[wisb] Horicon Marsh today
- From: Peter Fissel <pfissel@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: Wisconsin Birding Network <wisbirdn@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 29 Sep 2013 22:05:31 -0500
I stopped briefly at Horicon Marsh along Hwy 49 late this morning. The birds
on the south side were just silhouettes, so I mostly looked at the Fond du Lac
Co. side. Northwest of the pumphouse, there were quite a few Wigeon. As far as
I could tell, all were American. All of the drakes were in a very funky
eclipse plumage, and some had surprisingly buffy/gold crowns and foreheads, but
they all were mainly very reddish and none had the gray body that I'd expect on
a Eurasian Wigeon. One bird way back to the north in particular got me
excited, but even at 50+ power on the scope, I could tell the body was quite
reddish. Pretty disappointing.
I stopped again on my way back to Madison late this afternoon, when the light
was much better. South and east of the pumphouse, there were over a thousand
geese (all Canadas, alas,) a nice variety of ducks including several No.
Pintails, three Great Egrets, and twenty or so Greater Yellowlegs. More
Yellowlegs of both species kept flying in from the north, so I relocated to
scope the north side where all the Wigeons were this morning. I was surprised
at how many shorebirds were there now. Most prominent were 20 or so
Black-bellied Plovers (I first noticed them calling,) plus twice that many
Pectoral Sandpipers, with a few Leasts mixed in, a few of both Yellowlegs, and
a token Killdeer.
There were many, many more ducks south of the historical marker, but the sun
was setting and I wanted to get home. It could be interesting to check that
impoundment early or late, when the light would be better.
Peter Fissel
Madison WI
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