This past Wednesday, I got out and did some morning birding within the Myrick Marsh (in La Crosse). It was a gorgeous morning to be out, and although a "relatively quiet" morning, more birds seem to be pushing through as the spring progresses (from what I've noticed during my few visits to the marsh). If you're traveling through the La Crosse area, I highly recommend Myrick Marsh. The mixing of habitat and overall peacefulness of the area is great. Below is my eBird list from that morning of birdwatching for about an hour. Canada Goose 6 Wood Duck 10 Gadwall 3 American Wigeon 4 Mallard 11 Blue-winged Teal 14 Northern Shoveler 10 Green-winged Teal 2 Hooded Merganser 4 Pied-billed Grebe 3 Great Blue Heron 3 Turkey Vulture 1 Bald Eagle 1 Northern Harrier 1 Sandhill Crane 2 Killdeer 2 Ring-billed Gull 1 Mourning Dove 2 Belted Kingfisher 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker 3 Hairy Woodpecker 2 Northern Flicker 1 Pileated Woodpecker 1 Eastern Phoebe 3 Blue Jay 2 American Crow 2 Tree Swallow 7 Black-capped Chickadee 2 White-breasted Nuthatch 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 3 Hermit Thrush 1 American Robin 5 European Starling 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler 4 Song Sparrow 5 Northern Cardinal 4 Red-winged Blackbird 15 Common Grackle 17 House Finch 2 American Goldfinch 4 House Sparrow 2 After Myrick Marsh, I walked over to the bluffs of Hixon Forest, and had some fun finds; including my first-of-the-year WHITE-THROATED SPARROW and HOUSE WREN an early-morning migrating Sharp-shinned Hawk, seven Tufted Titmice, 8 Butterbutts (Yellow-rumped Warblers), and many other beautiful sightings. Below is my eBird list from that morning. Hixon Forest (woodlands/bluffs, eastern edge of La Crosse) Turkey Vulture 2 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker 2 Downy Woodpecker 1 Hairy Woodpecker 6 Northern Flicker 1 Eastern Phoebe 6 Blue Jay 3 American Crow 1 Black-capped Chickadee 10 Tufted Titmouse 7 (so many of them!!) House Wren 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 4 Hermit Thrush 5 American Robin 10 Yellow-rumped Warbler 8 Song Sparrow 4 White-throated Sparrow 1 Northern Cardinal 7 American Goldfinch 5 I left La Crosse very early Thursday morning to head back up to Duluth, and after traveling about 1.5 hours north of La Crosse, sunrise took place. Below is my list of birds observed on the drive up, with the "highlight" species being a VESPER SPARROW heard from the edge of Eau Claire, while gassing up my vehicle. For what it is worth, the bird was heard from the Holiday gas station with the large Leinie's chair in front. It is exciting to hear and see new birds moving through! Red-tailed Hawk 6 Turkey Vulture 6 Bald Eagle 3 American Kestrel 1 Yellowlegs 2 (while driving through a small town with a road-side pond) Northern Flicker 1 Eastern Phoebe 2 Meadowlark 1 Many pictures to come from my visit. After being on-the-road for nearly a week, I will be able to get them done soon. Enjoy the interesting weather that lies ahead over the next few days... birds could really be moving through! Good birding, Erik Bruhnke Duluth, MN -- *NATURALLY AVIAN* - Guided Birdwatching Trips and Bird photography www.pbase.com/birdfedr www.naturallyavian.blogspot.com birdfedr@xxxxxxxxx #################### 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