Greetings, I have been wanting to mention this for awhile, but the spruce cone crop this year was outstanding! Its just the kind of great crop that the white winged crossbills enjoyed when they were so numerous two winters ago! Fingers crossed!!! Still had a Ruby Throated hummingbird this morning in my meadow! cg Claudia Giamati Chippewa Falls(mailing address) Chippewa County "A knowledge of the path cannot be substituted for putting one foot in front of the other." -- M. C. Richards --- On Mon, 9/6/10, Mike Duchek <mikeduchek@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: From: Mike Duchek <mikeduchek@xxxxxxxxxxx> Subject: [wisb] Up north (pine cones + western grebe?) To: wisbirdn@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Date: Monday, September 6, 2010, 10:24 PM Went up north this weekend. On Saturday we walked the Fallison Lake Nature Trail in the Northern Highland SF, near Boulder Junction (Vilas Co.). Did not see anything notable bird wise, but did notice many white pines with lots of cones on them and at one point near the end of the trail I saw some scales on the ground from some cones. Perhaps the work of a pine cone-loving bird? Anyway, this is a pretty nice trail that goes by a beautiful small undeveloped lake and some boggy areas and is worth checking out. Open to hiking all year and snowshoeing in winter. On Sunday we did the Franklin Lake Nature Trail in the Nicolet NF (Forest Co.). A nice, short, 1-mile trail that goes through multiple forest types and I would recommend this as well. Saw a loon in the lake (Butternut Lake), heard a BW hawk call a couple times, and heard a warbler I couldn't ID (redstart maybe), but not much else. Later that afternoon we went on the Wisconsin River Boat Cruise out of Rhinelander (Oneida Co.). Only birds we saw were kingfishers, a couple GB herons, and 2 bald eagles. But I was chasing a 2-year old half the time. Oh, and the boat captain said at one point that he had just spoken with another captain who had just seen a WESTERN GREBE along the river. Of course I have no way to verify this and didn't see it myself, but if anyone happens to be interested in this let me know and I could pass along more info if needed. Again lots of pine cones in the white pines along the river, take this photo for example which also includes a bald eagle. http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2765157400059461204tEFULE Also spent maybe 45 minutes at a boggy spot right near our place in northern Lincoln Co. near Tomahawk All I saw there of interest for sure there today were purple finches, cedar waxwings (they seem to be everywhere for me), and a random common yellowthroat, but I will definitely have to make this a regular place to go check out as it looks promising and I had some mystery birds fly over... Lincoln Co. seems to be less well-covered than other counties but has a lot of good looking habitat for northern birds. Anyway, does anyone (with more knowledge than me) know if this is looking like a "good" year for Eastern white pine cones or is this the norm? Red crossbill has to be one of the birds I'd most like to see that I have never seen in WI and from what I know some types of red crossbills are fond of these cones. Would love to hear more from anyone who might have any thoughts. Thanks! -Mike Duchek, Waukesha, Waukesha Co. #################### 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.