Bird Sightings in Lake Park in 2008

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Saturday, February, 2008
Saturday, March, 2008
No reports available.
April 5 and 6, 2008

From: Brian Hansen - rawshooter@gmail.com
Date: April 5, 2008
Subject: Lake Park Sparrows

I checked out Lake Park today and found a lot of Song Sparrows and at least 10 FOY Fox Sparrows.
They were around the feeders near the Rustic Foot Bridge and Locust Ravine.
I finally managed some decent photos of the Fox Sparrows after a year of trying.
The temp was .. 49 degrees in the park at 6pm with a brisk wind.
I wore shorts and a long sleeved tshirt thinking it was warmer and am still shivering.
I was hoping for some YB Sapsuckers but no luck. It is probably too cold for them :)

Here are some shots if anyone is interested.
http://www.pbase.com/bhansen/lakepark_sparrow_08

Brian Hansen
Milwaukee - east side

====

From: Brian Hansen - rawshooter@gmail.com
Date: April 6, 2008
Subject: 5 Woodpecker morning - Lake Park

I was in Lake Park at sunrise this morning hoping to maybe catch a glimpse of a Yellow-rumped but instead it was Woodpeckers. I had 5 species total - Downy, Hairy, YB Sapsucker (FOY) and Red-bellied all near the rustic bridge and Locust Ravine. Then near the Walcott Statue I had 2 Northern Flickers. I also had Chipping, Fox (FOY) and Song Sparrows and my first Kestrel ever in Lake Park. It was sitting on the edge of of some trees near the Bistro and took off toward the new Soccer field across Lincoln Memorial Drive.

Brian Hansen
Milwaukee - east side

April 17, 2008

Subject: Spring Migration at Lake Park - Photos w/IDs included
From: Brian Hansen rawshooter AT gmail.com
Date: Thu, 17 Apr 2008

The weather was perfect and the migrants were out in force yesterday at Lake Park. Dave Freriks, a buddy of ours from SoCal and I started at sunrise and covered every main area of Lake Park and some not so main. After seeing the radar at midnight I had high hopes and the birds did not disappoint. ...

Highlights of the day were a first ever for me in Lake Park male Purple Finch in full breeding colors, FOY Eastern Towhees, Eastern Phoebes, Winter Wren, Hermit Thrush, Brown Thrasher, White-throated Sparrows, Chipping Sparrows and flyover DC Cormorants. There were huge numbers of Yellow-rumps and both Kinglets as well as YB Sapsuckers, Cowbirds, Song Sparrows and Swamp Sparrows. ... Hermit Thrush is the only Thrush that bobs it's tail. That made IDing the ones I saw very easy plus other field marks of course, but the bobbing tail is dead giveaway for the Hermit.

Photos of everything mentioned except the Cormorants and Brown Thrasher ... are at this link.
http://www.pbase.com/bhansen/lakepark_sparrow_08
The first 30 or so in the gallery are from yesterday. ... I did not see the Pileated WP that was reported there Monday and am looking forward to a few other Sparrow species in the future and of course the Warblers.

Brian Hansen
Milwaukee east-side
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: 4/19 Warbler Walk preview
Date: Fri, 18 Apr 2008
From: Doloresknopfel@aol.com

Add to list:
Wild Turkeys (reported by Bob Kopling -LP staff)
Turkey Vulture (same one we saw the next day at UEC?)
=======

Saturday, April 19, 2008
Report of Warbler Walk
By Jym Mooney
Lake Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Return to top of page.


. . . Judith Huf and I [Jym Mooney] led a group of two dozen chilly but enthusiastic birders on our first warbler walk of the year this morning at Lake Park in Milwaukee.
. . . The only warblers in evidence were yellow-rumps, but in great numbers. Also seen in large numbers were ruby-crowned kinglets, red-winged blackbirds, double-crested cormorants, buffleheads, red-breasted mergansers, brown creepers, white-throated sparrows, brown-headed cowbirds, and dark- eyed juncos. Of interest as well were many winter wrens, some brown thrashers, eastern towhees, hermit thrushes, a horned grebe, a great blue heron, a chimney swift, five woodpeckers (hairy, downy, red-bellied, northern flicker, and yellow-bellied sapsucker), and some additional sparrow species (song, swamp, field, and chipping). We found 49 species in all. A brisk (but thankfully dry) beginning to the season.



April 24, 2008

Subject: Lake Park, Milwaukee- Thursday, April 24th, 2008
From: Corbo, Samuel samuel.corbo AT marquette.edu
Date: Thu, 24 Apr 2008

I [Sam Corbo] snuck away between classes this afternoon to Lake park for a little over an hour. Overall, numbers were fairly low. Yellow-rumped Warblers still dominate, though a few Palm Warblers have entered the mix. Highlights:
- Blue-headed Vireo- My first of the year, near the feeders by the warming house.
- Quite a few Chimney Swifts, moving solo over the park. I did have a large (75+ group) swirling over Marquette University today, the first group of any noticeable size I've seen this year.

- Red-breasted Nuthatch near the Wolcott Statue.

- Golden-crowned Kinglets seemed to have moved out for the most part, and
- Ruby-crowned numbers were down substantially as well.
- Winter Wrens were nearly absent, with only one bird seen.
- White-throated Sparrows were the most noticeable increase.

Saturday, April 26, 2008
Report of Warbler Walk
By Jym Mooney
Lake Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Return to top of page.


Sixteen very hardy souls braved intense winds and chilly temperatures for our second warbler walk of the spring in Lake Park. We decided to keep to the bottom of the ravines as much as possible to stay out of the wind,
and it appears that the birds agreed with us. We found 52 species, including blue-gray gnatcatchers, a northern harrier,
yellow-bellied sapsucker, blue-headed vireo, two wrens (Carolina and winter), hermit thrushes, brown thrashers, eastern towhees, seven sparrows (chipping, field, song, swamp, white-throated, white-crowned, and dark-eyed junco), and five warblers (yellow-rumped, palm, black and white, black-throated green, and ovenbird). A hen turkey stalked by within mere feet of the group. Red-breasted mergansers and Bonaparte's gulls dominated the lake, and a flock of 10 willets was found on Bradford Beach.

Jym Mooney, Milwaukee

-----Original Message-----
From: Judith Huf
Sent: Saturday, April 26, 2008 3:43 PM

Make that 54 species Jym. As I was returning to my car after we totaled up the count, I saw an immature Bald Eagle in flight being harrassed by a crow.

I ran back to tell Dolores, but the eagle had flown. I returned to my car a second time and this time one of our resident Cooper's Hawks flew over. It was quite a day!

Judith Huf

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Lake Park - Orange-crowned Warbler 4/26
Date: Sat, 26 Apr 2008
From: Paul Hunter phunter1@wi.rr.com

Sam Corbo went back to Lake Park today to see the Carolina Wren again and added yet another species to our list today:
Orange-crowned Warbler.

Sam wrote: "I popped back over to Lake Park after an errand ... and quickly found the Carolina Wren. An Orange-crowned Warbler was present as well and offered great looks"

======

From: Brian Hansen
Sent: Monday, April 28, 2008 10:11 AM
Subject: [wisb] Marsh Wren Lake Park

Jym Mooney brought up the fact there was some discussion about the Carolina Wren that was found on the Warbler walk on Saturday. When I took some photos of that bird yesterday it was bothering me because it didn't look like the Carolinas I have seen in the past in Lake Park. I was not expecting a Marsh and there was so much else going on I didn't dive into it. When I went back to area last night the bird was in a bush near the maintenance building by the Walcott statue and it was singing like crazy. I had never heard a Marsh Wren before - just saw them at Horicon a couple of times. I just played a Marsh Wren from birdjam on my iphone and it was 100% a Marsh Wren. I changed the name of it from Carolina to Marsh in my Lake Park April 08 gallery. It is the first bird in that gallery if you want to check it out. http://www.pbase.com/bhansen/lakepark_sparrow_08

Sorry for not catching this yesterday. Too many birds - too little time right now :)

Brian Hansen
Milwaukee - east side
======
April 30 and May 1, 2008

From: Corbo, Samuel samuel.corbo@marquette.edu
Date: April 30, 2008 3:46:03 PM CDT
Subject: Lake Park, Milwaukee, April 30

... The area around the Wolcott Statue feeders/seed dump was very active, as was the area around the rustic footbridge near the warming house near the northern end of the park. Outside of those two areas, the area was pretty quiet, outside of White-throated Sparrows, which were pretty thick in some parts.

Wolcott Feeders (and surrounding area):
White-throated, Song, Swamp (2), Field (1), White-crowned (1), and American Tree (1) Sparrows. Many Chipping Sparrows on the Golf Course.
Brown Thrasher
Swainson's Thrush
Nashville Warbler (2- FOY)

Near the rustic footbridge:
Tennessee (1- FOY), Black-and-White (1), Black-throated Green (3), Yellow-rumped (XX), and Palm (5) Warblers. Common Yellowthroat (1) present as well. Many Chipping Sparrows and a Field Sparrow as well.

It was much noisier at the park today-- All warbler species aside from the B&W were heard singing.

Good birding!
Sam Corbo
======

From: Brian Hansen rawshooter@gmail.com
Date: May 1, 2008
Subject: Rose-breasted Grosbeak, GC Flycatcher and Warbs - Lake Park Milw

Saw and photographed a lot of good birds today in Lake Park. Here are the migrants that I saw.
6 Northern Flickers
2 Great-crested Flycatchers
3 Winter Wrens
2 House Wrens
12 Blue-gray Gnatcatchers
3 Brown Thrashers
- at Wolcott Feeder
1 Catbird 		2 Hermit Thrush
1 probable Veery
1 Black-throated Green
x YR Warblers
8 Palm Warblers
4 Tennessee Warblers
1 Nashville Warbler
3 Common Yellowthroats
1 Ovenbird 		1 Rose-breasted Grosbeak
- singing Male
2 Unidentified Sparrows
x White-Crowned Sparrows
x White-throated Sparrows
8 Swamp Sparrows
6 Field Sparrows
x Chipping Sparrows


Here are some photos. Got a couple decent ones of a GC Flycatcher eating a moth that I was it catch. I actually saw the moth coming and thought you better hope that Flycatchers doesn't see you. Just as I did the Flycatcher launched and grabbed it. I missed the kill - too fast - but was able to catch dinner :)

The unidentified Sparrows are here. http://www.pbase.com/bhansen/documentary_shots They are the first 4 pics in the gallery. I have no clue on the first two and I think the second 2 are a Lincoln's I would appreciate any help on these - thanks
[Swamp and Lincoln's]

The others that I had time to process are here . http://www.pbase.com/ bhansen/lake_park_may_2008

Brian Hansen
Milwaukee - east side

======
Saturday, May 2, 2008
Mike Goodman, South Milwaukee
Lake Park - Locust Ravine , 5/2/08
Number of species: 39

Mallard 3
Ring-billed Gull 10
Mourning Dove 3
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 2
Downy Woodpecker 2
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 2
Pileated Woodpecker 1
- near Warming house feeders
Great Crested Flycatcher 1 		Blue Jay 2
American Crow 12
Black-capped Chickadee 8
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 20
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 3
Hermit Thrush 1
American Robin 10
Gray Catbird 1
European Starling 20
Yellow-rumped Warbler 20
Palm Warbler 1
Black-and-white Warbler 1
Ovenbird 1
Common Yellowthroat 1 		American Tree Sparrow 1
Chipping Sparrow 5
Fox Sparrow 1
Song Sparrow 1
Swamp Sparrow 1
White-throated Sparrow 10
White-crowned Sparrow 5
Northern Cardinal 6
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1
Red-winged Blackbird 10
Common Grackle 10
Brown-headed Cowbird 6
Purple Finch 2
American Goldfinch 5
House Sparrow 3
<

======

From: Corbo, Samuel samuel.corbo@marquette.edu
Date: May 2, 2008 4:06:53 PM CDT
Subject: FW: eBird Report - Lake Park - Locust Ravine , 5/2/08

I buzzed out to Lake Park this afternoon as soon as the rain stopped. Fog was thick throughout the park, which made birding difficult at times, but all in all, bird activity was very high. If you are thinking about going this afternoon or tomorrow, I'd reccomend it it! Highlights below:

Warblers:
Yellow-rumped & Palm (many), Black-and-White (1), Tennessee (2), Yellow (1- FOY), Nashville (4), Black-throated Green (1), Ovenbird (2- FOY),
Common Yellowthroat (5), Northern Parula (2-FOY)

Sparrows:
White-crowned (large increase noted),
White-throated, Chipping, Swamp, Song, Field (increase),
Lincoln's (1), and Clay-colored (3- FOY- between Golf Course and Wolcott Feeders)

Thrushes- Swainson's & Wood, both on Lake Park Drive

Flycatchers- 2 Great-crested as well as several silent empids.

Good birding! Looks like it could be a great weekend if we can stay dry!
Sam Corbo
________________________________________
Lake Park - Locust Ravine, 5/2/08
Number of species: 47

Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove X
Chimney Swift X
Red-headed Woodpecker 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1
Downy Woodpecker 5
Hairy Woodpecker 2
Northern Flicker 1
Great Crested Flycatcher 2
Empidonax Flycatchers 5
Warbling Vireo 1
Blue Jay 4
American Crow X
Tree Swallow X 		Northern Rough-winged Swallow X
Bank Swallow 1
Barn Swallow X
Black-capped Chickadee X
White-breasted Nuthatch X
Brown Creeper 2
House Wren 3
Ruby-crowned Kinglet X
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher X
Swainson's Thrush 1
Wood Thrush 1
Brown Thrasher 3
European Starling X
Tennessee Warbler 2
Nashville Warbler 4
Northern Parula 2 		Yellow Warbler 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler X
Black-throated Green Warbler 1
Palm Warbler X
Black-and-white Warbler 2
Ovenbird 2
Common Yellowthroat 5
Eastern Towhee 2
Chipping Sparrow X
Clay-colored Sparrow 3
Field Sparrow X
Song Sparrow 1
Lincoln's Sparrow 1
Swamp Sparrow X
White-throated Sparrow X
White-crowned Sparrow X
House Sparrow X


====

Saturday, May 3, 2008
Report of Warbler Walk
By Paul Hunter
Lake Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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Two dozen soggy birders saw a total of 65 species. Gray skies backlit warblers in the treetops, making identification difficult. Light rain and a southerly breeze were mitigated by relatively warm temperatures.

Judith Huf saw 3 Willets on Bradford Beach and 200 Red-breasted Mergansers and 3 possible Common Terns on Lake Michigan prior to the official start of the walk at 8:30 AM at the Warming House.

Robin Squier pointed out the Cooper's Hawk nest 40 feet up in a tree due west of the Warming House.

Dennis Casper guided half of the party along North Ravine and I strode more quickly south to the Light House with the other half. We met up with
Joe Devereaux guiding a small party from Enderis Park toward the end of our Walk.

Dennis' crew saw 3 Great Blue Herons flying along the Lake, 3 Red-headed Woodpeckers, a Phoebe, 2 Bluebirds, 13 Cedar Waxwings, 4 Nashville Warblers, and 3 Baltimore Orioles.

My group saw a Blue-headed Vireo, a Brown Creeper, a Catbird, Tennessee Warbler, Northern Parula, and 2 Orchard Orioles, a 1st year male and a female.

All together we saw 5 woodpeckers (no Pileated as Mike Goodman saw 2 days earlier), 3 flycatchers, 8 warblers, and 6 sparrows (including Clay-colored)

On 5/4/08, Dennis Casper will lead our first ever Sunday Warbler Walk, an idea proposed by Brian Hansen, who photographs birds in Lake Park.

=====
Lake Park - Locust Ravine - 5/3/08
Start time: 8:00 AM
2 hour(s) 15 minute(s)
Number of people in party: 18

Comments: Bufflehead, Mergansers, Cormorants, Herons, Gulls and Tern were all in Bradford Beach - North Point hotspot
- Common Tern and Least Flycatcher were uncertain.

1 Canada Goose, Branta canadensis
4, Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos
4, Bufflehead, Bucephala albeola
200, Red-breasted Merganser, Mergus serrator
12, Double-crested Cormorant, Phalacrocorax auritus
3, Great Blue Heron, Ardea herodias
2, Cooper's Hawk, Accipiter cooperii
3, Willet, Tringa semipalmata
26, Ring-billed Gull, Larus delawarensis
3, Herring Gull, Larus argentatus
3, Common(?) Tern, Sterna hirundo
5, Mourning Dove, Zenaida macroura
30, Chimney Swift, Chaetura pelagica
3, Red-headed Woodpecker, Melanerpes erythrocephalus
1, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Melanerpes carolinus
4, Downy Woodpecker, Picoides pubescens
1, Hairy Woodpecker, Picoides villosus
1, Northern Flicker, Colaptes auratus
1, Least(?) Flycatcher, Empidonax minimus
1, Eastern Phoebe, Sayornis phoebe
3, Eastern Kingbird, Tyrannus tyrannus
1, Yellow-throated Vireo, Vireo flavifrons
1, Blue-headed Vireo, Vireo solitarius
18, Blue Jay, Cyanocitta cristata
2, American Crow, Corvus brachyrhynchos
2, Tree Swallow, Tachycineta bicolor
5, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Stelgidopteryx serripennis
2, Barn Swallow, Hirundo rustica 		10, Black-capped Chickadee, Poecile atricapillus
2, White-breasted Nuthatch, Sitta carolinensis
1, Brown Creeper, Certhia americana
1, House Wren, Troglodytes aedon
5, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Regulus calendula
14, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Polioptila caerulea
2, Eastern Bluebird, Sialia sialis
12, American Robin, Turdus migratorius
1, Gray Catbird, Dumetella carolinensis
1, Brown Thrasher, Toxostoma rufum
6, European Starling, Sturnus vulgaris
13, Cedar Waxwing, Bombycilla cedrorum
1, Tennessee Warbler, Vermivora peregrina
4, Nashville Warbler, Vermivora ruficapilla
2, Northern Parula, Parula americana
3, Yellow Warbler, Dendroica petechia
40, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Dendroica coronata
1, Black-throated Green Warbler, Dendroica virens
20, Palm Warbler, Dendroica palmarum
3, Common Yellowthroat, Geothlypis trichas
1, Eastern Towhee, Pipilo erythrophthalmus
10, Chipping Sparrow, Spizella passerina
2, Clay-colored Sparrow, Spizella pallida
1, Field Sparrow, Spizella pusilla
1, Song Sparrow, Melospiza melodia
1, Swamp Sparrow, Melospiza georgiana
30, White-throated Sparrow, Zonotrichia albicollis
19, White-crowned Sparrow, Zonotrichia leucophrys
12, Northern Cardinal, Cardinalis cardinalis
10, Red-winged Blackbird, Agelaius phoeniceus
1, Common Grackle, Quiscalus quiscula
20, Brown-headed Cowbird, Molothrus ater
2, Orchard Oriole, Icterus spurius
3, Baltimore Oriole, Icterus galbula
5, House Finch, Carpodacus mexicanus
4, American Goldfinch, Carduelis tristis
2, House Sparrow, Passer domesticus

Total species reported: 65


==============
From: James Reitter angus1973@hotmail.com
Date: May 3, 2008 11:34:39 AM
Subject: Black-throated Blue and Baltimore Oriole at Lake Park

Went out at sunrise to Lake Park and birding was very slow early on. Things finally picked up around 7:30 with B/G gnatcatchers. Making my way to the steps, I got great looks at a brilliant Baltimore oriole. Later on, the statue was full of activity. All the subjects mentioned (catbirds, thrashers, white-throated sparrows, white-crowned sparrows). The female towhee, two least flycatchers, palm warbler, black and white warbler, yellow warbler, pine warbler were also present, as was a black-throated blue warbler (10-second look). No pics, as he was through the branches, but an easily identifiable bird. Now, this is a lifer for me, but I didn't see a possibilty of it being anything else. I'm also unfamiliar with state records/ arrivals, so bear that in mind. I ruled out Cerulean and Parula based on darkness of the blue. I'm sure of the ID for me personally, but further confirmation would be helpful. Finally, got a wonderful show of red-bellies and redheads negotiationg territories and got great looks at the Parula by the wood bridge.

-James Reitter
(Shorewood, WI)

======

From: Evan Barrientos ebarrientos@wi.rr.com
Date: May 3,
2008 3:24:24 PM CDT
Subject: Lake Park and Milwaukee Coast Guard Impoundment

Today at 8:45 am Lake Park was fairly quiet. On the lake were Cormorants and Red-breasted Mergansers. In the trees I saw Yellow- rumped, Palm, and Nashville Warblers; Red-headed Woodpeckers, Cooper's Hawks, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, White-crowned Sparrow, and a Blue-headed Vireo.
...
Evan Barrientos
www.pbase.com/barrientos
=======
Saturday, May 4, 2008

From: dcasper@uwm.edu
Date: May 5, 2008
Subject: 5/4 Warbler Walk

Here is the list from Sunday's warbler walk. There was no group meeting afterward to go over the list, so I don't have estimates of numbers and probably have missed some birds that others saw but I didn't hear about. Check over the list and add any that you know are missing. Hopefully others who were on the walk will do the same. The total at this point is 50.
Mallard,
Red-breasted Merganser,
Double-crested Cormorant,
Cooper's Hawk,
Merlin (seen/photographed by Brian Hansen before he met up with our group),
Ring-billed Gull,
Herring Gull,
Mourning Dove,
Red-headed Woodpecker,
Red-bellied Woodpecker,
Downy Woodpecker,
Northern Flicker,
Least Flycatcher
Blue-headed Vireo,
Blue Jay,
American Crow, 		Black-capped Chickadee,
White-breasted Nuthatch,
House Wren,
Ruby-crowned Kinglet,
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher,
Eastern Bluebird,
Swainson's Thrush,
Hermit Thrush,
American Robin,
Gray Catbird,
Brown Thrasher,
Nashville Warbler,
Yellow Warbler,
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler,
Palm Warbler,
Black and White Warbler, 		Louisiana Waterthrush,
Common Yellowthroat,
Summer Tanager,
Scarlet Tanager,
Chipping Sparrow,
Field Sparrow,
Song Sparrow,
White-throated Sparrow,
White-crowned Sparrow,
Northern Cardinal,
Indigo Bunting,
Red-winged Blackbird,
Brown-headed Cowbird,
Orchard Oriole,
Baltimore Oriole,
House Finch,
American Goldfinch


Dennis

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: 5/4 Warbler Walk
Date: Mon, 5 May 2008 22:41:55 -0500
From: Brian Hansen rawshooter@gmail.com

1 Great-crested Flycatcher
3 Clay-colored Sparrow - found by Sam Corbo - bad photos by brian hansen at >about 11:45am near walcott feeder
? number but positive ID Tennessee Warbler - found by Sam Corbo

Also I don't know if you want to report it but a Long-eared Owl was positively IDed by Mark Korducki at 11:00 am east of the soccer field. Technically he was not part of the group.

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: RE: 5/4 Warbler Walk
Date: Mon, 5 May 2008 23:15:58 -0500
From: Corbo, Samuel samuel.corbo@marquette.edu

There was a small group of Bufflehead on the lake (I believe 2 m, 2 f) as we worked up the soccer field. There was also an Eastern Kingbird which most of the group got a look at on the soccer fields as well. I birded for a while afterwards with Brian Hansen and we picked up a few more species. I don't know if these birds would count since they were seen after the walk, but just in case:

Northern Parula (1)- South of Wolcott feeders.
Clay-colored Sparrow (2)- Two birds in treetops above the Wolcott seed dump.
Cliff Swallow (3)- Quick flyover in Bistro Parking lot
Chestnut-sided Warbler (1)- below concrete bridge by bistro
Purple Finch (1)- female,
from locust ravine south of warming house
Wood Thrush (1)- in brush just south of the feeders near the warming house
Marsh Wren (1)- bottom of North Ravine... cooperative bird that allowed for long looks, singing briefly. How often do these birds show up at Lake Park? Possibly the same bird in a new location?
Gray-cheeked Thrush (1)- near bridge over North Ravine with a Hermit Thrush
Great-crested Flycatcher (2)- north parking lot

=====

From: Brian Hansen rawshooter@gmail.com
Date: May 6, 2008
Subject: Lake Park Milwaukee Sunday - Summer Tanager,
Merlin, Orioles

... a Merlin right at sunrise near the Walcott Statue. It was my first Merlin ever in Lake Park. The other was the Summer Tanager. A bird which I didn't plan on seeing let alone getting a decent photo of this year. It was a female.... Other highlights were Orchard and Baltimore Orioles, Indigo Bunting, Louisiana Waterthrush and an Eastern Kingbird and various Warblers. ...

All the finished photos from that day are here http://www.pbase.com/bhansen/lake_park_may_2008 The Merlin shots turned out better than I expected provided the backlighting. It may be a little dark on some monitors. I also had to toss in Goldfinch in the mix of migrants. I couldn't pass on the pose, light and background. It actually turned out to be one of my favorites of the day. The Sunday shots are basically the first 5 rows in the gallery.

Brian Hansen
Milwaukee east-side

======

From: Brian Hansen rawshooter@gmail.com
Date: May 6, 2008 10:43:29 AM CDT
Subject: Lake Park Milwaukee - Bluebird News

Recently a number of people from Lake Park Friends with tremendous help from Bob (sorry I don't have the last name) from the Parks crew put up 5 new Bluebird houses in Lake Park. They were put up roughly a week or so ago and there are already Bluebirds scoping them out!!!! There are two more houses on the way. This is the first effort that I can remember to get BB houses up and it seems to be paying off already. There are regular monitors keeping an eye on them and we will post any new news (hopefully nesting and young ones) throughout the season.

Future mom and dad checking out the new condo - what a great sight!

http://www.pbase.com/bhansen/image/96667469

http://www.pbase.com/bhansen/image/96667472

The above photos are of the feeder at the edge of the golf course closest to the Walcott Statue. Congrats to all that pitched in and a huge THANK YOU to Bob who did all of the hard work - building a couple houses himself and putting all of them up. It is really nice to have someone from the city willing to help out with these type of projects and who really cares! Hopefully someone with ties to Lake Park can get him these photos.

Brian Hansen
Milwaukee - east side

============

Lake Park - Locust Ravine , 5/5/08
Number of species: 35

Mallard 2
Ring-billed Gull 3
Mourning Dove 4
Chimney Swift 7
Red-headed Woodpecker 4
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Downy Woodpecker 2
American Crow 4
Black-capped Chickadee 3
White-breasted Nuthatch 1 		House Wren 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 4
American Robin 5
European Starling X
Tennessee Warbler 1
Nashville Warbler 2
Northern Parula 1
= Chestnut-sided Warbler 1
= Cape May Warbler 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler 25
Black-throated Green Warbler 1
Palm Warbler 30 		Black-and-white Warbler 1
Chipping Sparrow 2
Song Sparrow 3
White-throated Sparrow 2
White-crowned Sparrow 8
Northern Cardinal 3
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 2
Red-winged Blackbird 10
Common Grackle 4
Brown-headed Cowbird 3
American Goldfinch 2
House Sparrow 5


======

Saturday, May 10, 2008
Lake Park Warbler Walk
by Jym Mooney
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About 30 enthusiastic birders gathered today at Lake Park for what turned out to be a very nice Warbler Walk. We split up into two groups, so not everyone saw everything, but there were so many special sightings that everyone went home happy. Highlights included Blue-Headed Vireo, many migrating Blue Jays, 10 very chatty Blue-Gray Gnatcatchers, Indigo Buntings, Rose-Breasted Grosbeaks, and 18 warbler species (Golden-Winged, Orange-Crowned, Nashville, North Parula, Yellow, Chestnut-Sided, Magnolia, Cape May, Black-Throated Blue, Yellow-Rumped, Black-Throated Green, Blackburnian, Palm, Black-and-White, American Redstart, Ovenbird, Mourning, and Common Yellowthroat). Palm and YR Warbler numbers seem to be drawing down, and many of the warblers were represented by single birds. The Blackburnians were especially showy and cooperative, dazzling everyone with their bright orange throats and faces. Missing today: thrushes (only two American Robins seen). We found a total of 64 species.

Jym

----
Bradford Beach - North Point
5/10/08 , 7:30 AM, 1 hour
Number of people in party: 1

8,Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos
4, Bufflehead, Bucephala albeola
15, Red-breasted Merganser, Mergus serrator
3, Horned Grebe, Podiceps auritus 		6, Double-crested Cormorant, Phalacrocorax auritus
1, Great Blue Heron, Ardea herodias
30, Ring-billed Gull, Larus delawarensis
3, Herring Gull, Larus argentatus
10, Caspian Tern, Hydroprogne caspia
2, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Stelgidopteryx serripennis
2, Song Sparrow, Melospiza melodia


Lake Park - Locust Ravine
5/10/08, 3.0 miles, 8:30 AM, 2 hours
Number of people in party: 30

1, Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus
3, Rock Pigeon, Columba livia
2, Mourning Dove, Zenaida macroura
40, Chimney Swift, Chaetura pelagica
2, Red-headed Woodpecker, Melanerpes erythrocephalus
1, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Melanerpes carolinus
5, Downy Woodpecker, Picoides pubescens
1, Hairy Woodpecker, Picoides villosus
1, Northern Flicker, Colaptes auratus
1, Blue-headed Vireo, Vireo solitarius
20, Blue Jay, Cyanocitta cristata
5, American Crow, Corvus brachyrhynchos
10, Barn Swallow, Hirundo rustica
15, Black-capped Chickadee, Poecile atricapillus
2, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Sitta canadensis
6, White-breasted Nuthatch, Sitta carolinensis
5, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Regulus calendula
10, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Polioptila caerulea
2, American Robin, Turdus migratorius
1, Gray Catbird, Dumetella carolinensis
1, Golden-winged Warbler, Vermivora chrysoptera
1, Orange-crowned Warbler, Vermivora celata
3, Nashville Warbler, Vermivora ruficapilla
2, Northern Parula, Parula americana
1, Yellow Warbler, Dendroica petechia 		1, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Dendroica pensylvanica
1, Magnolia Warbler, Dendroica magnolia
1, Cape May Warbler, Dendroica tigrina
1, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Dendroica caerulescens
6, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Dendroica coronata
2, Black-throated Green Warbler, Dendroica virens
4, Blackburnian Warbler, Dendroica fusca
10, Palm Warbler, Dendroica palmarum
4, Black-and-white Warbler, Mniotilta varia
2, American Redstart, Setophaga ruticilla
1, Ovenbird, Seiurus aurocapilla
1, Mourning Warbler, Oporornis philadelphia
1, Common Yellowthroat, Geothlypis trichas
3, Eastern Towhee, Pipilo erythrophthalmus
2, Chipping Sparrow, Spizella passerina
1, Lincoln's Sparrow, Melospiza lincolnii
5, White-throated Sparrow, Zonotrichia albicollis
15, White-crowned Sparrow, Zonotrichia leucophrys
4, Northern Cardinal, Cardinalis cardinalis
2, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Pheucticus ludovicianus
2, Indigo Bunting, Passerina cyanea
3, Red-winged Blackbird, Agelaius phoeniceus
4, Common Grackle, Quiscalus quiscula
4, Brown-headed Cowbird, Molothrus ater
1, Baltimore Oriole, Icterus galbula
3, House Finch, Carpodacus mexicanus
5, American Goldfinch, Carduelis tristis
1, House Sparrow, Passer domesticus
Total species reported: 53




Saturday, May 17, 2008
Report of Warbler Walk
By Dennis Casper
Lake Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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Lake Park - 5/17/08
2.0 miles
8:30 AM, 2 hours 15 minutes
Number of people in party: 28

16 Double-crested Cormorant
1 Green Heron
2 Ring-billed Gull
3 Mourning Dove
9 Chimney Swift
2 Red-headed Woodpecker
1 Red-bellied Woodpecker
3 Downy Woodpecker
1 Eastern Wood-Pewee
6 Least Flycatcher
4 Warbling Vireo
1 Red-eyed Vireo
3 Blue Jay
4 American Crow
8 Black-capped Chickadee
2 White-breasted Nuthatch
4 House Wren
3 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 		10 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
2 Veery
3 Swainson's Thrush
15 American Robin
2 Gray Catbird
2 European Starling
1 Cedar Waxwing
2 Golden-winged Warbler
1 Nashville Warbler
1 Northern Parula
2 Yellow Warbler
9 Chestnut-sided Warbler
9 Magnolia Warbler
2 Cape May Warbler
2 Yellow-rumped Warbler
4 Black-throated Green Warbler
3 Blackburnian Warbler
13 Palm Warbler
1 Bay-breasted Warbler
1 Blackpoll Warbler
5 Black-and-white Warbler
5 American Redstart
2 Ovenbird 		2 Northern Waterthrush
4 Common Yellowthroat
2 Wilson's Warbler
3 Canada Warbler
1 Scarlet Tanager
6 Chipping Sparrow
1 Field Sparrow
1 Song Sparrow
1 Lincoln's Sparrow
2 Swamp Sparrow
4 White-throated Sparrow
8 White-crowned Sparrow
8 Northern Cardinal
1 Rose-breasted Grosbeak
7 Indigo Bunting
3 Red-winged Blackbird
1 Common Grackle
6 Brown-headed Cowbird
1 Baltimore Oriole
5 House Finch
5 American Goldfinch
6 House Sparrow
Total species reported: 64



Date: Sat, 17 May 2008 13:24:53 -0500
From: Ronald Gutschow rpg876@gmail.com
Subject: Bird list this morning
To: Dennis Casper dcasper@uwm.edu

Dennis,

Attached is a file with the birds I saw this morning. Let me know if you have questions.

Ron
Double-crested Cormorant 8
Green Heron 1
Chimney Swift several
Red-headed Woodpecker 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker 1
Least Flycatcher 4
House Wren 4
Gray Catbird 2
Swainson's Thrush 2
American Robin several
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 4, 1 on nest
Black-capped Chickadee 6
White-breasted Nuthatch 3
Blue-headed Vireo 1 		Orange-crowned Warbler 1
Nashville Warbler 2
Yellow Warbler 2
Chestnut-sided Warbler 5
Magnolia Warbler 9
Cape May Warbler 2
Yellow-rumped Warbler 3
Black-throated Green Warbler 4
Blackburnian Warbler 1
Palm Warbler 20
Bay-breasted Warbler 1
Black-and-white Warbler 4
American Redstart 6
Ovenbird 2
Northern Waterthrush 1 		Common Yellowthroat 3
Wilson's Warbler 5
Canada Warbler 1
Chipping Sparrow 3
Song Sparrow 1
Lincoln's Sparrow 1
Swamp Sparrow 2
White-crowned Sparrow 4
White-throated Sparrow 5
Northern Cardinal 4
Indigo Bunting 3
Red-winged Blackbird 1
Brown-headed Cowbird 2
Baltimore Oriole 1 heard
House Sparrow 2



From: Dennis Caspar
Date: May 18, 2008
To: Paul Hunter
Subject: Re: Warblers not seen 5/17?

Paul, Some of my group saw a
Yellow Warbler. Also, I confirmed with Jean that people she was with at one point, separated from the rest of us, saw a
Scarlet Tanager. And several of the group saw
Eastern Bluebirds (2, I think)--I couldn't remember whether I mentioned this when talked on the bridge. Dennis



From: Mark Korducki
Date: May 18, 2008
To:Paul Hunter
Subject: Lake Park 5/17

Hi Paul. I saw where you were looking for some warblers from yesterday. We had
Yellow, Orange-crowned and Mourning that were not listed by you. Daniel Edlestein, a really good birder from California, had good looks at a singing male
Pine Warbler before our group arrived. Good numbers again today of almost the same species that we saw yesterday. We had 22 species today-missed the Mourning that we had yesterday.



From: Korducki
Date: May 18, 2008
Subject: Lake Park today

I led another field trip to Lake Park in Milwaukee this AM. The warbler numbers and variety were about the same as yesterday. 22 species and missed only the Mourning Warbler that we had yesterday. The best area was the base of the bluff along the west edge of the soccer field and later, the bridge just north of the Lake Park Bistro. The bridge south of Wolcott statue was pretty good as well. Glad that the WSO field trip participants got to see good numbers of warblers.




From: Kristine Kapp
Date: May 19, 2008
To: Paul Hunter
Subject: Re: 5/17 Warbler Walk bird list

I was a part of this group in the ravine and I did spot a
Black-throated Blue Warbler.



Saturday, May 24, 2008
Report of Warbler Walk
Lake Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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Lake Park Warbler Walk (#6)
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Species: 57

25 Double-crested Cormorant
20 Ring-billed Gull
3 Mourning Dove
15 Chimney Swift
1 Red-bellied Woodpecker
2 Red-headed Woodpecker
6 Downy Woodpecker
1 Hairy Woodpecker
3 Least Flycatcher
1 Great Crested Flycatcher
5 Red-eyed Vireo
3 Blue-headed Vireo
35 Blue Jay
3 American Crow
5 Northern Rough-winged Swallow
1 Barn Swallow
15 Black-capped Chickadee 		2 White-breasted Nuthatch
4 House Wren
16 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
2 Eastern Bluebird
6 American Robin
6 Gray Catbird
1 European Starling
3 Cedar Waxwing
1 Tennessee Warbler
3 Nashville Warbler
2 Northern Parula
2 Yellow Warbler
7 Chestnut-sided Warbler
8 Magnolia Warbler
3 Cape May Warbler
8 Yellow-rumped Warbler
4 Black-throated Green Warbler
2 Blackburnian Warbler
5 Palm Warbler 		1 Bay-breasted Warbler
2 Black-and-white Warbler
6 American Redstart
1 Ovenbird
4 Common Yellowthroat
2 Wilson's Warbler
1 Mourning Warbler
1 Canada Warbler
1 Scarlet Tanager
5 Chipping Sparrow
3 Song Sparrow
1 White-throated Sparrow
2 White-crowned Sparrow
6 Northern Cardinal
8 Indigo Bunting
3 Red-winged Blackbird
1 Common Grackle
4 Brown-headed Cowbird
7 Baltimore Oriole
2 House Finch
8 American Goldfinch


August 22
From: Jym Mooney
Subject: FW: eBird Report - Lake Park - Locust Ravine , 8/22/08
Spent a hot, muggy lunch hour at Lake Park (not premium birding time, I know). But I did find two warblers: a Nashville by the Wolcott statue and a northern waterthrush in the Locust Ravine. Cedar Waxwings were abundant, and led to endless disappointments ("What's that flying in? It's...it's...oh, just another waxwing.").
Lake Park - Locust Ravine
Observation date: 8/22/08
Number of species: 20

Ring-billed Gull
Chimney Swift
Red-headed Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker 		Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Great Crested Flycatcher
Red-eyed Vireo
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
White-breasted Nuthatch
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 		American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
Nashville Warbler
Northern Waterthrush
Chipping Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Brown-headed Cowbird
American Goldfinch


Saturday, August 23, 2008
Report of Warbler Walk
by Dennis Casper
Lake Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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. . . The first Lake Park Warbler Walk of the fall season was held on Saturday, August 23, from 8:30-10:00 a.m. The day was warm, muggy, overcast, and constantly threatening rain. But happily, that threat was fulfilled only meekly by a brief light shower in the middle of the walk.
. . . More than twenty birders, led by Dennis Casper, gathered near the Rustic Bridge over the Locust St. Ravine and spent a bit of time waiting for birds to appear there. Few did, so the group soon started on its leisurely way along the Locust St. Ravine. Along the north side of the ravine, on the approach to the pedestrian bridge, a cluster of trees was infested with Cedar Waxwings and Robins feeding on whatever berries or fruit those tress provided.
. . . Having sated ourselves on this spectacle, we crossed the pedestrian bridge to the pavilion, then went down the Grand Staircase and over to the lakeshore, at Jym Mooney's suggestion, to check for shorebirds. The effort was modestly rewarded: several Spotted and Semipalmated Sandpipers.
. . . The group then crossed back over the drive to the soccer field and encountered another hot (or warm, really) spot at the base of the bluff. It yielded, among others, a Baltimore Oriole, a couple Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, and our first warbler of the first warbler walk, a lone Yellow Warbler.
. . . From there, it was back up the bluff through the Girl Scout Ravine and over to the Wolcott statue, where we garnered our second warbler of the morning, a female American Redstart. At this point, the group broke up, most going their various ways and a small remnant returning to the warming house for the final wrap-up session.
. . . Overall, the morning was rather quiet, but we still managed a moderately good total of thirty-five species, including, as mentioned, only two warblers, the lonely vanguards of the full migration yet to come. The most impressive sight of the walk was the enormous number of Cedar Waxwings infesting that cluster of trees on the Locust St. Ravine and flying overhead in massive flocks throughout the morning.
. . . Thanks to everyone who took part in the walk. And mark your calendars for the remaining walks this fall: next Saturday, the last in August, and the following four Saturdays in September, the last walk being on September 27.
Species Observed:

18 Canada Goose
20 Mallard
2 Double-crested Cormorant
1 Willet
3 Spotted Sandpiper
6 Semipalmated Sandpiper
40 Ring-billed Gull
6 Herring Gull
1 Caspian Tern
12 Rock Pigeon
21 Chimney Swift
2 Ruby-throated Hummingbird
3 Red-headed Woodpecker
4 Downy Woodpecker
1 Hairy woodpecker
2 Great Crested Flycatcher
2 Red-eyed Vireo
7 American Crow
25 Barn Swallow
10 Black-capped Chickadee
6 White-breasted Nuthatch
3 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
75 American Robin
1 Gray Catbird
200 Cedar Waxwing
1 Yellow Warbler
1 American Redstart
5 Chipping Sparrow
6 Northern Cardinal
1 Indigo Bunting
1 Brown-headed Cowbird
3 Baltimore Oriole
1 House Finch
15 American Goldfinch
2 House Sparrow


Saturday, August 30, 2008
Report of Warbler Walk
by Tim Vargo
Lake Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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The 2nd Lake Park Warbler walk of the fall was quiet but yielded excellent views of 2 adult and 2 juvenile red-headed woodpeckers.

Not sure if this can be labeled as a warbler walk since we got skunked on warblers, but a beautiful day through a beautiful park nonetheless....

(Note by Paul Hunter: I am pretty sure that the Black-bellied Plover, Bank Swallow and Tufted Titmouse are all firsts for Warbler Walks at Lake Park since 2004, though all three have been reported in Lake Park previously.)
1 Black-bellied Plover
4 Least Sandpiper
10 Ring-billed Gull
10 Herring Gull
4 Chimney Swift
4 Red-headed Woodpecker
1 Red-bellied Woodpecker
1 Hairy Woodpecker 		3 Eastern Wood-Pewee
1 Great Crested Flycatcher
3 Red-eyed Vireo
1 Blue Jay
7 American Crow
4 Bank Swallow
16 Black-capped Chickadee
1 Tufted Titmouse
3 White-breasted Nuthatch
1 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 		1 Swainson's Thrush
5 American Robin
1 Gray Catbird
6 Cedar Waxwing
5 Chipping Sparrow
4 Northern Cardinal
1 Indigo Bunting
2 Brown-headed Cowbird
1 House Finch
11 American Goldfinch
2 House Sparrow



From: Paul Hunter
Subject: 9/3 Warbler Wave

Lake Park Birders,

Jym Mooney, below, confirms what Brian Hansen called me about this afternoon: A wave of warblers worked it way through the park. Hopefully the light was good enough for Brian to get some of his beautiful photos.

--- Paul Hunter, http://home.wi.rr.com/phunter1/lakeparkbirds.html
=====================================================

Begin forwarded message:
From: Jym Mooney Date: September 3, 2008

I stopped in for an hour or so late this afternoon at Lake Park. More
- warbler numbers (total birds, not species), although many were impossible to ID due to lighting, distance, etc. The majority that I could ID were
- magnolias, plus a couple of yellow-rumps and a redstart and an ovenbird. I also found a juvenile
- rose-breasted grosbeak, and what I believe may have been a
- yellow-bellied flycatcher (slightly bigger than warblers, more rounded head and body, yellow-greenish wash overall, no white belly/breast/undertail coverts, two bright white wingbars, skulking in low bushes and foliage on side of ravine). On Bradford Beach I found two brightly plumaged juvenile
- sanderlings, very nice to look at.


Saturday, September 6, 2008
Report of Warbler Walk
by Paul Hunter
Lake Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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This morning at Lake Park about 20 birders enjoyed pleasant weather while struggling to see warblers in the foliage.

Jym Mooney saw a few Sanderlings along the lake shore before the 8:30 AM start time. He also saw the Cooper's Hawk and heard the pewee.

I took half the group on the high road while Jym led the other half down into Locust Ravine. Overall things were quieter than the past two days. Nashvilles seem to be the commonest warbler. I caught a very brief view of the 2 nighthawks and would have felt better if others had confirmed it. The distinctively plain, female Indigo Buntings were one of the more challenging birds to identify.

Dolores Knopfelmacher explained how the park staff clear cut invasive Norway Maples and Buckthorn from a couple spots in the North Lighthouse Ravine and planted some native species. Steve Morse explained how the waterfall in Waterfall Ravine (formerly known as Girl Scout Ravine) will be recreated using funds from the Cirque du Lake Park tomorrow night.

Lake Park - Locust Ravine 9/6/08
Number of species: 41

Canada Goose - Branta canadensis 12
Mallard - Anas platyrhynchos 2
Double-crested Cormorant - Phalacrocorax auritus 6
Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodias 2
Cooper's Hawk - Accipiter cooperii 1
Sanderling - Calidris alba 4
Ring-billed Gull - Larus delawarensis X
Herring Gull - Larus argentatus X
Common Nighthawk - Chordeiles minor 2
Chimney Swift - Chaetura pelagica 12
Red-headed Woodpecker - Melanerpes erythrocephalus 2
Downy Woodpecker - Picoides pubescens 4
Hairy Woodpecker - Picoides villosus 1
Eastern Wood-Pewee - Contopus virens 1
Least Flycatcher - Empidonax minimus 2
Great Crested Flycatcher - Myiarchus crinitus 1
Philadelphia Vireo - Vireo philadelphicus 1
Red-eyed Vireo - Vireo olivaceus 3
American Crow - Corvus brachyrhynchos 6
Black-capped Chickadee - Poecile atricapillus 12 		White-breasted Nuthatch - Sitta carolinensis 4
Carolina Wren - Thryothorus ludovicianus 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - Polioptila caerulea 2
Swainson's Thrush - Catharus ustulatus 6
American Robin - Turdus migratorius 12
Cedar Waxwing - Bombycilla cedrorum 10
Tennessee Warbler - Vermivora peregrina 1
Nashville Warbler - Vermivora ruficapilla 20
Magnolia Warbler - Dendroica magnolia 12
Black-throated Green Warbler - Dendroica virens 1
Blackburnian Warbler - Dendroica fusca 2
Black-and-white Warbler - Mniotilta varia v2
American Redstart - Setophaga ruticilla 2
Wilson's Warbler - Wilsonia pusilla 1
Chipping Sparrow - Spizella passerina 12
Song Sparrow - Melospiza melodia 2
Northern Cardinal - Cardinalis cardinalis 12
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - Pheucticus ludovicianus 1
Indigo Bunting - Passerina cyanea 3
American Goldfinch - Carduelis tristis 6
House Sparrow - Passer domesticus 2

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)


Saturday, September 13, 2008
Report of Warbler Walk
by Paul Hunter
Lake Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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Tim Vargo and I braved the light rain and mild breeze off Lake Michigan and were rewarded by a few nice birds, including a couple hummingbirds in the jewel weeds in Locust Ravine; an olive-yellow, black-winged Scarlet Tanager near the Rustic Bridge; and near the footbridge over Ravine Road Ravine: a singing Carolina Wren and an Ovenbird uncharacteristically up in a tree. We saw no Magnificent Frigatebirds pushed up from the Gulf of Mexico by hurricanes, but we did see a dozen Caspian Terns and several hundred Ring-billed and Herring Gulls loafing on Bradford Beached, pushed in off Lake Michigan by the easterly breeze.

Number of species: 24

Mallard - Anas platyrhynchos 4
Cooper's Hawk - Accipiter cooperii 1
Ring-billed Gull - Larus delawarensis 600
Herring Gull - Larus argentatus 85
Caspian Tern - Hydroprogne caspia 12
Chimney Swift - Chaetura pelagica 4
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - Archilochus colubris 2
Downy Woodpecker - Picoides pubescens 2
Hairy Woodpecker - Picoides villosus 1
Eastern Wood-Pewee - Contopus virens 1
American Crow - Corvus brachyrhynchos 5 		Black-capped Chickadee - Poecile atricapillus 5
White-breasted Nuthatch - Sitta carolinensis 2
Carolina Wren - Thryothorus ludovicianus 1
Swainson's Thrush - Catharus ustulatus 8
American Robin - Turdus migratorius 3
Gray Catbird - Dumetella carolinensis 1
Cedar Waxwing - Bombycilla cedrorum 6
Nashville Warbler - Vermivora ruficapilla 1
American Redstart - Setophaga ruticilla 1
Ovenbird - Seiurus aurocapilla 1
Scarlet Tanager - Piranga olivacea 1
Chipping Sparrow - Spizella passerina 3
Northern Cardinal - Cardinalis cardinalis 8

Report generated by eBird.org

Saturday, September 20, 2008
Report of Warbler Walk
by Paul Hunter
Lake Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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About 20 birders enjoyed a warm sunny morning and some nice looks at warblers.
We gathered on the wooden Rustic Bridge over upper Locust Ravine.
- A Black-and-white Warbler there gave us all nice, long looks as in creep along trunks and big limbs.
- A male Black-throated Blue Warbler made a fleeting appearance and sang weakly.

At the steel bridge farther down Locust Ravine, a choke cherry laden with fruit attracted a couple dozen
- Cedar Waxwings and a handful of Swainson's Thrushes.

A flock of noisy chickadees seemed to be mobbing something near the footbridge over Ravine Road near the Pavilion (restaurant and community room). Through methodical searching and a bit of luck Bill Rumpf found a sleepy gray-phased
- Eastern Screech Owl and patiently pointed it out to everyone.

- A handful of Palm Warblers pumped there yellow-brown tails on the lawn bowling courts near the Pavilion. The area near the Wolcott statue was quiet, but on returning to the Rustic bridge we had nice long looks at the Black-throated Blue.

Jym Mooney added Wilson Warber, Common Yellowthroat, Ovenbird, Blackpoll W., Northern Parula, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Northern Flicker, Caspian Tern, Herring Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Sanderling, Cooper's Hawk, Double-crested Cormorant, Mallard

Lake Park - Locust Ravine 9/20/08
Number of species: 42

Canada Goose - Branta canadensis 2
Mallard - Anas platyrhynchos 2
Double-crested Cormorant - Phalacrocorax auritus 1
Cooper's Hawk - Accipiter cooperii 1
Sanderling - Calidris alba 2
Ring-billed Gull - Larus delawarensis 12
Herring Gull - Larus argentatus 4
Caspian Tern - Hydroprogne caspia 1
Eastern Screech-Owl - Megascops asio 1
Chimney Swift - Chaetura pelagica 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker - Melanerpes carolinus 1
Downy Woodpecker - Picoides pubescens 3
Northern Flicker - Colaptes auratus 1
Eastern Wood-Pewee - Contopus virens 1
Blue-headed Vireo - Vireo solitarius 1
Blue Jay - Cyanocitta cristata 15
American Crow - Corvus brachyrhynchos 10
Black-capped Chickadee - Poecile atricapillus 20
White-breasted Nuthatch - Sitta carolinensis 3
Carolina Wren - Thryothorus ludovicianus 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - Regulus calendula 1 		Swainson's Thrush - Catharus ustulatus 6
American Robin - Turdus migratorius 4
Gray Catbird - Dumetella carolinensis 1
Cedar Waxwing - Bombycilla cedrorum 25
Northern Parula - Parula americana 1
Chestnut-sided Warbler - Dendroica pensylvanica 1
Magnolia Warbler - Dendroica magnolia 4
Black-throated Blue Warbler - Dendroica caerulescens 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler - Dendroica coronata 1
Black-throated Green Warbler - Dendroica virens 1
Palm Warbler - Dendroica palmarum 5
Bay-breasted Warbler - Dendroica castanea 1
Blackpoll Warbler - Dendroica striata 1
Black-and-white Warbler - Mniotilta varia 3
American Redstart - Setophaga ruticilla 2
Ovenbird - Seiurus aurocapilla 1
Common Yellowthroat - Geothlypis trichas 1
Wilson's Warbler - Wilsonia pusilla 1
Chipping Sparrow - Spizella passerina 5
Northern Cardinal - Cardinalis cardinalis 3
American Goldfinch - Carduelis tristis 3

Report generated by eBird.org


Subject: Lake Park Milwaukee - what a warbler weekend!
From: Jym Mooney
Date: Sun, 21 Sep 2008

I was able to bird at Lake Park briefly Saturday AM and again for a few hours today. So many birds it was hard to know where to look! I tallied up
17 warbler species between the two days:

Tennessee,
Nashville,
northern parula,
chestnut-sided,
magnolia, 		black-throated blue,
yellow-rumped,
black-throated green,
palm,
bay-breasted,
blackpoll, 		black and white,
American redstart,
ovenbird,
Connecticut,
common yellowthroat,
Wilson's

These were all in Locust Ravine.
Near the Wolcott statue were white-throated, white-crowned, and Lincoln's sparrows. Additional fall harbingers included yellow-bellied sapsuckers (lots), both kinglets, and brown creeper. I totaled 52 species for the weekend.

Jym Mooney, Milwaukee


From: Jym Mooney
Date: September 20, 2008
Subject: FW: eBird Report - Lake Park - Locust Ravine , 9/20/08

Here's my list from this morning. It really HURT to leave. Saw two more warblers on the way to my car (parula and chestnut-sided). Also forgot to mention that I had seen a house wren in the ravine earlier. I'm looking forward to seeing the group's list for the morning!


Lake Park - Locust Ravine - 9/20/08
Number of species: 37

Canada Goose
Mallard
Double-crested Cormorant
Cooper's Hawk
Sanderling
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Caspian Tern
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker 		Eastern Wood-Pewee
Blue Jay
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
White-breasted Nuthatch
Carolina Wren
House Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Swainson's Thrush
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Cedar Waxwing
Northern Parula
Chestnut-sided Warbler 		Magnolia Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Palm Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
American Redstart
Ovenbird
Common Yellowthroat
Wilson's Warbler
Chipping Sparrow
Northern Cardinal

Report generated by eBird.org


Saturday, September 27, 2008
Report of Warbler Walk
By Dennis Casper
Lake Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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Below is the list from this morning's warbler walk. A good turnout (16), though a bit more modest than some earlier walks. Very nice day. Very enjoyable day. It was a bit quiet, but we still managed a respectable number of species (35). (Several (6) were seen by Jym Mooney before 8:30. I've noted them on the list.)


Lake Park Warbler Walk
9/27/2008, 8:30 - 11:15 a.m.
Sunny, 60-70+ degrees; 16 birders
Total Species: 35

50 Canada Goose (Jym M.)
1 American Wigeon (Jym M.)
4 Mallard (Jym M.)
1 Double-crested Cormorant (Jym. M.)
1 Killdeer
12 Chimney Swift
1 Red-bellied Woodpecker
3 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 		4 Downy Woodpecker
2 Hairy Woodpecker
2 Blue Jay
2 American Crow
40 Black-capped Chickadee
6 White-breasted Nuthatch
3 Brown Creeper
1 Winter Wren (Jym M.)
1 Carolina Wren
2 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
1 Veery
1 Gray-cheeked Thrush (Jym M.)
5 Swainson's Thrush 		6 American Robin
20 Cedar Waxwing
3 Nashville Warbler
1 Northern Parula
1 Magnolia Warbler
4 Yellow-rumped Warbler
1 Blackburnian Warbler
1 Common Yellowthroat
10 Chipping Sparrow
30 White-throated Sparrow
4 White-crowned Sparrow
9 Dark-eyed Junco
8 Northern Cardinal
3 American Goldfinch




Saturday, October 11, 2008
Report of Duck Watch
By Paul Hunter
Lake Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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Lake Park - Duck Watch - 10/11/08

The first Duck Watch of the season at Lake Park in Milwaukee turned out to be mostly a pleasant walk in the sunshine. If anything it was more of a Sparrow Stalk.
Todd Wilson tipped us off to the location of the Harris's Sparrow in the hedge between the water filtration plant and the soccer field near the shore of Lake Michigan in Lake Park.
After 15-20 minutes of cautious pursuit we got definitive, but disappointingly brief glimpses at the clear lower belly, dark upper belly, and large pink bill.
The Lincoln's Sparrow skulked in the shadows near the feeder at the Wolcott statue.

Lake Park - Duck Watch - 10/11/08
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Number of people in party: 10

15 Canada Goose
5 Mallard
24 Double-crested Cormorant
8 Ring-billed Gull 		6 Herring Gull
4 Downy Woodpecker
4 American Crow
8 Black-capped Chickadee
5 White-breasted Nuthatch
1 Brown Creeper
6 Golden-crowned Kinglet 		1 Chipping Sparrow
1 Lincoln's Sparrow
1 Harris's Sparrow **
2 Northern Cardinal
2 House Finch
1 American Goldfinch

Total species reported: 17




Saturday, November 8, 2008
Report of Duck Watch
By Paul Hunter
Lake Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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Lake Park - Duck Watch - 11/8/08

. . The second Duck Watch of the season at Lake Park in Milwaukee featured ducks and cold, gray, ducky weather for a change. We kept our eyes open for the 2 Cave Swallows reported an hour earlier at Concordia Univerity in Mequon, and searched for the Snowy Owl that John Idzikowski reported at McKinley Marina the day before, but missed both.

. . We had one exciting sighting. A flock of ten Black Scoters showed off thier cute, light cheek patches before paddling out from a flock of Buffleheads close to shore and then flew low to the water in a two large circles before settling down. Also interesting was one Double-breasted Cormorant, which seemed to be late in the season.

. . Along the shore of Lake Michigan in Lake Park we had a nice introduction to some common species. Three American Black Ducks gave us close looks to compare their yellower bills, oranger legs and darker bodies to there close cousins female Mallards. The slim, gray-brown, black-reared, high-foreheaded Gadwalls also gave us up close looks.
Bradford Beach - North Point
Observation date: 11/8/08
Number of species: 10

30 Canada Goose
10 Gadwall
3 American Black Duck
 20 Mallard
40 Greater Scaup
60 Bufflehead
1 Double-crested Cormorant
10 Ring-billed Gull
10 Herring Gull
1 American Crow
 McKinley Marina - 11/8/08
Number of species: 4

3 Mallard
100 American Coot
5 Ring-billed Gull
5 Herring Gull



Saturday, December 6, 2008
Report of Duck Watch
By Paul Hunter
Lake Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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- The Duck Watchers on Saturday, December 6, 2008 popped in and out of their cars to stay warm.
- At Lake Park an elegant male Pintail displayed his feathery finery up close among the dozens of Mallards and a few American Black Ducks.
- A large raft of scaup bobbed in the waves off Bradford Beach as we drove toward the marina at South Shore Park.
- Three handsome male Hooded Mergansers lurked under the docks at the marina.
- Near the Coast Guard station tuxedo-plumaged Common Mergansers patrolled and gray-sided Redhead slumbered.
- North of the Coast Guard and south of Petroleum Pier a large loose flock of mixed ducks mainly loafed, rather than sleeping or diving, in the relative calm water in the lee of the Hoan Bridge.
- Two Ruddy Ducks were among the closest ducks of another large loose raft in the similarly calm waters near the Milwaukee Art Museum.

--- Paul Hunter, http://home.roadrunner.com/~phunter1/lakeparkbirds.html
=====================================================
Location: Bradford Beach - North Point, Observation date: 12/6/08
Notes: Lake Park Duck Watch: Todd Wilson, Dolores Knopfelmacher, Jim and Carol Habeck, Judith Huf, Dennis Casper, Paul Hunter
Number of species: 14
Canada Goose - 40, Gadwall - 15, American Wigeon - 2, American Black Duck - 4, Mallard - 50, Northern Pintail - 1, Greater Scaup - 2000, Bufflehead - 150, Common Goldeneye - 400, Common Merganser - 2, Red-breasted Merganser - 3, Ring-billed Gull - 20, Herring Gull - 10, Black-capped Chickadee - 1
=====================================================
Location: South Shore Yacht Club, Observation date: 12/6/08
Notes: Lake Park Duck Watch: Habecks, Judith Huf, Dennis Casper, Paul Hunter
Number of species: 11
Canada Goose - 40, American Black Duck - 4, Mallard - 60, Lesser Scaup - 20, Bufflehead - 10, Common Goldeneye - 40, Hooded Merganser - 3, Common Merganser - 30, Ring-billed Gull - 80, Herring Gull - 100, Rock Pigeon - 40
=====================================================
Location: Milwaukee Coast Guard Impoundment, Observation date: 12/6/08
Notes: Lake Park Duck Watch: Habecks, Judith Huf, Dennis Casper, Paul Hunter
Number of species: 5
Mallard - 6, Redhead - 6, Greater Scaup - 20, Common Merganser - 20, American Coot - 8
=====================================================
Location: Petroleum Pier, Observation date: 12/6/08
Notes: Lake Park Duck Watch: Judith Huf, Dennis Casper, Paul Hunter
Number of species: 6
American Black Duck - 2, Mallard - 100, Greater Scaup - 1000, Bufflehead - 40,, Common Goldeneye - 300, Common Merganser - 30
=====================================================
Location: Milwaukee Art Museum, Observation date: 12/6/08
Notes: Lake Park Duck Watch: Dennis Casper, Paul Hunter
Number of species: 8
Canada Goose - 150, Mallard - 12, Greater Scaup - 300, Bufflehead - 20, Common Goldeneye - 200, Common Merganser - 20, Ruddy Duck - 2, American Coot - 16

This report was generated by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) This report was generated automatically by eBird v2 (http://ebird.org)--- Paul Hunter

  • Christmas Bird Count 2008 . . . December 20

    From: Doloresknopfel@aol.com
    Date: December 21, 2008 10:41:17 AM CST

    Here are the Lake Park totals we reported to Schlitz:
    Greater Scaup - 140 - on lake
    Bufflehead - 50
    Cooper's Hawk - 1
    Red-Tailed Hawk - 1 (seen by Todd)
    Ring-Billed Gull - 22
    Herring Gull - 6
    Great Horned Owl - 1 (heard by Paul)
    Red-Bellied Woodpecker - 1
    Downy Woodpecker - 7
    Hairy Woodpecker - 1
    Black-Capped Chickadee - 29
    White-Breasted Nuthatch - 6
    Carolina Wren - 1 (seen by Todd. We also met another man who said he saw one;both were near the Locust Street Ravine, so we counted just one)
    Dark-eyed Junco - 8
    Northern Cardinal - 12
    House Finch - 6
    American Goldfinch - 3
    House Sparrow - 87