At the Scuppernong Hiking and Skiing Trail parking lot north of CTHZZ I
worked on sorting out the "trillers". Many Dark-eyed Juncos, at least 2
Chipping Sparrows and a (FOY) Pine Warbler were singing. Both nuthatches
were here too. A Pileated Woodpecker was calling from back in the trail
system.
I walked a short distance on the Scuppernong Springs Nature Trail and heard
a singing Swamp Sparrow and saw both kinglets and Northern Flickers. I had a
"first-in-many-years" sighting of Don and Christine Reel, but of course my
aging brain didn't recognize them. Like one birder recently told me, "Tom,
you need a field guide to birders." So true!
I walked a short distance south on the Ice Age Trail from Wilton Road which
is at the edge of the Scuppernong Prairie SNA and saw (FOY) Eastern Towhee
and (FOY) Field Sparrow. There were Brown Creeper, Eastern Phoebe, Hermit
Thrushes, and Golden-crowned Kinglets here too.
From here it was on to Paradise Springs where I again met Don and Christine
on their way out. The timing was bad because as soon as I reached what is
left of the pond there, a Louisiana Waterthrush flew to the shore of the
pond from the creek down below. Don and Christine must have missed it
because it was out of view along the creek while they were there. The bird
was very skittish so I returned to the car to get the scope so I could make
absolutely sure that it was Lousiana, and not a Northern Waterthrush. Due to
the early date, I felt quite certain, but since it didn't sing, I needed a
scope view to confirm my id. Later I met Anne M. and she said she had heard
a half-hearted song earlier in the morning which she thought might have been
the waterthrush.
Eastern Phoebe, Golden-crowned Kinglet, and Brown Creeper were easy to see
here.
After getting some lunch, I walked into Stute Springs and saw another
Eastern Towhee, a pair of Field Sparrows, both kinglets, a lingering Fox
and American Tree Sparrow, Hermit Thrushes, more Eastern Phoebes, Brown
Creeper, and the only 2 Yellow-rumped Warblers of the day.
I stopped by Beaver Dam Lake hoping for Red-necked Grebes, but saw none;
there was a Barn Swallow perched on the wire across the road from the lake.
A short stop at Paradise Springs revealed some White Pelicans in the
distance, but heat distortion prevented identifying much else, and my foot
wasn't ready for any more walking.
Thomas Wood, Menomonee Falls, Waukesha County
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