November Bird Calendar for the Omaha Nebraska area

by Babs Padelford

November brings concentrations of waterfowl and, possibly, some of the rarer gulls. Following is a partial list of birds that can be found in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa.

Species	Location
Waterfowl - Look for Ross' Goose with large flocks of Snow Geese at DeSoto NWR. The more unusual species of ducks, i.e., Greater Scaup, Oldsquaw, Black, Surf and White-winged Scoters, Loons: Common; Red-throated (rare), Pacific (rare).	All month until lakes freeze - Lake Manawa & Carter Lake, Iowa; Papio Damsite Lakes - Douglas & Sarpy Counties; DeSoto NWR - Missouri Valley IA
Bald Eagle - With concentrations of ducks and geese until lakes freeze.	Lake Manawa & Carter Lake, Iowa; Papio Damsite Lakes - Douglas & Sarpy Counties; DeSoto NWR - Missouri Valley IA; Some remain around the Platte and Missouri Rivers all winter.
Gulls: Bonaparte's, Ring-billed & Herring Gulls. More unusual - Thayer's, Iceland & California (Great & Lesser Black-backed, Sabine's, or even Ross's Gull are possible).	Lake Manawa & Carter Lake , Iowa are the best places for gulls in the Omaha area, & Branched Oak Lake near Lincoln is also good.
American Tree Sparrow	arrives for winter
Winter Finches: These rarely reach our area anymore, but be on the lookout for Red Crossbill, White-winged Crossbill, Common Redpoll, Evening Grosbeak and Pine Grosbeak. This could be the year!	Cemeteries are good places to look, and your back yard at the feeders.