Sparrows, chimney swifts, rarities star
Plenty of news in the birding world this week. Most notable early on were two warm-weather rarities, the state's 4th-ever magnificent frigatebird in Marathon County on September 22 (http://bit.ly/2wZPdKA) and 8th Say's phoebe in Bayfield a day later.
But it's the short-distance migrants that are taking center stage statewide. American robins, rusty blackbirds, and both kinglet species are on the increase, while now is peak time for yellow-bellied sapsuckers, northern flickers, and cedar waxwings. Read more.