WSO Field Trip Report – Southern Kettle Moraine State Forest
June 2, 2012
A fantastic group of approx. 40 people met at the Scuppernong Ski Trails at 6 a.m. and proceeded to spend time at several key sites within the State Forest until disbanding around 11:30 a.m. We only had one “big miss”, but the Forest worked its magic and produced a number of “bonus” birds that made up for it! Here’s where we went & what we saw:
Scuppernong Ski Trails & Mackie Picnic Area
Unfortunately, our only real disappointment of the day occurred here when we did not hear or see the Prairie Warbler. However, we were thrilled to listen to and watch 3-4 GOLDEN-CR KINGLETS within a spruce stand. In that same area, a pair of BROAD-WINGED HAWKS was present. Heard ACADIAN FLYCATCHERS (& saw), SCARLET TANAGER, RED-BR NUTHATCH, PILEATED WOODPECKER & WOOD THRUSH. Seven warbler species were heard and included Mourning, Hooded, Pine, Black-thr Green, Chestnut-sided, Blue-winged, & Ovenbird. Nearly every HOODED WARBLER was singing an “alternate” song type!
Scuppernong Prairie & River habitat
Yellow-breasted Chat (photo by Jym Mooney)
While the YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT was not singing, our patient group was still able to locate him and enjoy a lengthy period of visual observation. RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS were seen and/or heard in two locations. A cooperative HENSLOW’S SPARROW provided scope views to many. Also seen or heard were NORTHERN HARRIER (male), BROWN THRASHER, BOBOLINKS, GREAT EGRET, GREEN HERONS, SEDGE WREN, & CHIMNEY SWIFT, along with ALDER and WILLOW FLYCATCHERS.
State Forest Headquarters (i.e. official bathroom pit stop!)
Saw RUBY-THR HUMMINGBIRD and E BLUEBIRD (he was literally a stone’s throw away) in the vicinity of the feeders and heard a LEAST FLYCATCHER near the railroad tracks.
Carlin Trail (this is a road, not the Emma Carlin Trails)
Despite being after 10 a.m., we saw and heard 2 CERULEAN WARBLERS, YELLOW-THR VIREO, and were pleasantly surprised by a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK (very uncommon in S Kettle) which flew overhead for a couple minutes along with 2 Red-tailed Hawks. Other species found there were GREAT-CRESTED FLYCATCHER, NO. ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS, ACADIAN FLYCATCHER, & HOODED WARBLER.
Young Road (just east of Hwy H)
Arrived just in time for several cars to see a LARK SPARROW in the middle of the road! The bird then perched several more times before flying nearby but out of view. At this point the group broke up, with some folks heading back to our meeting location and others continuing to check along Young Road for Orchard Orioles, etc.
Thank you to everyone who participated ~ we truly had a great morning!
Andrea Szymczak
Waukesha, WI
Posted: June 12th, 2012