[wisb] Horicon BB Sandpipers, Willet, RN Phals

From: tom prestby <jjprestby@xxxxxxx>
To: Wisbird <wisbirdn@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Tue, 21 Aug 2012 20:19:32 -0500
I got to Horicon late in the afternoon and had an enjoyable few hours until 
dusk. Started at Highway 49 at the historical marker and there wasn't one 
shorebird on the south side of the road...ouch. The north side (which is 
quickly becoming very good habitat) was much better though. A flock of Baird's 
Sandpipers was working the mudflats and was hard to count but my estimate is 
about 25 birds. Good numbers of Black-bellied Plovers continue, there were at 
least 30 of them. A little further to the west, 3 juvenile Red-necked 
Phalaropes were present not too far off the road. 

Old Marsh road had significantly more shorebirds than 49. The broken-legged 
Long-billed Dowitcher and Willet that the WSO trip found were still present. 
The Willet received a scare from one of 4(!!) Peregrines working the area but 
survived the chase and landed on the island far to the south with the ducks to 
take some time and evaluate how thankful it was to be alive. Large numbers of 
both yellowlegs and Pectoral Sandpipers were in the cattail stubble but I 
couldn't pick out anything else interesting. It was nice to see 2 cygnets with 
3 adult Trumpeter Swans, the first time I have seen evidence of them 
successfully breeding on the marsh. I swung by the auto tour which was quiet 
except for a family group of Common Gallinules hanging out at the end of the 
boardwalk. 

Checking Highway 49 at the Historical Marker again later, things had changed a 
little. I was able to find one Buff-breasted Sandpiper on the north side of the 
road picking through some snags on a grassy bar with Pecs and more Pectorals 
and Leasts had moved in. This time there were a few birds at the edge of the 
grass and mud on the south side as well...including 2 more Buff-breasteds. 

Good numbers of Great Egrets and Great Blues continue but no other waders. 

Tom Prestby
Milwaukee 
                                          
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[wisb] Horicon BB Sandpipers, Willet, RN Phals

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