Bird Sightings in Lake Park in 2006 and 2007

This page is http://home.roadrunner.com/~phunter1/06_to_07_Bird_Sightings_in_Lake_Park.html ... 3/25/09

See tabular list of species seen at: http://home.roadrunner.com/~phunter1/LPBWalkList2006.html

Site Navigation: HOME=Lake Park Birds -- Checklist -- Birding activities -- Park Map -- City Map -- Photos -- Links




Saturday, January 14, 2006
Report of Duck Watch
By Paul Hunter
Lake Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Return to top of page.

About fifteen birders enjoyed the bright sun and relatively warm (32 Fahrenheit) temperatures. A light easterly breeze and meter-high waves made viewing ducks a bit challenging at times.

The American Pipit flew down to the Cladaphora "algae" mat where Lincoln Memorial is closest to the Lake Michigan shoreline, just north of North Point. It's thin bill and slight tail wagging helped identify this dull brown, streak-breasted bird. Probably it's the same one seen 100 meters north (at soccer field) on the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology field trip on 1/7/06.

As part the "Big Year of Birding at Lake Park" we counted individuals of every species and entered them on eBird.com .

Lake Park - North Point
. . . 11 AM - 12:30 PM
8 Canada Goose
30 Mallard
50 Greater Scaup
50 Bufflehead
300 Common Goldeneye
1 Hooded Merganser
7 Common Merganser
50 Ring-billed Gull
2 Herring Gull
2 American Crow
1 American Pipit
15 Dark-eyed Junco
Shorewood Nature Preserve
. . . 12:45 - 1:15 PM
34 Mallard
80 Greater Scaup
15 Bufflehead
20 Common Goldeneye
4 Red-breasted Merganser
3 Ring-billed Gull
1 Mourning Dove
1 Downy Woodpecker
3 Black-capped Chickadee
10 American Robin
2 Northern Cardinal
Participating Birders:
Kimberly Fein
Ron Gutschow
Judith Huf
Dolores Knopfelmacher
Jym Mooney
(Bill Mueller's scope)
Bill Rumpf
Maria Terres
and others

Addendum: (1/18/06)
Pat Ready, Steve Thiessen and Nolan Pope of the Madison area went with Dolores Knopfelmacher, (Co-chair Nature Committee, Lake Park Friends) to Locust Street Ravine after the Duck Watch and saw the Great Tit and a Fox Sparrow. >



Saturday, February 11, 2006
Report of Duck Watch
By Paul Hunter
Lake Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Return to top of page.

Snow squalls reduced visibility occasionally to 50 meters, but about 15 birders enjoyed a relatively mild mid-day on the Lake Michigan shore at Lake Park and South Shore Park in Milwaukee. We also visited the feeders at Locust Ravine in Lake Park.

Thanks to experienced birders with scopes, beginning birders got good looks at a few Gadwalls, several Buffleheads, and about 130 Common Goldeneyes (mainly females) at Lake Park just north of Bradford Beach. A couple of American Crows keep an eye on us from trees at the shoreline. A couple dozen Mallards hugged the frozen shoreline. One a few Scaup floated among the goldeneyes.

A few to several dozen American Robins flew noisily away from the lakeside bluff westward through Locust Ravine as we arrived. Two or three even sang sustained songs. The exotic Great Tit called sounding somewhat like a Carolina Wren. Several of us discussed breeding European exotics seen over the past few years in SE Wisconsin and NE Illinois, wondering whether they will harm native species.

In the midst of that conversation, the real Carolina Wren popped up at the top of a standing snag (dead tree) without making a sound. A few American (not European) Goldfinches, several Mourning (not European Collared) Doves, a couple White-breasted Nuthatches, a few Black-capped Chickadees, one Hairy Woodpecker, three Downy Woodpeckers, one Red-bellied Woodpecker, several Dark-eyed Juncos and several (Eurasian) House Sparrows munched at the green-and-copper feeder near the wooden footbridge.

A small contingent drove the 6.8 miles south to South Shore Park. In the marina and southward to the Texas Avenue overlook we saw our greatest variety of waterfowl. Over a hundred Common Mergansers and several Red-breasted Mergansers hugged the near side of the rocky breakwater. A couple Canvasbacks paddled and dived among about 150 Redheads off shore from the small playground. (We could not turn the few Scaup into the Ring-necked Duck that Jym Mooney had seen earlier.)

A few American Black Ducks were among the few dozen Mallards at the marina. About 150 (European) Rock Pigeons showed a variety of dark plumages. A couple hundred gulls loafing on ice in the marina were evenly split between Herring and Ring-billed. We tried turn a medium-sized, smudge-necked sleeping gull into a Thayer's but in the end, we weren't sure, though it did spark conversation about "ring species".



Saturday, March 11, 2006
Report of Duck Watch
By Paul Hunter
Lake Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Return to top of page.

About 20 birders socialized and scanned the ducks along the shoreline in Lake Park before pursuing the Carolina Wren in Locust Ravine and then driving over the Hoan Bridge to South Shore Park.

The usual suspects dabbled and dived just east of Lincoln Memorial Drive at Lake Park: Gadwalls, Mallard, Buffleheads, and Common Goldeneyes. Roxanne Schrank impressed Maria Terres' students from the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design with her colored pencil drawing of birds. Jym Mooney and Paul Hunter plotted future Christmas count activities. Several beginning birders got comfortable with identifying Gadwalls versus Mallards.

Tom Prestby had staked out the Carolina Wren near Locust Ravine in Lake Park and called our attention to a Fox Sparrow. Unleashed dogs flushed a few Mourning Doves, but a Brown-headed Cowbird, several House Sparrows, Black-capped Chickadees, and White-breasted Nuthatches on the feeders seemed unperturbed.

Beginning birders had good comparisons of Black Ducks versus Mallards at South Shore Marina and various sizes of Canada Geese. At Texas Overlook the hardy few left of our crew scoped a couple Canvasbacks, several Scaup, and a couple female Red-breasted Mergansers. A few Redheads, a Hooded Merganser and more Goldeneyes and Scaup hugged the near shore in the northern part of South Shore Marina.


Saturday, April 22, 2006
Report of Warbler Walk
By Jym Mooney
Lake Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Return to top of page.

A group of up to 19 birders braved intermittent rain and sun to mark Earth Day with the first Lake Park Warbler Walk of the season. A total of 37 species were seen, with highlights including a northern mockingbird on the golf course, yellow-rumped, pine, and palm warblers, eastern towhee, and brown thrasher.

Much of the action centered on the trees and bushes surrounding the General Wolcott statue, which yielded the greatest diversity of birds. It was wonderful how, once the sun really burst out from behind the clouds, a huge chorus of various bird songs was raised. We listened to white-throated sparrow, ruby-crowned kinglet, cardinal, robin, red-winged blackbird, and more. The finding of three warbler species was encouraging, given the earliness of the season (and at least two other warbler species, blue-winged and black and white, have been seen in Lake Park within the last week).


Jym Mooney, Milwaukee with Robin Squier
4/22/06
Number of species: 36

Canada Goose 4
Mallard 1
Bufflehead 4
Red-breasted Merganser 12
Ring-billed Gull 6
Caspian Tern 1
Mourning Dove 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
Hairy Woodpecker 2
Northern Flicker 3
Blue Jay 3
American Crow 6
Black-capped Chickadee 10
Great tit
Red-breasted Nuthatch 2
White-breasted Nuthatch 6
Brown Creeper 2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 20
Eastern Bluebird 2
Hermit Thrush 6
American Robin 12
Northern Mockingbird 1
Brown Thrasher 1
European Starling 10
Yellow-rumped Warbler 6
Pine Warbler 1
Palm Warbler 2
Eastern Towhee 1
Chipping Sparrow 11
Song Sparrow 2
White-throated Sparrow 12
Snow Bunting 1
Northern Cardinal 4
Brown-headed Cowbird 6
House Finch 1
American Goldfinch 3



Saturday, April 29, 2006 Report of Warbler Walk
By Jym Mooney, Dolores Knopefelmacher and Judith Huf (Compiled by Paul Hunter)
Lake Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Return to top of page.

The highlight of the 4/29/06 bird walk in Lake Park was a Harris Sparrow at the Wolcott Statue about 9:30am. He was feeding with the large flock of White-throated Sparrows. It was a life-bird for several birders. House and Winter Wrens were seen nearby.

One birder heard the Black-throated Green Warbler, but didn't see it. Someone else reported a Wilson's Warbler. one person saw the Red-headed Woodpecker just before the group gathered.


About 20 people joined the second of our Saturday "Warbler Walks." The weather being much balmier than the preceding week, we were able to record more birds and visit more areas of the park, including hot spots Locust Street Ravine and the shrubby area near the Wolcott statue. Jym Mooney also visited the lake shore and noted some lake and shore birds before we began.

Judith Huf and Roxanne Shrank led the walk; Jym Mooney recorded the species. We counted 279 individuals (up from 182 the previous week) and 47 species (up from 36 the previous week).

Number of species: 47

Canada Goose 2
Wood Duck 2
Mallard 2
Greater Scaup 5
Red-breasted Merganser 6
Double-crested Cormorant 12
Ring-billed Gull 10
Herring Gull 3
Caspian Tern 5
Mourning Dove 3
Chimney Swift 3
Red-headed Woodpecker 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 2
Hairy Woodpecker 2
Northern Flicker 1
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 12
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 2
Barn Swallow 1
Black-capped Chickadee 12
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 3
Brown Creeper 1
House Wren 2
Winter Wren 3
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 20
Eastern Bluebird 2
American Robin 10
Brown Thrasher 2
European Starling 25
Cedar Waxwing 6
Yellow-rumped Warbler 12
Black-throated Green Warbler 1
Wilson's Warbler 1
Eastern Towhee 1
Chipping Sparrow 20
Song Sparrow 1
Swamp Sparrow 1
White-throated Sparrow 20
Harris's Sparrow 1
Dark-eyed Junco 1
Northern Cardinal 8
Common Grackle 12
Brown-headed Cowbird 10
American Goldfinch 5
House Sparrow 6



Saturday, May 6, 2006
Report of Warbler Walk
By Paul Hunter
Lake Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Return to top of page.

About 15 birders enjoyed a relaxed stroll from Locust Ravine, past the Lawn Bowling courts, to the Wolcott Statue on this pleasant, bright and calm morning. Most of us saw about 37 species, though as usual Jym Mooney was the early bird. His "worm" was seeing the Red-headed Woodpecker. Steve Lubahn was apparently even earlier and reported the uncommon Hooded and rare Prairie Warblers near the Wolcott Statue.

Fly-overs of a total of 40 cormorants prompted a discussion of one birder's seeing hundreds to thousands together feeding offshore in Door County, and the antipathy sport fisherman hold for these "black geese". Another large group of flying dark birds was less controversial. 50 Chimney Swifts chittered away over the golf course and Wolcott Statue for several minutes before fading away.

In a fence post at the northeast corner of the Lawn Bowling courts near the restaurant (Pavilion), a pair of Eastern Bluebirds has made a nest, despite the habitat at Lake Park not quite meeting the criteria specified by the Bluebird Restoration Association of Wisconsin, http://www.braw.org/start.htm . One birder also saw a pair of White-breasted Nuthatches poking in and out of a natural cavity, suggesting more nesting occurring in Lake Park. Hopefully the Red-headed Woodpecker pair can find a large dead limb of a large tree near an open area for their nest.

The most interesting species for us intermediate birders were again at the Wolcott Statue. A Clay-colored Sparrow mixed on the ground with a flock of White-throated and White-crowned Sparrow, showing it's gray nape, darker brown facial pattern and overall appearance of a brown-capped chipping sparrow. It also later confused us by flitting warbler-like at the top of a tall bush. The male Black-throated Blue Warbler slipped in and out of the foliage of a Norway maple giving fair glimpses to most of us. The Nashville Warbler sang dutifully enough to compare to its recording on co-leader Robin Squier's video iPod. The female Yellow Warbler was surprisingly difficult to identify.

Lake Park - Locust Ravine to Wolcott Statue

Mallard 1
Double-crested Cormorant 40
Ring-billed Gull
Chimney Swift 50
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 3
Hairy Woodpecker 2
Blue Jay 4
American Crow 6
Barn Swallow 4
Black-capped Chickadee 5
White-breasted Nuthatch 3
House Wren 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2
Eastern Bluebird 2
Hermit Thrush 2
American Robin 5
Brown Thrasher 1
European Starling 4
Nashville Warbler 1
Yellow Warbler 1
Black-throated Blue Warbler 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler 3
Palm Warbler 3
Black-and-white Warbler 2
Ovenbird 3
Chipping Sparrow 12
Clay-colored Sparrow 1
White-throated Sparrow 35
White-crowned Sparrow 20
Northern Cardinal 12
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 2
Red-winged Blackbird 6
Brown-headed Cowbird 8
House Finch 6
American Goldfinch 6
House Sparrow 4
Seen by Jym Mooney at Bradford Beach - North Point

Lesser Scaup 2
Bufflehead 6
Bonaparte's Gull 6
Ring-billed Gull 6
Herring Gull 1
Caspian Tern 25


Seen before the walk in Locust Ravine and at Wolcott Statue

Red-headed Woodpecker 1 [Jym Mooney]
Prairie Warbler 1 [Steve Lubahn]
Hooded Warbler 1 [Steve Lubahn]



Saturday, May 13, 2006
Report of Warbler Walk
Lake Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Return to top of page.

Today's Lake Park Warbler Walk was attended by 11 hardy souls. The weather was chilly and wet, but we did manage to tally up over 50 species in the end. We had to work hard for most, concentrating on the Locust and North Ravines, peering down into the gullies and listening carefully to find any skulking birds. The red-headed woodpeckers were very active and easily visible. Warblers got off to a slow start, but then we were treated to good displays by male and female redstarts, and through the morning more warblers checked in, mostly in ones and twos. Robin Squier found a Cooper's hawk on its nest in the North Ravine. By 8:30 most of the birders had dropped out, but Judith Huf and I continued down to the lakefront. Before the walk officially began I had found common terns, Bonaparte's gulls, and a black tern in addition to the usual gulls and terns, and the two of us now found dozens and dozens of chimney swifts and swallows (mostly barn and northern rough-winged, but Judith saw at least one each of tree and cliff swallows) feeding over the lake, plus a flock of YR warblers with a yellow warbler, gnatcatcher, and song sparrows just north of Bradford Beach. The highlight was a flyover by a common loon.

There is quite a bit of algae on Bradford Beach, no doubt thrown up in the rough weather of this week. That will be worth watching in the days to come for shorebirds.

Jym Mooney, Milwaukee

Lake Park - 5/13/06
Also 1 empid flycatcher.
Number of species: 56
Canada Goose 12
Mallard 3
Redhead 1
Lesser Scaup 5
Red-breasted Merganser 1
Common Loon 1
Cooper's Hawk 1
Bonaparte's Gull 3
Ring-billed Gull 15
Herring Gull 6
Caspian Tern 13
Common Tern 3
Black Tern 1
Mourning Dove 1
Chimney Swift 25
Red-headed Woodpecker 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 2
Northern Flicker 1
American Crow 2
Tree Swallow 1
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 50
Cliff Swallow 1
Barn Swallow 50
Black-capped Chickadee 12
White-breasted Nuthatch 3
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1
Eastern Bluebird 1
Veery 2
American Robin 5
Gray Catbird 3
Brown Thrasher 1
European Starling 6
Orange-crowned Warbler 1
Nashville Warbler 3
Yellow Warbler 1
Magnolia Warbler 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler 12
Black-throated Green Warbler 1
Palm Warbler 20
Black-and-white Warbler 2
American Redstart 4
Common Yellowthroat2
Chipping Sparrow 15
Song Sparrow 4
White-crowned Sparrow 20
Northern Cardinal 6
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 2
Indigo Bunting 1
Red-winged Blackbird 1
Common Grackle 3
Brown-headed Cowbird 6
House Finch 8
American Goldfinch 15
House Sparrow 3



Saturday, May 20, 2006
Report of Warbler Walk
By Paul Hunter
Lake Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Return to top of page.

Over 20 birders saw about 58 species of birds this sunny, calm, and fairly warm morning. Warblers, woodpeckers and others paraded by as we stood on the wooden Rustic Footbridge over Locust Ravine. Early birders Jym Mooney, Amy Ihlenfeldt and Frank ntis saw Mourning and Canada Warblers there. The rest of us had nice looks at "fire-throated" male Blackburnian and the elegant male Bay-breasted Warblers. Robert Hambley, www.rlhamblevphotography.com. posted photos of Red Headed Woodpeckers at their nest hole, Yellow-rumped, Bay-breasted, Black-and-White, Chestnut-sided Warblers, Cardinal, Brown Thrasher, and Blue Jay at his website, http://tinyurl.com/9roq6. (Scroll to the right to see the index.) First year male Baltimore Orioles gave us an identification challenge. A male Mallard fed on seeds under the bird feeder.

I [paul Hunter] took half of the birders past the Indian Mound and Lawn Bowling greens while Roxanne Schrank continued on the usual route over the concrete bridge farther down Locust Ravine. Roxanne's group saw more warblers, while we watched an Eastern Bluebird sally down from branches to pick up insects off the grass near the Lawn Bowling greens. We also inspected the five eggs (2 speckled,3 blue) in the fence post in the northeastern corner of the greens, where Dolores Knopfelmacher has seen bluebirds.

Our two groups met at the elegant concrete footbridge over Ravine Road where we heard Indigo Buntings. From there Roxanne took most of the crew back to the Warming House to tally the official count, while a small group of fast walkers followed me past Girl Scout Ravine, where we saw and heard the drab Warbling Vireo, to the Wolcott statue, which was unusually quiet. We saw a few warblers along the North Lighthouse Ravine, west of the Wolcott statue and then turned north through the golf course where we saw Chipping, Savannah and White-crowned Sparrows, on our way back to the Warming House.

Last night was the biggest night of the spring for nocturnal migration in eastern Wisconsin on calm winds ahead of a cold front. -- John Idzikowski, Milwaukee based on radar data as posted on WisBirdNet

http://my.execpc.com/CE/ 5 F/idziko jlnexrad/nexwe b/may0506. jpg http://www.learner.org/jnolth/weather/radar/index.html

Mallard - Anas platyrhynchos 1
Double-crested Cormorant - Phalacrocorax auritus 10
Ring-billed Gull - Larus delawarensis X
Herring Gull - Larus argentatus X
Chimney Swift - Chaetura pelagica 40
Red-headed Woodpecker - Melanerpes erythrocephalus 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker - Melanerpes carolinus 2
Downy Woodpecker - Picoides pubescens 2
Hairy Woodpecker - Picoides villosus X
Least Flycatcher - Empidonax minimus X
Eastern Kingbird - Tyrannus tyrannus X
Warbling Vireo - Vireo gilvus 1
Red-eyed Vireo - Vireo olivaceus X
Blue Jay - Cyanocitta cristata 6
American Crow - Corvus brachyrhynchos 3
Tree Swallow - Tachycineta bicolor X
Barn Swallow - Hirundo rustica X
Black-capped Chickadee - Poecile atricapillus X
White-breasted Nuthatch - Sitta carolinensis 2
House Wren - Troglodytes aedon X
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - Regulus calendula 4
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - Polioptila caerulea 3
Eastern Bluebird - Sialia sialis 3
Veery - Catharus fuscescens X
Hermit Thrush - Catharus guttatus X
American Robin - Turdus migratorius X
Gray Catbird - Dumetella carolinensis X
European Starling - Sturnus vulgaris X
Cedar Waxwing - Bombycilla cedrorum 6
Nashville Warbler - Vennivora ruficapilla 1
Yellow Warbler - Dendroica petechia 4
Chestnut-sided Warbler - Dendroica pensylvanica 6
Magnolia Warbler - Dendroica magnolia 4
Yellow-rumped Warbler - Dendroica coronata 20
Black-throated Green Warbler - Dendroica virens 2
Blackburnian Warbler - Dendroica fusca 6
Palm Warbler - Dendroica palmarum 2
Bay-breasted Warbler - Dendroica castanea 2
Blackpoll Warbler - Dendroica striata 2
Black-and-white Warbler - Mniotilta varia 4
American Redstart - Setophaga ruticilla 2
Ovenbird - Seiurus aurocapilla 2
Mourning Warbler - Oporornis philadelphia 1
Common Yellowthroat - Geothlypis trichas 3
Wilson's Warbler - Wilsonia pusilla 2
Canada Warbler - Wilsonia canadensis 2
Chipping Sparrow - Spizella passerina 16
Savannah Sparrow - Passerculus sandwichensis 1
Song Sparrow - Melospiza melodia 1
White-crowned Sparrow - Zonotrichia leucophrys 3
Northern Cardinal - Cardinalis cardinalis 6
Indigo Bunting - Passerina cyanea 4
Common Grackle - Quiscalus quiscula 4
Brown-headed Cowbird - Molothrus ater 6
Baltimore Oriole - Icterus galbula 2
House Finch - Carpodacus mexicanus 4
American Goldfinch - Carduelis tristis 4
House Sparrow - Passer domesticus 4

Amy Ihlenfeldt and Frank ntis (the DNR people from Madison) were still at the Locust St Ravine when I left (12:30). In addition to the list we had, they saw a Cape May Warbler and a Rose-breasted Grosbeak. What a day! -- Dolores Knopfelmacher, co-chair, Nature Committee, Lake Park Friends

Also seen by Jym Mooney (and Paul Hunter) at Bradford Beach (and North Point) at the lakefront:
Common Tern (and / or Forster's Tern)
Sanderling
Dunlin



Saturday, May 27, 2006
Report of Warbler Walk
By Paul Hunter
Lake Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Return to top of page.

About 15 birders enjoyed a fairly warm and still morning. Some late migrants were still visible between the leaves but our song identification skills were stretched also. Beginning birders enjoyed some good looks at singing Indigo Buntings. More advanced birders were happy to see a Black-billed Cuckoo and a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher. Crows and bluebirds sat on nests.

Total # of species:60

14 Canada Goose
5 Mallard
1 Cooper's Hawk
1 Killdeer
x Ring-billed Gull
x Herring Gull
6 Caspian Tern
4 Mourning Dove
1 Black-billed Cuckoo
10 Chimney Swift
1 Ruby-throated Hummingbird
2 Red-headed Woodpecker
1 Red-bellied Woodpecker
1 Downy Woodpecker
1 Hairy Woodpecker
3 Eastern Wood-Pewee
1 Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
1 Eastern Phoebe
1 Eastern Kingbird
1 Warbling Vireo
6 Red-eyed Vireo
1 Blue Jay
4 American Crow
1 Northern Rough-winged Swallow
2 Black-capped Chickadee
2 White-breasted Nuthatch
1 House Wren
1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
2 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
2 Eastern Bluebird
1 Veery
1 Swainson's Thrush
10 American Robin
3 Gray Catbird
1 Brown Thrasher
6 European Starling
2 Cedar Waxwing
5 Chestnut-sided Warbler
4 Magnolia Warbler
1 Black-throated Green Warbler
2 Blackburnian Warbler
1 Black-and-white Warbler
9 American Redstart
4 Common Yellowthroat
5 Wilson's Warbler
1 Canada Warbler
1 Scarlet Tanager
2 Chipping Sparrow
3 Song Sparrow
1 White-crowned Sparrow
5 Northern Cardinal
1 Rose-breasted Grosbeak
4 Indigo Bunting
4 Red-winged Blackbird
7 Common Grackle
10 Brown-headed Cowbird
2 Baltimore Oriole
2 House Finch
4 American Goldfinch
1 House Sparrow

Judith Huf led more experienced birders over the bridges to the Wolcott statue and the lighthouse, while Jym Mooney and I [Paul Hunter] led beginning birders down Locust Ravine, along the bluff below the Pavilion and back up through Girl Scout Ravine. We met back at the Warming House to review the list and discuss future birding events.

I was pleased to talk with Daniel Edelstein, former Shorewood resident and current environmental consultant in San Francisco, on his annual homecoming visit. Daniel increased our warbler counts.

It was also nice to see my colleague Seth Foldy on his fIrst Warbler Walk.

Jym Mooney saw the hummingbird, Caspian Terns, 6 large shorebirds fly by, possibly Black-bellied Plovers.

Mike Goodman, Lake Park Bird Feeders Alliance co-ordinator, saw the Brown Thrasher and Blacked-billed Cuckoo at Rustic Bridge.

Judith Huf saw nesting bluebirds and crows, and the kinglet, black-and-white warbler, veery, and black-throated green warbler, and heard the scarlet tanager.


Sent: Sunday, August 27, 2006
From: Jym Mooney, Milwaukee
Lake Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Return to top of page.

Nice warbler fallout this morning in the Locust Ravine. In addition to the species below, I think I may have seen a Connecticut warbler, but I need some advice on warbler behavior. This bird was definitely walking (not hopping) on the ground, picking at vegetation, and had complete eye rings. I kept getting glimpses of it as it walked behind a tree and a downed limb. It was not boldly marked as far as a hood, so I would think either female or immature. My question is, what other warblers feed by walking along on the ground? This was definitely not an ovenbird (no breast spots or orange crown stripe) or a waterthrush (eye rings, not a pale eyebrow).

eBird Report - Lake Park
- Locust Ravine, 8/27/06
Number of species: 29

Canada Goose
Mallard
Double-crested Cormorant
Spotted Sandpiper
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Caspian Tern
Chimney Swift
Red-headed Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Red-eyed Vireo
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
White-breasted Nuthatch
Swainson's Thrush
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
Tennessee Warbler
Cape May Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Palm Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
American Redstart
Northern Waterthrush
Chipping Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
House Finch
American Goldfinch


Saturday, September 9, 2006
Report of Warbler Walk
By Dennis and Jean Casper
Lake Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Return to top of page.

From 7:30 a. m. until well after 10:00, under cloudy skies, cool temperatures, and some stiff winds off the lake, 17 birders, led by Marilyn Bontly and Dennis Casper, roamed Lake Park in search of often elusive warblers and whatever other feathered fauna might be found. The morning started off well with a hot spot in the area around the tennis courts that featured a large flock of Eastern Bluebirds as well as several other species, some warblers among them. But as the group moved over to the bird feeders in the Locust Street Ravine and along the ravine to the bridge over Ravine Drive, avian activity diminished substantially and sightings became sporadic, generally of only single individuals. And then along the path between the ravine bridge and the Wolcott statue, activity seemed to have ceased almost entirely and there were virtually no new sightings.

Activity, and our spirits, revived, however, as we crossed the golf course, where, among others, Eastern Kingbirds busied themselves with catching their meals, one of which landed within ten feet of us and munched down its prey apparently indifferent to our presence, several Palm Warblers bobbed about in the grass, and a pair of Cooper’s Hawks cavorted above us. The walk ended with a flurry of activity in the trees and bushes just to the south of the feeders in the Locust Street Ravine, where we added several warblers to the day’s list, including Magnolia and Yellow Warblers, a Northern Parula, and a Common Yellowthroat. In the end, we racked up a total of forty species, including thirteen warblers. Participants in the walk included not only Lake Park regulars but also folks representing Riverside Park, Riveredge Nature Center, Schlitz Audubon Center, and Enderis Park. At one point, a few of the group detoured from the walk to a Native American ceremony at Lake Park’s Indian mound, and, after the conclusion of the walk, two of our number joined a crowd of extras in a commercial being filmed at the north entrance of the park and for these efforts, garnered a $50 contribution to Lake Park Friends’ birdseed fund. All in all, it was a fine day of birding and camaraderie.

Cooper’s Hawk
Broad-winged Hawk
Ring-billed Gull
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Least Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
Red-eyed Vireo
American Crow
Barn Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
Eastern Bluebird
Veery
American Robin
Tennessee Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Northern Parula
Yellow Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Cape May Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Palm Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler
Black and White Warbler
American Redstart
Common Yellowthroat
Wilson’s Warbler
Chipping Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
House Finch
American Goldfinch

Addendum by Paul Hunter

As the others watched bluebirds, I strolled south along the rugby field. Cormorants and gulls struggled northward along the lakeshore against the stiff but surprisingly warm northeast breeze. Their slow progress allowed close inspection of a wide variety of plumages of various ages of Ring-billed Gulls. Large dark first-year Herring Gulls also flew slowly and could not be mistaken for jaegars. A brief flash of two medium-sized diving falcon-shaped birds could have been merlins. Male Mallards started to show their green-headed, gray-mantled finery poking out from their dark brown plumage of late summer. Five Sanderlings allowed my approach within 10 meters for a few minutes.

As usual, the North Light House Ravine was devoid of bird life. However, the golf course yielded a Red-breasted Nuthatch and a dozen winter-plumaged American Goldfinches feasting on abundant cones of small spruces. The relatively open vista northwesterly from the southeastern corner of the golf course showed promise for hawk watching. From there I saw a couple V-formations of large Canada Geese. In the second V, the two smaller birds that caught my attention turned out to be Snow Geese.

Additional Species:
Snow Geese
Canada Geese
Mallard
Double-crested Cormorant
Sanderling
Herring Gull



Saturday, September 16, 2006
Report of Warbler Walk
By Jym Mooney
Lake Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Return to top of page.

About 16 birders met Saturday morning, September 16th, at the Lake Park warming house for our second warbler walk of the fall. An immediate treat was provided when sharp-eyed Evan Barrientos spotted a yellow-throated vireo in the tree-tops of Locust Ravine. Bird activity was generally quite low, perhaps due to four or five Cooper's hawks that were very active throughout the bird walk period. For a long time it seemed that palms and American redstarts would be the only warblers of the day. At the base of the bluff by Ravine Road we found a blackpoll warbler, hairy woodpecker, and brown creeper. Girl Scout (soon to be named Waterfall) Ravine was also quiet. By this time our group had dwindled considerably.

The action finally began to pick up at the south end of the golf course. Here we had eastern kingbirds and a least flycatcher, northern flickers, palm warblers, and ruby-crowned kinglet. Finally the last five hardy birders began to make our way back to the warming house to put together our final tally. On the way we hit a small warbler wavelet that included black-throated green, black and white, magnolia, and more blackpoll warblers. We thought we would end the day with zero sparrows, but a last check of the feeders yielded one chipping sparrow and three white-throated sparrows.

September 16, 2006 (15 birders)

6 Canada Goose
2 Double-crested Cormorant
5 Cooper's Hawk
6 Ring-billed Gull
12 Chimney Swift
4 Downy Woodpecker
1 Hairy Woodpecker
2 Northern Flicker
1 Least Flycatcher
1 Eastern Kingbird
1 Yellow-throated Vireo
4 Blue Jay
8 American Crow
20 Black-capped Chickadee
6 White-breasted Nuthatch
3 Brown Creeper
2 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
2 Gray Catbird
1 Magnolia Warbler
2 Black-throated Green Warbler
3 Palm Warbler
2 Blackpoll Warbler
6 Black-and-White Warbler
1 American Redstart
1 Chipping Sparrow
3 White-throated Sparrow
1 Northern Cardinal
10 American Goldfinch

Total Species: 28



Saturday, September 23, 2006
Report of Warbler Walk
By Dennis Casper
Lake Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Return to top of page.

[Cancelled because of high likelihood of thunderstorms and risk of lightning injury on golf course and other open areas. . . . Paul Hunter 9/22/06]

Judith Huf and myself [Dennis Casper], both of whom went to the park (quite independently) since we'd blocked out that time to do that anyway and in any case anyone showed up despite the cancellation. No one did, but we wandered about (including down to the lakefront) together for a couple of hours, without a great deal of good luck. It wasn't raining; in fact, there a few moments of some sunshine. But the birds weren't cooperating.

September 23, 2006 (2 birders)

Mallard
Cooper's Hawk
Spotted Sandpiper
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Chimney Swift
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Black-and-White Warbler
American Redstart
Chipping Sparrow
Song Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Great Tit

Total Species: 25



Saturday, September 30, 2006
Report of Warbler Walk
By Paul Hunter
Lake Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Return to top of page.

Ron Gutschow and Marlyn Winter led a relaxed stroll from the Rustic Bridge over Locust Ravine across the golf course then past the lighthouse and Wolcott statue back to the warming house. Thanks to Dolores Knopfelmacher, co-chair Nature Committee of Lake Park Friends, for opening up the warming house and arranging for refreshments.

The pewees, ruby-crowned kinglets, yellow-rumped warblers and white-throated sparrows provided a flurry of activity as we started near the Locust Ravine feeders. I (Paul Hunter) caught a couple glimpses of a larger drab warbler with faint wing bars, white undertail coverts and streaking that I called a pine warbler. Ron Gutschow identified a blackpoll. A crow and a Cooper's hawk sparred on and off for several minutes near the baseball field, without any sign of feathers flying.

At the southwestern corner of the golf course another flurry of bird activity erupted. Ron Gutschow pointed out the downward slurring calls of the sapsuckers. Dolores Knopfelmacher lamented the possible demise of the bare English elm, one of several "champion" trees in Lake Park, which the sapsuckers and a hairy woodpecker visited. Jym Mooney identified the black-throated green warbler, but I may have been the only other birder to see it. Ron identified the Cape May warbler in some bushes on the golf course, amidst a flock of a couple dozen palm and yellow-rumped warblers who were hopping around the greens. Jym saw a bluebird on the greens also, but most of us just saw 4 of them briefly flying over the treetops to the south.

Between the lighthouse and the Wolcott statue, near the Lion bridge, several Swainson's thrush skulked in dense foliage. Ron Gutschow picked out a gray-cheeked thrush in their midst.

Duration: 2 hour(s) 30 minute(s)
# of people in birding party: 12
Total # of species: 39

(1 gadwall, 15 mallards, 6 cormorants, 50 ring-billed gulls, 10 herring gulls seen by Jym Mooney at lakefront. Common yellowthroat, black-throated blue warbler and northern parula seen by Jym in Locust Ravine after Warbler Walk.)

1 gadwall,
15 mallards,
6 cormorants,
50 ring-billed gulls,
10 herring gulls
Cooper's Hawk 2
Chimney Swift 20
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 4
Downy Woodpecker 3
Hairy Woodpecker 2
Eastern Wood-Pewee 2
Eastern Phoebe 1
American Crow 4
Black-capped Chickadee 8
White-breasted Nuthatch 4
Brown Creeper 3
Golden-crowned Kinglet 20
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 12
Eastern Bluebird 4
Gray-cheeked Thrush 1
Swainson's Thrush 12
American Robin 2
Northern Parula 1
Magnolia Warbler 2
Cape May Warbler 1
Black-throated Blue Warbler 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler 40
Black-throated Green Warbler 1
Pine Warbler 2
Palm Warbler 12
Blackpoll Warbler 1
Common Yellowthroat 1
Chipping Sparrow 4
White-throated Sparrow 8
Dark-eyed Junco 1
Northern Cardinal 1
American Goldfinch 2
House Sparrow



Saturday, October 7, 2006
Report of Warbler Walk
By Paul Hunter
Lake Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Return to top of page.

About 10 birders enjoyed the sunny, fairly mild morning. Maria Terres and Roxanne Schrank led us on a similar route as on September 30th -- Locust Ravine to the golf course past the light house and back to the warming house. Golden-crowned kinglets squeaked their thin calls from all directions at once on a few occasions, with but a few birds in sight. The creepers were quiet but allowed long looks, so long at one point that we worried for the health of one still individual till it suddenly scurried upward and then flew downward to the next tree trunk. The peregrine falcon was a flash at treetop level for most of us, but Ron Gutschow noted the crow-size or a dark raptor and I distinctly saw pointed wingtips. The winter wrens and junco were first for their species on walks this fall.

Given the lack of warblers, calling this event a Warbler Walk was misleading. Next year I intend to shift the six Warbler Walks two weeks earlier. The 4 scoters I saw off North Point are a sign that mid October is the time to start Duck Watches.


eBird report by Roxanne Schrank
Lake Park - Locust Ravine
10/7/06
Number of species: 25

Peregrine Falcon 1
Mourning Dove 2
Chimney Swift 25
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 4
Downy Woodpecker 2
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Eastern Phoebe 2
American Crow 12
Black-capped Chickadee 20
White-breasted Nuthatch 4
Brown Creeper 5
Winter Wren 2
Golden-crowned Kinglet 15
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 15
American Robin 1
Cedar Waxwing 12
Chipping Sparrow 2
Song Sparrow 1
White-throated Sparrow 6
Dark-eyed Junco 1
Northern Cardinal 4
House Finch 1
American Goldfinch 6
House Sparrow 2

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2 (http://www.ebird.org)
Also seen by Jym Mooney on the lakefront:
25 Canada Geese
3 Gadwall
12 Mallards
1 Bonaparte's Gull
45 Ring-billed Gulls
10 Herring Gulls

Paul Hunter saw
4 scoters, probably surf scoters off North Point.
a long look at a peregrine falcon low over the rugby field



Saturday, October 14, 2006
Report of Warbler Walk
By Robin Squier
Lake Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Return to top of page.

We began our Warbler Walk focused more on Kinglets. Before the walk, as birders arrived, the pine north of the warming house was a Christmas tree of Golden Crowned Kinglets. Robin saw many of these tiny birds feeding off the ends of the branches. The Kinglets continued to be present throughout our walk. We saw some Ruby Crowned Kinglets, too. At the feeder, we watched the Cardinals and Juncos, and the Great Tit was seen by some. Along the south end of the ravine we watched White Throated Sparrows working along the path, joined by a Chipping Sparrow and White Crowned. One of the highlights of the day was that we did see a Yellow-rumped and Palm Warbler to authenticate our "Warbler Walk." As we walked across the bridge over Ravine road we watched a Brown Creeper working its way up the trunk of a tree, and another climbing up the stone wall of the bridge ( picking off spiders? ). Then we descended the Grand Staircase to see two Hermit Thrushes along the brush of the bank, and two Eastern Phoebes in the sunlight of the bushes near the lower steps. Just before we crossed Memorial Drive we heard the unmistakable machine gun call and watched a Belted Kingfisher fly low across the shallows of Lake Michigan. I believe it was Paul who said that the Belted Kingfisher is seen commonly along the stretches of the Milwaukee River - I know I have a pair just north of the Locust Street dam. We joined some birders with scopes and had a fine time identifying the various ducks riding the swells of the beach.

5 birders(initially, in upper part of park. Joined by 4 more at lakefront)
Weather: sunny, but cold and windy
Species: 37

Canada Geese - 85
Gadwall - 10
American Widgeon - 3
Mallard - 12
Redhead - 1
Ring-necked Duck - 1
Scaups sp - 170
Black Scoter - 1
Bufflehead - 2
Double-breasted Cormorant - 1
Ring-billed Gull - 15
Mourning Dove - 4
Chimney Swift - 4
Belted Kingfisher - 1
Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker - 3
Downy Woodpecker - 3
Eastern Phoebe - 2
American Crow - 8
Black-capped Chickadee - 10
White-breasted Nuthatch - 8
Brown Creeper - 4
Winter Wren - 2
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 15
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 15
Hermit Thrush - 2
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 2
Palm Warbler - 1
Chipping Sparrow - 1
White-throated Sparrow- 12
White-crowned Sparrow - 1
Dark-eyed Junco - 6
Northern Cardinal - 7
Indigo Bunting - 1 (female)
House Finch - 4
American Goldfinch - 4
GREAT TIT - 1



Saturday, November 4, 2006
Report of Duck Watch
By Paul Hunter
Lake Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Return to top of page.

Funny how this Duck Watch turned into a Warbler Walk at Sheridan Park to see the Townsend's Warbler, and how the 10/7 Warbler Walk was partly a Duck Watch: #061007

For novice birders, I encourage you to take your binoculars to Lake Park and study the Gadwall, Widgeons and Redhead which are all very close to shore. So are some of the Buffleheads. The Fox Sparrows were also very easy to see.

At Sheridan Park, the two Chimney Swifts made repeated flights over an hour nearly at eye level just 20 to 50 meters off the top of the bluff. Their all black color, cigar shaped bodies and long pointed wings were unmistakable.

The Magnolia Warbler I saw was 15-20 meters away from the top of the bluff at Sheridan Park with excellent afternoon lighting behind me. Its very bright yellow extended from throat, to the belly, all the way to the undertail coverts, that I saw when it tipped up. The color was very obvious compared to the couple dozen Yellow-rumped Warblers in the area. The large white subterminal tailspots on both sides were obvious a few times when it flew away from me. The sides of the breast were heavily streaked with black. It had a faint greenish shadow of the typical springtime black markings on the face. The cap and nape were gray and graded into a greenish gray on the shoulders. I hope that's enough documentation for this late record sighting.

The Northern Harrier swooped northward some 60 meters off the bluff at eye level. It's russet streaked breast and belly and bright white rump were easy to see in the excellent light.

Lake Park on Lake Michigan
3 American Widgeon
70 Gadwall
30 Mallard
40 Canada Geese
1 Redhead
20 Buffleheads
NO scaup

Locust Ravine
5 Fox Sparrow
8 Dark-eyed Junco
Yellow-rumped Warbler

Warblers per Andrea Smyczak on bluff near Grand Staircase.
. Nashville
. Com Yellowthroat

Birders:
Todd Wilson
Greg Seegert
Andrea Smyczak
Judith Huf
Jym Mooney
Marlyn Winter 50# seed
Cathie Mann
Cathy Dermody
Sheridan Park
1 Red-eyed Vireo
1 Northern Harrier
2 Chimney Swifts
Warblers
30 Yellow-rumped
2 Magnolia
1 Townsend's
(seen by half of us, not me ;-( )
Kinglets
2 Ruby-crowned
2 Golden-crowned
20 Buffleheads

Ron Gutschow
Kimb. Fein
Eve & Roxanne Schrank
Dennis & Jean Casper
Bill Cowart
Jym Mooney's List - 11/4/06
Lake Park - Locust Ravine
Canada Goose
Gadwall
American Wigeon
American Black Duck
Mallard
Redhead
Black Scoter
Bufflehead
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Mourning Dove
Red-bellied Woodpecker
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
Great tit
White-breasted Nuthatch
Winter Wren
Cedar Waxwing
Yellow-rumped Warbler
American Tree Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Northern Cardinal
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow




Saturday, December 9, 2006
Report of Duck Watch
By Jym Mooney
Lake Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Return to top of page.

Number of species: 19

Canada Goose
Gadwall
Mallard
Greater Scaup
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Hooded Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Great Blue Heron
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Mourning Dove
Downy Woodpecker
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
White-breasted Nuthatch
Dark-eyed Junco
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow



Saturday, February 10, 2007
Report of Duck Watch
By Paul Hunter
Lake Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Return to top of page.

Three hardy (fool-hardy?) birders, Paul Hunter, Jym Mooney and Kathy Gallick, braved the -4 degree wind chill to see 17 species and enjoy a crisp, clear mid-winter day along Lake Michigan in Milwaukee from North Point to South Shore. The numbers of scaup were the highest any of us had ever seen. While then were not in particularly dense rafts, the flocks were literally a mile long from the Linwood Water Treatment Plant to near the Mckinley Marina and inside the harbor breakwall (the 'embayment') from near the Milwaukee Art Museum to south of the harbor entrance under the golden arches of the Hoan Bridge. The south end of the harbor embayment and the South Shore Marina past the Texas St overlook were frozen.

The Thayer's Gull was my second ever, both in the same spot just west of the Hoan Bridge (794) in the harbor entrance. The difficulty and and uncertainties of identifying gulls, however, remains less than satisfying at times, especially when literally distinguishing shades of gray with a bitter wind in your face.
(Thayer Gull, 2nd year: Observed flying 50-100m away and then landing. Somewhat smaller and much lighter than nearby first-year Herring Gulls. Tan mottling on head, body and secondaries. Darker outer primaries, lighter inner primaries. Upper mantle light gray. Base of tail white fading suddenly in mid tail to black or very dark brown. Dark pink feet seen on landing. Base of bill light, fading to darker toward tip. Bill proportionately a little smaller than Herring Gull.)

Bradford Beach - North Point
Number of species: 7

Gadwall 9
Greater Scaup 5000
Bufflehead 100
Common Goldeneye 500
Red-breasted Merganser 1
Herring Gull 2
American Crow 2
Milwaukee Harbor
Number of species: 11

Canada Goose 6
American Black Duck 2
Mallard 2
Redhead 4
Greater Scaup 12000
Bufflehead 30
Common Goldeneye 700
Common Merganser 40
Ring-billed Gull 40
Herring Gull 50
Thayer's Gull 1
South Shore Yacht Club
Jym Mooney, Kathy Gallick
Number of species: 10

Canada Goose 25
Mute Swan 1
Greater Scaup 1000
Bufflehead 10
Common Goldeneye 200
Hooded Merganser 4
Common Merganser 20
Ring-billed Gull 15
Herring Gull 5
Rock Pigeon 30



Saturday, March 10, 2007
Report of Duck Watch
By Paul Hunter
Lake Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Return to top of page.

About 25 birders enjoyed mild, calm, sunny weather and saw 22 species of birds in 2.5 hours from North Point at Lake Park to Texas Street Overlook at South Shore Park. Thanks to Judith Huf, Todd Wilson, Dennis Casper, Tim Vargo, Jym Mooney and Roxanne Shrank for sharing their scopes and expertise.

Many of us got good, though brief and distant, looks at the rare Barrow's Goldeneye. Thanks to John Idzikowski for alerting WisBirdNet to its presence at Lake Park, north of Bradford Beach.

Numbers of scaup were down to 25% of number one month earlier. Fishermen in the harbor stirred up clouds of hundreds to thousands of ducks. At the Harbor entrance near the red lighthouse, I found our first Ruddy Duck and Roxanne Shrank spotted an early Pied-billed Grebe hugging the corrugated metal shoreline. Roxanne also pointed out the 3 Long-tailed Ducks far out by the harbor entrance, 2 males and a female. Jym Mooney caught sight of our first Great Blue Heron flying below the Texas overlook at South Shore marina.

Bradford Beach - North Point
3/10/07 11:00 AM
Lake Park Duck Watch

5 Gadwall
5 Mallard
10 Redhead
1000 Greater Scaup
10 Lesser Scaup
50 Bufflehead
200 Common Goldeneye
1 Barrow's Goldeneye
4 Red-breasted Merganser
20 Ring-billed Gull
10 Herring Gull

# of species: 11
Milwaukee Harbor
3/10/07 11:50 AM

20 Canada Goose
10 Redhead
3000 Greater Scaup
3 Long-tailed Duck
20 Bufflehead
500 Common Goldeneye
100 Common Merganser
2 Red-breasted Merganser
1 Ruddy Duck
1 Pied-billed Grebe
20 Ring-billed Gull
30 Herring Gull
1 American Crow

# of species: 13
South Shore Yacht Club
3/10/07 12:30 PM

15 Canada Goose
10 American Black Duck
30 Mallard
50 Redhead
2000 Greater Scaup
10 Lesser Scaup
50 Bufflehead
6 Hooded Merganser
200 Common Merganser
10 Red-breasted Merganser
6 American Coot
1 Great Blue Heron
1 Cooper's Hawk

# of species: 13



Saturday, April 21, 2007
Report of Warbler Walk
By Jym Mooney
Lake Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Return to top of page.


The first Lake Park Bird Walk of Spring got off to a promising start with a pre-walk check of the lake, which yielded a horned grebe, buffleheads, Caspian terns, and over 100 red-breasted mergansers. A tom turkey was strutting for at least two hens on the water filtration plant land by the soccer field.

About two dozen eager birders met at the warming house, and were almost immediately rewarded with eight hermit thrushes. Both kinglets and brown creepers were common all day. Four winter wrens were found over the course of the day in ravines, and some birders found a Carolina wren later in the morning. The only warblers were yellow-rumped, in ones and
twos. The golf course had half a dozen types of sparrows feeding and
offering nice comparison views (chipping, field, savannah, white-throated, swamp, and song), plus a bonus of a female rusty blackbird. Other nice spring arrivals included brown thrasher, eastern phoebe, and yellow-bellied sapsuckers. Tree and northern rough-winged swallows and chimney swifts were also spotted by some birders. Northbound flocks of double-crested cormorants flew overhead all morning.

5 Canada Goose
7 Mallard
10 Bufflehead
100 Red-breasted Merganser
3 Wild Turkey
1 Horned Grebe
250 Double-crested Cormorant
1 Cooper's Hawk
2 Killdeer
6 Bonaparte's Gull
12 Ring-billed Gull
1 Herring Gull
2 Caspian Tern
4 Mourning Dove
3 Chimney Swift
1 Red-bellied Woodpecker
2 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
3 Downy Woodpecker
2 Northern Flicker
1 Eastern Phoebe
4 American Crow
3 Tree Swallow
1 Northern Rough-winged Swallow
20 Black-capped Chickadee
4 White-breasted Nuthatch
20 Brown Creeper
1 Carolina Wren
4 Winter Wren
12 Golden-crowned Kinglet
8 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
15 Hermit Thrush
30 American Robin
1 Brown Thrasher
5 European Starling
6 Yellow-rumped Warbler
6 Chipping Sparrow
2 Field Sparrow
4 Savannah Sparrow
10 Song Sparrow
2 Swamp Sparrow
10 White-throated Sparrow
10 Dark-eyed Junco
10 Northern Cardinal
25 Red-winged Blackbird
1 Rusty Blackbird
6 Common Grackle
8 Brown-headed Cowbird
6 American Goldfinch

Total # of species: 48



Saturday, April 28, 2007
Report of Warbler Walk
By Paul Hunter and Jym Mooney
Lake Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Return to top of page.

Over two dozen birders gathered on the wooden Rustic Bridge over Locust Ravine on this seasonably cool, calm morning. Before splitting up into two groups we caught a glimpse of the Red-headed woodpecker which has subsequently been reported as killed after colliding into a sunroom window of a home across from Lake Park.

Paul Hunter led novice birders (including Paul's 8 year old son and students from Maria Terres' ornithology class at the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design) on a leisurely walk along North Ravine. A young Cooper's Hawk unsuccessfully chasing a wily Blue Jay provided some excitement, but in general it was fairly quiet. Maria, Paul and another birder saw a medium large (larger than Cooper's) hawk with Maria seeing a white rump, Paul seeing slate gray wings and the other birder a banded tail. By committee we agreed it could have been a Harrier. Paul's son described seeing a dark hawk with a crest flapping into a big tree. After he repeated this claim a few times we realized it might have been the Pileated Woodpecker, but a search of the area did not confirm this.

Jym Mooney's group, co-led by Judith Huf, worked their way south across the Ravine Road bridge to the Wolcott statue and back. Jym and another birder heard a Veery. The group caught up with Tom Prestby who had seen a White-eyed Vireo. Some birders heard the "pick up a real chick" call. While searching in vain for a glimpse of the vireo, Jym saw an Ovenbird. By committee Jym and Todd Wilson identified the thrush they saw as a Swainson's.

On 4/29 Brian Hansen reported a Carolina wren carrying nesting material under the eaves of the restaurant on the north side of the building.

Location: Lake Park - Locust Ravine
Observation date: 4/28/07
Number of species: 56

Canada Goose 4
Mallard 10
Bufflehead 4
Red-breasted Merganser 100
Horned Grebe 2
Double-crested Cormorant 80
Northern Harrier 2
Cooper's Hawk 1
Killdeer 2
Ring-billed Gull 80
Herring Gull 9
Caspian Tern 5
Mourning Dove 1
Chimney Swift 5
Red-headed Woodpecker 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 3
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1
Downy Woodpecker 6
Northern Flicker 1
Eastern Phoebe 1
White-eyed Vireo 1
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 6
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 2
Barn Swallow 2
Black-capped Chickadee 20
White-breasted Nuthatch 10
Brown Creeper 18
Carolina Wren 2
Winter Wren 1
Golden-crowned Kinglet 5
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 20
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 6
Veery 1
Swainson's Thrush 1
American Robin 18
Brown Thrasher 3
European Starling 2
Tennessee Warbler 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler 20
Palm Warbler 4
Ovenbird 1
Eastern Towhee 3
Chipping Sparrow 6
Field Sparrow 3
Savannah Sparrow 3
Song Sparrow 4
Lincoln's Sparrow 1
Swamp Sparrow 6
White-throated Sparrow 30
Dark-eyed Junco 2
Northern Cardinal 6
Red-winged Blackbird 22
Brown-headed Cowbird 6
House Finch 1
American Goldfinch 5



Saturday, May 5, 2007
Report of Warbler Walk
By Dennis Casper
Lake Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Return to top of page.

The morning was gloomy, chilly, windy, and drizzly. Nevertheless, twenty-four or so eager birders turned out for Lake Park’s third warbler walk of the season. Led by Dennis Casper and Ron Gutschow, they split up into two groups, visiting between them the area near the tennis courts, the Locust St. ravine, especially the feeder area, the bowling greens and golf course, and the area around the Wolcott statue. Prior to the walk, Ron and Dennis had checked out the lakefront. Despite the poor weather and lousy light conditions, the group managed to chalk up a moderately good forty-three species for the morning. Warbler numbers were on the low side—only six different species and not many individuals, other than Yellow-rumped Warblers. But this did include a good look at the first Cape May Warbler of the year for one of the two groups. The highlight of the walk, however. was the appearance of a pair of Red-headed Woodpeckers in the Locust St. ravine in the feeder area where they had nested last year. A third Red-headed Woodpecker was also sighted near the bowling greens, a considerable distance from the feeder area. This was especially good news, since it had been reported recently that a Red-headed Woodpecker had been killed in a window collision near the park.

030527
2 Canada Goose
4 Mallard
100 Red-breasted Merganser
4 Double-crested Cormorant
2 Cooper’s Hawk
10 Ring-billed Gull
8 Chimney Swift
3 Red-headed Woodpecker
2 Red-bellied Woodpecker
6 Downy Woodpecker
3 Northern Flicker
1 White-eyed Vireo
1 Blue Jay
4 American Crow
15 Black-capped Chickadee
2 White-breasted Nuthatch
2 Brown Creeper
1 Carolina Wren
8 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
8 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
1 Eastern Bluebird
1 Veery
20 American Robin
1 Brown Thrasher
12 European Starling
6 Nashville Warbler
1 Cape May Warbler
23 Yellow-rumped Warbler
1 Black-throated Green Warbler
2 Palm Warbler
1 Black-and-White Warbler
1 Eastern Towhee
15 Chipping Sparrow
3 Song Sparrow
45 White-throated Sparrow
5 White-crowned Sparrow
3 Northern Cardinal
1 Rose-breasted Grosbeak
2 Red-winged Blackbird
4 Brown-headed Cowbird
4 House Finch
3 American Goldfinch
1 House Sparrow



26_Warblers
As posted on Wis Bird Net:
5/9/07
Sam Corbo wrote:

I decided to put off studying for finals a bit and sneak out to Lake Park this afternoon. I arrived at about 3, just as a light rain was ending, and birded until just after 7. For the next hour, the activity was incredible, easily the highest density of warblers that I've experienced within the last 5 or 6 years. Yellow-rumped and Palm Warblers were most numerous; I'd conservatively estimate 300-400 each for the afternoon. Each tree seemed to have at least 3-4 Palms pumping their tails away. Black-throated Green Warbler were numerous throughout the park, bringing the day's total to 26 warbler species. Birds were dripping from the trees. Activity "thinned out" as the afternoon went on, though things still remained very active throughout the park. Numbers are estimations, though again, I tried to be more conservative. Numbers were incredible!

Sam Corbo
samuel.corbo@marquette.edu
Warblers:
Blue-winged- last warbler of the day, heard, then seen along the creek just off of the large wooden bridge by the feeders
Golden-winged- female, seen across from the Wolcott statue
Tennessee Warbler- 2
Nashville Warbler- ~20
Northern Parula-2
Yellow Warbler- ~5
Chestnut-sided Warbler- many
Magnolia- many
Cape May- many, especially behind the Bistro
Black-throated Green Warbler
Black-throated Blue- two males, including one with the Golden-winged Warbler across from the Wolcott Statue
Yellow-rumped- abundant
Black-throated Green- many
Blackburnian- ~5
Pine- one south of the Wolcott Statue
Palm- abundant
Bay-breasted- ~5
Black-and-white- ~15
American Redstart- ~15
Ovenbird- ~20
Northern Waterthrush
Louisiana Waterthrush- the Northern was seen just south of the large wooden bridge by the feeders, working the creek. The Louisiana was near the end of the creek, next to the large stone bridge by the Bistro. I managed to get both in binocular within about 15 minutes of each other (I had seen the LA earlier and worked that way), providing a good comparison of the two species.
Common Yellowthroat~5
Hooded Warbler- a single bird seen and heard in the ravine just north of the Wolcott Statue (on trail)
Wilson's ~5
Canada Warbler ~7

In addition, I had a vocal Clay-colored Sparrow north of the Wolcott Statue on the golf course.

Other migrants:
Gray-cheeked, Swainson's, & Wood Thrushes
First-year Orchard Oriole, behind the Bistro
Several Blue-headed & Warbling Vireo's
Great-crested Flycatcher, several silent empids

Good birding!!! Gotta love May!!!



Saturday, May 12, 2007
Report of Warbler Walk
By Paul Hunter
Lake Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Return to top of page.


A few early birders scouted the park independently prior to the official 8:30 AM start time. A steady north-northeast wind made it clear that this would not be a 26-Warbler day < 26_Warblers>. Just before starting most of saw a couple Cape May Warbler in the low flowering trees east of the playground, and got nice looks at a singing Parula W. in a chestnut tree just across the parking lot.

About 18 birders started out at 8:30 AM at Locust Ravine near the feeders. To avoid the chilly winds we walked down in Locust Ravine and then down Ravine Road to Lincoln Memorial Drive. Ron Gutschow found a Wood Thrush, and I saw a House Wren along the way, but warblers were few: American Redstart, Black-and-white W., and Palm W. On the bluff just west of the intersection of Ravine Road and Lincoln Memorial Drive we saw a Chestnut-sided W. and another Black-and-white W. The Carolina Wren sang a few times for us from the bluff just south of the Grand Staircase. We saw a Hermit Thrush in Waterfall (Girl Scout) Ravine. White-crowned Sparrows outnumbered White-throated Sparrows at the Wolcott Statue. Todd Wilson found a Wilson's W. and Robin Squier found Magnolia W. and Common Yellowthroat at the Lighthouse. By this time it was after 10 AM and over half our group had departed.

The rest of us were treated to a long look at a snacking, chocolate-brown, female Merlin at the top a tree on the southwestern corner of the golf course. A few dozen Palm Warblers probed the grass of the golf course nearby. An Eastern Bluebird sallied down to the grass near the Palm Warblers and back up to a small tree. A Cape May Warbler rested quietly on a spruce on the northeast corner of the golf course, giving us long, close looks.

Shortly after we finished at 11 AM, Jym Mooney saw and David Freiks photographed
a Hooded Warbler http://www.pbase.com/dhfreriks/image/78651389
and a Louisiana Waterthrush http://www.pbase.com/dhfreriks/image/78651387


Lake Park - Locust Ravine
8:00 AM 3 hour(s)
# of people in birding party: 18

12 Red-breasted Merganser
2 Cooper's Hawk
1 Merlin
1 Killdeer
20 Ring-billed Gull
10 Chimney Swift
2 Red-headed Woodpecker
2 Red-bellied Woodpecker
3 Downy Woodpecker
1 Great Crested Flycatcher
10 Blue Jay
6 American Crow
1 Barn Swallow
10 Black-capped Chickadee
2 White-breasted Nuthatch
1 Carolina Wren
1 House Wren
1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
6 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
2 Eastern Bluebird
1 Hermit Thrush
1 Wood Thrush
6 American Robin
3 Gray Catbird
1 Brown Thrasher
20 European Starling
6 Cedar Waxwing
2 Nashville Warbler
2 Northern Parula
1 Chestnut-sided Warbler
1 Magnolia Warbler
2 Cape May Warbler
3 Yellow-rumped Warbler
1 Black-throated Green Warbler
40 Palm Warbler
3 Black-and-white Warbler
5 American Redstart
3 Common Yellowthroat
1 Wilson's Warbler
1 Eastern Towhee
8 Chipping Sparrow
1 Lincoln Sparrow
12 White-throated Sparrow
20 White-crowned Sparrow
5 Northern Cardinal
1 Common Grackle
1 Brown-headed Cowbird
4 House Finch
8 American Goldfinch
1 House Sparrow

I [Jym Mooney] got to Lake Park shortly after 11 and spent two hours. Had wonderful looks at the hooded warbler on three occasions. Dave Freiks tipped me off to the Louisiana waterthrush he had just seen. ... Also had excellent views of Canada warblers at Lake Park.

I ended my day with 77 species from Lake, Veterans, and Washington Parks and Havenwoods. Had a dozen warbler species at Washington Park, and only five at Havenwoods (but three were unique...blue-winged, yellow, and northern waterthrush). Baltimore and orchard orioles at Havenwoods, too. Green herons are back at both Washington and Havenwoods.

What a great week of birding! Hope the group had a good morning today!

Jym Mooney

Jym Mooney's Report
Lake Park 5/12/07
Number of species: 32

Mallard
Caspian Tern
Chimney Swift
Red-headed Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Blue Jay
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
White-breasted Nuthatch
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
American Robin
Brown Thrasher
European Starling
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Cape May Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Palm Warbler
American Redstart
Louisiana Waterthrush
Common Yellowthroat
Hooded Warbler
Canada Warbler
Chipping Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
American Goldfinch



From: Karen Johnson
Date: Mon, May 14, 2007, 12:35 PM

... I saw the HARRIS' SPARROW and HOODED WARBLER up close and personal. I didn't get there until 0945, but the bird action was astounding! I planted myself on the top stair of the Locust Ravine with a bird's eye view of the green feeders area. When I got there, 1/2 a dozen squirrels and as many chipmunks were feasting on the ground. I decided to evict them, give the feeders a shake and went back to my seat. The sparrows started coming out from under the groundcover. WT, WC and LINCOLNS, as well as a SWAMP. It took awhile, but Mr. HARRIS'S finally showed about 20 minutes later! He didn't stay very long (about 2-3 min.) but long enough for me to get a nice look!

Then I went to the adjoining ravine and listened to a HOODED WARBLER sing for several minutes.
After padding my year list, I watched a crow trying to escort a WILD TURKEY out of its territory. ...



Mike Goodman, South Milwaukee
5/14/07: Lake Park
Notes: Great morning walk up
to Ravine bridge- 7AM
Number of species: 33

Mallard
Cooper's Hawk 1
Ring-billed Gull
Mourning Dove
Red-headed Woodpecker 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 2
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Blue Jay
American Crow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 3
American Robin
European Starling
Orange-crowned Warbler 2
Chestnut-sided Warbler 2
Magnolia Warbler 4
Cape May Warbler 2
Yellow-rumped Warbler 3
Palm Warbler 30
Blackpoll Warbler 1
Black-and-white Warbler 2
American Redstart 5
Common Yellowthroat 1
Canada Warbler 1
Chipping Sparrow
Song Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
House Sparrow



Saturday, May 19, 2007
Report of Warbler Walk
By Jym Mooney
Lake Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Return to top of page.

Lake Park - 5/19/07
Number of species: 68

Mallard 1
Black-crowned Night-Heron 1
Cooper's Hawk 1
Killdeer 2
Ring-billed Gull 100
Herring Gull 6
Caspian Tern 3
Chimney Swift 6
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Red-headed Woodpecker 3
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Downy Woodpecker 1
Hairy Woodpecker 2
Northern Flicker 1
Least Flycatcher 2
Great Crested Flycatcher 1
Eastern Kingbird 1
Philadelphia Vireo 1
Red-eyed Vireo 3
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 2
Northern Rough-winged
Swallow 3
Barn Swallow 2
Black-capped Chickadee 5
White-breasted Nuthatch 2
Carolina Wren 1
House Wren 2
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1
American Robin 4
Gray Catbird 2
European Starling 6
Cedar Waxwing 2
Tennessee Warbler 2
Orange-crowned Warbler 1
Nashville Warbler 1
Yellow Warbler 2
Chestnut-sided Warbler 10
Magnolia Warbler 10
Cape May Warbler 3
Black-throated Blue Warbler 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler 2
Black-throated Green Warbler 6
Blackburnian Warbler 2
Palm Warbler 6
Bay-breasted Warbler 3
Blackpoll Warbler 2
Black-and-white Warbler 1
American Redstart 6
Ovenbird 2
Kentucky Warbler 1
Mourning Warbler 1
Common Yellowthroat 2
Wilson's Warbler 4
Canada Warbler 3
Scarlet Tanager 2
Chipping Sparrow 2
Song Sparrow 2
White-throated Sparrow 4
White-crowned Sparrow 1
Northern Cardinal 6
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1
Indigo Bunting 3
Red-winged Blackbird 4
Brown-headed Cowbird 2
Baltimore Oriole 1
House Finch 2
American Goldfinch 4
House Sparrow 2



Saturday, May 26, 2007
Report of Warbler Walk
Lake Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Return to top of page.

No report


Saturday, August 25, 2007
Report of Warbler Walk
By Jym Mooney
Lake Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Return to top of page.

Today we had our first Fall Warbler Walk at Milwaukee's Lake Park. Everything was very soggy, but the sun was shining in a blue sky, and water was burbling merrily in the ravines. Ten people turned out, and we were rewarded with a total of 41 species, including 10 warblers - Tennessee, magnolia, Cape May, black-throated green, Blackburnian, bay-breasted, blackpoll, black and white, American redstart, and Canada. This is a minimum, of course, since we were trying to ID the traditional confusing fall warblers as they popped in and out of heavy foliage. Most were found in classic fall mixed-species flocks along with flycatchers, downy woodpeckers, nuthatches (red-breasted and white-breasted), vireos, and chickadees. We saw at least three Swainson's thrushes, three Carolina wrens (apparently a family group), a turkey vulture (being mobbed by crows from his roost in the trees on top of the bluff), a Philadelphia vireo, several empid flycatchers (at least one Least, plus a couple of wood-pewees and a great-crested flycatcher and other unidentifiable empids), a black-billed cuckoo, and two large flocks of cormorants. Red-eyed vireos were very common, and surprisingly visible (this one is often only IDed by its song in the tree-tops).

Next Lake Park Warbler Walk is this coming Saturday, September 1st. Meet at 8:30 a.m. at the Warming House near the tennis courts.

Jym Mooney, Milwaukee

Saturday, September 1, 2007
Report of Warbler Walk
By Paul Hunter
Lake Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Return to top of page.

From about 7-8 AM, prior to the official start of the walk, Judith Huf and Jym Mooney found several warblers on the sunny, bluff along the running track north of Waterfall Ravine and south of the Grand Staircase. These included Wilson's, Cape May, Common Yellowthroat, Bay-breasted, Chestnut-sided and an Ovenbird. We added Magnolia and Redstart during the walk.
Red-headed Woodpeckers appeared at the beginning and end of the walk near the Rustic Bridge over Locust Ravine. An adult-sized, gray-headed young one received a few choice morsels from a large leafless branch as we watched close by. We also watched a Chickadee eating a cicada next to the Pavilion. Steve Morse brought our attention to a soaring raptor. After some discussion about length of wings and tail pattern, the bent-winged glide confirmed it as an Osprey, a first for a Warbler Walk.
Janice Steinbach and David Fetter crossed our path on the Grand Staircase, clippers in hand, after having cut a large pile of burdock. Janice encouraged people to join her on Thursday mornings at 10 AM to cut burdock. To volunteer to cut down burdock email Janice Steinbach at j6steinbach@juno.com

For more info of Busting Burdock to Conserve Kinglets see: http://home.roadrunner.com/~phunter1/lakeparkburdock.html
Ann Green and Barbara Johnson, perhaps inspired by our seeing 2 Bluebirds on the Golf Course, mentioned some interest in getting some bluebird houses up in the park and maintaining them. I directly them to www.BRAW.org.



Saturday, September 8, 2007
Report of Warbler Walk
By Jym Mooney
Lake Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Return to top of page.

Under clear but refreshingly cool skies 15 birders gathered for our third Fall Warbler Walk at Milwaukee' Lake Park this morning. Warbler numbers were markedly down, with only 6 species, and almost all represented by single birds: Nashville, Magnolia (2), Black & White, American Redstart, Ovenbird, Common Yellowthroat, and Northern Waterthrush.

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds were plentiful and busy in Locust Ravine, feeding on the jewelweed that is rampant there. I found six White-throated Sparrows just before the walk began, almost as chilling a sign as the juncos that are beginning to be reported across the state. A single empid was found, which after much discussion was ID'ed as a Least Flycatcher based on its size and prominent eye ring, and the fact that it was hunting low in the underbrush. As we were wrapping up the morning's walk, we ran into Robert Hambley who shared a photo he had just snapped of a juvenile Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.

The highlight of the morning was the discovery of a Yellow-billed Cuckoo in Locust Ravine just as we began the walk, initially ID'ed by its cinnamon primaries. Further looks by members of the walk noted its dark eye (Black-billed has a red eye) and its yellow bill. As a bonus, we refound the bird at the end of the walk, and so everyone got good looks at it.

We also spotted a red fox on the lakefront soccer field, and watched a Crow eating a bat.

After the walk broke up, I walked back to my car via the path in Locust Ravine, adding Northern Waterthrush, Cooper's Hawk, and Rose-breasted Grosbeak to the day's total, for 37 species.

The mosquitoes and biting flies were not nearly as bad as they have been earlier this week and in other areas (thank goodness!)



Saturday, September 15, 2007
Report of Warbler Walk
By Paul Hunter
Lake Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Return to top of page.

Six experienced birders patiently and quietly peered into the thick foliage on this clear, cool morning for mainly frustratingly brief glances at confusing fall warblers. Small flocks fluttered on the sunny side of Locust Ravine just south of the Warming House, on the sunny bluff south of the Grand Staircase, and in the Waterfall (formerly Girl Scout) Ravine. The flock Todd Wilson had seen earlier in the morning near the Wolcott Statue had moved on.

Despite northwesterly winds, we saw only local Cooper Hawks, no migrant raptors. The algae mat on the lakeshore had only Mallards and gulls, no shorebirds. We saw more Chimney Swifts than on the Swift Count last weekend.

After most birders had left for other appointments, Carolyn and I strolled through the golf course. Several Palm Warblers and Swainson's Thrushes plucked berries off ornamental shrubs. Red-breasted Nuthatches hung from spruce cones as an Eastern Bluebird perched atop the spruce and sallied down to the lawn for insects. Cathy Dermody saw a Hermit Thrush on the way back to her car.

Dennis Casper finishes off the fall Warbler Walks for the next two weeks: 9/22/07 and 9/29/07.

Duck Watches will be on the following Saturdays 11AM - 1PM: 10/13/07, 11/10/07, and 12/8/07

Lake Park - 9/15/07
Robin Squier, Cathy Dermody, Carolyn ?, Todd Wilson, Gordon Zion

Canada Goose 5
Mallard 5
Double-crested Cormorant 2
Cooper's Hawk 2
Ring-billed Gull 10
Chimney Swift 25
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2
Red-headed Woodpecker 1
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1
Downy Woodpecker 2
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 4
Empidonax sp. 1
Red-eyed Vireo 2
Blue Jay 3
American Crow 6
Black-capped Chickadee 12
Red-breasted Nuthatch 4
White-breasted Nuthatch 6
Brown Creeper 1
Eastern Bluebird 2
Swainson's Thrush 4
Hermit Thrush 1
Tennessee Warbler 1
Magnolia Warbler 2
Yellow-rumped Warbler 6
Blackburnian Warbler 1
Palm Warbler 8
Blackpoll Warbler 3
American Redstart 3
Chipping Sparrow 3
White-throated Sparrow 2
Northern Cardinal 2
American Goldfinch 3
=====================================
Subject: Lake Park Warbler Walk
Date: Sat, 15 Sep 2007 20:54:48 -0500
From: Todd Wilson

heres my list for Lake Park today:

2 Mallard
5 Double-crested Cormorant
1 Cooper's Hawk
X Ring-billed Gull
20 Chimney Swift
2 Ruby-throated Hummingbird
2 Red-headed Woodpecker
1 Red-bellied Woodpecker **
1 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
3 Downy Woodpecker
15 Northern Flicker
1 Eastern Wood-Pewee **
1 Blue-headed Vireo **
2 Red-eyed Vireo
1 Blue Jay
X American Crow
10 Black-capped Chickadee
5 Red-breasted Nuthatch
3 White-breasted Nuthatch
1 Brown Creeper
1 Swainson's Thrush
5 Tennessee Warbler
3 Nashville Warbler
5 Magnolia Warbler
1 Cape May Warbler **
15 Yellow-rumped Warbler
4 Blackburnian Warbler
5 Palm Warbler
5 Blackpoll Warbler
2 Black-and-white Warbler **
5 American Redstart
2 Common Yellowthroat **
1 Wilson's Warbler **
1 Scarlet Tanager **
3 Chipping Sparrow
3 White-throated Sparrow
5 Northern Cardinal
2 Rose-breasted Grosbeak **
3 American Goldfinch

Concordia was pretty dead, 3 RTHawks and 1 N. Harrier in 2 hours. However there was a constant stream of Canada Goose flocks to watch, and one contained 3 Snow Goose. (also lots of Monarchs and a Black Swallowtail, no Green Darner)

After that I stopped by Havenwoods and found Chestnut-sided, BTGreen and N.Parula, to make 15 warblers sp. for the day.



Saturday, September 22, 2007
Report of Warbler Walk
By Dennis Casper
Lake Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Return to top of page.

8:30-10:30 a. m.

About 15 birders enjoyed a bright, clear, slightly cool but very pleasant morning in Lake Park in quest of fall warblers and as many other birds as possible. Their efforts were well-rewarded. Led by Dennis Casper and Ron Gutschow, they began by circling the tennis courts, then heading toward the Locust Street Ravine, checking out the feeders and the woods from the rustic bridge.

After crossing the bridge, the group split up, one contingent following a flock of Juncos to the west, the other continuing to the old road bridge over the ravine where they marveled at a veritable treasure trove of warblers in the ravine. A long time was spent on that bridge; it was hard to pull ourselves away. But finally a small party went on to the Wolcott statue area and across the golf course, which also proved fruitful, before returning to the warming house. The Junco-followers completed the same circuit in the opposite direction. Our final count showed 49 total species, including 15 species of warblers.


10 Canada Goose
2 Cooper’s Hawk
X Ring-billed Gull
1 Chimney Swift
1 Red-bellied Woodpecker
6 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
1 Downy Woodpecker
2 Hairy Woodpecker
3 Northern Flicker
1 Eastern Wood-Pewee
1 Empidonax Flycatcher
1 Eastern Phoebe
1 Yellow-throated Vireo
1 Red-eyed Vireo
4 Blue Jay
3 American Crow
12 Black-capped Chickadee
6 Red-breasted Nuthatch
8 White-breasted Nuthatch
2 Brown Creeper
1 Golden-crowned Kinglet
2 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
10 Swainson’s Thrush
2 Hermit Thrush
1 American Robin
3 Cedar Waxwing
2 Tennessee Warbler
6 Nashville Warbler
3 Chestnut-sided Warbler
5 Magnolia Warbler
1 Cape May Warbler
1 Black-throated Blue Warbler
6 Yellow-rumped Warbler
2 Black-throated Green Warbler
8 Palm Warbler
4 Blackpoll Warbler
4 Black-and-White Warbler
10 American Redstart
1 Connecticut Warbler
2 Common Yellowthroat
1 Wilson’s Warbler
2 Chipping Sparrow
1 Fox Sparrow
1 Lincoln’s Sparrow
12 White-throated Sparrow
24 Dark-eyed Junco
6 Northern Cardinal
1 Rose-breasted Grosbeak
1 American Goldfinch
5 House Sparrow



Saturday, September 29, 2007
Report of Warbler Walk
By
Lake Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Return to top of page.

No report.


Saturday, November 10, 2007
Report of Duck Watch
By Paul Hunter
Lake Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Return to top of page.

Seasonably cool, overcast weather yielded a few highlights among the standard avifauna for the dozen over so birders who gathered at Lake Michigan. A couple of us ran into a group of a half dozen birders from Appleton as we were leaving.

The male Pintail paddled near and slept on the stinky Cladophora algae mat along the shoreline among it's fellow puddle ducks, the Mallards and Gadwalls. The Surf and White-winged Scoters munched on mussels along with the Buffleheads and few female scaup just a short way off North Point. The cute Black Scoters floated near the large raft of scaup off the southern half of Bradford Beach. Jim Mooney and I caught brief glimpses of the Common Redpoll among the goldfinches and House Finches in the treetops on North Point.

The chickadees had already found the new feeder new the Wolcott Statue south of the golf course. The Am. Tree Sparrows at the Locust Ravine feeders seemed early but had all the appropriate field marks. Marilyn Winter donated 50 pounds of bird seed to fill the feeders. You can help also:
http://home.roadrunner.com/~phunter1/lakeparkbirdfeed.html

Bradford Beach - North Point
11/10/07
Start time: 11:00 AM
Duration: 1 hour(s) 10 minute(s)
Number of people in party: 12

12 Canada Goose
1 Northern Pintail
40 Gadwall
30 Mallard
1500 Greater Scaup
8 Surf Scoter
1 White-winged Scoter
8 Black Scoter
150 Bufflehead
1 Common Goldeneye
6 American Coot
6 Ring-billed Gull
4 House Finch
1 Common Redpoll
2 Pine Siskin
10 American Goldfinch
Total species reported: 15
Lake Park - Locust Ravine
11/10/07 Distance covered: 0.5 mile(s)
Start time: 12:10 AM
Duration: 0 hour(s) 50 minute(s)
Number of people in party: 10
Comments: Lake Park Duck Watch

1 Cooper's Hawk
6 Mourning Dove
1 Red-bellied Woodpecker
1 Downy Woodpecker
3 American Crow
10 Black-capped Chickadee
1 Red-breasted Nuthatch
2 White-breasted Nuthatch
1 Carolina Wren
1 Golden-crowned Kinglet
15 Cedar Waxwing
2 American Tree Sparrow
3 White-throated Sparrow
3 Dark-eyed Junco
2 American Goldfinch
Total species reported: 15



Saturday, December 8, 2007
Report of Duck Watch
By Paul Hunter
Lake Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Return to top of page.

6 birders braved the cold on the Milwaukee Lakefront for the last Duck Watch of 2007 starting at Lake Park.

For more winter-time lakefront birding join the
- Wisconsin Society for Ornithology at 8 AM on 1/6/08 at South Shore Park in Milwaukee and
- Illinois Ornithological Society at Withrop Harbor, IL on 2/9/08
- Lake Park birders at 11 AM on 3/8/08.


At Lake Park:
20 Canada Goose
20 Gadwall
2 American Wigeon
1 American Black Duck
40 Mallard
7000 Greater Scaup
50 Bufflehead
100 Common Goldeneye
5 Ring-billed Gull
species : 9
At South Shore Park: 25 Canada Goose
5 Mute Swan
4 American Black Duck
30 Mallard
150 Redhead
100 Greater Scaup
20 Bufflehead
20 Common Goldeneye
2 Hooded Merganser
8 Red-breasted Merganser
30 American Coot
20 Ring-billed Gull
10 Herring Gull
50 Rock Pigeon
100 European Starling
1 American Goldfinch

species: 16