By Dan Casey

Selected Rare and Notables – May-August 2024

Spring migration did not provide many surprises, but as we moved into summer, some interesting trends developed. Yellow-breasted Chats, typically rare here, were reported from the south edge of the county, Somers, Creston, Columbia Falls and Glacier NP. Individual  Common Grackles were reported regularly, and Veery reports were refreshingly regular from River’s Edge Park in Columbia Falls. Singing Alder Flycatchers and White-throated Sparrows, the latter mostly on the east side of Glacier (July 10-28), were good finds. The latter species has not yet been documented breeding in the state. Neither has Broad-winged Hawk, reported nearly annually in Glacier; this year three were reported, the latest on June 25 (Ruben S). Exceptionally early was a Tundra Swan at Somers, July 8-16 (Dan C.). 

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

  • 04/22 – Am. x Eurasian Green-winged Teal (1) Montford Rd (Dan C.)
  • 04/29 – Glaucous Gull (1, late) Flathead WPA (Shawn R.) 
  • 05/22 – Loggerhead Shrike (1) Flathead WPA (Zackary S.)
  • 05/27 – Sage Thrasher (1) North Shore WMA (Dan C.)
  • 06/01 – Red-breasted Merganser (1) Kalispell (Roy M.)
  • 06/08 – Upland Sandpiper (1) Brown’s Meadow Rd (Elliot R.)
  • 06/23 – Alder Flycatcher (1) Camas Cr Trail (Jake B., Shannon D.)
  • 07/11 – Ferruginous Hawk (1) Creston (Elliot R.)
  • 07/19 – Western Screech-Owl (1) Polebridge (Harry C-M.)
  • 07/21 – White-throated Sparrow (1) Upper Whitefish L. (Markus B.)
  • 07/24 – Black-and-White Warbler (1) Quartz Lake Tr (Victor F.)
  • 08/15 – Stilt Sandpiper (5) West Valley (Jake B.)
  • 08/06 – Ferruginous Hawk (1) Wiley Dike, Somers (Dan C.)

What to Expect – September 2024

Fall migration is in full gear during September. Watch for large mixed sparrow flocks (Savannah, Vesper, Chipping, Song, White-crowned) on the roadsides and windrows. Migrant hawks can be seen throughout the valley as well as on the mountain ridges; American Kestrels, Red-tailed Hawks, Northern Harriers and Turkey Vultures are most common in the valley. Shorebird migration, which began in June (!) continues, with Pectoral Sandpipers, Long-billed Dowitchers and American Golden-Plovers among the ones to watch for late in the season. Some of the first winter visitors (e.g. Rough-legged Hawk, Bohemian Waxwing) may arrive by the end of the month.