Heading south, you will pass a prairie-dog town on your right after 13.1 miles. This town is not very conspicuous from the road, but it is rather extensive. Watch for Black-tailed Prairie Dog, Black-footed Ferret (one was observed here in 1976), Burrowing Owl, and McCown’s Longspur.
The predominant habitat is short-grass prairie with extensive flats of black and silver sages. Some of the hillsides have lots of junipers. This is good raptor country. Look for Turkey Vulture, Northern Harrier, Swainson’s and Ferruginous Hawks, Prairie Falcon, and Golden Eagle. Harding County (directly south in South Dakota) is known as one of the best areas in that state for Golden Eagles, so it is possible that many of the eagles seen in Bowman spill over from Harding.
This road passes through some of the best habitat in the state for Sage Grouse. Sharp-tailed Grouse are also numerous. The Long-billed Curlew, although uncommon, is present each year in these sage-covered grasslands. Other species to look for are Mountain Plover (accidental); Common Nighthawk; Horned Lark; Loggerhead Shrike; Western Meadowlark; Lark Bunting; Vesper, Lark, and Brewer’s (common) Sparrows; and Chestnut-collared and McCown’s Longspurs.
Some 4.8 miles beyond the prairie-dog town, turn left on a dirt road to the Little Missouri River, where the trees and brush act as a migrant trap. During migration, it is the natural spot to turn up a western vagrant. Return to the main road and continue south for 2.2 miles to a small bridge near an eroded butte. Check for Say’s Phoebes and Cliff Swallows. Some 6.0 miles farther there is a larger bridge, where Cliff Swallows nest in good numbers, and you may find a Belted Kingfisher or a Say’s Phoebe. The state line is at the end of the bridge.
e) [Slope] County
If you did not find a Sage Grouse in Bowman County, try the road from Marmarth to Amidon. It is 42 miles long, and takes off from the east edge of Marmarth, where it is marked by a sign. The best area is the first six miles, where the sage is thickest. However, it may be worthwhile to drive the entire road.
While in Marmarth, check the trees in the residential area for nesting Western Pewees. One place where they have nested in the past is in the cottonwoods at the Marmarth Picnic Area. Turn left (south) off Highway 12 on the first street west of the St. Charles Hotel, drive 0.2 mile, and swing right to the small picnic area.
Stewart Lake National Wildlife Refuge is excellent for marshland and grassland birds. To get there go north from Bowman on U.S. Highway 85. After 12.0 miles turn left (west) by the flying-goose sign. After 3.0 miles turn right and cross the cattleguard toward the lake.
This refuge is rather small, but in migration the lake attracts all of the regular ducks, shorebirds, gulls (watch for California), terns, and swallows. Species which nest in the reedy borders include American Bittern, Blue-winged Teal, American Coot, Sora, Spotted Sandpiper, Wilson’s Phalarope, Black Tern, Marsh Wren, Common Yellowthroat, and Red-winged and Yellow-headed Blackbirds. In the mixed-grass prairie watch in summer for Northern Harrier; Sharp-tailed Grouse; Upland Sandpiper; Burrowing Owl; Horned Lark; Sprague’s Pipit; Loggerhead Shrike; Lark Bunting; Baird’s, Lark, and Grasshopper Sparrows; and Chestnut-collared Longspur.
