Sunday Summary: July 23-July 29, 2018

This week really challenged me to try and make time for birding as we moved from Clay Center to Randolph, Kansas. This also means that my target county will now be Riley County instead of Clay County. Luckily I already had a decent county list for Riley so I won't be completely starting over.

I was able to get out every day this week, seeing a total of 48 species. I added the Bell's Vireo (Vireo bellii) to my Clay County list, bringing my total to 132 species. For Riley County I was able to add nine new species with the Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitaria) being the only species new to my life list as well. This brings my Riley County life total to 83. Both of these new additions get me to 175 species for my overall life list.

I was not able to get any clear pictures this week for a picture of the week. Every day I either forgot my camera or it was packed.

My most observed species this week was the Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) with a total of 30 individuals in only one trip.

My highlight of the week was identifying the Solitary Sandpiper. Shorebirds have always been a struggle for me, so being able to positively add one to my life list is always a big accomplishment for me.

As always, I would love to hear from you about your birding highlights for the week, or if you have any identification questions, comments or concerns.

Wednesday Bird of the Week: July 25, 2018

Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea) singing from the top of a tree.

This weeks bird of the week is the Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea).

I am choosing the Indigo Bunting because they are a bird that no matter how my birding day is going, if I spot one of these beautiful blue males they can always make me smile. I usually end up watching them for a little bit longer than I probably should and have missed many chances of spotting less common summer species to watch the Indigo Bunting for just a few seconds more.

Indigo Buntings are a fairly common summer species here in Kansas and throughout the Midwest. During their breeding season the males will perch in the tops of trees and sing to attract mates.

If you get out early enough in the morning you might even be able to spot a few of them sitting along the edges of dirt/gravel roads. This was one of the things that I most looked forward to during my time with the MOFEP bird crew.

Other than the bright blue plumage of the male, Indigo Buntings can be identified by their unique song. Each piece of their song is sang in doubles and can be confused with the American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis), but unlike the American Goldfinch, the Indigo Buntings song will end on the same phrase every time. So when distinguishing between Buntings and Goldfinches remember, doubles and short, ending on the same phrase.

The nest of an Indigo Bunting is small and cup shaped and their eggs are a solid white. They are commonly found in low bushes or saplings.

Indigo Bunting nest with eggs and recently hatched young.

If you have an interesting story involving the Indigo Bunting, or a different technique for identifying them, please share.

Sunday Summary: July 16 - July 22, 2018

This week I was able to make a short three day trip to Iowa and hit some of my favorite birding spots. during these three days, I added 13 species to my Mahaska County list, 22 species to my Keokuk County list, and I got my first Wapello County list, with 15 species. The two species that I was most excited too add during this trip were the American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) and the Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas). My totals for these counties are now, respectively, 63, 24 and 15.

After returning to Kansas, I took a trip to Fancy Creek State Park where I was able to add three species to my Rile County list. The Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus), American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) and the Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia). These new species bring my Riley County total to 79 species.

My picture of the week this week is of a group of Turkey Vultures (Cathartes aura), or a wake, perched in a tree at Fancy Creek State Park.

A group of perched Turkey Vultures (Cathartes aura) is called a wake.

I had a total of 64 species observed this week, with the most observed species being the Turkey Vulture. Although I only saw Turkey Vultures on three days, I saw a total of 37 individuals.

My highlight of the week was spotting a Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia) at Fancy Creek State Park. I am told that there are currently no breeding records of this species in Riley County, Kansas, making it very exciting for me to spot one at this time of year.

I would love to hear from you, so please leave a comment or question about some of your highlights or rare birds in your area.

Sunday Summary: July 9 - July 15, 2018

I got to explore some new areas during this birding week. Although I fell one species short of the week prior, I was able to add another three species to my Clay County and life list. My county total is now up to 131 species and my life list to 173.

I was finally able to observe a Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor), but only by sound, I have yet to actually spot one while conducting a count. The other two species added were the Black-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus erythropthalmus) and Greater Prairie-Chicken (Tympanuchus cupido). The Greater Prairie-Chicken was a female accompanied by five young, making this also my highlight species for the week.

The picture of the week this week is a Dickcissel (Spiza americana) in a tree.

Dickcissel (Spiza americana) perched in a tree.

The most observed species of the week was once again the Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis), being observed all but one day and a total of 41 individuals.

What are some highlights from your week in birding?

More pictures from the week in checklists below.

Checklists for the week:
Monday July 9
https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S47089182

Tuesday July 10
https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S47108073

Wednesday July 11
https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S47129731

Thursday July 12
https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S47148104

Friday July 13
https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S47176953

Saturday July 14
https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S47200787

Sunday July 15
https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S47221927

Sunday Summary: July 2 - July 8, 2018

Not a bad week for birding in Clay County, Kansas this past week. I reported 55 species in eight checklists, adding two species to my Clay County life list. This brings my county list to 127 species and my total life list to 170 species.

The Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor) still evades me. I have seen a few of them while driving, but never when I am doing a bird count.

The two species added to my county list this week were the Northern Parula (Setophaga americana) which I had heard before in the area, but not well enough to positively identify them, and a Henslow's Sparrow (Ammordramus henslowii).

My highlight species for the week was the Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus). I found two Killdeer nests this week that should be hatching soon and was able to get some pretty great pictures of an adult performing its distraction display.

The picture of the week this time around was a really tough call. It came down to my picture of a male Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea) perched on some green, or the Killdeer distraction display. The deciding vote (my wife) has chosen the Indigo Bunting.

Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea) perched and singing.

The most observed species for my week was the Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis), having been observed every day and with a total of 37 individuals.

This has been o a summary of my week from July 2 - July 8, 2018. What are some of the highlights from your outings this week? 

Dances With Killdeer

Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) using a distraction display.

Not a bad Tuesday morning. I took a few hours this morning to bird at my favorite spot along the Republican River and to try a new spot just North and it paid off.

The first big accomplishment of the day was observing my 125th species in Clay County, KS. I had been chasing this one for a while now and was super excited to finally hit the mark. My 125th species is a Mississippi Kite (Ictinia mississippiensis).

The second, and probably my favorite, thing was witnessing a Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) performing a distraction display. I had witnessed other birds pretending to be hurt to try and draw you away from their nest, but since the Killdeer is one of my favorite birds anyway it made it so much more special to witness from this species.

I did not find the nest that this displaying bird was trying to pull my attention from, but I did later find another nest near where I had parked my car. The Killdeer sitting on this nest flushed as I approached my car, sparking my interest.

The second bird didn't perform a distraction display, sadly, but in the "nest" were three eggs. I put quotes around nest because these birds don't construct a nest the same way that a song bird does. Instead, the Killdeer nest was basically a small platform of sticks directly on the ground. The eggs are very nicely camouflaged to blend in with the surrounding rocks.

Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) nest.

Both of the areas that I walked this morning were very productive, and I have come one step closer to documenting every Clay County species. There are more pictures attached in the checklists below.

eBird Checklists: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S46959621

https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S46961308

Ardea en Mass

What a morning.

I went to Fancy Creek State Park this morning to bird at one of my favorite spots while my wife ran the trail. It started off fairly well with a few Indigo Buntings (Passerina cyanea) and Dickcissels (Spiza Americana), but by the end was a checklist that I may never forget.

At Fancy Creek, there is a little paved loop that looks like it used to be a loading spot for boats, but is too overgrown now to drive down. This makes it perfect for walking to get some of the hidden birds. There wasn't a ton of variety at first, mostly just those Buntings and Dickcissels, but as I turned a corner to go down the rickety little bridge, I noticed three little Lark Sparrows (Chondestes grammacus) hopping along the pavement.

I crossed the bridge which then becomes a truly hidden road with lots of brush on either side. This little road always produces most of the species that I observe whenever I go to Fancy Creek.

Here I found a few Orchard Orioles (Icterus spurius), a Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra), and a beautiful Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) to name a few of my highlight species.

These weren't the birds that made my checklist so memorable though. By the end of my hour and 41 minutes, I had observed 33 Turkey Vultures (Cathartes aura), 12 Great Blue Herons (Ardea herodias), and 13 Great Egrets (Ardea alba). This is the largest group of Great Blue Herons and Great Egrets that I have ever seen.

Having this many Turkey Vultures and not being flagged for a high count also got me wondering, what is considered a high count for this species? If anyone has ever experienced a group larger than this or been flagged for a high count, please let me know in the comments.

eBird checklist: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S46914805