A tour through the Big Island/Killdeer Plains area this morning was mostly
unremarkable, but I did find a few birds of note.

In a flooded field south of Hillman-Ford Rd. (about 2 miles northwest of
Marion) there were 12 AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS and 4 American Pipits.

Along Washburn Rd. (on the southeast edge of Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area)
there was a nice-sized flock of passerines including:
  - 60 American Pipits
  - 35 Horned Larks
  - about 200 LAPLAND LONGSPURS, many of which were in full breeding plumage
Also, here along Washburn Rd. were a small group of 13 Pectoral Sandpipers
and a flyover of 12 more AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS.

Big Island had a nice assortment of waterfowl, mostly in the middle
impoundment along LaRue-Prospect Rd.  There were probably 200 each of Lesser
Scaup, Ring-necked Duck, and Ruddy Duck, with lesser numbers of Northern
Shoveler.  There of course were boat-loads of coots.  I also noted 7 HORNED
GREBES here, all of which were mostly (if not completely) in alternate
plumage.

Good Birding,
John

--
John Kuenzli
Columbus, OH

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