[wisb] Horicon today/Dodge,Fond du Lac Counties (long)

From: "Tom Wood" <tcwood729@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <Wisbirdn@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Fri, 24 Aug 2012 17:44:53 -0500
This morning on the south side of STH49 there was not a single shorebird in
what used to be the pond across from the historical marker. I was quite
pleased to find one Buff-breasted Sandpiper, 6 Red-necked Phalaropes, and 13
Black-bellied Plovers among other common shorebirds on the north side of
STH49 starting about 100 yards west of the historical marker. This afternoon
was a different story. My best
count was 47, but Joel Trick did a careful recount and came up with an
astonishing 67 ! Buff-breasted Sandpipers in the grassy areas south
of the historical marker.
Near the red rock just past the boardwalk loop both adult and juvenile
Virginia Rails came into the open for awhile. The juveniles are the same
size as the adults now, but are still very dusky. In the woods along the
boardwalk trail there were 5 common species of warblers, including my first
of season migrant Black-throated Green Warbler.
Old Marsh Road was interesting,too. A Peregrine Falcon was finishing its
lunch about 40 yards from the road. It was banded green 29 over
red W on the left tarsus, and it had a plain lavender band on the right
tarsus. It must have liked that spot because when I returned about 2 hours
later it was on the same limb! A Willet (possibly the same one found by the
WSO field trip on Sunday was on the south side of the road in the cattail
stubble. The cattail stubble holds numerous shorebirds but they are
maddeningly difficult to spot. Two more Black-bellied Plovers were back in
the stubble.
The Trumpeter Swan and two cygnets were still out near the bend in the road.
4 Bald Eagles could be scoped in the distance and Northern
Harriers worked back and forth across the road.
If you have been wanting to check out Old Marsh Rd., but have not gotten
around to it, you have only one week to do so before it is closed to the
public.
I was not surprised to miss the on again, off again Black-necked Stilts. But
no dowitchers or Solitary Sandpipers? The ever changing Horicon Marsh.

Thomas Wood,Menomonee Falls,Waukesha County

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[wisb] Horicon today/Dodge,Fond du Lac Counties (long)

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