Interesting. Jim Williams Wayzata Begin forwarded message:
From: "William Mueller" <[email protected]> Date: November 13, 2005 6:07:59 PM CST To: "Wisconsin Birding Network" <[email protected]> Subject: [wisb] 14-18 likely CAVE SWALLOWS at the South Metro Sewage Treatment Plant/Pier in Oak Creek As Bob Domagalski will no doubt post in additional detail later this evening, (and Betsy Abert has already posted) we did indeed find between 12-18 (perhaps 20?) swallows that are most likely CAVE SWALLOWS at the South Metro Sewage Treatment Plant/Pier in Oak Creek off of 5th Avenue, this afternoon. Take I-94 to Ryan Road, go east to Howell, back north a bit to Puetz Road. The go east all the way to 5th Avenue and turn north again. Go about a block north. Look for the north-most entrance to the treatment facility. At some times of the year, one can drive into a parking lot for fishing access. Right now that lot is gated and locked, but you can still walk in, and walk all the way down the steps to the pier. We watched these birds for several hours in constantly changing light conditions, until we had numerous views of these birds from many angles. The light-orange-colored throat, chestnut or cinnamon forehead on may birds, and orange rump was plainly visible, but only for brief periods on each bird. Birds flew immediately overhead on dozens of occasions, and I repeatedly heard call notes that were unlike Cliff Swallow vocalizations - more like a "swit" or "kvit". Bob and I and Betsy each climbed to perch on the steel seawall that surrounds the treatment plant. Bob and I both think that what would be useful here would be a light aluminum stepladder (no, I'm not joking), so that one could mount a scope on top and see over the wall (and a camera-mounted scope might provide a photograph). I have no doubt that continued climbing on this wall will eventually be prohibited. While one can plainly see the birds when they fly up and over the treatment ponds/tanks, a better view is from the wall (or, using a lightweight ladder, OVER the wall). Because it was afternoon and the light was challenging at times, it was often difficult to see all necessary field marks at once - the birds are in constant motion and actively feeding. But over the course of several hours we collectively saw good views of many of these birds, and there were perhaps 7-9 in view at once from below the wall, or 14-18 when one was ON the wall, and could see the treatment ponds/tanks. Morning light MAY be better. I do expect these birds may stay more than a day or so. No doubt these birds were very hungry, and may not readily leave this easily-exploited food source until they have built up their fat reserves again. Also seen here today were one first -year Franklin's Gull, a Northern Harrier, 3 Horned Grebes, 8-10 Yellow-rumped Warblers, and a few Tree Sparrows, along with 250 or so Bonaparte's Gulls, many Ring-bills, a few Herrings, Mallards, Canada Geese, Mourning Doves, and other common species throughout the afternoon. Bill Mueller Milwaukee, WI (414) 643-7279 E-mail: [email protected] On the web: http://home.earthlink.net/~iltlawas/index.html ############################## This message is sent to you because you are subscribed to the mailing list <[email protected]>. To UNSUBSCRIBE, E-mail to <[email protected]> To switch to the DIGEST mode, E-mail to <[email protected]> Send administrative QUERIES, E-mail to <[email protected]>
