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  –