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Report of Bird Walk
By   Jym Mooney
Saturday, September 8, 2007
Lake Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin


Under clear but refreshingly cool skies 15 birders gathered for our third Fall Warbler Walk at Milwaukee' Lake Park this morning.  Warbler numbers were markedly down, with only 6 species, and almost all represented by single birds: Nashville, Magnolia (2), Black & White, American Redstart, Ovenbird, Common Yellowthroat, and Northern Waterthrush. 

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds were plentiful and busy in Locust Ravine, feeding on the jewelweed that is rampant there.  I found six White-throated Sparrows just before the walk began, almost as chilling a sign as the juncos that are beginning to be reported across the state.  A single empid was found, which after much discussion was ID'ed as a Least Flycatcher based on its size and prominent eye ring, and the fact that it was hunting low in the underbrush. As we were wrapping up the morning's walk, we ran into Robert Hambley who shared a photo he had just snapped of a juvenile Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.

The highlight of the morning was the discovery of a Yellow-billed Cuckoo in Locust Ravine just as we began the walk, initially ID'ed by its cinnamon primaries.  Further looks by members of the walk noted its dark eye (Black-billed has a red eye) and its yellow bill.  As a bonus, we refound the bird at the end of the walk, and so everyone got good looks at it.

We also spotted a red fox on the lakefront soccer field, and watched a Crow eating a bat.

After the walk broke up, I walked back to my car via the path in Locust Ravine, adding Northern Waterthrush, Cooper's Hawk, and Rose-breasted
Grosbeak to the day's total, for 37 species.

The mosquitoes and biting flies were not nearly as bad as they have been earlier this week and in other areas (thank goodness!)