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1) Boles/ Roby/ Redbird Canyons 2) Ft. Meade Recreation Area 3) Spearfish Canyon/Roughlock Falls 4) Rapid City Area 5) Hot Brook Canyon 6) Lake Angostora 7) Edgemont 8) Black Fox Campground 9) Sylvan Lake Recommended Text: A Birdwatcher's Guide to the Black Hills and Adjacent Plains. 1993. R.A. Peterson, 2nd ed, PC Publishing, Vermillion, SD. |
| 1) Boles/ Roby/ Redbird
Canyons |
| Species of Interest These dry pine-juniper canyons are home to an only recently discovered population of Virginia's Warblers, a species previously unknown in South Dakota. Virginia's Warblers are most easily observed by locating singing males which sing into early July. It is important when attempting to locate Virginia's Warblers that particular attention is paid to the appropriate habitat as this species is very habitat-specific. Look for slopes that have a moderate to heavy cover of shrubs (mainly Skunkbush Sumac and Mountain Mahogany) and at least a smattering of Ponderosa Pine as an overstory. These two ingredients are essential, although the relative proportions may vary from heavy scrub and sparse pine at lower elevations (around 4,000 ft.) to moderate scrub and heavy pine canopy at higher elevations (around 5,000 ft.). On occasion both sexes may be seen foraging in pines, however, most foraging is done in the scrubby understory while males sing from pines. Although Virginia's Warblers occupy some fairly remote and inaccessible spots in this area, there are several areas where they can be found literally by stepping out of your car. This region is also home to a surprising diversity of birds. While Chipping Sparrows and Spotted Towhees are ubiquitous, this region is also very good for White-winged Juncos, Dusky Flycatchers, Mountain Bluebirds, Yellow-rumped (Audubon's ) Warbler, MacGillivray's Warbler, Western Tanager, Pinyon Jay, Black-billed Magpie, Yellow-breasted Chat, Rock Wren, Plumbeous Vireo, Violet-green Swallow, White-throated Swift, Townsend's Solitaire, Say's Phoebe, Brewer's Blackbirds, and, perhaps surprisingly, Ovenbirds. This area is also very good for raptors including Golden Eagles, Cooper's Hawks, and Goshawks. As you proceed to higher elevations and primarily pine forest, Western Wood-peewee, Northern Saw-whet Owl, and Cassin's Finch are regular. It is worth emphasizing here that this region of the state has been little studied and little birded. There are several pine-juniper-sagebrush species that exist in Wyoming that could potentially exist in this area and may have been overlooked like the Virginia's Warbler. Principal among such hypotheticals are the Black-throated Gray Warbler and the Green-tailed Towhee, which should thrive in the juniper-sagebrush habitats in this area. Other hypotheticals include Ash-throated Flycatcher, Bushtit, Scrub Jay, Juniper Titmouse, Bewick's Wren, Gray Vireo, and Sage Sparrow. |
| 2) Ft. Meade Recreation Area |
| Species of Interest Generally overlooked by birders until recently, the Ft. Meade Recreation Area is a surprising eastern deciduous oasis in the west. In addition to its potential as an excellent migrant trap in the spring and the fall, the riparian habitats have proved enticing as breeding habitat for neotropical migrants such as Chestnut-sided Warblers and even Hooded Warblers! |
| 3) Spearfish Canyon/Roughlock
Falls |
| Species of Interest The canyon is an excellent area for finding Canyon Wrens. Anywhere there's a good rock face near the road, taking a few minutes to stop and listen usually produces a couple during the summer. Spearfish Creek is one of the best places in the Black Hills to find American Dippers. Frequent stops to check the creek along the highway tend to be productive, and there is usually a dipper to be found foraging just upstream from Roughlock Falls near the picnic sites. Lately, there have been a couple of Bald Eagles hanging out south of Bridal Veil Falls, too. The canyon is also a fantastic place for western neotropical migrants like American Redstarts, Lazuli Buntings, and Black-headed Grosbeaks in spring, summer, and fall. However, be careful. Since Spearfish Canyon is a tourist hotspot, traffic in the canyon can be distracting and even dangerous. Fortunately, most tourists aren't active before 10 am! |
| 4) Rapid City Area |
| Species of Interest In the city itself is Canyon Lake, notable for the past several years as the winter home for two or three Barrow's Goldeneye, but also good for other waterfowl. Pactola Reservoir is notable because it is home to South Dakota's first post-DDTera breeding pair of Osprey. Occasionally seen in the area are Clark's Nutcrackers and the riparian areas can be very productive year-round, while during migration occasionally yielding such rarities as Blue-winged Warblers. Winter can be very productive, with White-winged Juncos, Gray-crowned Rosy Finches, Red and White-winged Crossbills, Evening Grosbeaks, Bohemian Waxwings, and occasionally, a Pine Grosbeak. |
| 5) Hot Brook Canyon |
| Species of Interest Just outside of Hot Springs, Hot Brook Canyon is an excellent riparian area that has been home for Lesser Goldfinches for the past several years. Other species regular to this area are Black-headed Grosbeaks, Lazuli Buntings, White-throated Swifts, Violet-green Swallows, Rock Wrens, Yellow-breasted Chats, and Plumbeous Vireos. |
| 6) Lake Angostora |
| Species of Interest Probably the best area for shorebirds and gulls in the Black Hills. Recent sightings include a Brown Pelican. |
| 7) Edgemont |
| Edgemont is sagebrush country and, consequently, the only place in the state to get sagebrush species like Brewer's Sparrow and Sage Thrasher. A little birded area, this area may have overlooked species such as McCown's Longspur and Cassin's Sparrow which are present across the border in Wyoming. |
| 8) Sylvan Lake |
| Species of Interest Sylvan Lake is a beautiful, if often crowded, alpine lake that affords excellent opportunities for observing species that occur at higher elevations, especially Golden-crowned Kinglets, Brown Creepers, Ruffed Grouse, and Northern Three-toed Woodpecker. |
| 9) Black Fox Campground |
| Species of Interest A beautiful little campground that is home for typical higher elevation species such as Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Audubon's Warblers, and MacGillivray's Warbler, Red Crossbills, and Pine Siskins. Also found in this area have been summer Winter Wrens (who are curiously absent from the Black Hills in summer), Broad-winged Hawks, and even Osprey wandering over from Pactola Reservoir. |
