Northern Great Plains 
Ron Martin 
T he fall weather was a patchwork, but 
generally it was the wettest fall in a 
number of years. Temperatures were a 
little above average. Major snowstorms oc- 
curred in eastern Montana in mid-October 
and in central North Dakota in early Novem- 
ber. The migration was poor, pretty much 
across the board. Numbers of gallinaceous 
birds remain high, and there were several 
noteworthy late-lingering sparrows. Potential 
first state records included an Anna’s Hum- 
mingbird in South Dakota and a Lesser Black- 
backed Gull in Montana. 
WATERFOWL THROUGH IBIS 
A Tundra Swan was early 24 Aug in Stanley, 
SD (p.a., KM, RDO). Casual in Montana, 2 
Brant were at Freezeout L. 24 Oct (p.a., JN). A 
Northern Shelduck in Fargo, ND 6 Sep was 
certainly an escapee (DWR). Waterfowl pro- 
duction this year was extremely low, and this 
was reflected in the low numbers of migrant 
waterfowl this fall. Scoters made an average 
showing; Black Scoters, usually the rarest of 
the three species, led the way, with 13 individ- 
uals. Casual in the Dakotas, Barrow’s Gold- 
eneyes were tallied 2 Nov in McHenry, ND 
(p.a., REM, CDE), 11 Nov in Charles Mix, SD 
(p.a., RM), and 16-23 Nov in Hughes, SD (p.a., 
DB). A good peak of 700 Hooded Mergansers 
was at Devils L., ND 6 Nov (DOL). Gray Par- 
tridge numbers were the best in many years, 
particularly in North Dakota. A total of 169 
came from cen. North Dakota 9 Nov (SDL). 
Ring-necked Pheasant and Sharp-tailed 
Grouse numbers also remained very high. 
Three Pacific Loons were noted, all in South 
Dakota; furnishing the first Sep record for the 
state, a single was in Stanley 7 Sep (p.a., 
RDO). More typical were reports 18 Oct in 
Fall River (TJ) and 8 Nov in Yankton (DS, 
RND). What was surely an incredible sight, 
tens of thousands of Western Grebes were on 
Ft. Peck L., MT 12 Sep GO- A Snowy Egret 
was late 25 Oct in Kingsbury, SD (BFH). The 
latest ever for South Dakota, a Little Blue 
Heron was in Hughes 20 Nov (p.a., SS). Two 
White-faced Ibis were in Grand Forks, ND 1-2 
Sep, the first sighting of the species 
there in 30 years (EEF DOL). 
RAPTORS THROUGH 
SHOREBIRDS 
An Osprey was late 7 Nov at Freeze- 
out L., MT QN). A rare Nov sighting 
for the Region, a Swainson’s Hawk 
was in Mirmehaha, SD 3 Nov (DC). 
The 2nd record for South Dakota, if 
accepted, a Crested Caracara was in 
Faulk 1 Oct (p.a., SLS). 
An unusual concentration of raptors occurred on 
the open prairie 28 Sep at Long Lake N.W.R., ND. 
In 45 minutes, Dan Svingen and family noted 5 Sharp- 
shinned, 200 Broad-winged, one Rough-legged, 200 
Swainson's, and 300 Red-tailed Hawks. Usually, migrant 
concentrations of this sort occur along river valleys or es- 
carpments. The Broad-winged Hawk total constitutes a 
new high count for the state. 
Seldom reported in fall, 2 Yellow Rails were 
flushed 21 Sep in Sheridan, ND (REM). The 
2nd highest count recorded for the state, 
84,000 American Coots were at Upper Souris 
N.W.R., ND 20 Sep (REM). The 2nd fall re- 
port for the state, a Snowy Plover was still at 
Long Lake N.W.R. 16 Aug (p.a., DNS). Late 
American Avocets included 10 at Ereezeout 
L., MT 3 Nov (LC) and a single in Sully, SD 
10 Nov (RDO, KM). Accidental in the Region 
in fall, a Whimbrel was in Stanley, SD 31 Aug 
(p.a., RDO). A high number for fall, 32 Hud- 
sonian Godwits were noted in Walsh, ND 3 
Aug (DJD). Other late shorebirds in Montana 
included a Baird’s Sandpiper 25 Oct at Freeze- 
out L. QM, MS), and 2 Dunlins 7 Nov at 
Freezeout (MS, JN). 
GULLS THROUGH 
SWALLOWS 
A potential 8th record for 
South Dakota, a Laughing 
Gull was in Lyman 20 Sep 
(p.a., RDO). Two Little 
Gulls were reported from 
South Dakota, the 11th and 
12th noted in the state. One 
in Buffalo 27 Aug (p.a., KM) 
was followed by another in 
Lyman 20-27 Sep (p.a., 
RDO). A Thayer’s Gull 31 
Oct in Williston, ND pro- 
vided the first record for 
Williams (CDE). The only 
Iceland Gull reported was a 
single at Garrison Dam, ND 
22 Nov (REM). A potential 
first for Montana, a Lesser 
Black-backed Gull was photographed at Et. 
Peck 11 Nov (p.a., CC). There was one Less- 
er Black-backed Gull noted in South Dakota, 
and several were seen in Burleigh, ND 4-25 
Oct. Sabine’s Gulls made another great show- 
ing in the Region. Eight individuals were not- 
ed in Montana 12 Sep-1 Oct, and South 
Dakota reported 4 between 14 and 30 Sep. 
Sixteen were tallied in North Dakota 30 
Aug-19 Oct, with a peak of 5 in Eargo 7-12 
Sep (DWR, KRC). Extremely rare in the Re- 
gion in recent years, a Black-legged Kittiwake 
was in Hughes, SD 12 Oct (DC, DS, JSP). The 
latest record for South Dakota, a Caspian Tern 
was in Hughes 12 Oct (p.a., DC). Rarely seen 
in the Region in Sep, a Least Tern was in 
Charles Mix, SD 1 Sep (RM). 
Only 3 Short-eared Owls were reported in 
North Dakota. Seldom reported in fall, a 
Whip-poor-will was in Whlsli, ND 11 Sep 
(DJD), and a rather late individual was in 
Charles Mix, SD 23 Sep (RM). A good peak for 
Montana, 4 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds 
were at Westby 23 Aug QL, TN). Unusually 
low for fall, only one Rufous Hummingbird 
was reported from the Black Hills of South 
Dakota. The first record for South Dakota, an 
Anna’s Hummingbird was in Pcrmmgton 23- 
29 Oct (p.a., RCD, JLB). The 16th record for 
South Dakota, a Scissor-tailed Elycatcher was 
in Brookings 15-20 Oct (p.a., KCJ). Eurnishing 
the latest record for South Dakota, a Bank 
Swallow was in Charles Mix 12 Oct (p.a., RM). 
THRUSHES THROUGH FINCHES 
A Mountain Bluebird was e. of normal and 
also late in Brookings, SD 15 Nov GSP). 
Townsend’s Solitaires made another good 
showing this fall in the Dakotas. The 2nd ear- 
liest for North Dakota, an individual was in 
A species casual in Montana, two Brant visited Freezeout Lake 23 October 2008. 
Photograph by John Nordrum. 
VOLUME 63 (2009) 
NUMBER 1 
111 
