Wilson’s Phalarope—Common summer resident of prairie wetlands throughout. Almost impossible to miss, especially in late summer when it congregates in large numbers on certain water areas such as Hobart Lake, Kelly’s Slough, and the North Fargo sewage ponds. Look for it on almost any of the wildlife refuges, game management areas, and waterfowl production areas.
Northern Phalarope—Fairly common to uncommon migrant to wetlands, lakes, and sewage ponds throughout. Look for it in flocks of Wilson’s Phalarope. In the northwest (around Kenmare) it is more common and can often be seen in large numbers.
Migrant Shorebirds—In North Dakota the following species can be considered purely migratory (The species marked by asterisks may be expected in large numbers.): Semipalmated, Lesser Golden*, and Black-bellied* Plovers; Ruddy Turnstone; Greater and Lesser* Yellowlegs; Red Knot; Short-billed and Long-billed Dowitchers*; Dunlin; Solitary, Pectoral*, White-rumped, Baird’s, Least*, Western, Semipalmated*, Stilt*, and Buff-breasted Sandpipers; Sanderling; Hudsonian Godwit; and Northern Phalarope. Remember that some species which breed in one part of the state may occur only as migrants in other areas. Migrating shorebirds can be found almost anywhere where there is water. Preferred areas include sewage ponds, prairie wetlands, flooded fields in agricultural areas, impounded river areas, and shores of larger lakes. Some specific spots are Long Lake, Des Lacs, Upper Souris, Lostwood, J. Clark Salyer, and Stump Lake Refuges; Kelly’s Slough; Rush Lake; Alkaline Lake; Lake Ardoch; Hobart Lake; the river and settling ponds below Baldhill Dam; the ponds at the Valley City fish hatchery; and the sewage ponds at Fargo and Grand Forks. Shorebird migration is usually a continuous movement from late April through mid-October with peaks during the first two weeks in May and the entire month of August.
California Gull—Uncommon summer resident of scattered lakes (usually alkaline) throughout. Occurs over a larger portion of the state as a summer visitor. There are only a handful of known breeding colonies in the state. The best known is probably the one at Chase Lake. A more accessible colony is located near Westby ([page 61]). Bob Stewart lists these additional colonies: Stony Lake in [Kidder] County, East Devils Lake in [Ramsey] County, and Lake Williams in [McLean] County (Breeding Birds of North Dakota, 1975). Other areas are Bowman-Haley, Audubon, Lostwood, Des Lacs, Long Lake, and Arrowwood Refuges, and Alkaline Lake.
Franklin’s Gull—Common summer resident of extensive marshlands throughout the northern half and southeast quarter. Nesting colonies can be found on Devils Lake, Lake Alice, Stump Lake, marshlands in [Sargent] County, and on Long Lake, Upper Souris, and J. Clark Salyer Refuges. Non-nesting birds can be found almost anywhere that wetlands exist. In fall it moves south in large concentrations numbering in the tens of thousands.
Bonaparte’s Gull—Uncommon to rare migrant and post-nesting visitor to water areas throughout. Most likely in the southeast quarter. Usually occurs with flocks of Franklin’s Gulls. Try the sewage ponds at Fargo in late summer, or the marshlands in [Sargent] and Dickey Counties.
Common Tern—Uncommon and local summer resident of large lakes and river impoundments at scattered locations in the central and northwest portions. Look for it on Long Lake, Audubon, Des Lacs, Upper Souris, and J. Clark Salyer Refuges, and on various lakes in the Turtle Mountains.
The Forster’s Tern is more common. The two species can be separated by bill color (more reddish in Common, orange in Forster’s), tail color (white to gray in Common, gray to white in Forster’s—going from the inside or central tail-feathers out), and color of the primaries (darker in Common, very white in Forster’s). The latter is probably the best mark.
Little Tern—Uncommon summer resident of sandbars along the Missouri River near Bismarck. Some years no nesting occurs, because of flooding. To find this species keep checking exposed sandbars along the river in the Bismarck-Mandan vicinity. Try first from the ends of 12th and Washington Streets in Bismarck, or in the vicinity of the Girl Scout camp southwest of that city.
Black-billed Cuckoo—Uncommon to fairly common summer resident of woodland margins, shelterbelts, wood lots, prairie thickets, and wooded coulees throughout. Look for it at Tasker’s Coulee; Sully’s Creek Park; the south unit of the Roosevelt Memorial; the Missouri River floodplain near Bismarck; Upper Souris, Des Lacs, and J. Clark Salyer Refuges; Lake Metigoshe and Icelandic State Parks; the Gunlogson Arboretum; Wakopa and Tongue River Game Management Areas; Sully’s Hill Game Preserve; Turtle River Park; Stump Lake Park; and the bottomlands of the James and Sheyenne Rivers ([Stutsman], [Barnes], [Ransom], and [Richland] Counties).