Funnel - 12 June 09

Nothing bird-related in this post (a shock, I'm sure).  The most interesting thing to happen over the last couple days was this storm!  The storm cell pictured before dropped a funnel cloud and became a tornado at least twice before we actually saw the storm.  However, the funnel decided to drop once more while we were there.  Very cool!

Tornado - 9 June 09

Not all that much has changed here in western Nebraska in the last several days.  Honestly, work is keeping us busy and the birding has really started to slow down.  Nonetheless, there was some excitement recently when a large storm cell spawned a tornado very near the refuge!  Although I wasn't able to see the tornado, we think it came about 3-4 miles from the house.  As far as we know, nothing was damanged either.

The following is a picture of a rainbow that popped out behind the cell in the creepy, greenish light:

I think the only bird photo I have to share on this update is one of a Bobolink taken north of the refuge.  Bobolinks are actually tough to find in this part of the state.  Sorry for the wire in front of the birds head (stupid fence):

Update - 5 June 09

Hello all (all 3 of you),

It's been a little while since my last post so I thought I'd give an update.  The project out here in western Nebraska is going well.  The curlews have hatched and are now struggling to make it to fledging.

But first, here are a few pictures.  The first is a Willet, one darn attractive shorebird of the prairies near the refuge:

The following pictures show the same female Long-billed Curlew wearing one of our satellite transmitters:

Ever wonder how noticeable an adult female Long-billed Curlew is on a nest?  Here is a picture showing one:

And lastly, we can't forget about the male curlews.  This is a bird wearing one of our radio-collars:

Wonder why we attach these to curlews?  Well, A) we'd like to learn where these curlews spend the winter (hence the satellite-tags) and B) we'd like to track these males back to nests next summer (hence the radio-tags). 

Another common resident (although rarely seen) is the Barn Owl.  Here is one near my house:

Lastly, the birding here at Crescent Lake has started to slow down.  Migrants are far and few between these days.  However, a couple days ago yielded a few new species for my "refuge list".  We had a lone Purple Martin but more excitingly, a MacGillivray's Warbler.  Unfortunately, couldn't manage any photos of those.

More from me later!

YTWA - 28 May 2009

Work has kept me busy as of late.  However, a few neat things are still around.  Most noteable was this YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER I found and photographed on the 26th.  This is likely only the 3rd or 4th record of this species from the panhandle of Nebraska.  See the 2 photos below:

My yard is still hosting several grosbeaks (Blue, Rose-breasted, and Black-headed).  Here is a picture of the latter two:

Quite uncommon in Garden County, I stumbled on this Black-necked Stilt several days ago as well.  It's rather backlit but oh well:

And lastly, a few warblers are still being seen around the refuge.  One of the many typical sounds coming from tangles and thickets here are from Yellow-breasted Chats.  Although they're rather secretive, I still managed a lousy picture:

Update - 24 May 2009

Here is another quick post with just a few pics.  Enjoy!

CINNAMON TEAL in Sheridan County:

UPLAND SANDPIPER:

AMERICAN AVOCET:

And lastly, we finally turned up a SNOWY EGRET in northern Garden County: