*Wisconsin
*Statewide
*24 March 2005
*WIST0503.24
-BIRDS MENTIONED-
Great Gray Owl
Northern Hawk Owl
Harlequin Duck
Northern Mockingbird
Carolina Wren
Red-throated Loon
WSO field trip for Saturday March 26 to Goose Pond and Columbia County Ponds
This is the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology hotline report for Thursday,March 24, 2005.
Two GREAT GRAY OWLS are still present in the state now, including the one bird still present in southern Wisconsin. This is the bird that is being seen not too far from Goose Pond. The bird was present yesterday at the intersection Morrisonville Road and County Highway DM in southern Columbia County. This is about 7/10th of a mile southeast of the sheep pasture on Meek Road, where the GREAT GRAY OWL was seen frequently. Most of the recent reports have been on Morrisonville Road location. This bird was also seen a couple days ago along Smith Road between Morrisonville Road and N. Yahara Road.
There are still several GREAT GRAY OWLS present around Superior (Douglas County) and also down toward Crex Meadows. One good location in Superior is just south of town along 42nd. Street. Dawn and dusk are the best times to find this bird. Another bird was seen on County Highway A west of Solon Springs. Down toward Crex Meadows on Monday morning one bird was seen north of the Moose Junction and three birds were seen south of Dairyland.
The NORTHERN HAWK OWL at Harrinton Beach State Park in Ozaukee County is still being seen along the entrance road. Check the area near Puckets Pond.
There are still a few NORTHERN HAWK OWLS present in the Ashland area, including the one on old Highway A west of town. These birds may leave soon. There were still reports this last week of NORTHERN HAWK OWLS being seen both north and south of Solon Springs. These birds are getting more difficult to find.
The NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD is still being seen in Middleton (Dane County). It is being seen on Pheasant Branch Road, just north of Whittlesey Road. It was feeding on buckthorn berries.
Two CAROLINA WRENS are still being seen at Devil's Lake State Park, Sauk County. These birds are being seen at the southwest end of the lake, near the private cabins. There has also been a CAROLINA WREN at the Shorewood Preserve in Milwaukee. The preserve is located just south of Capital Drive on the lakefront. This bird is starting to vocalize now, making it somewhat easier to find.
At least one HARLEQUIN DUCK continues to be seen in Milwaukee by the petroleum pier. This pier is just north of the Coast Guard impoundment. Also a male HARLEQUIN DUCK was seen in Sheboygan this week in Sheboygan harbor.
RED-THROATED LOONS are now being seen now in small numbers along the Lake Michigan shoreline. Harrington Beach State Park in Ozaukee County is a good place to look for these birds along with a few Scoters. An impressive number of LONG-TAILED DUCKS are being seen here as well. The bluffs both north and south of Cleveland are also good spots to look for Red-throated Loons. A couple of birds have been seen so far this year. The numbers usually peak about mid-April. Also a couple of SCOTERS were seen north and south of Cleveland.
The next WSO field trip is Saturday, March 26. It is the traditional spring waterfowl trip to Goose Pond area in Columbia County. They meet between 8:00 and 8:30 am at Goose Pond, which is located on Goose Pond Road, 1 mile south of Highway 51 &60. This is located just east of the city of Arlington. Cars will caravan to different ponds in the area, with focus on finding the Great Gray Owl which is not too far away and also looking for spring migrants and waterfowl in the area. Bring a bag lunch as the trip usually lasts into the afternoon. All WSO field trips are open to the public, you don't have to be a member to attend and there is no charge for them.
Good Luck birding!
*Wisconsin
*Statewide
*4 March 2005
*WIST0503.04
-BIRDS MENTIONED-
Great Gray Owl
Northern Hawk Owl
Gyrfalcon
Ross's Goose
Greater White-Fronted Goose
Snowy Owl
Harlequin Duck
Winter Owl Update
This is the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology hotline report for Thursday,
March 4, 2005.
An update on the southern GREAT GRAY OWLS. The bird that was being seen in Stoughton near Madison apparently has not been seen since last weekend. There was a report of GREAT GRAY OWLS seen two times near Goose Pond in Columbia County. This bird was present on Saturday and Sunday, at the junction of Goose Pond Road and Highway K. This bird has been searched for since and has not be relocated. There was a report on Monday and Tuesday this weekof a GREAT GRAY OWL west of Sauk City, in Sauk County. It was seen at the junction of Highway 60 and River Road and also seen at the junction of River Road and Baum Road. So this bird might still be present. Apparently the Stoughton and Goose Pond birds have moved on.
GREAT GRAY OWLS continue to be seen in good numbers up in Burnett County, between Grantsburg and Highwway 35. The stretch of Highway D between Highway 35 and Grantsburg still has good numbers of the owls. There are still several birds present generally south of Superior, though there is one bird that is seen occasionally at the Wisconsin Point landfill area.
Another NORTHERN HAWK OWL location was called in this week. This bird is being seen near New Richmond, in St. Croix County, which is farther south than some of the other reports. The bird is being seen approximately 10 miles east of New Richmond. It can be seen right on Highway 64, about 3 miles east of County Highway O. Also another NORTHERN HAWK OWL continues to be seen south along Highway 53, near Solon Springs, which is south of Superior. At least one NORTHERN HAWK OWL is being seen quite regularily at the Ashland Airport. The other NORTHERN HAWK OWL continues at Harrington Beach State Park in Ozaukee County. This bird is present along the entrance road to the park, usually right near Puckets Pond.
A GYRFALCON continues to be seen in the city of Ashland, although with great irregularity. It is being seen hunting pigeons occasionally right over town. But there has been no consistent pattern as far as time of day or location to find this bird.
ROSS'S GEESE were reported from a couple of locations in the past week. One good spot last weekend was along the Beaver Dam River near the town of Leipsig, Dodge County. In past years this area, along the Beaver Dam River from Beaver Dam to the town of Lowell, has been good for ROSS'S and GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE.
There was also a report yesterday of 50 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE on Lake Koshkonong in Rock County. These birds were seen in the town of Newville, where Lake Koshkonong becomes the Rock River. This location tends to open up earlier and is a good early season spot to look for waterfowl.
The HARLEQUIN DUCKS continue in Milwaukee. There are two birds being seen by the petroleum pier, which is the pier with the large pilings about 1/2 mile north of the Coast Guard Impoundment, underneath the Hoan Bridge. There is a second year male and a female at this location.
SNOWY OWLS continue to be seen. One bird is very reliable in Outagamie County. It is being seen on Section Line Road about half way between Vans Road and Vanasten Road. There haven't been any reports in the last couple of days, but last weekend there was still a bird present near Horicon Marsh. This bird was seen at the junction of Lake Emily Road and Buckthorn Road.
The Milwaukee Harbor has very good for WINTER GULLS this past week. ICELAND, THAYER'S, GLAUCOUS, GREAT BLACK-BACKED, LESSER BLACK-BACKED have all been reported. The South Shore Yacht Club and McKinley Marina are good locations to check. Another good spot to check is Doctor's Park at the far north end of Milwaukee County just south of Brown Deer Road. This spot is very consistent for ICELAND GULLS through much of the winter. At least two birds were seen here last weekend.
*Wisconsin
*Statewide
*12 February 2005
*WIST0502.12
-BIRDS MENTIONED-
Gyrfalcon
Northern Hawk Owl
Great Gray Owl
Snowy Owl
Varied Thrush
Northern Mockingbird
Harlequin Duck
Spotted Towhee
Gray Partridge
Short-eared Owl
This is the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology hotline report for Saturday, February 12, 2005.
The GYRFALCON is still being seen in the city of Ashland, although this bird has been very sporadic. There have been a couple of recent sightings up near the ore docks and the bird has been sighted over town harrassing pigeons. Of the people who have gone up there, more have missed it than have seen it. Those who have found it had success have found it by tuning into the habits of the flock of Rock pigeons around town, finding nervous or fleeing birds and finding the falcon pursuing these birds. It may take a little bit of patience, but the bird is still in the area.
The NORTHERN HAWK OWL at Harrinton Beach State Park in Ozaukee County has not been reported now for the last couple of days. This bird may have moved on with the milder weather and the decreasing snow cover in the southeastern part of the state. The NORTHERN HAWK OWLS are still being seen south of Superior. Generally look around Highway 53, both north and south of Solon Springs. There is also at least one NORTHERN HAWK OWL in the Ashland area. This bird is hanging out at the Ashland airport. I have not received recent reports of the NORTHERN HAWK OWL that was at Thunder Lake, just north of Three Lakes. This bird hasn't been reported now for some time.
The number of GREAT GRAY OWLS around Superior has dropped off, but there are still several birds being seen. Most are being found in general along back roads around town, specifically south and west of town. They are still being seen near the land fill at Wisconsin Point. There have also been reports along Highway 53and also near the town of Oliver.
There are a couple locations in the southern part of the state that are reliable for SNOWY OWLS. A couple of birds are still being seen in Dodge County near Horicon Marsh. One bird is being seen quite regularily at the intersection of Buckhorn Road and Lake Emily Road. Another one is being seen along Highway 49 in the marsh itself, although this bird is generally very difficult to find except right around dusk when it is seen perching up on visible points along Highway 49. There are also some in Outagamie County near the intersection of Highway S and Sectionline Road. There are at lesat two SNOWY OWLS present at this location.
A new VARIED THRUSH was reported this week. This bird is being seen in the town of Hazelhurst in Oneida County. For permission to see this bird you can contact Pat at 715-358-8856. The VARIED THRUSH is still being seen in Washburn, up in Bayfield County. For permission to see this bird and directions you can contact Ryan Brady at 715-682-1103. The bird in Lincoln County near Merrill is still being seen. For permission to see this bird you can contact the Allertons; their phone number is 715-536-5251.
A NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD is being seen at the Pheasant Branch conservancy in Middleton, which is on the west side of Madison. The MOCKINGBIRD is generally being seen on Pheasant Branch Road just south of Whittlesey Road. It is usually present in the thicket on the west side of the road, feeding on buckthorn berries.
An adult male HARLEQUIN DUCK was reported this week at the Southshore Yacht Club in Milwaukee. It was swimming out near the pier. One person reported talking to a Kayaker in this area who has seen HARLEQUIN DUCKS on the lake side of the break wall. So the birds may be bouncing around in this area.
The SPOTTED TOWHEE is still being seen in Muskego County Park in Wauksesha County. The park is located at the intersection of Janesville Road and Woods Road. The bird is being seen by Picnic Area # 5, just west of the small building. It is feeding on the seed that is scattered on the ground.
GRAY PARTRIDGE is reported in southeastern Wisconsin for the first time in a while. It is being seen in Ozaukee County. They are being found on Six Mile Road, between Dixie Road and Highway A. Also not far from here, on six Mile road just south of Jay Road, SHORT-EARED OWLS are being seen in the same area. It was seen on Friday on
Pickard Road, about 1.2 miles south of County Highway A. This is just a
little south of where the GREAT GRAY OWL is being seen.
There is at least one SNOWY OWL that is being seen near Freedom in Outagamie
County. This bird was seen yesterday near the intersection of Highway J and
Highway S.
An adult male HARLEQUIN DUCK was seen last week in Milwaukee. It was seen
at North Point, which is just north of Bradford Beach. This is a good spot
to check for Harlequin Ducks. Another good spot in past years has been
Shorewood Nature Preserve, which is located a couple blocks of Capitol Drive
right on the lake front.
