Summer Field Report, June–July 2025

Authors

• W. Ross Silcock, Nebraska Ornithologists' UnionFollow

Date of this Version

9-2025

Document Type

Article

Citation

Nebraska Bird Review, volume 93, number 3, September 2025, pp. 98–117

Comments

Published by the Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union, Inc.

Abstract

I have mentioned previously the breeding categories that are available to observers in eBird checklists. This database is becoming more comprehensive and useful, and I encourage observers to use this eBird feature.

Usefulness of Merlin-derived checklists continues to be an issue. As an example, Merlin seems to love White-winged Doves; there were 52 undocumented Merlin reports of this species this summer, no doubt some correctly identified and acceptable if observers had taken a minute to add even minimal observation details to support Merlin’s identifications.

A vexing issue for me is determining the status of midsummer (i.e. between spring and fall migration) reports of several shorebird species. Such records are rare and may qualify as summer visitors rather than late spring or early fall migrants; paused or incomplete spring migration by one-year-old non-breeders probably accounts for many of these reports. Treatment varies by species, as indicated in the species accounts.

This summer the big news involved breeding records and rarities. Rarities will be mentioned later but on the breeding side, most exciting was documented breeding by Common Raven in Nebraska for the first time in over 100 years. Breeding may even have occurred in two locations; both have been frequented by ravens during the 2020s. Quite exciting was the first breeding record of Northern Parula in Lancaster Co, a result of dogged mid-summer bushwhacking. Other interesting breeding-related observations on the positive side were an isolated Red-breasted Nuthatch nesting in Buffalo Co, along with an apparently established disjunct Carolina Wren population in the same county.

A couple of Townsend’s Solitaire sightings were suggestive of Pine Ridge breeding. The uncertainty regarding breeding status of Dark-eyed (White-winged) Junco on the Pine Ridge continues, and more information on putative breeding by the newly constituted species Western Warbling-Vireo in the Panhandle is needed. Interestingly, all five Warbling Vireos observed on the Pine Ridge this summer were Easterns, although the sighting dates may not have precluded these being migrants.

An unsurprising suite of species continues to slowly push westward: Northern Bobwhite, Greater Prairie-Chicken, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Eastern Wood-Pewee, and Purple Martin.

A few species were reported in low numbers or were absent, notably Gray Partridge, Little Blue Heron, Lewis’s Woodpecker, and Pinyon Jay. On the other hand, good showings by a few species stood out: Black-chinned Hummingbird, Broad-tailed Hummingbird, Mississippi Kite, and Sage Thrasher. Good numbers were reported of Chuck-will’s-widow, Green Heron, and Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, the latter a carryover from an excellent spring.

As happens each summer, there were eastern species found in the west. Surprising were the 2nd Panhandle Wood Thrush, Yellow-throated Vireo in Buffalo Co, and a Philadelphia Vireo photographed in Gordon, Sheridan Co. Noteworthy western species east were Western Wood-Pewee and Say’s Phoebe, both most obviously in the north. Also northerly were a Northern Mockingbird in Rock Co and an Acadian Flycatcher in Thurston Co.

There were the usual late spring and early fall migrant occurrences, notably early fall shorebird sightings, as mentioned above. Record late for spring was a Ruddy Turnstone, and a Red-necked Phalarope was rather late as well.

Each season has a few oddities, this year’s were a Barn Owl fledging young in a Lancaster Co drainpipe and a putative hybrid Mourning Warbler x Common Yellowthroat. Perhaps inexplicable were a Hermit Thrush photographed in Lincoln, Lancaster Co, in mid-Jun and a White-crowned Sparrow in Buffalo Co in late Jun.

Finally, the frosting on the cake, rarities, all well-photographed. Nebraska’s 3rd Grace’s Warbler was in North Platte, Lincoln Co, and, both 9th state records, an Anna’s Hummingbird was in Dawes Co and a Black-throated Sparrow was in Sioux Co. Worthy of mention here was a Red-throated Loon in full breeding plumage at Lake Ogallala, Keith Co.