This field trip was delayed by a week, due to the mid-March snowstorm, but unfortunately the delay didn’t bring milder weather… the temperature was only 18 degrees as we arrived at Goose Pond on the morning of March 28! Luckily, however, the skies were clear and sunny, and the winds were light.
The cold temperatures meant that the ponds were mostly covered with a skim of ice, but that didn’t appear to discourage the presence of several thousand waterfowl… including good numbers of TUNDRA SWANS, GREATER WHITE-FRONTED and CANADA GEESE, and also a fair number of CACKLING GEESE. Diligent searching though the masses of birds resulted in the discovery of a few ROSS’S and SNOW GEESE also.
Ducks included GREEN-WINGED and BLUE-WINGED TEAL, AMERICAN WIGEON, MALLARD and CANVASBACK. A few SANDHILL CRANES were present, and several RING-NECKED PHEASANTS were seen and heard calling. Three KILLDEER were spotted, along with a couple of WILSON’S SNIPE, and for those where there early, a lone LESSER YELLOWLEGS flew over.
A number of RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS were present, and a lone YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD was spotted. Several SONG SPARROWS were singing, a couple of EASTERN MEADOWLARKS were spotted, and a lone TREE SWALLOW was perched on a nearby powerline.
The next destination was Schoeneberg Marsh, where we hiked in along a trail to an observation deck — stopping to scan the flocks of waterfowl that were present. Quite a few CANADA GEESE were present, and about 17 CACKLING GEESE were spotted. A few groups of GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE passed overhead, along with a couple flocks of TUNDRA SWANS.
Ducks included GADWALL, AMERICAN WIGEON, GREEN-WINGED and BLUE-WINGED TEAL, NORTHERN SHOVELER, REDHEAD, RING-NECKED DUCK, LESSER SCAUP, BUFFLEHEAD and a couple of RUDDY DUCKS. At one point, a pair of TRUMPETER SWANS flew in and landed not far away, and a few HOODED and COMMON MERGANSERS were spotted. Also present were several PIED-BILLED GREBES and a number of AMERICAN COOTS. Songbirds included EASTERN PHOEBE, EASTERN BLUEBIRD, FOX, SONG and SWAMP SPARROWS, DARK-EYED JUNCO, and a few others.
From there we headed southwest, and at one point spotted a EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE along a power line. We next checked the ponds near the intersection of Highways DM & I, which had skims of ice over a large portion. Parts of the ponds were open, however, and we found CANADA and CACKLING GEESE, NORTHERN SHOVELER, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, CANVASBACK, REDHEAD, RING-NECKED DUCK, BUFFLEHEAD and a pair of HOODED MERGANSERS. Also spotted were KILLDEER, RING-BILLED GULLS and RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS.
Our next destination was the pond along Highway V, where we found BLUE-WINGED TEAL, NORTHERN SHOVELER, GADWALL, AMERICAN WIGEON and GREEN-WINGED TEAL, REDHEAD, RING-NECKED DUCK, LESSER SCAUP and BUFFLEHEAD. There we also spotted the highlight of the day… a beautiful male EURASIAN WIGEON!! We had very nice scope views of this unexpected rarity as it swam around and fed among other ducks.
Our final stop of the day was along the Lake Wisconsin causeway on Highway V, and it wasn’t long before COMMON LOONS and AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS were spotted on the west side. Flying near their distant rookery were a number of DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS, and BALD EAGLES and TURKEY VULTURES were also present.
Flying around over the water on the east side were good numbers of TREE SWALLOWS (possibly 100!), along with BONAPARTE’S and RING-BILLED GULLS. Also present were a nice variety of ducks, including GADWALL, NORTHERN SHOVELER, AMERICAN WIGEON, NORTHERN PINTAIL, CANVASBACK and LESSER SCAUP.
A little after noon we called it a day (with the temperature then up to 36 degrees), and everyone headed for home. Thanks to all who participated, and to Jeff Baughman for co-leading this field trip. We had a very nice list total on this chilly day, 63 species — which included 24 species of waterfowl!
Our eBird trip report can be viewed here: 
https://ebird.org/tripreport/493578
Tom Schultz, WSO Field Trips Committee
