NORTHERN GREAT PLAINS 
On 26 May, Lambeth observed an unprecedented 
fallout of late-migrating warblers in Grand Forks, 
ND. Often times on cold days in spring in North Dakota, 
migrating warblers in the e. part of the state will be on 
the streets foraging in American Eim flower litter. This 
usually occurs at a time when Yellow-rumped Warblers 
dominate warbler numbers. However, the late spring this 
year brought this phenomenon in late May, when the lat- 
est migrating species were present. Although the total 
number of warblers was not unusual for the day, the 
numbers of some species were unprecedented. New one- 
day highs were counted for Chestnut-sided (32, previous 
high 20 ), Blackburnian ( 23 , previous high 7 ), and Bay- 
breasted (34, previous high 4). Other notable totals for 
the day were 250 Tennessee Warblers, 17 Magnolia War- 
bler, and 52 Blackpoll Warblers. Also present was a Yel- 
low-throated Warbler, first seen on 24 May, the 7th re- 
port for the state (p.a., DOL). 
the S.A.). Yellow Warblers peaked 20 May, with 
345 in Eddy (REM, CDE). Black-throated Blue 
Warblers, very rare in spring, were in Eargo 17 
May (DWR, CDE, KRC) and Minto 23 May 
(NDBS). The 13th report for North Dakota, a 
Tovrasend’s Warbler was in Wells 18 May (p.a., 
DC). An Audubon’s Warbler was unusual at 
Kenmare 25 May (RR). A nice peak of 100 
American Redstarts was tallied in Eargo 26 
May (DPW). Casual in North Dakota, a 
MacGillivray’s Warbler was in Kenmare 23 
May (RR). Now seemingly regular. Hooded 
Warblers were in Bismarck 14 May (p.a., TKE), 
and in West Eargo 16-19 May (p.a., PB). Cana- 
da Warblers also peaked 26 May, with 10 in 
Fargo (DPW). In contrast to North Dakota, the 
warbler migration in South Dakota was gener- 
ally described as poor. A notable count of 20 
Chestnut-sided Warblers was in Roberts, SD 26 
May (GO). A Black-throated Gray Warbler in 
Hyde, SD was photographed 23 Apr (p.a., EB). 
This furnished the 7th report for the state. A 
probable 8th record for South Dakota, a Yel- 
low-throated Warbler was in Walworth 16 
May (p.a., DS, GO). Casual in spring in South 
Dakota, a Worm-eating Warbler was far w. in 
Harding 23-24 May (p.a., KM). A Chestnut- 
sided Warbler was far w. in Choteau, MT 22 
May (p.a., JN, MS). An unprecedented 3 male 
Black-throated Blue Warblers were in Miles 
City, MT 19 May (p.a., JS). This provided 
about the 16th report for the state. 
TANAGERS THROUGH SISKINS 
Tanagers made their strongest showing ever 
in North Dakota, with 5 Summer Tanagers re- 
ported from three counties 15-26 May. Four 
Western Tanagers were noted 9-23 May, with 
one present at a Grand Forks feeder 14-23 
May (DOL). Summer Tanagers in South 
Dakota were singles 24 Apr in Pennington 
(CH) and in Stanley 27 May (DB, RDO). A 
Green-tailed Towhee 22 May in Harding, SD 
provided about the 13th report for the state 
(p.a., KM). Two Lark Sparrows were early 1 
Apr in Minnehaha, SD (MZ). Tying the early 
date for South Dakota, a Lincoln’s Sparrow 
was in Stanley 26 Mar (RDO). Le Conte’s 
Sparrow numbers were low in North Dakota 
this spring. Conversely, for the 2nd consecu- 
tive year. Nelson’s Sparrows were seen in good 
numbers. Extralimital McCown’s Longspur 
reports are very unusual, so an individual in 
Grand Forks, ND 19-20 May was surprising 
(p.a., EEF). Weather conditions delayed Lap- 
land Longspur migration in North Dakota. 
When favorable conditions occurred 14 Apr, 
150,000 were noted passing the Minot 
Sewage Lagoons in a half-hour. 
Breeding Northern Cardinals occur regu- 
larly only in Grand Forks and Fargo in North 
Dakota. A survey of the FargoAVest Fargo 
area this spring turned up about a dozen ter- 
ritories (KRC). Very few Red Crossbills were 
reported, but a flock of 40 White-winged 
Crossbills in Custer, SD was notable 
(S.D.O.U.). The species is irregular in the 
Black Hills. There were five White-winged 
Crossbill reports for North Dakota. Wide- 
spread nesting of Pine Siskins occurred across 
North Dakota, with birds present in every 
town visited. 
Contributors (state editors in boldface): MON- 
TANA: Byron Butler, Chuck Carlson, Steve 
Dawes, Sharon Dewart-Hansen, Joe Higbee, 
Mark Hoffman, Ted Nordhagen, John Nor- 
drum, Mike Schwitters, Julie Server. NORTH 
DAKOTA: Chad Balkowitsch, Melissa Balkow- 
itsch, Patrick Beanzay, David Clapp, Keith R. 
Corliss, Bill Cornatzer, Corey D. Ellingson, 
Tammy K. Ellingson, Gary A. Eslinger, Eve E. 
Freeberg, Mark A. Gonzalez, Joe Gregg, Linda 
Gregg, Carolyn Griffiths, Dave A Griffiths, 
Justin W. Hoff, Paul M. Konrad, Dave O. Lam- 
beth, Sherry D. Leslie, Ron E. Martin, North 
Dakota Birding Society, Mike J. Rabenberg, 
Dean W. Riemer, Russ Rytter, Dan N. Svingen, 
H. Clark Talkington, Dennis P. Wiesenborn. 
SOUTH DAKOTA: Doug Backlund, Erik 
Bruhnke, Doug Chapman, Roger Dietrich, 
Chris Goldade, Cindy Hippie, Bill Huser, Kent 
Jensen, Todd Jensen, Michael Melins, Kenny 
Miller, Gary Olson, Ricky D. Olson, Jeffrey S. 
Palmer, Thomas Parliman, South Dakota Or- 
nithologists Union (S.D.O.U.), Scott Stolz, Dan 
Streifel, Mick Zerr. © 
Ron Martin, 16900 125th Street SE 
Sawyer, North Dakota 58781-9284, (jrmartin@srt.com) 
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VOLUME 63 (2009) • NUMBER 3 
459 
