Migration continues at a steady yet somewhat slow pace. Waterfowl viewing is good in flooded fields, wetlands, and lakes across the southern half of the state, including a wide variety of ducks, geese, and swans. Common loons have arrived to deeper, open waters as far north as Lake Wausau, with best numbers in southeast Wisconsin now. Other water birds like great egrets, Bonaparte's gulls, and horned grebes are also returning. Shorebird arrivals included Wilson's snipe, and both greater and lesser yellowlegs. The first warblers are arriving with reports of yellow-rumped warblers as far north as Eau Claire, and early pine warbler and Louisiana waterthrush in the south, where fox sparrows, hermit thrushes, winter wrens, kinglets, eastern phoebes, and some rusty blackbirds were also reported. Prevailing ice and snow are limiting action in the north yet, although more robins, blackbirds, meadowlarks, kestrels, woodcocks, cranes, and juncos are moving in. Ruffed grouse have begun to drum sporadically. A few bohemian waxwings and big flocks of common redpolls remain there also.
- Common loons are returning to Wisconsin waters. Although most are now being seen in southeastern Wisconsin, look for them to move northward with the retreating ice line in the weeks ahead. Photo credit: David Franzen
Statewide, birders reported some American goldfinches showing patches of yellow breeding plumage and pine siskins at backyard feeders. Cleaning your feeders weekly with a 10 percent bleach solution is very important now as wet and dirty conditions can lead to salmonellosis outbreaks, especially in the small finches. Know the signs and take action . Now is also the time to be mindful of bear activity, being sure to elevate your feeders and/or bring them in as needed to reduce conflict. Warm, south winds ahead of an approaching storm system will provide favorable migration conditions into this weekend but the volume of migration may depend on the extent of rainfall. The rest of the week looks cool with a northerly flow, meaning a slower pace of migration unfortunately. Find out what others are seeing and report your finds to www.ebird.org/wi .