Hotline Reports
| 2000 Madison Hotline Reports |
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* Wisconsin * Madison * 30 December 2000 * WIMA0012.30 BIRDS MENTIONED- Bald Eagle Hooded Merganser Ruddy Duck Northern Shoveler Great Blue Heron Common Snipe Northern Saw-whet Owl Hermit Thrush Eastern Towhee Merlin Wild Turkey Great Horned Owl American Goldfinch Snow Bunting Lapland Longspur Horned Lark Rough-legged Hawk LOCATIONS MENTIONED- Sauk City Elks Club, Madison Baraboo CBC area Hartford CBC area Goose Pond Sanctuary area Black Earth This is the birding hotline report of the Madison Audubon Society for Saturday, December 30th. The report is somewhat incomplete due to the transcriber being jet-lagged and therefore not retrieving all of it before the new transcript was put on the phone. Here is what was retrieved. We have had a record snowfall for December, and at least 2 Christmas bird counts (CBCs) were down in numbers due to the lack of open water. BALD EAGLES, however, have concentrated at Sauk City, and at least 100 were reported this past week. Further south, in the Quad Cities, over 160 BALD EAGLES were concentrated, and the CBC in Burlington, IA, reported over 1,000 BALD EAGLES in its count. On December 26th, a birder visited the MG&E warm water discharge area near the Elks Club on Lake Monona and reported 6 HOODED MERGANSERS, 1 RUDDY DUCK, and over 100 NORTHERN SHOVELERS. The December 27th Baraboo CBC totaled 53 species in all, and among the more unusual birds were: a GREAT BLUE HERON, 4 COMMON SNIPE, a NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL, a HERMIT THRUSH, an EASTERN TOWHEE, and a MERLIN. Among the highlights of the Hartford CBC, also on the 27th, were record numbers of WILD TURKEYS, GREAT HORNED OWLS, and AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES. A visitor to Goose Pond on the 26th found SNOW BUNTINGS, HORNED LARKS, LAPLAND LONGSPURS, and a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK. Then at Black Earth, this observer found a male EASTERN TOWHEE. * * * * * * * * * * * * The WSO Hotline, as of Monday, December 25th, is reporting a Northern Hawk Owl in Phelps, WI, in Vilas County; a Townsend's Solitaire in Kewaunee County; and Snowy Owls around the state, including in Milwaukee. For more information, please call the hotline. There have also been reports of a Gyrfalcon in the Duluth/Superior area, and a Barrow's Goldeneye. * Wisconsin * Madison * 16 December 2000 * WIMA0012.16 BIRDS MENTIONED- EARED GREBE (possible) Mallard Gadwall American Wigeon Northern Shoveler Canvasback Bufflehead Common Merganser Ruddy Duck American Coot Canada Goose Tundra Swan TRUMPETER SWAN Bald Eagle Chipping Sparrow Ring-necked Duck GRAY PARTRIDGE Rough-legged Hawk Merlin Snow Bunting Lapland Longspur Horned Lark American Robin Hermit Thrush Snow Goose (Blue phase) Hooded Merganser Mute Swan LOCATIONS MENTIONED- Yahara Park, Lake Monona Upper Mud Lake Lake Waubesa Maple Bluff, Lake Mendota Marshall Park Goose Pond Sanctuary area University Bay Lake Mendota, west side Elks Club, Lake Monona Owen Park This is the birding hotline report of the Madison Audubon Society for Saturday, December 16th. So much has changed, what with two snowstorms and the lakes freezing over since last report, that last week's sightings are probably long gone by now. But here they are: On Friday, the 8th, a birder found two grebes at Yahara Park, where the Yahara River flows into Lake Monona. These were possibly EARED GREBES, which are unusual in Dane County at any time, but especially this late in the season. At other waterfowl spots around Lake Monona, Upper Mud Lake, and Lake Waubesa the same person found MALLARDS, GADWALLS, an AMERICAN WIGEON, NORTHERN SHOVELERS, CANVASBACKS, BUFFLEHEADS, COMMON MERGANSERS, RUDDY DUCKS, AMERICAN COOTS, CANADA GEESE, a flock of 26 swans - mostly TUNDRA SWANS, but two appeared to be TRUMPETER SWANS, - and an immature BALD EAGLE. Another birder checked Yahara Park later in the day, but found only RED-NECKED GREBES there. A CHIPPING SPARROW was reported at a feeder on Saturday. Chipping Sparrows are very rare in Wisconsin during the winter, and are usually replaced this time of year by the more northerly American Tree Sparrow. A different observer saw a flock of 30 or 40 TUNDRA SWANS off Fuller's Woods, Maple Bluff, on Lake Mendota, on Saturday. On Sunday, the 10th, an observer watched an adult BALD EAGLE hunting AMERICAN COOTS at Marshall Park on the west end of Lake Mendota. There were also about a dozen COMMON MERGANSERS there, and a RING-NECKED DUCK, among other species. Later, this person birded north of Madison, in the vicinity of Madison Audubon's Goose Pond Sanctuary near Arlington. He did not find any Short-eared Owl, but did watch a flock of about 6 GRAY PARTRIDGES near the railroad tracks on County K by the UW Beef Farm. He also found a dark phase ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, a MERLIN, and a large flock of about 500 mostly SNOW BUNTINGS, with a few LAPLAND LONGSPURS and HORNED LARKS. Another birder spotted a mature BALD EAGLE in University Bay on Sunday. She also reported lots of COMMON MERGANSERS and 8 TUNDRA SWANS at the west end of Lake Mendota on Saturday. One reporter had an AMERICAN ROBIN coming to her feeding area near the west end of Old Sauk Road on Tuesday, the12th. Also on Tuesday, another birder found a HERMIT THRUSH at the end of Baker Avenue near Lake Mendota. And a different reporter says there was a Blue-phase SNOW GOOSE sighted at Yahara Park on Tuesday. On Friday, the 15th, this reporter said with the lakes frozen over, the warm water outflow near the Elks Club on Lake Monona is now an excellent spot for waterfowl. He found 8 species of ducks there, including about 200 NORTHERN SHOVELERS, dozens of GADWALLS, a few COMMON and HOODED MERGANSERS, and also a pair of MUTE SWANS. The only report we have heard so far about the Madison Christmas Bird Count, which is ongoing today, the 16th, is that a HERMIT THRUSH and a good flock of AMERICAN ROBINS were seen in Owen Park on the west side of Madison. * * * * * * * * * * * * * The Wisconsin Society for Ornithology hotline, in Milwaukee, as of Friday, the 9th, is reporting: the Great Gray Owl in Winnebago County, Harlequin Duck and Scoters in Milwaukee, a flock of 12-15 Short-eared Owls in Calumet County, Snowy Owls in Milwaukee and Sheboygan Counties, and Bohemian Waxwings in Stevens Point. For details, call the WSO hotline at 414-352-3857. * * * * * * * * * * * * * The next Madison Audubon field trip will be a sunrise trip on January 1st at Faville Grove Sanctuary, north of Lake Mills. Details later. * * * * * * * * * * * * * Please note that there will be no postings of the Madison Audubon hotline to the internet again until January 10th, when the transcribers return from a birding trip. In the interim, please call the hotline directly for the most recent sightings. * Wisconsin * Madison * 08 December 2000 * WIMA0012.08 BIRDS MENTIONED- Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon) Northern Shrike Tundra Swan LOCATIONS MENTIONED- Middleton Lake Mendota This is the birding hotline report of the Madison Audubon Society for Friday, December 8th. A Oregon-subspecies DARK-EYED JUNCO was seen at a feeder recently in Middleton. A NORTHERN SHRIKE was reported in the area, no specific location. On the 5th, a caller reported TUNDRA SWANS flying over Lake Mendota * * * * * * * * * * * * The WSO Hotline in Milwaukee, (414) 352-3857, as of December 2nd was reporting, among other birds, a Purple Sandpiper in Milwaukee * Wisconsin * Madison * 03 December 2000 * WIMA0012.03 BIRDS MENTIONED- SNOWY OWL Hooded Merganser Common Goldeneye ROSS'S GOOSE Peregrine Falcon Rough-legged Hawk Horned Lark American Tree Sparrow Red-necked Grebe Great Blue Heron Great Horned Owl Pine Siskin White-throated Sparrow American Black Duck Fox Sparrow Killdeer Northern Shrike EARED GREBE Common Loon Northern Harrier LOCATIONS MENTIONED- Park & Johnson Sts, Madison Spring Harbor, Lake Mendota Monterey Park, Janesville Eagle Heights Gardens Governor Nelson State Park Arlington Farms, Columbia County University Bay Honeeum Pond, UW Arboretum 9 Springs Wildlife Area Warner Park beach This is the birding hotline report of the Madison Audubon Society for Sunday, December 3rd. The highlight this week is the SNOWY OWL that was reported flying south down Park Street at 9:45 p.m. on the 22nd, near the intersection of Park and Johnson. On Thanksgiving Day, November 23rd, a couple reported several HOODED MERGANSERS and a COMMON GOLDENEYE at Spring Harbor. A ROSS'S GOOSE was reported at Monterey Park in Janesville on the 24th. Two mature PEREGRINE FALCONS were spotted flying high over Eagle Heights Gardens on the 23rd. Then, between Governor Nelson State Park and the Arlington Farms in Columbia County, the same observer saw at least 7 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS. He returned to the same area the next day and saw flocks of HORNED LARKS and AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS near Arlington Farms and more ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS, including 4 at Governor Nelson State Park. A probable RED-NECKED GREBE was seen in the middle of University Bay on the 26th. A visitor to Honeeum Pond of the UW Arboretum on the 30th found a GREAT BLUE HERON, a GREAT HORNED OWL, a PINE SISKIN, WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS, a FOX SPARROW, and 4 species of duck, including an AMERICAN BLACK DUCK. An observer at 9 Springs Wildlife Area on Saturday, the 2nd, found a KILLDEER, a NORTHERN SHRIKE, and a GREAT BLUE HERON. Also on the 2nd, the Madison Audubon trip found an EARED GREBE at the Warner Park beach. Reported at Governor Nelson State Park on the 3rd were 2 COMMON LOONS, a NORTHERN SHRIKE, and an immature NORTHERN HARRIER. * * * * * * * * * * * * The WSO hotline in Milwaukee, (414) 352-3857, as of December 2nd was reporting a Purple Sandpiper, Mew Gull, and 2 Snowy Owls in Milwaukee, and a Barrow's Goldeneye at Virmond Park. * Wisconsin * Madison * 17 November 2000 * WIMA0011.17 BIRDS MENTIONED- TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE Common Goldeneye Tundra Swan Canada Goose Snow Goose LOCATIONS MENTIONED- Devil's Lake State Park Lake Mendota, near Tenney Park Goose Pond Sanctuary This is the birding hotline report of the MADISON AUDUBON SOCIETY for Friday, November 17th. Highlights this week are the TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRES still being seen at Devil's Lake State Park. Two birds were last reported on Sunday, November 12th, both on top of the south bluff, one near Devil's Doorway, and the other near Darcy's Buttress. They like to hang out near the cedar trees. On Tuesday, the 14th, a flock of COMMON GOLDENEYES was reported on Lake Mendota near Tenney Park. Also on the 14th, the resident naturalists at Goose Pond reported 540 TUNDRA SWANS plus lots of CANADA GEESE and both white-phase and blue-phase SNOW GEESE. To reach Goose Pond, take Highway 51 north from Madison into Columbia County. Turn west (left) on County K. After 2 miles turn right on Goose Pond Road. Then turn left over the hill on Prairie Lane into the entrance to the Sanctuary. * * * * * * * * * * * * The WSO hotline in Milwaukee, (414) 352-3857, as of Sunday, the 12th, is reporting the White-faced Ibis at Horicon Marsh; an American Avocet and Short-eared Owls at the Coast Guard Impoundment in Milwaukee; Mew, Greater Black-backed, and Thayer's Gulls on the shoreline, and Harlequin Ducks on Lake Michigan. Please call the hotline for details. * * * * * * * * * * * * The Wisconsin Birding Network, WisBirdN, is reporting also a Barrow's Goldeneye at Virmond Park in Ozaukee County and a Snowy Owl in western Marathon County. * * * * * * * * * * * * The next Madison Audubon Society field trip is Saturday, December 2nd, the Madison Lakes field trip. Meet to carpool by 7:30 a.m. at UW's lot 60 on Walnut Street. The trip will last about 4 hours. Bring a scope if you have one, and remember to dress warmly. If you have any questions about the trip, please call Al at 825-6232. Get ready for the 101st Christmas Bird Count coming up in 5 different areas near Madison on single days between December 16th and December 30th. All counts are open to birders of any skill level. If you'd like to participate, please check the Madison CAWS for details. Good Birding! * Wisconsin * Madison * 08 November 2000 * WIMA0011.08 BIRDS MENTIONED- TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE LOCATIONS MENTIONED- Devil's Lake State Park This is the birding hotline report of the MADISON AUDUBON SOCIETY for Wednesday, November 8th. We've had very few reports, so the TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE at the Dells is the only news to discuss. Which is just as well since we are still adjusting our hotline equipment and can only give out a brief message at present. One birder saw at least one of the Solitaires at the top of the South Bluff at Devil's Lake State Park as recently as Saturday, November 4th. Another birder saw possibly the two birds on Sunday, the 5th, but they were at the base of the South Bluff. And just before the weather got really unfriendly on Monday, the 6th, another birder found one of the birds along the Grotto and or Pothole Trails at the base of the bluff. The surmise is that they might hang out at the lower sites to get out of the wind, even though their food trees, the Eastern Red Cedars, grow at the top of the bluff. The Townsend's Solitaire is a thrush relative of the western mountains which appears as a rare, but regular, vagrant in Wisconsin and other eastern states wherever there is an abundant crop of food, particularly Red Cedar berries. Birds generally appear in the late fall and some may stay through much of the winter. The Wisconsin Society for Ornithology hotline, in Milwaukee, as of Monday, the 6th, is reporting: the Solitaires at Devil's Lake State Park; a Barn Owl and Short-eared Owls at the Milwaukee Coast Guard impoundment; a Western Grebe, Red-throated Loons, and Scoters at Cleveland in Manitowoc County; the possible White-faced Ibis at Horicon Marsh; Harlequin ducks at Harrington Beach State Park and at Virmond Park in Ozaukee County; and a Rufous Hummingbird in Neenah in Winnebago County. For details, call the WSO hotline at 414-352-3857. The next Madison Audubon field trip will be on Saturday, November 11th. Carol Anderson and Tony Kalenic will try potluck birding, with the destination determined by current sightings. Meet in the parking lot of the Cub Foods store near Highway 51 and Highway 30 at 6:30 AM. The trip should last well into the afternoon. To find out the destination ahead of time, or ask questions, call Carol and Tony at 249-8836. Good birding! * Wisconsin * Madison * 1 November 2000 * WIMA0011.01 BIRDS MENTIONED- FORK-TAILED FLYCATCHER Short-eared Owl Red-shouldered Hawk Blue-winged Teal Northern Shrike Eastern Bluebird NORTHERN GOSHAWK (possible) Rough-legged Hawk Double-crested Cormorant Horned Grebe Greater Yellowlegs WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER American Golden Plover LOCATIONS MENTIONED- Patrick's Marsh, Sun Prairie Daleyville Picnic Point Cherokee Marsh Monona Bay 9 Springs Wildlife Area This is the birding hotline report of the Madison Audubon Society for Wednesday, November 1st. The FORK-TAILED FLYCATCHER was still seen at Patrick Marsh on October 31st until the afternoon. Patrick Marsh is northeast of Sun Prairie on Stone Quarry Road parallel to Highway 151. Walk the trail from the parking lot. The bird is sometimes in the first trees or along the trail going to the right near the cornfield or in the cornfield to the right. If you have any further sightings of this bird, please report them. Four SHORT-EARED OWLS were reported near Daleyville off Highway 78 on the 25th. An adult RED-SHOULDERED HAWK was spotted at Picnic Point on October 25th. Four BLUE-WINGED TEAL were also seen there. The same observer went to Cherokee Marsh on the 27th and reported seeing a NORTHERN SHRIKE, 22 EASTERN BLUEBIRDS flying over, and a possible NORTHERN GOSHAWK. On the 29th, he went to Brooklyn Wildlife Area and observed a NORTHERN SHRIKE and a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK. After that, he found 4 DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS and a HORNED GREBE on Monona Bay. On November 1st, finally, he visited 9 Springs Wildlife Area, finding a GREATER YELLOWLEGS, a WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER, and an AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER. He also saw 10 species of butterfly on the 1st, primarily at Olbrich Gardens. * Wisconsin * Madison * October 30, 2000 * WIMA0010.30 BIRDS MENTIONED- FORK-TAILED FLYCATCHER LOCATION MENTIONED- Patrick's Marsh, Sun Prairie This is a second update of the birding hotline report of the Madison Audubon Society for Monday, October 30th. The FORK-TAILED FLYCATCHER (probably an immature bird) is still being seen at Patrick's Marsh, near Sun Prairie off Stone Quarry Rd. Directions for Patrick's Marsh are as follows: Patrick's Marsh is just NE of Sun Prairie off Highway 151, the pond/lake at the edge of 151 just NE of town. Directions from Madison are: take Hwy 151 north; take the Bristol St exit, go north under 151 and take first right (Wilburn?) and go around the "Road Closed" sign. At the next intersection, go right (Columbus St.) and under 151 again, then left on Stone Quarry Road. This is the "frontage road" that parallels 151. Patrick's Marsh parking lot is on the right just over a rise. Go south on the path from the parking lot (the only path). The birds has been seen among the bushes to the left as one approaches the trees, in the trees, and, primarily, in the cornfield to the right of the path. There is a path to a corner of the cornfield just before the path enters the trees. Good Birding! * Wisconsin * Madison * 28 October 2000 * WIMA0010.28 BIRDS MENTIONED- FORK-TAILED FLYCATCHER LOCATION MENTIONED- Patrick's Marsh, Sun Prairie This is a special update of the birding hotline report of the Madison Audubon Society for Saturday, October 28th. This morning at 8 a.m. an adult FORK-TAILED FLYCATCHER was located at Patrick's Marsh, just NE of Sun Prairie off Stone Quarry Rd. It was at the west end of the marsh, either S or N or Stone Quarry Rd, in an oak tree by the parking lot. The rest of the Madison hotline report will follow later this weekend. * Wisconsin * Madison * 20 October 2000 * WIMA0010.20 BIRDS MENTIONED- White-crowned Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Eastern Towhee Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon Race) Song Sparrow Swamp Sparrow Yellow-rumped Warbler Palm Warbler Catbird House Wren Hermit Thrush Ruby-crowned Kinglet Golden-crowned Kinglet Fox Sparrow Indigo Bunting Least Sandpiper Long-billed Dowitcher Tennessee Warbler Orange-crowned Warbler Red-breasted Nuthatch Purple Finch Pine Siskin Double-crested Cormorant Field Sparrow Lincoln's Sparrow Shrike (probably a Northern Shrike) Peregrine Falcon American Crow LOCATIONS MENTIONED- Middleton 9 Springs Natural Area Olin-Turville Point Park Eagle Heights Gardens Governor's Island Picnic Point Cherokee Marsh Camp Randall Stadium 409 E. Main St area This is the birding hotline report of the Madison Audubon Society for Friday, October 20th. Thanks to all of you who left bird sightings even though the recording of last week's sightings was eaten up by our answering machine. On Sunday, October 15th, 2 birders found a WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW and several WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS in their Middleton backyard. Present also were a pair of EASTERN TOWHEES. Another observer reported finding a DARK-EYED JUNCO of the Oregon Race at 9 Springs Natural Area on Sunday, the 15th. He found the bird along with many SONG SPARROWS and SWAMP SPARROWS where the left path goes around the cattail marsh. A visitor at Olin-Turville Point Park on the 18th, near the edge of the prairie area, found 2 dozen YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, a PALM WARBLER, a CATBIRD, a HOUSE WREN, 4 HERMIT THRUSHES, RUBY-CROWNED and GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS, and several FOX and LINCOLN SPARROWS. Another reported called in several sightings around Madison this past week. At the Eagle Heights Gardens, off Picnic Point, he found an INDIGO BUNTING on the 17th. The same day, he also went to 9 Springs Natural Area and found 8 species of shorebirds, including a LEAST SANDPIPER and 2 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS. At Governor's Island on the 18th, he spotted 4 species of warblers, including a TENNESSEE WARBLER and 2 ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS. In addition, a PINE SISKIN was seen there. He also noted an apparently recent influx of RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES and PURPLE FINCHES around the Madison area, primarily found at Picnic Point and Governor's Island. Then, on the 19th, he spotted 3 DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS on the river at Cherokee Marsh, and found 7 species of sparrows, including FIELD and LINCOLN'S SPARROWS. He also watched a SHRIKE (probably a Northern Shrike) at Cherokee Marsh, the first he's seen this season. A caller, finally, reported seeing a PEREGRINE FALCON over Camp Randall Stadium on the morning of the 20th, that was being chased by about 10 AMERICAN CROWS. He also noted that a COOPER'S HAWK has been hanging around the area of 409 E. Main St. for the past 2 days. * * * * * * * * * * * * The WSO Hotline in Milwaukee, (414) 352-3857, has not been updated recently. Please call the hotline for the most recent update. * * * * * * * * * * * * The next Madison Audubon Society field trip will be Saturday, October 28th Birding the Lake Michigan Shoreline. Bring a lunch and dress for possible damp, cool weather. Meet to carpool at the middle of the parking lot of the East-side Cub Foods by 6:30 a.m. The group will return to Cub Foods sometime between 4:30 and 6:00 p.m. If you have questions, please call Carol or Tony at 249-8836. Good Birding! * Wisconsin * Madison * 12 October 2000 * WIMA0010.12 BIRDS MENTIONED- Black Duck Northern Pintail Snow Goose (Blue-phase) Canada Goose American Golden Plover Northern Harrier Hermit Thrush Winter Wren Brown Creeper Fox Sparrow Swainson's Thrush Grasshopper Sparrow Lincoln's Sparrow Field Sparrow Sora Great Horned Owl Eastern Screech Owl Philadelphia Vireo Ruddy Duck LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL Gadwall American Wigeon Northern Shoveler Green-winged Teal Wood Duck Orange-crowned Warbler Tennessee Warbler Nashville Warbler American Redstart Yellow-billed Cuckoo Blue-headed Vireo Redhead Common Loon Short-eared Owl Lapland Longspur FRANKLIN'S GULL American Pipit Rusty Blackbird Long-billed Dowitcher LOCATIONS MENTIONED- Goose Pond Sanctuary Odana Marsh Cherokee Marsh Honeeum area of UW Arboretum Tiedeman's Pond, Middleton Chi-Chi's on Grand Canyon Drive, Madison Class of 1918 Marsh Frautschi Point Eagle Heights Gardens Turville Point Monona Bay near the Convention Center Milwaukee Coast Guard Impoundment 9 Springs Wildlife Area This is the birding hotline report of the Madison Audubon Society for Thursday, October 12th. The recent cold front that has moved in has brought a number of migrating waterfowl into our area. Highlights include Blue Goose and other ducks. At Goose Pond's Prairies Jubilee this past Sunday, October 8th, 10 species of ducks were seen, including BLACK DUCK and NORTHERN PINTAIL. A lone blue-phase SNOW GOOSE was seen among the hundreds of CANADA GEESE at Goose Pond. In addition, about 50 AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVERS were spooked by the resident NORTHERN HARRIER. A number of thrushes have been seen this past week, including a HERMIT THRUSH reported at Odana Marsh on Friday, the 6th. The observer also reported finding a WINTER WREN, 2 BROWN CREEPERS, and a FOX SPARROW there. On Sunday, the 8th, a SWAINSON'S THRUSH was spotted at Cherokee Marsh. The reporter also found a GRASSHOPPER SPARROW, a LINCOLN'S SPARROW, a FIELD SPARROW, a SORA, and calling GREAT HORNED and EASTERN SCREECH OWLS. Also on Sunday, an observer found a PHILADELPHIA VIREO at the Honeeum Pond area of the UW Arboretum. A RUDDY DUCK was seen at Tiedeman's Pond on the 8th. Then the observer found the LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL in the Chi-Chi's parking lot off Grand Canyon Drive near the soccer fields on Madison's west side. On Monday, the 9th, a birder at the Class of 1918 Marsh near Picnic Point found 2 adult CANVASBACKS, 2 NORTHERN PINTAILS, 1 RUDDY DUCK, 40 GADWALLS, 20 AMERICAN WIGEONS, 30 NORTHERN SHOVELERS, 6 GREEN-WINGED TEAL, 8 WOOD DUCKS, and 1 SORA. Then at Frautschi Point, she found a FOX SPARROW, a HERMIT THRUSH, an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, a TENNESSEE WARBLER, a NASHVILLE WARBLER, and an AMERICAN REDSTART. She also spotted a LINCOLN'S SPARROW at the Eagle Heights Gardens. One observer reported his latest sighting ever of a YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO at Cherokee Marsh on Monday, the 9th. On the 10th, he visited Turville Point and the UW Arboretum and found a LINCOLN'S SPARROW, an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, and a BLUE-HEADED VIREO. Then, on Monona Bay near the Convention Center, he found 30 GADWALLS, 20 NORTHERN SHOVELERS, a REDHEAD, and 1 COMMON LOON. A report off the Wisconsin Bird Net noted that 4 SHORT-EARED OWLS and a flock of LAPLAND LONGSPURS were seen at Milwaukee's Coast Guard Impoundment on Wednesday, the 11th. On Thursday, the 12th, 2 birders at 9 Springs Wildlife Area (same 9 Springs, new name) spotted a FRANKLIN'S GULL, 5 AMERICAN PIPITS, 1 RUSTY BLACKBIRD, and 3 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS. * * * * * * * * * * * * The WSO Hotline in Milwaukee, (414) 352-3857, as of Thursday, the 5th, was reporting a Ross's Goose, the Lesser Black-Backed Gull in Madison, and a Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow. An update to the hotline is expected soon. Please call the hotline for details and updates. * * * * * * * * * * * * The Madison Audubon Society is sponsoring 2 field trips this weekend: 1) Saturday, the 14th Mushroom Meander. A mushroom walk at Blackhawk Ridge, 18 miles NW of Madison. Meet to carpool at the Middleton Kohls at Century Ave and Allen Blvd by 10 a.m. Or, meet the group at 10:30 a.m. at Blackhawk Ridge. To get to Blackhawk Ridge, take Highway 12 north out of Madison to County Highway Y. Go west on Y to Highway 78. Go south on 78 about a half mile to the parking area on the left. Please bring binoculars and a hand lens if you have one. The walk may extend into the early afternoon, so you may want to bring a light lunch. If you have any questions about the trip, please call Diane at 258-9140. 2) Sunday, the 15th Ecology of the Baraboo Hills. This is a tour of the newly acquired Aldo Leopold Foundation Potter Preserve, and will last about 3 hours. Meet to carpool by 8 a.m. at the Middleton Kohls or at 9 a.m. at the Potter Preserve. Bring a lunch if you wish for an optional picnic at the end of the trip. If you have questions, please call Mike at (608) 544-5501. * Wisconsin * Madison * 07 October 2000 * WIMA0010.07 BIRDS MENTIONED- White-throated Sparrow Blackburnian Warbler Wood Duck American Wigeon Cooper's Hawk Red-breasted Nuthatch Osprey Red-tailed Hawk Turkey Vulture Peregrine Falcon Long-billed Dowitcher Caspian Tern Semipalmated Plover SURF SCOTER Green-winged Teal Sharp-shinned Hawk Marsh Wren LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL Black-throated Blue Warbler Black-bellied Plover Greater Yellowlegs Cliff Swallow Northern Rough-winged Swallow Magnolia Warbler Orange-crowned Warbler Green Heron Belted Kingfisher Yellow-rumped Warbler Eastern Wood Pewee Yellow-billed Cuckoo Scarlet Tanager Indigo Bunting Dark-eyed Junco White-crowned Sparrow Lincoln's Sparrow Fox Sparrow Tufted Titmouse Pine Siskin Nashville Warbler Tennessee Warbler Pine Warbler American Redstart Eastern Bluebird Eastern Towhee Sora Palm Warbler Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Hermit Thrush (possible) Field Sparrow HARRIS'S SPARROW Purple Finch Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (probable) Clay-colored Sparrow Ruby-crowned Kinglet Golden-crowned Kinglet Common Yellowthroat Brown Creeper LOCATIONS MENTIONED- Picnic Point Class of 1918 Marsh Nine Springs Sewage Plant Mud Lake Wildlife Area Odana Marsh Stricker's Pond, Middleton Edna Tyler Park UW Arboretum MATC Campus, Madison Turville Point, Lake Monona This is the birding hotline report of the MADISON AUDUBON SOCIETY for Saturday, October 7th. The sparrow migration, and the return of the Lesser Black-backed Gull top the past week's sightings. On Thursday, the 28th, an observer went to Picnic Point, on the west end of the University campus. Highlights included numerous WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS, a few warblers including a BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER, WOOD DUCKS and AMERICAN WIGEON on the nearby Class of 1918 Marsh, a COOPER'S HAWK, and his first RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES of the fall. Another birder saw a nice movement of raptors in vicinity of the Nine Springs holding ponds south of South Towne on the afternoon of Friday, the 29th. His list included an OSPREY, 6 or 8 RED-TAILED HAWKS, a COOPER'S HAWK, 3 TURKEY VULTURES, and one or perhaps two PEREGRINE FALCONS; as well as LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, a CASPIAN TERN, a SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, and a SURF SCOTER. The same day, another observer counted more than 70 TURKEY VULTURES at the Mud Lake Wildlife Area east of Poynette on Friday afternoon. And also on Friday, a birder found GREEN-WINGED TEAL, a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, and two MARSH WRENS at the Odana Marsh, beside the Odana Golf Course. The LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was spotted on Stricker's Pond in Middleton on Saturday afternoon, the 30th. It seems almost certain that this is the same bird which has over-wintered for at least part of the season in the Madison area since December of 1993. Lesser Black-backed Gulls are a European species which has been expanding its range to Greenland and the eastern seaboard and Great Lakes over the past 50 years. It was first seen in Wisconsin in 1980. This year's arrival date is the second earliest fall arrival date for Wisconsin on record. Wisconsin Society for Ornithology record keeper Bob Domagalski says, this bird "has become one of the most noted birds in Wisconsin birding history." If the bird follows its previous habits it should be found either on Tiedemann's or Stricker's Ponds in Middleton, at the soccer fields just east of the West Town Mall, or on the west end of Lake Mendota for the next several weeks. Also on Saturday, an observer found eleven species of warblers, including a male BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER, at Picnic Point. On Sunday, the 1st, he birded the Nine Springs area, finding the female SURF SCOTER and 8 other duck species; 10 species of shorebirds including BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, and GREATER YELLOWLEGS; and 4 species of swallow, including one CLIFF SWALLOW and some NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS. A visitor to Stricker's Pond on Monday, the 2nd, saw the LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, along with MAGNOLIA and ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS, GREEN HERONS, a BELTED KINGFISHER, numerous WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS and YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, and a late EASTERN PEWEE. He also stopped at the Nine Springs ponds and found the SURF SCOTER. So did 2 other observers. Another birder on the east side of Madison on Monday found the latest YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO he has ever seen, as well as an Empidonax flycatcher, EASTERN PEWEES, SCARLET TANAGERS, an INDIGO BUNTING, DARK-EYED JUNCOS, a WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, and 13 species of warblers. Others birding at Picnic Point on Tuesday, the 3rd, found lots of sparrows, including LINCOLN'S, FOX, and WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS; as well as TUFTED TITMICE, PINE SISKINS, MAGNOLIA, NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, and PINE WARBLERS, AMERICAN REDSTART, EASTERN BLUEBIRDS, EASTERN TOWHEE, SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, and several duck species. Thursday morning, the 5th, one of them birded at Edna Taylor Park on the east side of Madison, where his highlights included SORA, PALM WARBLER and numerous YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, lots of WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS, YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER, and a possible HERMIT THRUSH. Another observer found 8 species of sparrows in the UW Arboretum on Thursday. Her list included FIELD, LINCOLN'S, DARK-EYED JUNCO, and a HARRIS'S SPARROW which was near the Sinaiko Rock overlook along the main drive. She also saw EASTERN TOWHEES, PINE SISKINS, PURPLE FINCHES, and an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER. A visitor on the MATC campus on the east side of Madison on Thursday had a list of sightings that included INDIGO BUNTING, EASTERN PEWEE, an Empidonax flycatcher (probably YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER), and 9 sparrows, among them WHITE-CROWNED, LINCOLN'S, and a CLAY-COLORED. And finally, a separate observer says there were dozens of both species of KINGLET in the brush near the prairie opening at Turville Point Thursday. He also saw DARK-EYED JUNCOS, FOX and WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS, a HERMIT THRUSH, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, NASHVILLE and PALM WARBLERS, and his first BROWN CREEPER of the season. The Wisconsin Society for Ornithology hotline, in Milwaukee, as of Thursday, the 5th, is reporting a Ross's Goose found on the 4th, west of Chetek in Barron County; the Black-backed Gull in the Middleton area; and a Sharp-tailed Sparrow site. For details, call the WSO hotline at 414-352-3857. You are invited to Prairies Jubilee! at Madison Audubon's Goose Pond Sanctuary north of Madison near Arlington on Sunday, October 8th. Events run from 1:00 to 5:00 PM and include everything from horse-drawn wagon rides and arrowhead exhibits, to talks and tours focusing on the history, ecology, and restoration of Wisconsin prairies, to vendors offering advice on prairie plantings and selling prairie plants. Visitors must arrive at the UW's Arlington Research Station Public Events Building in time for the free shuttle to Goose Pond Sanctuary, as there is no parking at the Sanctuary itself. From Madison, take US Highway 51 north past DeForest. Just before Leeds, look for the Arlington Agricultural Research Station sign and the Prairies Jubilee! sign. Turn west at the signs. The Station is one mile west of 51 on Hopkins Road. There will be two Madison Audubon field trips next weekend. On Saturday, the 14th, the annual Mushroom Meander will visit the Blackhawk Ridge area in western Dane County. The trip leaves the Kohl's parking lot on Century Avenue in Middleton at 10 AM. On Sunday, the 15th, meet at the same location at 8:00 AM for a tour in the Baraboo Hills. More details later. Good birding! * Wisconsin * Madison * 28 September 2000 * WIMA0009.28 BIRDS MENTIONED- SURF SCOTER American Golden Plover Northern Harrier CAROLINA WREN Blue-headed Vireo Orange-crowned Warbler Bonaparte's Gull Bald Eagle Common Tern Indigo Bunting American Pipit Wood Thrush Scarlet Tanager Dark-Eyed Junco Dunlin Long-billed Dowitcher Black-bellied Plover Black-throated Blue Warbler LOCATIONS MENTIONED- 9 Springs Settling Ponds (Sewage Plant) Just south of UW Arboretum on Seminole Highway Lake Monona, near the Beltline Governor's Island Honeeum area of UW Arboretum MATC campus wooded area, Madison Turville Point, Lake Monona This is the birding hotline report of the Madison Audubon Society for Thursday, September 28th. On September 23rd a birder found a variety of ducks at 9 Springs Settling Ponds, including a SURF SCOTER. He also found an AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER among other shorebirds, and saw a NORTHERN HARRIER. The same day, an observer spotted a CAROLINA WREN south of the Arboretum along the railroad tracks east of Seminole Highway. The bird was found east of Seminole past the small bridge with the screen underneath. A BLUE-HEADED VIREO was also spotted in this area. On the 24th, a visitor to 9 Springs found the SURF SCOTER still present, an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, a BONAPARTE'S GULL, and DOWITCHERS. Another observer spotted an immature BALD EAGLE on the 24th along the Beltline just off Lake Monona. On the 24th, a birder found 5 COMMON TERNS at Governor's Island on Lake Mendota. The next day, he observed a singing INDIGO BUNTING at Cherokee Marsh, and 2 AMERICAN PIPITS at 9 Springs. On the 27th, he went to the Honeeum area of the UW Arboretum where he sighted a WOOD THRUSH. He also visited the MATC wooded area where he found a SCARLET TANAGER and a DARK-EYED JUNCO. The same day he made a stop at 9 Springs and found the SURF SCOTER still there along with DUNLINS, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, a BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, and a BONAPARTE'S GULL. On the 28th, finally, he was a Turville Point, and saw 15 species of warblers, including an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER and a female BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER The next Madison Audubon Society field trips are Saturday, September 30th: 1) Tour of the Ice Age Trail at the Lodi Marsh Wildlife Area. Meet to carpool at 8 a.m. at the Middleton Kohls at Allen Boulevard and Century Avenue. Bring water and dress appropriately for the weather. The trip will include about 5 miles of walking, including walking on steep hills. If you wish, bring a lunch for an optional picnic at the end of the hike. If you have questions, please call Gary at 249-7870. 2) Hiking the Kickapoo Valley Reserve in Vernon County. This is a joint trip with the Nature Conservancy. The moderately strenuous hike over lots of hills will last about 3-4 hours. Wear sturdy footgear and bring a snack to get you through the noon hour. Meet at 9 a.m. at the Kickapoo Valley Reserve Office, 505 North Mill St, in LaFarge. Take highway 82 to LaFarge. In LaFarge, go north on Hwy 131 about .5 mile. The reserve is on the west (left) side of the road. Call Brad at (608) 356-2801 if you havequestions. * Wisconsin * Madison * 23 September 2000 * WIMA0009.23 BIRDS MENTIONED- Wood Thrush Pine Siskin Red-shouldered Hawk Merlin Cape May Warbler Blackburnian Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Northern Parula Sanderling Black-bellied Plover Northern Pintail Bufflehead American Golden Plover Long-billed Dowitcher Eastern Meadowlark Western Meadowlark Bobolink Dickcissel Lincoln's Sparrow Savannah Sparrow Horned Lark Northern Harrier Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Blue-headed Vireo Black-throated Blue Warbler Northern Flicker Eastern Wood Pewee Peregrine Falcon LOCATIONS MENTIONED- Ferry Bluff Governor's Island, Lake Mendota UW Arboretum, Curtis Prairie Picnic Point 9 Springs Settling Ponds (Sewage Plant) Schumacher Road ponds, Waunakee Thousand Rocks Point Prairie Cherokee Marsh Olin-Turville Park, Lake Monona This is the birding hotline report of the Madison Audubon Society for Saturday, September 23rd. A lot of migration has been reported over the last week. A WOOD THRUSH was still present at Ferry Bluff on Saturday, September 16th. On Sunday, the 17th, an observer spotted 2 PINE SISKINS and an immature RED-SHOULDERED HAWK at Governor's Island off the north shore of Lake Mendota. A MERLIN was seen flying over Curtis Prairie of the UW Arboretum by two people on Sunday the 17th. A visit to Picnic Point on the 18th turned up 18 species of warblers, including CAPE MAY, BLACKBURNIAN, YELLOW-RUMPED, and NORTHERN PARULA WARBLERS. At 9 Springs Settling Ponds on the 18th, a SANDERLING and a BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER were observed along with 2 NORTHERN PINTAILS and a female BUFFLEHEAD. Also on the 18th, a birder went to the Schumacher Road ponds and found 12 species of shorebirds, including 30 AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVERS and a LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER. She then went to Thousand Rocks Point Prairie near Blue Mounds and observed both EASTERN and WESTERN MEADOWLARKS, 4 BOBOLINKS, 2 DICKCISSELS, and 6 species of sparrows, including LINCOLN'S and SAVANNAH SPARROWS. She also found HORNED LARKS and a NORTHERN HARRIER there. Fifteen species of warblers were seen in Madison on the 19th between the UW Arboretum and Picnic Point. A visitor to Cherokee Marsh on the 21st found 2 YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS, a BLUE-HEADED VIREO, and a BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER. On Friday, the 22nd, a birder at Olin-Turville Park on Lake Monona found 6 NORTHERN FLICKERS, 3 EASTERN WOOD PEWEES, and 7 species of warblers. A PEREGRINE FALCON has also been reported in Madison during the past few days. There will be 2 Madison Audubon Society field trips next weekend, Saturday, September 30th. Please stay tuned for details. The WSO Hotline in Milwaukee, (414) 352-3857, as of Thursday, the 21st, is reporting Arctic Tern, Parasitic Jaeger, and Sabine's Gulls in Superior; at least 7 Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrows at the Coast Guard Impoundment in Milwaukee; and shorebirds in Green Bay in good numbers when there's a strong west wind. * Wisconsin * Madison * 15 September 2000 * WIMA0009.15 BIRDS MENTIONED- Black-crowned Night Heron Philadelphia Vireo Orange-crowned Warbler Golden-winged Warbler Caspian Tern RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD Sedge Wren Blackburnian Warbler Wilson's Warbler Blackpoll Warbler Connecticut Warbler Purple Finch Scarlet Tanager Rose-breasted Grosbeak Cedar Waxwing Least Flycatcher White-throated Sparrow Redhead Baird's Sandpiper Northern Rough-winged Swallow Cliff Swallow Red-breasted Nuthatch Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Clay-colored Sparrow Sanderling Double-crested Cormorant Common Loon LOCATIONS MENTIONED- Stricker's Pond, Middleton Odana Hills Marsh Fox Avenue, Madison Picnic Point Frautschi Point Honeeum Pond, UW Arboretum Cherokee Marsh Olbrich Gardens 9 Springs settling ponds Oscar Meyer plant area, Madison's east side Lake Mendota near the Convention Center This is the birding hotline report of the Madison Audubon Society for Friday, September 15th Eleven BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS were reported at Stricker's Pond on Thursday, September 7th. On Friday, the 8th, a birder found a PHILADELPHIA VIREO at the Odana Hills Marsh. The next day at the same location, he found, among other birds, an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER and a GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER in addition to 2 CASPIAN TERNS. A female RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD was seen at a Fox Avenue feeder on Saturday, the 9th. The report of the Madison Audubon Society field trip of the Campus Natural Areas on Saturday, the 9th noted that the group found over 60 species, among which 5 SEDGE WRENS were the highlight. More than 13 species of warblers were spotted, including BLACKBURNIAN and WILSON'S WARBLERS at the Picnic Point Marsh, a BLACKPOLL WARBLER at Frautschi Point, and GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLERS at both locations. Many warblers were also found in the old orchard. On Tuesday, the 12th, a birder visited Honeeum Ponds and found 10 species of warblers, including a CONNECTICUT WARBLER near the spring near the council ring. He also found several PURPLE FINCHES, a SCARLET TANAGER, many ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS, and a CEDAR WAXWING feeding fledglings. The next day, he went to Cherokee Marsh and found 3 PHILADELPHIA VIREOS, a singing LEAST FLYCATCHER, and his first WHITE-THROATED SPARROW of the season. At Olbrich Gardens he found lots of butterflies, including about 30 Fiery Skippers. The same day, he went to 9 Springs settling ponds. There he observed 4 REDHEADS, 10 species of shorebirds including a BAIRD'S SANDPIPER, several ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS, and 1 CLIFF SWALLOW. On Thursday, the 14th, he went to Picnic Point, where he found 16 species of warblers and his first RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH and YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER of the season. He also found a Meadow Fritillary there. Near the Oscar Meyer plant on Madison's east side on the 14th, he found an immature CLAY-COLORED SPARROW. Then, on Friday, the 15th, he visited 9 Springs again, and spotted 10 species of shorebirds, including a SANDERLING in winter plumage. He also had 7 DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS there. Finally, near the Convention Center on Lake Monona on Friday, he saw a COMMON LOON in transitional plumage. I have been unable to find an update of the WSO Hotline in Milwaukee, (414) 352-3857, since September 3rd. Please call the hotline for any updates. The next Madison Audubon Society field trips are not scheduled until Saturday, September 30th 1) the Lodi Marsh Wildlife Area, and 2) the Kickapoo Valley Reserve in Vernon County. Stay tuned for details. Good birding! * Wisconsin * Madison * 7 September 2000 * WIMA0009.07 BIRDS MENTIONED- PIPING PLOVER Ruddy Turnstone Baird's Sandpiper White-rumped Sandpiper Stilt Sandpiper Semi-palmated Plover Great Yellowlegs Great Egret American Golden Plover Pectoral Sandpiper YELLOW RAIL (possible) Palm Warbler Ruby-throated Hummingbird BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER Common Snipe Osprey Cliff Swallow Northern Rough-winged Swallow Mourning Warbler Golden-winged Warbler Cape May Warbler Bay-breasted Warbler Northern Parula Magnolia Warbler Indigo Bunting Rose-breasted Grosbeak Scarlet Tanager LOCATIONS MENTIONED- 9 Springs Settling Ponds Middleton sod farm UW Arboretum Eagle Heights gardens Frautschi Point, near Eagle Heights This is the birding hotline report of the Madison Audubon Society for Thursday, September 7th. Highlights this week include the numerous shorebird sightings in our area and around the state, including Black-necked Stilt, American Golden Plover, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, plus some migrating warblers. First, an update on the BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKERS seen in the Simms Lake area in Douglas County. On the 4th, 25 Black-backs were spotted by one observer, but no Three-toed Woodpeckers were seen. On Saturday, the 2nd, a PIPING PLOVER was reported in one of the front ponds at the 9 Springs Settling Ponds. Attempts to find the bird the next day, however, failed. One of the unsuccessful birders on Sunday reported a number of other shorebirds, including a RUDDY TURNSTONE in breeding plumage, a BAIRD'S SANDPIPER, 11 WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS, a STILT SANDPIPER, SEMI-PALMATED PLOVERS, a GREATER YELLOWLEGS, and a GREAT EGRET. Two birders went to the Middleton sod farms on Airport Road on Sunday, the 3rd. They reported 2 AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVERS, 2 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, and a possible YELLOW RAIL along the edge between the short and long grasses. Anyone in that area should keep on the lookout to see if this bird can be seen again. A birder at the UW Arboretum on Wednesday, the 6th, found a PALM WARBLER and a number of RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS. Later that day, he went to the 9 Springs Settling Ponds and saw 14 species of shorebirds. These included: SEMI-PALMATED PLOVER, BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER, AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, COMMON SNIPE, BAIRD'S SANDPIPER, and WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER. He also spotted an OSPREY overhead, and noted both CLIFF and NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS still present. Also on Wednesday, the 6th, 2 birders checked out the Campus Natural Areas, specifically Eagle Heights gardens and Frautschi Point. They found 12 species of warblers, including MOURNING, GOLDEN-WINGED, CAPE MAY, BAY-BREASTED, NORTHERN PARULA, and MAGNOLIA. They also found INDIGO BUNTINGS, 4 ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS, and a female SCARLET TANAGER. Five hundred AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS were reported last Friday on the Mississippi River, north of La Crosse. The WSO hotline in Milwaukee, (414) 352-3857, as of Sunday, the 3rd, is reporting the Piping Plover in Madison, a Black-necked Stilt at Horicon Marsh, and Buff-breasted Sandpiper in several locations. For further information, please call the hotline. The next Madison Audubon Society field trip is Saturday, September 9th, Picnic Point, led by Roma Lenehan and Willy Hutcheson. The group will leave at 8 a.m. from the Class of 1918 Marsh parking lot, and the trip will last about 2-3 hours. If you have questions, please call Roma at 238-5406. Also, please note that seed collectors are needed at Goose Pond to help out. If you are interested in spending some Saturday(s) between September 16th and November 4th helping out and need more information, please call Mark or Sue Martin at (608) 635-4160, or see the September Audubon Caws for full information. * Wisconsin * Madison * 1 September 2000 * WIMA0009.01 BIRDS MENTIONED- EARED GREBE Canada Warbler American Redstart Nashville Warbler Tennessee Warbler Common Nighthawk Solitary Sandpiper Spotted Sandpiper Semi-palmated Sandpiper Least Sandpiper Pectoral Sandpiper Stilt Sandpiper Lesser Yellowlegs Greater Yellowlegs Semi-palmated Plover BAIRD'S SANDPIPER BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER Peregrine Falcon Dowitcher (sp.) Sora Green Heron Black-crowned Night-Heron Great Egret Sandhill Crane Short-billed Dowitcher Killdeer LOCATIONS MENTIONED- Woodland Road, near Waunakee UW Arboretum Camrock County Park, Dane County Rockdale Millpond, near Cambridge 9 Springs Sewage Plant holding ponds Sod farm, Airport Road, Middleton This is the birding hotline report of the MADISON AUDUBON SOCIETY for Friday, September 1st. Shorebirds, and other wetland species dominate the reports for this week. On Saturday, the 26th of August, 4 birders followed up on the report of the EARED GREBE near Waunakee. They found the bird late in the morning. The site is a prairie pothole pond southwest of Waunakee, one mile west of County Highway Q on Woodland Road. This is in quadrant C-1 on page 36 of the DeLorme atlas. Eared Grebes are a western species, rarely, but regularly sighted here in Wisconsin. An observer who reported the bird on Thursday was unable to find it on Monday, the 28th. Another birder saw several species of early-migrating warblers on Sunday, the 27th. His list included; CANADA, AMERICAN REDSTART, NASHVILLE, and TENNESSEE WARBLERS. He says there was a good migration of COMMON NIGHTHAWKS over the UW Arboretum on Monday evening. Two local area observers have seen good shorebird diversity at the 2 portions of Camrock County Park and the Rockdale Millpond near Cambridge in southeastern Dane County. In the late afternoon on Monday, the 28th, one of them had good numbers of SOLITARY, SPOTTED, SEMIPALMATED, LEAST, PECTORAL, and STILT SANDPIPERS (4), both YELLOW LEGS, and a SEMIPALMATED PLOVER. He says the best vantage point for this area is a pull off south of Cambridge on Co. "B" between Camrock Park areas 1 and 2. If you're there in the evening you may want to check here first then drive south to Camrock 2 and hike a quarter mile north of the parking lot to view this area from the southwest, which gives much better light late in the day. Another birder also commented on the NIGHTHAWK migration on Monday evening. She checked out the first pond at the Nine-Springs holding ponds south of South Towne on Tuesday evening, the 29th, and found: 2 BAIRDS SANDPIPERS, and GREATER YELLOWLEGS among other shorebird species. She says 4 BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS were seen at 9-Springs on Friday, the 25th, at least one on Saturday, the 26th, in addition to a PEREGRINE FALCON, and no Buff-breasteds on Sunday, 27th. To visit the 9-Springs ponds, take the South Towne exit off of the Madison's South Beltline, Hwys. 12/18/151. Entrance to the ponds is in the low area less than a mile south of South Towne through the gate in the fence on the east side of South Towne Drive, just beyond the Sewage Treatment complex which is on the opposite side of the road. The gate is no longer locked, but birders are asked to keep the gate closed. Dogs are not allowed. Although not a highly aesthetic site, this is undoubtedly the best spot in the Madison area to view a variety of shorebirds. A different observer birded at 9-Springs on Wednesday evening and found 12 species of shorebirds. His list included one of the DOWITCHER species, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, SEMI-PALMATED PLOVER, and BAIRD'S and STILT SANDPIPERS. His group heard a SORA, saw several GREEN HERONS and the GREAT EGRET which has been in the area for a few weeks now, and saw an immature BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON. He didn't report SANDHILL CRANES, but a number of them have been using the 9-Springs area during the past week. Another visitor to 9-Springs in the heat of the day today, Friday, the 1st, found 6 or more BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS, a SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, 4 SEMI-PALMATED PLOVERS, and PECTORAL, SEMI-PALMATED, LEAST, SOLITARY, and SPOTTED SANDPIPERS. He found no Stilt or Buff-breasted Sandpipers, but did see a female PEREGRINE FALCON. At noon, he checked the sod farm on Airport Road, west of Middleton, where he did find 2 BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS, 20 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, and about 177 KILLDEERS. The Wisconsin Society for Ornithology hotline in Milwaukee, as of Thursday, the 24th, is still reporting the Black-backed Woodpeckers at the Simms Lake burn area in Douglas County, but no 3-toed Woodpeckers recently; the Eared Grebe near Waunakee in Dane County, first reported on the 24th, but not seen again since the 26th; Snowy Egrets in Brown County; and Buff-breasted Sandpipers in Brown, Winnebago, Racine, and Dane Counties. For details, call the WSO hotline at 414-352-3857. Roma Lenehan and Willie Hutchinson will co-lead the next Madison Audubon Society field trip on Saturday, September 9th. The trip will cover the Picnic Point area at the west end of the UW campus, in Madison. Meet at the parking lot for the Class of 1918 Marsh directly across University Bay Drive from the base of Picnic Point at 8:00 AM. Dress for the weather, the trip should last 2 to 3 hours. If you have questions call Roma at 238-5406. * Wisconsin * Madison * 24 August 2000 * WIMA0008.24 BIRDS MENTIONED- Tennessee Warbler Chestnut-sided WarblerBlack-and-white Warbler Nashville Warbler Great Crested Flycatcher Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Rose-breasted Grosbeak Baltimore Oriole PEREGRINE FALCON MERLIN Osprey Northern Harrier Cooper's Hawk Red-headed Woodpecker Eastern Screech Owl Great Egret BAIRD'S SANDPIPER STILT SANDPIPER BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER Horned Grebe Canada Warbler EARED GREBE LOCATIONS MENTIONED- MATC campus, Madison Cherokee Marsh 9 Springs Sewage Plant Door County Picnic Point Waunakee area This is the birding hotline report of the Madison Audubon Society for Thursday, August 24th. A birder at MATC in Madison on Tuesday, the 22nd, found 4 species of warblers, including TENNESSEE, CHESTNUT-SIDED, BLACK-AND-WHITE, and NASHVILLE WARBLERS. In addition, he saw a GREAT-CRESTED FLYCATCHER being attacked by a BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS, and a BALTIMORE ORIOLE. The next day, the same birder went to Cherokee Marsh where he found a PEREGRINE FALCON, a MERLIN, an OSPREY, a NORTHERN HARRIER, a COOPER'S HAWK, a RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, an EASTERN SCREECH OWL, and 7 species of warblers. Butterflies he found there included Giant Swallowtail and American Snout. On the 23rd, the same day as above, the same birder went to 9 Springs Sewage Plant and found an GREAT EGRET and 12 species of shorebirds, including a BAIRD'S SANDPIPER, 2 STILT SANDPIPERS, and 1 BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER in one of the easternmost ponds. A Madison birder reported that on a trip to Door County on the 22nd he found 14 HORNED GREBES at Newport Beach State Park. A birder at Picnic Point on the 24th found a CANADA WARBLER plus 8-12 Variegated Fritillaries. There was also a sighting of an EARED GREBE west of Waunakee on Thursday, the 24th. It was seen in a small, roadside drainage pond along Woodland Drive, 1 mile west of Hwy Q near Waunakee in Dane County. This pond is on the north side of Woodland Drive just west of a farmhouse and across the road from another farmhouse. There are 2 field trips this weekend for the Madison Audubon Society: 1) Saturday, August 26th Fall shorebirds at 9 Springs. Meet at 7 a.m. at the South Towne parking lot near McDonalds. If you have questions, please call Steve at 873-3323. 2) Sunday, August 27th Horicon Marsh. This trip will leave from Madison's East Side Cub Foods parking lot at 7 a.m. For questions, please call Ken at 836-6096. * Wisconsin * Madison * 21 August 2000 * WIMA0008.21 BIRDS MENTIONED- American Bittern Least Bittern Green Heron STILT SANDPIPER Hooded Merganser Virginia Rail Sora American Redstart Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Chestnut-sided Warbler Double-crested Cormorant Ruby-crowned Kinglet RED-NECKED PHALAROPE Wilson's Phalarope BAIRD'S SANDPIPER Northern Pintail Northern Shoveler Turkey Vulture Blackburnian Warbler Cape May Warbler Golden-winged Warbler Purple Martin Tennessee Warbler Eastern Kingbird Northern Harrier LOCATIONS MENTIONED- I-94 in eastern Dane County 9 Springs Sewage Treatment Plant Class of 1918 Marsh Picnic Point Cherokee Marsh This is the birding hotline report of the Madison Audubon Society for Monday, August 21st. On August 12th, 2 observers watched an AMERICAN BITTERN flying along a ditch on I-94 west of Madison, about 5 miles west of the Jefferson County line. On the 14th, a visitor to 9 Springs Sewage Plant found a LEAST BITTERN, GREEN HERONS, 3 STILT SANDPIPERS, and 2 HOODED MERGANSERS. The same day, an observer at the Class of 1918 March, across from Picnic Point, found a baby VIRGINIA RAIL and an adult SORA. A visit to Picnic Point on the 16th found AMERICAN REDSTARTS, BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS, a CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER, 2 DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS, and a RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET. Visitors at 9 Springs Sewage Plant on Thursday, the 17th, found 2 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES, 2 WILSON'S PHALAROPES, 2 BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS, 2 female NORTHERN PINTAILS, 2 female NORTHERN SHOVELERS, an adult SORA, a TURKEY VULTURE, a DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT, and a mink. On the 18th, 10 species of warblers were reported at Picnic Point, including BLACKBURNIAN, CAPE MAY, and GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLERS Today, the 21st, an observer at Cherokee Marsh spotted a PURPLE MARTIN, a DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT, a TENNESSEE WARBLER, EASTERN KINGBIRDS, an immature NORTHERN HARRIER, and 15 species of butterflies. There will be Madison Audubon trips coming up this weekend. Please stay tuned for the next update. * Wisconsin * Madison * 11 August 2000 * WIMA0008.11 BIRDS MENTIONED- Common Loon Bald Eagle Stilt Sandpiper Black Tern Great Egret BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER Grebe (sp.) Olive-sided Flycatcher Northern Harrier LOCATIONS REPORTED- Lake Mendota Cherokee Marsh 9 Springs Sewage Plant Middleton Sod Farms This is the birding hotline report of the Madison Audubon Society for Friday, August 11th. Two observers spotted 4 COMMON LOONS on Lake Mendota near University Bay on Friday, August 4th. On Monday, August 7th, another birder reported seeing an immature BALD EAGLE over Cherokee Marsh. He also saw a Variegated Fritillary butterfly near Olbrich Gardens the same day. On the 9th, he visited the 9 Springs Sewage Plant and found several STILT SANDPIPERS, 2 BLACK TERNS, and a GREAT EGRET. He also saw 2 Bronze Copper butterflies there. Outside Olbrich Gardens, he reports Fiery Skipper butterflies On Wednesday, August 9th, a BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER was reported at the Middleton Sod Farms, about 1 mile west of Highway 12 on the south side of Airport road. A caller on Friday, the 11th, reported a GREBE on Lake Mendota seen by 2 observers, one thinking it was a RED-NECKED GREBE, the other thinking it may have been a WESTERN GREBE. If anyone else sees this bird, please call the hotline along with ID markers you notice about the bird. At Cherokee Marsh on Friday, the 11th, an observer saw an OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER and a NORTHERN HARRIER. Butterflies he found there include: Tawny Emperor, Bronze Copper, Buckeye, Giant Swallowtail, and Fiery Skipper. The WSO Hotline in Milwaukee, (414) 352-3857, as of August 2nd, is reporting Buff-breasted Sandpipers and an American Avocet in Milwaukee; Black-backed Woodpeckers in Douglas County; and a Little Gull in Sheboygan. Please call the hotline for details. In addition, the Wisconsin Birding Network (WisBirdN) has a report this week of a Ruff being spotted in Racine County. It was seen near the intersection of Burmeister and Britton Roads in NW Racine County on Tuesday, the 8th. It was subsequently spotted the next day by one observer but not by others, and has not been reported since. It may, however, still be in the vicinity. The next Madison Audubon Society field trip is not until Saturday, August 26. This is the annual fall shorebird trip to 9 Springs Sewage Plant or to an alternate site if that's better, led by shorebird expert Steve Theisen. Meet at 7 a.m. to carpool at the South Towne McDonalds parking lot. To get there, take the South Towne exit off the Beltline (Highways 12 & 18), and then turn south into McDonalds. The trip will last about 3 hours. Bring a scope if you have one. If you have questions, please call Steve at 873-3323. Good birding! * Wisconsin * Madison * 4 August 2000 * WIMA0008.04 BIRDS MENTIONED- Black-crowned Night-Heron Stilt Semi-palmated Plover Blue-gray Gnatcatcher LOCATIONS MENTIONED- Stricker's Pond, Middleton Schumacher Road ponds, northern Dane County This is the birding hotline report of the Madison Audubon Society for Friday, August 4th. Late summer can be a slow time for birding, but they are out there. Shorebirds migrating in good numbers have been seen around the area. One observer found 2 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS at Stricker's Pond on Tuesday, the 1st. She also reported 10 species of shorebirds at the Schumacher Road ponds in northern Dane County. These included STILT SANDPIPER and SEMI-PALMATED PLOVER BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS were also seen in one reporter's backyard, suggesting that the more general southward movement of neotropical migrants has begun. Keep your eyes open for fall warblers. The WSO hotline in Milwaukee, (414) 352-3857, as of August 2nd is reporting good shorebirds, particularly along Lake Michigan. In the Milwaukee Coastguard impoundment, both Buff-breasted Sandpiper and American Avocet have been observed recently. Elsewhere in the state Little Gulls and Black-backed Woodpeckers have been reported. Please call the hotline for details. * Wisconsin * Madison * 29 July 2000 * WIMA0007.29 BIRDS MENTIONED- Hooded Warbler Kentucky Warbler Cerulean Warbler YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER Prothonotary Warbler Winter Wren Acadian Flycatcher Common Moorhen Peregrine Falcon Merlin Forster's Tern Double-crested Cormorant Yellow Warbler Cedar Waxwing Tennessee Warbler (possible) American Redstart Baltimore Oriole Eastern Bluebird Red-breasted Nuthatch Sedge Wren LOCATIONS MENTIONED- Wyalusing State Park Marxville area Madison downtown 9 Springs Sewage Plant Cherokee Marsh Longenecker Gardens, UW Arboretum Owen Park This is the birding hotline report of the Madison Audubon Society for Saturday, July 29th. Birders are apparently on vacation this week. There have been very few reports. Most notable are sightings of falcons in the Madison area. A camper at Wyalusing State Park last weekend, the 22nd and 23rd, was pleasantly surprised by the low level of bugs and the high level of birdsong to be heard this late in the season. His list included: HOODED, KENTUCKY, CERULEAN, YELLOW-THROATED, AND PROTHONOTARY WARBLERS, WINTER WRENS, AND ACADIAN FLYCATCHERS. Another birder reports that there was a COMMON MOORHEN in the small marsh one quarter of a mile west of Marxville along Highway 19 on Saturday, the 22nd -- that's at C-6 on page 35 of the DeLorme Atlas. Also on Saturday, an observer spotted a PEREGRINE FALCON in downtown Madison. A MERLIN was seen by two viewers at the 9-Springs ponds south of South Town in the morning on Thursday, the 27th. Then in the evening on Thursday, a PEREGRINE FALCON was observed at 9-Springs. A different observer had several insect sightings to report: on Tuesday, the 24th, he found a Spot-winged Glider (a type of dragonfly) near Olbrich Gardens. On Wednesday, the 26th, he saw a Tawny Emperor butterfly at Olbrich; and at Cherokee Marsh on Thursday, the 27th, he saw another Tawny Emperor, an Appalachian Brown, Red-spotted Purples, his first Fiery Skipper of the season, and 3 Broad-winged Skippers. His list at Cherokee Marsh included 19 species of butterflies and 50 species of birds. Among the birds were an adult FORSTER'S TERN in breeding plumage, a DOUBLE CRESTED CORMORANT, about 20 YELLOW WARBLERS, several CEDAR WAXWINGS, a possible TENNESSEE WARBLER, 2 AMERICAN REDSTARTS, and juvenile BALTIMORE ORIOLES. Young EASTERN BLUEBIRDS can still reportedly be seen in the Longenecker Gardens at the UW Arboretum. One person hears RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES near her home on the west side of Madison. And she reports that a SEDGE WREN has been calling in the prairie at Owen Park for about a week now. * * * * * * * * * * * * The Wisconsin Society for Ornithology hotline, in Milwaukee, as of Thursday, the 20th, is reporting the 3-toed and Black-backed Woodpeckers in Douglas County; Eurasian Collared Doves in Oneida County; and Little Gulls in Sheboygan County. For details, call the WSO hotline at 414-352-3857. * * * * * * * * * * * * The next Madison Audubon Society field trip will be on Saturday, August 5th, when Todd Miller will lead a walk at the Rocky Run Oak Savanna Natural Area in central Columbia County. Meet to carpool at 8:00 AM. at the east side Cub Foods, northeast of the intersection of highways 30 and 51; or at the parking lot for the Rocky Run Fisheries Area on Highway 22, about a mile north of Columbia County B, at 8:45. If you have questions call Todd at 242-8998. Good birding! * Wisconsin * Madison * 21 July 2000 * WIMA0007.21 BIRDS MENTIONED- American Redstart RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD Wild Turkey Short-billed Dowitcher Stilt Sandpiper LOCATIONS MENTIONED- Governor's Island West side Madison Wisconsin River 9 Springs Sewage Treatment Plant This is the birding hotline report of the Madison Audubon Society for Friday, July 21st. A number of AMERICAN REDSTARTS were reported on Governor's Island on Sunday, the 16th. On Monday, the 17th, a caller found a RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD in her yard on Madison's west side, but the bird was seen only once and hasn't been found since then. A WILD TURKEY was reported in the Wisconsin River near the Merrimac Ferry. There's a variety of shorebirds present at 9 Springs Sewage Treatment Plant, including SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER and STILT SANDPIPER. The WSO Hotline in Milwaukee, (414) 352-3857, is reporting Three-toed and Black-backed Woodpeckers in Douglas County, Eurasian Collared-Dove, and Little Gulls. Please call the hotline for details. The next Madison Audubon Society field trip is Saturday, July 22nd, Butterflies at Barneveld Prairie, a joint field trip with the Nature Conservancy. To register, call Kate at (608) 251-8140. If you havequestions about the trip, please call Jim at (608) 848-4963. * Wisconsin * Madison * 6 July 2000 * WIMA0007.06 BIRDS MENTIONED- Winter Wren Hooded Warbler YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT BELL'S VIREO Henslow's Sparrow Dickcissel PRAIRIE WARBLER Forster's Tern Greater Yellowlegs Lesser Yellowlegs Solitary Sandpiper Short-billed Dowitcher Stilt Sandpiper Sharp-shinned Hawk (probable) Chestnut-sided Warbler Blue-winged Warbler Mourning Warbler Orchard Oriole Clay-colored Sparrow Dickcissel American Goldfinch Red-winged Blackbird LOCATIONS MENTIONED- Wyalusing State Park Brooklyn Wildlife Area Walking Iron County Park 9 Springs Sewage Plant Rocky Run State Fisheries, Columbia County Cherokee Marsh This is the birding hotline report of the Madison Audubon Society for Thursday, July 6th. Interesting breeding species plus migrating shorebirds constitute most of the sightings this week. A visitor to Wyalusing State Park on June 30th found a singing WINTER WREN on the Indian Trail between the Flintlands Trail and the Old Immigrant Trail, and a HOODED WARBLER singing at the junction of the Old Immigrant Trail and the Sand Cave Trail. On July 1st, a visit to Brooklyn Wildlife Area by 2 birders resulted in a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, a BELL'S VIREO, a HENSLOW'S SPARROW, and a DICKCISSEL. At Walking Iron County Park by Mazomanie on July 2nd, a birder found a singing male PRAIRIE WARBLER near the picnic table about a quarter of a mile in from the Beckman Road parking lot. Also on July 2nd, a birder at 9 Springs Sewage Plant in Madison found FORSTER'S TERNS, both LESSER and GREATER YELLOWLEGS, SOLITARY SANDPIPERS, a SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, and a STILT SANDPIPER. The same day, a probable SHARP-SHINNED HAWK was found at the Rocky Run State Fisheries, off Highway 22, north of Goose Pond in Columbia County. This is the 2nd year in a row the bird has been found here, and it was near the parking lot on Morse Road surrounded by a spruce plantation. Also in the area were CHESTNUT-SIDED, BLUE-WINGED, and MOURNING WARBLERS, and an adult male ORCHARD ORIOLE. Then, at the junction of Highway 22 and Phillips Road were found a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW and several DICKCISSELS. AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES have been observed building nests this week at Cherokee Marsh, one using material from an old hummingbird nest. Also at Cherokee Marsh, a mink carrying prey was watched being mobbed by RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS. Butterflies seen this week in the Madison area include Silver-bordered Fritillary, Acadian Hairstreak, Tawny Emperor, and Gray Copper. A good place to check for butterflies is outside Olbrich Gardens where the Butterfly Bushes are starting to bloom. Other plants to watch for butterflies included Milkweed, especially Orange Milkweed (Butterfly Weed), Swamp Milkweed, various Thistles, and Indian Hemp. The WSO Hotline, (414) 352-3857, as of July 1st was reporting Little Gull, Western Grebe, American Avocet, and Northern Mockingbird. Please call the hotline for details. * Wisconsin * Madison * 21 June 2000 * WIMA0006.21 BIRDS MENTIONED- Dickcissel Savannah Sparrow Tufted Titmouse Yellow-billed Cuckoo Purple Martin Great Crested Flycatcher Eastern Phoebe Baltimore Oriole Cooper's Hawk Merlin Barn Swallow Indigo Bunting Eastern Bluebird Red-headed Woodpecker Red-bellied Woodpecker American Goldfinch Brown Thrasher Barn Swallow BELL'S VIREO Orchard Oriole Bobolink LOCATIONS MENTIONED- University Research Park, on Madison's west side Shorewood Hills MATC Campus, Madison Picnic Point Governor Nelson State Park This is the birding hotline report of the Madison Audubon Society for Wednesday, April 21st. Dickcissels seem to be the bird of the week. They have been reported from several places in and around Madison over the past week or two, and are apparently being seen in large numbers across much of the state. An easy place to see and hear this grassland bird is at the University Research Park west of Whitney Way on the west side of Madison. About 10 were found there Friday evening, the 16th, also a Savannah Sparrow; at least 6 singing males were heard on Saturday evening, the 17th; and 4 Dickcissels were seen and heard at the Research Park on Monday, the 19th Dickcissels have also been traditional at the American Family grounds east of East Town, but we have had no recent report from there this year. In other reports, one observer biked and birded in Shorewood Hills, just west of the University Campus in Madison on Saturday evening. His list included a family of Tufted Titmice, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Purple Martins, Great Crested Flycatchers, Eastern Phoebe, Baltimore Oriole, and a Cooper's Hawk. Another birder watched a Merlin being harassed by Barn Swallows on the MATC campus on the east side of Madison on Saturday. On Sunday, the 18th, an observer walked the accessible portions of Picnic Point on the UW campus. He was impressed by the bird color he found from Indigo Buntings, Eastern Bluebirds, Purple Martins, Red-headed and Red-bellied Woodpeckers, American Goldfinches, Brown Thrashers, Barn Swallows, and Baltimore Orioles. Another observer birded at Governor Nelson State Park on the north side of Lake Mendota on Sunday. His list included Bell's Vireo, Orchard Oriole, a few Dickcissels and Bobolinks. The Wisconsin Society for Ornithology hotline, in Milwaukee, as of Monday, the 19th, is reporting a White-eyed Vireo at Janesville in Rock County; a Yellow-breasted Chat at the Bong Recreational Area in Kenosha County; vocal Yellow Rails and Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrows at Crex Meadows in Burnett County; Yellow-throated Warbler at Wyalusing State Park in Grant County; and Snowy Egret and Willet at the Coast Guard Impoundment in Milwaukee. For details, call the WSO hotline at 414-352-3857 There will be three Madison Audubon Society field trips this weekend. On Friday evening, June 23rd, Levi Wood will lead a canoe sortie through Cherokee Marsh. Meet at 6:00 PM at the landing at the north end of School Road. Provide your own canoe, and bring an evening snack. The trip lasts until dusk. Questions? Call Levi at 277-7959. Saturday morning, June 24th, Karl Legler, Dave Westover, and Dave Fallow, will present a combined slide show and field trip looking for dragonflies and butterflies in the UW Arboretum. For the slide presentation, meet at the Middleton Public Library, two blocks south of University Avenue, at 9:30 AM. If you have questions, call Karl at 608-643-4926. Then on Sunday, June 25th, Chuck Heikkinen and Delia Unson will lead a birding trip at Devil's Lake State Park. Meet at 7 AM at the Kohl's parking lot at the corner of Century Avenue and Allen Blvd. in Middleton, or at 8 AM at the parking area for the boat landing on the south shore of Devil's Lake. Bring portable water, insect repellent, and a lunch. For questions call Chuck at 274-4043. Good birding! * Wisconsin * Madison * 16 June 2000 * WIMA0006.106 BIRDS MENTIONED- Upland Sandpiper Grasshopper Sparrow Vesper Sparrow Eastern Meadowlark Western Meadowlark Northern Bobwhite Bobolink Dickcissel Acadian Flycatcher Alder Flycatcher Yellow-billed Cuckoo Louisiana Waterthrush Orchard Oriole Red-headed Woodpecker HENSLOW'S SPARROW Cerulean Warbler Ovenbird LOCATIONS MENTIONED- Blue Mounds State Park Thousand Rock Point Prairie Pine Bluff Riverland Conservancy, Sauk County This is the birding hotline report of the Madison Audubon Society for Friday, June 16th. The June 11th Madison Audubon Society field trip to Blue Mounds State Park and Thousand Rock Point Prairie found 75 species. These included UPLAND SANDPIPER; GRASSHOPPER and VESPER SPARROWS; EASTERN and WESTERN MEADOWLARKS; NORTHERN BOBWHITE; BOBOLINK; 8-10 DICKCISSELS; 6 species of flycatcher including ACADIAN and ALDER FLYCATCHERS; YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO; 5 species of warbler including LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH; ORCHARD ORIOLE; RED-HEADED WOODPECKER; and on Ryan Road, HENSLOW'S SPARROW. A birder visited Pine Bluff on the 10th, and, among other birds, found a CERULEAN WARBLER, an OVENBIRD, and a YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO. Another birder visiting Riverland Conservancy in Sauk County found a Giant Swallowtail butterfly in addition to many bird species. The WSO Hotline in Milwaukee, (414) 352-3857, as of June 9th, is reporting Little Blue Heron, Snowy Egret, and White-Eyed Vireo. Please call thehotline for details. * Wisconsin * Madison * June 10, 2000 * WIMA0006.10 BIRDS MENTIONED- Sanderling Black-bellied Plover Common Tern Caspian Tern Semi-palmated Plover Semi-palmated Sandpiper WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER Dunlin HENSLOW'S SPARROW Grasshopper Sparrow Northern Bobwhite Bobolink Dickcissel Least Flycatcher Yellow-billed Cuckoo Brown Creeper Yellow-headed Blackbird Prothonotary Warbler Redhead Ruddy Duck Red-necked Grebe Least Bittern Upland Sandpiper Hooded Merganser Great Blue Heron Green Heron Great Egret Black-crowned Night-Heron CATTLE EGRET Northern Harrier Chestnut-sided Warbler Ovenbird Blue-winged Warbler LOCATIONS MENTIONED- 9 Springs Sewage Plant, Madison Hay Hollow Road, east of Blanchardville, Green County Princess Point Wildlife Area Grassy Lake Wildlife Area County Highway A, south of Highway 16 Dunn's Marsh, Madison Brooklyn Wildlife Area Research Park, Madison This is the birding hotline report of the Madison Audubon Society for Saturday, June 10th. On Friday, June 2nd, at 9 Springs Sewage Plant, birds found included SANDERLINGS, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, 2 COMMON TERNS, and 6 CASPIAN TERNS. At the same location on June 4th, the birds located included 3 SANDERLINGS in breeding plumage, both SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS and SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS, 2 WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS, and 2 DUNLIN. None of the above were found on June 7th. In a new housing development area on top of the hill off Hay Hollow Road just east of Blanchardville in Green County, a birder on June 4th found a number of grassland species including HENSLOW'S SPARROW, GRASSHOPPER SPARROW, NORTHERN BOBWHITE, nesting BOBOLINK, and DICKCISSEL. On Monday the 5th several birds of note were spotted at Princess Point Wildlife Area near Fort Atkinson. These included more than 7 singing LEAST FLYCATCHERS, a YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO, a singing BROWN CREEPER, and nests with eggs for both YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD and PROTHONOTARY WARBLER along the Scuppernong River. Birds found at the Grassy Lake Wildlife Area on June 6th included REDHEAD, RUDDY DUCKS, RED-NECKED GREBE, and 2 calling LEAST BITTERNS. A Blanding's Turtle laying eggs was also observed there. Then, about 2 miles distant, on County A, south of Highway 16, were found UPLAND SANDPIPER and BOBOLINKS. A visit to 9 Springs Sewage Plant on Wednesday, the 7th, turned up a female HOODED MERGANSER plus 5 heron species including GREAT BLUE HERON, GREEN HERONS, 2-3 GREAT EGRETS, 2 immature BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS, and an overflying CATTLE EGRET. Eleven GREAT BLUE HERONS were spotted standing on the edge of the pond at Dunn's Marsh on June 8th. A birder at Brooklyn Wildlife Area on Saturday, June 10th, found a pair of NORTHERN HARRIERS, a singing DICKCISSEL near the parking lot, and 5 species of warblers, including 2 CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLERS, many OVENBIRDS, and a BLUE-WINGED WARBLER Also on June 10th, a visitor to Research Park on Madison's west side found 7 singing DICKCISSELS, several in the same spots they were seen last summer. A Little Yellow (a southern butterfly) was found on the 7th at Fair Oaks Avenue on Starkweather Creek on Madison's east side. The WSO hotline in Milwaukee, (414) 352-3857, as of Friday, the 9th, was reporting an immature Little Blue Heron in Kenosha County, a Snowy Egret in Milwaukee, and a White-eyed Vireo at Rockport Park on the west side of Janesville. Please call the hotline for details. The remaining upcoming Madison Audubon Society field trip is Thursday, June 15th, or Wednesday, June 14th -- Beginning Birding. Meet at the Picnic Point parking lot by 6 p.m. Please call Al at 238-0546 to verify date and time and to handle other questions. * Wisconsin * Madison * 02 June 2000cc * WIMA0006.02 BIRDS MENTIONED- FRANKLIN'S GULL Western Meadowlark WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER WESTERN SANDPIPER Sanderling Semipalmated Plover Semipalmated Sandpiper Ruddy Turnstone Pectoral Sandpiper Bonaparte's Gull Forster's Tern Least Flycatcher Black Tern Alder Flycatcher Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Olive-sided Flycatcher Canada Warbler Blackpoll Warbler Chestnut-sided Warbler Black-billed Cuckoo Ruby-throated Hummingbird BELL'S VIREO Henslow's Sparrow Yellow-billed Cuckoo Barred Owl Acadian Flycatcher Mourning Warbler Hooded Warbler (probable) Upland Sandpiper Grasshopper Sparrow Dickcissel Eastern Meadowlark Bobolink Short-billed Dowitcher LOCATIONS MENTIONED- Schumacher Road ponds Blue Mounds State Park Thousand Rocks Prairie 9 Springs Sewage Plant Marshall Park Governor Dodge State Park Cherokee Marsh This is the birding hotline report of the Madison Audubon Society for Friday, June 2nd. Two birders stopped at the Schumacher Road ponds, north and east of Waunakee, on Saturday, May 27th. Among other species there, they found 4 FRANKLIN'S GULLS still present, and heard a WESTERN MEADOWLARK. On Sunday, the 28th, an observer was at Blue Mounds State Park and found 9 species of warblers there. At nearby Thousand Rocks Prairie, he found UPLAND SANDPIPERS, GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS, DICKCISSELS, both EASTERN and WESTERN MEADOWLARKS, and BOBOLINKS. Another observer reported a visit to 9 Springs Sewage Plant on Monday, the 29th, and found a variety of sandpipers, including WHITE-RUMPED and WESTERN SANDPIPERS, SANDERLINGS, SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS, 1 RUDDY TURNSTONE, and PECTORAL SANDPIPERS. He also spotted a BONAPARTE'S GULL, FORSTER'S TERNS, and a LEAST FLYCATCHER. Then, on Wednesday, the 31st, he found 20 BLACK TERNS off the beach at Marshall Park. Two birders traveled to Governor Dodge State Park on Tuesday, the 30th, and found BELL'S VIREO, HENSLOW'S SPARROW, YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO, BARRED OWL, ACADIAN FLYCATCHER, MOURNING WARBLERS, and a probable HOODED WARBLER. The same day, a visitor to 9 Springs Sewage Plant found 20 SANDERLINGS and 3 SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS. One observer noted that he found 9 species of flycatcher at Cherokee Marsh on June 1st, including LEAST, ALDER, YELLOW-BELLIED, and OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHERS. He also spotted 7 species of warbler, including CANADA, BLACKPOLL, and CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLERS. He also found 2 BLACK-BILLED CUCKOOS, and saw a RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD on a nest. In the butterfly department, a local butterfly enthusiast reported seeing his 1st Viceroy of the year at Cherokee Marsh this past week, and his first Bronze Copper off Fair Oaks Avenue, plus many Hobomok Skippers. Today, June 2, he found several species of interest at Hiestand Park on Milwaukee Street, east of Highway 51. He reported his first Gray Hairstreak ever, a butterfly listed as rare in Wisconsin, and a fresh-looking Buckeye. He also found both Red Saddlebags and Black Saddlebags dragonflies. The WSO Hotline, (414) 352-3857, as of May 29th, is reporting Yellow Rails and Sharp-tailed Sparrows in Burnett County; Yellow-breasted Chats at Governor Dodge State Park and in Ozaukee County; an Eared Grebe in Dunn County; American White Pelicans in Green Bay and Horicon Marsh; Hudsonian Godwit and Red-necked Phalarope also at Horicon Marsh; Lark Sparrows, a Yellow-throated Warbler, and Louisiana Waterthrush in Sauk County; and a Whimbrel in Milwaukee. Please call the hotline for details. The next Madison Audubon Society field trip is this coming Saturday, June 3rd, Birding Badger Prairie. This will be a leisurely 2 hour walk along the Military Ridge Trail just east of Verona. Meet at 7:00 a.m. in the Military Ridge Parking lot off County Highway PB, just south of Verona Road, and across from the entrance to Badger Prairie Park and the Dane County Home. Please call Levi at 277-7959 if you have questions. Then on Sunday, the 4th, there will be a canoe trip around Red Cedar Lake near Cambridge to explore the ecology of the lake and look for marsh birds. Bring your own canoe, a bow and stern rope to tie it when stopped, a midday snack or lunch, and foot gear that can get wet. Meet Libby at 8:00 a.m. at the boat landing on the northeast shore of Red Cedar Lake just south of Highway 12. Take Highway 12 about 2 miles east of Cambridge, just past the intersection with County A from the north. The next right (no sign) to the south goes to the DNR boat landing. Call Libby at 423-4047 if you plan to go on the trip so she can match paddlers. Good Birding! * Wisconsin * Madison * 26 May 2000 * WIMA0005.26 BIRDS MENTIONED- Ruddy Turnstone Caspian Tern Yellow-headed Blackbird Common Loon Common Tern American Golden Plover Sanderling WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER Pectoral Sandpiper WESTERN SANDPIPER Dunlin Virginia Rail RED-NECKED PHALAROPE FRANKLIN'S GULL WHIMBREL Canada Warbler Black-and-white Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler American Redstart Olive-sided Flycatcher Hooded Warbler Connecticut Warbler Prothonotary Warbler Scarlet Tanager Red-shouldered Hawk Barred Owl Yellow-throated Vireo Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Cerulean Warbler Ovenbird Tufted Titmouse Pileated Woodpecker LOCATIONS MENTIONED- 9 Springs Sewage Treatment Plant Picnic Point Monona Bay Schumacher Road ponds Quarry Park, west side Madison Owen Park Tower Hill State Park Honeeum Pond, UW Arboretum Observatory Woods, UW Campus This is the birding hotline report of the Madison Audubon Society for Friday, May 26th. Highlights of this week include: Ruddy Turnstone, Whimbrel, sandpipers and other shorebirds, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Prothonotary Warbler, Hooded Warbler, and gulls and terns. On Friday, the 19th, an observer at 9 Springs Sewage Plant in Madison, this week's apparent "hot spot", found a half dozen RUDDY TURNSTONES, along with CASPIAN TERNS. Another reporter called in a heard YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD at the base of Picnic Point on Saturday the 20th. He also found a COMMON LOON on Monona Bay. Another trip to 9 Springs Sewage plant on Sunday, the 21st, found the RUDDY TURNSTONES, a CASPIAN TERN, and a COMMON TERN. On Tuesday and Wednesday, the 23rd and 24th, 3 birders checked out 9 Springs and found an AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER in breeding plumage, a SANDERLING in basic plumage, RUDDY TURNSTONES, a WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER, PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, WESTERN SANDPIPERS, DUNLIN, VIRGINIA RAIL, RED-NECKED PHALAROPE, FRANKLIN'S GULL, and COMMON TERN. Two WHIMBRELS were spotted at Schumacher Road Ponds on Wednesday, the 24th, along with 6 FRANKLIN'S GULLS. A report from WisBirdN on Thursday, the 25th, noted the following at Quarry Park on Madison's west side: CANADA WARBLER, BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER, BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER, and AMERICAN REDSTARTS. On the 25th, a visit to Owen Park yielded an OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, a HOODED WARBLER, and a CONNECTICUT WARBLER. Also on the 25th, several birds were spotted at Tower Hill State Park, including PROTHONOTARY WARBLER, SCARLET TANAGER, RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, BARRED OWL, YELLOW-THROATED VIREO, and BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS, among other species. A PROTHONOTARY WARBLER was also reported at Honeeum Pond in the UW Arboretum on Friday the 26th. It was found on the west side of the pond, near a fallen tree. The same reporter visited Observatory Woods and found a CERULEAN WARBLER, a pair of SCARLET TANAGERS, an OVENBIRD, a TUFTED TITMOUSE, and a PILEATED WOODPECKER. The WSO listing in Milwaukee, (414) 352-3857, was last updated on May 19th. At that time they were reporting Whimbrels, Yellow-throated Warbler, Eared Grebe, and Snowy Egrets. Please call them for their latest update. The next Madison Audubon Society field trip is Saturday, May 27th, a joint trip with the Nature Conservancy to Quincy Bluff and Wetlands. You'll be hiking up to the top of a mesa over rough country for about 3 to 4 miles, so wear sturdy foot gear. Meet at the Quincy Bluff parking area at 9 a.m. for a 5-hour hike. Please note: the trip for birding Governor Dodge State Park originally scheduled for June 13th has been rescheduled to JUNE 3rd. If you're interested, please meet to carpool at the Super American gas station parking lot at the intersection of Verona Road and Raymond Road. You'll need a state park sticker to get into the park, and possible birds include Bell's Vireo and White-eyed Vireo. Please call John at 236-9410 if you have questions. The 3rd is also National Trails Day, and there will be a field trip to bird Badger Prairie via a leisurely walk. Meet at 7 a.m. at the Military Ridge Trail parking lot off County PB just south of Verona Road. If you have questions, please call Levi at 277-7959. * Wisconsin * Madison * 18 May 2000 * WIMA0005.18 BIRDS MENTIONED- Caspian Tern Canvasback CATTLE EGRET RED-NECKED PHALAROPE Wilson's Warbler Magnolia Warbler Baltimore Oriole Sandhill Crane Sora Virginia Rail Great Blue Heron Indigo Bunting White-Throated Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Eastern Wood-Pewee Rose-breasted Grosbeak Warbling Vireo Eastern Towhee BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER Bank Swallow Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Connecticut Warbler Clay-colored Sparrow Black-bellied Plover Wilson's Phalarope SUMMER TANAGER Dunlin American Bittern Stilt Sandpiper Red-shouldered Hawk Acadian Flycatcher SNOWY EGRET Great Egret Semi-palmated Sandpiper Short-billed Dowitcher Wood Duck Gadwall Canada Goose Cape May Warbler Black-and-white Warbler American Redstart Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Blue-headed Vireo Swainson's Thrush Wood Thrush Solitary Sandpiper Spotted Sandpiper Pectoral Sandpiper Least Sandpiper Greater Yellowlegs Lesser Yellowlegs American Wigeon Dunlin Black Tern Eastern Bluebird Yellow-headed Blackbird FRANKLIN'S GULL Forster's Tern Sanderling Hooded Warbler Gray-cheeked Thrush Scarlet Tanager Ruby-throated Hummingbird Orchard Oriole Lark Sparrow Winter Wren YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER HUDSONIAN GODWIT EARED GREBE AMERICAN AVOCET American White Pelican American Golden Plover Semi-palmated Plover Killdeer WESTERN SANDPIPER Northern Harrier Red-tailed Hawk Mallard Blue-winged Teal Northern Shoveler Bobolink Least Bittern TRUMPETER SWAN Osprey RED KNOT Olive-sided Flycatcher Bank Swallow Chimney Swift Cedar Waxwing Green Heron Black-billed Cuckoo Alder Flycatcher Eastern Kingbird Grasshopper Sparrow Vesper Sparrow BELL'S VIREO Cerulean Warbler LOCATIONS MENTIONED- University Bay Class of 1918 Marsh, Madison Highway 113 & Easy St, N of Waunakee Schumacher Rd ponds Cherokee Marsh UW Arboretum, various locations 9 Springs Sewage Treatment Plant Picnic Point Goose Pond Sanctuary Vilas Road, near Coffeetown Road, E of Madison County V ponds Schoneberg Marsh, Columbia County Grassy Lake State Wildlife Area Schlucherbier Prairie, on Sauk County PF Gasser Sand Barrens on Exchange Rd, Sauk County Baxter's Hollow Horicon Marsh, various locations Owen Park, Madison Quarry Ridge Park, S of Madison Riverland Conservancy, S of Devil's Lake State Park, Sauk County County Line Rd, between Rock and Jefferson Counties Danielson Rd, SE of Cambridge This is the birding hotline report of the Madison Audubon Society for Thursday, May 18th. There's lots of action this week, as might be expected. Unusual sightings included: Eared Grebe, American White Pelican, Cattle and Snowy Egrets, Red-necked Phalarope, American Avocets, Yellow-throated Warbler, and Summer Tanager. 2 or 3 CASPIAN TERNS were found among the gulls in the eastern part of University Bay, north of Walnut Street in Madison, on Thursday, the 11th. There was a CANVASBACK in the nearby Class of 1918 Marsh. On Friday, the 12th, a CATTLE EGRET was found in alternate plumage north of Waunakee at the intersection of Highway 113 and Easy Street. That's in section C-1 on page 36 of the DeLorme state atlas. The reporter also spotted a RED-NECKED PHALAROPE nearby in the pond on the east side of Schumacher Road north of Cuba Valley Road. Possibly the same bird was seen in the area for several days after this. Another birder went to Cherokee Marsh, on the northeast side of Madison, on Friday evening. His list of 45 species included: WILSON'S and MAGNOLIA WARBLERS, BALTIMORE ORIOLES, SANDHILL CRANES, SORA and VIRGINIA RAIL, GREAT BLUE HERON, INDIGO BUNTING, WHITE-THROATED and WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS, his first EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE of the season, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS, WARBLING VIREOS, and EASTERN TOWHEE. A BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER was spotted in the UW Arboretum during the morning of Saturday, the 13th. The observer says there were large numbers of BANK SWALLOWS in University Bay later in the day. At Cherokee Marsh on Saturday, an observer found a YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER, a CONNECTICUT WARBLER, and a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW. He and others also birded at the 9-Springs Sewage Treatment Ponds just south of South Town on Saturday. Their sightings included BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER and 2 WILSON'S PHALAROPES. On Sunday, the 14th, a SUMMER TANAGER was observed in the middle of Picnic Point on the west end of the UW campus. The same day the reporter saw about 60 DUNLINS and the RED-NECKED PHALAROPE at Madison Audubon's Goose Pond Sanctuary just southeast of Arlington, section B-2 page 36 of the DeLorme maps. Another observer went to 9-Springs on Sunday and found an AMERICAN BITTERN, a STILT SANDPIPER, and a WILSON'S PHALAROPE. An immature RED-SHOULDERED HAWK was reported flying over Cherokee Marsh on Sunday. At Blue Mounds State Park the same day the same observer listened to a singing ACADIAN FLYCATCHER, saw his first Monarch Butterfly of the se At the UW Arboretum Sunday afternoon, the Longenecker Gardens was full of WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS. Two SNOWY EGRETS were seen east of Madison on Vilas Road near Coffeetown Road on Friday, and again on Saturday, the 13th. This is on atlas page 36, section D-3. These birds were seen again on Sunday. Two of the observers also saw a GREAT EGRET and a SEMI-PALMATED SANDPIPER at the site. Their sightings elsewhere on Sunday included: SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS, WOOD DUCK, GADWALL, and CANADA GEESE with young at the intersection of Hope and Femrite Roads (section D-2 on page 36 of the atlas); 8 warblers, among them MAGNOLIA, WILSON'S, CAPE MAY, BLACK-AND-WHITE, and many AMERICAN REDSTARTS, INDIGO BUNTING, BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER, WHITE-CROWNED and WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS, BLUE-HEADED VIREO, and SWAINSON'S and WOOD THRUSHES, all at Cherokee Marsh. At Easy Street and 113 north of Waunakee they did not find the Cattle Egret, but got SOLITARY, SEMI-PALMATED, SPOTTED and PECTORAL SANDPIPERS. At the County V ponds, section C-1 page 36 of the atlas, they saw LEAST and SEMI-PALMATED SANDPIPERS, GREATER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS, and AMERICAN WIGEON; at Madison Audubon's Goose Pond Sanctuary, they found the RED-NECKED PHALAROPE, about 80 DUNLIN, and about 6 BLACK TERNS. At Schoenberg Marsh, also section B-2 on the map, they found SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS, BLACK TERNS, EASTERN BLUEBIRDS, and YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS. And at the Grassy Lake State Wildlife Area southwest of Doylestown in Columbia County, section A-3 on the atlas, they heard 2 AMERICAN BITTERNS. On Monday, the 15th, a birder found 10 species of shorebirds at 9-Springs, also FRANKLIN'S GULL, 6 FORSTER'S TERNS, 2 SANDERLINGS in breeding plumage, and 2 GREAT EGRETS. At Cherokee Marsh several birders saw 20 species of warblers, including a HOODED WARBLER. There were also SWAINSON'S and GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSHES, SCARLET TANAGERS and 2 female RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS building nests. Two people birded in Sauk and Columbia Counties on Monday. At The Nature Conservancy's Schluckebier Prairie along Sauk County Highway PF, section B-5 of page 35 in the atlas, they found an ORCHARD ORIOLE, and about 2 miles west at TNC's Gasser Sand Barrens on Exchange Road, there was a singing LARK SPARROW. To the north, at Baxter's Hollow, section A-5 same atlas page, there was a singing WINTER WREN and a SINGING YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER. At Goose Pond Sanctuary they saw the RED-NECKED PHALAROPE, along with WILSON'S PHALAROPE, HUDSONIAN GODWITS, DOWITCHERS, and DUNLINS. And along Dike Road, at Horicon Marsh in Dodge County, section D-1 page 46 in the atlas, they saw an EARED GREBE, 2 AMERICAN AVOCETS, AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS, HUDSONIAN GODWIT, and WILSON'S PHALAROPE. Two others also saw the RED-NECKED PHALAROPE at Goose Pond Sanctuary on Monday. One's list there added AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER, both GREATER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS, SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, SEMI-PALMATED PLOVER, KILLDEER, SEMI-PALMATED SANDPIPER, WESTERN SANDPIPER, NORTHERN HARRIER, RED-TAILED HAWK, SANDHILL CRANE, MALLARD, BLUE-WINGED TEAL, and NORTHERN SHOVELER. Another spotter saw his first Monarch Butterfly on Monday, in western Dane County. On Tuesday, the 16th, an observer reported many of the same goodies at Horicon Marsh reported earlier. He said the AVOCETS were seen from the north side of Dike Road in the western-most pond. He thought there were perhaps a thousand DUNLIN; and he saw BOBOLINKS on Point Road; a LEAST BITTERN on the Wetland Boardwalk; and a TRUMPETER SWAN. Another birder, also at Horicon on Tuesday, counted 34 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS, an OSPREY, a RED KNOT, and a RED-NECKED PHALAROPE. There was a singing BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER reported east of the big spring in Wingra Woods at the UW Arboretum on Tuesday. A CONNECTICUT WARBLER was found at Gardner Marsh in the eastern part of the Arboretum that morning. And, later in the day, the reporter saw a pair of OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHERS at Owen Park on Madison's west side. Another person birded in Quarry Ridge Park on Wednesday, the 17th. This is just south of Madison off of Highways 18 and 151, near the Bavaria Sausage Kitchen on the Fitchrona Road, section A-1 page 28 of the atlas. He found 49 species. Among them: 35 WOOD DUCKS, including 13 young, BANK SWALLOWS, CHIMNEY SWIFTS, CEDAR WAXWINGS, GREAT BLUE and GREEN HERONS, LESSER YELLOWLEGS, SPOTTED, SEMI-PALMATED and LEAST SANDPIPERS, and INDIGO BUNTINGS. Also on Wednesday, another observer was birding between Merrimac and Devil's Lake State Park, section B-6 atlas page 35. Part of the Riverland Conservancy is on Deerpath Lane, off Marsh Road - look for fire number S7089. He heard 3 singing BLACK-BILLED CUCKOOS, saw 2 ALDER FLYCATCHERS and watched an EASTERN KINGBIRD building a nest. He says the area was very good for sparrows: with several GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS, VESPER SPARROWS, CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS, and 1 LARK SPARROW all singing. Along Marsh Road, off of County DL, he saw a pair of SANDHILL CRANES with 2 chicks. At the birding platform off of State 113 northwest of 78 he found a singing BELL'S VIREO. And he found his first Common Sooty-wing of the season. Finally, for those of you in Madison Audubon's southeastern sector, an observer has been watching a flock of YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS on County Line Road between Rock and Jefferson Counties, page 29 of the atlas, section B-5 and 6. He also says that Danielson Road southeast of Cambridge in Jefferson County, A-5 on atlas page 29, has had a good assortment of warblers, including REDSTARTS and a CERULEAN, and INDIGO BUNTINGS, SCARLET TANAGERS, and CEDAR WAXWINGS. The Wisconsin Society for Ornithology hotline, in Milwaukee, as of Monday, the 15th, is reporting: Arctic and Caspian Terns and Franklin's Gulls in Milwaukee County; a Summer Tanager and Harris's Sparrow in Ozaukee County; Eared Grebes in Outagamie County and at Horicon Marsh in Dodge County; the Red-necked Phalarope and Franklin's Gulls at Madison Audubon's Goose Pond Sanctuary in Columbia County; and 2 American Avocets and 4 Willets in Manitowoc County. For details, call the WSO hotline at 414-352-3857. Not included in that report was the possible sighting of a Piping Plover at Harrington Beach State Park on Wednesday morning. The next Madison Audubon Society field trip will be Saturday, May 20th. Greg Geller and Becky Abel will lead a joint trip with the Nature Conservancy at TNC's Spring Green Preserve just northeast of Spring Green. Meet at the parking lot which can be reached from Highway 14 by going one-half mile north on Highway 23, then three quarters of a mile east on Jones Road. Access to the TNC parking lot is just after the house trailer with fire number E5196A. If you have questions, call Greg at 608-544-2082. Good birding! * Wisconsin * Madison * 11 May 2000 * WIMA0005.11 BIRDS MENTIONED- Common Nighthawk Red-eyed Vireo Great Blue Heron Green Heron Great Egret SNOWY EGRET Sandhill Crane Wood Duck White-crowned Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Eastern Bluebird Indigo Bunting Scarlet Tanager Magnolia Warbler Prothonotary Warbler Semi-palmated Sandpiper Orchard Oriole Horned Grebe Red-headed Woodpecker Northern Waterthrush Veery Clay-colored Sparrow WHITE-EYED VIREO NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD Wood Thrush Black-throated Green Warbler WORM-EATING WARBLER LOCATIONS MENTIONED- Middleton Tiedeman's Pond, Middleton Cottage Grove Maple Bluff Eau Claire Ave, Madison Stricker's Pond, Middleton Odana Hills Marsh Picnic Point UW Arboretum McFarland, Red Oak Trail Olin-Turville Park This is the birding hotline report of the Madison Audubon Society for Thursday, May 11th. COMMON NIGHTHAWKS were reported flying over Middleton on May 4th. The same observer found a RED-EYED VIREO at Tiedeman's Pond in Middleton. In Cottage Grove, on Vilas Road, a landowner reported recent sightings of a GREAT BLUE HERON, GREEN HERON, GREAT EGRET, SNOWY EGRETS (on May 7th-9th), SANDHILLS CRANES, WOOD DUCKS, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS, WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS, and EASTERN BLUEBIRDS. An INDIGO BUNTING was reported at a feeder on Maple Bluff on the 5th. Also on May 5th, a SCARLET TANAGER was spotted on Eau Claire Avenue in Madison. The same observer found a MAGNOLIA WARBLER and a COMMON NIGHTHAWK the same day. An observer reported a PROTHONOTARY WARBLER at Stricker's Pond in Middleton on May 6th, along with a GREAT BLUE HERON, a GREEN HERON, and SEMI-PALMATED SANDPIPERS. Two observers at Odana Hills Marsh on Sunday the 7th reported finding an ORCHARD ORIOLE on the north side of the big pond. The Madison Audubon Society field trip to Picnic Point on May 7th found 60 species, including a HORNED GREBE, a RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, a NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH, a VEERY, a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW, and WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS. On Tuesday the 9th, the WHITE-EYED VIREO was reported still singing at the UW Arboretum. A NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD was spotted flying over the Red Oak Trail in McFarland on Wednesday, the 10th. Another observer went to Olin-Turville Park on the 10th and found a SCARLET TANAGER, a WOOD THRUSH, a BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER, and a NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH. On May 10th, a WORM-EATING WARBLER was reported in the UW Arboretum, along with a PROTHONOTARY WARBLER. * Wisconsin * Madison * May 4, 2000 * WIMA0005.04 BIRDS MENTIONED- Grasshopper Sparrow Henslow's Sparrow Lark Sparrow Warbling Vireo Least Flycatcher Clay-colored Sparrow Palm Warbler EURASIAN WIGEON Black-throated Green Warbler Cape May Warbler Chestnut-sided Warbler Yellow Warbler Pine Warbler Nashville Warbler Ovenbird Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) Warbler Peregrine Falcon Olive-sided Flycatcher Osprey Double-crested Cormorant Blue-winged Warbler Solitary Sandpiper Green Heron Bald Eagle Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Swainson's Thrush White-crowned Sparrow Broad-winged Hawk Eastern Towhee Baltimore Oriole Rose-breasted Grosbeak Pine Siskin Veery Wood Thrush Lesser Yellowlegs Pectoral Sandpiper Dunlin Semi-palmated Plover American Golden Plover Lapland Longspur Hooded Warbler Chestnut-sided Warbler Tennessee Warbler Blue-headed Vireo Cape May Warbler American Redstart Indigo Bunting Bobolink Sedge Wren Red-headed Woodpecker LOCATIONS MENTIONED- Spring Green Nature Preserve Governor Dodge State Park 9 Springs Sewage Treatment Plant, Madison Gardner Marsh, UW Arboretum Shoveler's Sink Gammon Road area, Madison Owen Park, Madison Cherokee Lake and Cherokee Marsh, Madison Yellowstone Lake State Park Blanchardville area New Glarus Odana Hills Marsh, Madison Goose Pond Sanctuary, Arlington Intersection of Highway 113 & East St, N of Waunakee DM & I Ponds, northern Dane County UW Arboretum, Wingra Woods Olin-Turville Park, Madison This is the birding hotline report of the Madison Audubon Society for Thursday, May 4th. Please note that next week's transcript will NOT be posted on the internet because the transcribers will be out of town. To get next weeks sightings, please call the hotline number directly. A trip on April 24th to the Spring Green Nature Preserve, the Nature Conservancy property, turned up GRASSHOPPER, HENSLOW'S, and LARK SPARROWS, along with a 6 foot long bull snake. The observer then went to Governor Dodge State Park, and found 20 singing HENSLOW'S SPARROWS there. On April 27th an observer went to 9 Springs Sewage Treatment Plant, and found a WARBLING VIREO, a LEAST FLYCATCHER, a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW, and a soft-shelled turtle. A PALM WARBLER was found at Gardner Marsh in the UW Arboretum on the 27th. The male EURASIAN WIGEON was reported to be still at Shoveler's Sink on April 29th. A caller noted the following warblers in the Gammon Road area on the 29th. BLACK-THROATED GREEN, CAPE MAY, CHESTNUT-SIDED, YELLOW, PINE, NASHVILLE, OVENBIRD, and YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS. A PEREGRINE FALCON was seen flying over Owen Park on the 30th, where an OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER was also present. On both the 27th and the 28th, an OSPREY was seen at Cherokee Lake, near Cherokee Marsh. On the 1st, 17 DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS were observed roosting on Cherokee Lake. A trip to Yellowstone Lake State Park on the 30th resulted in finding a male BLUE-WINGED WARBLER, a PALM WARBLER, a YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, a SOLITARY SANDPIPER, a GREEN HERON, and 2 immature BALD EAGLES. At home on Yankee Hollow Road near Blanchardville, this observer found a BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER and a SWAINSON'S THRUSH. On the 1st, a caller from New Glarus reported a WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW singing in her backyard. At Odana Hills Marsh on the 1st, a birder spotted 49 species, including BROAD-WINGED HAWK, EASTERN TOWHEE, BALTIMORE ORIOLE, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, PINE SISKIN, and VEERY. A WOOD THRUSH was heard singing in the UW Arboretum on the 28th of April. Goose Pond Sanctuary was reported as being crowded with shorebirds on May 1st. Up to 250 LESSER YELLOWLEGS and around 200 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS were seen, along with a DUNLIN and SEMI-PALMATED PLOVERS. The caller noted that another good spot currently for shorebirds is near the intersection of Highway 113 and Easy Street, about a half mile north of Waunakee. Up to 100 LESSER YELLOWLEGS were seen there. The DM&I ponds in northern Dane County were also reported as yielding good shorebirds. On May 3rd, an AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER in breeding plumage was spotted at Goose Pond. About 30 LAPLAND LONGSPURS were also still present there. A male HOODED WARBLER was reported on the 3rd at the UW Arboretum in the Wingra Woods area, between Skunk Cabbage Bridge and Wingra Springs. A visitor to Olin-Turville Park on the 2nd found a CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER, a BLUE-WINGED WARBLER, a TENNESSEE WARBLER, a BLUE-HEADED VIREO, a WARBLING VIREO, a BALTIMORE ORIOLE, and a ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK. This reporter also found a CAPE MAY WARBLER and an AMERICAN REDSTART in his backyard the following day. An INDIGO BUNTING was found at Owen Park on Tuesday, the 2nd. On Thursday, May 4th, a singing BOBOLINK was spotted flying over Cherokee Marsh. Also found there were a SEDGE WREN, a number of warblers, and a RED-HEADED WOODPECKER. The WSO Hotline in Milwaukee, (414) 352-3857, as of April 27th was reported the Eurasian Collared-Dove near Milton, and Godwits, a Pacific Loon, and a Piping Plover along Lake Michigan. Please call the hotline for details. * Wisconsin * Madison * 27 April 2000 * WIMA0004.27 BIRDS MENTIONED- Common Yellowthroat Greater Yellowlegs Lesser Yellowlegs Common Snipe Blue-gray Gnatcatcher House Wren White-throated Sparrow Hermit Thrush Orange-crowned Warbler Pine Warbler Northern Waterthrush Bank Swallow Chimney Swift Black-crowned Night Heron EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE Yellow-rumped Warbler Cliff Swallow Green Heron Pine Siskin Field Sparrow Gray Catbird Sora Virginia Rail Woodcock Great Egret Bonaparte's Gull Hooded Merganser Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Cooper's Hawk Yellow Warbler Black-and-white Warbler Winter Wren Spotted Sandpiper Killdeer Caspian Tern Turkey Vulture Purple Martin Whip-poor-will Brown Thrasher Eastern Meadowlark Western Meadowlark Upland Sandpiper Lapland Longspur Savannah Sparrow Nashville Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Great Crested Flycatcher Osprey Sharp-shinned Hawk Broad-winged Hawk Pectoral Sandpiper Solitary Sandpiper LOCATIONS MENTIONED- 9 Springs Sewage Treatment Plant Wingra Woods, UW Arboretum Turville Point, Lake Monona Arboretum entrance at Wingra Drive County M, Rock County, west of Milton Eagle Heights Prairie du Sac Stricker's Pond Odana Hills Marsh Cherokee Marsh Picnic Point Gardner Marsh, UW Arboretum Thousand Rocks Prairie This is the birding hotline report of the Madison Audubon Society for Thursday, April 27th. The warm weather has been absolutely beautiful and has brought in a number of migrating species, including Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Brown Thrasher, 10 species of warbler, and a number of different sandpipers. A COMMON YELLOWTHROAT was spotted at 9 Springs Sewage Treatment Plant on Saturday, the 22nd, along with both GREATER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS, and COMMON SNIPE. Also on the 22nd, a BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER was seen in Wingra Woods at the UW Arboretum. A HOUSE WREN was reported on Monday, the 24th, in a backyard on Madison's north side. WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS and a HERMIT THRUSH were also present. An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was observed at Turville Point on the 24th, along with a PINE WARBLER, a NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH, BANK SWALLOWS, and CHIMNEY SWIFTS. The same observer also pointed out that the BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS can still be seen near the Arboretum entrance off Wingra Drive. Two birders checked out the EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE reported near Milton last week, and were able to see the bird on Monday, the 24th. Another Madison birder made an attempt on Wednesday to find the bird, but was unsuccessful. If you'd like to make the effort, take I-90 from Madison toward Janesville, take the Milton exit (Highway 59) and go south on Highway 59 to County M (inside Milton). Turn west (right) on County M and go approximately 3 miles to Newville Road. The bird has been seen near this intersection, as well as a bit west from this point on County M, although still on this side of the railroad tracks. A BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER was seen in Eagle Heights Woods near the gardens on April 24th. YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS were also present. CLIFF SWALLOWS were reported near the Highway 60 bridge at Prairie du Sac on the 25th. The reporter also saw sandpipers at Stricker's Pond in Middleton. A caller reported his first Tiger Swallowtail of the year, and his first ever in April on Wednesday, the 26th. An early morning meander around Odana Hills Marsh on Thursday, the 27th, turned up 31 species, including PINE WARBLER, GREEN HERON, a pair of PINE SISKINS, FIELD SPARROW, and a GRAY CATBIRD. Additional sightings reported on WisBirdN follow: On Tuesday, the 25th, a trip to Cherokee Marsh resulted in finding 7 SORA, a VIRGINIA RAIL, COMMON SNIPE, and a WOODCOCK. The same birder went to Picnic Point on the 26th, and watched CLIFF SWALLOWS, 3 GREAT EGRETS flying overhead, BONAPARTE'S GULLS, and a female HOODED MERGANSER. On the 24th, he was at Gardner Marsh in the UW Arboretum, and saw 3 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS. Elsewhere in the Arboretum, he found a BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER, PINE SISKINS, YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER, HOUSE WREN, COOPER'S HAWK, YELLOW WARBLER, HERMIT THRUSH, BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER, and WINTER WREN. On Tuesday, the 25th, a birder went to 9 Springs Sewage Treatment Plant, and found 3 SPOTTED SANDPIPERS, both GREATER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS, KILLDEER, CASPIAN TERN, BONAPARTE'S GULL, SORA, TURKEY VULTURE, many ducks, CHIMNEY SWIFT, and 2 PURPLE MARTINS. A caller reported 3 WHIP-POOR-WILLS at Cherokee Marsh on both Monday and Tuesday, the 24th and 25th. A visit to Thousand Rocks Prairie on Thursday, the 27th, found a BROWN THRASHER, both EASTERN and WESTERN MEADOWLARKS, UPLAND SANDPIPER, about 120 LAPLAND LONGSPURS, and SAVANNAH SPARROWS. The same day, a trip to Picnic Point resulted in a NASHVILLE WARBLER, a BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER, a heard GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER, an OSPREY, a MERLIN, a COOPER'S HAWK, a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, a BROAD-WINGED HAWK, 40 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, 1 SOLITARY SANDPIPER, and 2 SPOTTED SANDPIPERS. Enjoy this beautiful spring weather! * Wisconsin * Madison * 22 April 2000 * WIMA0004.22 BIRDS MENTIONED- EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE Mourning Dove Swamp Sparrow Vesper Sparrow Yellow-rumped Warbler EURASIAN WIGEON Ruby-crowned Kinglet Golden-crowned Kinglet Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Hermit Thrush Black-crowned Night Heron Yellow-headed Blackbird Broad-winged Hawk Osprey Purple Martin Horned Grebe Common Loon Pileated Woodpecker Pine Warbler LOCATIONS MENTIONED- Milton area Shoveler's Sink Odana Hills Marsh Wingra Drive Hislop Drive, near Waunakee Owen Park Olbrich Gardens Lake Wingra Governor Nelson State Park This is the birding hotline report of the Madison Audubon Society for Saturday, April 22nd. A EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE was reported present in a yard west of Milton on April 17th. The bird has apparently been there since winter, and obviously different from the also-present MOURNING DOVES. On April 15th, a visit to Shoveler's Sink turned up several SWAMP SPARROWS, a singing VESPER SPARROW, 2 YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, and the EURASIAN WIGEON. This observer then visited Odana Hills Marsh and found both RUBY- and GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS, 3 YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS, a HERMIT THRUSH, and several YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS. 4 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS were observed roosting in a tree on Wingra Drive on Tuesday, the 18th, between the entrance to the Arboretum and Spruce Street. The YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS are reportedly back at the pond on Hislop Road, just northwest of Waunakee. A pair of BROAD-WINGED HAWKS was seen over Owen Park on the 18th. The reporter also saw an OSPREY plus a good number of migrating songbirds. On Friday, the 21st, an observer found an adult BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON at Olbrich Gardens, near the Garver property. He also spotted an OSPREY flying over Olbrich Gardens on the 20th, plus his first PURPLE MARTINS of the year. On the 19th he saw a HORNED GREBE in breeding plumage off Olbrich beach, plus 3 COMMON LOONS on the 20th, including two in breeding plumage. In the butterfly department, he reports 5 species near Olbrich Gardens, including Red Admiral, Mourning Cloak, Spring Azure, Cabbage, and one of the Sulphurs. Elsewhere in Madison on the 21st he saw an Eastern Comma and an American Lady. He also found a Green Darner dragonfly near Olbrich Gardens. An adult male HORNED GREBE was spotted on Lake Wingra near the spillway, on the 21st. Today, the 22nd, two birders reported a PILEATED WOODPECKER and a PINE WARBLER at Governor Nelson State Park. The WSO Hotline in Milwaukee, (414) 352-3857, as of Friday, the 14th, was reporting American Avocets in Green Bay; the Eurasian Wigeon in Madison; American White Pelicans in Green Bay and along the Mississippi River; Red-necked Grebes at Rush Lake, Lake Maria, & Grassy Lake in Columbia County; and all 3 Scoters plus Oldsquaw and Red-throated Loon at Harrington Beach State Park. The next Madison Audubon Society field trip is this coming Saturday, April 29th, a trip to Abraham's Woods in Green County for wildflowers and spring birds. Meet to carpool by 8 a.m. at the Super America gas station parking lot at the intersection of Verona and Raymond Roads in Madison. You may also meet the group at Abe's Woods located just southwest of Albany. Contact the trip leader, Andrew Hipp, regarding questions at 241-5045 or on email at "alhipp@students.wisc.edu". Good Birding! * Wisconsin * Madison * 16 April 2000 * WIMA0004.16 BIRDS MENTIONED- Osprey Red-necked Grebe Horned Grebe Northern Parula Green-winged Teal Common Loon Red-breasted Merganser Wood Duck Great Egret Purple Martin Tree Swallow Double-crested Cormorant Bonaparte's Gull Dunlin Yellowlegs (sp.) Common Snipe Golden-crowned Kinglet Ruby-crowned Kinglet Yellow-rumped Warbler American Robin EURASIAN WIGEON Eastern Meadowlark Barn Swallow Northern Rough-winged Swallow Chipping Sparrow Blue-headed Vireo Pied-billed Grebe Pectoral Sandpiper Canvasback EARED GREBE Brown Thrasher Caspian Tern Green Heron Virginia Rail Louisiana Waterthrush LOCATIONS MENTIONED- Stricker's Pond, Middleton University Bay Tiedeman's Pond, Middleton 9 Springs Sewage Plant Shoveler's Sink UW Arboretum MATC, Truax Campus, Madison Monona Bay Pheasant Branch Rd, N of Middleton Goose Pond Sanctuary Mendota County Park, Lake Mendota Walking Iron County Park Sauk City area Wangsness Road, southern Columbia County Edna Taylor Conservancy Highway 113 near County DL in Sauk County Governor Dodge State Park This is the birding hotline report of the Madison Audubon Society for Sunday, April 16th. Once again, we have been having difficulty with our recording equipment, thus resulting in a delay of updating our reports. Please bear with us. A pair of OSPREY were reported at Stricker's Pond on Saturday, April 8th. The same observer then went to Grassy Lake in Columbia County, and found a RED-NECKED GREBE. HORNED GREBES in breeding plumage were spotted in University Bay on Lake Mendota on Thursday, April 6th. A visit to Stricker's Pond on Sunday, the 9th, turned up a NORTHERN PARULA and a GREEN-WINGED TEAL. On nearby Tiedeman's Pond, the same observer found COMMON LOONS, RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS, WOOD DUCKS, and GREAT EGRETS. The PARULA was found again in the same location by the same plus 2 other observers on Wednesday, April 12th. Also, on Sunday, the 9th, a visitor to 9 Springs observed a PURPLE MARTIN, TREE SWALLOWS, 2 DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS, 10+ BONAPARTE'S GULLS, 2 DUNLIN, YELLOWLEGS (species), COMMON SNIPE, both GOLDEN- and RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, a YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, SONG SPARROWS, AMERICAN ROBINS, and several ducks. The EURASIAN WIGEON was reported to be still at Shoveler's Sink on Wednesday, the 12th. The two reporters also found an EASTERN MEADOWLARK doing a courtship display, and at least 4 COMMON SNIPE in the grasslands around the pond at Shoveler's Sink. Tiedeman's Pond reportedly had 2 BARN SWALLOWS and 2 NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS on Wednesday, April 12th. On Thursday, the 13th, 2 GREAT EGRETS were found by the same person at Stricker's Pond. On Wednesday, the 12th, a visit to the UW Arboretum turned up NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS and CHIPPING SPARROWS. The same observer reported a BARN SWALLOW at the MATC Campus on Madison's north side, along with a record early (by 2 days) BLUE-HEADED VIREO. He also spotted about 70 RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS on Monona Bay along with about 44 PIED-BILLED GREBES. Two observers were unsuccessful in finding the Northern Parula on the 13th at Stricker's Pond, but they did see 4 BONAPARTE'S GULLS, 2 GREAT EGRETS, and several RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS there. On Friday, the 14th, a birder located a BARN SWALLOW on the pond on Pheasant Branch Road just south of County K, north of Middleton. He also found several PECTORAL SANDPIPERS at Goose Pond Sanctuary in Columbia County. On Saturday, the 15th, an observer at Mendota County Park on the north side of Lake Mendota found several CANVASBACK and a breeding plumaged EARED GREBE at close range. Also on the 15th, an observer at Walking Iron County Park found a BROWN THRASHER, and then saw PURPLE MARTINS in the Sauk City area. He also found a CASPIAN TERN off Wangsness Road just west of County C in southern Columbia County, and a GREEN HERON at Stricker's Pond. Two observers on Friday, the 14th, found a VIRGINIA RAIL at Edna Taylor Conservation Park on the east side of Madison. Two other observers on Saturday, the 15th, found 10 WOOD DUCKS and a beaver at a pond on Highway 113 near County DL just south of Baraboo in Sauk County. On Sunday, the 16th, a LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH was observed singing weakly in the 36 degree weather at Governor Dodge State Park in Iowa County. NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS, finally, were found at Stricker's Pond on Sunday, the 16th. The next Madison Audubon Society field trip will be this coming Friday, April 21st, a walk in Cherokee Marsh. Meet at the parking lot at 6:30 p.m. Waterproof footwear is recommended. Please call Levi at 277-7959 if you have questions. Good Birding! * Wisconsin * Madison * 5 April 2000 * WIMA0002.27 BIRDS MENTIONED- EURASIAN WIGEON Red-necked Grebe Swamp Sparrow Savannah Sparrow Vesper Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Eastern Meadowlark Western Meadowlark Bonaparte's Gull Winter Wren Eastern Towhee Hooded Merganser Wood Duck Pied-billed Grebe Blue-winged Teal Belted Kingfisher Tree Swallow Lesser Scaup Double-crested Cormorant Bufflehead Common Loon Winter Wren White-throated Sparrow Red-breasted Merganser Osprey Golden-crowned Kinglet Sharp-shinned Hawk Great Egret Greater Yellowleges Pectoral Sandpiper Common Snipe Canada Goose Gadwall Sandhill Crane Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Eastern Phoebe Northern Flicker Song Sparrow Ruby-crowned Kinglet Hermit Thrush LOCATIONS MENTIONED- Shoveler Sink Wyoming Road, near Spring Green Thousand Rocks Point Prairie Patrick's Marsh Madison School Forest, near Verona UW Arboretum, Grady Tract Cottage Grove Lake Wingra Marshall Park area Cherokee Marsh UW Arboretum, Nakoma Duck Pond Sandberg Woods Hudson Park area UW Arboretum, McKay Center area 9 Springs Sewage Treatment Plant This is the birding hotline report of the Madison Audubon Society for Wednesday, April 5th. The EURASIAN WIGEON, an adult male, has been reported by several observers to still be at Shoveler Sink, the most recent report being April 4th. To reach Shoveler Sink, take Highway 12/18 to the Mineral Point Road Exit, and go west 4 miles. Shoveler Sink will be on your right. On Monday, March 27th, a RED-NECKED GREBE was spotted on the east side of upper Wyoming Road, just east of Highway 23, about 5 miles south of Spring Green. It could not be located on a subsequent visit to the same location. On March 30th, 2 SWAMP SPARROWS were seen at the east end of Shoveler Sink. Another reporter noted 9 species of sparrow on April 1st, unfortunately forgetting to leave the location. These included SAVANNAH, VESPER, and CHIPPING SPARROWS. The same observer found both EASTERN and WESTERN MEADOWLARKS singing at Thousand Rocks Point Prairie. 20 BONAPARTE'S GULLS were found at Patrick's Marsh on April 1st. The same observer found a WINTER WREN at the Madison School Forest, near Verona, and an EASTERN TOWHEE singing in the Grady Tract of the UW Arboretum. A caller from the Cottage Grove area reported the following birds seen over the past week: HOODED MERGANSER, WOOD DUCK, PIED-BILLED GREBE, BLUE-WINGED TEAL, BELTED KINGFISHER, TREE SWALLOW, LESSER SCAUP, and 4 species of woodpecker. DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS were seen on Lake Wingra, on March 29th. A visit to the Marshall Park area on April 3rd turned up BUFFLEHEADS, LESSER SCAUP, PIED-BILLED GREBES, and 1 COMMON LOON. Over the past several days, several people have reported WINTER WRENS, and the locations reported include: Cherokee Marsh, Nakoma Duck Pond, the Hudson Park area, and Sandberg Woods. WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS have also been seen recently at the Nakoma Duck Pond. On April 2nd, 6 Coyotes were calling in the vicinity of the McKay Center of the UW Arboretum. This caller also saw 70 RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS on Lake Wingra, and in the same area an OSPREY, 4 COMMON LOONS, 2 BELTED KINGFISHERS, GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS, and a male SHARP-SHINNED HAWK. Also on April 2nd, a visit to the 9 Springs Sewage Plant found a GREAT EGRET flying overhead, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, COMMON SNIPE, and 10 species of duck. The same observer was at Cherokee Marsh on the 3rd. There he found DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS, several CANADA GOOSE nests including one already with eggs, over 200 GADWALL, 1-2 YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS, a male EASTERN TOWHEE, EASTERN PHOEBES, NORTHERN FLICKERS, and SONG SPARROWS. On the 5th a visit to Sandberg Woods resulted in seeing RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS and HERMIT THRUSHES. * Wisconsin * Madison * 27 March 2000 * WIMA0003.27 BIRDS MENTIONED- EURASIAN WIGEON Redhead Canvasback Red-shouldered Hawk Tree Swallow Killdeer Common Snipe Fox Sparrow Common Loon Pileated Woodpecker Northern Flicker Golden-crowned Kinglet Pine Siskin Belted Kingfisher Great Egret Eastern Phoebe Great Horned Owl Great Blue Heron Red-breasted Merganser Least Sandpiper Cedar Waxwing Wood Duck Blue-winged Teal GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE Tundra Swan Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) Warbler LOCATIONS MENTIONED- Shoveler Sink 9 Springs Sewage Plant Edna Taylor Conservancy Lake Monona, Convention Center area Tyrol Basin area Picnic Point UW Arboretum, Honeeum area Lake Wingra Stricker's Pond, Middleton Governor Nelson State Park Goose Pond Schumacher Road pond DM & I ponds, northern Dane County Schoeneberg Marsh Black Hawk Ridge This is the birding hotline report of the Madison Audubon Society for Monday, March 27th. Spring migration continues, and the highlight this week is the Eurasian Wigeon which was first spotted on Saturday and was still present today. The EURASIAN WIGEON was first seen on Saturday, the 25th, and has been every day since in the midst of numerous other waterfowl at Shoveler Sink, just west of Middleton. To get to Shoveler Sink, turn west from the Beltline at the Mineral Point Road exit and go straight out (you'll now be on County S) 4 miles. Shoveler Sink will be on your right. Other sightings follow: 200 REDHEADS were seen on the 21st in Monona Bay near Bernie's Beach, along with 20 CANVASBACKS. On Wednesday, the 22nd, the same observer went to 9 Springs Treatment Plant and watched an adult RED-SHOULDERED HAWK flying over and saw his first TREE SWALLOW of the year. In addition, he spotted 11 species of ducks, several KILLDEER, several SNIPE, and 10 FOX SPARROWS. He also saw 10 FOX SPARROWS at Edna Taylor Conservancy, and 4 COMMON LOONS near the Convention Center on Lake Monona. 2 PILEATED WOODPECKERS were observed mating in a front yard in the woods near Tyrol Basin on Friday the 24th. Also on the 24th, 2 birders at Picnic Point found 3 COMMON LOONS, 1 NORTHERN FLICKER, many GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS, many PINE SISKINS, and numerous ducks. A BELTED KINGFISHER was heard at the Honeeum ponds on the 23rd. The person reporting then saw a Northern Flicker at Honeeum on the 25th. Also on the 25th, she observed 2 COMMON LOONS and a GREAT EGRET on Lake Wingra. A Saturday, the 25th, visit to the UW Arboretum turned up 3 NORTHERN FLICKERS, 1 EASTERN PHOEBE, and a GREAT HORNED OWL on a nest. The observer also found a GREAT BLUE HERON at Stricker's Pond along with 10 RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS. TREE SWALLOWS were seen on Saturday, the 25th, near Governor Nelson State Park. The person reporting also saw 15 LEAST SANDPIPERS at Goose Pond the same day. A flock of CEDAR WAXWINGS was spotted on the 25th on the west side of Madison, near Middelton. Two other birders reported several findings between the 23rd and the 25th. On Thursday, the 23rd, they found WOOD DUCKS at the Schumacher Road pond, BLUE-WINGED teal at the DM & I ponds, 30-40 CANVASBACKS at Schoeneberg's Marsh, and 82 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE along with 160 TUNDRA SWANS at Goose Pond. While walking the Black Hawk Ridge wetlands on the 23rd, they also found a Northern Leopard Frog on the trail. They went back to Black Hawk Ridge on the 25th, and reported finding their first YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER of the year, a NORTHERN FLICKER, and an EASTERN PHOEBE. In the butterfly department, they also found several Mourning Cloaks and Question Marks. Good Birding! * Wisconsin * Madison * 22 March 2000 * WIMA0003.22 BIRDS MENTIONED- Common Loon Wood Duck Red-breasted Merganser Pied-billed Grebe Red-shouldered Hawk Common Snipe Sandhill Crane Northern Pintail Eastern Screech Owl Eastern Meadowlark (probable) Belted Kingfisher Cooper's Hawk Eastern Phoebe LOCATIONS MENTIONED- Lake Monona, near Convention Center Tiedeman's Pond, Middleton Odana Hills Marsh 9 Spring Sewage Plant McFarland Governor Nelson State Park 6 Mile Creek UW Arboretum, Honeeum area This is the birding hotline report of the Madison Audubon Society for Wednesday, March 22nd. On the 17th, a COMMON LOON was spotted near the Convention Center on Lake Monona. WOOD DUCKS, RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS, and PIED-BILLED GREBES were observed on Saturday, the 18th, at Tiedeman's Pond in Middleton. Also on the 18th, a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK was seen flying over the Odana Hills Marsh. The same day a trip to the 9 Springs Sewage Plant turned up over 12 COMMON SNIPE, 18 SANDHILL CRANES, and 13 species of waterfowl, including NORTHERN PINTAIL. EASTERN SCREECH OWLS were also reported on Saturday as nesting in McFarland. On Monday the 20th, 2 MEADOWLARKS, probably EASTERN MEADOWLARKS, were seen at Governor Nelson State Park. A BELTED KINGFISHER was spotted nearby at 6 Mile Creek, and a COOPER'S HAWK was reported nesting on Madison's east side. One observer found his first EASTERN PHOEBE of the year on Monday at the Honeeum area of the UW Arboretum. * Wisconsin * Statewide * 10 March 2000 * WIST0003.10 - Birds Mentioned Brant Ross's Geese Greater White-fronted Geese Black-backed Woodpecker Lesser Black-backed Gull Golden Eagles Sharp-tailed Grouse /pre> |