SOUTHERN GREAT PLAINS 
This second-cycle Mew Gill near Alma, Nebraska 29 November 2008 posed 
conveniently with Ring-billed Gulls for comparison. Photograph by Paul 
Dunbar. 
The Juvenile Brown Pelican at Harlan County Reservoir, 
Pheips County, Nebraska 19-23 (here 19) October 2008 pro- 
vides Nebraska's first documented fall record. Photograph 
by Kent Skaggs. 
array of scoters in the Region included one 
Surf Scoter in Atchison, KS 18 Oct (HA), 2 in 
Jefferson, KS 30 Oct (MG, ML, DS; staying 
into Dec), up to 2 in Russell, KS 1-5 Nov (MA, 
m.ob.), 4 at McConaughy 4 Nov (SJD), with 
another in Cheyenne, NE the same day (SJD), 
one in Canadian, OK 8-12 Nov (MF et al), 
and 3 at Sooner L. 28 Nov (JWA, JT). The 
only White-winged Scoters noted were sin- 
gles at McConaughy 4 Nov (SJD) and King- 
man, KS 15 Nov (KG, WAS). Black Scoter re- 
ports included two sets of 2 females/imms. in 
Lancaster, NE 9 & 11 Nov QGJ), 
one in Sedgwick, KS 23-30 Nov 
(PJ), and 3 at Sooner L. 28 Nov 
(JWA, JT). Two Long-tailed Ducks 
were in Mitchell, KS 8 Nov (HA), 
up to 2 were in Lincoln, NE 9-10 
Nov QGJ), and singles were in 
Wabaunsee, KS 9 Nov (DLa, JK), 
Cowley, KS 24 Nov (MT), and 
Cimarron, OK 29 Nov (JAG et al.). 
A Common Goldeneye in Scotts 
Bluff, NE 18 Oct (AK) was uncom- 
monly early. A male Barrow’s Gold- 
eneye in Cheyenne, KS 22 Nov was 
a rarity there (HA). 
Red-throated Loons were rare 
this season, with only one report- 
ed, in Russell, KS 1 Nov (MA, m.ob.). Also 
standing alone was a Pacific Loon in Sequoy- 
ah, OK 8 Nov QWA). Three Horned Grebes 
24 (LR, RH) & 27 Aug (TH) in Dawson, NE 
were very early. McConaughy hosted a mod- 
est peak of 2830 Western Grebes 4 Nov (SJD); 
migrants began arriving in s. locations by 20 
Oct (Gove, KS; M&EC). 
Always a good find, an imm. Brown Pelican 
was in Harlan, NE 19-23 Oct (KS, G&WH, 
WF), providing Nebraska’s first documented 
fall record. Neotropic Cormorants away from 
Red Slough included 3 on 8 Aug and one 18 
Sep at Salt Plains QWA et al.); one at Quivira 
9 Aug (SS) and 2 there 6 Sep (SS, SSe); an ad. 
in Lancaster, NE 26 Aug (LE); and 2 at Hack- 
berry 30 Aug (VF), Twelve thousand Double- 
crested Cormorants were in Harlan, NE 5 Oct 
(G&WH). An American Bittern was still at 
Red Slough 25 Nov (DA). Still scarce away 
from Red Slough, Least Bitterns were located 
in Tulsa 2 Aug (2 birds; ER), Seward, NE 14 
Aug OG), York, NE 20 & 28 Aug (LE), and 
Adams, NE 23 Sep (PD). Tardy were 2 Snowy 
Egrets 21 Oct in Tulsa QL et al). Usually more 
a summer vagrant in Nebraska, imm. Little 
Blue Herons were found in Fillmore 9 Aug 
QGJ) and Knox 28 Sep (MB). Up to 9 Tricol- 
ored Herons were counted at Red Slough, the 
last leaving after 26 Oct (DA, m.ob.); excep- 
tional was one in Sedgwick, KS 25 Sep (PJ), 
with 3 noted 8 Aug at Salt Plains QWA), an 
outlying breeding location. More exceptional 
was a Reddish Egret at Quivira 21 Aug (THi, 
MR, KB, SB). An imm. Black-crowned Night- 
Heron tarried in Knox, NE 28 Nov (MB), and 
2 imms. were still present 25 Nov at Red 
Slough (DA). Vagrant Yellow-crowned Night- 
Herons in Nebraska included an imm. in 
Phelps, NE 2 Aug (KS), 3 there 23 Aug QGJ), 
an imm. in Adams 4 Aug (PD), and an ad. in 
Seward 23 & 28 Aug QGJ, LE). 
A White Ibis and 20 dark Plegadis ibis were 
late at Red Slough 30 Oct (DA); one of the lat- 
ter was still at Hackberry 23 Nov (M&LT). 
Glossy Ibis reported included 6 from Nebras- 
ka: singles were in Seward 3 Aug (CNK), 
Sarpy 3 Aug (MC) and in York 9-16 QGJ) & 
23 Aug (JG), and 2 were in the e. Rainwater 
Basin 24 Aug OGJ). An ad. and 2 juv. Glossy 
Ibis were located in Alfalfa, OK 8 Aug (JWA). 
Also hanging late at Red Slough, 2 Roseate 
Spoonbills stayed until 3 Nov (DA, BH), 
Wood Stork numbers at Red Slough built to 
179 on 19 Aug (DA), dwindling to the last 8 
noted 11 Sep (BH et al.). 
RAPTORS THROUGH TERNS 
Westerly Broad-winged Hawks were found in 
Box Butte, NE 13 Sep (KD), Scotts Bluff NE 24 
r A Two decaying hurricanes, Gwsfai/ and 
Dtilke, passed through se. Oklahoma 
this fa!!, bringing several rare seabirds, two 
new for the Region. The center of drcijlation 
of Gustav reached McCwtain, OK in early 
morning of 3 Sep, and a Cory's Shearwater 
(potential first for the Region), a Magnifi- 
cent Frigatebiri, a Boyai Tern, and 10 
Sooty Terns (first for the Region) were all 
noted at Red Slough that morning (DA). Oth- 
er possible hurricane-related birds there 
were 30 Ruddy Turnstones, 2 Red-necked 
Phalaropes, 3 Sabine's Gulls, 4 Laughing 
Gulls, and a Parasitic Jaeger (DA), none of 
these species typical for Red Slough. At Bro- 
ken Bow Res., Berlin Heck located a Magnifi- 
cent Frigatebird and 2 Sooty Terns 3 Sep; 2 
Sooty Terns were noted on Broken Bow L., 
McCurtain the following day (MD et al.). 
Ike produced fewer notable seabirds, 
probably because the center of circulation 
passed through so late in the day, arriving 
at dusk 13 Sep. A comparatively meager 3 
Sooty Terns were found on Broken Bow L. 
14Sep(BHetal.). 
This Sooty Tern was one often at Otter Lake, Red Siough Wildlife Manage- 
ment Area in southeastern Oklahoma 3 September 2008. Photographs by 
Berlin Meek. 
VOLUME 63 (2009) 
NUMBER 1 
113 
