Date: 11/15/25 7:32 pm From: Loren Padelford via groups.io <padelfordl...> Subject: [NEBirds] Red-throated Loon, Branched Oak Lake
Birders,
The Redt-throated Loon was still present on Branched Oak Lake today, Saturday. We observed it from the Homestead Campground (Area 2) about 2:30 this afternoon. Also present was a mixed flock of Red-breasted and Common Mergansers. Bonaparte’s Gulls were flying around the lake. At gull beach (swimming beach) there was a Lesser Black-backed Gull along with about 30 RB Gulls.
Loren and Babs Padelford
Bellevue, NE
<padelfordl...>
Date: 11/15/25 10:47 am From: Gordon Warrick via groups.io <prubinus...> Subject: [NEBirds] redpolls
Fort Niobrara NWR, Bur Oak/Fort Falls Trail, this morning. I was happy to see a golden-crowned kinglet, since I had not seen one in several years, then, shortly after, found these two common redpolls feeding on birch catkins. First of them I have seen in 20 years. Yesterday at my house near Valentine I heard a pine siskin.
Date: 11/14/25 9:49 am From: Tobin Brown via groups.io <tobinjbrown...> Subject: [NEBirds] Red-throated Loons at Branched Oak Lake
Nebraska birders,
On Wednesday, Larry Einemann reported an interesting loon sp. at Branched Oak Lake. After following up the next day, we discovered that it was in fact 2 Red-throated Loons, one adult, and an immature.
They are currently being seen best from the South shore Campground or area 1 RV loop. Updates are being posted on Discord and eBird. They were seeing all day yesterday and spotted again this morning.
Date: 11/13/25 10:51 am From: Gordon Warrick via groups.io <prubinus...> Subject: [NEBirds] grasshopper sp and snow geese
A grasshopper sparrow at my house SE of Valentine an hour ago, seems kinda late. About 30 snow geese in formation headed east three days ago seem kinda early.
Date: 11/8/25 1:12 pm From: Linda Ollinger via groups.io <prairysky...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Doves
A huge thank you to all for your feedback and replies. I truly appreciate the sightings of Doves and other birds.
We also have Red breasted nuthatches as well as Juncos, White Crown and Harris Sparrows, Cardinals, Bluejays and huge flocks of ROBINS passing through.
Nice list.
Thanks for sharing.
Don MaasMesa, AZMaricopa County
“If you do not take an interest in the affairs of your government then you are doomed to live under the rules of fools. Plato“You can ignore reality, but you cannot ignore the consequences of reality.”
Don & Shirley MaasThe Maas’s have migrated to the Valley of the Sun in Mesa, AZ from Choctaw, Ok for the winter.
On Friday, November 7, 2025, 1:26 PM, rjensen via groups.io <rjensen...> wrote:
Hi, I participate in the Cornell Feederwatch project and thought I would
share my sightings from the past two days. We have a small yard pond and
also a large pan of water for them to enjoy and they love it!
Dark-Eyed Junco 15
Northern Cardinal 2
American Robin 7
Harris's Sparrow 12
Chipping Sparrow 1
Northern Flicker 3
Blue Jay 2
Cedar Waxwing 4
House finch 7
European Starling 1
House Sparrow 5
American Goldfinch 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Hi, I participate in the Cornell Feederwatch project and thought I would
share my sightings from the past two days. We have a small yard pond and
also a large pan of water for them to enjoy and they love it!
Dark-Eyed Junco 15
Northern Cardinal 2
American Robin 7
Harris's Sparrow 12
Chipping Sparrow 1
Northern Flicker 3
Blue Jay 2
Cedar Waxwing 4
House finch 7
European Starling 1
House Sparrow 5
American Goldfinch 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Date: 11/7/25 7:32 am From: jmjohnson404 via groups.io <jmjohnson4047...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Doves
I still have Mourning Doves here in Lincoln. I, too, have Red Breasted Nuthatches and just saw FOY Junco. The northern Goldfinches have returned—my feeders were mostly emptied in one day! Happy to see the new migrants.
Date: 11/7/25 7:31 am From: Gordon Warrick via groups.io <prubinus...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Doves
And a mourning dove this morning at my home near Valentine. But with highs in the 30s on Sunday, it will probably not stick around.
On Thursday, November 6, 2025, 04:50:21 PM CST, Gordon Warrick via groups.io <prubinus...> wrote:
I saw a mourning dove a couple of days ago near Blair. I would guess they will show up at least in SE Nebr. for a while yet. Two red-breasted nuthatches recently showed up at our (family farm) feeders near Blair too.
On Wednesday, November 5, 2025, 11:55:50 AM CST, Linda Ollinger via groups.io <prairysky...> wrote:
Greeting Nebraska Birders, A quick question for you all across the state. I realized several days ago that ALL Doves have been absent here in my area and have been for several weeks. I know the mourning doves most likely migrated out of the area by now. But we always have Eurasian Collared Doves as well as a few White winged Doves all seasons year round. Just curious, Linda Ollinger,Furnas County Nebraska
Date: 11/6/25 8:47 pm From: Steve Schmitt via groups.io <sschmitt1...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Doves
I had two Mourning Doves in my backyard last week. This is in Omaha.
On Thursday, November 6, 2025, 2:50 PM, Gordon Warrick via groups.io <prubinus...> wrote:
I saw a mourning dove a couple of days ago near Blair. I would guess they will show up at least in SE Nebr. for a while yet. Two red-breasted nuthatches recently showed up at our (family farm) feeders near Blair too.
On Wednesday, November 5, 2025, 11:55:50 AM CST, Linda Ollinger via groups.io <prairysky...> wrote:
Greeting Nebraska Birders, A quick question for you all across the state. I realized several days ago that ALL Doves have been absent here in my area and have been for several weeks. I know the mourning doves most likely migrated out of the area by now. But we always have Eurasian Collared Doves as well as a few White winged Doves all seasons year round. Just curious, Linda Ollinger,Furnas County Nebraska
Date: 11/6/25 2:50 pm From: Gordon Warrick via groups.io <prubinus...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Doves
I saw a mourning dove a couple of days ago near Blair. I would guess they will show up at least in SE Nebr. for a while yet. Two red-breasted nuthatches recently showed up at our (family farm) feeders near Blair too.
On Wednesday, November 5, 2025, 11:55:50 AM CST, Linda Ollinger via groups.io <prairysky...> wrote:
Greeting Nebraska Birders, A quick question for you all across the state. I realized several days ago that ALL Doves have been absent here in my area and have been for several weeks. I know the mourning doves most likely migrated out of the area by now. But we always have Eurasian Collared Doves as well as a few White winged Doves all seasons year round. Just curious, Linda Ollinger,Furnas County Nebraska
Date: 11/6/25 12:04 pm From: Jacob C. Cooper via groups.io <cooperj2...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Doves
Hi Linda,
At least in Kearney, it seems like the collared-doves move around a lot in town based on the time of year. My neighborhood is right next to a big silo, and while we have dozens of doves in the summertime, we have hundreds of collared-doves now. I think they just seem scarce in many of these areas because they are starting to really concentrate in the places they know there will be good amounts of food.
Incidentally, we also saw one being eaten by a Coopers Hawk yesterday as well!
Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska at Kearney
Bruner Hall of Sciences, Room 321
2401 11th Avenue
Kearney, NE 68849-1130
Research Associate, Field Museum, Chicago
Citizen of the Cherokee Nation
[image.png]
From: <NEBirds...> <NEBirds...> on behalf of Linda Ollinger via groups.io <prairysky...>
Date: Thursday, November 6, 2025 at 13:03
To: <NEBirds...> <NEBirds...>
Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Doves
Caution: Non-NU Email
Update on Doves,
I spotted an EC Dove this A.M. Very silent but it was there.
We had a Coopers Hawk in the bird bath last week and I suspect many birds are laying low.
Date: 11/5/25 9:56 am From: Linda Ollinger via groups.io <prairysky...> Subject: [NEBirds] Doves
Greeting Nebraska Birders,
A quick question for you all across the state. I realized several days ago that ALL Doves have been absent here in my area and have been for several weeks. I know the mourning doves most likely migrated out of the area by now. But we always have Eurasian Collared Doves as well as a few White winged Doves all seasons year round.
Date: 11/2/25 8:33 am From: Tobin Brown via groups.io <tobinjbrown...> Subject: [NEBirds] Nebraska Big Year - October Recap
Nebraska birders,
InOctober I added just 2 species to my year list, but one of them was a very rare and charismatic life bird! October was a less trip-heavy month, I traveled "only" 1300 miles (mostly locally) and spent 0 nights on the road. I did a bit of county birding in neighboring counties, and captured some of my favorite photos of the year. Read more below
Date: 10/25/25 7:50 am From: Gordon Warrick via groups.io <prubinus...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] costa rica
Thanks for all the advise on visiting Costa Rica. I expect to go this winter, but not sure exactly when yet. Lots of interesting package trips with various companies, mostly either about a week or about 11 days.
On Tuesday, October 21, 2025, 06:13:20 PM MDT, Russell Benedict via groups.io <benedictr...> wrote:
Hello,
I take students to Costa Rica over winter break, late December and early January. This is during the start of the dry season for much of the country, and the bugs and heat are not too bad. We spend most of our time at places run by the Organization for Tropical Studies. This is a consortium of colleges and universities based at Duke University. It primarily caters to college groups, but they do have lodging for individuals at some of their sites. They have guides onsite that can be hired - the ones I have seen in action are excellent. We visit La Selva (amazing, near Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui), the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve near Santa Elena (amazing but always busy), and Palo Verde National Park (remote, dry forest, rustic, but good for birds and other critters). Russ in Pella / Knoxville, Iowa.
RussBenedict
Professor of Biology
Director of Prairies For Agriculture Project
Department of Biology, Central College
812 University Street | Campus Box 09 | Pella, Iowa 50219
Office: 641-628-5173
From: <NEBirds...> <NEBirds...> on behalf of Gordon Warrick via groups.io <prubinus...>
Sent: Tuesday, October 21, 2025 4:31 PM
To: Nebirds <nebirds...>
Subject: [NEBirds] costa rica
| | Caution: The e-mail below is from an external source to Central College. Please do not open attachments or click links from an unknown or suspicious origin. Report suspected phishing emails using the “Phishing Alert Report” button. |
Would anyone that has been to Costa Rica for birds/wildlife care to make any suggestions in the way of companies offering guided trips, places to visit or time of year?
Date: 10/21/25 5:13 pm From: Russell Benedict via groups.io <BenedictR...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] costa rica
Hello,
I take students to Costa Rica over winter break, late December and early January. This is during the start of the dry season for much of the country, and the bugs and heat are not too bad. We spend most of our time at places run by the Organization for Tropical Studies. This is a consortium of colleges and universities based at Duke University. It primarily caters to college groups, but they do have lodging for individuals at some of their sites. They have guides onsite that can be hired - the ones I have seen in action are excellent. We visit La Selva (amazing, near Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui), the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve near Santa Elena (amazing but always busy), and Palo Verde National Park (remote, dry forest, rustic, but good for birds and other critters). Russ in Pella / Knoxville, Iowa.
Russ Benedict
Professor of Biology
Director of Prairies For Agriculture Project
Department of Biology, Central College
812 University Street | Campus Box 09 | Pella, Iowa 50219
________________________________
From: <NEBirds...> <NEBirds...> on behalf of Gordon Warrick via groups.io <prubinus...>
Sent: Tuesday, October 21, 2025 4:31 PM
To: Nebirds <nebirds...>
Subject: [NEBirds] costa rica
Caution: The e-mail below is from an external source to Central College. Please do not open attachments or click links from an unknown or suspicious origin. Report suspected phishing emails using the Phishing Alert Report button.
Would anyone that has been to Costa Rica for birds/wildlife care to make any suggestions in the way of companies offering guided trips, places to visit or time of year?
Date: 10/21/25 3:55 pm From: Eric Patdu via groups.io <ericpatdu...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] costa rica
Hello Gordon,
I am offering a bird tour to Costa Rica next year. This is focused more on photography and not birdwatching. If you are interested, you can find more information on my website, https://framingfeathers.com/tours
I have also attached a flyer for a summary of what to expect.
Best,
Eric Patdu
Omaha (192nd & Q)
PS: My apologies to the group for sending my reply here as I can't send a private email to Gordon.
From: <NEBirds...> <NEBirds...> On Behalf Of Gordon Warrick via groups.io
Sent: Tuesday, October 21, 2025 4:31 PM
To: Nebirds <nebirds...>
Subject: [NEBirds] costa rica
Would anyone that has been to Costa Rica for birds/wildlife care to make any suggestions in the way of companies offering guided trips, places to visit or time of year?
Date: 10/21/25 3:07 pm From: Barb via groups.io <rtlady1...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] costa rica
This is the company we used. We went for 10 days this past May. It was an extraordinary, amazing trip. Here is their contact info.
Joan
Costa Rica Focus
Birding Beyond The Ordinary
(888) 788-4272
<info...>
www.costaricafocus.com
Yahoo Mail: Search, Organize, Conquer
On Tue, Oct 21, 2025 at 4:31 PM, Gordon Warrick via groups.io<prubinus...> wrote:
Would anyone that has been to Costa Rica for birds/wildlife care to make any suggestions in the way of companies offering guided trips, places to visit or time of year?
Date: 10/21/25 2:31 pm From: Gordon Warrick via groups.io <prubinus...> Subject: [NEBirds] costa rica
Would anyone that has been to Costa Rica for birds/wildlife care to make any suggestions in the way of companies offering guided trips, places to visit or time of year?
Date: 10/18/25 5:44 pm From: Robin Harding via groups.io <pine2siskin4...> Subject: [NEBirds] Kearney birding
Nebraska birders,
Saturday, October 18, The UNK Ornithology group led a bird hike at the
Kearney Outdoor Education Area. It’s used by Kearney schools but it's open
to the public after school hours and when students are not using it.
Nineteen of us met at the area and hiked through the grassland and into the
woods along Turkey Creek. It was a chilly morning at first but there was
no wind. When the temperature warmed up then the wind picked up. I wished
that I had worn rubber boots because the grass was wet. There are mown
paths but we didn’t always follow them. It felt like we were really
bushwhacking at times.
The birding was good. We saw a nice variety and some were close. It’s
always pleasant to get a good look. So many birds take off as soon as you
get your binoculars on them. Every bird that we saw today has been entered
onto ebird. A Northern Harrier flew over, giving us a nice view. A group
of four Great Blue Herons flew over and Dr. Jacob Cooper told us about how
they migrate. Soon after, a group of five Sandhill Cranes flew over,
giving us an opportunity to see the differences between the two species
when they were flying overhead. A flock of 27 American Avocets were flying
around behind trees mostly. They finally flew over us so that we could see
them very well. As usual, the sparrows were hiding but giving us
tantalizing looks. I finally was able to identify Lincoln’s Sparrow, Song
Sparrow and White-crowned Sparrow. Others in the group were able to see
Savannah and Chipping Sparrows.
Some of our group needed to leave but the rest of us continued. We
happened upon a spot in the trees with a lot of bird activity. Cody played
a recording of birds mobbing a predator and that attracted some attention.
We saw many Yellow-rumped Warblers. An Orange-crowned Warbler came out into
the open and sat still for a while. We also saw White-breasted Nuthatch,
Eastern Bluebirds and Red-bellied Woodpecker. Cody spotted a Townsend’s
Solitaire but it wouldn’t sit still long enough for the rest of us to see
it. Cody also spotted a couple of Black-capped Chickadees. I thought that
I heard one but I couldn’t see it.
I always enjoy birding with friends and meeting new friends.
Date: 10/16/25 7:16 pm From: Don and Shirley Maas via groups.io <snowbirds2012...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Wildcat Hills Banding Station End of Season Summary
Thanks Violet
Your reports kept me informed of Ne birds here in AZ.
Date: 10/16/25 12:25 pm From: Mary Clausen via groups.io <mkclausen...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Wildcat Hills Banding Station End of Season Summary
Violet,
Thank you and your crew for all your work abd keeping us informed. I was
there and met you September 30th. Enjoyed our conversation and watching you
work.
Mary Clausen
Sarpy County.
On Thu, Oct 16, 2025, 11:49 AM Violet Wu via groups.io <zishiwu33=
<gmail.com...> wrote:
> This will be my last post for Wildcat Hills station this 2025 banding
> season.
>
> In the last week and a half of the season (9 banding days), I caught *77
> new birds of 20 species/subspecies*, including *five new species for the
> fall*:
>
> -
>
> Townsend’s Solitaire (1)
> -
>
> Tennessee Warbler (1)
> -
>
> Blue Jay (2)
> -
>
> Vesper Sparrow (1)
> -
>
> Slate-colored Junco (1)
>
>
>
> *Totals for the final 9 days:*
> Chipping Sparrow – 21
> Pine Siskin – 14
> Spotted Towhee – 8
> Red Crossbill – 6
> Audubon’s Warbler – 4
> Gambel’s White-crowned Sparrow – 4
> Oregon Junco – 3
> House Finch – 2
> Blue Jay – 2
> Orange-crowned Warbler – 2
> American Goldfinch – 1
> Tennessee Warbler – 1
> Myrtle’s Warbler – 1
> Vesper Sparrow – 1
> Lesser Goldfinch – 1
> Pygmy Nuthatch – 1
> Townsend’s Solitaire – 1
> Slate-colored Junco – 1
> Ruby-crowned Kinglet – 1
> Rock Wren – 1
>
>
>
>
>
> Our fall banding season wrapped up on *October 10*, with a *total of 466
> new birds banded* across *37 species/subspecies*.
>
> *Season totals:*
>
> -
>
> Spotted Towhee – 91
> -
>
> American Goldfinch – 64
> -
>
> Pine Siskin – 64
> -
>
> Chipping Sparrow – 52
> -
>
> Red Crossbill – 32
> -
>
> House Finch – 29
> -
>
> Audubon’s Yellow-rumped Warbler – 24
> -
>
> Orange-crowned Warbler – 19
> -
>
> Cedar Waxwing – 11
> -
>
> Myrtle’s Yellow-rumped Warbler – 10
> -
>
> Northern House Wren – 8
> -
>
> Blue-gray Gnatcatcher – 6
> -
>
> Lesser Goldfinch – 6
> -
>
> Clay-colored Sparrow – 5
> -
>
> Gambel’s White-crowned Sparrow – 5
> -
>
> Oregon Dark-eyed Junco – 5
> -
>
> Black-capped Chickadee – 4
> -
>
> Mourning Dove – 3
> -
>
> Wilson’s Warbler – 3
> -
>
> American Robin – 2
> -
>
> Blue Jay – 2
> -
>
> Lincoln’s Sparrow – 2
> -
>
> Pygmy Nuthatch – 2
> -
>
> Ruby-crowned Kinglet – 2
> -
>
> Rock Wren – 2
> -
>
> Yellow-breasted Chat – 2
> -
>
> Black-headed Grosbeak – 1
> -
>
> Eastern Bluebird – 1
> -
>
> Field Sparrow – 1
> -
>
> Plumbeous Vireo – 1
> -
>
> Red-breasted Nuthatch – 1
> -
>
> Red-naped Sapsucker – 1
> -
>
> Red-shafted Flicker – 1
> -
>
> Slate-colored Dark-eyed Junco – 1
> -
>
> Tennessee Warbler – 1
> -
>
> Townsend’s Solitaire – 1
> -
>
> Vesper Sparrow – 1
>
> Thanks for a great fall season, and have a wonderful winter!
>
> Best,
> Violet
>
>
Date: 10/16/25 9:49 am From: Violet Wu via groups.io <zishiwu33...> Subject: [NEBirds] Wildcat Hills Banding Station End of Season Summary
This will be my last post for Wildcat Hills station this 2025 banding season.
In the last week and a half of the season (9 banding days), I caught *77 new birds of 20 species/subspecies* , including *five new species for the fall* :
*
Townsend’s Solitaire (1)
*
Tennessee Warbler (1)
*
Blue Jay (2)
*
Vesper Sparrow (1)
*
Slate-colored Junco (1)
*Totals for the final 9 days:*
Chipping Sparrow – 21
Pine Siskin – 14
Spotted Towhee – 8
Red Crossbill – 6
Audubon’s Warbler – 4
Gambel’s White-crowned Sparrow – 4
Oregon Junco – 3
House Finch – 2
Blue Jay – 2
Orange-crowned Warbler – 2
American Goldfinch – 1
Tennessee Warbler – 1
Myrtle’s Warbler – 1
Vesper Sparrow – 1
Lesser Goldfinch – 1
Pygmy Nuthatch – 1
Townsend’s Solitaire – 1
Slate-colored Junco – 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet – 1
Rock Wren – 1
Our fall banding season wrapped up on *October 10* , with a *total of 466 new birds banded* across *37 species/subspecies*.
*Season totals:*
*
Spotted Towhee – 91
*
American Goldfinch – 64
*
Pine Siskin – 64
*
Chipping Sparrow – 52
*
Red Crossbill – 32
*
House Finch – 29
*
Audubon’s Yellow-rumped Warbler – 24
*
Orange-crowned Warbler – 19
*
Cedar Waxwing – 11
*
Myrtle’s Yellow-rumped Warbler – 10
*
Northern House Wren – 8
*
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher – 6
*
Lesser Goldfinch – 6
*
Clay-colored Sparrow – 5
*
Gambel’s White-crowned Sparrow – 5
*
Oregon Dark-eyed Junco – 5
*
Black-capped Chickadee – 4
*
Mourning Dove – 3
*
Wilson’s Warbler – 3
*
American Robin – 2
*
Blue Jay – 2
*
Lincoln’s Sparrow – 2
*
Pygmy Nuthatch – 2
*
Ruby-crowned Kinglet – 2
*
Rock Wren – 2
*
Yellow-breasted Chat – 2
*
Black-headed Grosbeak – 1
*
Eastern Bluebird – 1
*
Field Sparrow – 1
*
Plumbeous Vireo – 1
*
Red-breasted Nuthatch – 1
*
Red-naped Sapsucker – 1
*
Red-shafted Flicker – 1
*
Slate-colored Dark-eyed Junco – 1
*
Tennessee Warbler – 1
*
Townsend’s Solitaire – 1
*
Vesper Sparrow – 1
Thanks for a great fall season, and have a wonderful winter!
Date: 10/16/25 7:40 am From: Jacob C. Cooper via groups.io <cooperj2...> Subject: [NEBirds] Hummingbird in Kearney
Hi all,
Barbara Brown, Mike Roffman and I had a hummingbird at Ted Baldwin Park today. We only saw it for a few seconds as it was foraging along the edge of the vegetation by the lakeshore before it booked it across the lake into the private neighborhood on the west side of the lake. We left it as an unidentified hummingbird, since we didnt get good enough looks to figure out what it was and it didnt look quite right for a Ruby-throated Hummingbird.
If anyone knows someone in that neighborhood, ask them to keep an eye out for a hummingbird! There are lots of planted flowers in the neighborhood, so it could stick around for a bit.
