BLACK HILLS - WESTERN DAKOTAS MBWEEK
June 15 - 22, 2019
I can’t recall for sure, but it certainly seemed like we saw at least some rain on each day of this MBWeek, although it never really interfered that much with our birding. Windy days weren’t much of a problem either, which is pretty remarkable given that wind is so characteristic out on the Great Plains. And the high temperatures thoughout the trip were mercifully on the moderate and cool side without anything much above 80 and nothing in the 90s. So, we had no meteorological excuses to fall back on if the birding hadn’t gone all that well.
But our week was indeed successful as we turned up no fewer than 179 species in all, with 31 of these “non-Minnesota” birds (see list below). Among these, eight have never been recorded here (Broad-tailed Hummingbird, Red-naped Sapsucker, Dusky and Cordilleran flycatchers, Plumbeous Vireo, Pinyon Jay, Pacific Wren, Virginia’s Warbler), and about the same number have only been seen a time or two ever before in MN (Common Poorwill, White-throated Swift, Violet-green Swallow, Pygmy Nuthatch, American Dipper, Brewer’s Sparrow, MacGillivray’s Warbler). In addition, we saw at least a couple dozen more which at best are only rare-Regular or Casual in our state. Consider as well that virtually all of our total represents species within their nesting ranges – there were no migrants to enhance our lofty trip total (just a handful of summering Snow Geese).
True, there were some disappointments as we were unable to come up with any sage-grouse or McCown’s in ND, but you can’t really call these “misses” since eBird shows there was only one sage-grouse report in the Dakotas in 2019 (one lone bird in April in Harding County, SD) and no reports at all of the longspur. But I guess I’d have to classify the Canyon Wren and Cassin’s Finch as missed, and we never did officially list Prairie Falcon – though the unidentified falcon circling over Hell Canyon was probably this species. It was disappointing, too, that the Clark’s Nutcracker and Virginia’s Warbler were heard-only, that the Pygmy Nuthatch was only seen by a few of you, and it sure would have been nice if more than those lucky four in the Martin car could have seen that quite unexpected Pinyon Jay (there have been no other eBird reports in the Dakotas in 2019!).
But I would say that all of our highlights easily outweighed the few birds we missed. Some of these favorites in South Dakota would include: that amazingly visible Common Poorwill that put on quite an aerial show by the Picnic Springs Campground entrance (the best flight views I’ve ever had); the male Broad-billed Hummingbirds “trilling” along a Hill City side street; Lewis’s Woodpeckers at a nest along Four Mile Draw Rd in Custer State Park; our first good Red-naped Sapsucker views, an unexpected American Three-toed, and Clark’s Nutcrackers calling along the trail to Black Elk Peak; good looks and listens at both Dusky and Cordilleran flycatchers; singing Pacific Wrens, our best MacGillivray’s views, and even another three-toed woodpecker or two at Ward Draw; an American Dipper pair and low-flying White-throated Swifts at Roughlock Falls; and vocal Red Crossbill flocks almost everywhere in the Ponderosa pines (those I recorded at Jewel Cave and Picnic Springs were identified as Type 2).
And on the North Dakota side of the line, I’d consider some of our best finds to be: a very responsive and visible Sprague’s Pipit posing on a Slope County road north of Bowman, both Baird’s and Brewer’s sparrows singing along the Camp Crook Rd (as a Long-billed Curlew tried to distract us from the Baird’s posing on a fence wire), three oriole species (including Bullock’s) nearly simultaneously at Cottonwood Camppground in Teddy Roosevelt Park, and all the additions to our MBWeek list on the last day en route back to Morris (Least Terns and another Piping Plover at Kimball Bottoms near Bismarck; a large nesting colony of Cattle Egrets, White-faced Ibis, and Franklin’s Gulls at DeWald Slough; and nice views of Clark’s Grebes at Eckelson Lake).
Finally, in addition to all the birds we saw, there was an abundance of impressive scenery provided by the rugged Badlands of both Dakotas, the forested canyons and mountains of the Black Hills, and the endless horizons of vast national grasslands. There were even several interesting mammals along the way (see list below) – plus one reptile species which was especially memorable when we heard its rattle at two places.
Itinerary
June 15 – Meet in Morris MN by 8:00 am; drive to Wall SD via Snowy Egret on Hwy 28, Say’s Phoebe on Traverse CR 2, Wilmot Information Center, Aberdeen, Roscoe Lake, and below Oahe Dam (Piping Plover); night in Wall & dinner for most at the Red Rock.
June 16 – Badlands Nat’l Park from Pinnacles Entrance to Ben Reifel Visitor Center & Cliff Shelf Nature Trail, Hwy 44 to Buffalo Gap Nat’l Grassland, Spring Creek Rd to Hermosa, and first of 3 nights at Rockerville Lodge; dinner at The Gaslight.
June 17 – Tepee Gulch pre-breakfast option, Hill City (hummingbirds), Jewel Cave Nat’l Monument, Roby & Boles canyons (heard-only Virginia’s), Hell Canyon, and return to Rockerville via Mt Rushmore; dinner for most at The Gaslight.
June 18 – Tepee Gulch option, Sylvan Lake & Black Elk Peak Trail 9, Custer State Park Wildlife Loop & Four Mile Draw Rd (Lewis’s nest), and return to Rockerville via dinner at Lintz Brothers Pizza.
June 19 – Drive to Hanna Rd via Rapid City and Hwys 44 & 385, Long Draw Rd & Ward Draw (Pacific Wren), Roughlock Falls and Iron Creek in Spearfish Canyon (dippers); drive to Bowman ND for first of 2 nights via Hwy 85 & Picnic Springs Campground (Pinyon Jay for some).
June 20 – Camp Crook Rd & connecting side roads between Marmarth and 4 mi N of SD state line (Baird’s & Brewer’s), incl alleged sage grouse lek & Rhame Prairie; return to Bowman, and picnic dinner for most at Picnic Springs Campground (incl a poorwill display for dessert!).
June 21 – Slope Co grasslands NE of Amidon along 140h Ave (Sprague’s Pipit), Painted Canyon Visitor Center, Theodore Roosevelt Nat’l Park, and drive to Dickinson via Patterson Lake; night in Dickinson & dinner at Los Cabos / El Sombrero.
June 22 – Return to Minnesota via optional stops at Kimball Bottoms S of Bismarck (Least Terns), DeWald Slough in Kidder Co (egrets & ibis), and Eckelson Lake in Barnes Co (Clark’s Grebes); night in Morris or return home.
Bird List
• SD = seen/heard in South Dakota
• ND = seen/heard in North Dakota
• boldfaced species = “non-Minnesota” birds (Casual, Accidental, or absent in MN)
Snow Goose SD,ND
Canada Goose SD,ND
Wood Duck SD
Blue-winged Teal SD,ND
Northern Shoveler SD,ND
Gadwall SD,ND
American Wigeon SD,ND
Mallard SD,ND
Northern Pintail SD,ND
Green-winged Teal SD,ND
Canvasback SD,ND
Redhead SD,ND
Ring-necked Duck SD
Lesser Scaup SD
Bufflehead ND
Hooded Merganser ND
Ruddy Duck SD,ND
Gray Partridge SD
Ring-necked Pheasant SD,ND
Sharp-tailed Grouse SD,ND
Wild Turkey SD,ND
Pied-billed Grebe SD
Red-necked Grebe SD
Eared Grebe SD,ND
Western Grebe SD,ND
Clark’s Grebe ND
Rock Pigeon SD,ND
Eurasian Collared-Dove SD,ND
Mourning Dove SD,ND
Common Nighthawk SD,ND
Common Poorwill SD
Chimney Swift SD
White-throated Swift SD
Broad-tailed Hummingbird SD
Sora SD,ND
American Coot SD,ND
American Avocet SD,ND
Piping Plover SD,ND
Killdeer SD,ND
Upland Sandpiper SD,ND
Long-billed Curlew ND
Marbled Godwit SD,ND
Wilson’s Snipe SD,ND
Spotted Sandpiper SD,ND
Willet SD,ND
Wilson’s Phalarope SD,ND
Franklin’s Gull SD,ND
Ring-billed Gull SD,ND
California Gull SD
Least Tern ND
Caspian Tern SD
Black Tern SD,ND
Forster’s Tern SD,ND
Double-crested Cormorant SD,ND
American White Pelican SD,ND
American Bittern SD
Great Blue Heron SD,ND
Great Egret SD,ND
Snowy Egret ND (also seen in MN)
Cattle Egret ND
Black-crowned Night-Heron ND
White-faced Ibis SD,ND
Turkey Vulture SD,ND
Osprey SD
Golden Eagle SD,ND
Northern Harrier SD,ND
Bald Eagle SD,ND
Swainson’s Hawk SD,ND
Red-tailed Hawk SD,ND
Ferruginous Hawk SD,ND
Great Horned Owl SD,ND
Burrowing Owl SD,ND
Short-eared Owl SD
Belted Kingfisher SD,ND
Lewis's Woodpecker SD
Red-headed Woodpecker SD,ND
Red-naped Sapsucker SD
Am. Three-toed Woodpecker SD
Hairy Woodpecker SD,ND
Northern Flicker SD,ND (both “Red- shafted” & “Yellow-shafted”)
Pileated Woodpecker SD
American Kestrel SD,ND
Peregrine/Prairie falcon, sp. SD
Great Crested Flycatcher SD
Western Kingbird SD,ND
Eastern Kingbird SD,ND
Western Wood-Pewee SD,ND
Least Flycatcher ND
Dusky Flycatcher SD
Cordilleran Flycatcher SD
Say’s Phoebe SD,ND (also seen in MN)
Loggerhead Shrike SD,ND
Plumbeous Vireo SD
Warbling Vireo SD,ND (both Eastern & Western types)
Red-eyed Vireo SD,ND
Canada Jay SD
Pinyon Jay SD
Blue Jay SD
Clark's Nutcracker SD (heard-only)
Black-billed Magpie SD,ND
American Crow SD,ND
Horned Lark SD,ND
Purple Martin ND
Tree Swallow SD
Violet-green Swallow SD
N. Rough-winged Swallow SD
Bank Swallow SD,ND
Cliff Swallow SD,ND
Barn Swallow SD,ND
Black-capped Chickadee SD,ND
Red-breasted Nuthatch SD
White-breasted Nuthatch SD,ND (Western type)
Pygmy Nuthatch SD
Brown Creeper SD
Rock Wren SD
House Wren SD,ND
Pacific Wren SD
Sedge Wren ND
Marsh Wren SD,ND
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher SD
American Dipper SD
Golden-crowned Kinglet SD
Ruby-crowned Kinglet SD
Eastern Bluebird SD
Mountain Bluebird SD,ND
Townsend’s Solitaire SD
Veery SD
Swainson’s Thrush SD
American Robin SD,ND
Gray Catbird SD,ND
Brown Thrasher SD,ND
European Starling SD,ND
Cedar Waxwing SD,ND
House Sparrow SD,ND
Sprague's Pipit ND
House Finch SD,ND
Red Crossbill SD (Type 2; IDs by Matt Young at Cornell)
Pine Siskin SD
American Goldfinch SD,ND
Chestnut-collared Longspur ND
Spotted Towhee SD,ND
Chipping Sparrow SD,ND
Clay-colored Sparrow ND
Brewer's Sparrow ND
Field Sparrow SD,ND
Vesper Sparrow SD,ND
Lark Sparrow SD,ND
Lark Bunting SD,ND
Savannah Sparrow ND
Grasshopper Sparrow SD,ND
Baird's Sparrow ND
LeConte’s Sparrow ND (heard-only)
Song Sparrow SD,ND
Swamp Sparrow ND (heard-only)
Dark-eyed (White-winged) Junco SD
Yellow-breasted Chat SD,ND
Yellow-headed Blackbird SD,ND
Bobolink SD,ND
Western Meadowlark SD,ND
Orchard Oriole SD,ND
Bullock's Oriole ND
Baltimore Oriole ND
Red-winged Blackbird SD,ND
Brown-headed Cowbird SD,ND
Brewer’s Blackbird SD,ND
Common Grackle SD,ND
Ovenbird SD
Virginia's Warbler SD (heard-only)
MacGillivray's Warbler SD
Common Yellowthroat SD,ND
American Redstart SD,ND
Yellow Warbler SD,ND
Yellow-rumped Warbler SD (“Audubon’s” type)
Western Tanager SD
Black-headed Grosbeak SD,ND
Blue Grosbeak SD
Lazuli Bunting SD,ND
Indigo Bunting SD
Dickcissel SD
Significant Others:
Eastern Cottontail
White-tailed Jackrabbit
Eastern Gray Squirrel
Fox Squirrel
Red Squirrel
Eastern Chipmunk
Black-tailed Prairie Dog
Coyote
White-tailed Deer
Mule Deer
Bison
Bighorn Sheep
Pronghorn
Wild Horse
Prairie Rattlesnake
* * *
PHOTO GALLERY
Long-billed Curlew, Bowman County, ND
– William Marengo photo, 2022 –
Theodore Roosevelt National Park, ND
– Roy Zimmerman photo, 2019 –
American Dipper feeding young – in a nest box?!, Hanna Road, SD
– Doug Hepper photo, 2023 –
Black Elk Peak, highest point in SD (7242 feet)
– Roy Zimmerman photo, 2019 –
Badlands National Park, SD
– Roy Zimmerman photo, 2022 –
Black-tailed Prairie Dog, Theodore Roosevelt National Park, ND
– Roy Zimmerman photo, 2019 –
Pronghorns, Custer State Park, SD
– KRE photo, 2019 –
Lazuli Bunting, Roby Canyon, SD
– Doug Hepper photo, 2023 –
Black-headed Grosbeak, Black Hills, SD
– Roy Zimmerman photo, 2019 –
Bullock's Oriole, Theodore Roosevelt National Park, ND
– Denny Martin photo, 2019 –
Baird's Sparrow, Camp Crook Road, ND
– Lon Baumgardt photo, 2023 –
Brewer's Sparrow, Camp Crook Road, ND
– KRE photo, 2019 –
Canyon Wren, Hell Canyon, SD
– William Marengo photo, 2022 –
Sprague's Pipit, Slope County, ND
– Matthew Schaut photo, 2022 –
Pygmy Nuthatch, Custer, SD
– Matthew Schaut photo, 2022 –
Red-naped Sapsucker, Black Elk Peak trail, SD
– William Marengo photo, 2022 –
Lewis's Woodpecker, Hell Canyon, SD
– Roy Zimmerman photo, 2022 –
Cordilleran Flycatcher, Tepee Gulch, SD
– William Marengo photo, 2022 –
Western Tanager, Black Hills, SD
– Roy Zimmerman photo, 2019 –
Bighorn Sheep, Hell Canyon, SD
– William Marengo photo, 2022 –
Chestnut-collared Longspur, Bowman County, ND
– William Marengo photo, 2022 –
Lark Bunting, Camp Crook Road, ND
– Roy Zimmerman photo, 2022 –
Virginia's Warbler, Roby Canyon, SD
– William Marengo photo, 2022 –
MacGillivray's Warbler, Hanna Road, SD
– Roy Zimmerman photo, 2022 –
Old Highway 85, Butte County, SD
– William Marengo photo, 2022 –
* * *
BLACK HILLS & WESTERN DAKOTAS MBWeek SUMMARY
June 4 - 12, 2022
Once again, this MBW added to the wide assortment of weather difficulties that MBWers have faced so far this year. This time it was the hailstorm on Tuesday that turned the roads to white as we tried to bird Tepee Gulch. Moderate to heavy rains also fell that afternoon, including during our obligatory stop at Mount Rushmore, and some rain also interrupted our birding efforts on a couple of other days. But most days were rain-free, the temperatures were cool to moderate with nothing becoming too warm until the last day or two, and remarkably there were no high winds to make birding difficult as is so often the case out on The Great Plains.
We accumulated a grand composite total of 193 species during this MBWeek, which is 14 more than our previous effort of 179 species in 2019. While these numbers might suggest that this year’s trip was better, consider that our 2022 MBW was a day longer, it included several migrant shorebirds (no migrants listed in 2019), and this year’s itinerary was improved somewhat after our “scouting” three years earlier.
Note that each MBW was pretty much the same in terms of key species which one trip mostly or entirely missed and the other found. In 2019, the group missed Prairie Falcon, Canyon Wren, and Cassin’s Finch, only a few MBWers reported a Pinyon Jay, and the Virginia’s Warbler was heard-only (all of these were seen in 2022). But on the other hand, in 2022 we missed Clark’s Grebe, Piping Plover, Least Tern, Clark’s Nutcracker, and Pacific Wren (all seen in 2019).
The highlights of our MBWeek primarily involved those birds which are “non-MN” species (see those boldfaced below). There were 30 of these in all, including 8 which have never been recorded in MN (Broad-tailed Hummingbird, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Dusky & Cordilleran flycatchers, Plumbeous Vireo, Pinyon Jay, Canyon Wren, Virginia’s Warbler), and another 7 with only a single record or two (White-throated Swift, Common Poorwill, Violet-green Swallow, Pygmy Nuthatch, American Dipper, Cassin’s Finch, MacGillivray’s Warbler).
In addition to all those birds, there were some interesting mammals during our travels. Among these (a partial list, in no particular order) were: Bighorn Sheep, Bison, Pronghorn, both Mule & White-tailed Deer, Elk, Wild Horses, Black-tailed Prairie Dogs, Yellow-bellied Marmot, Badger (in conflict with Burrowing Owl), Coyote, Red Fox (babies), White-tailed Jackrabbit.
Itinarary
June 4 – Meet in Morris MN at 8:00 am; drive to Murdo SD via Wilmont Information Center, Waubay NWR, Hwy 12 / Aberdeen, Lake Louise State Recr Area (or via Hwy 20 in Frank’s car), and Oahe Dam; night in Murdo.
June 5 – Badlands National Park, from Ben Reifel Visitor Center & Cliff Shelf Nature Trail to Conata Rd; drive to Hermosa via Hwy 44, Scenic, 160th Ave (or Creston Rd in Charlie/Bonnie’s car), and Spring Creek Rd; drive to Custer for first of 3 nights.
June 6 – Hell Canyon, Boles & Robey canyons, Ferguson Canyon Rd (Wyoming!), lunch in Newcastle WY, return to Custer via Hell Canyon, and Jewel Cave National Monument.
June 7 – Sylvan Lake / Black Elk Peak Trail, Hill City hummingbirds, attempt to bird Tepee Gulch in a hailstorm, and to see Mt Rushmore in the rain; post-dinner option for poorwills at Boles Canyon.
June 8 – Nuthatch-infested pines behind Custer USFS building; return to Jewel Cave, Hell Canyon, Roby Canyon, Ferguson Canyon, and Newcastle WY; return to SD via Hwy 85, alleged Pacific Wren spot, Hanna Rd, Long Draw Rd & Ward Draw; night in Deadwood.
June 9 – Drive to Bowman Co (ND) via Hanna Rd, Spearfish Canyon, Spearfish, and Hwy 85 & Old Hwy 85; first of 2 nights in Bowman ND.
June 10 – Western Bowman Co: 96th St, Camp Crook Rd, Marmarth, CR 4424 loop thru Little Missouri Grasslands east to Rhame and Bowman; post-dinner option for poorwills at Picnic Spring Campground (SD).
June 11 – Hwy 85 north to White Lake NWR (briefly) and 140th Ave grasslands (Slope Co), 47th St grasslands (Stark Co), Theodore Roosevelt National Park (Painted Canyon Visitor Center, Cottonwood Campground, first part of main park drive), and drive to Bismarck for final night; post-dinner option to Sibley Park.
June 12 – Long Lake NWR, DeWald Slough, option to Horsehead L (Kevin’s car), the World’s Largest Buffalo in Jimtown, option to Aberdeen area (Charlie/Bonnie’s car), Eckelson & Sanborn lakes, and return to Morris MN/home.
Bird List
• boldface = “non-Minnesota” species (i.e., Casual, Accidental, or absent on MN checklist)
• SD = South Dakota only
• ND = North Dakota only
(species not annotated = seen in both SD and ND)
• WY = Wyoming
• (h) = heard only
Snow Goose SD
Canada Goose
Trumpeter Swan SD
Wood Duck
Blue-winged Teal
Northern Shoveler
Gadwall
American Wigeon
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Canvasback
Redhead
Lesser Scaup
Bufflehead ND
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser SD
Ruddy Duck
Wild Turkey
Ruffed Grouse (h) SD
Sharp-tailed Grouse
Ring-necked Pheasant
Pied-billed Grebe
Eared Grebe
Western Grebe
Rock Pigeon
Eurasian Collared-Dove
Mourning Dove
Black-billed Cuckoo SD
Common Nighthawk
Common Poorwill SD (seen at Boles Canyon & Picnic Springs)
Chimney Swift
White-throated Swift SD
Ruby-throated Hummingbird SD
Broad-tailed Hummingbird SD (Hill City feeders)
Virginia Rail ND
Sora
American Coot
American Avocet
Black-necked Stilt
Killdeer
Upland Sandpiper
Long-billed Curlew
Hudsonian Godwit SD
Marbled Godwit
Least Sandpiper SD
White-rumped Sandpiper SD
Pectoral Sandpiper SD
Semipalmated Sandpiper SD
Wilson’s Snipe ND
Spotted Sandpiper
Willet
Wilson’s Phalarope
Franklin’s Gull
Ring-billed Gull
California Gull
Caspian Tern
Black Tern
Forster’s Tern
Common Loon SD
Double-crested Cormorant
American White Pelican
American Bittern ND
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret SD
Snowy Egret SD
Cattle Egret ND
Green Heron SD
Black-crowned Night-Heron ND
White-faced Ibis ND
Turkey Vulture
Osprey SD
Golden Eagle
Northern Harrier
Cooper’s Hawk
Bald Eagle
Broad-winged Hawk SD
Swainson’s Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Ferruginous Hawk (incl pair circling over nest near Long Lake NWR)
Great Horned Owl (h)
Burrowing Owl
Northern Saw-whet Owl (h by Bonnie) SD
Belted Kingfisher
Lewis's Woodpecker SD (best at Hell Canyon; also WY)
Red-headed Woodpecker SD
Red-bellied Woodpecker SD
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker ND
Red-naped Sapsucker SD (best along Black Elk Peak Tr)
American Three-toed Woodpecker SD (also along Black Elk Peak Tr)
Downy Woodpecker (a ND highlight?!)
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
American Kestrel
Merlin SD
Prairie Falcon ND (close fly-by in Slope Co)
Great Crested Flycatcher SD
Western Kingbird
Eastern Kingbird
Western Wood-Pewee
Willow Flycatcher
Least Flycatcher ND
Dusky Flycatcher SD
Cordilleran Flycatcher SD
Eastern Phoebe ND
Say’s Phoebe
Plumbeous Vireo SD
Warbling Vireo (incl Western-type birds)
Red-eyed Vireo
Loggerhead Shrike
Canada Jay SD
Pinyon Jay WY only (Ferguson Canyon Rd)
Blue Jao
Black-billed Magpie
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
Horned Lark
Bank Swallow
Tree Swallow
Violet-green Swallow SD
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Purple Martin
Barn Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Ruby-crowned Kinglet SD
Golden-crowned Kinglet SD
Cedar Waxwing
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch (incl Western-type birds)
Pygmy Nuthatch SD (only at Custer’s USFS office)
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher SD
Rock Wren SD
Canyon Wren SD (best at Hell Canyon)
House Wren
Sedge Wren (h)
Marsh Wren
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher
European Starling
American Dipper SD (Hanna Rd adult feeding a baby!)
Mountain Bluebird SD
Townsend’s Solitaire SD
Swainson’s Thrush SD
American Robin
House Sparrow
Sprague's Pipit ND (singing while standing on the road in Slope Co !)
House Finch
Cassin's Finch SD (Hanna Rd feeder; also WY on Ferguson Canyon Rd)
Red Crossbill SD (probably Type 2)
Pine Siskin
American Goldfinch
Chestnut-collared Longspur
Grasshopper Sparrow
Lark Sparrow
Lark Bunting (common this year!)
Chipping Sparrow
Clay-colored Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Brewer's Sparrow ND (2-3 on Camp Crook Rd)
Dark-eyed (White-winged) Junco SD
Vesper Sparrow
Baird's Sparrow ND (singing in Slope & Stark Co’s)
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow (h) ND
Spotted Towhee
Yellow-breasted Chat
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Bobolink
Western Meadowlark
Orchard Oriole
Bullock's Oriole WY only (Ferguson Canyon Rd)
Baltimore Oriole
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Brewer’s Blackbird
Common Grackle
Ovenbird SD
Black-and-white Warbler ND
Virginia's Warbler SD (1 finally seen + 2 others heard in Roby Canyon)
MacGillivray's Warbler SD (best along Hanna Rd)
Common Yellowthroat
American Redstart
Yellow Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler SD (“Audubon’s” types)
Western Tanager SD
Northern Cardinal SD
Rose-breasted Grosbeak SD
Black-headed Grosbeak
Blue Grosbeak SD
Lazuli Bunting ND (Painted Canyon Visitor Center)
Indigo Bunting SD
Dickcissel
* * *
Yellow-bellied Marmot, Hanna Road, SD
– Roy Zimmerman photo, 2022 –
The summaries of the 2022 and 2019 MBWeeks follow the 2023 summary;
also see the PHOTO GALLERY following these summaries
__________
Black Hills & Western Dakotas MBWeek Summary
June 3 - 11, 2023
Everyone that we talked to agreed that the number of birds overall was down this year, possibly due to near-drought conditions. Indeed, for example, California Gull, Prairie Falcon, Canyon Wren, Townsend’s Solitaire, and Cassin’s Finch (almost) were conspicuous by their absence from our list, but we still eventually came up with a composite total of 189 species during the MBWeek. This number was down just a few from last year, but 10 more than on our first MBWeek here in 2019 – when the trip was a day shorter, and we were still learning our way around.
As in 2019 and 2022, our highlights primarily involved those birds which are “non-MN” species. These included seven which have never been recorded in MN: Broad-tailed Hummingbird (again at feeders in Hill City), Red-breasted Sapsucker, Dusky and Cordilleran flycatchers, Plumbeous Vireo, Pinyon Jay (thanks to Scott Rager’s feeders on Ferguson Canyon Rd.), and Virginia’s Warbler (2-3 of them finally seen in Roby Canyon).
Equally notable were several other species with only a single record or two in this state: White-throated Swift, Common Poorwill (nice spotlighted views in Robey Canyon), Violet-green Swallow, Pygmy Nuthatch (Camanche Park Campground), American Dipper (including 3 babies fed by adults on Hanna Rd. – in a nest box?!), Cassin’s Finch & Lesser Goldfinch (both intermittent at Scott’s feeders), Brewer’s Sparrow (at so-called “Brewer’s Bend” on Camp Crook Rd.), and MacGillivray’s Warbler.
There were other highlights as well. To find a total of 20 shorebird species was quite surprising, with half of these late migrants still heading north in June. Equally surprising were all those Snowy and Cattle egrets and White-faced ibis along the U S Hwy 12 corridor during our first morning. An active Golden Eagle nest at Teddy Roosevelt National Park along with Burrowing Owls in both states and Short-eareds in Bowman Co. were natural crowd-pleasers. Though both woodpeckers are found in MN, it was an accomplishment to find both American Three-toeds and Black-backeds. Singing Baird’s Sparrows were cooperative in the ND grasslands, and we were lucky that an eBird report arrived just in time to provide us with an amazingly close aerial show by a Sprague’s Pipit in Billings Co. Meanwhile, Lark Buntings were almost everywhere in the grasslands of both Dakotas competing for our attention.
In addition (with apologies to those who had no time to bird with us on the last morning at Long Lake NWR), we came up with good views of a Clark’s Grebe, and our only Ferruginous Hawk of the trip (finally!) on a nest in the same grove of trees as in 2022. And, finally, keep in mind that you may have had a few more lifers than you thought – there are continuing rumors that the Warbling Vireos (with their “non-MN” songs), White-breasted Nuthatches, and “Audubon’s” Yellow-rumped Warblers we had in the Black Hills may well be split from their Eastern counterparts.
Itinarary
June 3 – Meet in Morris MN at 8:00 am; drive to Murdo via Wilmot Information Center, Hwy 12 corridor wetlands to Aberdeen, more wetlands along SD Hwy 20, and Oahe Downstream Recreation Area; night in Murdo SD.
June 4 – Morning at Badlands National Park, from Ben Reifel Visitor Center & Cliff Shelf Nature Trail to Conata Rd; afternoon drive to Hermosa via Hwy 44, 160th Ave, and Lower Spring Creek Rd; first of 3 nights in Custer SD.
June 5 – Hell Canyon, Boles & Roby canyons, Ferguson Canyon Rd (in Wyoming!), and Jewel Cane National Monument; afternoon return to Hell Canyon and Custer.
June 6 – Sylvan Lake / Black Elk Peak Trail, Hill City hummingbirds, Tepee Gulch, and drive-by views of Mt Rushmore en route to Big Pine Trailhead; successful post-dinner option for poorwills at Roby Canyon.
June 7 – Drive to Lead via Camanche Park campground, successful returns to Hell, Roby, and Ferguson canyons; lunch in Newcastle WY (incl Isabella’s), back to SD via Hwy 85, Hanna Rd, and night in Lead SD.
June 8 – Return to Hanna Rd (and Long Draw Rd), Spearfish Canyon, and lunch in Spearfish; afternoon drive to Bowman via US Hwy 85 & Old Hwy 85, and first of 2 nights in Bowman ND.
June 9 – Western Bowman Co, including 88th St, 163rd Ave, 90th St (but not 91st !), 95th St, and Camp Crook Rd; lunch in Marmarth (plus shopping/dessert at the Smoke Shop), return to Bowman, and pre-dinner option to Stewart Lake NWR (Slope Co).
June 10 – Morning drive north to 140th Ave grasslands & vicinity (Slope Co), and the 135th Ave pipit patch (SE Billings Co); afternoon at Theodore Roosevelt National Park (Painted Canyon Visitor Center, Cottonwood Campground, and main park drive north to the eagle nest); late afternoon drive to Bismarck ND for final night.
June 11 – Return to Morris, MN and home, via Long Lake NWR & vicinity (for some).
Bird List
• boldface = “non-Minnesota” species (i.e., Casual, Accidental, or absent on MN checklist)
• SD = South Dakota only
• ND = North Dakota only
(species not annotated = seen in both SD and ND)
• MN = Minnesota (partial list of notable species)
• WY = Wyoming (partial list of notable species)
Snow Goose
Canada Goose
Trumpeter Swan MN only
Wood Duck
Blue-winged Teal
Northern Shoveler
Gadwall
American Wigeon
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Canvasback
Redhead
Lesser Scaup
Hooded Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Wild Turkey SD
Sharp-tailed Grouse
Gray Partridge ND
Ring-necked Pheasant
Pied-billed Grebe
Eared Grebe ND
Western Grebe
Clark’s Grebe ND
Rock Pigeon
Eurasian Collared-Dove
Mourning Dove
Yellow-billed Cuckoo SD
Common Nighthawk
Common Poorwill SD
Chimney Swift
White-throated Swift SD
Broad-tailed Hummingbird SD
Virginia Rail
Sora ND
American Coot
American Avocet SD, ND (also in MN)
Black-bellied Plover SD (also in MN)
Semipalmated Plover SD (also in MN)
Killdeer
Piping Plover SD
Upland Sandpiper
Long-billed Curlew SD
Hudsonian Godwit SD
Marbled Godwit
Stilt Sandpiper ND (also in MN)
Dunlin MN only
Least Sandpiper SD (also in MN)
White-rumped Sandpiper SD, ND (also in MN)
Pectoral Sandpiper SD (also in MN)
Semipalmated Sandpiper SD (also in MN)
Wilson’s Snipe ND
Spotted Sandpiper
Lesser Yellowlegs ND
Willet ND
Wilson’s Phalarope SD, ND (also in MN)
Franklin’s Gull ND
Ring-billed Gull
Caspian Tern
Black Tern
Forster’s Tern
Common Loon MN only
Double-crested Cormorant
American White Pelican
American Bittern
Least Bittern SD
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret SD
Snowy Egret SD
Cattle Egret SD
Black-crowned Night-Heron ND
White-faced Ibis SD
Turkey Vulture
Osprey SD
Golden Eagle ND
Northern Harrier
Bald Eagle SD
Swainson’s Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Ferruginous Hawk ND
Great Horned Owl ND
Burrowing Owl
Short-eared Owl ND
Belted Kingfisher
Lewis's Woodpecker SD (also in WY)
Red-headed Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker SD
Red-naped Sapsucker SD
American Three-toed Woodpecker SD
Black-backed Woodpecker SD
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
American Kestrel SD
Merlin SD
Peregrine Falcon SD
Great Crested Flycatcher SD
Western Kingbird
Eastern Kingbird
Western Wood-Pewee
Willow Flycatcher ND
Least Flycatcher ND
Dusky Flycatcher SD
Cordilleran Flycatcher SD
Say’s Phoebe
Plumbeous Vireo SD
Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Loggerhead Shrike
Canada Jay SD
Pinyon Jay WY only
Blue Jay
Black-billed Magpie
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
Horned Lark
Bank Swallow
Tree Swallow
Violet-green Swallow SD
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Purple Martin
Barn Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Ruby-crowned Kinglet SD
Golden-crowned Kinglet SD
Cedar Waxwing
Red-breasted Nuthatch SD
White-breasted Nuthatch SD
Pygmy Nuthatch SD
Brown Creeper SD
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher SD
Rock Wren SD
House Wren
Sedge Wren ND
Marsh Wren
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher
European Starling
American Dipper SD
Eastern Bluebird SD
Mountain Bluebird SD (also in WY)
Swainson’s Thrush SD
American Robin
House Sparrow
Sprague's Pipit ND
House Finch SD
Cassin's Finch WY only
Red Crossbill SD (also in WY)
Pine Siskin SD
Lesser Goldfinch WY only
American Goldfinch
Chestnut-collared Longspur
Grasshopper Sparrow
Lark Sparrow
Lark Bunting
Chipping Sparrow
Clay-colored Sparrow ND
Field Sparrow
Brewer's Sparrow ND
Dark-eyed (White-winged) Junco SD
Vesper Sparrow
Baird's Sparrow ND
Savannah Sparrow ND
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Spotted Towhee
Yellow-breasted Chat
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Bobolink
Western Meadowlark
Orchard Oriole
Bullock's Oriole WY only
Baltimore Oriole SD
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Brewer’s Blackbird
Common Grackle
Ovenbird SD
Virginia's Warbler SD
MacGillivray's Warbler SD
Common Yellowthroat
American Redstart
Yellow Warbler
Yellow-rumped (Audubon’s) Warbler SD
Western Tanager SD (also in WY)
Northern Cardinal SD
Black-headed Grosbeak SD (also in WY)
Blue Grosbeak SD
Lazuli Bunting
Dickcissel
Mammal List
Eastern Fox Squirrel
Red Squirrel
Black-tailed Prairie Dog
Richardson’s Ground Squirrel
Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel
chipmunk, sp.
Muskrat
White-tailed Jackrabbit
Eastern Cottontail
Coyote
Red Fox
Badger
White-tailed Deer
Mule Deer
Pronghorn
Bison
Wild (?) Horse
Bighorn Sheep
Pinyon Jay, Ferguson Canyon, WY
– Doug Hepper photo, 2023 –
Rock Wren, Badlands National Park, SD
– Sherry Gray photo, 2023 –
American Dipper, Hanna Road, SD
– Lon Baumgardt photo, 2023 –
Sprague's Pipit, Billings County, ND
– Lon Baumgardt photo, 2023 –
Clark's Grebe, Long Lake NWR, ND
– Doug Hepper photo, 2023 –
