The Horseshoe Lake Flats is the hottest birding place - in more ways than one considering recent temperatures - during August, along the Missouri River in east-central Nebraska.
Partially inundated crop fields with what are now rapidly decreasing levels of water, still continue to provide a haven appreciated by a great diversity of shore and water birds.
One of the most distinctive features is the number of Killdeer noted on the foggy Sunday morning, August 22. Arrival was before the sun had tinged the eastern horizon, and for a suitable time afterwards, among which would - during dryer years - be fields with crops, but have been a significant field of dreams for birding enthusiasts in pursuit of rare species, among a whole plethora of bird types. Each day is different.
Ground fog conditions prevailed on the most recent Sunday morning, the subdued light expressing subtle hues of color. Views across the lowland landscape were muted, and the stately Great Blue Herons stood grandly among the wisps. Once the glowing orb of the sun moved over the eastern horizon, light and shadows tinged the wet lands where birds were involved with the first hours of their typical routine of another day.
Loudly expressive was a horde of birds appreciating wet places for them to forage - as they have for so many days - gleaning a fine morsel among the flooded fields about the the Horseshoe Lakebed. Always vocal, they flew hither and yon, stood on the adjacent roads, interspersed on the barren, yet wet, dirt as they gleaned the neccisities for a day's diet.
On the flats, the Killdeer have been all around and ever expressive. They have been standing on the county roads, for whatever reason they deem appropriate, and taking flight upon the approach of some passing vehicle. Then they land back from whence they came, looking upon the intrusion with a woeful perspective based upon a disturbance which they would have preferred never happened. Purple Martins, as well as swallows, on the hardtop certainly have a similar perspective.
Looking closely on an August morning on Sunday, there were different places, each with their own bunch. While going back-and-forth in search of fine light, notes were kept on how many of this prevalent plover could be counted when a particular space got its own close-up through a spotting scope.
The whole variety of flats about the former Horseshoe Lake had their own expressive bunch. An overall tally from the various places among the overall locality of ca. 335 was summarized as 50, 100, 33, 85, 62, and which was certainly not a count of every killdeer. This is the largest known count - ever - for this species along the Missouri River valley in the Nebraska region - including as far south as Squaw Creek NWR. This claim is based on a review of more than 1100 records with a count, and about another few hundred where no numbers were given.
Another count of 120 at the same vicinity on August 11th, is the second highest tally known. Lesser counts were for about a hundred of this plover, when apparently not enough attention was given to denoting how many of these plovers were about. It is also highly probable that more birds have arrived from elsewhere to take advantage of the situation.
About the lowlands near Horseshoe Lake on the most recent weekend now past, there were other unique occurrences that have been reported to the birding community and created a buzz of interest sufficient to attract visits by different watchers.
A particular highlight was a Red-necked Phalarope. Urban Lehner reported it to Justin Rink as they stood around on the county road west of Boyer Chute NWR. Within their view were Buff-breasted Sandpipers, Stilt Sandpipers as well as a fine variety of other shorebirds. Even a couple of Green-winged Teal were lurking among the ephemeral wetland habitat.
There have always been a fine gathering of Great Blue Herons standing or stalking about ... their prevalent calls also distinctive to this country space.
The occurrence of new species in the area can be indicated by reviewing a composite list for waterfowl, waterbirds and shorebirds in the immediate vicinity. The following is based upon available records for the three localities. The value given is a composite total for the number observed on different occasions during previous years, except only for August 2010 at what is designated as the Horseshoe Lake Flats locality, along County Road P51 and P34, basically west of the primary area of Boyer Chute NWR. Two asterisks (**) indicate an occurrence when no count was made.
Common Name |
Boyer Chute NWR |
Horseshoe Lake Flats |
Nathans Lake |
Greater White-fronted Goose |
- |
- |
11 |
Snow Goose |
30 |
- |
15 |
Canada Goose |
10 |
121 |
40 |
Wood Duck |
15 |
- |
63 |
Gadwall |
- |
- |
497 |
American Wigeon |
1 |
- |
41 |
Mallard |
15 |
9 |
532 |
Blue-winged Teal |
107 |
161 |
93 |
Northern Shoveler |
5 |
91 |
50 |
Northern Pintail |
- |
- |
44 |
Green-winged Teal |
16 |
2 |
383 |
Canvasback |
- |
- |
48 |
Redhead |
- |
- |
3 |
Ring-necked Duck |
- |
- |
163 |
Lesser Scaup |
1 |
- |
56 |
Bufflehead |
- |
- |
6 |
Common Goldeneye |
- |
- |
6 |
Hooded Merganser |
- |
- |
5 |
Common Merganser |
- |
- |
11 |
Ruddy Duck |
- |
- |
5 |
Pied-billed Grebe |
4 |
11 |
7 |
American White Pelican |
325 |
24 |
2 |
Double-crested Cormorant |
279 |
6 |
36 |
Least Bittern |
- |
- |
2 |
Great Blue Heron |
9 |
223 |
84 |
Great Egret |
1 |
27 |
31 |
Cattle Egret |
- |
318 |
1 |
Green Heron |
- |
- |
11 |
Yellow Rail |
- |
- |
1 |
Virginia Rail |
- |
- |
2 |
Sora |
1 |
- |
5 |
American Coot |
63 |
2 |
172 |
Sandhill Crane |
- |
- |
5 |
Black-bellied Plover |
- |
3 |
- |
Semipalmated Plover |
- |
8 |
4 |
Piping Plover |
- |
- |
1 |
Killdeer |
5 |
825 |
23 |
Spotted Sandpiper |
4 |
3 |
3 |
Solitary Sandpiper |
1 |
2 |
2 |
Greater Yellowlegs |
36 |
17 |
19 |
Willet |
- |
1 |
23 |
Lesser Yellowlegs |
22 |
29 |
24 |
Upland Sandpiper |
1 |
3 |
- |
Hudsonian Godwit |
- |
- |
2 |
Marbled Godwit |
- |
1 |
- |
Semipalmated Sandpiper |
- |
- |
14 |
Least Sandpiper |
- |
49 |
15 |
White-rumped Sandpiper |
- |
- |
** |
Baird's Sandpiper |
- |
9 |
** |
Pectoral Sandpiper |
3 |
73 |
22 |
Dunlin |
- |
- |
22 |
Stilt Sandpiper |
- |
14 |
- |
Buff-breasted Sandpiper |
- |
9 |
- |
Short-billed Dowitcher |
- |
1 |
- |
Long-billed Dowitcher |
3 |
1 |
- |
Wilson's Snipe |
3 |
10 |
38 |
Wilson's Phalarope |
34 |
26 |
2 |
Red-necked Phalarope |
- |
2 |
- |
Ring-billed Gull |
- |
5 |
- |
Least Tern |
- |
1 |
- |
Black Tern |
- |
33 |
126 |
Common Tern |
- |
9 |
- |
Forster's Tern |
- |
18 |
- |
Obvious differences in occurrence are quick striking. The ephemeral water habitats of the flats have been utilized by a number of species not noted previously. The numbers for some of the species is quite dramatic as well, which readily indicate the value of the ephemeral habitat.
With at least 200 Killdeer or more present each day, for at least the past two weeks, these ground gleaners obviously find the flooded fields to their liking. Add to this the many Cattle Egrets, Great Blue Herons, sandpipers, plovers, et al. and it's very obvious that high water conditions in Washington County has created a mecca for many birds that have found a suitable place to roost, forage and otherwise occur because of finding what they need to live on. It has probably been a long time since bird survival was the prominent value of the land on the Horseshoe Lake Flats on the floodplain of the nearby Missouri River.
There is no reason this situation could not occur again, but the farming interests certainly would prefer that they get a hefty crop each year. The network of ditches to remove water are the prominent feature of the lowlands, and until an equitable mix is created, the extent of places for birds will always be lesser than greater.
Wonderful Diversity of Species
There have now been 70 species observed at this locality during August, this year. New additions during the weekend were - in addition to those already indicated - Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, Gray Catbird, Downy Woodpecker, Yellow-headed Blackbird, and even a couple of Ring-necked Pheasants were heard.
Some of the wet fields are drying, and will continue to do so because of temperatures in the 90s, beneath a basically cloud-free sky.
Habitat conditions are ever-changing, as is the variety and numbers of birds. It is all good and a wonder to enjoy, and appreciate. Water levels suitable for attracting this new mix of avifauna are rare occurrences.
The following is a list of species observed at the Horseshoe Lake Flats, based upon seven visits from 11 August to 22 August - by several bird watchers - as listed in a taxonomic sequence.
Canada Goose, Mallard, Blue-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, Green-winged Teal, Ring-necked Pheasant, Pied-billed Grebe, American White Pelican, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Cattle Egret, Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, American Coot, Black-bellied Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper, Solitary Sandpiper, Greater Yellowlegs, Willet, Lesser Yellowlegs, Upland Sandpiper, Marbled Godwit, Least Sandpiper, Baird's Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Stilt Sandpiper, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Short-billed Dowitcher, Long-billed Dowitcher, Wilson's Snipe, Wilson's Phalarope, Red-necked Phalarope, Ring-billed Gull, Least Tern, Black Tern, Common Tern, Forster's Tern, Mourning Dove, Belted Kingfisher, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Eastern Kingbird, Blue Jay, American Crow, Purple Martin, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Bank Swallow, Cliff Swallow, Barn Swallow, Sedge Wren, American Robin, Gray Catbird, European Starling, Common Yellowthroat, Chipping Sparrow, Field Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Indigo Bunting, Dickcissel, Red-winged Blackbird, Eastern Meadowlark, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Common Grackle, Orchard Oriole, American Goldfinch, House Sparrow.
It is quite exciting to consider what other species might yet occur as autumn migration season progresses - since it is still early in the season - and how many distinctive birds may yet occur. The water habitat of the flats is slowly but steadily receding and its extent is decreasing, but the wet spaces still provide a haven on each and every day they linger.