[wisb] Dane, Iowa and Sauk Counties today

From: Peter Fissel <pfissel@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: Wisconsin Birding Network <wisbirdn@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Fri, 29 Apr 2011 16:09:17 -0500
As Chris West mentioned, Steve Thiessen, Nolan Pope and I were out and about 
west of Madison today.  Our first stop was Thomson Prairie, on County F south 
of Blue Mounds (this is on the Dane/Iowa Co. line.)  We had what was likely two 
pairs of Upland Sandpipers there - looking at Google Maps, I'd say these were 
just barely in Dane County.  There were Eastern Meadowlarks everywhere, but 
curiously, the only sparrows were Field and Song.  Normally, I'd expect to hear 
lots of Savannahs and Grasshopper (might be a bit early for the latter.)
 
Next stop was Gov. Dodge St. Park in Iowa Co.  We hiked the Stephens Falls 
trail, where we found our target - a pair of Louisiana Waterthrushes.  The male 
was in fine voice.  Also had an intriguing trill down in the canyon that I 
finally decided was a Chipping Sparrow when I realized it was singing from up 
in a big pine.  Curiosly, no other warblers there.  We met Chris up at Bakken's 
Pond, where there were four species of swallows (no Bank) and a calling Sora.  
We followed Chris over to Pearl Rd. for the Willet (Steve was getting antsy 
that it would leave before we got there.)  Strange that there were so few 
shorebirds there.  After seeing the blackbird flock with our FOY Brewer's at 
Peck Rd., Chris headed for home while we went to the Spring Green Preserve.  We 
missed the Grasshopper Sparrows and Mockingbird, but did see a pair of Lark 
Sparrows by the western edge.  A Brown Thrasher was singing from the base of 
the bluff.  Also got my lifer Olympia Marble butterfly. 
 
Arena Boat Landing was full of Yellow-rumps and singing Ruby-crowned Kinglets, 
plus an actively-drumming Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.  Steve and I caught a 
glimpse of what was likely a Red-shouldered Hawk.  (We'd had one earlier south 
of Spring Green on the Sauk County side of the Wisconsin River.)  We checked 
just about every soaring raptor we saw, hoping for a Swainson's Hawk, but were 
disappointed.
 
Peter Fissel
Madison, Dane Co. 
####################
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
[wisb] Dane, Iowa and Sauk Counties today

Other related posts:
