Date: 6/3/26 4:20 pm From: Robin Harding via groups.io <pine2siskin4...> Subject: [NEBirds] NOU weekend
Nebraska birders,
The Nebraska Ornithologists' Union spring birding event in the northwestern corner of the State was a great time (May 29-31). It was preceded by a rare Painted Bunting in Gordon Warrick's yard near Valentine. A few lucky folks were able to see it.
My friend, Steve Morris and I traveled together. We birded a few spots along the way on Friday including the highway 97 bridge over the Middle Loup River. Highlights include a Bobolink and a Blue Grosbeak. Of course, every bird we saw has been entered onto ebird. The Warbling Vireo that I heard at that location was a new Hooker County bird for me.
In Grant County, we birded Doc Lake. Highlights include Trumpeter Swans, a Swainson's Hawk, Marsh Wrens and a Bobolink. The Bobolink was a new county bird for me. At the Hyannis cemetery, we heard a Common Nighthawk that sounded like it was in the top of a tree but, for the life of me, I could not see it. We drove around town listening for a Northern House Wren. When we heard one singing, I checked off the 92nd county in which I have seen or heard the species. Only one county left, Arthur.
We drove across southern Sheridan County and stopped at Willy Lake. Steve was pleased to see a couple of Western Grebes. There were also several Eared Grebes and Marsh Wrens. Lakeside Lake and the one just north a bit were extra special. There were Cinnamon Teal, Black-necked Stilts, American Avocets, Long-billed Curlews with fledglings, a Willet and Green-winged Teal (new county bird for me).
The NOU event was based at Fort Robinson, a place with well preserved history and beautiful scenery. Everyone gathered together Friday evening, May 29 for a meal and presentations. One was about towhees and another about preventing birds from running into windows. So interesting and informative.
I chose to go with the field trip led by Kathy DeLara to Pants Butte Road, Sowbelly Canyon, Harrison sewage ponds, the town of Harrison, Henry Road, and Gilbert Baker WMA. What a wonderful day full of cool birds: Violet-green Swallows, Brewer's Blackbirds, Western Wood-Pewees, Red Crossbills, a magpie, chickadees, Yellow-breasted Chats, Black-headed Grosbeak, Ovenbirds, American Redstarts, Western Tanagers, Black Tern, shorebirds, a White-winged Dove, two young Great Horned Owls, Chestnut-sided and Thick-billed Longspurs, Lark Buntings, and a Golden Eagle. So many new county birds.
Saturday evening, we enjoyed a great presentation on an extensive towhee research project. Such an interesting species. Suring both presentations on towhees, we learned so much.
On Sunday, I went with Jacob Cooper to the Guadalcanal Memorial Prairie south of Harrison. This is a Prairie Plains Research Institute property from which Jacob obtained permission to explore. It's huge and awe-inspiring. We saw more Long-billed Curlews, Trumpeter Swans, Western Wood-Pewees, Say's Phoebes, Rock Wrens, Swainson's Thrushes, Lark Buntings, Brewer's Blackbirds nesting, Blue Grosbeak, and Lazuli Bunting (in the parking lot by the house). We also drove the Henry Road and found both longspurs, Brewer's Sparrow, and Lark Buntings. At the Harrison sewage ponds we found ducks, swallows and shorebirds.
Sunday afternoon, Steve and I drove back to Gilbert Baker and added Black and White Warbler to the list of great birds that we saw the day before. Later in the afternoon, we enjoyed the drive through Smiley Canyon. We also scouted the Mexican Canyon trailhead so that we could find it after dark. We saw a beautiful male Bullock's Oriole.
Sunday evening, Steve and I joined Tom Labedz for a walk on the White River trail near the campground. Among all of the great birds was a male Rose-breasted Grosbeak. A female was nearby. Twenty minutes later, on the way back, we saw a Black-headed Grosbeak in nearly the same tree. Well, this is interesting. Will there be hybrids later this year? After sunset, the three of us went to the Mexican Canyon trailhead to listen for Common Poorwills. We were not disappointed and there was a Great Horned Owl hooting as well.
On Monday, June 01, Steve and I drove to Laing Park in Alliance. At the lake, there was a Wood Duck, providing me with a new county bird. We thought that we saw a Green Heron on the far shore but when we tried to get closer, it disappeared. We had heard that many birds had been seen at Central Park the day before so we looked for it. We didn't know that a Lesser Goldfinch had been seen there. We found the spot with the goldfinch just by accident. What an exciting bird.
Along the way home, Steve and I stopped at Neilson Lake in Arthur County. It's private property so we looked from highway 61. While we were looking, a woman who lives at the ranch stopped to talk. She graciously allowed us to drive along their road to get a better view of the wetland. I heard both Eastern and Western Meadowlarks. It's a beautiful place. When I entered the sightings onto ebird, I saw that it's a hotspot.
In the town of Arthur, we drove slowly with windows open, listening for a Northern House Wren. It was early afternoon, sunny and warm. It must have been bad timing. We drove on every street in town but could not hear a Northern House Wren. The 93rd county will have to wait for another day.
I added new county birds to seven different counties. Wonderful weekend! Great birds! It was good to see so many of you there.
