Date: 6/7/25 7:41 pm From: N Drilling via groups.io <dril0008...> Subject: [sd-birds] Collins Slough (Hand Co.) today
Depending on water levels, birding at Collins Slough (south-central Hand Co.) can range from fantastic to meh. This morning it approached fantastic. Several hundred Franklin's Gulls were busy carry nesting material into the marsh in at least two spots. This is the farthest west and south that I've seen this species nest in South Dakota. There were also good numbers of White-faced Ibis around, I saw one carrying nesting material. Some Black-crowned Night-herons, Snowy and Cattle egrets, are present, suggesting that these species may also be nesting here. Forster's Terns were sitting on their nests on muskrat mounds. Along the main east-west road through the marsh (208 St), 40-50 pairs of Western Grebes were carrying tiny chicks on their backs. Eared Grebes and Black Terns also were there but they are later nesters and I saw no evidence of nesting yet.
At the west side of the marsh along 208 St., there are extensive mudflats. Among the hundreds of shorebirds, mostly White-rumped Sandpipers, I picked out two Whimbrels and a Dunlin. From 352 Ave, which runs along the west side of the marsh, I scoped a small flock of 6 Black-necked Stilts.
Earlier in the morning, I took the road that heads south out of Ree Heights (394 Ave) to get to the Slough. This is a birdy and scenic route that goes up the leading edge of the Missouri Coteau. Best bird was a Green Heron lurking in the underbrush of a wooded pond.
