After going to the native plant sale at the UW Arboretum late this morning, I
stopped at the Wingra Woods parking lot to bird for a bit. There was quite a
bit of activity right around the parking lot and along the edges of Gallistel
Woods across the road, so I mostly stuck to that and only went a little ways
down a couple trails. There were several warbler waves, with good looks at
many, although there were also lots more way up in the canopy and backlit, so
they eluded ID. I heard a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher calling plaintively
several times, and then spotted it in a nearly leafless tree on the edge of the
gardens near the pinetum. Eye level, less than 20 feet away. My kind of bird.
I was getting hungry and still had errands to run, so I headed back to the
parking lot. I was just pulling out when I saw the Bridges coming back to
their car. Cynthia asked if I'd heard about all the good birds that were seen
there that morning (nope.) After she told me about the Kentucky, Hooded and
Black-throated Blue all seen in Wingra and Gallistel, I pulled back in and
grabbed my bins and a granola bar. I was headed down to the Big Spring when I
spotted something yellow in a big patch of tiny maples. It was a Hooded
Warbler, foraging on the ground about ten feet away. There was also a
Golden-winged, and I had a brief glimpse of a Canada and several other species,
all in the foot-high maple seedlings. Chestnut-sided were everywhere. Down by
the spring, a couple dozen Yellow-rumps were actively fly-catching over the
water. Quite a sight. I headed east for the Skunk Cabbage Bridge, and had
knockout looks at Blackpoll and two more Canadas along the edge of the marsh.
There were tons more up in the canopy that were too backlit to make out. Lots
of Nashvilles and a Black-throated Green singing almost constantly, along with
the Chestnut-sideds. I'd only been at the Skunk Cabbage Spring for a little
while when I heard thunder, so I hot-footed it back to my car, only stopping to
look at one or two birds. I made it to the car just as it really started to
rain and the thunder got louder. Unbelievably, a guy pulled in and got out of
his car and headed into the woods. How stupid are people about lightning?
Yeesh.
I think the Arb will be hopping tomorrow morning. Too bad I'll be leading
walks up at Horicon for the Bird Festival. I can only hope it's as good up
there.
Peter Fissel
Madison, Dane Co.
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