Statewide Birding Report as of October 24, 2019

Waterfowl activity picked up significantly this week, birders all around the state finding increased numbers and diversity at local ponds, wetlands, and larger lakes. Dabbling ducks were well-represented by mallard, northern shoveler, American wigeon, northern pintail, gadwall, green-winged teal, and wood duck. Diving ducks included redhead, lesser scaup, ring-necked duck, bufflehead, and some impressive counts of ruddy duck, including 2000 in Rock County and 2500+ in Marathon. On the Great Lakes, all three scoter species and the first long-tailed ducks were found in small numbers, while red-breasted mergansers streamed south by the hundreds. Common loons were on the move, including small numbers on the Madison lakes now. Also seen there and elsewhere were large rafts of American coots. Good numbers of pied-billed grebes were found in the south and horned grebes on Lakes Superior and Michigan, a few red-necked grebes among them. Farther west the Mississippi River continues to host large numbers of canvasbacks and other waterfowl, as well as double-crested cormorants, American white pelicans, and slowly building numbers of tundra swans, 100-200 now visible from the popular overlook in Brownsville, Minnesota. Canada geese are prevalent statewide with a few snow and cackling geese. Greater white-fronted geese were reported in Grant, Burnett, and even Ozaukee counties. Lingering shorebirds included yellowlegs, dunlin, spotted and solitary sandpipers, long-billed dowitcher, killdeer, and Wilson’s snipe.

Landbird migration has slowed considerably, especially across the north where juncos, robins, blackbirds, kinglets, creepers, and purple finches dominate now. Northern shrikes have arrived statewide, as well as the first rough-legged hawks. Red-tailed hawk migration is at peak, numbers of sharp-shinned and Cooper’s hawks are excellent, and even a few northern goshawks are on the move. No snowy owls have been found yet, however. The south is holding onto better numbers of songbirds, including widespread reports of hermit thrushes, eastern bluebirds, cedar waxwings, robins, kinglets, various sparrows, and a few late warblers. Of note were late reports of 2 common nighthawks in Manitowoc, 88 chimney swifts in Waukesha, and 100+ tree swallows in Dane, as well as ruby-throated hummingbirds in Dane, Milwaukee, and even Eau Claire.

Rarities spotted this week included a summer tanager in Bayfield County, Sabine’s gull in Ozaukee, Franklin’s gulls in Dane and Racine, Harris’s sparrow in Milwaukee, and a remarkable showing of American avocets that included sightings in La Crosse, Marathon, Kewaunee, Dodge, and 40 birds along the Lake Michigan shore in Ozaukee on October 22. Over the week ahead expect a continuing trend of more waterbirds and fewer landbirds. Mild, south winds will reduce active migration but provide good conditions to be out birding on Friday and Saturday. West-northwest winds and colder temperatures move in for the rest of the week and will get birds moving. Watch for swans, geese, and ducks as well as good flights of raptors, as well as more dark-eyed juncos and other late-season songbirds. Find out what others are seeing and report your sightings to www.ebird.org/wi [exit DNR]. Good birding!

– Ryan Brady, DNR Natural Heritage Conservation Program biologist