Birdly Wonders of Saturday Morning Along Eastern Nebraska

The following notations indicate the wonderful variety of species about on the morning of Saturday on 29 October 2011. The outing started at north downtown to quickly check for bird strikes at Qwest, and then onward to the east side of Carter Lake for the 38th bird survey this year. The day provided some appreciated surprises.

The Carter Lake District includes Carter Lake, Levi Carter Park which includes the Levi Carter Pond on its west edge. The number of coots here continues be impressive as it has been since mid-October. Coots abound at the lake these days.

Common Name -- Carter Lake District -- Horseshoe Lake Flats -- Hummel Park by Ponca Creek

Canada Goose -- 15 -- --

Wood Duck -- 15 -- --

American Wigeon -- 3 -- --

Mallard -- 101 -- --

Northern Shoveler -- 14 -- --

Northern Pintail -- 1 -- --

Canvasback -- 1 -- --

Redhead -- 24 -- --

Pied-billed Grebe -- at least 33 -- 8 --

Red-tailed Hawk -- 1 -- 1 --

American Coot -- 5700 -- --

American Golden-Plover -- -- 152 going about their business --

Killdeer -- -- 332 --

Sanderling -- -- 3 splendid in their strikingly white plumage dramatic upon the drab, formerly flooded agland --

Least Sandpiper -- -- 23 --

White-rumped Sandpiper -- -- 1 --

Long-billed Dowitcher -- -- 9 poking away in the muddy substrate --

Wilson's Snipe -- -- 2 --

Ring-billed Gull -- -- 2 --

Mourning Dove -- 2 -- --

Belted Kingfisher -- 1 -- --

Red-bellied Woodpecker -- 1 -- -- 2

Downy Woodpecker -- 1 -- -- 2

Hairy Woodpecker -- -- -- 2

Northern Flicker -- 1 -- -- 1

Blue Jay -- 1 -- -- 2

American Crow -- -- -- 1

Black-capped Chickadee -- 2 -- -- 5

Tufted Titmouse -- -- -- 2

White-breasted Nuthatch -- 1 -- -- 6

Winter Wren -- 1 -- -- 1

Ruby-crowned Kinglet -- -- -- 2

Eastern Bluebird -- -- -- 2

American Robin -- 12 -- -- 3

European Starling -- 23 -- 17 --

Cedar Waxwing -- -- -- 2

Yellow-rumped Warbler -- 2 -- --

Dark-eyed Junco -- 3 -- -- 6

Snow Bunting -- -- 2 --

Northern Cardinal -- 1 -- -- 2

Red-winged Blackbird -- 22 -- --

Eastern Meadowlark -- 3 -- --

Common Grackle -- 2 -- --

House Finch -- 6 -- --

American Goldfinch -- 2 -- -- 2

Fewer than fifty species, but this number really means nothing as it was seeing the different birds and watching their antics while listening to their calls is what was most important and splendid as presented by each bird which got particular attention.

The return of the feathered mites (Winter Wrens) was the highlight of the crisp morning. Noting a Winter Wren at Levi Carter Park is the first record for this species at this locale (providing a record for the 100th species during 2011), based upon records which go back more than 125 years. The wren was first heard, then after time taken to listen closer, was heard again, and finally seen when flushed from the edge of the Levi Carter pond. This sighting also happened despite some nitwit wondering what time it was. Surprisingly seen were meadowlarks, near where some bum had parked their car and seemingly passed out some hours earlier in the drivers seat, which had to be ignored, as well as their morning routine which they though no one noticed.

The Horseshoe Lake Flats continue to convey a post-flood situation following the great flood of 2011. The variety and numbers of species is impressive and something to appreciate, preferably in a relaxed manner, where the birds get an individual focus and attention to details which convey their identity.

It was quite exciting to get exquisite views of the Snow Buntings on a bit of ground among the golden-plovers! This was the first time this species has been personally observed! It was a magnificent sight. One of the two present perched atop a relict bit of cornstalk to present a grand view of the bird and its features in the morning light. A closeup photograph could have been enjoyed for a long time.

These records continue to indicate the importance of ephemeral and conserved habitats in the Missouri River valley on the fringe of east-central Nebraska.

At the end of the outing, a rare event was noted upon the Missouri River. A tugboat was pushing four fully-laden barges up the river, as noted at the cross-river bridge northeast of Florence. This is significant as barge-traffic has been severely inhibited due to the extensive flooding in previous weeks.

Towboat Mary Lynn pushing barges up the Missouri River.
The boat is out of the port of St. Louis.

Dangerous Nature Center

While at Hummel Park, an opportunity was taken to get a close look at the recently completed nature center. Immediately noticed was the danger the glass is presenting to birds within the park. A picture indicates the reflectivity of the windows which convey that they are a part of the forest setting.

City officials had said there would be blinds placed on the windows. Obviously this is not the case! This structure is now a hazard to the many birds present in the park, and during the autumn migration, an especially dangerous time for birds as they make their way southward.