in big time. Everything! The Cranes, Geese, Ducks, even Red-Winged Blackbirds started filling the trees. It was unbelievable. It almost appeared that they were all a little confused by the ice on the river, because all of their flight seemed so random. I watched flock after flock turn around several times, but maybe I'm just projecting and this is normal for them to do. I could still hear all that noise in my head an hour after I got home. I didn't see a lot of people out either. Even at dusk there was only one other person at the observation deck, but I think that will change in the next few days. I'm going back again. I need to get some good close ups. I just didn't have any opportunity today to get any closer than 3 blocks away. But, yeah Man, they should be coming in thick now. I had a great day and I'm going back a couple more times. Uggh, I took around 500 shots today. Going through 500 shots isn't as awesome as it sounds. Ed, Lincoln. P.S. Any grammar, spelling and/or punctuation errors are accidental and beyond my control.
Subject: I just couldn't stand it anymore! I had to go to G.I.!
From: "Edward" <edwodonnell AT yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 04 Mar 2010 11:00:24 -0000

(I hope this doesn't post twice) and I had to do it now! It was a great day and the weather looks like it will turn sour towards the end of the week. So I made a break for it. "Ed....the birds are here." Yes they are, and there's gonna be a lot more tomorrow! I just have the feeling that today was the start of the big wave. I got to the little observation deck on the Platte River bridge south of Alda about 1:00 p.m. I could hear the Cranes the second I got out of the car. However, at that time and place they were mostly drowned out by the sound of Canada Geese, Snow and Greater White Fronted Geese that were on the Ice in the River about 1/2 mile South. 1. At that place on the river there were two channels open with mostly Ice in the middle, but the ice is going quick. I heard it cracking the whole time I was there. 2. Every little pond I saw in the area was still frozen over. Goose collection on the river http://www.flickr.com/photos/30500320 AT N06/4405160559/sizes/l/ (If you have a good internet connection or are patient, you can click on Original size to pick out individual birds...if you feel like it) Shortly after I got out of the car I saw these two Hawk like birds playing around with each other in the air. I thought it might be some kind of Hawk mating ritual because it didn't look like they were fighting. What do you know? They weren't Hawks. They were two immature Bald Eagles...so I guess they were just playing Doctor or something. http://www.flickr.com/photos/30500320 AT N06/4405215771/sizes/l/ Not long after that I saw a Northern Harrier in pretty much the same place. http://www.flickr.com/photos/30500320 AT N06/4405215149/sizes/l/ And about 100 or so Northern Pintails http://www.flickr.com/photos/30500320 AT N06/4405212989/sizes/l/ I could still hear the Cranes, but only a few flew over. http://www.flickr.com/photos/30500320 AT N06/4405979406/sizes/l/ I decided to head South over the bridge for about a mile and then head east down that road with the S-curves. I went that way because this is the way I went last year almost to the day and I saw lots of Cranes in the fields that I could get close to. Oh, and also because I don't know any secret places or people that live around there to let me on their property. Well today, I didn't see much of anything. I could still hear them, but I wasn't seeing any in the fields. I figured I'd just go to the place I went last year where I saw the Bald Eagle and look around a bit and turn around. It looks like S. 60th Rd/County Rd. 22 on the map. and that's where I finally saw a bunch of Cranes on the ground. There must have been a couple thousand West of the Road. I couldn't get any closer so I just fired off shots from there. http://www.flickr.com/photos/30500320 AT N06/4405055609/sizes/l/ and this one http://www.flickr.com/photos/30500320 AT N06/4405058153/sizes/l/ While I was there I saw a Mature Bald Eagle and a Kestrel. It was getting late so I went back to the Observation Deck and decided to hang out until sunset. Man, did they ever come in big time. Everything! The Cranes, Geese, Ducks, even Red-Winged Blackbirds started filling the trees. It was unbelievable. I realize all of the people reading this have witnessed it, but how can you really describe this to someone that hasn't? I just don't think you can. It almost appeared that they were all a little confused by the ice on the river, because all of their flight seemed so random. I watched flock after flock turn around several times, but maybe I'm just Anthropomorphizing and this is normal for them to do. I didn't see a lot of people out either. Even at dusk there was only one other person at the observation deck, but I think that will change in the next few days. I could still hear all that noise in my head an hour after I got home. I'm going back again. I need to get some good close ups. I just didn't have any opportunity today to get any closer than 3 blocks away. But, yeah Man, they should be coming in thick now. I had a great day and I'm going back a couple more times. Uggh, I took around 500 shots today. Culling through them isn't as awesome as it sounds. It's aggravating and I'll probably keep maybe 25. Ed, Lincoln. P.S. Any grammar, spelling and/or punctuation errors are accidental and beyond my control.
Subject: Spring is in the air
From: Jeanine Lackey <jeanine.dinan AT gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 3 Mar 2010 20:16:52 -0600

While running around sunset tonite near SW part of Grand Island, heard and observed: Singing Red-winged Blackbirds in cattails around a frozen wetland Singing Northern Cardinals Singing American Robins Waves and clouds of Snow, Wavies, and Canada Geese Ed....the birds are here. Jeanine Lackey Hall County -- [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: News on the web
From: Robin and Lanny <snowbunting AT rcom-ne.com>
Date: Wed, 3 Mar 2010 19:42:07 -0600

Nebraska birders, The February newsletter of the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union is on the web at http://rip.physics.unk.edu/NOU/ . Information about the big May birding event is included. I'm really getting excited about traveling through the Sandhills to the Pine Ridge in May to bird with good friends. We're planning on taking extra time to bird along the way there and back again. Robin Harding northern Kearney County, Nebraska For more information about birding in Nebraska, see the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union web site at: http://rip.physics.unk.edu/NOU/
Subject: RE: Western weekend (in praise of Nebraska birding)
From: "Walker, Thomas" <thomas.walker AT nebraska.gov>
Date: Mon, 1 Mar 2010 21:32:28 -0600

Glad it worked out for you Jim, and glad you didn't miss my "sure bet" Mountain Bluebirds....I figured I all but jinxed you by saying that. T. J. Walker - District Manager, Wildlife Division - Partners Section Nebraska Game and Parks Commission 301 East State Farm Road North Platte, NE 69101 Office Phone 308-535-8025 Cell Phone 308-530-7659 ________________________________________ From: NEBirds AT yahoogroups.com [NEBirds AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Jim Mountjoy [jmountjo AT knox.edu] Sent: Monday, March 01, 2010 3:17 PM To: NEBirds AT yahoogroups.com Subject: [NEBirds] Western weekend (in praise of Nebraska birding) My wife and I (along with our dog) headed west from Lincoln on Saturday and ended up in Ogallala for the night. Today, we swung north to Arthur and through a bit of the Sandhills before heading back east. I was hoping on this trip to build up my Nebraska list, which was up to 298 before the weekend. One target was Mountain Bluebird and I had received information from T. J. Walker about his sighting of bluebirds near Lake Jeffrey, south of Brady. We drove down this road without success, despite large numbers of Am. Robins, a flock of Cedar Waxwings and a good number of Purple Finches. It was also nice to get a good look at a ‘Red-shafted’ Flicker, which we hadn’t seen for some years. But I was starting to get nervous about the bluebirds, until on our return trip past Jeffrey Lake we spotted 2 lovely Mountain Bluebirds (male and female) that gave us a nice look. Number 299 and still hoping for more! A search for Barrow’s Goldeneye in North Platte was unsuccessful but we did see our first Great Blue Heron of the season at the fish hatchery and a good variety of ducks at the sewage lagoons, including Green-winged Teals and a Northern Shoveler. As we went west we saw more and more flocks of geese, including Canada, Cackling, Snow & Gr. White-fronted. The total number of birds was way into the thousands, making it clear that spring migration is well under way, out west at least. We ended up with 17 species of waterfowl, including Am. Wigeon, Gadwall, Canvasback, Redhead and Ring-necked Duck. One of the possibilities to bump up my Nebraska list was to find a rare gull, so Lake Ogallala was an important stop. When we visited the Kingsley Dam spillway area late on Saturday I located 1 or 2 interesting looking pale gulls out on the ice, but the flock flushed before I got a chance to examine them thoroughly. On Sunday morning I returned to the spillway area for a second chance. There was a second-winter gull on the concrete wall beside the spillway that looked interesting. I studied it for some time before reaching the conclusion that it was indeed a Thayer’s Gull – and species 300! As soon as I reached this conclusion I looked at the gulls in flight over the spillway, and right away found that there were actually 2 more distinctive adult Thayer’s circling around. Other birds in the area of Lake Ogallala included 2 Am White Pelicans (Saturday and Sunday), another Mountain Bluebird on Sunday (perched in the same tree as an Eastern), and a Great Blue Heron on Saturday. Our loop into the Sandhills was more scenic than birdy. We did find Pine Siskins (at least 12) in Arthur, and saw a shrike that looked like it was probably a Northern Shrike in a quick look. Reaching 300 species in Nebraska was quite fun, but it also emphasizes just how much Nebraska has to offer for a birder. I spent 3 years and about 4 months living in Lincoln during the mid ‘90s, and by the time I left my state list had climbed to the mid-290s. Recent splits like Cackling Goose helped bump my list up to 297. I have been back in Lincoln since early February, and with the addition of newcomer Eurasian Collared-Dove and this weekend’s birds, it has taken me less than 3 and a ½ years to reach the 300 milestone, For comparison, 3 years living in Pennsylvania only resulted in a state list of 241 species, and it took me almost 6 years to bring my Illinois list up to 300. As well as the rightly famous spectacle of crane and waterfowl migration, there is simply a great diversity of birds to be seen and enjoyed here. Hope all of you 'full-time' NE birders appreciate what you have here! Thanks to T. J. Walker, Kathy DeLara and Alice Kenitz for advice on where to go, and where to avoid, on this little jaunt! Jim Mountjoy Lincoln NE ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ ------------------------------------ Yahoo! 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Subject: Re: Birding Questions
From: "garoberts2" <garoberts AT qwest.net>
Date: Mon, 01 Mar 2010 23:37:05 -0000

Hi Beth: I was birding Hormel Park at the south end of Fremont, Ne. this afternoon and got a great look at a barred owl. I've seen them in the park many times. The two places they have appeared are half way around the Old Oak Trail and in the cedar trees on the road to the Platte river. How reliable it would be to see them is anybodies guess as the park is 175 acres of heavily wooded area with few trails to walk on. It may be further than you want to drive as it's about 30-35 miles from Omaha. Gary Roberts Dodge County --- In NEBirds AT yahoogroups.com, "birdingbeth" wrote: > > My friends and I are planning a trip out to Kearney next week and I was hoping some more experience Nebraska birders could help me out, with a few questions I have. > > 1. We are really hoping to see a prairie chicken lek. Does anyone know if the Prairie Chicken Lek near Talyor Ranch is active this year? If not, do you know where we can see another Chicken Lek? > > 2. Does anyone have directions to a Sharp Tailed Grouse Lek that is in the area that we could also see while we are out there? > > 3. My friends (and I originally) are from the west so we are also going to try and call in a barred owl. Does anyone know a good, reliable spot (around Omaha) that isn't over used that we could try and call in an owl. I know they are pretty prevalent but a good spot to start would be very helpful. > > 4. Are there any good spots for Gulls around? Or do you any suggestions on what we could do around Omaha once we are done with the cranes, chickens, and waterfowl. > > Thanks for all your help. > Beth Cottam > Omaha NE >
Subject: Nebraska Conservation News - March
From: "acliske" <jill AT nebraskabirds.org>
Date: Mon, 01 Mar 2010 17:35:56 -0000

Visit www.nebraskabirds.org for the latest from the Nebraska Bird Partnership. Recent posts: * Bird of the Month – Whooping Crane * Conservation Calendar * Spotlight on Partners: Platte River Basin Environments * Nebraska Natural Legacy Project Announces 2010 Update * "A Pocket Guide to Great Plains Waterbirds" Now Available * Nightjar Survey Wraps-Up Third Year The online news blog is intended to publicize any Nebraska conservation news, not just news from the Nebraska Bird Partnership. If you or your organization has news or event information you would like us to share, send us an email. If you prefer to subscribe to our feed, or otherwise do not wish to receive these monthly email notices, please let us know by emailing us at this address. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Western weekend (in praise of Nebraska birding) - long
From: Jim Mountjoy <jmountjo AT knox.edu>
Date: Sun, 28 Feb 2010 23:24:00 -0600

My wife and I (along with our dog) headed west from Lincoln on Saturday and ended up in Ogallala for the night. Today, we swung north to Arthur and through a bit of the Sandhills before heading back east. I was hoping on this trip to build up my Nebraska list, which was up to 298 before the weekend. One target was Mountain Bluebird and I had received information from T. J, Walker about his sighting of bluebirds near Lake Jeffrey, south of Brady. We drove down this road without success, despite large numbers of Am. Robins, a flock of Cedar Waxwings and a good number of Purple Finches. It was also nice to get a good look at a ‘Red-shafted’ Flicker, which we hadn’t seen for some years. But I was starting to get nervous about the bluebirds, until on our return trip past Jeffrey Lake we spotted 2 lovely Mountain Bluebirds (male and female) that gave us a nice look. Number 299 and still hoping for more! A search for Barrow’s Goldeneye in North Platte was unsuccessful but we did see our first Great Blue Heron of the season at the fish hatchery and a good variety of ducks at the sewage lagoons, including Green-winged Teals and a Northern Shoveler. As we went west we saw more and more flocks of geese, including Canada, Cackling, Snow & Gr. White-fronted. The total number of birds was way into the thousands, making it clear that spring migration is well under way, out west at least. We ended up with 17 species of waterfowl, including Am. Wigeon, Gadwall, Canvasback, Redhead and Ring-necked Duck. One of the possibilities to bump up my Nebraska list was to find a rare gull, so Lake Ogallala was an important stop. When we visited the Kingsley Dam spillway area late on Saturday I located 1 or 2 interesting looking pale gulls out on the ice, but the flock flushed before I got a chance to examine them thoroughly. On Sunday morning I returned to the spillway area for a second chance. There was a second-winter gull on the concrete wall beside the spillway that looked interesting. I studied it for some time before reaching the conclusion that it was indeed a Thayer’s Gull – and species 300! As soon as I reached this conclusion I looked at the gulls in flight over the spillway, and right away found that there were actually 2 more distinctive adult Thayer’s circling around. Other birds in the area of Lake Ogallala included 2 Am White Pelicans (Saturday and Sunday), another Mountain Bluebird on Sunday (perched in the same tree as an Eastern), and a Great Blue Heron on Saturday. Our loop into the Sandhills was more scenic than birdy. We did find Pine Siskins (at least 12) in Arthur, and saw a shrike that looked like it was probably a Northern Shrike in a quick look. Reaching 300 species in Nebraska was quite fun, but it also emphasizes just how much Nebraska has to offer for a birder. I spent 3 years and about 4 months living in Lincoln during the mid ‘90s, and by the time I left my state list had climbed to the mid-290s. Recent splits like Cackling Goose helped bump my list up to 297. I have been back in Lincoln since early February, and with the addition of newcomer Eurasian Collared-Dove and this weekend’s birds, it has taken me less than 3 and a ½ years to reach the 300 milestone, For comparison, 3 years living in Pennsylvania only resulted in a state list of 241 species, and it took me almost 6 years to bring my Illinois list up to 300. As well as the rightly famous spectacle of crane and waterfowl migration, there is simply a great diversity of birds to be seen and enjoyed here. Hope all of you 'full-time' NE birders appreciate what you have here! Thanks to T. J. Walker, Kathy DeLara and Alice Kenitz for advice on where to go, and where to avoid, on this little jaunt! Jim Mountjoy Lincoln NE ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEBirds/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEBirds/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: NEBirds-digest AT yahoogroups.com NEBirds-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: NEBirds-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Subject: Western weekend (in praise of Nebraska birding)
From: Jim Mountjoy <jmountjo AT knox.edu>
Date: Mon, 01 Mar 2010 15:17:54 -0600

My wife and I (along with our dog) headed west from Lincoln on Saturday and ended up in Ogallala for the night. Today, we swung north to Arthur and through a bit of the Sandhills before heading back east. I was hoping on this trip to build up my Nebraska list, which was up to 298 before the weekend. One target was Mountain Bluebird and I had received information from T. J. Walker about his sighting of bluebirds near Lake Jeffrey, south of Brady. We drove down this road without success, despite large numbers of Am. Robins, a flock of Cedar Waxwings and a good number of Purple Finches. It was also nice to get a good look at a ‘Red-shafted’ Flicker, which we hadn’t seen for some years. But I was starting to get nervous about the bluebirds, until on our return trip past Jeffrey Lake we spotted 2 lovely Mountain Bluebirds (male and female) that gave us a nice look. Number 299 and still hoping for more! A search for Barrow’s Goldeneye in North Platte was unsuccessful but we did see our first Great Blue Heron of the season at the fish hatchery and a good variety of ducks at the sewage lagoons, including Green-winged Teals and a Northern Shoveler. As we went west we saw more and more flocks of geese, including Canada, Cackling, Snow & Gr. White-fronted. The total number of birds was way into the thousands, making it clear that spring migration is well under way, out west at least. We ended up with 17 species of waterfowl, including Am. Wigeon, Gadwall, Canvasback, Redhead and Ring-necked Duck. One of the possibilities to bump up my Nebraska list was to find a rare gull, so Lake Ogallala was an important stop. When we visited the Kingsley Dam spillway area late on Saturday I located 1 or 2 interesting looking pale gulls out on the ice, but the flock flushed before I got a chance to examine them thoroughly. On Sunday morning I returned to the spillway area for a second chance. There was a second-winter gull on the concrete wall beside the spillway that looked interesting. I studied it for some time before reaching the conclusion that it was indeed a Thayer’s Gull – and species 300! As soon as I reached this conclusion I looked at the gulls in flight over the spillway, and right away found that there were actually 2 more distinctive adult Thayer’s circling around. Other birds in the area of Lake Ogallala included 2 Am White Pelicans (Saturday and Sunday), another Mountain Bluebird on Sunday (perched in the same tree as an Eastern), and a Great Blue Heron on Saturday. Our loop into the Sandhills was more scenic than birdy. We did find Pine Siskins (at least 12) in Arthur, and saw a shrike that looked like it was probably a Northern Shrike in a quick look. Reaching 300 species in Nebraska was quite fun, but it also emphasizes just how much Nebraska has to offer for a birder. I spent 3 years and about 4 months living in Lincoln during the mid ‘90s, and by the time I left my state list had climbed to the mid-290s. Recent splits like Cackling Goose helped bump my list up to 297. I have been back in Lincoln since early February, and with the addition of newcomer Eurasian Collared-Dove and this weekend’s birds, it has taken me less than 3 and a ½ years to reach the 300 milestone, For comparison, 3 years living in Pennsylvania only resulted in a state list of 241 species, and it took me almost 6 years to bring my Illinois list up to 300. As well as the rightly famous spectacle of crane and waterfowl migration, there is simply a great diversity of birds to be seen and enjoyed here. Hope all of you 'full-time' NE birders appreciate what you have here! Thanks to T. J. Walker, Kathy DeLara and Alice Kenitz for advice on where to go, and where to avoid, on this little jaunt! Jim Mountjoy Lincoln NE ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEBirds/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEBirds/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: NEBirds-digest AT yahoogroups.com NEBirds-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: NEBirds-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Subject: Birder's World
From: "Alice Kenitz" <akenitz AT prairieweb.com>
Date: Mon, 1 Mar 2010 13:08:08 -0700

Hi all, Clem Klaphake has a nice article in the latest Birder's World in the "Birding Hotspots" section--article about Fontenelle Forest. Thanks Clem for a good job. Also in that issue is a several page advertisement for birding in Nebraska. Alice Kenitz Gering [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Re: Freshman Birder Migration Question.
From: "Edward" <edwodonnell AT yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 01 Mar 2010 19:09:54 -0000

Me again. I wanted to wait a day or two before I responded back. First of all I want to thank you all for the replies. They are very helpful. My birding knowledge is limited to, "I know enough to know that I don't know very much." Since I'm still really new to this, I guess I've been taken over by a kind of juvenile anticipation for the arrival of the Sandhill Cranes and all of the other birds that will be traveling along with them. I suppose it's like I used to be at Christmas. I can't wait! I have to open them now! How many days until Christmas? How many days until Christmas? Is it Christmas yet? Can I open just one? How many days until Christmas? I guess I'll just have to wait another week or two. CRANE MADNESS! However, the temperature looks to be really good for the next week or two so that the Ice may be mostly gone. Which will be awesome! I guess I just have to go out there and learn what I can learn. Once again, thank you all for being patient with me. Ed, Lincoln. --- In NEBirds AT yahoogroups.com, "Clem Klaphake" wrote: > > Ed, > The cranes will be there. They stay along the Platte for at least 5-6 weeks to feed and put on at least 20% more body weight. I would go out there in middle to late March when their numbers usually build up to 400,000+ over a 100 mile stretch from east of Grand Island westward. They will be there if we get a snow storm in March or April also. They will be out in the cornfields even if the cornfields are covered with snow. One year I saw a Whooping Crane mixed in with a large flock of Sandhills and it would disappear from view because of the white snow that acted as a camouflage. > > Clem Klaphake > Bellevue, NE > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Edward > To: NEBirds AT yahoogroups.com > Sent: Thursday, February 25, 2010 7:31 PM > Subject: [NEBirds] Freshman Birder Migration Question. > > > > Hola, right now I am still a Freshman when it comes to all things Birding. > > My very first real foray into this world occurred March 11, 2009 when I was in Kearney where I saw so many Geese on those little lakes off the side of the Interstate that from a distance it looked like a big pile of popcorn. > > Like this: > http://www.flickr.com/photos/30500320 AT N06/3376781202/sizes/l/in/set-72157615821938805/ > > This: > http://www.flickr.com/photos/30500320 AT N06/3376777468/sizes/l/in/set-72157615821938805/ > > And This: > http://www.flickr.com/photos/30500320 AT N06/3376777468/sizes/l/in/set-72157615821938805/ > > Oh and maybe this: > Sandhill Crane Flying Tigers stunt team > http://www.flickr.com/photos/30500320 AT N06/3375936277/sizes/l/in/set-72157615821938805/ > > If you've gotten this far, there actually is a point to all of this. > In 14 days, I will become a Sophomore and I'd like to re-visit the Grand Island area to take some more pictures. I have far better equipment now and would like to think of myself as a little more technically proficient and thoughtful. > > My questions are: > > If all of these little lakes are still frozen over for the next month or so, what happens to the Geese? Will they wait a bit to migrate or will they fly over and say, "Yuck, Ice! Lets keep going!" > > Similarly, will the Cranes still arrive in the same numbers if the Platte River is frozen over? Now I'm not sure if the Platte River is frozen over around Grand Island, but I'm thinking it probably is. > > I really really want to head out there and get some great shots, but I don't want to spend an entire day getting there and back to find out that nothing's going on. > > I know these questions might seem dumb to the Birders here that are Seniors, but maybe since I'm only a Freshman, you can cut me a little slack. Well, I guess you could ridicule me a little since that's what Seniors are supposed to do Freshman. > > Ed, Lincoln. > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] >
Subject: Re: Cass/Otoe
From: DJOsobright AT aol.com
Date: Mon, 01 Mar 2010 13:03:51 -0500

Greetings, Yesterday afternoon I saw two Bald Eagles building a nest on the Iowa side of the Missouri river opposite Hayworth Park in Bellevue. They can easily be seen from a hiking trail which is adjacent to the Bellevue marina. It was fun watching them fly up and down the river carrying nesting material. Duane Bright, Bellevue -----Original Message----- From: Clem Klaphake To: NEBirds Yahoo Sent: Sun, Feb 28, 2010 4:55 pm Subject: [NEBirds] Cass/Otoe I drove around Cass and Otoe counties a little today, but many of the dirt/gravel roads are almost impassable due to mud from the melting snow. This appears like it is going to be a problem for quite a while in some areas where the snowbanks next to the roads are still 8-10 feet high (and I'm not talking minimum maintenance roads). Saw: - 2 Bald Eagles and 2 Rough-legged Hawks in northern Otoe County near Hwy 75 - 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch in Wyuka Cemetery in Nebraska City - 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler at Arbor Lodge - 2 T. Titmice there also - Lots of Red-tails along Hwy 75 (at least 15) - 2 of them Harlan's Clem Klaphake Bellevue, NE [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Re: A few birds
From: Linda Deeds <ldeeds AT wildblue.net>
Date: Sun, 28 Feb 2010 19:32:32 -0600

Clem, your partridge in a pear tree made me smile. Just don't bring Christmas back -- we've had enough snow! On the other hand, we've had so much around the house here in the canyon, we've yet to get our Christmas lights down, so we're ready. We have dozens and dozens of wild turkeys that graze through the yard, and the chickadees are flirting, with an occasional two-note spring call. It's coming... Linda Lincoln Co. On Sun, Feb 28, 2010 at 12:50 AM, Clem Klaphake wrote: > > > Birding is still slow here in Sarpy County. > Besides the winter resident birds I found: > > - 400+ Robins at Louisville SRA > - 3000-3500 Mallards in a cornfield north of Linoma Beach > - 15 E. Blue Birds at Schramm SRA > - 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk taking a bath in the fish holding ponds at Schramm > - 1 Rough-legged Hawk on a pole near Louisville > - 2 Common Goldeneye and two Common Mergansers on the Missouri River in > Bellevue > > But spring IS coming because the last couple of mornings I heard: > - Cardinals singing > - Mourning Doves cooing > - Woodpeckers drumming > - Chickadees whistling > - Robins singing > - Carolina Wren singing > Now I just need a Gray Partridge in my backyard pear tree!! > > Clem Klaphake > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

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