Horicon Marsh Bird Club
Jeff Bahls, President
N4686 Blackbird Rd
Beaver Dam, WI 53916
(920) 210-4832
For festival registration questions
call 920-485-4663
email the president

Recent Events and Sightings

Snowy Owl- Fox Lake - 02/24/2010
Snowy Owl- Fox Lake This Snowy owl was spotted near Fox Lake. Lake Emily Rd and Brave Rd just east of The Fox Lake Prison



Oprey Platform - 02/16/2010

This has been a vision of Horicon Marsh Bird Club president, Jeff
Bahls, to get one erected at Horicon and a shared effort by Wisconsin
Department of Natural Resources programs, Wildlife and Endangered
Resources to promote and provide artificial structures to ospreys as
there natural nest sites become more scarce. The last and most
important partner in this endeavor is Alliant Energy. They are
providing the electrical pole and equipment/operator for placement.
This will be a great project for the marsh and hopefully a better one
for the osprey.		 Oprey Platform



Passenger Pigeon Donated to Horicon Marsh International Education Center - 01/25/2010
Passenger Pigeon Donated to Horicon Marsh International Education Center Passenger Pigeon Donated to Horicon Marsh International Education Center

The passenger pigeon was at one time the most abundant bird in North America. However, due to unregulated hunting and habitat destruction this bird went extinct in the early 1900’s. The loss of the passenger pigeon was among the most vivid examples of species extinction and in many ways provided the impetus for our modern conservation ethic.

Because this bird disappeared nearly 100 years ago, only a few specimens remain in a select number of museums and collections in the world. Around the turn of the last century, a young passenger pigeon was mounted in Waukesha County by William Zimdars and remained in his private collection for decades. Throughout his lifetime he practiced taxidermy and had assembled a sizeable collection of a wide variety of birds. Years ago, he passed his collection on to his son, who also recently passed away. The bird was kept by the son’s wife, Mildred Zimdars and following her husband’s death, the family went through the estate. This was when this priceless specimen again came to light.

Realizing the uniqueness and tremendous historical value of this rare specimen, the family contacted DNR Naturalist, Bill Volkert to assess the entire family collection of mounted birds. Bill traveled to the family home to identify all of the birds in the collection and to advise which ones are currently protected under federal law.

All migratory birds fall under federal protection and therefore needed to be kept in the family, since they were mounted prior to the current laws, or given to a museum or other institution having a federal collector’s permit. The vast majority of the collection was given to DNR. Not knowing what to do with the passenger pigeon, the family finally decided that an appropriate place for this would be to have it on display at the new Horicon Marsh International Education Center. On Friday, January 8, 2010 Clyde and Kathy Robinson, granddaughter of William Zimdars, traveled to Horicon Marsh to deliver this bird.

This extinct species will become part of the exhibits at the new Education Center and a special public unveiling of this display will take place at the January meeting of the Horicon Marsh Bird Club. This will be held on Thursday evening, January 21 when the monthly program will focus on the history of the passenger pigeon. Everyone is welcome to participate in the program and view this very rare and special display. The program begins at 7:00 pm.

The Friends of the Horicon Marsh International Education Center would like acknowledge the generosity of Kathy and Clyde Robinson and the Zimdars family who provided the passenger pigeon for exhibit at the Education Center.



Winter Birds - 01/23/2010

Snow buntings,Lapland longsprus and Horned larks were spotted on Rockvale Rd and a Northern Shrike was seen on Peachy Rd. Ledge road and Centerline Rd continue to be a good spot for Snow Buntings.



Horicon Dike road shorebirds - 08/20/2009
Members of the Horicon Marsh Bird Club had a shore bird field trip this evening. We gathered along Hwy 49, early arrivals had a rare "treat" to watch a Great Blue Heron eat a half grown muskrat. Now there is something you don't see everyday! :) The best habitat right now is along Dike Rd. I had been to Dike Rd a couple hours earlier. So I'll pass along my sightings between the two trips.First bird in my scope was a peregrine falcon, nice way to start. We started checking off shore birds Least,semi-palm SP. LB dowitcher, pec sp, Gr & Lesser Yellowlegs,Semi palm plover, GOLDEN & BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER ,snipe, WILLET, solitary sp, killdeer . Pelicans,Egrets,black terns,sandhill cranes and more BC night herons than you could shake a stick at.
First trip had the plovers and second had the willet. Ibis earlier in the week and snowy egret last week, avocets a couple weeks before that. So you never know what is going to show



Ibis Dike road - 08/18/2009

Found this Ibis along Dike Rd and took this not so good photo with my cell phone thru spotting scope.
Jeff Bahls 		Ibis Dike road



Snowy Egret - 08/17/2009
Snowy Egret This past week, two Snowy Egrets have been seen south of the Dike Road in the Horicon National Wildlife Refuge. They were feeding along side 40 to 50 Great Egrets. The Snowy,a relatively rare species of bird in Wisconsin, stands about two feet high and is much smaller than the more commonly seen Great Egret which is over three feet tall. The Snowy egret has black legs with yellow feet and a black beak unlike the larger Great egret, which has black legs and feet and a yellow beak. Both species were seen feeding on Mud Minnows and other aquatic creatures. The hunting technique of the bird with the "yellow slippers" was to jiggle one foot at a time on the water surface and in the vegetation to chase out prey and then grab it with its beak, while the big bird waited patiently for prey to come by and then quickly grabbed it with its beak. Jack Bartholmai



Peregrine Falcon-Dike rd - 07/22/2009

7/19/09-When I was birding Dike Road on Sunday morning I went down to the very end. And in the dead tree just south on the service road was an immature Peregrine Falcon eating lunch. I was able to get this photo of it (after it was done eating). Not the best photo as the bird was abit backlit but you can see its " moustache" and the barring on the tail. I was able to watch him for a good 10 minutes. Vicki Hollenberg Peregrine Falcon-Dike rd



Trumpeter Swans nesting on Horicon NWR - 07/07/2009
Trumpeter Swans nesting on Horicon NWR I first spotted this family of Trumpeter Swans on the way to work the evening of June 22, only 20 feet off Hwy 49, on the north side (no camera). I finally relocated them on July 6th on the south side of the highway on the way home from work, and they were a little closer to the road on the 7th, so I continued home, and returned with my biggest lens, but the distance still pushed the limits of my 800mm. I have several pictures that confirm six young. They have been on the north side of the highway, in the large area of open water just east of where the thick cattails start, just the east of the island. Submitted by Jeff Raflik Photo by Jeff



Horicon Marsh Dike road and Hwy 49 - 06/25/2009

Lead a group from Connecticut Audubon today around Horicon today. Along Dike road had great looks at least bittern, american bittern, sora, Virginia rail, blackneck stilts, lesser yellowlegs also wilson phalarope. Pelicans,cranes,Gb heron BC night herons. Bobolinks and sedge wrens along entrance. Hwy 49 had Yellow headed blackbird, many coot and PB grebes with young, ruddy ducks,redheads, wood ducks,gadwal. best stuff was a canvasback, trumpeter swan with 5? young. Bird of the day was a drake common Goldeneye. Photo by Jeff Raflik Horicon Marsh Dike road and Hwy 49



Dike road -Red Necked Pharalope - 05/31/2009
Club Member Vicki Hollenberg spotted a Red-necked Pharalope along the south side of Dike road west of the spillway



Ruddy turnstones- Hwy 49- Horicon Marsh - 05/17/2009

A flock of Ruddy turnstones was spotted by HMBC member Jeff Raflik along Hwy 49 near the pumphouse. For more photos see http://www.jeffraflik.com/ruddy.turnstone.htm Good stuff! Ruddy turnstones- Hwy 49- Horicon Marsh



Check Out Our Bird Festival Results - 05/12/2009
The Horicon Marsh Bird Club just finished up with our 4-day annual Horicon Marsh Bird Festival. It was a record-breaking year as we found a total of 167 bird species during FESTIVAL ONLY EVENTS. Please take the time to look over our complete list of Festival birds that we have found during the last 12 years. Click on the FESTIVAL icon on our drop down menu and then go to FESTIVAL BIRD LIST. This will give you a great idea of what can be expected during this time of year. Good birds that are still around and have not migrated north are Marbled Godwit and many shorebird and warbler species. The godwit is being seen along with 4 Black-necked Stilts (nesting?) and many American Bitterns and rails along Dike Road in the Horicon National Wildlife Refuge. Dike Rd. can be accessed from Cty. TW along the east side of Horicon Marsh.



Black necked stilts & tri-colored heron - 04/30/2009

Black necked stilts have been spotted along the Dike road,just past the spillway. Jack Bartholmai photographed a tri-colored heron at the west end of the Dike road



Dodge county early waterfowl results - 03/15/2009
Bird buddies,
First of all I'd like to thank all that participated and a great crowd
we had. Second I'd like to say I broke my weather curse,it's usually
snowing, blowing,sleeting,raining,and wind chills of -40 when I lead
a trip.
We gathered at Beaver Dam McDonalds and had our first target bird
before we even got in the car, several flocks of greater white fronted
geese where flying overhead. We headed to Leipsig area. where we had
rusty blackbirds and a bald eagle flyby. we put a good dent in the
waterfowl checklist along "J" bufflehead ,ringneck,pintail,blackduck,
ross goose and added some more along Meadow rd bridge, ruddy duck,
common and hooded mergansers, wigeon,gw teal cackling geese. We picked
up shovelers on Catbird rd. Another good spot was "J" east of
Reeseville. canvasbacks, greater and lesser scaup, were found as well
as a northern shrike. 16&26&60 interchange held lots of waterfowl but
nothing new for the day.
ou last stop at Eagle rd held 5 trumpter swans.
4 geese species 17 duck species 43 sp total for the day ,Again thank
all who attended

From the heart of the "Paradise Triangle" the white fronted goose
capital was Wisconsin. :)

Horicon Marsh Bird Club member Jeff Raflik put together some of his
pictures from yesterdays trip to share.
http://www.jeffraflik.com/031509.fieldtrip.htm.



White Fronted geese-Beaver Dam river - 03/05/2009

Beaver Dam river from Leipsig to
Lowell and surounding drainage. thousands of Canada geese and many
White Fronted Geese as well. Ducks present common and hooded
mergansers,goldeneyes,ringnecks, scaup ,mallards, wigeon and a
coot,shovelers,also.Had a single snow goose and a couple of cacklers
as well.I spotted WF geese in every large concentration of canada's
that I looked.
Locations for WF geese
Meadow road bridge was the best, scope to the north
York road
"J" south of Leipsig
"J" east of Reeseville
Catbird road
Chapel road from Catbird to Blackbird.		 White Fronted geese-Beaver Dam river



Common redpolls-Horicon - 02/03/2009
Sighting: Common Redpoll
Location: Horicon
Posted by Anita Biedermann

Club member Anita Biedermann reports that the redpoll invasion has come to the city of Horicon. Anita says redpolls are feeding on thistle seed in her yard.



Mud Lake Wildlife area - Bluebirds - 02/02/2009

Sighting: Eastern Bluebirds
Location: Mud Lake Wildlife Area- Ranch road
Posted By Jeff Bahls

Comments:While doing winter maintance of some wood duck boxes at Mud Lake Wildlife area. Horicon Marsh Bird Club members Brad Webb and Jeff Bahls first heard then spotted at least 3 Eastern Bluebirds along Ranch road in the Mud Lake Wildlife Area. Blue birds are a uncommon to rare winter resident for Wisconsin. Some open water and plenty or berries in the area make it possible for the bluebirds to winter over in this tough season.



Common Redpolls - 01/30/2009
Common Redpolls common redpolls have filled my yard the last several days with over 25 of them on my feeders and deck at one point today. Here you can see 11 of them on a thistle sock. While wing crossbills continue to be seen near mature spruce trees. Mallards and some black ducks have been spotted near the dam in Beaver Dam. Posted by Jeff Bahls



White-winged Crossbills cont. - 01/20/2009

This is a continuation of Jeff’s earlier crossbill report. With the large winter eruption of White-winged Crossbill in Wisconsin, Dodge County has had sightings in a variety of locations. In addition to Dodge Cty. Ledge Park, White-winged Crossbill have been sighted in the last few days at: Honey Acres – 12 miles north of Oconomowoc off of Hwy. 67, Intersection of Cty. S and TT south of Beaver Dam, Hwy. 28 on the hill between Mayville & Horicon and at the cemetery in Mayville on John St. south of Hwy. 28 as you go out of the city on Cty. V. At all locations look to the pines as the birds are normally seen feeding or perched amongst the pinecones. Doing a little “pishing” sometimes seems to bring the birds into view. If you want to see Crossbills in Dodge Cty. this winter might be your best bet for years to come. Posted by Larry Michael with reports from Jeff, Jack, Bob and myself



Common Redpoll - 01/10/2009
Common Redpoll Common Redpoll
Near Lowell

the feeders are very busy today. I've had pine siskins and this common redpoll along with many goldfinches.
Jeff Bahls



White wing Crossbills - 01/08/2009

Location Dodge county Ledge Park

Posted by Jeff Bahls

Today I found about 15 White- wing crossbills at Ledge park they
were in the upper part of the park past the Ranger Station near the
Ledge Rocks trail sign in the spruce trees. From there they flew south
and I wasn't able to relocate them. The road is plowed only as far as
the ranger station and it is glare ice under the snow so be careful.



pine siskins and others - 11/29/2008
pine siskins and others this pass week or so here is what I have seen around Dodge county. Snow buntings continue to be seen around the right habitat..Open fields. Bald eagles continue to work on a new nest south of Leipsig. A northern shrike was located on "J" south of Leipsig also. I had a northern Harrier and a yellow rumped warbler on my land on Nov 22. Pine siskins are coming to my thistle feeders as well. In the photo there is a goldfinch to the left and a pine siskin on the right. Jeff Bahls



Merlin (Prairie) - 11/22/2008

Vicki Hollenberg reported finding a Prairie (subspecies) Merlin off of Dike Road in the Horicon Marsh NWR. She reported that he was perched on a dead tree on the right side just past the ponds



Snowy owl - 11/16/2008
Snowy owl 2 snowy owls on Dike road



Sightings from within the heart of the marsh - 10/28/2008

Here is what I have spotted over the last several days at Horicon.
Black crown night herons were still plentiful until this last weekend
as were great blue herons. This last big blow seems to have moved them
on. Sandhill crane number have gone down but still present. Roost
spots south of dike road and below Horicon DNR field office if you
want to see takeoff/returning cranes.
Ringnecks,buffleheads,canvasbacks,hooded mergansers for diving ducks.
GW teal, mallards, gadwall were the most seen puddlers. there were a
few shore birds spotted today, least sp, yellowlegs and killdeer.
Tundra swans made their first appearance over the weekend. Coot and
Canada geese were still abundant. The surprise of the day was a lone
snow bunting spotted in the heart of the marsh on a spoil bank in a
cattail treatment area. There was ice along many of the potholes
today. Jeff Bahls		 Sightings from within the heart of the marsh



shorebirding Yew road near Fox Lake - 09/13/2008
Spent a couple of days birding Yew road south of Fox Lake for shorebirds. Noteable birds were Red-necked Phalaropes,Black bellied plovers,semipalmated plovers,stilt sandpipers, Lesser sandpipers, semipalmated sp, Green wing and Blue wing teal and an early ringnecked duck. Jeff Bahls



American Avocets ( 6 ) - 07/25/2008

Location: See previous two entries.

Posted by: Larry Michael

Comments: At the same location as the two previous entries 6 American Avocets were seen this morning and again at 4:45 PM today. I also found the 4 Black-necked Stilts and one of the ibises at this location.



Black-necked Stilts, Glossy & White-faced Ibises - 07/21/2008
Location: See previous entry.

Posted by: Larry Michael

Comments: The pair of Black-necked Stilts is still being seen from Dike Road in Horicon NWR, along with two other stilts. Best viewing has been just west of the water control structure, which is about 1/3 of the way out on this dead end road. Look for the birds to the south, through or over the cattails in the open area of water, mudflats and matted cattails. A small step ladder is recommended or anything else that will help you look over the cattails.

In addition to the 4 BN Stilts up to 7 ibises have been seen in the same area. At least two have been ID'd as White-faced with one of the others as a Glossy. I have not be able to ID the other birds due to poor lighting conditions and have not heard of additional ID reports. These birds are often out of view so it may take patience to find them.

Also seen for one day were 3 Caspian Terns, which are not always found on Horicon Marsh. While these birds may have moved on, keep an eye out for them as they would make a nice addition to your Marsh bird list.



Black-necked Stilts (nesting) - 07/20/2008

Location: Dike Road can be found on the east side of Horicon Marsh about 1/3 of the way north from Horicon. Dike Rd. is located off of Cty. TW north/northwest of Mayville. Take TW north from Hwy. 28 and before you get to the small town of Kekoskee take Dike Rd. to the west. Follow this road to its end as it gives you access to the middle of the marsh.

Posted by: Larry Michael

Comments: A pair of Black-necked Stilts is being seen from Dike Road in Horicon NWR. They have been seen to the south just west of the water control structure, which is about 1/3 of the way out on this dead end road.

Look for the birds through or over the cattails in the open area of water, mudflats and matted cattails. The nest is far enough from the road that they will not be disturbed. Viewing can only be done from the road and any access off the road is strictly prohibited. While I was watching the birds one seemed to be sitting on the nest while the other fed nearby.

There has been a report from earlier today that one of the birds was seen turning the eggs.

Good Luck.



Purple Martin Update - 07/09/2008
Sighting: Purple Martins & Young
Location: DNR Field Office
Posted by: Larry Michael

During my last check of “our” martin houses, I found the following: 19 young martins of various ages from 5 active nests. I still have a pesky house sparrow or two who keep trying to build their nests, even if I keep destroying them. Have caught 6 sparrows in a trap so far, but stopped using it when the matins arrived. I wanted to make the houses as attractive as possible to the martins and checking the trap on a daily basis seemed to be an intrusion on the birds.

So far all the chicks seem healthy, with one nest of 5 all starting to get their feathers, to one nest where the chicks are but a few days old. With a little luck we should get a good number of birds to fledge and hopefully they will return next year to help grow this long-lived martin colony.



Purple Martins - 06/06/2008

Sighting: Purple Martins
Location: New Bird Club Martin Houses at the end of Palmatory St.
Posted by: Larry Michael

Comments: Horicon we have contact... After erecting the two purple martin houses as a Club-Festival-Big Sit project, I have nervously waited for some kind of sign that martins might try to nest in their new digs this year. After watching one or two martins check out these martin housing units over the past month or so, nothing materialize and the rooms continued to remain vacant. Then on June 3 and 4 a small flock of 8 or so martins arrived and seemed to be very interested in renting some of the units. On the 5th I began to notice martins carrying nesting materials into some of the compartments and my first check of the boxes on Friday the 6th, there were 4 and possibly 5 nests started. With any luck they will continue their nest building, so watch for more updates as the nesting season continues. See April 20 posting on this page. Bird Club We Have Martins.



Upland Sandpiper - 06/05/2008
Sighting: Upland Sandpiper
Location: NWR Bud Cook Trail
Posted by: Larry Michael

Comments: With a wisbirder website report of a Upland Sandpiper on Sunday June 1, I have been trying to relocate this bird that was seen at the Horicon National Wildlife Refuge Bud Cook Trail. I finally saw the bird doing an aerial display over the grasslands on the west side of West Point Road. The road and trail are located on the northeast corner of the Refuge. Care should be taken to not disturb this or other possible sandpipers, as they might be starting a new nesting territory and these birds are not always found in Dodge County let alone possibly nesting.



Snowy Plover - 05/27/2008

Sighting: Snowy Plover
Location: Green Lake Cty. - Cty. A
Posted by: Joey Reichhoff

Comments: Joey found a Snowy Plover on the west side of Cty. A north of Hwy. 44 and just south of Miller Rd. This is in Green Lake Cty. west of Fairwater and south of Green Lake. There is a small flooded field (drying up quickly)close to the road and another along Miller Rd. that this and other shorebirds are using. This is also the same location that a Ruff was seen a week or so earlier.

Photo by: Tom Schultz		 Snowy Plover



Stilt Sandpiper - 05/22/2008
Stilt Sandpiper Sighting: Stilt Sandpiper
Location: Dodge County Antique Power Club Grounds
Posted by: Jack Bartholmai

Comments: I found this sandpiper mixed in with a group of Wilson's Phalaropes in a small flooded field on the Club grounds.

Photo by: Jack Bartholmai



Dike road - 05/22/2008

Sighting: Wilson's Phalarope
Location: Dike road Horicon NWR
Posted By Brad & Royan Webb
This female Wilson's Phalarope was spotted walking in the grasses
alongside Dike Road on the May 21st. She quickly ducked deeper into the
growth but we were able to get one fast photo before she vanished.

American Bitterns have been seen very often lately along Dike Road.
We've been able to take several photos and had great views on a number
of visits.
The high water levels along Dike Road have caused many birds to be
closer to the road than normal. Sandhill Cranes were very close to
the road, giving excellent viewing and photo opportunities. We saw them
on May 21.
Photo by Brad & Royan Webb		 Dike road



The Early Show at Horicon Marsh - Club Field Trip - 05/04/2008
The Early Show at Horicon Marsh - Club Field Trip Comments: Eight Club Members braved the cool dark morning by meeting at FIVE AM for our Early Show field trip. While the American Woodcock and Wilsons Snipe for the most part stopped their aerial mating displays by that time, there were many other bird species that were in full song.

We ended the trip with over 80 species of birds with many being First of the Year birds for the group. We found 9 warbler species and long looks at Horned Grebes, Merlin, Peregrine Falcon and Bobolink.

Jeff Raflik has posted a few of his photos he took during our field trip, on his website. Give it a try at.
http://www.jeffraflik.com/5-04fieldtrip.htm

Posted by: Larry Michael

Photo by Jeff Raflik



Bald Eagle Nest Update - 05/04/2008

Comments: The eaglet head can be seen just above the nest rim directly below the females beak. The land owner has been seeing feeding activity for about two weeks.
Location: South of Beaver Dam, southeast from the Cty. S & Cty. G intersection. Take Cty. S east and turn right on Barstow Rd. Look for the nest to the east of Barstow.

Posted by: Jack Bartholmai & Larry Michael
Photo by: Jack Bartholmai		 Bald Eagle Nest Update



Marbled Godwit - 05/02/2008
Marbled Godwit Sighting: Marbled Godwit
Location: Cty. A & Jersey Rd.
Posted By: Larry Michael

Comments: Among a small variety of shorebirds there were these two Marbled Godwits. They are large birds, about 18 inches long with a wingspan of 30 inches. While in this area you might want to drive the back roads, as there are many flooded fields that may have other shorebird species. Cty. A & Jersey Rd. is located north of Beaver Dam and Hwy. 151. Jack had called me while I was looking at the birds and was able to drive out and take this photo. What a great photo! Thanks Jack.

Photo by: Jack Bartholmai



Horicon Marsh Dike road - 04/28/2008

Checked out some spots around the Horicon Marsh yesterday but the most productive was Dike road. Many coot, shovelers, and teal were spotted along the spillway and waters to the south of the dike. In the hour we spent there we had approx 40 Black-crown night- heron drop into the cattails just down stream of the spillway. See photo
Jeff Bahls		 Horicon Marsh Dike road



Cattle Egret - 04/23/2008
Cattle Egret Sighting: Cattle Egret
Location: Dodge County Antique Power Club Grounds
Posted By: Larry Michael

Comments: Jack Bartholmai reported finding this Cattle Egret at the "Club Grounds" which are located on Cty. B about a mile west of Hwy. 26 south of Burnett. It was feeding in a flooded grassy area on the south side of Hwy. B. You may have to drive into the driveway and look west to see the flooded area.

Photo by: Jack Bartholmai



Eastern Towhee - 04/21/2008

Sightings: Eastern Towhee
Locations: Dodge County
Posted by: Jack Bartholmai

Comments: Jack sent this towhee photo and reported that this species is moving through the area as well as setting up their nesting territories.

Photo by: Jack Bartholmai		 Eastern Towhee



Pied-billed Grebe vs. Frog - 04/21/2008
Pied-billed Grebe vs. Frog Sighting: Pied-billed Grebe & Frog
Location: Horicon Marsh NWR Hwy. 49
Posted by: Jeff Raflik

Comments: This is my first sighting and photo of a Pied-Billed Grebe with a frog. They usually have a catfish. It occured along hwy 49 in the marsh, at 11:00 today, where I went by at about 55 mph, and saw the Grebe with "something" in its mouth. With some hard braking, and a quick u-turn, I managed a few shots with my 400mm lens. I had an idea it was a frog, but didn't know for sure until I pulled it up on my computer.

Photo by: Jeff Raflik



Purple Martin Houses - 04/20/2008

Sightings: NA
Location: Horicon Marsh DNR Field Office
Posted by: Larry Michael

Comments: Bird Club volunteers and others worked on Sunday morning to erect two new wooden Purple Martin houses in hopes on increasing the size of this long lived colony. The last two years a very ingenious pair of Cooper’s Hawks have wrecked havoc on the martins, often times pulling them right out of their houses. These new houses with their deep nest compartments will help greatly in keeping the martins out of reach or the hawk's preying talons. Now all we need is to have the martins to move into their new digs.

Posted by: Larry Michael		 Purple Martin Houses



American Woodcock - 04/20/2008
American Woodcock Sightings: American Woodcock
Locations: Horicon Marsh
Posted by: Jack Bartholmai

Comments: Jack & Holly ran into this interesting bird while doing one of their many frog surveys. Jack was able to get this great photo with the use of a flash and was nice enough to share it with us. Note: You can hear and see these birds doing their aerial display at many locations around the marsh, both early before sunrise and just after sunset during Spring.

Photo by: Jack Bartholmai



New Arrivals - 04/19/2008

Sightings: Various birds
Locations: Horicon Marsh
Posted by: Larry Michael

Comments: It seems that I am finding new birds for the year almost every day. Today I heard my first Sora and saw Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Black-and-white Warbler, Field Sparrow and White-throated Sparrow, all new for the year. I also came across an American Bittern on Dike Road in the NWR and was able to take a few photos.		 New Arrivals



Common Loon & Horned Grebe - 04/16/2008
Common Loon & Horned Grebe Sightings: Common Loon & Horned Grebe
Location: Horicon Marsh NWR Dike Rd.
Posted by: Larry Michael

Comments: Common Loons are not a common sighting for Horicon Marsh, so I wanted to let you know that I found one on the north side of Dike Rd. in the NWR. Look for it on the largest pool of water. Another or one of the same Horned Grebes that were posted two days ago was also seen on the north side of Dike Rd. just where the road splits into two oneway roads. It was seen quite close to the road and had I had My camera I might have given Jeff and Jack a run for their money for the best grebe pic. I could not help myself and posted Jack's photo of one of the grebes seen off of Hwy. 49 on the 15th.

Photo by: Jack Bartholmai



Bonaparte's Gulls & Shorebirds - 04/15/2008

Sightings: Bonaparte's Gull & Shorebirds
Locations: various flooded farm fields throughout the county
Posted by: Larry Michael

Comments: Most of you will have already noticed the large number of gulls in the area. We are at our peak in the Spring Migration for both Ring-billed and Bonaparte's Gulls. For whatever the reasons they seem to be stalled here or at least have been hanging around longer than I can remember. Many of the flooded farm fields contain gulls, many of them are in breeding plumage.

Shorebirds are also on the increase so keep an eye out for these long distance migrants. They will be seen probing the mudflats and shallow water from now until mid-May. Greater & Lesser Yellowlegs, Pectoral Sandpipers, (1) American Golden Plover and Wilson's Snipe have been seen so far in the flooded fields in and around the Cty. A and Jersey Rd. area

Photo by: Jack Bartholmai 		Bonaparte's Gulls & Shorebirds



Horned Grebe - 04/14/2008
Horned Grebe Sighting: Horned Grege
Location: Horicon Marsh NWR Hwy. 49
Posted by: Jeff Raflik

Comments: This Horned Grebe was along Hwy 49, on the north side, in Horicon Marsh today at around 4:30. He stayed right along the road even after I got out of my van, and followed him up and down the shoulder with my camera and large lens on a tripod. There was another one a few hours earlier in the same area, with more of a summer plumage, but very skittish. I couldn't get near it, even while staying in my van.

Photo by: Jeff Raflik



Putting the duck in the Buck & Duck Ranch - 04/13/2008

Sightings: various bird species
Locations: Buck & Duck Ranch near Lowell
Posted By Jeff Bahls
Despite what the thermometer says the birds say its spring and nesting is underway here at the Buck and Duck Ranch. Canada geese are sitting on a nest along Shaw Brook and I had the first wood duck egg in one of my boxes on April 1. Hooded mergansers followed a day later with an egg in another box. American Kestrels have claimed a nest box on my silo again this year as well. I have 2 bluebirds starting nests in boxes also. While mowing firebreaks in my prairie yesterday I came across a mallard nest with 9 eggs and while fertilizing trees I found a mourning dove nest with 2 eggs in a spruce tree.
During one of our walks on April 11 we had hermit thrush, yellow-rumped warbler, yellow-bellied sapsucker, fox sparrow, rusty blackbirds, golden crown kinglets, Sandhill cranes, mallards, ring-necked pheasants, eastern phoebes and eastern bluebirds.
Maybe spring will come this year.



Dodge Cty. Spring Migrants - 04/08/2008
Dodge Cty. Spring Migrants Sightings: various bird species
Locations: see below
Posted by: Larry Michael

Comments: While the swan, goose and diving duck migration may be past its peak, other waterfowl species numbers will only be increasing.

There are many more flooded farm fields due to the heavy snows and now rains, where the following, first of the year, birds have been found the last few days.

Greater Yellowlegs and Bonapartes Gull were seen at the flooded fields in the Cty. A & Jersey Rd. (formally the A&W Ponds) and Breezy Point Rd. & Hwy. 151 along with a wide variety of ducks. Keep an eye out in the open fields for Lapland Longspurs that are now moving through this area. They move around quite a bit, so be watching for flocks of small birds.

Today, Lake Emily had 7 Common Loons along with 14 other waterfowl species.

The newly built Osprey nest platform located just north of the Fox Lake inlet on Cty. A had a pair of osprey on the nest this morning. I would recommend stopping at a distance to scope the birds rather than trying to get out for a close up look, so as not to disturb the birds prior to nesting.

Horicon Marsh is now almost completely ice free and will only get better in the next few weeks for waterfowl.

Since last Thursday, the following good birds have been seen from the Observation Platform located at the end of N. Palmatory St. in Horicon. Pileated Woodpecker, Common Loon, American White Pelican, Osprey, Bonapartes Gull and Chipping Sparrow. Spring Migration is in full swing. About Time!

Photo: Glen Weismueller



Dodge County Birds - 03/30/2008

Sightings: various migrants and resident birds
Locations: see below
Posted by: Brad and Royan Webb

Comments: The Highway 16/60 pond at the intersection with Highway 26 has a large number of waterfowl, including three Tundra Swans. In the trees well behind the pond, there's an abandoned hawk nest that appeared to have two Owlets in it - light was bad but we assumed Great Horned Owls.

Horicon Marsh is starting to open up. Besides the Canada Geese, we found many of the waterfowl and other migrants typical for this time of year including Canvasback, Northern Pintail, Lesser Scaup, Ring Necked Duck, Redhead, Ruddy Duck, Great Blue Heron, Common Merganser, Herring & Ring Billed Gull, Green Winged Teal, Double Crested Cormorant, Rough Legged Hawk, American Tree Sparrow still hanging about,
many Common Grackles, Redwing Blackbirds, American Robin, Sandhill
Cranes in small flocks and family groups, Killdeer, a few Song Sparrows. Coopers Hawk and Harrier were spotted near the marsh. Looks like spring is finally invading the marsh.



Birding after latest snow - 03/23/2008
Sighting: Woodcock, Turkey Vultures,swans
Near Lowell
Posted by Jeff Bahls
I did a quick tour around the Beaver Dam River after the 11" snow we had friday. Geese in great numbers, white fronted geese are still being seen in the area. The first of year woodcock was spotted on my farm today, as well as reports of turkey vultures near Reeseville. I had 8 swans on the ice north of Lowell but too far to see if tundra or trumpeter. (black bill)



Early spring waterfowl trip - 03/18/2008

Sighting - White fronted geese
Location Beaver Dam River
Posted by Jeff Bahls
Members of the HMBC toured the area along the Beaver Dam River from Beaver Dam to Mud Lake wildlife area in southern Dodge county. White fronted geese were some of our target birds and we were not disappointed.The area from Leipsig to Lowell being the best. The Shaw Creek crossing with Chapel Rd. is also good for white fronted geese at this time.
A Northern Shrike was also spotted near Chub Lake.		 Early spring waterfowl trip



Snow Geese - 03/16/2008
Snow Geese Sighting: Snow, Ross's, Greater White-fronted and Cackling Geese.
Location: see below
Posted by: Jack Bartholmai, Jeff Bahls & Larry Michael
Comments: The above pair of Snow Geese were photographed by Jack along Mill Creek south of Fox Lake on the 16th. The Spring Migration is underway with many geese and ducks, including the above mentioned goose species being seen in Dodge County. Some of the better locations as of this writing include the Mill Creek area, Beaver Dam River south of Beaver Dam all the way to Mud/Chub Lakes and the Rock River south of Hustisford. Any open water or old corn field may produce geese, with the open water acting as a magnet for ducks. As of the the 16th Horicon Marsh is still locked in with ice but that can change quickly depending on the weather and rain. Now is the time of year to catch our waterfowl wearing their finest "breeding plumange". Of course, robins, blackbirds, cranes, sparrows, killdeer and more are also arriving. Its a great time of year to get out to do a little backroad birding or walking at your favorite birding hotspot. Good Luck, and let us know what you are seeing!



Dodge County Winter Birds - field trip - 02/24/2008

9 birders from the HMBC made a trip to the Leipsig – Lowell area Our first stop were a few manured fields, looking for larks/buntings. Bingo! Horn larks were plentiful as they flew over the landscape and several snow buntings were found after scoping the area south of “S” on the east side of “SS”, just south and across the road from the Barnett trucking yard.

Exciting news had come my way on Friday that a new Bald eagle nest was being built so we headed off to view the nest. We were not disappointed both adults were on or near the nest when we arrived. We found some Mallards and a pair of Black ducks on the Beaver Dam River near Leipsig.
Working our way along the Beaver Dam River we found a few mourning doves and too many starlings. Hoping to pick up a Ring Necked pheasant (never did get one) for our trip we headed for The Buck & Duck Ranch. I spotted a dark bird in a field just to the north, too big for a crow, as it took flight and landed in a tree top it was pretty clear it was a dark phased Rough-legged Hawk, something I get only occasionally at the B&D.

Thanks to Jack Bartholmai we were able to bird a private residence that had several Tufted Titmice coming to beautiful yard with filled with many feeders. Thanks Jack and thanks to the Koch’s for allowing us to visit. We finished with 23 species for the trip.

Note: Brad & Royann Webb had common mergansers and 1 red-breasted merganser at "J" bridge by Leipsig. Photo by Jack Bartholmai		 Dodge County Winter Birds - field trip



Eurasian Collared-Dove - 02/01/2008
Sighting: Eurasian Collared-Dove
Location: 312 Grace St. in Waupun
Posted by: Jeff Raflik
Comments: Just had my first Collared Dove sighting in my yard in over a month. It picked up right where it left off..... only one at a time. Up until December, it was always two at a time, and sometimes all three. Through December, I only saw one at a time, and then nothing from about Christmas, until today. I'll keep you all posted. See previous posting about these birds



N. Shrike, Barred Owl, Rough-legged Hawk & Common Goldeneye - 01/31/2008

Sighting: Barred Owl, Northern Shrike, Rough-legged Hawk, Common Goldeneye
Location: see below
Posted by: Larry Michael
Comments: A Northern Shrike & Barred Owl were seen this morning along Greenhead Road on the east side of Horicon Marsh State Wildlife Area. The owl was perched very close to the road just past the woodlot on the left after going down the hill and the shrike was seen on the westside of the road after you turn north towards the public boat landing area. While birding from Ledge Rd. between Cty. Z & Center Line Rd. (ne side of marsh)I found a Rough-legged Hawk hunting over the farm fields. A single male Common Goldeneye was seen swimming in the small open water patch, just off of Hwy. 49 on the northside of the highway at the Rock River bridge which is located west of Horicon Marsh as you go towards Waupun. It seems to me to be a slow winter for birding in Dodge Cty. so these birds were a surprise to me.



Pine Siskin - 12/28/2007
Pine Siskin Sighting: Pine Siskin
Location: Lowell area
Posted by: Jeff Bahls
Photo by: Jeff Bahls
Comments: Another first for the Buck & Duck Ranch, pine siskin! I have been wondering when one of these fellows would make an apperance. My conifer windbreak is now producing cones so I was hoping they would come my way. Or maybe the hard winter or combination. It was feeding on the nyger seed then flew down to the bird bath so I could get nice photos.



Great Blue Heron - 12/19/2007

Sighting: Great Blue Heron
Location: Below dam in Hustisford
Posted by: Larry Michael
Comments: While I know this heron is not a rare bird, the time of year is. I found two of these herons just below the dam while doing the Hustisford Christmas Bird Count today. If you can not locate them here, try the Hwy. 60 bridge to the south along the Rock River.



Short-eared Owl - 12/17/2007
Sighting: Short-eared Owl
Location: Horicon Marsh SWA One Mile Island hiking trail
Posted by: Larry Michael
Comments: A lone short-eared owl was seen very early this morning at the north end of Nebraska St. in Horicon. It was seen from the beginning of the One Mile hiking trail (looking w/nw) that starts at the nw corner of the parking area. This bird was first seen during Saturday's Horicon Marsh Christmas Bird Count. Larry also reports numerous Eastern Screech Owls & Great Horned Owls being heard (at night) during the CBC on Saturday as well as a pair of Barred Owls at the very end of Northern Rd. loacted south of Dike Rd. on the east side of Horicon.



Eurasian Collared-Dove - 12/09/2007

Sighting: Eurasian Collared-Dove
Location: 312 Grace St. in Waupun
Posted by: Jeff Raflik
Photo by: Jeff Raflik
Comments: First identified by Jeff Raflik in July, Jack Bartholmai quickly located their nest (under construction) leading these birds to become the 3rd CONFIRMED nesting pair of this species in Wisconsin. They continue to feed on birdseed on my front porch on a daily basis.		 Eurasian Collared-Dove



Snow Buntings - 12/07/2007
Snow Buntings Sighting: Snow Buntings
Location: Prospect Rd. & Cty. I which is between Beaver Dam and Horicon
Posted by: Jack Bartholmai
Photo by: Jack BArtholmai



Common Redpolls - 12/06/2007

Sighting: Common Redpoll
Location: Lowell area
Posted by: Jeff Bahls
POSSIBLE TRIVIA QUESTION: OUR WEBSITE'S VERY FIRST "RECENT SIGHTINGS POST"
Comments: New bird for the Buck & Duck Ranch, located just north of Cty. G on Blackbird Rd. near Lowell which is in the southwestern part of the county. 		Common Redpolls






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