Wisconsin Statewide Birding Report 9.2.14 Though shorebirds have been migrating for a couple months now, and are past their peak in both numbers and diversity, land bird migration got underway in earnest this week with 18-plus species of warblers reported in the north and 12-plus in the south. Among them were the first bay-breasted, blackpoll, and yellow-rumped warblers from the boreal forest, as well as Swainson's thrush, dark-eyed junco, and various flycatchers. Backyard favorites such as ruby-throated hummingbird, Baltimore oriole, and scarlet tanager were also on the move to tropical wintering grounds. Shrubby and edge-filled woodlots are excellent habitats to scour this time of year, especially when associated with water or fruiting trees and shrubs. Many birders also noted common nighthawks darting overhead at dusk this week. This should continue over the next one to two weeks so keep an eye to the sky for these acrobatic birds as daylight wanes. Likewise, chimney swifts are staging at fall roost sites and concentrations of the birds should be reported to eBird at
www.ebird.org/wi (exit DNR). Shorebird migration isn't over and recent rains have replenished a number of sites that were good in mid-summer but had dried out since. Keep an eye out for yellowlegs, pectoral sandpipers, sanderlings, plovers and other late season favorites. Several piping plovers and whimbrels were also seen. In addition, the first parasitic jaeger of the season was reported at its typical Wisconsin Point hotspot in Douglas County. Other rare birds spotted this week include snowy egret and tricolored heron at Horicon Marsh, rufous hummingbird in Dodge County, eared grebe in Lafayette, western grebe in Forest, and up to six white-faced ibis in Winnebago, where the presence of several food-begging juvenile birds is suggestive of the state's first-ever breeding evidence for this western species. Be sure to get out and enjoy the fall migration in the months ahead! - Ryan Brady, Bureau of Wildlife Management research scientist, Ashland
