I second Tom's finches observations, with Red Crossbills, White-winged Crossbills, and Common Redpolls all on the move in small numbers, as well as Pine Siskins in greater numbers. However, it's not early for any of these species, which often arrive (as migrants) around Oct 20-25 regardless of regardless of whether it will be a "good" irruption year or not. We'll see. No Pine Grosbeaks or Bohemian Waxwings yet, although Hawk Ridge in Duluth has a couple of the latter already. I had a SHORT-EARED OWL flyover Hwy 13 between Ashland and Washburn on Saturday evening -- a good find for us here in the northwoods. Good duck and loon numbers on Chequamegon Bay right now. This morning a flock close to Hwy 2 just west of Ashland had both scaup, Redheads, Canvasback, Ring-necked Duck, N. Shoveler, Green-winged Teal, C. Goldeneye, Bufflehead, and 2 RUDDY DUCKS (rare here). Both Surf and Black Scoters have been present in this area as well. White-wings are always hard to find here and I don't think we've had one yet this fall. Ryan Brady Washburn, Bayfield County, WI http://www.pbase.com/rbrady > From: jjprestby@xxxxxxx > To: wisbirdn@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > Subject: [wisb] Northwoods waterbird jackpot, etc > Date: Fri, 21 Oct 2011 19:29:27 -0500 > > I spent the week up in the Minocqua/Eagle River area for work. On my way back > today, I decided to check out Pelican Lake in Oneida County since I was > nearby. Little did I know I was about to stumble upon my best inland > waterbirding ever. The best spot to view these birds is from the pullout > along Hwy 45/47 in the town of Pelican Lake just east of the BP gas station. > This is the south side of the lake. Here is a list of what was present at > 1:00pm this afternoon. > > 12 WHITE-WINGED SCOTER (A group of 10 and a group of 2) > 7 SURF SCOTER (hanging out with the Scaup/Redhead flock flock) > 1 LONG-TAILED DUCK-- female hanging out with the group of White-winged Scoters > 54 Horned Grebe > 14 Pied-billed Grebe > 110 Scaup Sp. > 20 Redhead > 21 Common Loon > 1 Common Merganser > 16 Common Goldeneye > > Finches are already moving in the woods. I had Redpolls fly over today and > yesterday (seems a little early?) in both Oneida and Vilas County, a flyover > Red Crossbill today in Oneida County, and small groups of flyover > White-winged Crossbills in Vilas County today and Wednesday. Pine Siskins are > quite common right now and Snow Buntings have returned in force. > > The Rainbow Flowage near Woodruff still has excellent shorebird habitat. > Numbers and variety have decreased since a couple weeks ago but Black-bellied > Plovers, Pectoral Sandpipers, Snipe, a couple Dunlin and Sanderling, and a > lone Golden Plover and Greater Yellowlegs remain. > > Tom Prestby > Madison > > > > #################### > 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 > > #################### 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