Blog #2. South Dakota, 11-14 May 2020

     Flock of feeding Hudsonian Godwit's in farmer's pond beside road

On the 11^th of May I went out pre-dawn to search for a lek (booming ground) of the Greater Prairie Chicken, but I failed to locate it. Back at Blue Valley campground in Seward, I broke camp and drove 390 miles north and east to Lake City, South Dakota, with many birding stops along the way. The drive produced 3 more flocks of Hudsonian Godwits, all found while racing north at 65 mph. It’s amazing how this species jumps out at you once you have the search image… One flock was in a wet field in front of a small dilapidated country house. I asked the aged owner for permission to admire and photograph the big swag of foraging godwits and he generously let me do my thing.

     Godwits forage in front of farm buildings and home

I was also treated to a flock of 11 American Golden-Plovers, which passed low right over my speeding car. Sadly, they did not set down, so no photographs… (last year’s flock of 265 will never be forgotten—in a place quite near this spot). I once again passed through De Smet, childhood home of Laura Ingalls Wilder (of “Little House on the Prairie” fame). My children loved those books.

    Franklin's Gull showing its pink-wash to its breast--something only seen in spring

Northeastern South Dakota was, unlike Nebraska, very wet. In one place, my GPS took me to a gravel road that plunged steeply into a lake. The sign said, “road closed”. So much for that short-cut. Then an hour later, highway 25 north of Roslyn displayed a sign “Road Ahead Covered in Water—No Cars.” I consulted a local fisherman in Roslyn, and he said, “go for it.” A large lake had risen and covered about a quarter mile of roadbed. I slowly crossed, creating a large wake, wondering what the water would do to my bearings….

    Pectoral Sandpiper. A common species in the great plains in spring, often with the godwits.

I was traveling to NE South Dakota because of the amazing number of lakes and ponds in this corner of the state—a super prairie potholes sector. Also, just to the east was a distinctive edge of the Lake City escarpment that featured Sica Hollow State Park, which looked good for birding. 

    Swainson's Hawk--the raptor of the prairies

This corner of South Dakota looked almost as interesting as the Southwest, which hosts the Black Hills. I was situated just to the west of the very large Lake Traverse Indian Reservation, of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Tribe.

    Western Grebe -- breeds in the Dakotas

The first evening I birded the campsite and the trees, naked of any leaves, held a small flock of warblers—Blackpoll, Nashville, Orange-crowned, and of course Yellow-rumped. 

    Most prairie has been converted to pastureland...

It was positively wintry at Roy Lake, and I nearly froze the first of three nights I spent there. Morning brought frost.

    American White Pelicans above and below--commonplace in the waters of NE SD

    Drake Blue-winged Teal with a Wilson's Phalarope behind (not actually pecking the duck's head!)

Everywhere I drove were ponds with ducks: mainly Blue-winged Teal, but also another half-dozen species were common: Lesser Scaup, Redhead, Canvasback, Gadwall, Mallard, Green-winged Teal…

    Upland Sandpiper -- the sandpiper of the great plains

Sica Hollow State Park (“Sica” is pronounced “see-chee”) was a lovely forested glen that was about 500 feet lower than Lake City, hence more advanced into spring. There I found Swainson’s Thrush, Blue-headed Vireo, and Broad-winged Hawk. I can image that with a southerly wind, this patch of woods surrounded by prairie would fill with songbirds.

    White-faced Ibis flock

Out on the high plateau prairie where Lake City and Roy Lake lie I found two pairs of Upland Sandpipers. This is a species that is remarkably uncommon, in spite of an abundance of grassy prairie.

    Crisply-plumaged female Wilson's Phalarope

The next day, traveling to Aberdeen, SD, to address a phone connectivity issue, I bumped into two big flocks of Hudsonian Godwits, totalling 65 individuals. That made up for the cold and rainy weather that dominated that day.

    Male Yellow-headed Blackbird sounding off

The spring migration of songbirds was only just beginning here. Lots of the resident species had not  arrived. The vegetation was 2 or 3 weeks behind that of Bethesda… luckily that does not slow up the shorebirds…  

    The godwits get restless when I get too close to them

Next stop, North Dakota…