[wisb] Horicon Marsh egrets and bitterns on Sunday

From: "Peter A. Fissel" <pfissel@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: Wisconsin Birding Network <wisbirdn@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2014 09:11:47 -0500
After whiffing on the Painted Bunting yesterday morning, I briefly 
stopped at the Mascoutin Valley Trail wetland just east of there, but 
didn't see any ibises in a less-than-thorough check.

On my way home from Oshkosh in the late afternoon, I stopped at Horicon 
Marsh and went for a hike on the Old Marsh Rd.  Went from the Auto Tour 
end out past the island and nearly to the bend in the road.  As Tom Wood 
noted, there are a lot of Great Egrets out there, but I didn't see the 
Snowy he had on Saturday.  A group of five Black-crowned Night Herons 
came in together as I walked back to the car, and I finally saw a Least 
Bittern, which flew as far as I've ever seen one from the north side to 
well south of the road along one of the channels.  Also heard an 
American Bittern "ook-a-loonking" away.

I stopped to chat with a gentleman who was hanging out by the red rock 
at the end of the Egret Trail with his camera.  I asked if he'd seen any 
Least Bitterns, but he was still looking for one.  As we talked, one 
flew by behind him.  He at least got to see it, but no time for 
photos... so it goes...

I hung out on Hwy 49 a couple hundred yards east of the pumphouse for 
about half an hour just before sunset.  There were a lot of egrets on 
the north side, and I figured maybe I'd get lucky with a Snowy as they 
took off to gather for the evening roost in the marsh interior. I did 
see an Am. Bittern fly quite a ways on the south side, but no Snowy 
Egrets.  The most interesting thing I saw was a Great Egret with 
incredibly long plumes that trailed well beyond its feet as it flew.  It 
took me a moment to realize what it was, they stuck out so far.

I keep forgetting to mention something that may be of interest to 
out-of-state birders or others planning a long-distance visit to Horicon 
Marsh.  There is a new motel being built at the intersection of Hwys 151 
and 49 in Waupun - I believe an AmericInn.  Looks to be well on its way 
to being finished, so should be ready in time for the fall migration. 
That will supplement the somewhat meager lodging choices in the 
immediate area.

Peter Fissel
Madison WI
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[wisb] Horicon Marsh egrets and bitterns on Sunday

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