I PRAIRIE PROVINCES 
A Blue Grosbeak photographed at Hackett 
L. 1 Jun provided Saskatchewan’s first con- 
firmed record (CM). A Lazuli Bunting was in 
the Pierson, MB area early Jun (R&MW), and 
a possible Lazuli Bunting x Indigo Bunting 
hybrid was at Winnipeg 6-7 Jun (RC). Fifteen 
years ago, Painted Bunting was not even on 
the Canadian prairie birding radar, but two 
Manitoba records now bring the Regional to- 
tal to nine, starting with the first 
Saskatchewan bird in 1997 and Alberta’s first 
in 2000. First for Manitoba was a male at a 
feeder at The Pas, 24 May 2008 (PTo, ph., Jtdc 
CA), news of which reached us belatedly this 
spring. This year, a cooperative male visited a 
St. Georges feeder from some time in May un- 
til 6 Jun (R63:MB, m.ob., ph.). There was a 
pronounced White-winged Crossbill influx in 
s. Manitoba in Jul (RK, m.ob.), whereas the 
species was abnormally scarce in the Grand 
Rapids, MB region in Jun (PT). 
Observers (subregional compilers in bold- 
face): C. Artuso, L. Bennett, A. Blewett, R. & 
M. Boulet, B. Boyle, B. Burke (BBu), N. 
Butchard, S. Canevet, R. Clarke, Cornell 
Godwit Crew (C.G.C. = T. Johnson, S. Biller- 
man, J. McGowan, N. Senner, and B. Walk- 
er), J. Corbin, B. Cutfield, C. Cuthbert, K. De 
Smet, B. Di Labio, B. Elder, K. Gardner, J. 
Green, G. 6a: J. Grieef, H. Fiinam, T. Johnson, 
K. Kingdon, R. Klauke (RKl), R. Koes, T. Ko- 
rolyk, G. Kratzig, R. Kutz (RKu), J. Lang- 
ham, B. Luterbach, J. & M. Macdonald, J. 
McGowan, C. Merkle, R. Parsons, G. Ro- 
manchuk, N. Saunders, N. Senner (NSe), B. 
Shettler, B. Storms (BSt), J. Swartz, J. & R. 
Taylor, P. Taylor, P. Tonn (PTo), L. Veelma, B. 
Walker, G. Walz, R. & M. Wang, J. Weier, R. 
Woods, D. Zazelenchuk. ^ 
Rudolf F. Koes, 135 Rossmere Crescent 
Winnipeg, Manitoba R2K 0G1, (rkoes(5)mts.net) 
Peter Taylor, P. 0. Box 597 
Pinawa, Manitoba ROE 1L0, (taylorpiagranite.mb.ca) 
Northern Great Plains 
Ron Martin 
T emperatures were well below average 
in the Region, especially the first half 
of June. June precipitation was above 
average in the Dakotas, but July was fairly 
dry. The opposite was true for eastern Mon- 
tana, with July the wetter month. North 
Dakota had two large, local rain events in 
June. June 15-16 brought 18-25 cm of rain to 
the Bismarck area, and 18 cm fell in some 
parts of northeastern North Dakota June 26. 
Nesting was noticeably delayed by the cold 
and rain — and seemingly not very successful 
when it did take place. Few insects were 
available much of the season. At least ten 
species of warblers were still migrating in 
numbers in early June in North Dakota. High 
water levels from the spring made for very 
limited shorebird habitat. 
The season’s highlights in South Dakota in- 
cluded the first record of Black-bellied 
Whistling-Duck and the first modern nesting 
of Prothonotary Warbler. North Dakota had a 
Rufous Hummingbird and a Pomarine Jaeger. 
Nesting of Blue Grosbeak was confirmed for 
the first time in Montana. 
WATERFOWL 
THROUGH HERONS 
A first for South Dakota, 2 Black- 
bellied Whistling-Ducks were 
photographed in Lincoln 21-22 Jul 
(p.a., DC, JSP, DS, TJ). Five Greater 
White-fronted Goose reports from 
the Dakotas was above average for 
the summer season. Blue-winged x 
Cinnamon Teal hybrids in North 
Dakota were in Stutsman 5 Jun and 
McLean 18 Jun (REM). Evidence of nesting 
continued along the Missouri R. for Common 
Mergansers in North Dakota, and this year 
four sightings of this species were reported 
from along the river in South Dakota, where 
nesting has not been confirmed. 
Great Egrets continue to increase in Mon- 
tana. This summer, a single was in Billings 1- 
2 Jun (SH, MSI), GM), and 2-3 were at 
Freezeout Lake N.W.R. 2-6 Jun (MS, RW). 
Regular in very small numbers in North 
Dakota, a Little Blue Heron was in McHemy 2 
Jun (WE). The 11th report for North Dakota, 
a Tricolored Heron was at J. Clark Salyer 
N.W.R. 13 Jun (p.a., PJ). 
Horned Grebes returned this year in impressive 
numbers after many years of almost total ab- 
sence. Nesting pairs were easily found in appropriate 
habitat over much of North Dakota, sometimes with sev- 
eral pairs on a single wetland. After a number of dry 
years, the melt from the massive snow pack from last 
winter created an abundance of newly flooded grassy 
wetlands with an abundance of submerged vegetation. 
Perhaps the now-extensive beds of cattails in many wet- 
lands are not conducive to Horned Grebe nesting. 
HAWKS THROUGH OWLS 
A pair of ad. Broad-winged Hawks in Cass, 
ND 21 Jun may indicate nesting in the area 
(DWR). There are no confirmed breeding 
records for the county. A dark-morph Red- 
tailed Hawk in the Turtle Mts. of North Dako- 
ta 13 Jun was unusual (TH, DOL). Casual in 
summer in North Dakota, 3 Rough-legged 
Hawks were reported in Jul, including one 
photographed 7 Jul in Grand Forks (DOL, 
GSL). Unusually far e. and out of breeding 
range, Prairie Ealcons were in Brown, SD 11 
Jun (CG) and in Mountrail, ND 12 Jun (DNS, 
CDE). Heavy rains in Grand Forks, ND 26-27 
Jun appear to have triggered breeding for Yel- 
low Rails. Twenty were heard calling 13 Jul in 
areas where few were noted in Jun (DOL). 
Sandhill Cranes nested again in McHenry, 
ND, and singles were noted 3 Jun in Emmons 
(MJR) and 13 Jun in the Turtle Mts. (DOL, 
TH). A Ruddy Turnstone was unusually late 
or early 2 Jul in Kidder, ND (MJR, GPS). The 
2nd highest count for fall in North Dakota, an 
impressive flock of 13 Red Knots was in "West 
Fargo 31 Jul (KRC, DWR). 
An ad. Sabine’s Gull 11 Jun at the Grand 
Forks, ND Lagoons provided the 2nd Jun 
record for the state (p.a., EEF); the first record 
was at the same location 12 Jun 2004. Acci- 
dental away from the Missouri R. in North 
Dakota, a Least Tern was a surprise 4 Jun at 
Long Lake N.W.R. (MJR). In a more regular 
area, 2 Least Terns were on the Missouri R. 
near Poplar, MT 18 Jun (LL). Imagine the 
amazement of two visiting birders at Lost- 
wood N.W.R., ND 16 Jun when an ad. Poma- 
rine Jaeger made a few circles nearby and 
moved on to the north (p.a., CB, JD). If ac- 
cepted, this would furnish only the 3rd record 
618 
NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS 
