[wisb] Milwaukee Lakefront, 4/27-28 – Nine new 2011 BIGBY species!!

From: "B.G. Sloan" <bgsloan2@xxxxxxxxx>
To: wisbirdn <wisbirdn@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Thu, 28 Apr 2011 16:52:26 -0700 (PDT)
While the weather hasn’t exactly been spring-like, the last two days have 
started to seem like spring as far as migration is concerned. I’ve even started 
to pick up some shorebird species!

I went birding in the rain on Wednesday and pretty much had the whole lakefront 
to myself. Lots of interesting birds…maybe because there were no people or dogs 
out to scare the birds away. I had six new 2011 BIGBY species on the day. 
(What’s a BIGBY? See: http://bit.ly/h8txmm).

* Barn Swallow. At least a half dozen birds foraging just offshore of Veterans 
Park. 2011 BIGBY species # 115.

* Semi-palmated Sandpiper. Two birds. They were being harassed by a gull. 
McKinley Beach. 2011 BIGBY species # 116.

* Common Tern. Two birds. McKinley Beach. Some gulls were being rather rude 
towards them. 2011 BIGBY species # 117.

* Harlequin Duck. One female off of Bradford Beach. 2011 BIGBY species # 118. 
Only the second or third time I’ve ever seen a Harlequin in my life, so it was 
pretty cool!!

* Surf Scoter. Near the Harlequin. 2011 BIGBY species # 119.

* Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. Working the brush just north of Bradford Beach. I’m 
always excited to see these birds for the first time each spring!! 2011 BIGBY 
species # 120.

And here are today’s new BIGBY birds:

* Least Sandpiper. Foraging in some of the algae on the shoreline at North 
Point. 2011 BIGBY species # 121.

* Spotted Sandpiper. Same location as Least Sandpiper. Funny...I’ve seen my 
share of Spotted Sandpipers in the past, but this is the first time I’ve ever 
actually seen one with SPOTS!  I guess this is the first one I’ve seen in 
breeding plumage. Now I understand why they are called “Spotted” Sandpipers. 
:-)  2011 BIGBY species # 122.

* Palm Warbler. Working the brush just north of Bradford Beach. The warm yellow 
colors and the chestnut crown really warm my heart after a long winter! 2011 
BIGBY species # 123.

A few non-BIGBY highlights from Wednesday:
 
* My first three-swallow day of the year: Tree, Barn, Northern Rough-wing. All 
in one flock.

* Quite a few Caspian Terns. Fourteen birds hanging out with gulls on the south 
lawn of Lakeshore State Park (LSP). And there were terns flying all along the 
lakefront from LSP to North Point.

* Thirteen Blue-winged Teal foraging on the big lawn in Veterans Park, along 
with geese and gulls. Seven males, six females. They looked really out of place 
away from the water. And they walk funny...the term “duck out of water” does 
come to mind.

* Maybe ten Ruddy Ducks scattered along the lakefront.

* Still a few Scaups hanging around. Maybe a couple dozen, compared to the 
thousands that spent the winter.

* Still some Buffleheads, mostly off of North Point.

* Red-breasted Mergansers seem to be the most common duck species right 
now...75+ birds at least.

* Horned Grebe numbers are down.

* Two Savannah Sparrows were singing in the rain at LSP. Wondering if they 
breed there?

* A male Eastern Towhee was foraging in the rocks at North Point. Seemed like 
unlikely habitat for this bird. But I got lots of good close-up looks.

* A male Eastern Bluebird was singing in a tree on the lawn north of Bradford 
Beach. The weather was gray and dreary, with drizzle. But somehow the bluebird 
was a vivid cheerful blue, almost like it was lighted from within. Really made 
my day!!

Bernie Sloan
Milwaukee

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[wisb] Milwaukee Lakefront, 4/27-28 – Nine new 2011 BIGBY species!!

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