I spent a few hours early this morning on the warbler walk at Bay Beach
Sanctuary. Like everyone else in the state, what warblers. Today we had 3
species (Myrtle, N. Waterthrush and Tennessee) and not much else. A similar
result was on the walk this past Wed (Myrtle, N. Waterthrush and Palm).
After an early lunch I decided to head for Horicon Marsh. As I arrived at the
board walk Jeff Baughman was coming off, asking me if I came to see the Ruff.
I had no idea one was being seen. We went back out and spent a few hours of
great shorebird birding, with other birders. For the three hours I was there
(a short while at the pump house pond) a total of 16 shorebird species was
tallied, and this just the end of April---makes up for the lack of warbler and
other passerine migrants. The best was the male Ruff, just coming into
breeding plumage. Second was the Western Sandpiper that Jeff and I discovered
at the end of the board walk---great looks at it, as did a few other birders.
Unfortunately it eventually disappeared when all the shorebirds did one of
their flights around the pond. The Baird's Sandpiper appeared later in close,
as did a Long-billed Dowitcher. The only different shorebird at the pump house
pond was a Semip. Sandpiper, in the 150 Dunlins and Lesser Yellowlegs.
What a great several hours enjoying the birds and birders, despite the cold
wind. It started to rain as most of us left. And to provide dessert to the
time there, the Whooping Crane landed in a small wet area along 49 just beyond
the refuge and before the river. What a great finish to the 3 hours at the
marsh! This was one of those special times that one remembers for a long time!
Daryl Tessen
Appleton,, WI
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