2008 REPORT OF THE KANSAS BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE
This report summarizes the activities of the Kansas Bird Records Committee (KBRC) for the calendar year 2008. The Committee received 32 reports in 2008, of which 21 records were evaluated. All reports received, are archived in the Ornithology Division of the University of Kansas Natural History Museum, Lawrence. Also included are two reports received early in 2009 which were evaluated and included in this report.
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 49th Supplement, 2008, (Auk 125(3):758-768).
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
Garganey (Anas querquedula), 2008-08, one adult female, 29 January 2008, sandpit at Sandsage Bison Range and Wildlife Area, Finney County, reported by Dan LaShelle. Sixth state record.
Barrow’s Goldeneye (Bucephala islandica), 2008-01, one adult female, 5 January 2008, Arkansas City waste water lagoons, Cowley County, reported by Max Thompson. Nineteenth state record.
Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga), 2009-02, one adult, 11 May 2007, along Big Creek at Ft. Hays State University, Ellis County, reported by Greg Farley.
Swallow-tailed Kite (Elanoides forficatus), 2008-18, one unknown age, 29 May 2008, extreme northwestern Brown County, reported by Rosella Royer. This is the second record in recent years for this species.
Common Crane (Grus grus), 2008-13, one adult, 23 March 2008, at the Big Salt Marsh, Quivira National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), Stafford County, reported by Michael Andersen also seen by Peter Hosner and Hannah Owens. Documented with three photographs. This is the first record of this species in Kansas and will be added to the KOS Checklist.
Black-legged Kittiwake (Risa tridactyla), 2008-31, one immature, 27 December – 30 December 2008, at the outlet area of Milford Lake, Geary County, reported by Chuck Otte also seen by Jaye Otte and many other observers. Documented with four photographs. Seventeenth State Record.
Ross’s Gull (Rhodostethia rosea), 2009-01, one adult, 14 January 2009, at the outlet tubes of Tuttle Creek Lake, Riley County, reported by Ted Cable, also seen by Gerry Snyder, Jim Shroyer and Dave Rintoul. Documented with five photographs from three photographers. This is the first record of this species in Kansas and will be added to the KOS Checklist.
Laughing Gull (Larus atricilla), 2008-07, one in alternate plumage, 20 January 2008, along the Kansas River in Lawrence, Douglas County, reported by Sara Bodbyl Roels, also seen by Steve Roels. While Laughing Gulls are now seen annually in Kansas, there are very few mid-winter records for this species in the state.
Inca Dove (Columbina inca), 2008-20, two unknown age, 29 June 2008, on the Kansas State University Campus, Manhattan, Riley County, reported by Mary Clark, also seen by Randy, Matt and Jennifer Clark.
Broad-tailed Hummingbird (Selasphorus platycercus), 2008-19, one adult male, 8 June – 9 June 2008, in Hutchinson, Reno County, reported by Cheryl Wiggins also seen by Stan Wiggins. First June record of this species outside of extreme southwest Kansas.
Plumbeous Vireo (Vireo plumbeus), 2008-25, one first year bird, 20 September 2008, in the Elkhart Cemetery, Morton County, reported by Mark Land, also seen by Matt Gearheart, Nic Allen, and Jon King.
Cassin’s Vireo (Vireo cassinii), 2008-24, one adult, 20 September 2008, in the Elkhart Cemetery, Morton County, reported by Mark Land, also seen by Matt Gearheart, Nic Allen, and Jon King.
Bushtit (Psaltriparus minimus), 2008-05, four adult males, 5 January – 6 January 2008, at the Lee Richardson Zoo, Garden City, Finney County, reported by Tom Shane, Sara Shane, Doug Floto and Dan LaShelle. Documented with one photograph.
Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana), 2008-10, one adult female, 5 November 1996, in a suburban yard in Garden City, Finney County, reported by Tom Shane, also seen by Sara Shane. Documented with one photograph. This is the sixth record of this species in Kansas but the first record to be substantiated with physical evidence, thus removing it from hypothetical status.
Black-throated Sparrow (Amphispiza bilineata), 2008-15, one adult, 16 April – 18 April 2008, in a suburban backyard in Garden City, Finney County, reported by Tom and Sara Shane. Documented with three photographs. This is the ninth record of this species in Kansas and the first since 1998.
Blue Grosbeak (Passerina caerulea), 2008-30, one immature male, 20 December 2008, in Maple Grove Cemetery, Wichita, Sedgwick County, reported by Cheryl Miller. Documented with one photograph by Mike Heaney. First winter record for Kansas. A very rare winter record of this species from the interior US.
Records not accepted
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor), 2008-21, 4 unknown age, 8 August 2008, Stockdale Cove, Tuttle Creek Lake, Riley County. Origin of these birds is in question. Note: The KBRC spent considerable time discussing the problem surrounding Mute Swan records. The species is popular with waterfowl fanciers, zoos and regularly found at urban ponds. Records committees in many states struggle with this species as it is difficult, if near impossible, to determine the origin of any Mute Swan. The KBRC has decided that until proof of wild origin is found in the state, i.e. neck band from a known wild breeding pair, Mute Swan records will not be circulated for consideration.
Barrow’s Goldeneye (Bucephala islandic), 2008-02, one adult female, 6 January 2008 at Kanopolis Lake, Ellsworth County. Insufficient details to separate from Common Goldeneye or Common x Barrows Goldeneye hybrid.
Arctic Loon (Gavia arctica), 2008-26, one unknown age, 10 October 2008, Perry Lake, Jefferson County. Insufficient details to separate from Common Loon or Pacific Loon.
Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus), 2008-29, one adult, 19 November 2008, Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Management Area, Barton County. Insufficient details to separate this species from similar species.
Chihuahuan Raven (Corvus cryptoleucus), 2008-23, one unknown age, 25 August 2008, near the Stockdale Park area of Tuttle Creek Reservoir, Riley County. Submitted with two photographs. Insufficient details to separate this bird from an American Crow.
Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana), 2008-32, one adult male, 23 October 2008, in Barber County. Insufficient details to separate this bird from the similar Eastern Bluebird.
Eastern Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla tschutschensis), 2008-06, one unknown age, 13 January 2004, in northeastern Garden City, Finney County, submitted with photographs and video. Insufficient details to confirm identification of this bird.
Members of the committee voting on these records:
Doris Burnett (Alternate)
Matt Gearheart
Kevin Groeneweg
Mark Land
Aaron Mitchell (Alternate)
Chuck Otte (Secretary)
Mark Robbins
John Schukman
Max Thompson (Chair)
Corrections – Recent reviews of past KBRC reports uncovered some errors, by this secretary, on the number of Kansas records for some species.
In the 2005 KBRC Annual Report, record 2005-33, Barrow’s Goldeneye, should have been the seventeenth record for Kansas, not the sixteenth.
In the 2006 KBRC Annual Report, record 2006-04, Western Bluebird, should have been the fifth record for Kansas, not the fourth.
In the 2007 KBRC Annual Report, record 2007-05, Barrow’s Goldeneye, should have been the eighteenth record for Kansas, not the seventeenth.
I apologize for any confusion that this might have caused.
Submitted by Chuck Otte, KBRC secretary