2002 REPORT OF THE KANSAS BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE

This report summarizes the activities of the Committee for the calendar year 2002, as well as any decisions pending from previous years.  The Committee received 46 observation reports in 2002, recording the occurrence of 44 different birds. Of this total, 35 records were circulated. All reports submitted, whether circulated to the committee or not, are archived in the Natural History Museum at the University of Kansas.

Record submissions are assigned a sequential number in the order in which they are received, with the year of receipt as a prefix.  Not all submissions that receive a number are circulated.  Birds are listed in phylogenetic order under each of two categories: Records Accepted and Records Not Accepted.  Taxonomy and nomenclature follow the American Ornithologists’ Union Check-list of North American Birds (Seventh edition, 1998) and all updates.

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.  Records that were not accepted by the committee have the observers’ names omitted, and a brief explanation of the reasoning behind that decision. 

 Records accepted

Red-throated Loon (Gavia stellata), 2002-34, 1, unknown sex/unknown age, 29-Nov-2002, Winfield City Lake (Cowley County), reported by Kevin Groeneweg, other observers included Duane DeLong, Max Thompson, & Gene Young. Documented with 2 photos.

Pacific Loon (Gavia pacifica), 2002-40, 1, unknown sex/unknown age, 10-Nov-2002, Meade State Lake (Meade County), reported by Sebastian Patti, other observer - Chris Hobbs.

Yellow-billed Loon (Gavia adamsii), 2002-32, 1 unknown/unknown age, 10-Nov-2002, Clark County State Lake (Clark County), reported by Sebastian Patti/Chris Hobbs. Documented with 1 drawing.  The bird remained on this lake for several weeks, allowing additional reports to be submitted by Bill & Nancy Beard (KBRC #2002-32A, 11-Nov-2002) and Kevin Groenweg (KBRC #2002-32B, 16-Nov-2002). Additional observers reported by these individuals included Duane DeLong, Carolyn Schwab, Cheryl Miller, Scott Seltman, & Henry Armknecht. Both of the latter reports also included photographs (video frame captures) of the bird, allowing the KBRC to remove this species from the hypothetical list.

Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis), 2002-15, 1 immature/sex unknown, 23-Apr-2002, north shore boat ramp, Kirwin Reservoir (Phillips County), reported by Shannon Rothchild, other observer - Deon Steinle. Documentation submitted with this report included 3 photos.

Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis), 2002-19, 1 immature/sex unknown, 16-Jun-2002, east shore of Cheney Res. (Sedgwick County), reported by Pete Janzen, other observers included Don Vannoy, Fran Vannoy, Kevin Groeneweg, & Laura Groeneweg.

Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis), 2002-37, 1 immature/unknown sex, 27-Oct-2002, spillway at Marion County reservoir (Marion County), reported by Matt Gearheart, other observers included Mike Gearheart & Will Chatfield-Taylor.

Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga), 2002-21, 1 adult male, 23-Jun-2002, Unit B, Marais des Cygnes Wildlife Management Area (Linn County), reported by David Seibel, other observers included Mick McHugh & Galen Pittman.

Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus), 2002-18, 1 adult alternate plumage/unknown sex, 17-May-2002, 1.3 mi. N of Unit 49 gate, Quivira NWR (Stafford County), reported by M.K. Edge Wade, other observers included Janice Glaston, Susan Hazelwood, & Bonnie Heidy.

Gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus), 2002-38, 1 unknown age/unknown sex, 09-Nov-2002, west end of Melvern Lake (Osage County), reported by Bob Fisher, other observers included Jane Leonatti, Gary Johnson, & Helen Hewins.

Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis), 2002-42, flock of 200, 21-Dec-2002, Manhattan airport area (Riley County), reported by Peter Oviatt.  Reports in eastern Kansas, especially northeast, are very unusual during winter.

Mountain Plover (Charadrius montanus), 2002-29, 1 adult/unknown sex, 02-Sep-2002, pool 4A at Cheyenne Bottoms (Barton County), reported by Jackie Nooker. Documentation received with this report included13 photos.

White-rumped Sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis), 2002-25, 1 adult alternate plumage/unknown sex, 12-Jul-2002, Quivira NWR (Stafford County), reported by Mark Robbins, other observers included Dan Kluza & Max Thompson. Documentation received with this report included 2 photos. Fall migration records for this species in KS are very rare. These birds have an elliptical migration pattern; spring migrants come through the interior US and fall migrants move alone the east coast.

Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea), 2002-24, 1 adult male, 12-Jul-2002, Quivira NWR (Stafford County), reported by Mark Robbins, other observers included Dan Kluza & Max Thompson. Documentation received with this report included 1 photo. Seventh state record.  Most records from the interior US are from fall migration (July-Aug).

Gull-billed Tern (Sterna nilotica), 2002-27, 1 first basic plumage/unknown sex, 21-Sep-2002, Liberal Sewage Pond (Seward County), reported by Gregg Friesen, other observers included Rod Wedel, Kemper Straley. Second state record for this rare migrant to the interior US.

White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica), 2002-14, 1 adult basic plumage/unknown sex, 06-May-2002, residential backyard, Pittsburg (Crawford County), reported by Robert Mangile, other observer - Elizabeth Mangile.

White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica), 2002-20, 1 unknown age/unknown sex, 09-May-2002, rural yard (Pratt County), reported by Linda Loomis. Documentation received with this report included 4 photos.

Inca Dove (Columbina inca), 2002-8, 1 unknown age/unknown sex, from late November 2002 through 15-Apr-2002, backyard, Garden Plain (Sedgwick County), reported by Dean & Aimee Wallace, other observer - David Hall.

Inca Dove (Columbina inca), 2002-12, 1 adult basic plumage/unknown sex, 31-Mar-2002, residential backyard, McPherson (McPherson County), reported by Rich Duerksen, other observer - Deanna Duerksen.

Common Ground-dove (Columbina passerina), 2002-1, 1 adult basic plumage/unknown sex, 2-Jan-2002 through March 2002, urban backyard, Olathe (Johnson County), reported by Mark Corder, other observers included Elaine Corder, Mick McHugh, Chris Hobbs, Sebastian Patti, Galen Pittman, & many other observers. Documentation received with this report included digital video.

Common Ground-Dove (Columbina passerina), 2002-28,  1 first basic plumage/unknown sex, 08-Oct-2002, yard of 9228 Shade Avenue (Sedgwick County), reported by Dan Kilby, other observers included Ruth Goodrick, Rick Goodrick, Don Vannoy, Fran Vannoy, & Sandra Tholen.

Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus), 2002-33, 1 HY male, 28-Nov-2002, suburban backyard (Johnson County), reported by Troy Gordon, other observers included Janine Gordon & Nancy Leo. The bird was trapped, measured, banded and released. Documentation received with this report included 4 photos.

Lewis' Woodpecker (Melanerpes lewis), 2002-36, 1 unknown age/unknown sex, 12-Oct-2002, Clinton State Park (Douglas County), reported by Gerry Parkinson, other observer - Wakefield Dort. Eleventh state record.

Lewis' Woodpecker (Melanerpes lewis), 2002-44, 1 unknown age /unknown sex, 10-Nov-2002, cemetery, Liberal (Seward County), reported by Sebastian Patti & Chris Hobbs. Twelfth state record.

Red-naped Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus nuchalis), 2002-6, 1 adult basic-plumaged male, 17-Mar-2002, Suicide Bluff, Scott State Park (Scott County), reported by Tom Shane, other observer - Sara Shane. Seventh state record.

Red-naped Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus nuchalis), 2002-35, 1 adult female, 23-Sep-2002, next to the cemetery in Elkhart (Morton County), reported by Mick McHugh, other observer - Galen Pittman. Eighth state record.

Ash-throated Flycatcher (Myiarchus cinerascens), 2002-22, 1 unknown age/unknown sex, 14-Aug-2002, Big Spring and Pond, Scott State Park (Scott County), reported by Tom Shane, other observer - Sara Shane. Documentation received with this report included 1 sketch.

Cassin's Vireo (Vireo cassini), 2002-31, 1 basic plumage/unknown sex, 22-Sep-2002, north fork of Cimarron River (Morton County), reported by Mick McHugh, other observers included Galen Pittman & Mark Corder.

Fish Crow (Corvus ossifragus), 2002-3, 1 adult basic plumage/unknown sex, 03-Feb-2002, tributary oif Mud Creek, NE Douglas County (Douglas County), reported by Mark Robbins. This is a very early seasonal record for this species, which normally arrives in Kansas and neighboring states in March or April. It appears that the species continues to expand its range in Kansas and elsewhere. Tenth state record.

Orange-crowned Warbler (Vermivora celata), 2002-7, 1 basic plumage/unknown sex, early February through mid-March 2002, suburban backyard, visiting a suet feeder (Pottawatomie County), reported by Kimberly With, other observer - Greg Schrock. This species typically spends the winter well to the south of Kansas.

Golden-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia atricapilla), 2002-11, 1 immature (first-winter plumage)/unknown sex, 9-Mar-2002, brush along a gravel road (Linn County), reported by Mick McHugh.

Dickcissel (Spiza americana), 2002-2, 1 adult male (basic plumage), 5-Jan through 10-Jan-2002, urban backyard, Wichita (Sedgwick County), reported by Margaret Clemence, other observers included Don Clemence, Virgil Stukey, Thelma Stukey, Dean Palmer & Diana Palmer. Documentation submitted with this report included 3 photos. While this species is a common summer resident in Kansas, most winter in South America.

Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla), 2002-4, 1 adult male, molting into alternate plumage, 22-Jan-2002 and 15-Mar-2002, rural backyard NW of Linn (Washington County), reported by Warren Buss. Documentation submitted with this report included digital videos (taken on two separate occasions). First state record, added to the state checklist.

White-winged Crossbill (Loxia leucoptera), 2002-23, 1 basic-plumaged female, 16-Apr-2002, residential backyard, Garden City (Finney County), reported by Tom Shane, other observers included Sara Shane. Documentation submitted with this report included 2 photos.

Records not accepted

Iceland Gull (Larus glaucoides), 2002-5, 1 immature basic plumage/unknown sex, 23-Feb-02, outlet area of John Redmond Reservoir (Coffey County). Identification of immature gulls in this species complex is difficult, and the description provided did not provide enough detail to rule out other possible identifications.

Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus), 2002-41, 1 unknown age/female from 8-Sep-2001 through 13-Sep-2001, backyard in Wichita (Sedgwick County). The description provided for this report did not provide enough detail to rule out the possibility of other Selasphorus species.

Members of the committee voting on these records

Submitted by David A. Rintoul, KBRC secretary.