Pawnee National Grasslands, Nebraska, and South Dakota

At Pawnee I found a badger's den and saw the badger but before I got the camera up he backed in the tunnel never to be seen. I waited about one hour holding my camera out the window. The den was on the side of the dirt track. Oh well another time. I did get a picture of a young golden eagle on an old windmll. The jackrabbits are everywhere and I got some fun shots. The heat is too much for Hannah and there are no hookups (that means no airconditioner) so I left Pawnee and drove highway 71 north to Fort Robinson State Park in Nebraska. I was looking for the White Winged Junco. Did not find it. While there I got my first storm of the trip. It was a "rip snorter". There was hail as big as my thumb nail. Not exagerating. I picked up a piece. :) I was worried that it would break the plastic vent cover I aleady lost once. But then I remembered I bought an extra one. Any way I did find a nice bunch of birds at the end of the road at Fort Robinson including a Lark Sparrow, Yellow-breasted Chats everywhere and a Red-headed Woodpecker (new one for me). It is a very well developed park. Great for families because of all the activities but not for a birder like me so I left for South Dakota this morning. I continued on 71 etc and am now in Custer State Park area. I FOUND my Junco. I got great pictures of it singing. I also got White-breasted Nuthatches feeding young. I am a happy camper. I head for North Dakota tomorrow. I will be there for about 3 weeks. I think. :) I meet up with a friend to scout a prairie dog town near Rhame, North Dakota for longspurs (sparrows). The rancher said that we need to watch for rattle snakes in the holes. They like the heat and the prairie dogs. I hope to get pictures of it all. Take care. Donelda
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