I started this morning at the International Education Center (IEC) at
Horicon State Wildlife Area and saw that two Ospreys were on the nesting
platform west of the Bachuber impoundment. They did not seem to be on eggs
yet, but one of them appeared to be rearranging the sticks on the platform,
so perhaps they will decide to nest there again this year. From the IEC, I
thought I counted 42 Great Blue Herons back in the rookery. The rookery is
so distant that viewing is difficult, especially with thermal distortion
through the scope. I walked out to the west end of the impoundment, and by
the time I got there, numbers had decreased and I counted only 20. I suspect
many left to feed in the marsh. A (FOY) Barn Swallow flew across the
impoundment but did not appear to stay. Singing Song Sparrows were abundant,
and I heard two Swamp Sparrows singing during my walk. A beautiful pair of
Eastern Bluebirds battled with a pair of Tree Swallows for possession of a
nesting box, and the smaller but more aggressive Tree Swallows seem to have
won that one, driving the Bluebirds to the ground several times. In the
field north of IEC, a presumed Snow Goose X Canada Goose hybrid made a brief
appearance.
I birded Horicon National Wildlife Refuge and checked the many flooded
fields north of Beaver Dam, but besides Greater Yellowlegs at a few
locations, I had no significant sightings. The ponds on the south side of
Swan Road where it makes its first east-west run just north of CTH E had 27
Wilson's Snipe.
Yesterday's rain reflooded the Birch Road pond, and with the water, the 8
American Golden-Plovers returned (FOY). They were fairly close to Birch
Road. One of the Pectoral Sandpipers (FOY)was back, but it was on the south
end of the pond. There were also 8 Greater Yellowlegs and 6 Bonaparte's
Gulls. When I left, only one of the gulls remained, but there were more
Bonaparte's Gulls among the many Ring-billed Gulls on St. Helena Road. The
owner of the field has become quite efficient at draining the Birch Road
pond and it can go dry overnight. I think it is best to get there the first
day after a big rain because the pond doesn't last long.
Thomas Wood, Menomonee Falls, Waukesha County
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