Date: 3/21/26 6:43 pm From: Vic Fondy via groups.io <treasurecreek...> Subject: [sd-birds] Gettysburg-WW and Newell Lake
We traveled to Gettysburg on 3/19 for a family visit and counted raptors (not species) enroute. The eastbound trip on 212 produced 5 raptors and 1 Bald Eagle. The return trip we changed to SD 34 and counted 4 raptors between Howe's Corner and Sturgis. Other sightings included RN pheasants and Sharp-tailed Grouse. Most of the roadside ponds were full and had lots of ducks.
Today we birded from WW to Bear Butte Lakes then North to Newell and Newell Lake and return via Nisland/Orman Dam then Crooked Oaks/St.Onge/home. Bear Lake remains very low with the shoreline as much as 100 feet away from normal and the lake even has a small island showing up. Sightings were limited to Mallard, Shoveler, and Redhead Ducks, a few RN Gulls, and some Canada Geese. Newell Lake was loaded with ducks on the upper end but only one American Coot and no shorebirds or other waterfowl. We ended up with 13 species of ducks for the day including Mallard, N Pintail, Gadwall, American Widgeon, Northern Shoveler, Green-winged Teal, Redhead, Canvasback, Ring-necked, Lesser Scaup, Common Goldeneye, Bufflehead, and Common Merganser. American Robin and Red-winged Blackbirds were FOS migrants with many sightings. Raptor sightings included 2 Bald Eagles,3 Sharp-shined and 4 Red-tailed Hawks, and one Northern Harrier displaying with vertical dives and climbs. Our only shorebird was 2 Killdeer on N. Sale Barn Road near St. Onge.
Orman Dam was very high, ice-free and we birded the East and South areas. Lots of Gulls and scattered Canadian Geese, but the only duck sighting was one Mallard. We also had our only Sparrow sighting there with one White-crowned Sparrow.
At our feeders 1.5 miles south of Whitewood we had two FOS American Robins today and the Sharp-shined Hawk on 3/14. Lots of winter birds at the feeders daily.
