Belted Kingfisher

 

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Signs of Spring

 Gnatcatcher, second earliest record for county.

Long-tailed duck we had for two weeks or more.

Great egret

Out West for a day to see cranes and ride 25 miles.

Rather a slow spring.

 Cold weather has prevented a lot of outings and song birds have been few. Many pelicans going through.

Other than that, just American Pipits were easily spotted.

End of 2022

 It was a typical year. The King Rail was an oddity a couple of Lancaster County birders found.

Out at Ft Robinson found a few birds. Cassin's Kingbird.

Magpies.

Lark Sparrow.

A Lesser Black-backed Gull ended up at a small marsh. Most years I find a few Northern Shrikes November and December.

Fall Warblers

 My warbler list for 2022:

It's not embarrassing, but could be better. Somehow I don't find Wilson's as well as other people, and not every year.

Black-and-white warbler I have recorded 20 times. It tends to move a lot so there are few photos. But there is this one with the bird on the tree trunk, unlike most warblers.

Virginia Rails and a King Rail

 We get through the end of May and the migrants settle down and move North, some. Then there is a time of peace and quiet and a few bird neighborhood squabbles. But little new to see. Usually we get a "summer surprise." One year it was the some Mississippi Kites, another it was Common Gallinule. This year it was a Limpkin in Omaha and these rails two birders found in our country. The site is not a super birding site, but as it is well  mowed, I walk there once or twice in June.

The Virginia Rails were in a small pond, fast drying, among cat tails. One rail this morning:

There were one or two today, up to 7 a week ago.

The real surprise was the King Rail that Steve and Linda found a week ago. The above rails are juveniles. The parents were not seen. The King Rail is an adult, a stray. Note the orange breast. The King Rail would have a similar spotty or striped breast to the Virginias if it were a juvenile. They do not nest here. A few pairs nest in Kansas and Iowa each year.

Not a very good angle, but the King Rail is front, larger, and the Virginia Rail in the back.

Here you see the marsh. Virginia Rail in front, King Rail in back. Rails have long toes to keep them on top of the mud. Got one photo where the toes show:

Ft Robinson, NW Nebraska

 These birds are from Fort Robinson State Park and Agate Fossil beds national Monument.

Magpies, Lark Sparrows and a black Lark Bunting plus a Blue Grosbeak. The Agate Fossil Bed is dry sandy ranch land:

The Lark Bunting

Not a frontal view, but enough for ID, Cassin's kingbird. A Western Kingbird would have white edges to the tail.