2007 REPORT OF THE KANSAS BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE
This report summarizes the activities of the Kansas Bird Records Committee (KBRC) for the calendar year 2007. The Committee received 36 reports in 2007, of which 23 records were evaluated. All reports received, are archived in the Ornithology Division of the University of Kansas Natural History Museum, Lawrence.
Submissions are assigned a sequential number in the order in which they are received, with the year of receipt as a prefix. Birds are listed in phylogenetic order under each of two categories: Records Accepted and Records Not Accepted. Taxonomy and nomenclature follow the Checklist of North American Birds, 7th edition, American Ornithologists Union, 1998, updated through the 48th Supplement, 2007, (Auk 124(3):1109-1115).
After the English and scientific name follows the KBRC record number; the number of individuals seen, with age or plumage notes; date(s) of observation; locality, including county; observer(s), with those documenting the record listed first; supporting physical evidence, if any, received by the Committee; and finally, comments and notes on changes in the species’ status on the KOS checklist. Number of records indicates records accepted by the Kansas Bird Records Committee. Records that were not accepted by the Committee have the observers’ names omitted, and a brief explanation of the reasoning behind that decision.
Authors, when citing KBRC records from this report, are encouraged to give credit to the observer(s) of the record that submitted the report along with the citation of this report.
Records accepted
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna autumnalis), 2007-24, one adult, 13 July-14 July 2007, Island Park ,Winfield, Cowley County, photographed by Linda Woolf. Thirteenth state record.
Fulvous Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna bicolor), 2007-21, one adult, 26 June 2007, Quivira NWR, Stafford County, reported by Matt Gearheart, also seen by Aaron Mitchell and Terry Swope. Documented with four photographs. This is the first confirmed record of this species in the state in over 20 years. A bird banding crew working with Brett Sandercock, Kansas State University, at Quivira NWR in the summer of 2007 reported that on July 3rd they noted one whistling-duck (unknown species) in flight near dusk from the eastern part of the wildlife drive. On July 4th, three Fulvous Whistling-Ducks were observed in a pool near the spillway on the Big Salt Marsh. On July 12th, one Fulvous Whistling-Duck was observed in a pool near the eastern part of the wildlife drive. Fide David Hodkinson and Samantha Franks.
Barrow’s Goldeneye (Bucephala islandica), 2007-05, one adult male, 11 November-26 November 2006, at a county park lake near the Sedgwick County Zoo, Wichita, reported by Paul Griffin, seen by many observers. Documented with five photographs from three observers. Seventeenth state record.
Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena), 2007-32, one unknown age, 20 September 2007, at Lakin Draw, near Ulysses, Grant County, reported by Kellye Hart and Sam Guy. Eighteenth state record.
Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens), 2007-29, one adult male, 9 September 2007, at the outlet tubes of Tuttle Creek Dam, Riley County, reported by Brian Monser, also seen by Bill Monser. Fifth state record. Note – While this report was accepted, the KBRC emphasizes that there were no details given to separate this bird from a Great Frigatebird. Historically, any frigatebird in Kansas was expected to be a Magnificent. Confirmed sightings and specimens in the past several decades of Lesser Frigatebird (Wyoming and Michigan) and Great Frigatebird (Oklahoma) should encourage Kansas birders to pay close attention to any frigatebird in Kansas to provide details that will confirm identification to species.
Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus), 2007-17, one adult, 20 May 2007, in a wet field north of Colwich, Sedgwick County, reported by Kevin Groeneweg, also seen by Pete Janzen, Dan Kilby, Jay Newton, Curt VanBoeing and Cliff Miller. Twentieth state record.
Wilson’s Plover (Charadrius wilsonia), 2007-26, one adult, 31 July 2007, Quivira NWR, Stafford County, reported by Mark Rogers, also seen by Mart Pat Haddican. Third state record.
Mew Gull (Larus canus), 2007-34, one adult, 12 November 2007, Lake Wabaunsee, Wabaunsee County, reported by Dan LaShelle. Ninth state record.
Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus), 2007-04, one adult, 7 January 2007, Kanopolis Lake, Ellsworth County, reported by Dan Gish, also seen by Dan Larson, Richard Field, Richard Martin and Jim Malcom. Twelfth state record.
Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus), 2007-31, one adult, 18 September 2007, Kanopolis Lake, Ellsworth County, reported by Kat Farres, also seen by Dennis Farres. Documented with three photographs. Thirteenth state record.
Anna’s Hummingbird (Calypte anna), 2007-02, one adult male, 18 August 2006, Oak Park, Wichita, Sedgwick County, reported by Paul Griffin. Documented with numerous photographs. Seventh state record.
Vermilion Flycatcher (Pyrocephalus rubinus), 2007-19, one adult female, 9 June 2007, Cimarron National Grasslands, Morton County, reported by Kevin Groeneweg, also seen by Sharon Bolin. Documented with two photographs.
Golden-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia atricapilla), 2007-11, one adult, 9 March 2007, Stockdale area of Tuttle Creek Reservoir, Riley County, reported by Lowell Johnson and Cory Gregory. Twenty-second state record.
Records not accepted
Garganey (Anas querquedula), 2007-25, one adult, 29 July 2007 at a Reno county playa lake. Insufficient details to separate from other teal or to rule out a hybrid.
Great Blue Heron, white morph (Ardea herodias), 2007-13, one adult, 14 April 2007 at a farm pond in Johnson County. Insufficient details to separate from Great Egret.
Swainson’s Hawk (Buteo swainsoni), 2007-07, one adult, 5 February 2007, near Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Management Area, Barton County. Insufficient details to confirm that this wasn’t another Buteo species.
“Alcid”, 2007-35, one unknown age, 23 November 2007, Lake Wabaunsee, Wabaunsee County. While most committee members were intrigued by the description given for this bird, all felt it was insufficient to differentiate which species it might be or if it was in fact an alcid.
Black-chinned Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri), 2007-03, one immature female, 18 August 2006, Oak Park, Wichita, Sedgwick County. Insufficient details to separate from closely related Ruby-throated Hummingbird.
Anna’s Hummingbird (Calypte anna), 2007-06, one immature female, 1 September-3 September 2006, Wichita, Sedgwick County. Insufficient details to separate from a female Ruby-throated Hummingbird. Photographs not conclusive.
Phainopepla (Phainopepla nitens), 2007-09, one adult, 16 February 2007, at a feeder near Oskaloosa, Jefferson County. Insufficient details to separate from other species that may have a crest. The observation was very short in duration and the time of year is not when this species would be expected to be seen in Kansas. Additionally, this bird was seen at a feeder which is atypical for this species.
Canyon Towhee (Pipilo fuscus), 2007-14, one adult, 7 May 2007, Monument Rocks, Gove County. Description given was insufficient to adequately confirm that the bird seen was this species.
Blue Bunting (Cyanocompsa parellina), 2007-30, one adult female, 12 September 2007, in riparian woods near Kansas River, Johnson County. Insufficient details to separate from female or immature Indigo Bunting.
Members of the committee voting on these records:
Doris Burnett (Alternate)
Matt Gearheart
Kevin Groeneweg
Mark Land
Jackie Nooker (Alternate)
Chuck Otte (Secretary)
Mark Robbins
John Schukman
Max Thompson (Chair)
Submitted by Chuck Otte, KBRC secretary