[wisb] Post-blizzard BIGBY stroll, 2/3/10
- From: "B.G. Sloan" <bgsloan2@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: wisbirdn <wisbirdn@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 3 Feb 2011 17:59:15 -0800 (PST)
I have to start off by saying that I'm REALLY impressed with how the people of
Milwaukee handle snow removal (at least in my neighborhood)!! I went for a 2.5
hour walk less than 24 hours after one of the worst blizzards in the city's
history, and virtually all the sidewalks were cleared...commercial and
residential. Many sidewalks even had bare dry concrete! Other places I've lived
in would probably have taken at least a week for sidewalks to be passable.
I thought the blizzard was pretty scary. Worst winter storm I've ever been in.
I live across the street from a vacant lot at the top of the Lake Michigan
bluff, so there was *nothing* to slow down the gales coming off of the lake.
Steady winds of at least 40mph, with gusts of 60+ mph. At one point a strong
gust came up that sounded like it might tear my balcony off the building!
Today, though, was a beautiful day. Sunny. I bundled up, and by the end of my
walking I was getting a little sweaty. The lakefront was interesting. Along
McKinley Beach and the Bradford Beach parking lot there was a huge wall of ice
that was maybe 20 feet higher than the lake level!! I think this wall of ice
might have protected the beaches from serious erosion...
Bird highlights:
* A flyover flock of 25-30 very vocal House Finches. Most I've seen in
Milwaukee.
* Beautiful male Purple Finch.
* Fifteen Dark-eyed Juncos.
* An American Goldfinch in the early stages of song.
* Three Horned Larks in a windswept area of McKinley Beach.
* Ten Snow Buntings.
* Several thousand ducks off of McKinley and Bradford beaches.
* 25 Cedar Waxwings in some ornamental fruit trees at the Bradford Beach
parking lot entrance.
* Several beautiful Eastern Bluebirds in the same trees!!
Bernie Sloam
Milwaukee
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- » [wisb] Post-blizzard BIGBY stroll, 2/3/10 - B.G. Sloan
