Chequamegon Bay Birding & Nature Festival

After being home for 6 weeks it was time to get back on the road for a few days.  We headed north to Ashland Wisconsin, well really Washburn Wi is where we parked the RV.  It so beautiful on the big lake (Superior).  We have always picked the same spot for our RV but this year we decide to take a new spot!  closer to the water and a much better view of the lake.  After setting up we went for a walk on the lake shore.  Seen a few birds, not new to us but new this year. 

Blackburnian Warbler

 

 

Buffleheads

  

Bonaparte's Gulls

Palm Warbler

Thursday May 15:  We had to get up early to meet the gang at 7:00 am.  there was about 12 of us at the Fish Hatchery.  We ended up birding at 5 different places.  We did see two new birds. It was a very cold day and windy too. We met some very nice people and in spite of only getting two new birds we had a wonderful time.

We headed into Ashland for dinner at The Platter:

White fish and a BBQ platter.  the best BBQ Brisket since Texas!

also the Best Brandy old Fashioned Sweet since we got back to Wisconsin!

Friday we met our group at 7:00 am, seen 3 new birds!  getting better, the weather was a bit warmer with less wind and  a bit more sun.  But because of the below average temps the birds have not shown up here and must be hanging south until it gets warm here!  

We headed up to Bayfield after our morning tour to check out a few places by ourselves. No new birds but we did take a hike to Houghton Waterfalls

Female Long Tailed Duck

Ice still on Lake Superior

the waterfalls

another beautiful day enjoying nature!

Saturday: Beautiful morning with sunshine and a very light breeze.  We went to 7 different places with two different leaders.

They do keep us moving but we have to go where the birds are hiding!  

Piping Plover on the beach of Lake Superior!

 

Sunday:  time to go home!  we ended up seeing 127 different species with 13 new to us!  I was hoping for at least 20 new ones but the weather has not been our friend!  But we had a really good time and hope to come back next year.

Rare Bird sighting

We went to Crex Meadows in Grantsburg today for a bird tour.  Little did we know that there was a very rare bird in the area.  We did not see the Garganey on our tour. 

A rare duck has birders in the Midwest flocking to Grantsburg, Wis.

The garganey, a Eurasian species rarely found in North America, was first spotted at Crex Meadows Wildlife Area on April 25 and still could be seen there Monday, said Kim Wheeler, a natural resource educator for the wildlife area.

"This bird has never been seen in Wisconsin before, and it's not very often (seen) in the Midwest," Wheeler said. "Birders from all over the Midwest are coming to see it because they may not ever see it again in their entire life."

Birds from Eurasia seldom find their way to a far-inland state like Wisconsin, said Ryan Brady with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, adding that even for the lower 48 states as a whole, a garganey sighting is a rarity.

A garganey plies the water at Crex Meadows Wildlife Area in Grantsburg, Wis., on Saturday, May 3, 2014. The bird, a Eurasian species, is rare for North America and is being officially sighted in Wisconsin for the first time. (Pioneer Press: Andy Rathbun)

After our tour we went to the spot where they said we might see it.   There were a few people standing around with large scopes etc.  we walked about 100 yards down the road and what did we see but the Garganey!  we tried to get the other peoples attention but had to walk back to get it.  They were so excited.  One couple had driven up from Oklahoma to see and and was getting ready to leave when they stopped to swap stories..  One guy had been there for two days ( it was cold and rainy yesterday).  he was almost in tears!  they made phone calls and all of a sudden all these cars pulled up!  People were shaking Eric's hand, patting him on the back etc..  We did not know at the time how rare this sighting was and was a bit perplexed at the way they were all acting and talking.  Once home we found the above article!  Unfortunately I had my camera in the car and not around my neck.  we were very close and I could have gotten some very nice pictures!  

This Wednesday we head to Ashland Wi for the birding fest.  don't think we will see anything quite like the Garganey!