Grand North Dakota - June 2026
Dates: June 1-11, 2026
Leaders: Michael O'Brien, Louise Zemaitis & Ron Martin
E-bird
Total Species: 183 birds
Click Here to view list.
Overall Summary
Our tour to the heart of the North American prairie was a celebration of wide-open spaces and the incredible abundance this region holds during the breeding season. Visiting eastern deciduous forests along the Red River Valley near Fargo, the badlands near Theodore Roosevelt National Park, and a wide array of grasslands, marshes, and prairie potholes in between, we soaked in a full sample of the richness North Dakota offers.
In the eastern part of the state, we visited the Red River Valley and Mirror Pool Wildlife Management Area, both dominated by eastern deciduous forest. Not surprisingly, we amassed quite a list of eastern species here, including Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Barred Owl, Great Crested Flycatcher, Yellow-throated Vireo, Northern Parula, Blackburnian Warbler, Scarlet Tanager, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, and Indigo Bunting.
Moving west, our first taste of the prairie habitat for which North Dakota is famous was at Sheyenne National Grassland. This beautiful area harbored large numbers of Dickcissels (unusually abundant this year), as well as Upland Sandpiper, Bobolink, Western Meadowlark, and numerous sparrows, including Grasshopper, Clay-colored, Lark, and Vesper. We even had quick views of a flying Greater Prairie-Chicken, a species whose population is dwindling in North Dakota. Farther west, we visited several patches of pristine native mixed-grass prairie to look for grassland specialists. Top highlights in this habitat included Sharp-tailed Grouse, Marbled Godwit, Ferruginous Hawk, Burrowing Owl, Chestnut-collared Longspur, Lark Bunting, and the very local Baird’s Sparrow.
Prairie potholes were a major feature of eastern and central North Dakota, and we visited many. At these nurseries for wetland species, the abundance of birds was staggering. More than a dozen species of waterfowl nest here, and we had countless sightings of such showy birds as Northern Shoveler, Redhead, Canvasback, and Ruddy Duck. We also found five species of grebes, including amazing views of Western Grebes tending their nests and performing their courtship dance. Other prominent species at these pothole marshes included American White Pelican, American Avocet, Wilson’s Snipe, Wilson’s Phalarope, Franklin’s Gull, Black Tern, Marsh Wren, Sedge Wren, and Yellow-headed Blackbird. On a more subtle level, we were thrilled to see several American Bitterns hiding in the marsh, as well as skulking LeConte’s and Nelson’s sparrows showing well in the grassy margins. In addition to breeding species, at one lake we found a nice assortment of migrant shorebirds, including Red-necked Phalarope, Stilt Sandpiper, White-rumped Sandpiper, and Dunlin, all stopping on their way to Arctic breeding grounds.
Another real highlight was visiting the badlands in and around Theodore Roosevelt National Park. The landscapes here were ruggedly beautiful, with colorful sculpted canyons etched through arid grasslands along the drainage of the Little Missouri River. A decidedly western feel to the landscape was reflected in the avifauna, with highlights including Common Poorwill, Golden Eagle, Western Wood-Pewee, Rock Wren, Mountain Bluebird, Red Crossbill, Spotted Towhee, Black-headed Grosbeak, and Lazuli Bunting. We also saw numerous mammals, including Black-tailed Prairie Dog, American Badger, Mule Deer, and American Bison.
Day-by-Day Summary
May 31 – Arrivals. Night in Fargo.
June 1 – Sheyenne National Grasslands (CR-23, Jorgen’s Hollow Campground, & 147th Ave); Mirror Pool Wildlife Management Area. Night in Fargo.
June 2 – Forest River Park (Red River Valley); Hobart Lake; Crystal Springs. Night in Bismarck.
June 3 – Kidder County: Tappen Slough; Kunkel School Section; Tappen City Park; Horsehead Lake Wildlife Management Area; mp-106 on ND-3. Night in Bismarck.
June 4 – Lake Henry Wetlands; Alkali Lake; Dewald Slough; Theodore Roosevelt National Park: Painted Canyon overlook. Night in Medora.
June 5 – Little Missouri National Grassland: 47th Street prairie; Amidon (town); 60th Street prairie dog town; Logging Camp Ranch; East River Road; dusk to Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Night in Medora.
June 6 – Theodore Roosevelt National Park: Scenic Drive including Wind Canyon & Cottonwood Campground. Night in Medora.
June 7 – River Drive; Medora Musical Welcome Center; Painted Canyon; Little Missouri National Grasslands (Talkington Dam area); Garrison Dam. Night in Minot.
June 8 – Turtle Mountains including Mystical Horizons, Strawberry Lake, & Lake Metigoshe State Park. Night in Minot.
June 9 – Lucy School Section; Powers Lake; Kenmare (town); Des Lacs National Wildlife Refuge. Night in Minot.
June 10 – 59th Street fen; 5th Avenue grasslands; 57th Street fen; Fort Mandan Historic Site; Lewis & Clark Interpretative Center; Double Ditch Historic Site. Night in Bismarck.
June 11 – Departures.
Wildlife Seen:
MAMMALS:
Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)
Eastern Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger)
Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris)
Eastern Chipmunk (Tamias striatus)
Franklin’s Ground Squirrel (Poliocitellus franklinii)
Richardson’s Ground Squirrel (Urocitellus richardsonii)
Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel (Ictidomys tridecemlineatus)
Black-tailed Prairie Dog (Cynomys ludovicianus)
Common Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus)
Eastern Cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus)
White-tailed Jackrabbit (Lepus townsendii)
Coyote (Canis latrans)
American Badger (Taxidea taxus)
Common Raccoon (Procyon lotor)
White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus)
Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus)
Pronghorn (Antilocapra americana)
American Bison (Bison bison)
Feral Horse (Equus caballus)
AMPHIBIANS & REPTILES
Woodhouse’s Toad (Anaxyrus woodhousii)
Boreal Chorus Frog (Pseudacris maculata) – heard
Northern Leopard Frog (Rana pipiens)
Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta)
BUTTERFLIES
Canadian Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio canadensis)
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus)
Two-tailed Swallowtail (Papilio multicaudata)
Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes)
Baird’s Swallowtail (Papilio bairdii)
Cabbage White (Pieris rapae)
Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice) azure sp. (Celastrina sp.)
Melissa Blue (Plebejus melissa)
Purplish Copper (Lycaena helloides)
Juniper Hairstreak (Callophrys gryneus)
Great Spangled Fritillary (Speyeria cybele)
Northern Crescent (Phyciodes cocyta)
Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)
Common Ringlet (Coenonympha tullia)
Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa)
Gray Comma (Polygonia progne)
Monarch (Danaus plexippus)
Common Sootywing (Pholisora catullus)
Hobomok Skipper (Poanes hobomok)
DAMSELFLIES & RAGONFLIES
Alkali Bluet (Enallagma clausum)
Marsh Bluet (Enallagma ebrium)
Familiar Bluet (Enallagma civile)
Common Green Darner (Anax junius)
Dot-tailed Whiteface (Leucorrhinia intacta)
Spiny Baskettail (Epitheca spinigera)
American Emerald (Cordulia shurtleffii)
Four-spotted Skimmer (Libellula quadrimaculata)
Twelve-spotted Skimmer (Libellula pulchella)