Banner image copyright 2025 by Kevin Kerr, used with permission
bird hotline, tuesday 3 march 2026
home in sioux city, Ia
Kevin and I were visited by this interesting leucistic American Robin at our bird bath this week. Kevin was able to snap a few photos of him thoroughly enjoying a bath this afternoon. For more information on the genetic mutation of Leucism vs Albinism - see this National Audubon Society/Bird Note Article.
Marla Kerr
Above images copyright 2026 by Kevin J Kerr, used with permission
bird hotline, saturday 28 february 2026
home in sioux city - backyard birds
Have had to fill up the bird bath several times a day! The birds are thirsty! - Kevin
Below images copyright 2026 by Kevin J Kerr, used with permission
bird hotline, thursday 26 february 2026
owego wetland area & the square, woodbury county ia
A few pics from Thursday when I was out. Usual suspects, a Rough-legged Hawk and Northern Harrier at Owego and The Square, respectively.
I came across some waterfowl at one of the ponds by the dairy on Rd. 280. Canadian geese, a mallard, what I think is a Lesser Scaup, and some redheads, which Sibley's says are Redhead Ducks. Blue bills with a black tip. Don't know if they are unusual around here or normal visitors fall and spring.
Jerry Mennenga
https://lostinsiouxland.wordpress.com/ OR https://www.jerrylmennengaphotographer.com/
Below images copyright 2026 by Jerry L Mennenga, used with permission
bird hotline, friday 20 february 2026
kramper lake, Ne
Tundra Swan, 2 ad., Trumpeter Swan, 6, Greater White-fronted Goose, 500
Snow Goose, 3, Canada Goose, hundreds, Cackling Goose, 1
Mallard, hundreds, American Wigeon, 5, Northern Pintail, 30
Green-winged Teal, 4, Lesser Scaup, 4, Ring-necked Duck, 30
Canvasback, 15, Redhead, 12, Common Goldeneye, 2
Bufflehead, 3, Common Merganser, 28, Red-breasted Merganser, 5, Hooded Merganser, 3
Jerry Probst, S. Sioux City and Bill Huser, S. Sioux City
bird hotline, wednesday 18 february 2026
loess bluffs national wildlife refuge, missouri
On Feb. 10 the refuge posted a bird count of 51,000 +, and on the 16th or 17th the folk stated on the 18th when I was there the count was around 191,000 +.
A birder I met said more geese was coming in that afternoon and she estimated there were probably now between 300,00 and 400,000 snow and greater white-fronted along with other species. I am guessing spread out over the marshland area (which I couldn't get a photo of with one shot) there 400-500 Trumpeter Swans.
I believe I saw mallards, northern pintails, some buffle heads, scoters and other ducks.
In early January the staff at the refuge said there were 1,200 bald eagles. And the two nest I came across supposedly already has eggs in them that the eagles are sitting on.
The one nest had hundreds of Redwing Blackbirds swarming and perching on.
The birder I met said a few years ago the marshland with the viewing deck that there were geese "wall-to-wall" from shoreline to shoreline and estimates were 2 million geese passing through that year. This particular birder drove up from the Overland, KS area, about a 90 minute drive. Much closer than coming from Sioux City.
Unbelievable. Was amazed when the swans took flight one could hear a low "thump, thump, thumb" sound as their wings beat the air.
It was a good day for a drive though. Not much traffic on I-29 and temps in the 60's while there. Kind of hoping those temps would stick around for this weekend.
Jerry Mennenga
https://lostinsiouxland.wordpress.com/OR https://www.jerrylmennengaphotographer.com/
Below images copyright 2026 by Jerry L Mennenga, used with permission
bird hotline, friday 13 february 2026
iowa - nne of jefferson and monona county ia
Purple Finch was on our T-pole with our feeders 4 miles NNE of Jefferson . Eagle was in a tree next to Blue Lake near Onawa. Permission granted to further disseminate.
Below images copyright 2026 by Jon Nylen, used with permission.
bird hotline, wednesday 11 february 2026
snyder bend lake, woodbury county, ia
Although most of our lakes and wetlands are still locked in ice, Snyder Bend Lake now has a sizable area free of ice due to warmer cooling water from the Port Neal generating station flowing into the lake. Most of the ice free area is behind the island across from the boat launch, so cannot be seen easily. However, now as the ice retreats, some of the open area can be glassed from the cabin area of the park.
Doing so, on Monday, Feb. 9, resulted in the following:
Canada Goose, 1000's
Greater White-fronted Goose, 100's
Cackling Goose, dozens
Snow Goose, 45
Ross's Goose, 1
Mallard, 100's
N. Pintail, dozens
Am. Wigeon, 5
Gadwall, 4
Lesser Scaup, 9
Ring-necked Duck, 3
Canvasback, 1
Common Goldeneye, dozens
Common Merganser, 30
Red-breasted Merganser, 1
Trumpeter Swan, 31
In all, 16 species.
On , Wednesday, Feb. 11, we returned and found 10 species, but could not find any of the above in bold type. We'll try again.
Jerry Probst, South Sioux City and Bill Huser, South Sioux City
bird hotline, tuesday 10 february 2026
snyder bend Park, woodbury county, ia
Against the conventional wisdom of birding, I went to Snyder Bend late afternoon Tuesday after a friend sent there were hundreds of geese there. While not disappointed, the wind direction and the geese coming and going didn't exactly fit the the circumstances of where the sun was setting and a chance to put some color behind them as they left for surrounding fields in the area.
Jerry Mennenga
https://lostinsiouxland.wordpress.com/ OR https://www.jerrylmennengaphotographer.com/
Below images copyright 2026 by Jerry L Mennenga, used with permission
bird hotline, sunday 8 february 2026
yankton, Sd - gavins point dam area
I didn't find as many eagles on my trip up Sunday. Only saw four. By mid morning they were all perched and just looking about. A lot of guys out fishing. The one juvenile was pretty intent on scanning the area. It flew off from its tree perch as I made my way towards the back of the park along the river on the Nebraska side.
Then it flew back towards me before landing in a tree just above me. I couldn't have had a more planned portrait, until it looked down then saw the paparazzi.
Jerry Mennenga
https://lostinsiouxland.wordpress.com/ OR https://www.jerrylmennengaphotographer.com/
Below images copyright 2026 by Jerry L Mennenga, used with permission
bird hotline, saturday 31 january 2026
sioux city backyard
Have had a variety of backyard visitors lately, some usual suspects that most get, and one recurring visitor who never has any "friends" sticking around to chat.
Jerry Mennenga
https://lostinsiouxland.wordpress.com/ OR https://www.jerrylmennengaphotographer.com/
Below images copyright 2026 by Jerry L Mennenga, used with permission
brown’s lake, woodbury county
A couple of shy visitors seen at Brown's Lake recently.
I also went to Snyder Bend, but it is dead. After the tall grass and shrubs was removed from that walking path patch as one heads out to the observation deck, the little birds are just gone. I did see numerous Tree Swallows tough out and about at the observation deck, but they didn't cooperate for any photo ops.
Jerry Mennenga
https://lostinsiouxland.wordpress.com/ OR https://www.jerrylmennengaphotographer.com/
Below images copyright 2026 by Jerry L Mennenga, used with permission
bird hotline, friday 30 january 2026
loess hills - 4 mile nne of jefferson, sd
Was walking by my sliding glass door two days ago and saw a Rough-legged Hawk hunting over our prairie. By the time I grabbed my camera it was a long way out, near our garden. I watched it dive a couple of times and on one of those times I believe it caught a rodent. You can see it in its mouth on one of the photos. I swear in the top photo it turned its head 180 degrees to the rear of its body because you can see its eyes looking back at me. I’ll let the viewers of the photo be the judge. 4 mile NNE of Jefferson in the Loess Hills.
Jon Nylen
Below images copyright 2026 by Jon Nylen, used with permission
bird hotline, saturday 24 january 2026
Buckskin Hills WMA Dixon County NE
Northern Shrike, 1
Pine Siskin, 1
Purple Finch, several
I Avenue, NE
Short-eared Owl, 1 (photo by Richard Huser)
Reported by: Jerry Probst, South Sioux City; Robert Sopher, Sioux City; Kayla Sheehan, Sioux City; Richard Huser, South Sioux City ; Bill Huser, South Sioux City
Below images of a Short-eared Owl copyright 2026 by Richard Huser, used with permission.
bird hotline, monday-friday, 19-23 January
sioux city westside home
A heated bird bath is a great asset for the birds during winter months. It is a fantastic asset for anyone who wants to watch birds, and if you have a camera - so much the better! The only problem being - hard to get anything else done when you have Bluebirds coming regularly.
Kevin Kerr, Sioux City
(Visitors of mention photographed below include Winter visitors - Pine Siskin, Dark-eyed Junco and Red-breasted Nuthatch. Infrequent visitors - Eastern Bluebirds and Cedar Waxwings.)
Below images copyright 2026 by Kevin J Kerr, used with permission
bird hotline, friday, 16 january 2026
The Square, Owego Wetand Area, Woodbury County IA
More of the same. The record must be broken. But they are a delight.
Jerry Mennenga
https://lostinsiouxland.wordpress.com/OR https://www.jerrylmennengaphotographer.com/
Below images copyright by Jerry L Mennenga, 2026, used with permission
bird hotline, thursday, 15 january 2026
200th st, dakota county, ne
Beautiful Fox Sparrow seen by Bill Huser
and Richard Huser.
Image copyright 2026 by Richard Huser,
used with permission
bird hotline, thursday, 8 january 2026
Ponca State Park riverfront, Dixon County, NE
Hermit Thrush,1; Northern Bobwhite, 9 ;Spotted Towhee, female; Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1
Merlin, 1; Great Blue Heron, 1; Belted Kingfisher, male
Kayla Sheehan, Sioux City, IA; Robert Sophere, Sioux City, IA; Bill Huser, South Sioux City, NE
bird hotline, tuesday, 6 january 2026
Owego Wetland Area, Woodbury County, IA
I was lucky enough to go out (again) recently on a bit of a warmer day although it was still breezy. And found a couple Northern Harriers using the wind to hover before diving for a meal. Although I didn't see them come up with anything.
I felt kind of bad about that.
And as I was leaving I saw a raptor, guessing it was a Rough-legged Hawk as I noticed a few of those flying about enjoying the sunset like me, although I wasn't perched in a tree top.
Jerry Mennenga
https://lostinsiouxland.wordpress.com/ OR https://www.jerrylmennengaphotographer.com/
Below images copyright 2026 by Jerry L Mennenga, used with permission
bird hotline, thursday, 1 january 2026
owego wetland area, ia
Some pics from a recent Owego trip, when it was a tad warmer. Did see a couple, three owls after it got dark, too dark to photograph.
I think some of the birds shown are a Northern Harrier, juvenile Red-tailed Hawk and possible a Rough-legged Hawk (on the utility pole and the short scrub tree/bush and taking off flying from it.)
Also testing out some new photo editing software, so hope the images look good.
Jerry Mennenga
https://lostinsiouxland.wordpress.com/ OR https://www.jerrylmennengaphotographer.com/
Below images copyright 2026 by Jerry L Mennenga, used with permission
