Thanks to posts on WisBirdN and eBird, we recently enjoyed a Southern
Wisconsin Birding Trip May 2-10. Of the 11 places visited, 4 were new to us
and provided excellent birding! Practically every place had Baltimore
Orioles and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, but there were "treats" to be found
everywhere!
PLACES VISITED -- # of SPECIES - "BEST" BIRDS:
- HORICON NWR (Auto Tour-including boardwalk, Hwy 49)-38 sp.-American
Bittern only 30 feet away at the beginning of the boardwalk!
- LAKE MARIA - 27 sp. - 9 species of ducks and lots of pelicans!
- GOOSE POND - 17 sp. - Trumpeter Swan! 2 Dunlins, 6 Yellow-rumped
Warblers.
- SAUK PRAIRIE RECREATION AREA (in pouring rain! New place for us.
Difficult bumpy roads! ) - 11 sp. - First Eastern Meadowlark of the year!
- SPRING GREEN PRESERVE - 22 sp. - Surprise sparrows: White-crowned,
White-throated, Grasshopper, Savannah, Field, Lark - all singing and easily
seen!
- GOV. DODGE STATE PARK (STEPHENS FALLS TRAIL) - 29 sp. - Pair of
Broad-winged Hawks (nesting?), Louisiana Waterthrush. We walked the
Stephen's Falls Trail for 2 hours. Followed the winding clear little
spring-fed stream for a half mile, enjoying many Spring wildflowers and a
number of birds. Our reason for following the stream was to find our
"target" bird: Louisiana Waterthrush. Not in the usual spot where the trail
divides, so we headed back. Standing by the pool at the base of the
waterfall before heading back up the rocky "steps", we heard a series of
"chip" notes, but couldn't seem to find the bird making the sound. Suddenly
spotted motion in the middle of the high rock face just to the right of the
falls: The Louisiana Waterthrush was walking on the cliff, poking rapidly
in the watery moss for edibles! Amazing to see it "walking" on this
vertical surface! After finding enough to eat, it flew down to a bare log
next to the stream to rest and digest, so we had more great looks at it.
Gorgeous wildflowers included: Bloodroot, Wood Anemone, Spring Beauty,
Hepatica, Trillium, Jack-in-the-Pulpit, Mayflower, Dutchman's Breeches
(soooo cute!).
- WYALUSING STATE PARK (especially the BOAT LANDING) - 45 sp. - Alas, none
of our "target" birds were found: Prothonotary Warbler, Kentucky Warbler,
Acadian Flycatcher. But! 5 Bald Eagles soaring at a time! Woodpeckers:
Red-headed, Red-bellied, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Downy, Hairy, Flicker,
Pileated! Carolina Wren loudly and constantly caroling! At least 3
Cerulean Warblers calling constantly and coming close for good looks!
- EAGLE POINT LANDING (New for us) - 30 sp. - 2 Eared Grebes in breeding
plumage!
- COOK ARBORETUM (Janesville) - 24 sp. - Black & White and Magnolia Warblers
- TRIPPE LAKE PARK (Whitewater) (New for us) - 22 sp. - 3 Mute Swans!
- PARADISE SPRINGS NATURE AREA (South Kettle-Moraine, near Eagle. New for
us) - 41 sp. - The morning of May 10 brought fabulous birding on this short
paved loop trail! Most birds were found right along the path in the trees
on the west side of the clear spring-fed pool. Scarlet Tanager pair! 3
species of Thrush: Swainson's, Gray-cheeked, Wood! 15 species of warblers:
Golden-winged, Black-and-White, Tennessee, Nashville, Common Yellowthroat,
Am. Redstart, Cape May, No. Parula, Magnolia, Bay-Breasted, Blackburnian,
Chestnut-sided, Yellow-rumped, Black-throated Green, Yellow! Hard to leave!
We were a little worried that we might have missed some colorful yardbirds
while we were gone, but we shouldn't have been concerned: Got up at 6 this
morning and opened the window to find... 4 beautiful Baltimore Orioles
(competing at our 2 new jelly feeders), 3 sweet White-crowned Sparrows, a
chattering Catbird, a "hollering" House Wren, and a female Hummingbird
looking for breakfast. (We quickly put up 2 feeders for her!). Looks like
it will be windowseat birding today, enjoying the beauty of birds in our own
backyard.! : )
-- Dave & Margaret Brasser
-- Sheboygan
-- Sheboygan County
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