Another three cheers from the meadow!!! Lots of baby birds out there! On May 31, 2010, at 5:43 PM, "Kent" <kentsue@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: Nice report, Andy! Scott and you are showing the rest of us how to reduce our carbon footprint and still have a great time birding! Keep up the good environmental birding and do keep those good reports coming. Kent Hall Stevens Point ----- Original Message ----- From: "Andy P" <andypaulios@xxxxxxxxx> To: "Wisbirdn" <wisbirdn@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Monday, May 31, 2010 1:27 PM Subject: [wisb] Bigby Trip to Brooklyn Wildlife Area Hi Folks, I can just now walk again after a 60 mile roundtrip to Brooklyn Wildlife Area on Friday. I've somehow been suckered into a green big year competition by Owen Boyle, Tim Vargo et al. Not owning a bike worth riding on major roads I borrowed my neighbor's. After returning it he snickered when asking me how I liked the seat..... My plans for starting at 3 AM were dashed when my brain decided to miss the alarm clock. I bounded out of bed at 6:30 AM and didn't arrive at Brooklyn until 8:30. On the way there I was able to pick up some roadside birds that I needed and was totally surprised to see a Least Bittern fly up from a small marsh just west of Oregon (Jefferson street???). It was hot and somewhat windy so I missed some stuff. I was able to get Pileated Woodpecker, Dickcissel, Grasshopper Sparrow, Alder Flycatcher, Chat, Mourning Warbler and some others. I missed Henslow's, Bobolink (hard bird in E. Dane County), Red-headed Woodpecker and some other targets (Bell's??). I enjoyed a nice lunch (yes it was a patty melt) in Belleville and then was disappointed with the return trip through Lake Farm and Nine Springs (zero mud). Now having read Scott's post I'll need to consider a bike trip to the northern portions of the county and maybe to Mud Lake. I'll be looking for a sponsor and some teammates. Maybe some folks could pass me water as I ride past? So far the bigby has been great. It's completely transformed my thinking about "listing". In years past I would have been really excited to take a run up to the shorebird ponds to see what was up. Now I'm more worried about where I can bike to in my local area. It gives you a much greater appreciation for your local "patch" and which birds may be common in the greater county but are really hard to find near McFarland (like Field Sparow!!) Other lessons learned include; (a) deciding when a patty melt is not a good choice and (b) never get into a competition with one of the Baughman boys. Andy Paulios McFarland, WI #################### You received this email because you are subscribed to the Wisconsin Birding Network (Wisbirdn). To UNSUBSCRIBE or SUBSCRIBE, use the Wisbirdn web interface at: //www.freelists.org/list/wisbirdn. To set DIGEST or VACATION modes, use the Wisbirdn web interface at: //www.freelists.org/list/wisbirdn. Visit Wisbirdn ARCHIVES at: //www.freelists.org/archives/wisbirdn. #################### You received this email because you are subscribed to the Wisconsin Birding Network (Wisbirdn). To UNSUBSCRIBE or SUBSCRIBE, use the Wisbirdn web interface at: //www.freelists.org/list/wisbirdn. To set DIGEST or VACATION modes, use the Wisbirdn web interface at: //www.freelists.org/list/wisbirdn. Visit Wisbirdn ARCHIVES at: //www.freelists.org/archives/wisbirdn. #################### You received this email because you are subscribed to the Wisconsin Birding Network (Wisbirdn). To UNSUBSCRIBE or SUBSCRIBE, use the Wisbirdn web interface at: //www.freelists.org/list/wisbirdn. To set DIGEST or VACATION modes, use the Wisbirdn web interface at: //www.freelists.org/list/wisbirdn. Visit Wisbirdn ARCHIVES at: //www.freelists.org/archives/wisbirdn.