[wisb] Re: Mississippi River Pools (and some MN birding)
- From: Martha D Lohman <mdlohman@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: wisbirdn@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Wed, 16 Nov 2011 14:13:07 -0600
Hello All - This is my first post, and first I would like to say how much I
am enjoying all of your posts, although they make me wish I didn't have a
full-time job and a yard full of leaves.
I wanted to let you know of another good place to see the Tundra Swans on
the Wisconsin side of the Mississippi. There is an unmarked lookout about 1
1/2 to 2 miles south of the Goose Island County Park entrance, which is on
Hwy 35 just south of La Crosse but not as far as Stoddard. Some of the
locals refer to it as Shady Point (I think). I have been stopping there a
few times a week for about a month. At first there were only 2 Tundra
Swans, but there are now maybe 200. There are also about the same number of
American White Pelicans. Today I also spotted Northern Shovelers, lots of
Northern Pintails and American Wigeons, Mallards, Canada Geese, and a
few Gadwalls and Canvasbacks. This past weekend there were over a dozen
American Eagles as well.
I have also been to the Brownsville MN overlook a few times. The Tundras
there are closer than on the Wisconsin side, but if you happen to be in the
South La Crosse area, this spot might be worth your time.
Happy Birding! Now let's see if this posts .......
On Tue, Nov 15, 2011 at 6:02 PM, Chris West <little_blue_birdie@xxxxxxx>wrote:
> Hey everyone,
>
> To add to Alex's post:
> I stopped up at Brownsville last week and my conservative estimate of the
> number of swans was around 3-5000. I'm sure that more have come in with
> the last cold front.
> I should also mention: Everyone always tells me about how they went up to
> Alma to see the Tundra Swans. Everyone knows about Alma because that used
> to be the single best place on the entire river to see migrating Tundra
> Swans. I don't know if it's still running, but they used to hold a festival
> every year for this.
> In recent years, reports I've heard from up there have been disappointing
> at best. My understanding is that some dredging was done in the area and
> that the habitat is no longer ideal for Tundra Swans.
> At the same time that this happened, they started building the islands in
> the river in front of the overlook at Brownsville, MN. This project is now
> nearing completion and provides superb habitat for migrating waterfowl. I
> would have no hesitation in stating that the Brownsville overlook (which
> has a brand new platform which was completed only a few years ago) is THE
> single best place to see migrating Tundra Swans, not only on the
> Mississippi River, but perhaps even in the entire country.
> So if you have a day free this fall, I'd highly recommend making a stop at
> the Brownsville overlook. You won't be disappointed. It's easy to find.
> It's right on the highway, just south of the town of Brownsville, MN.
>
> If you don't want to look for it yourself, come along on my audubon field
> trip on Saturday. It will be our last stop of the day. :)
>
>
>
> Happy Birding! --Chris W, Richland County Interpretive Naturalist
> Mississippi Explorer Cruises
> http://mississippiexplorer.com/chris@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> http://swallowtailedkite.blogspot.com/
> http://www.nabirding.com/http://www.flickr.com/photos/swallowtailphoto
>
> "The beauty and genius of a work of art may be reconceived, though its
> first material expression be destroyed; a vanished harmony may yet again
> inspire the composer; but when the last individual of a race of living
> things breathes no more, another heaven and another earth must pass before
> such a one can be again."
>
> (From William Beebe's "The Bird: Its Form and Function," 1906)
>
> > Date: Tue, 15 Nov 2011 17:30:36 -0600
> > Subject: [wisb] Mississippi River Pools (and some MN birding)
> > From: thearctictern@xxxxxxxxx
> > To: wisbirdn@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> >
> > Hey Wisbirders,
> >
> > My wife and I took a quick drive up the river from Prairie du Chien to
> > check out the Tundra Swan migration. As we were driving up highway 35
> > heading to Brownsville, MN we noted about 50 Bald Eagles flying south
> > along bluff. There was the occasional Red-tailed Hawk and a single
> > Rough-legged Hawk thrown in there during the 30 mile stretch. In the
> > "big water" next to the Lynxville dam there were hundreds and
> > thousands of American Coots, Canvasback, Bufflehead, Redhead,
> > Ring-necked Duck, Lesser Scaup and Ruddy Ducks. There were also many
> > Tundra Swans viewed in this particular pool also through the scopes.
> >
> > We arrived to the overlook just south of Brownsville, MN and were
> > awestruck (like we are every year) with the sheer numbers of Swans.
> > The amount of Tundra Swans in that single area is unimaginable. We
> > were also getting great looks at Green-winged Teal, Northern Pintail,
> > Northern Shoveler, Gadwall and many other puddle ducks. We didn't see
> > anything rare but everyone from Wisconsin must get to this area and
> > observe the fantastic Tundra Swan migration sometime during their
> > birding adventures.
> >
> > I managed to find a fish and wildlife ranger and he mentioned that
> > this is PEAK Tundra Swan migration! It doesn't get any better after
> > this until next year, so try get over here and see this amazing stop
> > in the Swans migration.
> >
> > Bird On,
> > Alex Stark
> > ####################
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