SOUTHERN GREAT PLAINS 
This apparently unmated Osprey on nest at Taylor's Ferry, Muskogee County, 
Oklahoma 29 July 2009 reflects a growing pattern of nesting activity in the 
Southern Great Plains region. Photograph by Jeri McMahon. 
(JWA, RS, KW), becoming the norm for ar- 
rival of post-breeding dispersers. 
A Black Rail was at Quivira 19 Jul (DS), 
possibly the most consistent site for this 
species in the Region. King Rail is regular at 
Red Slough, where up to 7 were seen during 
the period (DA); 2 at Quivira 14Jun (SS, MR) 
and a pair with 4 chicks at Hackberry 30 Jun 
(BA, L&MT) were also in expected settings. 
Unexpected in midsummer was a Sora at 
Quivira 14 Jun (SS). Common Moorhens 
were much in evidence this wet season; a pair 
with 8 chicks was in Seward, NE 28 jul (CL, 
SL), where almost extralimital; 3 were at 
Quivira 14 Jun-3 Jul (SS,JK, MG); one was in 
Douglas, KS 18Jul (MA); and Hackberry host- 
ed as many as 8 during the period, including 
an ad. with 2 chicks 1-8 Jul (L&MT, BS, JL, 
LH). The only place in the Region one might 
expect Purple Gallinule is Red Slough, where 
the presence of as many as 18 during the pe- 
riod (DA) was still exciting. Sandhill Cranes 
bred again in Morrill, NE; there were addi- 
tional reports from four other scattered po- 
tential breeding locations in n. and w. Nebras- 
ka (fide WRS). 
Black-bellied Plovers, late or wandering, 
were at Cheyenne Bottoms 14 Jun (MR) and 
Salt Plains Ibjun QWA, JAG, RS); one at Salt 
Plains 28 Jul QWA, RS, KW) was more likely 
an early returnee. An American Golden- 
Plover and 2 Semipalmated Plovers were at 
Salt Plains 16 Jun QWA, JAG, RS). Salt Plains 
also hosted very high numbers of Snowy 
Plovers this season: 3500 were there 5 Jun 
and 6000 on 17 Jul (fide RW), dwarfing the 
65 counted at Quivira 5 Jul QK, m.ob.). Gen- 
erally only a migrant in Kansas, a Piping 
Plover was in Sedgwick 1 Jun (NO). Two 
Black-necked Stilt chicks in Major, OK 18 Jun 
QWA) and one at Red Slough 23 Jun (DA) 
were away from the regular breeding loca- 
tions at Hackberry and Quivira 
(fide L&MT, PJ). Very rare during 
fall in the Region, a Whimbrel 
was at Cheyenne Bottoms 17 Jul 
OK, LSG, MA). A Long-billed 
Curlew at Hackberry 16 Jun (LH) 
was almost certainly an early fall 
migrant, as suggested by depar- 
tures of 2 females (bearing satel- 
lite transmitters) from Garden, NE 
19 & 29 Jun after their nests were 
depredated (CG, JGJ). A Hudson- 
ian Godwit at Cheyenne Bottoms 
14 Jun (MR) was tardy. Early fall 
migrants, 6 Marbled Godwits 
were reported in n. and cen. 
Kansas 5-26 Jul QK. HA, m.ob,). 
Ruddy Turnstone, less regular in 
fall, made a better showing this 
season, with 14 reported 17-28 Jul in Kansas 
and Oklahoma (fide LM, fide JWA); 10 of 
these were at Salt Plains 28 Jul (fide RW). An 
eclectic group of sandpipers at Salt Plains 16 
Jun included a Sanderling, 3 Semipalmateds, 
a Western, a Pectoral, and 2 Stilts (JAG, JWA, 
RS). Excellent numbers of returning Semi- 
palmated Sanndpipers were in cen. Kansas 17 
Jul, with 600 at Cheyenne Bottoms and 750 at 
Quivira QK, LSG, MA). White-rumped Sand- 
piper migrates well into Jun, as shown by the 
2000+ at Cheyenne Bottoms 5 Jun (MR), 
dwindling to singles there 26 Jun (MR) and in 
Douglas, NE 25 Jun OQJ)- Generally non-ex- 
istent as a fall migrant in the Region, a White- 
rumped in Clay, NE 25 Jul had an injured 
wing (PD). Also a late spring migrant, 25 
Dunlins were at Cheyenne Bottoms 5 Jun 
(MR). A good total of 1000 Stilt Sandpipers 
had returned to Cheyenne Bottoms by 17 Jul 
(JK, LSG, MA). Furnishing one of fewer than 
20 Regional records was the Ruff in Nemaha, 
KS 11 Jul (PJ, GF). Two Long-billed Dowitch- 
ers at Hackberry 1 Jul (L&MT) were early. 
Also joining the 16 Jun Salt Plains party of 
sandpiper laggards was a Wilsons Phalarope 
(JWA, JAG, RS); 200 were at Cheyenne Bot- 
toms 5 Jul OK, m.ob.). 
Good mid-Jun counts for Franklins Gull 
were the 100+ at Cheyenne Bottoms 19 Jun 
(MR) and 50+ at the Salt Plains 16 Jun QWA, 
JAG, RS). Only the 4th for Jul for Nebraska 
was a Bonaparte’s Gull in Lincoln 27 Jul 
(TJW). The usual small mid-summer number 
of California Gulls at McConaughy included 
7 (mostly ads.) 14 Jun (WRS, KN). A rare 
mid-summer find was a Caspian Tern in Wag- 
oner, OK 26 Jun QWA). 
DOVES THROUGH THRASHERS 
Putative hybrids between Eurasian Collared- 
Dove and Mourning Dove have been reported 
but appear to be quite rare. Two candidate 
birds at Bushnell, sw. Nebraska 2 Jul were the 
size of Mourning Doves but were pale and 
lacked a nape mark (MRe). White-winged 
Dove is now a regular summer visitor n. in still 
small numbers to Nebraska; 6 were reported 
from Nebraska this season, with at least 14 in 
Kansas, including 6 juvs. in Finney 15 Jul 
(T&SS). The 8th documented record of Inca 
Dove for Nebraska was one in Dundy 8 Jun 
(ph. TS). Monk Parakeet is not established in 
the Region; 6 were found in Oklahoma City 18 
Jul (PM) and 8 in Tulsa 10 Jul (fide PR). Re- 
ports of Black-billed Cuckoo were encourag- 
ing, especially the 15 reports of about 18 birds 
from Nebraska, far more than in recent sum- 
mers (fide WRS); Oklahoma and Kansas re- 
ported only one each (SSe, PJ). Greater Road- 
runner reports continue in Kansas, with one in 
Pawnee 4 Jul (fide SS) and “several in various 
locations” in Pratt (KB). The northerly Chuck- 
will’s-widows found in Knox, NE last season 
were back this year, with one heard 28 Jul (MB, 
D&JP). Recent years have seen several fall re- 
ports of Ruby-throated Hummingbird in the 
In an encore performance from 2008, this extralimital 
White-tailed Kite appeared in virtually the same tree in 
Lincoln County, Nebraska on 29 June 2009. Photograph by 
Paul Dunbar. 
Nebraska Panhandle; one was in Sioux 22 Jul 
(HKH); there are surprisingly still no records 
of Black-chinned for Nebraska. Fewer Selas- 
phonis hummers than usual were reported this 
fall; an ad. male Calliope was in Finney, KS 15 
Jul (T&SS), with an imm. female Broad-tailed 
there 27 Jul (T&SS). Rufous Hummingbirds 
were reported only from Kansas, with singles 
in Pawnee 22 Jul (DK), Finney 25 Jul (M&PR), 
and Ellis 29 Jul (TM). 
VOLUME 63 ( 2 O’O 9 ) • NUMBER 4 
621 
