Later Passerine migrants, including sparrows, kinglets, pipits and towhees, will be passing through Siouxland in mid-October. Ponca State Park and Elk Point WMA offer woodland, prairie, wetland and riverine habitats for these species. In addition, the Missouri River offers opportunities for finding later migrating shorebirds, gulls and waterfowl. The 3-State Overlook and Pipeline Overlook are great places to look for migrating hawks, eagles and falcons.

We will spend extra time looking for and studying the Rufous-sided Towhee complex at this site where Eastern, Spotted and more commonly, hybrids of these two species occur in migration. If water levels permit, extra effort for LeConte’s and Nelson’s Sparrows will be expended.

We will meet at the old Walmart in CornHusker Plaza, South Sioux City at 7:00 AM on Saturday, October 15 for the 25-minute drive to the Park. Others wishing to meet us on site later in the morning may find us within the Park or by contacting me. Bring sack lunches so you can eat without leaving the park’s many habitats and missing some of our discoveries.

A Nebraska State Park permit is required.

All LHAS outings are open to the public and offer an inviting way to begin birding and meet others with similar interests.

For more information, contact Bill Huser at 712-574-3107 or billfhuser@gmail.com.