Trip Date: July 2017 | Location: South Dakota and Montana
We often get asked how we balance heavy-duty birding with traditional sightseeing. This South Dakota trip was the perfect template: mornings dedicated to finding target species, and afternoons spent soaking in the history of the Black Hills.
Birding and visiting the iconic monuments of the Black Hills seemed like the perfect way to spend our July 4th weekend. Our trip began as we crossed the state line, heading straight for Mount Rushmore. It’s almost surreal to stand in front of something you’ve seen in pictures your entire life, and we were in awe. We also made time to visit the Crazy Horse Memorial, which has been in the works since 1939. We hope to see this ambitious, privately funded monument completed in our lifetime.
Wildlife and a Needles Highway
The next morning, we were up early to take the Custer State Park Wildlife Drive. Our timing was perfect, and we had a close encounter with a buffalo that walked within inches of our car. A little later, an entire herd standing in the road created a quintessential “buffalo jam.” Along the way, we also had great views of Pronghorn, Mule Deer, and Prairie Dogs.
While the open plains were great for wildlife, the Oak Draw Road rewarded us with the best birds. We were thrilled to find a Western Tanager, a Mountain Bluebird, and Warbling and Plumbeous Vireos. In all, we located an impressive 33 species on the drive
Our next adventure was the 14-mile drive on the Needles Highway, a scenic route named for the dramatic granite formations that pierce the sky. We navigated the tunnels and enjoyed the spectacular views before stopping at Sylvan Lake. Despite the crowds, we hiked a trail and were rewarded with nesting Red-naped Sapsuckers. Other great birds included Northern Flicker and a Cordilleran Flycatcher.
Montana: A New State
Montana was our next destination and another new state for both of us. As storms rolled in, we pulled off onto Ridge Road and immediately found our target Upland Sandpipers in the open fields. We also had great looks at a Bullock’s Oriole and Common Nighthawk.
South Dakota – A Quest For A Life Bird
On our way back to the hotel, we took another scenic drive on the Iron Mountain Road, which features pigtail bridges and a tunnel that perfectly frames Mount Rushmore. Shortly after passing Bridal Veil Falls, we found another target bird, the American Dipper! We had seen two recent sightings on eBird and found the bird in the same spot, a testament to the helpfulness of the birding community.
Our final birding trip in South Dakota was to find a Lewis’s Woodpecker on the Elk Mountain Tower Lookout Road. On the drive in, we saw Northern Rough-winged Swallows and Yellow-headed Blackbirds and even a few longhorn cows.
It was about a 30-minute drive on a bumpy dirt road, but our rental car held up. The drive took us through lovely farm fields, and we even passed a pond with some unexpected American Coots. We stopped at an area with a small corral fence and, dodging cow pies, spotted a beautiful Red-headed Woodpecker in a tree full of woodpecker holes. A bird flew by in the distance, and we identified it as our lifer, Lewis’s Woodpecker, just before it entered a hole. We sat and waited, and it didn’t take long for it to emerge for a great view!
There truly was no better way to celebrate the holiday than by experiencing the ‘Great Faces and Great Places’ of South Dakota. From the granite heights of the Needles Highway to the quiet corners where the Lewis’s Woodpeckers dwell, this trip was a quintessential American adventure. We hope this inspires you to get out and explore your own backyard this summer. Up next: we trade the mountains for the vast, open skies of the Nebraska prairie.
Trip Summary:
Trip Totals: 54 species • 1 life bird (Lewis’s Woodpecker)
Montana Totals: 6 species • 6 MT life birds
South Dakota Totals: 52 species • 52 SD life birds • 1 World life bird (Lewis’s Woodpecker)
Next up: Nebraska Birding – We covered 1,000 miles in 5 days while birding the Nebraska prairie.
You must be logged in to post a comment.