Date: 9/13/25 5:27 pm From: Robin Harding via groups.io <pine2siskin4...> Subject: [NEBirds] Bassway birds
Nebraska birders,
Saturday, September 13, I met Peggy, Conner and Cody (birding friends from
UNK) at Bassway lake (south of I-80 Minden exit). We birded along the
north side of the lake for a couple hours. Among the usual birds, we heard
and saw a few Purple Martins, a female or immature Blue Grosbeak, an
Olive-sided Flycatcher and an Osprey.
The grosbeak perched atop some annual weedy plants long enough for us to
see a bit of a crest on its head and its large conical beak. Cody got a
photo. The flycatcher gave us a good show, perched high on a dead snag and
making some short flights out and back again. The Osprey flew over the
lake and landed in a tall tree on the other side. We got a good look as it
flew over.
We also saw a mystery hawk. We had a few brief glimpses as it flew behind
trees. It did not look like a Red-tail nor a Swainson’s. We finally found
it perched on a dead snag and Conner got some good video of it. We’re not
sure what it was but Cody forwarded the video to friends. We’re thinking
maybe Red-shouldered.
Peggy, Conner and I went to the Fort Kearny Hike/Bike Trail to see what we
could find. We watched an immature Bald Eagle fly down the river. We saw
a Green Heron flying around and then we heard another one in the reeds. We
found a small bushy tree with House Wrens and Bell’s Vireos in it. We
heard familiar call notes coming from the reeds which the Merlin app called
Common Yellowthroats. We listened to a recording of the species to confirm
the ID.
It was a nice morning to be out birding with friends.
