Madison, WI including Dane and Columbia Counties RBA
May 14, 2008
Date: Thu, 15 May 2008 00:22:45 -0500
Reply-To: Delia Unson & Charles Heikkinen <deliachuck@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: "National Birding Hotline Cooperative (Central)"
<BIRDCNTR@LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU>
From: Delia Unson & Charles Heikkinen <deliachuck@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: RBA Madison, WI 14 May 08
Comments: To: WisBirdN <wisbirdn@lawrence.edu>
To: BIRDCNTR@LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU
Precedence: list
List-Help: <http://listserv.arizona.edu/cgi-bin/wa?LIST=BIRDCNTR>,
<mailto:LISTSERV@LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU?body=INFO BIRDCNTR>
List-Unsubscribe: <mailto:BIRDCNTR-unsubscribe-request@LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU>
List-Subscribe: <mailto:BIRDCNTR-subscribe-request@LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU>
List-Owner: <mailto:BIRDCNTR-request@LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU>
List-Archive: <http://listserv.arizona.edu/cgi-bin/wa?LIST=BIRDCNTR>
X-Virus-Scanned: amavisd-new at email.arizona.edu
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit
X-MIME-Autoconverted: from quoted-printable to 8bit by virtualbirder.com id
m4F5Mx1g005798
-RBA
* Wisconsin
* Madison
* 14 May 2008
* WIMA0805.14
Number: 608-255-2476
Reports: 608-255-2476
Compiler: Madison Audubon
Coverage: south-central Wisconsin
Transcriber: Chuck Heikkinen (deliachuck@gmail.com)
BIRDS MENTIONED-
SUMMER TANAGER
Bobolink
Brown Thrasher
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT
AMERICAN AVOCET
Surf Scoter
Snow Goose
RED-NECKED GREBE
KING RAIL
NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD
Long-eared Owl
Whip-Poor-Will
American Bittern
Hooded Warbler
Cerulean Warbler
MARBLED GODWIT
PRAIRIE FALCON
PIPING PLOVER
CHUCK-WILL'S-WIDOW
PAINTED BUNTING
LOCATIONS MENTIONED-
Pheasant Branch Conservancy stream corridor, Middleton
Lake Farm County Park
Brooklyn Wildlife Area, Dane County
County DM & I-94, Dane County
Whalen Grade, Columbia County
Harvey Rd/Hwy 60 pond, Columbia County
Schoeneberg's Marsh, Columbia County
Hagen Road just south of Mud Lake Wildlife Area, Columbia County
Pine Island Wildlife Area west of Portage, Columbia County
Kettle Moraine, south unit, Jefferson County
Walworth/Jefferson County line road
Princess Point, Jefferson County
Emma Carlin trail in Kettle Moraine south unit
Patton Road just south of Meek Road, Dane County
Levee Road in Columbia County, about 4 miles west of Hwy. 33
Dike 17 drawdown on the south side of Hwy 54 between Staffon and Kirck
Rds in Jackson County
Staffon and Bartos Rd near the Jackson County correctional Institute
Just west of Muscoda at the Paffenrath Lake canoe launch at the end of
Paffenrath Rd.
This is the birding hotline report of the Madison Audubon Society for
Wednesday, May 14th.
Last Wednesday, observers reported a male SUMMER TANAGER at Pheasant
Branch Conservancy in Middleton. Unfortunately, there have been no
repeat sightings.
One, and possible two, male BOBOLINKS were reported near shelter #1 at
Lake Farm County Park this past Monday, along with other species
including BROWN THRASHER.
Madison Audubon held its annual Big Birding Day last Saturday, the
10th. Highlights from Dane County include: YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS back
at Brooklyn Wildlife Area and AMERICAN AVOCETS at County DM & I-94.
The team in Columbia County found a SURF SCOTER at Whalen Grade in
Columbia County, a SNOW GOOSE at the pond near Harvey Road and Hwy 60,
a pair of RED-NECKED GREBES at Schoeneberg's Marsh on Harvey Road, a
KING RAIL at Hagen Road just south of Mud Lake Wildlife Area, and a
NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD at Pine Island Wildlife Area west of Portage.
The Jefferson County team turned up a LONG-EARED OWL in the South unit
of Kettle Moraine, WHIP-POOR-WILLS along the Walworth/Jefferson county
line, AMERICAN BITTERNS at Princess Point, and on the Emma Carlin
Trail at South Kettle Moraine 5 HOODED and one CERULEAN WARBLERS.
Today, May 14th, a pair of MARBLED GODWITS were at the flooded fields
on Patton Rd (just south of Meek Rd) in Dane County, a PRAIRIE FALCON
on Levee Road in Columbia County, about 4 miles west of Hwy. 33., a
PIPING PLOVER at the Dike 17 drawdown on the south side of Hwy 54
between Staffon and Kirck Rd in Jackson County, and a
CHUCK-WILL'S-WIDOW at its normal spot on Staffon and Bartos Rd near
the Jackson County Correctional Institute. In addition, a male
PAINTED BUNTING was located on Monday, the 12th, just west of Muscoda
at the Paffenrath Lake canoe launch at the end of Paffenrath Rd.
Several birders have sought this last bird since without any luck.
*********************************
Upcoming field trips include –
1 ) Thursday, May 15: Evening at Token Creek – Though bordered by
Hwy. 51 and I-90, Token Creek County Park's varied habitat holds
species such as Baltimore Oriole, Indigo Bunting, Brown Thrasher,
Eastern Bluebird, Warbling Vireo, and several species of flycatchers.
A variety of migrant warblers are also possible. The trip begins at
6:30 pm. Token Creek Co. Park is in the northeast quadrant of the
I-90/94 and Hwy. 51 interchange. It's about a 1/2 mile north on Hwy 51
from I-90/94 or 1/2 mile south on Hwy. 51 from Hwy. 19 and just east
of the Pine Cone Restaurant truck stop. Brown signs mark the entrance.
Wear shoes that will keep your feet dry, as some trails may be wet.
Meet at the parking lot at the first building on the right. Call Ed
at 608-846-4482 if you have questions.
2 ) Saturday, May 17: Birding Horicon Marsh – With 268 species of
birds identified in the marsh, Horicon is one of the birding hot spots
in Wisconsin. At this time of year, in addition to the nesting egrets,
herons, and waterfowl, we hope to see plenty of warblers, vireos,
thrushes, and other passerines. With luck we will hear and maybe even
see some of the more elusive marsh birds, such as rails and wrens. It
may be mid-afternoon by the time we head back to Madison, so bring a
lunch. It is usually windy at Horicon. To carpool, meet at the
eastside Cub Food Store parking lot at 7:30 am. Reach Cub Foods via
Hwy. 30 east to Hwy. 51. Go north on Hwy. 51 and take the first right
(Nakoosa Tr.) and turn right again into the Cub Foods parking lot.
Passengers are expected to help pay for gas. Call Levi at
608-277-7959 if you have questions.
3) Saturday, May 17: Jefferson/Dodge County Bird Walk - The second
monthly walk for this new group will be led by experienced birders
from 9:00 am to noon at Dorothy Carnes Park (Rose Lake) in Jefferson
County near Fort Atkinson. Meet in the parking lot and bird the park
trails. For details, please visit theropod.org where you can also sign
up to receive e-mail notices and ensure you're alerted to any last
minute changes due to weather or other circumstances. At the website
you'll also find maps and information on how to get to the walk site.
4) Saturday & Sunday, May 17 & 18: Bog Butterflies of Northern
Wisconsin. This joint trip of MAS and the Southern Wisconsin
Butterfly Association will concentrate on locating the five early
season bog species at Riley Lake Wildlife Area in Price County. All
were seen there last May. These include the Freija Fritillary, Frigga
Fritillary, Red-disk Alpine, Jutta Arctic, and the Brown Elfin. They
are all listed on the DNR web page of rare bog butterflies. Another
dozen species of interest are possible on this trip. Wear footgear
appropriate for walking in the boggy habitat. Last year it was cool in
the morning and ice was still on the water at 9:30 am so it could be a
little chilly. Bring close-focusing binoculars, water, and a lunch.
(Some extra binoculars are available but call the leader to reserve a
pair.) We will meet in Price County at the corner of Hwy. 70 and
Hemlock Rd. at approximately 10:30 am on Saturday the 17th. (This spot
is located 25 miles west of the intersection of Hwy. 70 and 51 in
Minocqua. Alternatively, the spot is located 15 miles east of the
intersection of Hwy 70 and 13 in Fifield.) The bog is approximately
240 miles from Madison. This trip will continue on Sunday for anyone
staying over. (Call Mike for information on motels in Park Falls.
Reserve early!). Pre-registration is required for this trip to allow
us to contact you concerning any bad weather cancellation. Call Mike
at 920-787-2341 (home) if you have questions.
5) Sunday, May 18: Birding at Picnic Point – We anticipate a
pleasant spring morning of birding on Picnic Point, one of Madison's
birding hot spots. With lots of shoreline, open water and a variety of
woods, wetlands, and open areas, Picnic Point is known for its
diversity of birds. On the lake we will look for waterfowl, gulls, and
terns. In the marshlands we'll be looking for blackbirds, wrens, and
Song and Swamp Sparrows. In the woodlands we'll look for woodpeckers,
thrushes, orioles, vireos, and early warblers. And in the fields and
gardens we'll look for grassland sparrows. Meet at 7:30 am at the
circular 1918 Marsh parking lot across University Bay Dr. from Picnic
Point, north of the UW hospital. The trip will last for 2-3 hours with
an opportunity to extend longer. Co-sponsor: Friends of the Lakeshore
Nature Preserve. Call Dan at 608-255-3013 if you have questions.
6) Sunday, May 18: Birding at Zeloski Marsh – The marsh has become a
major stopover for shorebirds during migration. During 2007, 24
species were seen there. It is also a major stopover for waterfowl and
wading birds. We will walk a mile and a half on gravel trails to reach
excellent shorebird and waterfowl viewing areas. For a description of
Zeloski Marsh see the Madison Audubon Webpage or the article by Nolan
Kollath in the December 2007 CAWS. Meet at the DNR parking lot at the
end of Alley Rd. at 9:00 am (about 45 minutes from the west side of
Madison). Alley Rd. is on Jefferson Co. S (west of Lake Mills), south
of County B and north of County A. The Glacial Drumlin Trail is nearby
and is excellent for warbler watching at this time of the year, so
make a day of it if you can. Picnic facilities are at nearby Korth
Park and Lake Mills is nearby for food. Call Nolan at 920-648-3842
if you have questions.
Good Birding!