[wisb] April 7, 2012 Mead SWA field trip report


Last weekend, on Saturday, April 7th, a WSO Field trip to the Mead State 
Wildlife Area, located in north-central Wisconsin, was held. The field trip had 
around 30 people in attendance and we all had a great time birding this area.

The group left the parking lot near the old WDNR Mead Headquarters building and 
traveled to several areas throughout the Mead property. We first visited South 
Rice Lake and saw a nice variety of ducks, including Ruddy Ducks, from the 
large wooden deck that overlooks this area. We also watched a pair of Eastern 
Phoebe's as they were waiting for us to leave so they could continue nest 
building under the deck we were on.

Our next stop was along County Line Road to look for Greater Prairie Chickens. 
We missed seeing any chickens but we did watch both a N. Harrier and a 
Rough-legged Hawk in the distance. Horned Larks were also present and singing.

Next we traveled back towards Rice Lake and birded a little north of Rice Lake 
at a drawn down marsh on the east side of the road. We found some shorebirds 
here which included Greater Yellowlegs, Wilson's Snipe and Killdeer. 
Green-winged Teals were also present in nice numbers here.

Then it was onto the Rangeline Flowage, which is on the far west end of the 
Mead. This spring this was the hotspot for waterfowl, with nice numbers and 
variety of many kinds of ducks. From the north end dike we had great views of 
all the ducks present. The most common ducks were Ring-necked's and Lesser 
Scaup. After birding this flowage, we took a walk along the wooded river to the 
east of here. Along the walk we found Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, Yellow-rumped 
Warblers, Wood Duck, Ruby-crowned Kinglets and other common birds.

On the walk back out of this area, we had a surprise come flying over us, a 
pair of Whooping Cranes!!! They landed in the middle of the marsh of the 
Rangeline Flowage, and with the spotting scopes, we all had a great view of 
these birds to end our morning of birding at the Mead.


Dan Belter
Village of Weston
Marathon Co, WI
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