Summer Field Report, June-July 2009

This was an interesting summer, with range expansions of multiple species continuing in all directions, but predominantly northward. Exceptions to the northward trend were Trumpeter Swan, which bred south of its usual western Sandhills range, and Sedge Wren, which may be occurring in June in northeast Nebraska in greater numbers. Moving eastward are Western Wood-Pewee, which now overlaps with westward-moving Eastern Wood-Pewee in Lincoln Co, Cordilleran Flycatcher in the Pine Ridge, and Lesser Goldfinch in the west. Song Sparrow is also expanding south and west. No fewer than 16 species are moving north and/or northwestward. Several species were seen more westerly including Broad-winged Hawk, nesting again in North Platte, Yellow-throated Vireo in the Niobrara River Valley, and Carolina Wren across a broad front. Species expanding in a northward direction include Acadian and Scissor-tailed Flycatchers, Summer Tanager in the east, Ash-throated Flycatcher in the west, and Blue-gray Gnatcatcher and Northern Mockingbird statewide. Species moving north primarily in the Missouri River Valley include Fish Crow, Prothonotary Warbler, and Louisiana Waterthrush. Red-shouldered Hawk bred at its new location in Lancaster Co. Black-billed Cuckoos were found in greater numbers than in recent years. Puzzling is the increase in fall records of White-rumped Sandpipers in recent years; have they started to migrate inland in fall? For rarity buffs, White-tailed Kite, Inca Dove, and Fish Crow provided some hot weather excitement. Finally, interesting data regarding movement of Long-billed Curlews Bailey and Sandy in the Sandhills and far beyond was obtained using transmitters; check the fascinating website at www.BirdsNebraska.org