[wisb] Up north (pine cones + western grebe?)

Went up north this weekend.  On Saturday we walked the Fallison Lake Nature 
Trail in the Northern Highland SF, near Boulder Junction (Vilas Co.).  Did 
not see anything notable bird wise, but did notice many white pines with 
lots of cones on them and at one point near the end of the trail I saw some 
scales on the ground from some cones.  Perhaps the work of a pine 
cone-loving bird?  Anyway, this is a pretty nice trail that goes by a 
beautiful small undeveloped lake and some boggy areas and is worth checking 
out.  Open to hiking all year and snowshoeing in winter.

On Sunday we did the Franklin Lake Nature Trail in the Nicolet NF (Forest 
Co.).  A nice, short, 1-mile trail that goes through multiple forest types 
and I would recommend this as well.  Saw a loon in the lake (Butternut 
Lake), heard a BW hawk call a couple times, and heard a warbler I couldn't 
ID (redstart maybe), but not much else.

Later that afternoon we went on the Wisconsin River Boat Cruise out of 
Rhinelander (Oneida Co.).  Only birds we saw were kingfishers, a couple GB 
herons, and 2 bald eagles.  But I was chasing a 2-year old half the time. 
Oh, and the boat captain said at one point that he had just spoken with 
another captain who had just seen a WESTERN GREBE along the river.  Of 
course I have no way to verify this and didn't see it myself, but if anyone 
happens to be interested in this let me know and I could pass along more 
info if needed.  Again lots of pine cones in the white pines along the 
river, take this photo for example which also includes a bald eagle.

http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2765157400059461204tEFULE

Also spent maybe 45 minutes at a boggy spot right near our place in northern 
Lincoln Co. near Tomahawk  All I saw there of interest for sure there today 
were purple finches, cedar waxwings (they seem to be everywhere for me), and 
a random common yellowthroat, but I will definitely have to make this a 
regular place to go check out as it looks promising and I had some mystery 
birds fly over...  Lincoln Co. seems to be less well-covered than other 
counties but has a lot of good looking habitat for northern birds.

Anyway, does anyone (with more knowledge than me) know if this is looking 
like a "good" year for Eastern white pine cones or is this the norm?  Red 
crossbill has to be one of the birds I'd most like to see that I have never 
seen in WI and from what I know some types of red crossbills are fond of 
these cones.  Would love to hear more from anyone who might have any 
thoughts.  Thanks!

-Mike Duchek, Waukesha, Waukesha Co. 

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