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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