Part 15

Yellow Rail—Rare and local summer resident of spring-fed sedge fields in the northern (mostly north-central) portion. Scattered colonies have been reported in recent years from McLean, Mountrail, Bottineau, and Benson Counties. Because of its accessibility, J. Clark Salyer Refuge may offer your best chance of finding it. Check appropriate habitat along the scenic tour.

Piping Plover—Uncommon summer resident of selected alkaline ponds and lakes, and occasionally of freshwater lakes, rivers, and impoundments with open sandy or gravel shores. Watch especially on sandbars along the Missouri River at Bismarck, and on the alkaline lakes and potholes of Lostwood Refuge. Other areas include Long Lake Refuge, J. Clark Salyer Refuge, and the shores of Devils Lake, Stump Lake, and Alkaline Lake.

Lesser Golden Plover—Fairly common migrant throughout, except in the southwest sector where it is uncommon to rare. In fall found in large numbers at places such as Stump Lake, Alkaline Lake, Kelly’s Slough, and the sewage ponds in Fargo, West Fargo, and Grand Forks. Numbers peak in September and October. In spring (mostly mid-April) seems to prefer flooded fields (and even some that are not flooded).

Ruddy Turnstone—Uncommon migrant in the eastern half; rare migrant throughout the western half. Frequently seen on plowed fields (especially flooded ones), and on artificial water impoundments such as sewage ponds, flood-control ponds, and fish-removal ponds. Look for it in Cass and Grand Forks Counties; at the Grand Forks, Fargo, and West Fargo sewage ponds; at Kelly’s Slough; Rush, Alkaline, and Stump Lakes; J. Clark Salyer Refuge; and at the fish hatchery in Valley City.

Long-billed Curlew—An uncommon to rare summer resident of scrub-prairie and short-grass areas in the extreme southwest corner. Most likely in Bowman and Slope Counties. Try the roads going south from Marmarth and Rhame, and the road going north from Marmarth to Amidon.

Upland Sandpiper—Fairly common summer resident of prairie grasslands and wet meadows throughout. Often seen sitting on fence posts in spring. Look for it at Bowman-Haley, Stewart Lake, Lake Ilo, Lostwood, Des Lacs, Upper Souris, J. Clark Salyer, Audubon, Long Lake, Arrowwood, and Tewaukon Refuges; in the Sheyenne Grasslands of Ransom and Richland Counties; and around Kelly’s Slough and the prairie-chicken areas in Grand Forks County. Should be easy to find.

Willet—Fairly common summer resident of prairie potholes, marshes, and lakes throughout. Easy to find at places such as Bowman-Haley, Lake Ilo, Lostwood, Des Lacs, Upper Souris, J. Clark Salyer, Audubon, Long Lake, Arrowwood, Lake Alice, and Tewaukon Refuges; Kelly’s Slough; Rush Lake; Alkaline Lake; and the marshes around Burnstad.

Red Knot—Very rare migrant through the eastern half. Look for it at Tewaukon, Kelly’s Slough, and the sewage ponds at Grand Forks, Fargo, and West Fargo.

White-rumped Sandpiper—Uncommon migrant to water areas throughout. Look for it at Rush Lake, Kelly’s Slough, Stump Lake, Alkaline Lake, Hobart Lake, the sewage ponds at Grand Forks, Fargo, and West Fargo; and on marshes on Long Lake, Des Lacs, Upper Souris, Lostwood, J. Clark Salyer, Audubon, and Arrowwood Refuges.

Baird’s Sandpiper—Fairly common to uncommon migrant to water areas and flooded fields throughout. Can be found at all of the areas listed for the White-rumped Sandpiper.

Dunlin—Uncommon migrant throughout the eastern half; rare in the west. Found on flooded fields as well as on ponds, lake shores, marshes, and sewage ponds. Check Rush, Stump, Hobart, and Alkaline Lakes; Lake Ardoch; Kelly’s Slough; the fish hatchery at Valley City; Tewaukon Refuge; and the sewage ponds at Grand Forks, Fargo, and West Fargo.

Western Sandpiper—Uncommon to rare migrant throughout. Usually associates with Least and Semipalmated Sandpipers, but seems to feed farther out from shore. Difficult to separate from Semipalmated except when in good spring plumage. Look for it on marshes, lake shores, and sewage ponds, or wherever you find other species of “peeps”.

Buff-breasted Sandpiper—Very rare migrant over most of the state; most regular in the northeast. Prefers grassy pastures and plowed fields. Your best bet is to check the farm areas of Grand Forks County.

Marbled Godwit—Fairly common summer resident of prairie wetlands throughout. Often seen on grasslands far removed from water (excluding an occasional stock pond) as at Longspur Pasture. Easy to find at places such as Bowman-Haley, Lake Ilo, Lostwood, Des Lacs, Upper Souris, J. Clark Salyer, Audubon, Arrowwood, Long Lake, Slade, and Tewaukon Refuges; Kelly’s Slough; Alkaline Lake; the marshes around Burnstad; and on the Sheyenne Grasslands of Ransom and Richland Counties.

Hudsonian Godwit—Uncommon to rare migrant to pastures and water areas throughout (less common in the western half). Try Rush Lake, Lake Ardoch, Kelly’s Slough, Long Lake and Tewaukon Refuges, and the sewage ponds at Grand Forks, Fargo, and West Fargo.

American Avocet—Fairly common summer resident of alkaline lakes and ponds and shallow wetlands throughout (absent as a nesting species over much of the southwest). Also commonly seen during migration and throughout the summer on sewage ponds and other areas where it does not nest. Easy to find at Bowman-Haley, Lostwood, Des Lacs, Upper Souris, J. Clark Salyer, Audubon, Long Lake, Arrowwood, Stump Lake, and Tewaukon Refuges; Kelly’s Slough; Alkaline Lake; Rush Lake; Hobart Lake; and the North Fargo sewage ponds.

Wilson’s Phalarope—Common summer resident of prairie wetlands throughout. Almost impossible to miss, especially in late summer when it congregates in large numbers on certain water areas such as Hobart Lake, Kelly’s Slough, and the North Fargo sewage ponds. Look for it on almost any of the wildlife refuges, game management areas, and waterfowl production areas.

Northern Phalarope—Fairly common to uncommon migrant to wetlands, lakes, and sewage ponds throughout. Look for it in flocks of Wilson’s Phalarope. In the northwest (around Kenmare) it is more common and can often be seen in large numbers.

Migrant Shorebirds—In North Dakota the following species can be considered purely migratory (The species marked by asterisks may be expected in large numbers.): Semipalmated, Lesser Golden*, and Black-bellied* Plovers; Ruddy Turnstone; Greater and Lesser* Yellowlegs; Red Knot; Short-billed and Long-billed Dowitchers*; Dunlin; Solitary, Pectoral*, White-rumped, Baird’s, Least*, Western, Semipalmated*, Stilt*, and Buff-breasted Sandpipers; Sanderling; Hudsonian Godwit; and Northern Phalarope. Remember that some species which breed in one part of the state may occur only as migrants in other areas. Migrating shorebirds can be found almost anywhere where there is water. Preferred areas include sewage ponds, prairie wetlands, flooded fields in agricultural areas, impounded river areas, and shores of larger lakes. Some specific spots are Long Lake, Des Lacs, Upper Souris, Lostwood, J. Clark Salyer, and Stump Lake Refuges; Kelly’s Slough; Rush Lake; Alkaline Lake; Lake Ardoch; Hobart Lake; the river and settling ponds below Baldhill Dam; the ponds at the Valley City fish hatchery; and the sewage ponds at Fargo and Grand Forks. Shorebird migration is usually a continuous movement from late April through mid-October with peaks during the first two weeks in May and the entire month of August.

California Gull—Uncommon summer resident of scattered lakes (usually alkaline) throughout. Occurs over a larger portion of the state as a summer visitor. There are only a handful of known breeding colonies in the state. The best known is probably the one at Chase Lake. A more accessible colony is located near Westby (page 61). Bob Stewart lists these additional colonies: Stony Lake in Kidder County, East Devils Lake in Ramsey County, and Lake Williams in McLean County (Breeding Birds of North Dakota, 1975). Other areas are Bowman-Haley, Audubon, Lostwood, Des Lacs, Long Lake, and Arrowwood Refuges, and Alkaline Lake.

Franklin’s Gull—Common summer resident of extensive marshlands throughout the northern half and southeast quarter. Nesting colonies can be found on Devils Lake, Lake Alice, Stump Lake, marshlands in Sargent County, and on Long Lake, Upper Souris, and J. Clark Salyer Refuges. Non-nesting birds can be found almost anywhere that wetlands exist. In fall it moves south in large concentrations numbering in the tens of thousands.

Bonaparte’s Gull—Uncommon to rare migrant and post-nesting visitor to water areas throughout. Most likely in the southeast quarter. Usually occurs with flocks of Franklin’s Gulls. Try the sewage ponds at Fargo in late summer, or the marshlands in Sargent and Dickey Counties.

Common Tern—Uncommon and local summer resident of large lakes and river impoundments at scattered locations in the central and northwest portions. Look for it on Long Lake, Audubon, Des Lacs, Upper Souris, and J. Clark Salyer Refuges, and on various lakes in the Turtle Mountains.

The Forster’s Tern is more common. The two species can be separated by bill color (more reddish in Common, orange in Forster’s), tail color (white to gray in Common, gray to white in Forster’s—going from the inside or central tail-feathers out), and color of the primaries (darker in Common, very white in Forster’s). The latter is probably the best mark.

Little Tern—Uncommon summer resident of sandbars along the Missouri River near Bismarck. Some years no nesting occurs, because of flooding. To find this species keep checking exposed sandbars along the river in the Bismarck-Mandan vicinity. Try first from the ends of 12th and Washington Streets in Bismarck, or in the vicinity of the Girl Scout camp southwest of that city.

Black-billed Cuckoo—Uncommon to fairly common summer resident of woodland margins, shelterbelts, wood lots, prairie thickets, and wooded coulees throughout. Look for it at Tasker’s Coulee; Sully’s Creek Park; the south unit of the Roosevelt Memorial; the Missouri River floodplain near Bismarck; Upper Souris, Des Lacs, and J. Clark Salyer Refuges; Lake Metigoshe and Icelandic State Parks; the Gunlogson Arboretum; Wakopa and Tongue River Game Management Areas; Sully’s Hill Game Preserve; Turtle River Park; Stump Lake Park; and the bottomlands of the James and Sheyenne Rivers (Stutsman, Barnes, Ransom, and Richland Counties).

Snowy Owl—Uncommon and irregular winter visitor to open country throughout. A few of these large arctic wanderers are present every winter. However, in some winters it may be hard to find while in others it seems to be almost common. There are no specific spots. Just drive the back-country roads any time from December through March. A few can usually be found every winter in Cass County, often right along the roads.

Burrowing Owl—Uncommon summer resident of heavily-grazed prairie throughout the western three-fourths of the state. Look for it on Arrowwood, Long Lake, Audubon, Des Lacs, Upper Souris, Lostwood, J. Clark Salyer, Chase Lake, Lake Ilo, Bowman-Haley, and Stewart Lake Refuges; Salt Alkaline Lake; prairie-dog towns in both units of the Roosevelt Memorial; and south of Marmarth.