Horicon Marsh Bird Club
N4686 Blackbird Rd
Beaver Dam, WI 53916
(920) 210-4832
email the president

Recent Events and Sightings

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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