by Dan Casey

Rare and Notables – October/November 2023

This period presented several of the less common species we have come to expect in late fall, including all three scoter species, Short-billed Gulls, and a Swamp Sparrow. Pacific Loons were seen in several locations, including two at Rogers Lake. Common Redpoll, Snow Bunting and Bohemian Waxwing reports increased throughout the period. Most remarkable was a “one day wonder” BRAMBLING that was photographed at a Polson feeder; it was the tenth Montana record of the species, but the fourth in Lake County and the second one in the state this year!

See also: https://ebird.org/region/US-MT-029?yr=all

  • 10/16 – Pacific Loon (1) Ducharme Point, Polson (Shawn R.) (present 10/12-10/18)
  • 10/16 – Black-bellied Plover (1) West Valley (Grant P.)
  • 10/19 – Swamp Sparrow (1) Dixon Ln, Polson (Shawn R.) (present through 11/3)
  • 10/20 – Short-billed Gull (1) Dixon Ln, Polson (Braydon L.)
  • 10/21 – Pacific Loon (1) Woods Bay (Maggie and Clara K.)
  • 10/27 – Ferruginous Hawk (1) Flathead Lake WPA (Grant P.)
  • 10/28 – Common Redpoll (10) Owen Sowerwine (Evan C.) (first of season)
  • 10/29 – White-winged Scoter (3) Foy’s Lake (Dan C.); Four there 11/9 (bj W.)
  • 10/29 – American Golden-Plover (1) Dixon Ln, Polson (Braydon L.)
  • 10/31 – Black Scoter (2) Lake Mary Ronan (Braydon L.) (present through 11/10)
  • 11/08 – Pacific Loon (1) Wayfarer’s SP, Bigfork (Craig H.)
  • 11/09 – Short-billed Gull (1) Flathead Lake WPA (Shawn R.)
  • 11/09 – BRAMBLING (1) Polson (Braydon L.) (tenth state record!)
  • 11/10 – Short-billed Gull (1) Salish Pt, Polson (Roy M. and Grant P.)
  • 11/12 – Pacific Loon (2) Rogers Lake (Linda W.)
  • 11/13 – Surf Scoter (1) Somers Bay, Flathead Lake (Dan C.)

What to Expect – December 2023

Late November and early December can continue to provide surprise, particularly if our lakes stay ice-free. It’s a good time to scan flocks of diving ducks for scoters or Long-tailed Ducks, and loons should be scrutinized closely to look for the rarer species. Gull diversity should increase as Glaucous, Iceland or even Glaucous-winged Gulls arrive. It’s also a great time to look through the wintering raptors for Harlan’s Red-tailed Hawks and the diverse plumages of Rough-legged Hawks.