Statewide Birding Report as of September 26, 2019

Favorable west-northwest winds generated multiple migration events this week, providing some great birding but also accelerating the exit of many species from the state. The warbler peak has now passed, and northern birders have become inundated with yellow-rumped warblers, which are the last to depart each fall. Look for tail-wagging palm warblers among them and small numbers of other species over the next 1-2 weeks. We’re down to the last of the vireos, flycatchers, orioles, grosbeaks, and buntings as well. Hummingbirds continue across the southern half of the state but only an occasional straggler remains up north. In their wake, ruby-crowned and golden-crowned kinglets are being seen in big numbers now. The first dark-eyed juncos have arrived, and sparrows have become more common, including white-throated, chipping, Lincoln’s, swamp, and the first white-crowned and Harris’s. Numbers of American robins, rusty blackbirds, and hermit thrushes are on the increase. Other migrants to watch for now include winter wrens, yellow-bellied sapsuckers, and northern flickers.

Swirling kettles of broad-winged hawks amazed many observers, especially on the 23rd and 24th, including counts of nearly 900 in Grant County and several hundred at various southeastern Wisconsin locations. Although the peak has past, additional kettles will move through in the days ahead, along with a wide variety of other raptors like sharp-shinned and Cooper’s hawks, American kestrels, bald eagles, ospreys, turkey vultures, and more. Keep looking up! On the other hand, waterbirding has been less exciting so far. Flocks of Canada geese moved south all week, especially from Sept 23-25. American white pelicans, double-crested cormorants, and small numbers of various ducks, grebes, and loons were also reported but really good waterbird action is still nearly a month away.

The week’s rarest find was a ninth state record black-throated gray warbler photographed in Waukesha County. Up to six parasitic jaegers and three Sabine’s gulls were found at Wisconsin Point in Douglas. Also notable were harlequin duck in Bayfield, black-backed woodpecker in Ashland, and red-necked grebe in Forest. Saturday will feature active migration conditions. Then rainy weather will slow migration turnover into early next week before yielding cool, northerly winds and more migration mid-late next week. Find out what others are seeing and report your finds to www.ebird.org/wi[exit DNR]. Good birding!

– Ryan Brady, DNR Natural Heritage Conservation Program biologist