Jay Belsan's Page

Pigmy Nuthatches are familiar to me since they are regular vistors to my feeders at my Magnolia Drive home. I had never seen one at the Lakehouse on Lake McConaughy until this past weekend. I didn't get a close enough view to guarantee the identification, but by the size, shape, coloring, and flight patterns it looked just like a Pigmy Nuthatch. My question - are Pigmy Nuthatches known to be in Nebraska?

I saw a Broad Tailed Hummingbird on the feeder last Wednesday, September 16. I suspect they have all gone, but I will leave the feeders up for another couple days just to be sure. They leave mid September every year, which is good since we nearly always get snow the 4th week of September.

This time of year I have many varieties of juvenile birds on my feeders at the Lakehouse. The juveniles are just getting their adult feathers and colors so they are funny looking as well as awkward. I have juvenile Red Headed and Red-Bellied Woodpeckers, Blue Jays, Cardinals, Northern Orioles, and House Finches. On Saturday I had a flock of turkeys that included three hens and nine poults the size of small chickens. Last week I saw a Pheasant hen with two chicks.

I have been seeing Red Bellied Woodpeckers for years at my Lakehouse on Lake McConaughy, Nebraska, but I always saw them in the early fall and didn't think they nested locally. This summer I have had a pair (female has red only on the back of the head, male has a full red mohawk) on the feeders all summer and lately I have seen one with a completely brown head. The little guy is a little awkward and fun to watch. I will try to get a picture.

In addition to Red Bellied, we also have Red Headed W… Continue

The Eagle Viewing Center on Lake Ogallala is not open yet, but there are plenty of eagles to see. The viewing center usually opens around Christmas, but I have not seen the announcement yet. The Eagle Viewing Center, just below the power plant, is manned during the season so it is a great place to start your Lake McConaughy/Lake Ogallala birding experience. In addition to the eagles, there are White Pelicans, Geese, Cranes, Merganzers, and ducks that can be seen this time of year. I spotted at l… Continue