[wisb] Racine and Kenosha Counties - 10/23

From: Max Witynski <birdmax922@xxxxxxxxx>
To: wisbirdn@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Sat, 23 Oct 2010 19:50:19 -0500
Dave Willard and I birded extensively in Kenosha and Racine counties
from 7:30 until 5:00 today.  We started at Southport Park in Kenosha
and progressed northward along the Lake to Wind Point, finishing at
Bong Recreation Area in the afternoon.  The Lake itself was fairly
dead, as others have reported, but we did have some nice finds,
including as LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL at Simmon's Island in Kenosha.
Details are listed below.

Southport Park/Kenosha Dunes - Highlights were 2 DC CORMORANTS, 2
HOODED MERGANSERS, and a GREAT BLUE HERON.  High numbers of both
Yellow-rumps and Am. Tree Sprrows continued throughout the day.

Eicheman Park - 2 REDHEAD, our ONLY diving ducks of the day!  220
Coots, and another Great Blue Heron.

Main Harbor - 4 RUDDY DUCK, 1 COMMON LOON, and 6 SNOW BUNTING were
nice finds while scoping from the lighthouse.

Simmon's Island - We got rained on the most here, peering through the
scope scanning the Lake in poor weather felt like what I imagine
Jaegerfest to be.  In the midst of more than 200 Herring Gulls was an
adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, as well as an unusually dark juvenile
Herring, which was a rich chocolate brown, and very finely patterned.
Also had our first of many Golden-crowned Kinglets and a single Brown
Creeper.

Alford Park - Pretty quiet, save a single Hermit Thrush and GC Kinglet.

Wind Point - very active, we were impressed having never been there
before.  Highlights were 4 HORNED GREBES, in a huge coot flock, and 5
Eastern Bluebirds.  Had 23 species near the lighthouse.

Bong - definitely the most diversity of the day, we might not have
reached 40 species had we not gone there.  Highlights were a flock of
20 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS, 7 MUTE SWANS, 28(!) PIED-BILLED GREBES, 2
KILLDEER, single FOX and SWAMP SPARROWS, a juvenile HARRIER, AM.
KESTREL, a WILSON'S SNIPE, BELTED KINGFISHER, and one each PURPLE
FINCH (female) and PINE SISKIN.  Duck hunters and decoys were more
numerous than ducks, and seemed to be keeping waterfowl numbers low.

We ended with 53 species, not bad for a rainy day with no ducks!  We
also entered seven checklists into eBird for the somewhat poorly
covered southeast corner of the state, and each got several county
birds for both Racine and Kenosha.  I hope to check the main harbor
again tomorrow - maybe I'll find the Milwaukee Harlequins!

Good Birding!
-Max Witynski,
Madison, Dane
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[wisb] Racine and Kenosha Counties - 10/23

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