Kramper Lake / Danish Alps

Saturday, 18 november 2023

Waterfowl leave their breeding grounds on northern lakes and prairie potholes when temperatures drop and these wetlands begin to freeze. That usually means that local birders look for swans, geese and ducks on cold November days with chilling northerly winds. However, on Saturday, November 18, fourteen LHAS members and guests enjoyed bright sunlight and mild temperatures while finding 16 species of migrating waterfowl. Additional species brought our daily count to 34.

The least expected finding was a single White-winged Scoter. These large, black ducks breed on tundra lakes in the High Arctic and typically migrate along the seacoasts. They are most often found in the interior on large reservoirs or deeper natural lakes. Our sighting was at close range in good light that allowed us to identify it by its characteristic white wing patches and white spots on the face.

Another bird new to many of the participants was a Swan Goose (domesticated). This Eurasian species has been domesticated and the Kramper Lake individual is undoubtedly an escapee or release from a local collector. In fact, two individuals, a mated pair, were first found at the lake July 13 and were present together till October 6. On October 10 only the presumed male was present and then in the company of a Canada Goose. These birds may well be incapable of flight and were doomed when ‘released’ there.

Other birds of special interest were a female Red-breasted Merganser, a single Horned Grebe and a late Wilson’s Snipe.

11-18-2023 Birds — Kramper Lake and related areas outing --34 species:

All above images copyright 2023 by the respective photographers as listed below, used with permission.

Marla and Kevin Kerr

• Birders on patrol!

• Observation blind

• Mallards

• Northern Pintail

• Wilson’s Snipe

Jan Null

• Headed for Kramper Lake.

• Sign at Kramper Lake.

• Red-breasted Merganser at attention!

• Good view from here.

• Hunters in their blind.

• Calm waters for Fishermen and Bald Eagle.

• Close up view of the Bald Eagle.

• A Wilson’s Snipe on far side of lake.

• Huge Bald Eagle nest!

• Twin trees in calm waters.

• Pair of Common Goldeneyes.

• A Regal Eagle in a Regal Tree!

• Canada Geese flying above.

• Bird of the Day: White-winged Scoter!

• Birders enjoying the day at Kramper Lake!

Randall D. Williams

• First appearance of a female Red-breasted Merganser

• Zoom in to the merganser

• Waterfowl collection

• Northern Pintail with Canada Geese

• Immature Bald Eagle eyeing the waterfowl

• Eagle nest on the left, adult Bald Eagle on right

• Only a few clouds today.

• Calm waters for fishing

• Waterfowl hunters and decoys

• Still waters (2 images)

• Reflections

• Black-and-white reflections

• Observation deck

• Another female Red-breasted Merganser

• Zoom in on the merganser

• White-winged Scoter (2 images)

• Birders enjoying the day (3 images)

Below videos copyright 2023 by Jan Null, used with permission.

Bacon Creek and Prairie Parks

Saturday, 14 October 2023

With temperature in the 40’s, heavy cloud cover, light rain and northerly winds, the Chapter’s plans for a productive Fall Migratory Bird Day were severely diminished. Plans to first look for Red Crossbills in Graceland Cemetery were thwarted by locked gates, so the party proceeded to Bacon Creek Park. There we saw an Osprey looking for fish and a late Spotted Sandpiper. A quick look for the Limpkin came up empty as did our brief search for Passerines.

Our next stop was Prairie Park where members Marla and Kevin Kerr and Randy Williams were hosting a public outreach event as part of our effort to gain Bird Friendly status for Sioux City. Waterfowl was limited to Canada Geese and a single Pied-billed Grebe. Searching the weedy borders and restored prairie produced many Savannah Sparrows along with a few Song and Vesper Sparrows and five meadowlarks, but failed to find other common migratory sparrows. Overhead, Double-crested Cormorants and single Red-tailed Hawk, Bald Eagle, Cooper’s Hawk and Merlin graced the cloudy skies. A single Orange-crowned Warbler was the only lingering warbler.

However, the best find of the day was back at Bacon Creek Park, where Marla and Kevin re-found “our” Limpkin for the first time since September 23. This wayward visitor is apparently doing quite well on the lake’s snails and mussels but must soon return to Florida to avoid an ice-locked lake. Help us monitor this rarity’s stay.

10-14-2023 Birds-Prairie Park, Bacon Creek, and related areas etc.—31 species.

Above images copyright 2023 by the respective photographers as listed below, used with permission.

Jan Null

• Birders at Bacon Creek.

• Prairie Park Prairie.

• Trail to the Lake.

• Loess Hills Audubon information area.

• Goldenrod in the Prairie.

• Birders at work.

• What are you two fighting about?

• Time for a picture!

• A Cooper’s Hawk showed up!

• Hey, there’s a bird up there!

• Thanks for the cookies!

• Red-winged Blackbirds.

• Birds on the wing!

Marla & Kevin Kerr

• Birders

• Trash clean up crew

• LHAS information

• Used fishing line recycling station

• Enjoying the day!

• Pied-billed Grebe

• Species list for Prairie Park

• Orange-crowned Warbler (2 images)

Randall D. Williams

• Meeting some of the locals

• Looking for migrating sparrows

• Back to the shelter

• Too overcast for the annular eclipse

• 4 images of squabbling Canada geese

• Pied-billed Grebe

Bacon Creek - Kevin Kerr

• Limpkin on the lake shore (3 images)

Limpkin video copyright 2023 by Kevin Kerr, used with permission.

Canada goose video copyright 2023 by Jan Null, used with permission.

Birding In the Rain

SATURDAY, 23 september 2023

Bacon Creek, Graceland Cemetery, and related areas etc. — 32 species.

Above images copyright 2023 by the respective photographers listed below. Used with permission.

Kevin and Marla Kerr

• Cow, not-a-cowbird!

• Bill H. looking for a limpkin

• Kevin K. looking for a limpkin

• Randy W. and Jerry P. looking for a limpkin

• 3 limpkin images

Jan Null

• Red-tailed Hawk looking for breakfast.

• He has a squirrel in those talons!

• Birders have arrived at Bacon Creek.

• A Great Blue Heron ready for breakfast too!

• The calm before the storm.

• Birders across the lake.

• Where’s the Limpkin??

Randall D. Williams

• What’s up, dock?

• Beginning of fall color

• Collecting limpkin prey

• 4 limpkin photos

Below video copyright 2023 by Jan Null, used with permission.

Stone Park and Related Areas

SATURDAY, 26 august 2023  

Birding in the month of August has its own unique set of challenges. There are days when oppressive heat or pesky insects are just too much for us birders to bear. And even under the best conditions, our summer resident birds have become very difficult to find. First of all, dense foliage exists high and low, obscuring their every move, Secondly, they have completed their breeding activities and relinquished their nesting territories, removing the need for song or other vocalizations to protect their territory or attract mates. Being both hard to see and hard to hear, birds such as Warbling Vireos, House Wrens and Baltimore Orioles which were hard to miss in June, now go largely undetected. More secretive species are nearly impossible

However, relief comes late in the month when southbound migrants such as flycatchers, vireos and warblers begin to arrive. They, too, are mostly silent and remain hidden amongst the foliage as they forage for berries and bugs, but can be located with certain techniques. Often occurring in loose flocks made up of a number of species, we can listen for the more vociferous of species, such as Black-capped Chickadees, to locate a flock’s presence and then search patiently and thoroughly for the other species in the flock. Another technique, usable on quiet, still mornings, is to watch for the twitchy movements of foliage indicating foraging birds. Vireos hopping from twig to twig, flycatchers leaving or returning to their perch and warblers flitting amongst the leaves, though weighing a mere ounce, move such leaves, twigs and ‘weeds.’ Another challenge, especially evident in warblers, is the presence immature birds and their varied appearances lacking the color and patterns of the adults. Study them ahead of time!

Accepting such challenges, 21 LHAS members and guests, convened on Stone Park early on this August morning to search out such elusive prey. The stand-in-one-spot-and-stare-at-the-foliage technique yielded several Eastern Wood-Pewees before revealing an ambiguous immature male Mourning Warbler and 3 Blackburnian Warblers. Glimpses of a Wilson’s Warbler, American Redstarts and Red-eyed Vireos followed and a second Mourning Warbler, an adult male this time, was found. Others heard single calls of Yellow-billed Cuckoo and Summer Tanager.

Later in the morning, in Pammel Valley, while searching the trees for songbirds, five Broad-winged Hawks, one Red-shouldered Hawk and a Bald Eagle were seen soaring above the valley, all also on their way south. But the greatest sighting was a soaring Mississippi Kite, unfortunately witnessed by but a few. This raptor is only rarely seen in our area and was identified by its buoyant flight, pointed wings and uniformly gray head and breast. With such sightings, some of us moved to the ridgetop to hawk watch after our lunches but were limited to Bald Eagles, Turkey Vultures and single Common Nighthawk and Peregrine Falcon flyovers.

Bill Huser, LHAS Outings Coordinator

54 species, including sightings reported by birders in transit to and from their homes.

Names in italics are first time participants to a Loess Hills Audubon Society outing! Welcome! Altogether there were 21 participants for a great day in and around Stone Park.

All above images copyright 2023 by the respective photographers listed below, used with permission.

Marla Kerr - 7 images of warbler watchers

Jan Null

• Birders have arrived at Stone Park!

• Pam (From Vancouver WA.!) birded with us!

• Red-eyed Vireos were singing everywhere!

• Warblers were keeping us busy!

• A Red-headed Woodpecker was easier to see.

• Taking a break.

• Time for a group picture!

• Back to work!

Maria Rundquist - 5 images

Rex Rundquist - 15 images

• 7 wildflowers

• 3 butterflies

• 5 birds

Dotty Zales - Hear no birds; See no birds; Call no birds!

Below video copyright 2023 by Jan Null, used with permission.

Big Sioux River Parks and Zales’ Prairie Hills

Saturday, 15 July 2023  

A large group of local Audubon members converged on Bill & Dotty Zales’ Prairie Hills for brats, salads, desserts, ice cream and fellowship as part of our July outing. I believe I can speak for all in thanking the Zales for their hospitality and culinary delights. The gathering allowed us to again visit with Bob & Phyllis Nickolson and to celebrate Chuck Johnson’s 93rd birthday.

Earlier in the day 15 members and guests met at Plymouth County’s Big Sioux Park to explore its features and look for birds. The park’s riverbank and riparian woodland provided us with views of over 30 species including Eastern Wood Pewee, American Redstart, Wood Thrush, Bald Eagle and the haunting call of a Yellow-billed Cuckoo.

Access to the adjacent Boyd’s Bend WMA was found to be too limited for our group and required a high clearance vehicle to cross the railroad tracks. However, the site featured a large managed grassland that would have added several species to the day’s list. The nearby Doorenbos-Ford Wetlands required a quarter mile drive through a corn field on a dirt track that appeared to be only partially drained from recent rains, so we passed on exploring this site.

We were able to access the River’s Bend WMA and Ron Wilmot River Access, where found both grassland and riparian woodland habitats. The brushy edge of the woods was home to a Bell’s Vireo and a probable Willow Flycatcher and the larger area hosted many of our more common summer resident, breeding birds.

Next we drove Birch Avenue and North Ridge Road through the Broken Kettle Grasslands to search for grassland birds and found many Grasshopper Sparrows, Red-headed Woodpeckers and Western Meadowlarks. We were disappointed in missing the resident Bobolinks and were unable to find the Loggerhead Shrikes present the past few summers. ‘The Grasslands’ are also accessed from Butcher Road and drive there showcased Great Crested Flycatcher, Brown Thrasher and Lark, Field and Vesper Sparrows.

From there our empty tummies dictated we go over the hill to the Zales for the much-anticipated lunch. There we found a few more species like Eastern Meadowlark and Eastern Bluebird, bringing our daily total to 64 species.

All below photos copyright 2023 by the respective photographers.

Marla Kerr

• Big Sioux Park 1

• Big Sioux Park 2

• Big Sioux Park 3

• Ron Wilmot River Access

• Best Birding Spot!

• River views

• Prairie Hills

• Table setting

• Ready for lunch

• The prairie is my garden

• Barn decor 1

• Barn decor 2

• Prairie Pond

Jerry L. Mennenga

• Big Sioux Park

  • River access

  • Taking stock of the situation

  • River’s edge observations

  • Looking for the perfect view

  • Closer observation

  • River habitat

  • Bald Eagle flyover

• Dunham Prairie Nuthatch

• Plymouth County vultures (3 images)

Randall D. Williams

• Starting point - Chris Larsen Park

• Paparazzi at Big Sioux Park

• River habitat

• Bird finding

• Ron Wilmot River Access

• Rural Plymouth County

• Grasshopper Sparrow

• Declaring territory

• Tools

• Wheels

Jan Null

• Entering Big Sioux Park.

• Birders along the Big Sioux River.

• Heading down the trail.

• Eastern Kingbird.

• What did Bill find?

• Butcher Road flowers.

• Butterfly Milkweed.

• Bison Family.

• Eastern Bluebird.

• Relaxing after lunch at Zales!

• Happy Birthday Chuck!

All below videos copyright 2023 by Jan Null, used with permission.

Nebraska Sandhills

Friday, June 16 – Sunday, June 18, 2023

The Sandhills landform was created out of the sediments eroded from the Rocky Mountains by Pleistocene glaciers (2.8M – 12,000 years ago), deposited and shaped by winds to heights over 300 feet and stabilized by an extremely diverse group of grassland plants. What can be seen today is a mixed grass prairie covering more than 19,000 square miles or 25% of the state. These Sandhills also overlie the immense Ogallala aquifer which appears as many wetlands and shallow lakes. The region was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1984 that provides nesting habitat for declining prairie bird species, as well as wetland species from waterfowl to Marsh Wrens. It is now also home to over half a million cattle and very few people making it an excellent destination for naturalists.

Five members of the LHAS journeyed the 225 miles to Valentine, NE on Friday, June 16 to experience this vast prairie and search for the prairie and western species breeding there each summer. Excellent overnight accommodations were secured at the Harmony Inn in Valentine so that we could spend the entire Saturday and even Sunday morning chasing our quarry.

Our day began driving westward on West Wood Lake Road from US-20 to US-83, where we searched for Long-billed Curlews but found similar Marbled Godwit, as well as, Willets, Wilson’s Snipe, Wilson’s Phalaropes, Grasshopper Sparrows, Bobolinks, Eastern Meadowlarks and countless Upland Sandpipers, Western Meadowlarks and Dickcissels. Stopping at Big Alkali and Hackberry Lakes on the Valentine NWR turned up fewer waterfowl than expected but did show us Green-winged Teal and Hooded Mergansers in addition to Blue-winged Teal, Gadwalls and Mallards. Also found here were interesting daytime flying Common Nighthawks and a very pale Great Horned Owl. Westward on Kennedy Road we saw Swainson’s Hawk, Burrowing Owl, Loggerhead Shrike and more Common Nighthawks, this time perching on fence posts in open prairie. A mid-afternoon stop at the large Merritt Reservoir produced little but 17 Western Grebes, which we studied for Clark’s Grebe or such hybrids.

After an hour siesta, we went northward to the Fort Niobrara NWR where we found the prairie dog village gone, but located several more roosting Nighthawks. A short hike to Fort Falls, which tumble northward through a deep, shaded canyon to the Niobrara River, took us through an isolated remnant of an ice-age ecosystem, including both birch and aspen trees not seen elsewhere for hundreds of miles. Birds there included Eastern Phoebe and American Redstart, but we could not locate a previously reported Louisiana Waterthrush.

After a well-earned supper at the Bunkhouse Restaurant and Saloon in Valentine, Rex Rundquist and I headed to the Valentine Fish Hatchery grounds, where we hiked up Government Canyon, a very interesting mix of eastern deciduous wooded creek and western brushy, rocky cliffs. As dusk approached, we located Great-crested Flycatchers, Eastern Wood Pewees, Spotted Towhees and Indigo Buntings. At the upper end of the canyon we waited for darkness to descend, so that we could hear Common Poor-Wills sing their haunting songs from the brushy cliffsides on our descent. This western relative of Whip-Poor-Will was a life bird for Rex and my primary target for Cherry County.

Sunday morning after breakfast at the Harmony Inn, Rex and I extended our weekend adventure by hiking a section of Nebraska’s Cowboy Trail east of Valentine where it crosses the Niobrara River on a high, re-purposed railway trestle. From a rather dizzying height we saw deer cross the river and heard Bell’s Vireos, Ovenbirds and a Yellow-Breasted Chat singing from below.

As leader, I would like to thank participants, John & Sharon Polifka and Rex & Maria Rundquist who added their enthusiasm, knowledge and verve to this summer adventure which yielded 75 species of prairie and western birds. A special ‘Hats off’ to the participant (Maria) who hobbled and contorted her new knee in ways that were quite laudable.

Bill Huser, LHAS Vice-President & Outings Coordinator; 712-574-3107 or billfhuser@gmail.com

Remember: all LHAS outings are open to the public and offer an inviting way to begin birding and meet others with similar interests.

All above images copyright 2023 by the respective photographers as listed below, used with permission.

William F. Huser

• Marbled Godwit in a field

• Marbled Godwit in flight

• Upland Sandpiper 1

• Upland Sandpiper 2

• Wilson’s Snipe

• Swainson’s Hawk

• Common Nighthawk

• Box Turtle

• Sandhills and barbed wire

• Dirt roads

Maria Rundquist

• Welcome to Valentine, NE

• Upland Sandpiper

• Swainson’s Hawk

• Great Blue Heron

• American White Pelicans

• Setting the spotting scope

• Sandhills explorers

• Maria and Rex

Sharon Polifka

• Welcome to Valentine

• Bee on flower

• Bobolink

• Burrowing Owl

• Common Nighthawk

• Pale Great Horned Owl

• Swainson’s Hawk

• Wilson’s Snipe

• Upland Sandpiper

• Upland Sandpiper in flight

• Windmill and sandhills

• Trestle bridge along the Cowboy Trail

• The Fearless Five

Rex Rundquist - 35 images.

Little Sioux Scout Ranch

Saturday, 13 May 2023

As part of our May outing, LHAS had permission to access the newly acquired Little Sioux Scout Ranch (LSSR) to perform a bird survey and obtain some baseline bird occurrence for the site. LSSR was recently purchased by the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation (INHF) and LHAS is one of the contributors to this important acquisition to help preserve the Loess Hills. This property is located within the Loess Hills Bird Conservation Area (BCA) and is adjacent to different tracts of the Loess Hills State Forest (LHSF). At almost 1800 acres, LSSR offers opportunities for outdoor recreation such as hiking, birdwatching, wilderness camping, and fishing. The property has 25 miles of trails and a 20-acre lake. It is located in southern Monona County near Preparation Canyon State Park.

Plans include: Open the property to the public, maintain the memorial to four boys who died in a 2008 tornado on the property, and share the history of LSSR as a scout camp.

Eleven birders departed early morning to participate in this bird survey. Heavy thunderstorms and rain had occurred in the area the prior evening so farm fields were flooded and the roads and trails in the park were a little slippery. Boy scouts were also there with parents pitching tents, hiking and enjoying the day. We covered several areas of the park and totaled 46 species. Most of our birding was along the edges of the woods and walks into the interior may have produced additional species. When the park becomes open to the public, future birding trips by groups or individuals will likely increase the number of species found there. Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Baltimore and Orchard Orioles, Gray Catbirds, and Eastern Towhees were among the most numerous species. Most birders departed LSSR shortly after noon and some birded additional areas to find other species to add to the days Birdathon species total.

Participants were:

• Jerry Probst

• John Polifka

• Sharon Polifka

• Bill Zales

• Anne Shaner

• Rex Rundquist

• Marla Kerr

• Kevin Kerr

• Pam Miller Smith

• Jan Null

• Jerry Von Ehwegen

Reported by: Jerry V.

All above images copyright 2023 by the respective photographers as listed below.

Pam Miller-Smith

• Birders at Little Sioux Scout Ranch - two images

Jan Null

• Loess Hills overlooking flooded fields on the way to Little Sioux Scout Ranch.

• Heavy rains the night before flooded the fields.

• Entrance to Little Sioux Scout Ranch.

• Campers at Little Sioux Scout Ranch.

• Baltimore Oriole at LSSR

• Birders at Chapel/Scout Memorial at LSSR

• Searching for birds at LSSR!

• Enjoying the scenery at LSSR.

• An Eastern Towhee at LSSR.

• Good habitat for pollinators like Bumblebees at LSSR

• Chapel/Scout memorial at LSSR.

• Climbing the hills could be a challenge at LSSR.

• Old Glory overlooking LSSR.

• Scenic lake at LSSR.

• Red-headed Woodpeckers were affected by the Loess Hills State Forest fire.

• White-fronted Goose at Blue Lake.

Marla & Kevin Kerr

• “Killer Whale Carp” in the pond

• Gray Catbird

• Furtive Eastern Towhee

• Jelly Ear Fungi, found by Bill Z.

• Wildlife watchers and photographers

• Little Sioux directional sign to various cities

• Structure cover in the Memorial Picnic Area

• Activity Off Limits Sign - inapplicable to this group due to supervision by Jerry P.

• Wet frog

• Juvenile Baltimore Oriole

• Dry toad

• Western Meadowlark

• Yellow Warbler

Below video copyright 2023 by Jan Null, used with permission.

Migratory Birds at Sioux City Prairie Park

Saturday, 6 May 2023

Rain and wind gave way to blue skies and puffy white clouds as the wind diminished. That did not last. The wind picked up and shifted and clouds returned before we ended our time at the park. Four observers found 39 species as part of our first joint venture with Sioux City Parks and Recreation. Marla K., Kevin K., Randy W. from LHAS and Linda from Sierra Club shared the area with about 10 anglers.

Highlights were:  Eared Grebe, Green Heron, Nashville Warbler, Palm Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Clay-colored Sparrow, Least Sandpiper and a flock of 25 very large gulls flying overhead. None of us got a really good look at the gulls during their flyby but they were very large, possibly Herring?

It was an enjoyable day to be outside. Thank you to Sioux City Parks and Recreation for this opportunity and use of the shelter.

Reported by Randy Williams

Above images copyright 2023 by Randall D. Williams (RW) and Marl and Kevin Kerr (MKK), used with permission.

Top row: Marla setting up at the shelter (RW), Information table (MKK), Testing the spotting scope (MKK), Paved trail (MKK), Grass trail (MKK)

Middle row: Eared Grebe - two images (RW), Double-crested Cormorant (MKK), Goose family (RW), Green Heron (RW)

Bottom row: Spotted Sandpiper (MKK), Northern Rough-winged Swallows (RW), Lincoln’s Sparrow (MKK), Palm Warbler (MKK), Savannah Sparrow (MKK)

Nebraska Prairie Chickens

Saturday, 22 April 2023

Saturday, April 22, was an exceptionally frigid April morning, one where the wind speed approached the temperature. In this case, this meant 34F, NW winds gusting to 30mph, overcast skies and a dusting of snow. Though this did not prevent us from finding our main objective, displaying Greater Prairie-Chickens, it did prevent us from lingering and fully enjoying the sights and sounds of the birds’ courtship ritual. Seven males displayed, danced and sparred on the ridge 200 yards distant. More birds, including females, were apparently present but not seen well. Though we could not watch for long, these birds were life birds for 5 of our participants. Nearby, on burned CRP ground, Brewer’s Blackbirds were part of a large flock of Brown-headed Cowbirds, which also included two Yellow-headed Blackbirds.

Afterwards, we entered the nearby Buckskin Hills Wildlife Management Area (WMA), where we found waterfowl, a few shorebirds and other aquatic species on the wetlands and reservoir. Searching the thickets and tree plantings on foot proved fruitless as any migrating songbirds present remained under cover.  Perhaps many have delayed their arrival, waiting for the weather-delayed botanical growth and insect hatches that feed them. Our next stop was the Powder Creek WMA where an active Bald Eagle nest, 10 Great Egrets and many White pelicans and Double-crested Cormorants were the highlights. Another nearby lake on private property provided more of the same waterfowl species.

Our next stop was at Ponca State Park where we found our second active Bald Eagle nest (an incubating adult present). Another nearby abandoned eagle nest hosted a pair of Canada Geese, whose young will have quite a death defying drop when they fledge. Near the footbridge, we found a single, early, singing Louisiana Waterthrush, which was heard by a few and seen by even fewer.

Our last stop was for the hot food and warm interior of Ponca’s Cedar Hills Café, a new stop for each of us. Here, the warmth, food and birding stories brought the outing to a satisfying conclusion.

(Note: this was the first time our car caravan used walkie-talkies to quickly communicate bird sightings to each car in the procession. Each of us thought they worked well and were worth including in all such outings.)

List of participants (8): Marla & Kevin Kerr, Sharon & John Prolifka, Dotty Zales, Jerry Probst, James Bailey, Bill Huser.

Respectfully submitted,

Bill Huser, LHAS Vice-President & Outings Coordinator; 712-574-3107 or billfhuser@gmail.com

All above images copyright 2023 by Marla & Kevin Kerr, used with permission.

• First three images: Where’s Waldo? - Can you find the Wilson’s Snipe in the three photos?

• Next three images: Buckskin Hills Double-crested Cormorant and American White Pelicans

• Great Egrets at Powder Creek

• Hard core birder Jerry P.

• Two images of Louisiana Waterthrush at Ponca State Park

• Hard core birders one and all!

Woodbury County Wanderings

Saturday, 25 March 2023

Morning sprinkles turned into clear skies for eleven birders participating in our March outing. The ongoing waterfowl migration was our main goal and our first stop was Snyder’s Bend where we found 20 species of waterfowl which included around 100 Trumpeter Swans which were entertaining us with courtship displays consisting of head bobbing and small flocks flying and trumpeting together. Their bright white plumage made a pretty sight in the blue sky. American White Pelicans were found by the few that braved the stroll to the overlook. A Northern Harrier was continually cruising over the grassland searching for prey.

A stop at Brown’s Lake added Northern Pintail and Red-breasted Mergansers to our list and a Cackling Goose at the Dairy Ponds on the way to Owego Wetlands gave us a total of 23 Waterfowl species for the day. It was nice to see good amounts of water at Owego which also contained good numbers of waterfowl.

Group consensus was to have lunch at ‘Uncommon Grounds’, a coffee shop in Sloan which also features antiques, gifts, fresh baked treats, and so much more. We had called ahead and they had a table reserved for us and their special of the day was ‘Chicken Salad Croissants’. After good service and good food we called it a day.

We recorded a total of 48 species for the day. Highlights included: 23 species of waterfowl, Trumpeter Swan, Ross’s Goose, American White Pelican, Red-breasted Merganser, Wood Duck, Northern Pintail, Blue-winged Teal, American Kestrel, Northern Harrier, and two rooster Ring-necked Pheasants dueling on the road at Owego.

Birders were: Randy Williams, Brian Hazlett, Marla Kerr, Donna Popp, Chuck Johnson, Bill and Dotty Zales, John and Sharon Polifka, Jan Null, and Jerry Von Ehwegen. Thanks to all who participated.

Reported by Jerry Von Ehwegen

3-25-2023 Birds — Snyder Bend, Brown’s Lake, Owego Wetlands Comples, and related areas — 48 species.

All above images copyright 2023 by the respective photographers as listed below, used with permission.

Marla Kerr

• Trumpeter Swans at Snyder’s Bend

• Snow Goose wing at Snyder’s Bend

• Red-bellied Woodpecker at Brown’s Lake

• Flying Ring-necked Pheasant at Owego Wetlands

Jan Null

• Finding birds at Snyder’s Bend

• Snows and Blues

• Trumpeters on the water

• Trumpeters in the sky

• Common Merganser

• American Wigeon (with the white cap)

• Green-winged Teal and Northern Pintails

• Smallest Dabbling Duck vs Long Necks

• An Elegant Bird

• Ring-billed Gulls and a Green-winged Teal

• Lunch at ‘Uncommon Grounds’

Randall D. Williams

• Squadron of Swans

• Lesser Scaup

• Female Common Merganser

• Male and female Bufflehead

• Trumpeters at Snyder’s Bend

• Takeoff

• Observation deck at Snyder’s Bend

• American White Pelicans

• Ring-billed gulls

• More Trumpeters

• In flight 1

• In flight 2

Below videos copyright 2023 by Jan Null, used with permission.

Great Backyard Bird Count

Saturday, 18 February 2023

The Loess Hills Audubon Society participated in the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) on Saturday, February 18th. Twenty members and guests surveyed local hotspots such as the Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center; Sioux City’s Bacon Creek and Riverside Parks; Snyder Bend and Little Sioux County Parks; Ponca State Park (NE), Blue Lake and Stone State Parks (IA) and the exotic locations of St. Louis County, MN and Castle Pines, CO.

Please click on the button below to see the full report and species identified for the full count period of Friday, 17 February through Monday, 20 February 2023.

Bill Huser, LHAS Vice-President & Outings Coordinator; 712-574-3107 or billfhuser@gmail.com

DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge

Saturday, 14 January 2023

DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge, located along the Missouri River between Missouri Valley, IA and Blair, NE, includes a 7-mile long oxbow lake separating Nebraska and Iowa. The 8365-acre refuge boasts tallgrass prairie, bottomland forests and wetlands. On our January14th visit we found much of the refuge devoid of birds but did find over 30 Bald Eagles roosting above the mostly frozen river, Common Mergansers and Common Goldeneyes diving for fish and mollusks in the open water that remained, a Merlin streaking by and a Rough-legged Hawk methodically hunting the grasslands. However, perhaps the biggest thrill for most was seeing a Pileated Woodpecker in the cottonwoods near the site of the steamboat Bertrand’s sinking. Fourteen of our 17 participants were able to locate North America’s largest woodpecker flying from tree to tree and landing in clear view.

After that excitement we proceeded to the visitor’s center where the observation wing overlooks water kept open by bubblers and numerous waterfowl. Here were an astounding 160 large, white and graceful Trumpeter Swans, a number not previously witnessed by any of us. Also present were many Canada Geese, 3 additional species of geese and 7 species of ducks. A White-crowned Sparrow and common feeder visitors brought our trip total to 34 species by noon, when we dispersed for lunch.

A total of 35 species were reported along with two meadowlarks, but it was not determined if they were Eastern or Western.

Reported by Bill Huser and Jerry Von Ehwegen.

All above images copyright 2023 by the respective photographers as listed below.

Marla Kerr

• Looking for Pileated Woodpeckers

• In the observation area

• Hard core birders

• Group photo

• Observation area of the visitor center

• Mallards

Jerry Mennenga

• River ice

• Starlings on the edge

• Trumpeter Swans

• Stretching the wings

• Swans in flight

Jan Null

• Mergansers take flight

• A lonely cardinal

• Where’s my car?

• Bald Eagle nest

• Good habitat

• Observation deck

• Birders

• The Whole Gang!

• Opossum 1

• Opossum 2

Randall D. Williams

• Birders on the loose!

• Bald Eagles along the Missouri

• Female Northern Harrier

• Observation deck

• Geese and swans

• Trumpeter swans

• More geese and swans

• Ring-necked Ducks

• American Wigeon

• Common Goldeneye 1

• Common Goldeneye 2

• On the wing

• Swans in flight

Below videos copyright 2023 by Jan Null, used with permission.

Three Rivers Wildlife Area

This area is along I-29 near Little Sioux, Iowa. Carey A. and Jerry M. investigated this area before meeting the group at DeSoto. Here are their photos from Three Rivers.

All above photos copyright 2023 by the respective photographers as listed below.

Carey Anderson (upper left photo)

• Staking a claim

Jerry Mennenga (all other photos)

• Royalty and minions

• Having a look

• The gathering

• Observant

• Take off

• In flight

• Aerial engagement

Chili Social and Silent Auction

Saturday, January 14th was a busy day with the LHAS outing to DeSoto and the Northwest Iowa Sierra Club’s Chili Social. LHAS was invited to participate in the event and conduct a silent auction. LHAS received a total of $470.00 in donations at the Silent Auction! A big THANK YOU to Marla and Kevin Kerr and Jeanne Bockholt for arranging this. Here are some photos from the set up of the auction items.