[wisb] Milwaukee Lakefront, 4/4/11-4/5/11 - 20 new 2011 BIGBY species!!

From: "B.G. Sloan" <bgsloan2@xxxxxxxxx>
To: wisbirdn <wisbirdn@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Wed, 6 Apr 2011 16:58:14 -0700 (PDT)
Looks like spring migration is underway in earnest!! I had eight new 2011 
walking BIGBY species on Monday, and twelve more on Tuesday!! That brings my 
Milwaukee 2011 BIGBY count to 101 species for the year. That sets a new BIGBY 
personal record for me: earliest date to reach 100 BIGBY species. Previous 
record date for me was April 16 (2010).

My favorite new BIGBY sighting this week was Turkey Vulture. I was standing at 
the far south end of Veterans Park Lagoon when I heard a bluebird. I looked up 
to locate the bluebird and saw the vulture making lazy circles in the sky. Only 
the second Turkey Vulture I've seen since moving to Milwaukee last August. When 
I lived in southern Indiana I'd see these birds every day, even in winter.

First some random non-BIGBY highlights:

* New mammal on my BIGBY circuit. Muskrat swimming across Veterans Park Lagoon.
* American Goldfinch in full breeding plumage singing his heart out in a tree 
in Veterans Park.
* Six pairs of Northern Shovelers off of the McKinley gravel beach. The males 
have such beautiful markings when they are in full breeding plumage!
* Several Eastern Phoebes along my BIGBY route.
* A couple of Horned Larks east of the rugby field that's south of the water 
filtration plant north of Bradford Beach.
* Approximately 50 Common Mergansers along my BIGBY route.
* Ten Horned Grebes and three Pied-billed Grebes in Veterans Park Lagoon. First 
grebes I've seen there (I think).
* About 3,000 Scaups (with Goldeneyes and Buffleheads) along the lakefront 
during my Tuesday walk.
* Almost zero Mallards on my Tuesday walk. Rather odd. Whitey the Mallard was 
in his usual spot behind the art museum, but there were only 4-5 other Mallards 
between Lakeshore State Park and Bradford Beach.

And now, the new BIGBY birds. The number preceding the species name represents 
the 2011 BIGBY species number, i.e., Chipping Sparrow was my 82nd BIGBY species 
for the year:

82. Chipping Sparrow – 4/4/11 – Veterans Park
83. Ruby-crowned Kinglet – 4/4/11 – Veterans Park
84. Rusty Blackbird – 4/4/11 – Veterans Park, by lagoon
85. Red-throated Loon – 4/4/11 – off of McKinley Beach
86. Surf Scoter – 4/4/11 – off of McKinley Beach
87. Ring-necked Duck – 4/4/11 – off of McKinley gravel beach
88. Osprey – 4/4/11 – flyby over McKinley gravel beach
89. Bonaparte’s Gull – 4/4/11 – near North Point Snack Bar parking lot
90. Tree Swallow – 4/5/11 – a couple over Veterans Park
91. Wood Duck – 4/5/11 – a pair in Veterans Park Lagoon
92. Turkey Vulture – 4/5/11 – straight above Veterans Park
93. Swamp Sparrow – 4/5/11 – in cattails at south end of Veterans Park lagoon
94. White-crowned Sparrow – 4/5/11 – near brush on east side of Veterans Park 
lagoon
95. Wilson’s Snipe – 4/5/11 – flushed from south shore of Veterans Park Lagoon.
96. Yellow-rumped Warbler – 4/5/11 – near brush on east side of Veterans Park 
lagoon 
97. Bald Eagle – 4/5/11 – flyby off of North Point
98. Eastern Towhee – 4/5/11 – Lake Park
99. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker – 4/5/11 – Lake Park
100. Winter Wren – 4/5/11 – Lake Park
101. Hermit Thrush 4/5/11 – Lake Park

Bernie Sloan
Milwaukee


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[wisb] Milwaukee Lakefront, 4/4/11-4/5/11 - 20 new 2011 BIGBY species!!

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