I took my field ornithology class out to Birch Grove Campground last night (just west of Washburn in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest). Our evening was fantastic, hearing Whip-poor-wills ALL OVER, and at least 3 Barred Owls were heard calling amongst the Common Loons that occasionally gave their beautifully-haunting call. In addition to the bird calls just thrilling the students, we even got to see one Whip-poor-will fly and land on a log near the lakeside (about 50 feet from our campsite), and sit in place for a few moments! This was the first Whip-poor-will I've ever seen. This morning was filled with a roar of LEAST FLYCATCHER (easily 15+ individuals heard near/far from our campsite). It quite the wakeup call! Several Baltimore Orioles singing sweetly, and I heard & saw two YELLOW-THROATED VIREOS as well. Warblers within the campground vicinity were seen in verysmall numbers, and the warblers observed consisted of Black-throated Green, Black-and-white, Yellow, Ovenbird, and Common Yellowthroat. The class got to finally observe a VEERY (heard the "veer" call while observing it), and heard a distant HERMIT THRUSH as well. Oh and the Sapsuckers were making a fun-to-watch ruckus around our campsite too, with Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and American Robins singing throughout much of our extended morning. On the way back into Ashland we stopped at Maslowski Beach, where we had one SURF SCOTER mixed in with a small group of Redhead and Scaup. One Bonaparte's Gull was seen with the Ring-billed Gulls and one Herring Gull, and a lone Ruddy Turnstone made it's way up the shore. The Killdeer parents with 3 chicks are doing well! Good birdwatching, Erik Bruhnke Ashland, WI -- *NATURALLY AVIAN* - Bird photography and guided birdwatching tours www.pbase.com/birdfedr www.naturallyavian.blogspot.com birdfedr@xxxxxxxxx #################### You received this email because you are subscribed to the Wisconsin Birding Network (Wisbirdn). To UNSUBSCRIBE or SUBSCRIBE, use the Wisbirdn web interface at: //www.freelists.org/list/wisbirdn To set DIGEST or VACATION modes, use the Wisbirdn web interface at: //www.freelists.org/list/wisbirdn Visit Wisbirdn ARCHIVES at: //www.freelists.org/archives/wisbirdn