https://ebird.org/hotspot/L1325030
Habitat: Open Water, Urban.
Best Birds: Best birding September – May.
Sixteen species of gulls have occurred here, including Glaucous, Iceland, Great Black-backed, Lesser Black-backed (winter), Laughing, Franklin’s, and Little (fairly likely in migration), California, Sabine’s, Ivory, Mew, Glaucous-winged, and Black-legged Kittiwake.
Red-throated Loon, Common and Red-breasted Merganser can be numerous in winter. Check the harbor and Lake Michigan for scoters, Long-tailed Duck, Harlequin Duck, Western Grebe, and rarely even King Eider.
The rock jetties are resting places for Whimbrel, Willet, Ruddy Turnstone, Sanderling, Black-bellied Plover, and rarely American Avocet as well hundreds of Caspian Tern and Common Tern and dozens of Forster’s Tern. In winter look for Snowy Owl.
The Bird Sanctuary to the south of the harbor is a fallout spot for dabbling ducks, Black-crowned Night-Heron, migrant warblers, and sparrows.
Peregrine Falcon frequent the nest box at the power plant south of the harbor year round.
Upper Lake Park provides scope views of the harbor and open lake north of the harbor and is another fallout site for migrant passerines.
Directions: Port Washington Harbor lies at the eastern termination of Hwy 33 and its junction with Hwy 32 (43.38902, -87.86462).
Site Address and Additional Information:
Coal Dock Park – 146 S. Wisconsin St., Port Washington 53074, 43.38521, -87.86676
Port Washington Marina – 106 E. Lake St., Port Washington 53074, 43.38902, -87.86462
Map: http://www.worldportsource.com/ports/maps/USA_WI_Port_Washington_Marina_3617.php
Jim Frank
