SOUTHERN GREAT PLAINS 
birds; JGJ); 25 were somewhat tardy in Clay, 
NE 23 May QGJ)- while up to 15 were wester- 
ly at Hackberry 13 & 15 May (L&MT); 535 in 
s.-cen. Kansas 9 May (GY) indicated the peak 
of movement. Short-billed Dowitcher reports 
were about normal in the e. third of the Re- 
gion, 3-18 May (fide WRS, JWA). Extending 
its range westward was an American Wood- 
cock heard in Keith, NE 28 Mar (WE). Six 
Red-necked Phalaropes were noted 1 May in 
Lincoln, NE (TJW), 10+ at Quivira 15 May 
(SS), singles 10 (PvE et al.) & 28 May in 
Cimanvn, OK (L&MT, KM), and one easterly 
in Sarpy, NE 9 May (CNK); the highest count 
was 74 in the e. Rainwater Basin 14 May OGJ). 
Exceptional in spring was a Sabine’s Gull in 
Lancaster, NE 28 Mar (tCNK). A Laughing 
Gull made it to Sumner, KS 12 May (MT, GY). 
An outstanding count was the 10,000 Ring- 
billed Gulls estimated over Omaha 18 Mar 
QED). Limited numbers of California Gulls 
(away from McConaughy) included singles in 
Jefferson, KS 1 Mar QK), Hefner 8 Mar (first- 
cycle; JAG), Lancaster, NE 8 Mar OGJ), Lin- 
coln, NE 26 Mar (TJW), Buffalo, NE 15 Apr 
QGJ), Quivira 9 May (SS, DKa, LHe), and 
Cheyenne Bottoms 15 May (MR). The 2000 
Herring Gulls in Lancaster, NE 1 Mar QGJ) 
were joined by 2 Thayer’s Gulls 6-9 Mar QGJ, 
EE); other Thayer’s included 2 in 
Jefferson/Douglas, KS 1-8 Mar QK) and a sin- 
gle at McConaughy 2 May QGJ). An Iceland 
Gull at Cheyenne Bottoms 18 Mar (MA, JK) 
followed a winter in which the species was 
widespread across the continent. Lesser 
Black-backed Gulls were reported only from 
Nebraska: one ad. in Harlan, NE 19 Mar (KS, 
DRo), one ad. at McConaughy 22 Mar (RLa) 
and 11 Apr (CG), with 2 imms. there 2 May 
OGJ). Glaucous Gulls were noted at Mc- 
Conaughy and s. to Jefferson, KS 1-14 May 
(JK, MA); one lingered until 12 Apr in Har- 
lan, NE (G&WH). A imm. Great Black- 
backed Gull was in Harlan, NE 6-8 Mar 
(tG&WH). Common Terns in Harlan, NE 9 
May (KS) and Madison, NE 10 May (2 birds; 
MB) were somewhat early. 
DOVES THROUGH CROWS 
White-winged Dove continues to establish lo- 
cal populations in w. and cen. portions of the 
Region n. to Buffalo, NE (WE). Fiimey, KS 
(T&SS) remains a local stronghold; several 
were in e. Oklahoma (Tulsa, fide JL). In con- 
trast, 2 Common Ground-Doves in Johnston, 
OK 25 May (BA) were most exceptional. A 
pair of Barred Owls in Ellsworth 9 Mar (DK) 
indicated westward range extension in 
Kansas. An early Common Nighthawk was in 
Kearney, NE 26 Apr (LB), and a Common 
Poorwill was easterly in Creek, OK 11 May 
(fide TO). The presence of 2 calling Chuck- 
will’s-widows in Gage, NE 30 May (WRS) 
adds spotty evidence to the margin of the Ne- 
braska range. A rare find was Whip-poor- 
will’s nests with two eggs in Dixon, NE 16 
May (fide D&JP). A White-throated Swift in 
Scotts Bluff, NE 13 Apr (CG) was the 2nd ear- 
liest on record. A Ruby-throated Humming- 
bird was far w. in Sioux, NE 18 May (HKH). 
The 4 Black-chinned Hummingbirds at sepa- 
rate locations in Comanche, OK 23-25 Mar 
(E&BM, K&SM) were early, while another in 
Cleveland, OK 17 Apr (M&JE) was easterly. A 
Red-naped Sapsucker was seen in Sioux, NE 
18 May (HKH; ph.). 
An easterly Western Wood-Pewee was in 
Hooker, NE 30 May (SJD), while a westerly 
Eastern Wood-Pewee was in Custer, NE 19 
May (TJW). Early was an Eastern in Bryan, 
OK 22 Apr (DW). Single Acadian Elycatchers 
beyond the edge of the species’ typical Ne- 
braska range were in Lincoln 23 & 28 May 
(DL, LE) and in Cass 24 May (D&JP). A Least 
Elycatcher in Omaha 24 Apr QWH) was 
rather early. Not often detected in migration, a 
Cordilleran Elycatcher was in Scotts Bluff 23 
May (AK). Quite unexpected was a Black 
Phoebe in Cimanvn, OK 17-26 May (LY, KDa, 
M&MP et al.). Rather early for w. Nebraska 
was an Eastern Phoebe in Scotts Bluff 24 Mar 
(AK). Very much easterly was a Say’s Phoebe 
in McCurtain, OK 16 Mar (DA), with other 
easterly Say’s in Canadian, OK 8 Apr (DWe) 
and Comanche, OK 21 Apr (K&SM). An Ash- 
throated Elycatcher wandered northward to 
Sioux, NE 4 May (HKH). Early were Great 
Crested Elycatchers in Washington, NE 24 Apr 
(CNK) and Sarpy, NE 25 Apr (JR) and a West- 
ern Kingbird in Garden, NE 22 Apr (CG). Sin- 
gle Vermilion Elycatchers were in Johnston, 
OK 12 Mar QRo) and Payne, OK 27 Apr (AG). 
A southerly Northern Shrike was in Riley, 
Among the Region's spedes slowly expanding 
westward in recent years is Fish Crow. Formerly 
confined to ne. Oklahoma (e.g., Tulsa), border counties of 
se. Oklahoma, and se. Kansas, it has now reached into s.- 
cen. Kansas and cen. and s.-cen. Oklahoma. Where for- 
merly uncommon, it is now said to be "abundant" in ex- 
treme se. Kansas (MG, ML, NA), and several were report- 
ed w. to Sedgwick 25 Mar and 1 Apr (JC) and Sumer 25 
Mar (GY), with several n. to Johnson, KS 4 Apr (MG). They 
are now routinely observed in Seminole, Cleveland, and 
Oklahoma in cen. Oklahoma (m.ob.). Four Fish Crows 
heard calling over Omaha 5 Mar (DL), and another on the 
lower Platte R. near the Missouri R. 29 May (JGJ), were 
well away from strongholds. The extent of movement up 
the Red R. in s. Oklahoma is currently uncertain, but the 
species is now common in the L. Texoma area. 
KS 16 Mar (LJ). A northerly wandering 
White-eyed Vireo was in Sarpy, NE 2-9 May 
(PSw, m.ob.); very early was one in Co- 
manche, OK 10 Mar (K&SM). Other early ar- 
rivals included 2 Bell’s Vireos 1 1 Apr in Butler, 
NE QG) and a Yellow-throated Vireo in Chau- 
tauqua, KS 4 Apr ON). A Plumbeous Vireo in 
Garden, NE 14-15 May (CG) was easterly. A 
Philadelphia Vireo, more commonly reported ^ 
in e. portions of the Region this season, was ; 
w. to Cleveland, OK 3-4 May QAG, RG). An 
occasional wanderer eastward into Nebraska, 
a Steller’s Jay was in Sheridan 10 May (BP). 
SWALLOWS THROUGH PIPITS 
A female Purple Martin was a surprise nw. of [ 
the usual Nebraska range in Garden 31 May !: 
(SJD, CG). Tree Swallows reached Kansas in | 
Harvey 5 Mar (CS) and Lancaster, NE 17 Mar k 
(LE). A Violet-green Swallow in Johnson, KS ll 
arrived on the early date of 14 Mar (ML). Cliff j: 
Swallows appeared very early in McCurtain, i| 
OK 3 Mar (DA). While expansion of Cave |s 
Swallows has long been anticipated, it is still i 
exceptional in the Region; 1-2 were observed jj 
in Comanche, OK 4 May (K&SM, L&MT). j| 
The Mountain Chickadee in a Scotts Bluff, NE ij 
yard from Dec 2008 was last reported 5 Mar j; 
(fide KD). Rarely leaving Ponderosa Pine j 
stands, a Pygmy Nuthatch was in Lincoln, NE i 
24 Apr-6 May (LE). Easterly Rock Wrens of- j) 
ten find suitable boulders at reservoir dams, |: 
such as one in Cherokee 2-4 Apr QM et al.). i 
Carolina Wrens fledged young by a very early 
8 Apr in Cleveland, OK QAG). A Nebraska 
rarity was a Bewick’s Wren in Lincoln 13 Apr 
(LE). An early House Wren was in Red Wil- 
low, NE 3 Apr (DJ). Winter Wrens were wide- 
ly reported. Two territorial Sedge Wrens with 
dummy nests in Adams, NE 23 May (PD) 
were ahead of the typical Jul-Aug breeding 
period in Nebraska; up to 10 were noted in 
Platte, NE 28 May (DH) and in Douglas, NE 
29 May QWH). In e.-cen. Nebraska, birds of 
both Marsh Wren types are known as mi- 
grants; a bird singing a typical “western” song 
type was in York 17 May (WE), where eastern 
songs are the norm OGJ)- 
An early Ruby-crowned Kinglet was in 
Lincoln, NE 29 Mar (TJW). Seldom recorded 
in the Region, 2 Western Bluebirds were in 
Cimanvn, OK 4 Mar (DR; ph.). Somewhat 
easterly were single Mountain Bluebirds in 
Sedgwick, KS 15 Mar (NO) and Reno, KS 20 
Mar (H&SG). The 50-60 Swainson’s Thrush- 
es in Sarpy, NE 16 May in 8.5 hours of bird- 
ing QR) indicated peak migration. Almost un- 
reported in Oklahoma in recent years, a Veery 
was located 10 May in Carter (BE), a w. loca- 
tion. Rare and seasonally late, a Varied Thrush 
visited a yard in Buffalo, NE 17 May (KS, ph.). 
462 
NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS 
