click here to play short owl video

June 9th scheduled field trip. This trip had a target bird of the rare Prairie Warbler at Newton Hills. Along with the beautiful warbler, we visually observed the following 57 species. TURKEY VULTURE CANADA GOOSE WOOD DUCK WITH DUCKLINGS BLUE-WINGED TEAL MALLARD COOPER'S HAWK RED-TAILED HAWK RN PHEASANT WILD TURKEY KILLDEER ROCK PIGEON MOURNING DOVE EC DOVE GH OWL C SWIFT RT HUMMING BIRD MALES AND FEMALE RED HEADED WOODPECKER N FLICKER RED BELLIED WOODPECKER YB SAPSUCKER E WOOD PEEWEE E PHOEBE GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER EASTERN KINGBIRD RED-EYED VIREO BLUE JAY CROW HORNED LARK TREE SWALLOW BARN SWALLOW BC CHICKADEE SEDGE WREN HOUSE WREN BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER EASTERN BLUEBIRD A. ROBIN GRAY CATBIRD E.STARLING CEDAR WAXWING PRAIRIE WARBLER YELLOW WARBLER BLUE WINGED WARBLER (SEEN LATER IN THE DAY) KENTUCKY WARBLER (SEEN LATER IN THE DAY) A. REDSTART EASTERN TOWEE FIELD SPARROW CHIPPING SPARROW HOUSE SPARROW RB GROSBEAK INDIGO BUNTING BOBOLINK RW BLACKBIRD W. MEADOWLARK C. GRACKLE. COWBIRD BALTIMORE ORIOLE A. GOLDFINCH     May 12 field trip to Newton Hills State Park and Worthing wetlands with 12 birders, found over 70 species. Trip photos are above. Species include:    Wood Duck, Broad-winged Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Coot, Mallard, Canada Goose, BW Teal, Sora, Greater Yellowlegs, White-rumped, Baird's and Semipalmated Sandpiper, at least 5 Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Red-headed, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Least Flycatcher, Great Crested Flycatcher, Philadelphia Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Marsh Wren, Eastern Bluebird, Swainson's Thrush, Wood Thrush, a flock of Cedar Waxwing, Tennessee  Nashville Yellow, Yellow rumped, Mourning; A Redstart, Ovenbird, Northern Waterthrush, C Yellowthroat, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, M. Dove, Scarlet Tanager, E Towhee; Field, Vesper, Song, and Swamp Sparrow; Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, Bobolink, RW, and Yellow-  headed Blackbird and Baltimore Oriole. April 14 field trip to wetlands North and West of Sioux Falls. Members present 12. Species List: Pied-biled Grebe Double Crested Cormorant Great Blue Heron Snow and Blue Goose Canada Goose Wood Duck Gadwall Mallard Blue-winged Teal Northern Shoveler Canvasback Redhead Ring-necked Duck Lesser Scaup Bufflehead Common Goldeneye Red-breasted Merganser Ruddy Duck Northern Harrier Red-tailed Hawk American Kestrel Ring-necked Pheasant American Coot Killdeer Greater Yellowlegs Lesser Yellowlegs Franklin's Gull Ring-billed Gull Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Great Horned Owl (adult and fledge) Downy Woodpcker Hairy Woodpecker Yellow-shafted Flicker Blue Jay American Crow Horned Lark Tree Swallow American Robin (plus an albino) European Starling American Pipit American Tree Sparow Song Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Red-winged Blackbird Weastern Meadowlark Common Grackle Brown-headed Cowbird House Sparrow On the way home A. Goldfinch, House Finch, BC Chickadee   Baby Great Horned Owl was highlight of trip. Click for larger size. Christmas Bird Count 2006 Sioux Falls area birders had a very enjoyable day surveying birds for the 58th Sioux Falls Christmas Bird Count. Mild temperatures and low wind made for almost perfect weather. Everyone was eager to walk, and the count logged more miles walking than any count in memory. Many noteworthy observations were made. Both a Sioux Falls Count record for species and individuals were recorded at (52) and (14,703) respectively. A first for the count: Bufflehead (1). Record high numbers for Snow Goose (12), Canada Goose (7035), Ring-necked Duck (15), American Kestrel (16) and Red-bellied Woodpecker (22) were recorded. A Pied-billed Grebe was observed for only the second time and Ring-necked Duck and Carolina Wren were recorded for only the 3rd time. Of note also would be the absence of Horned Lark. Many thanks to all who helped make this count a success. Robb S. 2006 CBC Compiler FIELD TRIP SUMMARY FOR OCTOBER 7, 2006 SFBC members made a scheduled field trip to Beaver Creek Nature Area, where 35+ species were found, plus beautiful Fall scenery (see photos below). Species List: Turkey Vulture, American Kestrel, Red-tailed Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, probable Cooper's hawk, Canada Goose, Mallard, Wood Duck, Mourning Dove, Red-bellied Woodpecker, N. YS Flicker, Downy Woodpecker, E. Phoebe, Blue Jay, Crow, BC Chickadee, possible winter Wren, RC Kinglet (many), E. Bluebirds, A. Robin (many), Yellow-rumped Warbler, possible Ovenbird, Field Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow,House Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, DE Junco, N. Cardinal, RW Blackbird, Starling, W. Meadowlark, House Finch, A. Goldfinch, and RN Pheasant. Photos below from the trip can be clicked on for larger size. On a very sad note, SFBC member and friend Jim McKenzie passed away on Thursday. Oct. 5. Jim was a dedicated birder and made many of our field trips more interesting and productive with his good eye and experience. We will miss Jim. Mick Field Trip Summary for September 16, 2006 58 species were seen: highlights were a very close out in the open  Wilson's Snipe,several peep at the one mud flat we managed to find  intact; many Vesper Sparrow; huge numbers of flocking blackbirds;  good numbers of egrets and herons, including a Black-crowned Night- heron; an adult Bald Eagle few immature Red-headed Woodpecker (no  adults strangely); Franklin's Gulls in several stages of winter/ summer plumage and Sedge and Marsh Wrens. Reported by President Doug Chapman   FIELD TRIP SUMMARY FOR AUGUST 18, Five membersof the Sioux Falls Bird Club went west and north of Sioux Falls  today looking for shorebirds and whatever else might be found.   We found 69 species: few of which were shorebirds and with very small  numbers of any single species except Killdeer. Best bird was at the site near  Humboldt (Hwy. 38 and 258th St.): a single Buff-breasted Sandpiper among many  Killdeer. It was a life bird for 3 and we had good long scope views of it.   Also seen: Dunlin (1), Killdeer (75), Baird's Sandpiper (1); Spotted & nbsp; Sandpiper (1); Solitary Sandpiper (1); 2 or 3 Semipalmated Sandpiper and 2 or 3  Pectoral Sandpiper.   Other highlights:  2 circling Swainson's Hawks in migration; several  kingfisher at 3-4 locations; a raft of White Pelican (40) at Grass Lake; many  Great Blue Heron and 2 Green Heron, plus 2 Black-crowned Night Heron.   There was also a mystery bird at Grass Lake. When it first flew over we  thought it was a light colored Great Blue Heron. Goose-bellied and very large  with rowing wingbeats. As we walked to the shore and saw it again, it was not so  surely a heron.  It was pure white--Great Egret white--and had an orange  (but not yellow or even yellow/orange) bill. It was most like a Great White  Heron from The Florida keys--odd. Way too large for a normal Great Egret and  shape and flight much different. We all concluded it was a mystery.   American Redstart, Grasshopper Sparrow; Purple Martin; and several  Red-headed Woodpecker (4 ad.--5 juv.); Franklin's Gull.   We saw an early flock of c. 6 Pintail at Grass Lake and a very early 1st  year Forster's Tern at Scott Lake. Humboldt pothole location of Buff Breasted SP Scott's Lake where Forster' Tern was seen. Watching black terns north of Dewey Gevik This mini-counter is set to zero when a new photo,  field trip entry or information entry is made. Field Trip Summary July 8, 2006 Over 40 species were observed at and near Atkins WPA, including Three Grasshopper Sparrows. Other species of more interest were Yellow Warbler feeding Cowbirds, Green Herons, and of course, the GT Grackles at Atkins. Tree Swallow family at Atkins Field Trip Summary June 10, 2006 A scheduled trip to Newton Hills on a cloudy, windy and cold (54 degrees) Spring day found at least 44 species.  (5  SFBC members present ) Turkey Vulture,Mallard, RT Hawk, Kestrel, Kildeer, RB Gull, M. Dove, C. Swift, RH Woodpecker, RB Woodpecker, N. Flicker, E. Phoebe, GC Flycatcher  (going in nest hole), W. Kingbird, RE Vireo, Blue Jay, Crow, Barn Swallow, BC Chickadee, House Wren, E. Bluebird, Robin, G. Catbird, Cedar Waxwing, Yellow Warbler, Ovenbird, Common Yellowthroat, Scarlet Tanager, E. Towhee, Chipping Sparow, Field Sparrow, RB Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, RW Blackbird, C. Grackle, E. Starling, W. Meadowlark, BH Cowbird, Baltimore, Oriole, A. Goldfinch, RN Pheasant, and hawk sp. Searching Newton Hills Click for large photo Paul calls with his I-Pod at Newton Hills Field Trip Summary May 27, 2006 The SFBC field trip To Elmwood Park and Great Bear Recreation Area yielded a Phoebe at Elmwood Park (not a single warbler) and the following birds at Great Bear: Eastern Bluebird, Indigo Bunting, Scarlet Tanager, Chipping Sparrow, Lark Sparrow, Clay-colored Sparrow, Field Sparrow,  Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Barn Swallow, Rough-winged Swallow, Red-tailed Hawk, Black-capped Chickadee, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, White-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Thrasher, Wood Thrush, Cedar Waxwing, Red-eyed Vireo, Warbling vireo, Baltimore Oriole, Gray Catbird, Eastern Towhee, Red-bellied and Downy Woodpeckers, American Kestrel, Dickcissel, Killdeer, E. Pewee ,Northern Cardinal (again no warblers). Plus goldfinch, crow, blue jay, turkey vulture, and other very common species. Rosemary Great Bear Pond Click on photo for large size Linda and Paul spot the Indigo Bunting Click for large photo Field Trip Summary May 6, 2006 Members of the SFBC went on a field trip from Sioux Falls south to Newton Hills State Park. 73 species were seen. Bird of the day was a beautiful Blue-gray Gnatcatcher at Newton Hills. More interesting sightings in bold. Species seen: Pied-billed Grebe, American Bittern, Black-crowned Night Heron, Canada Goose, Mallard, BW Teal, N. Shoveler, Gadwall, Canvasback, Ruddy Duck, Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle (just getting his white coloring), Cooper's Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, RN Pheasant, A. Coot, Killdeer, G. Yellowlegs, L. Yellowlegs, Solitary Sandpiper, Spotted Sandpiper, Wilson's Phalarope, Black Tern, Rock Pigeon, M. Dove, Belted Kingfisher (nesting), Red-Headed Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, N. flicker, E. Phoebe, Purple Martin, Tree Swallow, N. Rough-winged Swallow, Barn Swallow, Blue Jay, A. Crow, BC Chickadee, WB Nuthatch, House Wren, Blue-grey Gnatcatcher, E. Bluebird, A. Robin, G. Catbird, Brown Thrasher, Cedar Waxwing, E. Starling, Tennesse Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Black-and White Warbler, N. Cardinal, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Eastern Towee, A. Tree-Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, Field Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Song Sparrow, White-throated Sparow, White-crowned Sparrow, RW Blackbird, W. Meadowlark, Yellow-Headed Blackbird, C. Grackle, Great-tailed Grackle, BH Cowbird, Baltimore Oriole, House Finch, A. Goldfinch, House Sparrow. Eastern Towhee at Newton Hills Newton Hills looking for the Indigo Bunting Click for larger photo Wilson's Phalaropes Map of 5-6 field trip route Click for larger size KNWC wetlands Field Trip Summary April 22   16 Members and guests of the Sioux Falls Bird Club went on a scheduled outing to wetlands South and West of Sioux Falls. No wind and temps in the 60's made for great birding A total of 87 species were seen. Highlights include: Great Tailed Grackle, Common Loon at Wall Lake, American Bittern at Atkins, Sora, Cattle Egret, BC Night Heron, American Golden Plover, Semi-palmated Plover, Loggerhead Shrike, Dunlin and Wilson's Phalarope. SFBC at Grass Lake on Earth Day '06 Earth Day 06 Outing at Dewey Gevik Click for large image Sunrise at the OutDoor Campus Click for large image   Field Trip Summary April 1, 2006 Unsheduled field trip yielded 52 species today, April 1st, north and west of Sioux Falls. Highlights include: Great-tailed Grackle, A W Pelican, Pied-billed Grebe, several migrating Harriers, Ross' and Cackling plus very good numbers of Greater White fronted Goose, Hooded and Common Mergansers, Green-winged Teal (Scott Lake), one Lesser Yellowlegs (Atkins Slough, Tea), swan species, hundreds of Canvasback, many Buffleheads, Franklin's Gull, Kingfisher (Wall Lake), pair of Eastern Bluebird, Lincoln's, Song and American Tree Sparrow. Also several Lapland Longspur in a flock of Horned Lark. Wall Lake foggy birding Click for larger size Spotting the Great-tailed Grackle at Atkins Click for larger size Watching the Ross' Goose Click for larger size Field Trip Summary March 18, 2006 Two teams went from Sioux Falls to Lake Vermillion Results: 58 species   Team one sightings Snow/Blue Geese- 200,000Ross' Geese- 20Cackling Geese-8Canada Geese-2,000GW Teal- 2Mallard-200N. Pintail-25BW Teal-10N. Shoveler-30Gadwall-50A. Wigeon-5Canvasback-40Redhead-150Ring-necked Duck-300L. Scaup-250C. Goldeneye-30Bufflehead--20Hooded Merganser-15Common Merganser-6Ruddy Duck-3RN Pheasant-7PB-Grebe-20Bald Eagle-4N. Harrier-3Sharp-shinned Hawk-2Cooper's Hawk-1Red-tailed Hawk-29Rough-legged Hawk-3A. Kestrel-14A. Coot-30Kildeer-2Franklin's Gull-3Ring-billed Gull-400Herring Gull-7Rock Pigeon-100Mourning Dove-2N. Flicker-1Horned Lark-50Blue Jay-10A. Crow-30 BC Chickadee-2 E. Bluebird-3 A. Robin-100 Cedar Waxwing-9 E. Starling-300 N. Cardinal-1 A. Tree Sparrow-50 Harris' Sparrow -3 DE Junco-100 RW Blackbird-200 W. Meadowlark-50 Purple Finch-2 House Sparrow-30       Team two Additional Sightings:  54. Wood Duck 55. G. Scaup 56. GB Heron 57. GH Owl 58. Song Sparrow   Wetlands North of Wall Lake Click for lager size Looking at the Purple Finch Click for large size Endless Snow Geese migrating north Click for larger size A group field trip east and north of Sioux Falls on Saturday 2-25-06 gave us the largest flock of Horned Larks we have seen with over 1,000 birds, some great hawks and eagles. Click on photo for larger size Looking for birds at Beaver Creek Nature Area Species found on 2-24 2 immature Bald Eagles Rough Legged Hawks (one beautiful dark morph) 2 A. Kestrels 8 Red-tailed Hawks 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker 4 Downy Woodpeckers 4 Hairy Woodpeckers 5 Blue Jays 30 A. Crows 1100 Horned Larks in one flock 10 BC Chickadee 2 WB Nuthatches 1 Brown Creeper 3 RN Pheasants 8 A. Tree Sparrow 1 possible Harris Sparrow 10 DE Juncos and 1 Oregon Junco 2 N. Cardinal 2 Snow Geese 1500 Canada Geese 100 Mallards 5 EC Doves 30 E. Starlings 20 House Sparrows Eurasian Collared Dove at Corson Some members went to look for the Eurasian Collared Dove at the Corson SD elevators Sunday, and after searching all three elevators and finding nothing but Rock Pigeons, we went east from Corson and did not even get a quarter mile when eight of the elusive quarry landed next to us in a grove of trees. They also did their unique call for all to hear.  Life bird for a few of us!  Heading east from Corson to Beaver Creek Nature Area to Arrowhead Park and Perry Nature Park gave us more great birds.We could not find the Scaup nor the Pintail at Arrowhead.  A list of our sightings: Eurasian Collared Dove (along the trees at a feed lot on the south side of 260th st. a quarter mile east of Corson) Lapland Longspur- 5 first winter birds American Crows-20+ Probable Northern Shrike E. Starling - 30+ American Tree Sparrow- 1 DE Junco- 30 House Sparrows -20 Snow Goose- 3 (Arrowhead East Pond and overhead) Canada and Cackling goose- 3,000 Mallard - 250 American Wigeon-5 (Arrowhead W. Pond) Ring Necked duck- 4 (Arrowhead W. Pond) Bald Eagle (Immature)-1 Sharp-shinned Hawk-1 Cooper's Hawk-1 Red-tailed Hawk-4 Rough-legged Hawk-1 A. Kestrel-1 Rock Pigeons-20 Downy Woodpecker-5 W. Breasted Nuthatch-4 RN Pheasant -2       The Eurasian Collared Dove sighting from the birds' point of view. Peopleing on 2-19-06 Dear fellow peoplers, it was cold today, but there was plenty of grain at the Corson feed lot. We were hoping for some birders to add to our life lists, since peopleing has been rather slow due to the weather, and of course, the constant danger from the Red-tailed ones who could care less about us Peoplers.  We flew near every people’s car that came by, but none seemed interested in us. That is a slam, since we feel that we are a rare and unique group of flyers, at least in South Dakota.  I can’t wait till spring when many People Birders (PB’s) will be out, even though the competition with the non-residents, especially those fair weather peoplers, the Warblers, will be intense.  We were about ready to give up when a silver car filled with people came by very slowly. We quickly checked our field guides, and discovered it was a Honda CRV, a common car for PB’s. If we would be lucky enough to have PB’s in it, it could be a life-PB for most of us, especially if it contained more than one PB. One of our newer members asked how we could tell a PB from a human who has stopped for another reason, and we quickly opened our field guide and showed him the telltale trait. The Binoculars! But we reminded him that not all PB’s have the same behaviors, for some have Cameras (p. 32 in the guide), and people who stop and have GUNS, mean fast flying away for us. Anyway, we were flying all around the silver car and finally it stopped, and lo and behold, PB’s stepped out. We were so thrilled we Cooed at them, and let them get a good look at us before flying away to tell others about our sighting.  (boy are those Rock Pigeons going to be jealous), Our new member exclaimed, “I’m hooked, peopleing is fun, and a lot less dangerous than teasing hunters for thrills!”  I was really happy for him because it is really difficult to get younger birds interested in Peopleing.   From your Friendly Eurasian Collared Dove Peopleing Club This poor photo of a Red-tailed Hawk along Yeager Road just south of 26th and I229 shows his breast color. The hawk has been seen in the area on a regular basis since Fall. A scheduled field trip to the Missouri River on January 14 took members to Adams Homestead at McCook Lake. After the 6+ miles of walking in a brisk SE breeze we went to Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center in Iowa (see photos below. A truly neat place. Stop by if you can.) and then Snyder's Bend and Brown Lake south of Sioux City and a stop at Union Grove SP on the return. Seen were 33 species--highlights were: 3 Rough-legged Hawk, 2 Bald Eagle (both 2nd year birds) 11 Red-tailed Hawk, 1 Merlin, 1 Am. Kestrel, 1 Great Horned Owl, 1 a small flock of Purple Finch and a mixed flock of Cedar waxwings and American Robins. We also saw a buck Whitetail deer with a large rack of antlers (and his 6 does). Some photos (without birds) are below. Click on them for larger sizes. "Now I'm sure even Lewis and Clark got lost once." Doug and members look for the elusive owls Watching the herd. Pecaut Nature Center, Iowa SFBC members watching WB Nuthatches, etc. The beautiful Bittersweet from Adams Nature Trail Missouri River Lookout at Adams Nature Preserve Common Merganser were seen in this part of the River Inside of Pecaut Nature Center The final field trip of 2005 took SFBC members from Sioux Falls to Lake Madison in search of the Snowy Owls on New Year's Eve.  20 species were sighted, including a pair of GH Owls and Snow Buntings, but no Snowy Owls. The day was a winter postcard. (click on thumbnails below) Total sightings: 13 Red-tailed Hawks 2 Great Horned Owls 1 A. Kestrel 300+ Horned Larks 4+ Snow Buntings 40 Pheasants 12 Mallards 40 Canada Geese 5 Downy Woodpeckers 1 N. Flicker 3 Hairy Woodpeckers 5 Bluejays 25 Crows 8 BC Chickadees 4 White B. Nuthatches 1 Brown Creeper 50 E. Starlings 50 Rock Pigeons 25 House Sparrows Unknown falcon or accipiter   New Years Eve sun 12-31-05 Winter windmill New Years Eve Snow Trees New Year's Eve The Christmas gang that inspired "Do Birds Have Christmas?", all showed up on Dec. 30 at 11:00-11:30 AM to help illustrate their poem. Five of the of their photos are below. Click on thumbnail for large photo Female YS Flicker 12-30 BC Chickadee 12-30 Goldfinch at feeder 12-30 Male Downy Woodpecker 12-30 Male Red-breasted Nuthatch 12-30 The 2005 Sioux Falls area Christmas Bird Count was held Saturday, 17 Dec. in 5 degree weather. 2005 CBC at Tuthill Bridge CBC Tabulating, and defrosting 5 degrees???? Tracks at River's Edge December 10, 2005 A trip to Palisades State Park was worth the wintery scenery and topped off by two adult Bald Eagles circling the park. No great bird shots, but a few winter park shots are below on the thumbnails. The night of the 10th found a creature taking residence on one of the SF bird feeder complex houses in Mick's neighborhood. See him below. A reminder of the CBC coming up Saturday, the 17th, for the SF area. Click on the thumbnails for larger photo. Bird house squatter Bridge to King and Queen Rocks at Palisades Rock cliff at Palisades 1881 bridge at Palisades State Park Palisades State Park between King and Queen Rocks Dec. 3, 2005 For those of you who have been aware (either intentionally, or irritatingly), of today's planned destruction of the 20 story Zip Feed Mill in Sioux Falls, a reminder that everything outside has a birding connection. In 1997, Dakota Ace, a Peregrine Falcon, was released on the mill, where it flourished, and moved to Fargo, where it happily helped family young, and has been a star on the live-falcon cam.  http://www.riverwatchonline.org/project_falcon/cfb.html. A few reasons the Zip Mill was selected, was its 200 ft plus height, and its abundance of pigeons for food.  While the Zip Mill was fighting for its life today, minutes before the blast, a Northern Harrier flew over scouting for pigeons, and a Red-tailed Hawk, doing the same, found a fat Rock Pigeon for a good noon meal. The Red-tail took his Squab Pigeonneau to a nearby tree as his Raptors' Restaurant  felt the power of human demolition experts. Startled, the Red Tail grabbed his meal and moved a few hundred yards north to a tree near the park observation tower, where I took his photo.See him at http://static.flickr.com/34/69876209_4d61d91373_o.jpg When the blast occurred, a kit of Rock Pigeons flew out of their tipping tower, wondering what was going on. As you probably know, the tower flinched, tilted ten degrees to starboard, like some giant ocean liner, and refused to move another inch. Within seconds, the Rock Pigeons flew back into their high-rise homes, as if nothing had happened. (see photo at: (Look to the upper right for the pigeons coming back. ) http://static.flickr.com/12/69876210_eda71b378d_b.jpg You wonder what their bird-brains were thinking, looking down from their now leaning tower home, at the thousands of human spectators looking up and cheering for the building...and maybe for the birds. Click on photo for larger size Click on photo for larger size Nov. 5, Ditch Road and Dewey Gevik Great weather for Nov, gave the members the following: RT Hawk ,Sharp-shinned Hawk,Kestrels,Coopers Hawk, probable GH Owl Harris, Tree, House sparrows Juncos Red-bellied, Flicker, Downy and Hairy woodpeckers Mourning dove C.Waxwing (hundreds) Crow Mallard, Green(many) and Blue winged Teal, Gadwall, A.Wigeon and Wood ducks RB Gull GB Heron WB Nuthatch (later RB Nuthatch and Brown Creeper at feeders) Cardinal Bluejays(many) Pheasants Canada Geese Wilsons Snipe Killdeer Purple Finch RW Blackbird Starling BC Chickadee Click on the photos of the field trip for larger size.   SFBC at Sioux Falls Well Field Frog on Nov. 5 at Dewey Gevik Gil watches a Downy feeding a few feet away. October 25, 2005 Great Bear. Soaring Bald Eagle Red-bellied, Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers Juncos, Robins, Mallards, Crows Click on the thumbnails to see the area where the Eagle was soaring. Great Bear looking west Great Bear looking WNW October 15, 2004 Field Trip to Newton Hills State Park  Bluebird families--total of probably + or - 40, Harris' Sparrow,  Am. Kestrel, Red-tailed Hawk ,Northern Harrier, Merlin, Cooper's Hawk ,Red-bellied woodpecker at Fairviewone, Blue-winged Teal Good , Lincoln, Swamp, Harris', Savannah and one  Tree Sparrow,  Juncos 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet, 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Cedar Waxwings and Yellow-rumped warblers.   Photos from Newton Hills on Oct. 15, are below. Click on the thumbnail for large photo.   October 12, evening birding at Lake Alvin offered GB Herons, Kingfishers, Harris' Sparrows, Sedge Wrens, hundreds of Robins, and a beautiful sunset. Sunset at Lake Alvin Oct 12 Click on thumbnail for larger size. October 9, Trips, one in the morning and one near sunset to  Dewey Gevik resulted in beautiful scenes and neat birds. Click on the thumbnails below for bigger photos. Birders at sunset at Dewey Gevik lookout. Click on thumbnail for bigger photo. Dewey Gevik sunset Oct. 9, 2005 Click on thumbnail for bigger photo Looking west at birds at Dewey Click on thumbnail for larger photo Dewey Gevik sunset Oct. 9th 2005 Click on photo for larger picture October 8, 2005 field trip by members of the SFBC to Atkins WPA resulted in the sighting of 25 species, including LeConte's and probable Nelson's Sharp Tailed sparrows. Beautiful Fall day at Atkins Click on thumbnail for large photo Young Harris' Sparrow Click on thumbnail photo for larger size. Participants on one of Saturday's SDOU Fall meeting field trips were tickled to find Harris', and White Crowned Sparrows and a Northern Goshawk, but we were trying to figure out who this sign was meant for, since the property had feeders and bluebird houses on it. Nasty anti-? sign. August 27 unscheduled field trip to Arrowhead Park found 24 species, but no warblers. Many Bluebirds were seen. The following were seen: GB Heron, Mallard, Killdeer, M. Dove, B. Kingfisher, RH Woodpecker, RB Woodpecker, YB Sapsucker, E. Wood-Pewee, E. Kingbird, E. Phoebe, A. Crow, Barn Swallow, H. Wren, E. Bluebird, G. Catbird, N. Cardinal, RB Grosbeak, W. Meadowlark, A. Goldfinch, WB Nuthatch, R. Dove, H. Sparrow, Snow Goose, G. Canada Goose, & Cackling Goose? Click on the photos below for a larger size. Click on thumbnail to get larger size. August 20 field trip to sloughs west of Sioux Falls spotted over 40 species, Click on photos for large size SFBC at Wall Lake 8-20-05 Thousands of Purple Martins Dewey G. Nature Area Migration of Martins is about to begin www.flickr.com This is a Flickr badge showing public photos from Sioux Falls. Make your own badge here. Saturday, July 9 Today, July 9, 2005, the Sioux Falls Bird Club tried something new. We added a July trip to our schedule last October and today decided to split into two groups: one for beginning birders or perhaps just with a little less experience under their binoculars and a second group composed of more experienced birders. Both groups had outstanding days. The second group went to Newton Hills and environs and saw/heard 73 species. Best birds were: Henslow's Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Wood Thrush, Scarlet Tanager (which sat up in the open and in the sun singing for a very long time), Great Crested Flycatcher, Loggerhead Shrike, Sedge and Marsh Wren, all eastern SD Swallows (w/a great view of a perched Bank Swallow), Ruby-throated Hummingbird male perched and acting on territory (Mick saw him in the same clearing 2 weeks ago), Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Red-headed Woodpecker (feeding young at nest hole), Red-bellied Woodpecker, Broad-winged Hawk hunting over Newton Hills, Belted Kingfisher, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Wild Turkey, Orchard and Baltimore Oriole and Indigo Bunting. We tried for the Blue-winged Warbler and had a possible sighting, but it did not cooperate enough to call it. A very good day. The beginning group went to Atkins Slough NW of Tea and a few roads west of Sioux Falls and concentrated on the identification process. From Western Meadowlarks to Eastern Kingbirds and Red-headed Woodpeckers they all learned what to look for when a bird is first spotted. They added Great-tailed Grackle and a possible Least Bittern at Atkins Slough to the Club's total for the day. From Doug Chapman VP Saturday, July 2, some of our fine members went to Blue Mound State Park just across the Minn. border. Findings include 35 species of birds and 7 species of butterfly. The area was loaded with butterflies, and with a little more time, more species would have been seen. Besides the usual common birds, the following were seen: Northern Harrier Red Tailed Hawk A. Kestrel Cooper's Hawk Turkey Vulture Indigo Bunting Field Sparrow Vesper Sparrow Song Sparrow Red-headed Woodpecker Brown Thrasher Common Night Hawk displaying nesting behavior* click on thumnail for photo Two Bairds Sandpipers in the Con-Agg gravel pit. Butterflies: Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Monarch Red Spotted Purple Red Admiral Hackberry Emporer Common Wood Nymph Little Wood Satyr* click on thumbnail to see photo   click on the thumbnail for full size photo Saturday, June 18. Some members went to the Newton Hills area. Sightings of birds and butterflies are below. Asterisk means photo follows. C.GOOSE,BW HAWK, RT HAWK, A. KESTREL, KILDEER, M.DOVE, R. PIGEON, B. KINGFISHER, RH WOODPECKER ADULT AND JUVENILE* N.FLICKER, E. PHOEBE, E.KINGBIRD, LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE ADULT AND JUVENILE*,BLUE JAY, CROW, TREE SWALLOW, BARN SWALLOW, WB NUTHATCH, H.WREN, A.ROBIN, GRAY CATBIRD, CEDAR WAXWING, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT WARBLER, POSSIBLE BLUE-WINGED FEMALE, N. CARDINAL, RB GROSBEAK, BOBOLINK, RW BLACKBIRD, W.MEADOWLARK, COWBIRD, ORCHARD ORIOLE, BALTIMORE ORIOLE, A.GOLDFINCH, HOUSE SPARROW, TREE SPARROW, FIELD SPARROW, LARK SPARROW*,TURKEY VULTURE.   BUTTERFLIES EASTERN COMMA* TAWNY CRESCENT E.T. BLUE MOURNING CLOAK MONARCH WHITE SULPHUR ORANGE SULPHUR RED-SPOTTED PURPLE*     Click on the thumbnail to get a bigger picture. Red-spotted purple Eastern Comma Friday the 13th photos Saturday, May 7 Great Sparrow Migration To coincide with International Migration Week, Mother Nature delivered many species of sparrow at once to the area. Most species seen were at Outdoor Campus. Species list: Clay Colored  - many Harris' - hundreds, more than most of us have ever seen at one time. Chipping Lincoln's White-throated White-crowned House Vesper       Weeked of April 30, Trip from Sioux Falls feeders west to Weisensee GPA and Grass Lake by SFBC members Cary and Mick   Brewer's Blackbird- with some grackles in a cow pasture Red-winged Blackbird Common Grackle Yellow-headed Blackbird Brown-headed Cowbird (more this year than usual) House Finch-F A. Goldinch-F Yellow-rumped Warbler Pied-billed Grebe Eared Grebe (Weisensee GPA)  AW Pelican DC Cormorant- Photo Eating Bullhead Great Blue Heron Great Egret Snowy Egret (two with GE and GBH, 1 mi. south of Grass Lake on West side of Highway) Flock of Snows and Blues still at Weisensee Canada geese with goslings across from Grass Lake Gadwall Mallard (duck on nest) BW Teal- Photo hiding in the reeds N. Shoveler Redhead ducks L. Scaup Bufflehead Ruddy Duck (flock of 100 at Grass Lake) Northern Harrier Red-Tailed Hawk A. Kestrel A. Coot Killdeer Greater and lesser Yellowlegs (Photo together for comparison) Willet- Photo from many in plowed fields Baird's Sandpiper Franklin's Gull- Photo in flight Ring-billed Gull -(one trailing a fishing line, see photo) Forster's Tern- Photo in flight Mourning Dove Northern Flicker Downy Woodpecker-F Hairy Woodpecker-F A.Crow Tree Swallow- So cold with no insects to eat, they were bunched together on the ground. Barn Swallow BC Chickadee A. Robin Chipping Sparrow-F Vesper Sparrow House Sparrow N. Cardinal-F W. Meadowlark Cedar Waxwing-F White-throated Sparrow-F Ruby-crowned Kinglet-F Scheduled 4-22-05 field trip to wetlands west of Sioux Falls by 13 members and guests netted 62 species. Species list and photos below. Click on the Falls for a live web cam The Peregrine Falcon cam is possible due to: Otto Bremer Foundation, Audubon- Dakota, Bank of the West, Conmy Feste LTD. And Prairie Public Television. Click on the Peregrine Dakota Ace to go to the live nestcam. March 31 quick trip to Gitchi Manitou and Arrowhead park yielded 27 species including the first Woodcock of the year. On Saturday, March 19, After over a record foot of snow, SFBC members Bill, Rosemary, Jim, Cary, and Mick tried a questionable venture west to the Grass Lake, Lake Vermillion areas. It turned out to be excellent birding on a beautiful day. Over 40 species were seen. Photos are by Cary and Mick.   Sightings 3-19-05 SFBC trip west to Lake Vermillion Goose, Snow and Blue 100,000+ Goose, Canada Goose,Greater White Fronted Gadwall Wood Duck American Wigeon Mallard Northern Shoveler Northern Pintail Green-winged Teal Canvasback Redhead Ring-necked Duck Lesser Scaup Bufflehead Common Goldeneye Hooded Merganser Common Merganser Ruddy Duck Bald Eagle-2 Red-tailed Hawk-4 Red-tailed Hawk- Kriders Rough-legged Hawk-3 American Kestrel American Coot Ring-necked Pheasant Franklin's Gull Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull Rock Pigeon Red-headed Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker American Crow Horned Lark- 100+ Black-capped Chickadee American Robin American Tree Sparrow House Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Northern Cardinal Red-winged Blackbird Western Meadowlark Purple Finch Snowing out 3-19 Some club members went out on Sunday, March 13, and found the following (photos below by Cary Feldman) Goldfinch- 20 BC Chickadee- 15 Red-tailed Hawk- 1 Bald Eagle- 2 adult, one immature * see photo below Crows- 20 DE Junco- 30 Housefinch- 10 Pine Siskin- 4 Starlings- 100+ Rock Pigeons- 10 Mallards- 15, two mating * C. Goose- 30 Tree Sparrow- 2 * N. Cardinal- 4 Kestrel- 2 House Sparrow -30 Downy Woodpeker -4 White-breasted Nuthatch- 6   Thursday, Feb. 24 at the Outdoor Campus a Rehabilitated Golden Eagle was released. SFBC members witnessed the event. We wish the majestic bird well. Photo taken during the GBBC 2-21-05 Discussing the mortality of Mankind. Namcy, Rosemary, and lynn's trip to Pierre brought us this fantastic photo of a Sawhet Owl's hypnotizing stare. Field Trips and Sightings There are two Snow geese at Arrowhead as of 1-16-05 More of our find SFBC members went to the Owl Explosion early in January. Lynn Williams took these fine photos to share the experience with us. Doug's great trip to Northern Minnesota included many fantastic owl sightings. Truly an "Owl Explosion". Northern Hawk-owl Seven of 29 Goldfinches (at the same time) at the Sioux Falls feeders on 1-8-05. A record explosion November 20 field trip to Newton Hills area gave up the following sightings: Canada Goose Mallard Bald Eagle (adult) being harassed by 2 Red-tailed Hawk Cooper's Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Rough-legged Hawk American Kestrel (male) RN Pheasant Rock Pigeon Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Blue Jay American Crow (250-300) BC Chickadee Am Robin (incl one albinistic which would not turn into a Varied Thrush) E Starling Bohemian Waxwing (1) Cedar Waxwing (140) Savannah Sparrow Song Sparrow Harris" Sparrow DE Junco N Cardinal C Grackle A Goldfinch H Sparrow Monday, October 11, Doug Chapman, Cary Feldman, and Mick Zerr spent most of the day birding the Blue-Mound, Touch-the-Sky Prairie, and Northern Tall Grass Prairie NWR area of Minnesota. Over 60 species were seen, including some lifebirds for Cary and Mick. Highlights include a Winter Wren, American Pipit, Pileated Woodpecker, Buff-Breasted Sandpiper, and Grey-cheeked Thrush. All the shorebirds and waterfowl were seen at the sewage ponds east of Luverne. A complete list and photos are below. Bird Sightings 10-11-04 Blue Mound Minn. Area American Crow American Goldfinch American Kestrel American Pipit American Robin B-C Chickadee Blue Jay Blue -winged teal Brown Creeper Buff-Breasted Sandpiper Cackling Goose Canada Goose Canada Warbler Common Grackle Common Snipe Cooper's Hawk Dark-eyed Junco Double-crested Cormorant Downy Woodpecker Eastern Phoebe Fox Sparrow Gadwall Golden-crowned Kinglet Great Crested Flycatcher Great-tailed Grackle Grey-cheeked Thrush Harris' Sparrow House Finch House Sparrow Killdeer Least Sandpiper Lesser Yellowlegs Mallard Merlin Mourning Dove Northern Flicker Northern Harrier Northern Shoveler Pileated Woodpecker Pine Siskin Purple finch Red-bellied Woodpecker Redhead Duck Red-tailed Hawk R-N Pheasant Rock Dove Ruby-crowned Kinglet Savannah Sparrow Sharp-shinned Hawk Short-billed Dowitcher Solitary Sandpiper Song Sparrow Starling Swainson's Hawk Swainson's Thrush Swamp Sparrow Vesper Sparrow W-B Nuthatch Western Meadowlark Winter Wren Wood Duck Yellow-rumped Warbler Ruby Throats at Sioux Falls feeders 9-25 Saturday, the eleventh, the SFBC went to Newton Hills looking for late Summer migrants. . The total list of species includes 46. If you also appreciate butterflies, the field trip had around a dozen species seen, including the Great Spangled Fritillary. Some photos are below the bird photos.   Click here for a map. Map of Newton Hills State Park  Eastern tailed blue Great Spangled Fritillary Newton hills 9/6/04 by Cary F. The scheduled late summer field trip on 8-14 to areas west of Sioux Falls by the SFBC gave some birders a special lifebird. The official bird of the club, the Blue Grosbeak was seen in full color, plus over 60 other species. Marsh Wrens were everywhere A lone Comorant guards his area A scheduled outing on Saturday, June 12 to Newton Hills was rewarding, with a Yellow Throated Vireo as the bird of the day. Birds Seen Eastern Phoebe, Chipping Sparrow, Field Sparrow, American Crow, Eastern Bluebird, House Wren, Red-headed Woodpecker, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Indigo Bunting, Yellow-throated Vireo, Rough-winged Swallow, Mourning Dove, Blue Jay, European Starling, Brown-headed Cowbird, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Northern Cardinal, Red-tailed Hawk, Gray Catbird, Common Yellowthroat, American Goldfinch, American Redstart, Eastern Towhee, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Scarlet Tanager, Northern Flicker, Turkey Vulture, Cedar Waxwing. A male RT hummingbird rests after feeding on the Yellow-Bellied Sapsuckers sap holes. Newton Hills offers many of nature's beautiful creatures. Hackberry Emperor butterfly on Doug's pant leg A Breeding Bird Survey to Oak Ridge GPA on Saturday, May 22 was worth the time for the scenery as well as the great birds. A rare find was a Field Sparrow nest (shown). Over 50 species were seen, including a beautiful Blackburnian warbler, and some Towhees that were hanging around a probable nest. Oak Ridge GPA looking NE 5-22-04 The Field Sparrow nest is only about 4 inches wide, with three light blue/green eggs with brown speckles. The zooming in is 5 feet, two feet, and 6 inches. Pelican Island on Grass Lake April 17 scheduled field trip for SFBC and friends to wetlands west of Sioux Falls. 45 species were found. Some of the more interesting include: Green-winged Teal, Snow Geese (late for them), Bufflehead trying to impress a female, (late for them), Tree swallows, Barn Swallows, Purple Martins, Ruddy duck, Canvasback, Pied-billed Grebe, and Vesper Sparrow. The only shorebirds found were Killdeer, Pectoral Sandpiper, and Yellow legs (lesser?). Great-Tailed Grackle were seen with nesting material carried by female. April 10 trip to Sand Lake area netted 45 species. For more photos go to the NE SD birding page. Field Trip Log 03/27/04 Oak Ridge GPA Birders investigating the Oak Ridge GPA were treated with many observed species. Hidden pond in Oak Forest Field Trip Log 3/20/2004 38 species were observed. Geese west of Sioux Falls on 3-8-04 Field Trip Log: 15 February 2004   The landscape was dotted with deserted farmsteads.

____________________________________________   Click on the seagull to go to the Big Sioux River site with photos of birds, animals, and scenes on the Big Sioux. Happy Birding! Total Viewers since site opened in 2002. For information on this website, contact webmaster at zerrmick@yahoo.com Website Copyright 2005 Sioux Falls Bird Club Background scene is Arrowhead Park looking SW

;