Landbirds headline the migration scene
Statewide Birding Report
Land birds continue to headline the migration scene, fully dominated now by the short-distance migrants like sparrows, blackbirds, robins, and kinglets. Most birdwatchers across the state have had their first bittersweet sighting of dark-eyed juncos. White-throated sparrows are numerous statewide with some white-crowned and fox sparrows mixed in. Look for the rare but regular Harris's sparrow within these flocks as well. Wet, weedy fields are hosting good numbers of swamp, song, and savannah sparrows. Consider yourself fortunate to find a LeContes or Nelson's sparrow among them. The first American tree sparrows have also arrived to the north.
Golden-crowned kinglet
Photo Credit: Ryan Brady
American robins flooded into the state from the Canadian boreal forest in large numbers this past week. Rusty blackbirds are also on the move and can be found in marshes with scattered trees and wet woodlands. Other forest birds prevalent now are winter wrens, hermit thrushes, brown creepers, and both ruby-crowned and golden-crowned kinglets. Warbler diversity is pretty thin at this point, with yellow-rumped and palm warblers most abundant by far, though orange-crowned warbler and a few other lingering species can still be found. Pine siskins are common across the north and in more modest numbers through southeast Wisconsin. Some purple finches are also migrating south now.
The season's first rough-legged hawk was found in Bayfield on the 4th. Expect the first returning golden eagles, usually to the western half of the state, by mid-month. A few hummingbirds linger in far southern counties. Contrary to popular myth leaving your feeders up well into October does not deter them from migrating. Any hummingbirds spotted this month should be carefully scrutinized as rufous and other rare hummingbird species often show up this time of year. Last but not least, with breeding season now over for most species the Wisconsin Breeding Bird Atlas just released its 2017 findings (http://ebird.org/content/atlaswi/news/season-3-preliminary-results-and-stats/).
Some of the rarities spotted this week include Swainson's hawk in Clark County, black-backed woodpecker in Bayfield, western kingbird in Portage, possible pomarine jaeger in Ozaukee, and American avocets in Milwaukee. Find out what others are seeing and report your finds at www.ebird.org/wi. Good birding!
- Ryan Brady, Bureau of Wildlife Management research scientist, Ashland