Warbler Walk report 5/22

Lake Park birders,

See the report from Dennis Casper that I am forwarding below.

--- Paul Hunter
Whitefish Bay, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin
http://home.roadrunner.com/~phunter1/lakeparkbirds.html
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Warbler Walks at Lake Park, - Saturdays, 8:30 to 10:00 AM
Spring 2010: April 17, April 24, May 1, May 8, May 15, May 22
Fall 2010: Aug 21, Aug 28, Sept 4, Sept 11, Sept 18, Sept 25
Meet at the Warming House on the north end of the park.
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Lake Park Warbler Walk (#6)
May 22, 2010
by Dennis Casper

Close to thirty birders turned out for the final Warbler Walk of the
2010 spring season. The day was lightly overcast and foggy, with
moderate temperatures in the 60's. There were a number of new faces
in the group, several of whom were excellent birders who provided
much-appreciated assistance in locating and identifying birds for the
group as a whole. The walk began in the usual spot just to the north
of the wooden rustic bridge over Locust St. Ravine. Not much activity
was observable from that area or from the bridge itself, so the group
quickly moved out into open area south and west of the ravine,
between the ravine and the baseball diamond. There, lo and behold!,
the activity in the trees was frenetic. Many warblers were spotted
and enjoyed, several vireos as well, and birds of numerous other
species. As a result, much of the walk was spent in this area. And it
was here that the crowning glory of the day's birding was achieved.
Someone's sharp eyes ferreted out amidst the leaves high in a treetop
a Yellow-billed Cuckoo and then just a bit later high in another
treetop a Black-billed Cuckoo! The birds stayed put for some time,
allowing most if not all to get a look at them. What a remarkable,
unusual "double-play"! Finally dragging ourselves away from this
area, we continued along the ravine, across the pedestrian bridge,
past the pavilion and the golf course, to the Wolcott statue. There
was much less activity throughout this stretch, though new birds were
added periodically all along. Then a final flurry of activity was
discovered in the trees behind the maintenance shed across from the
statue, and the dozen or so remaining birders enjoyed some more time
spotting busy warblers and vireos. The walk ended at that point about
10:30. Those still present helped work out the day's check list, and
then the group disbanded.

Thanks to all who participated and helped out. I hope that everyone
had a satisfying morning of birding and that those who were new to
our walks or to Lake Park will want to come again. Thanks also to
Paul Hunter for organizing the season and leading several walks and
to Jym Mooney for also leading walks and helping out on most others.
Fall warbler walks will begin in late August, so stay tuned. Have a
great summer and happy birding!

Birds Observed, May 22, 2010: Total Species=60

3 Ring-billed Gull
1 Caspian Tern
1 Mourning Dove
1 Black-billed Cuckoo
1 Yellow-billed Cuckoo
1 Common Nighthawk
3 Chimney Swift
2 Red-headed Woodpecker
2 Red-bellied Woodpecker
6 Downy Woodpecker

1 Hairy Woodpecker
3 Eastern Wood-Pewee
4 Least Flycatcher
2 Eastern Phoebe
3 Great Crested Flycatcher
1 Blue-headed Vireo
4 Philadelphia Vireo
10 Red-eyed Vireo
2 Blue Jay
4 American Crow

2 Tree Swallow
7 Black-capped Chickadee
4 White-breasted Nuthatch
2 House Wren
8 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
2 Eastern Bluebird
10 American Robin
3 Gray Catbird
4 European Starling
2 Cedar Waxwing

1 Golden-winged Warbler
1 Tennessee Warbler
1 Orange-crowned Warbler
1 Nashville Warbler
3 Chestnut-sided Warbler
5 Magnolia Warbler
1 Yellow-rumped Warbler
2 Black-throated Green Warbler
4 Blackburnian Warbler
1 Palm Warbler

2 Bay-breasted Warbler
10 Blackpoll Warbler
4 Black-and-White Warbler
10 American Redstart
1 Mourning Warbler
1 Common Yellowthroat
6 Wilson's Warbler
4 Canada Warbler
1 Scarlet Tanager
5 Chipping Sparrow

3 White-throated Sparrow
3 White-crowned Sparrow
4 Northern Cardinal
1 Rose-breasted Grosbeak
6 Indigo Bunting
5 Brown-headed Cowbird
2 Baltimore Oriole
3 House Finch
8 American Goldfinch
4 House Sparrow