Old Eyes

Just when I, according to Owen, receive major cred by guiding the WSO to my Carolina Wren, I totally lose it by erroneously posting a Bohemian Waxwing! Aagh. Tim, who is currently pedaling furiously through the Menomonee Valley, alerted me to the error. Obviously, it was a (actually there were ten or so) Cedar Waxwing in Estabrook Park, not Bohemian. I also saw the Carolina Wren in my yard again today, and was quite surprised to see it go to my feeder and take a seed away.

Hermit Thrush

Today is my first day back home after travelling for the holidays and I was happy to see that the Hermit Thrush that was hanging around the backyard before Christmas is still here.  The feeders are full and the water in the heated bird bath is fresh.  While the locals find their way back to the yard, it's time for my first Bigby walk of the year down to the Milwaukee River Greenway.  Maybe I'll even swing by Robin's for her Carolina Wren.  And so it begins!

Carolina Wren

Felled by a cold, I stayed in yesterday. I probably got the cold from birding on Sunday in the bitter winds. I lucked out yesterday, however, when I got up from the couch to put more wood on the fire, and noticed that MY Carolina Wren was back. Easiest bigby ever. Quite exciting. Now, what can I give this cold little guy?

Green Big Day - New Year!

Hey Folks,

I birded mostly from the warm confines of my living room today. However; at 3:30 PM I decided to brave the cold - mostly because I've been reading books on Everest..and it seemed appropriate. As luck would have it the third bird I saw at Lower Mud Lake was an imm. Sharp-shinned Hawk. A bird that I somehow missed last year??

Happy GBIBGYing.....

Andy P.

2011

The clocks have rolled over to a new year and our Green Birding lists have rolled back to ZERO.  Here's to another great year of Green Birding!!

WisBigby 2010 coming to a close

As 2010 winds down and we look forward to a new year of green birding, congratulations go out to Scott with an amazing 234 bird species seen without the use of fossil fuels!  It was a great inaugural year for WisBigby and Tim and I are looking for any suggestions to improve the experience for all in 2011.  Just drop one of us a line.

Happy New Green Birding Year!!

Milwaukee lakefront, 11/4-11/5 - Three new BIGBY birds, first of year snowflakes

Ran across three new MilWALKee BIGBY species over the past two days. My list of MilWALKee BIGBY species now stands at 171. Two of these birds were also 2010 "combo" BIGBY species, bringing that count to 211 species.

Highlights from Thursday, 11/4:

* Wilson's Snipe. Flushed from the south end of Veterans Park lagoon. MilWALKee BIGBY species #169.

* Common Nighthawk(?). This seems REALLY late! I was by Discovery World and heard what sounded exactly like a Common Nighthawk "peenting" as it headed south. Couldn't make visual confirmation. The only other bird I know of that can make a sound like that is a displaying American Woodcock, and I'm pretty sure they only do that in spring. Not sure what to think.

* American Coot numbers seem to be gradually declining. Where I used to see hundreds, I'm now seeing dozens.

* Saw the largest flock of Canada Geese I think I've ever seen on the ground. 600+ birds just north of Veterans Park. The orange-collared goose from Hudson Bay is still hanging around. It's been there since at least October 11. There were also several Cacklers mixed in, although they weren't as small as the one I photographed earlier this week.

Highlights from Friday, 11/5:

* First really wintry day I've experienced this fall. And I saw several first-of-season snowflakes! I was out for 3+ hours with the temps in the mid-30s, and wind chills in the mid-20s. Lake Michigan was pretty rough, with some pretty big waves. I remember thinking "you could almost surf on these waves". Right on cue, when I got to Bradford Beach there was someone in the surf with a small (maybe 8-foot) board, trying to catch some waves. It chilled me to the core just to watch! This photo might give you a sense of how rough the lake was: http://bit.ly/dyaADK.

* Lots of duck activity off of Bradford Beach and North Point. Both Scaup species, Buffleheads, White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Ring-necked Duck. And, of course, lots of Mallards. Given the weather conditions, I was surprised by how much flying in and flying out was going on. There was quite a bit of turnover as I watched. I was also surprised to see sleeping ducks riding the rough surf with heads tucked under their wings.

* Ring-necked Duck was MilWALKee BIGBY species #170, and 2010 combo BIGBY #210.

* Black Scoter was MilWALKee BIGBY species #171, and 2010 combo BIGBY #211.

Bernie Sloan
Milwaukee