Winter Birding with the Boys

Aaron, Tom & Ted hawk-watching, Devil's Lake State Park east meadow, Sauk Co WI, 1Feb2020

This past weekend, schedules aligned for some bird-watching with long time birding pals, Tom, Aaron and Ted. Saturday was the day though it partially conflicted with my plans to attend Orchid Quest 2020 at Olbrich Botanical Gardens.

The boys started birding early in eastern and central Dane County looking for waterfowl including the wintering female Harlequin Duck that has been present in Madison since late December. I had already seen this bird in my 5MR/7.5MR birding patches, so was fine with missing this target bird of the day. They also went toward Stoughton for the Harlan's Hawk that is spending its second winter in Dane County. I have yet to see this bird. I looked for it yesterday for the first time in the two winters it has resided in Dane County. Despite the sunny hawk-worthy skies, I dipped. This flashy male American Kestrel was my consolation prize.

American Kestrel, Hwy 138 Stoughton area, 3Feb2020

But back to Saturday's adventures...After getting my brief fill of orchids and unloading one hundred and sixty dollars plus, Peter and I joined the Jedi forces of Tom, Aaron and Ted for afternoon birding in Sauk and Columbia counties.

Our afternoon targets were Golden Eagle at Devil's Lake State Park and Townsend's Solitaire at Gibraltor Rock State Natural Area (aka Poor man's Devil's Lake per Tom).

Aaron, Peter, Ted and Tom, Devil's Lake State Park east meadow, Sauk Co, WI 1Feb2020

The weather was balmy and unseasonably warm. I was hopeful with the clouds breaking up in the afternoon that we would find the Golden Eagles riding the thermals. While we found numerous Red-taileds, Bald Eagles and a lone Rough-legged, we dipped on the previously reported Goldens. I could not complain about the miss given the perfect company, the scenery and the fact that I had recently seen a nice Golden perched along highway 14 during a trip to western Wisconsin to visit my uncle.

Golden Eagle, Richland Co, WI 26Jan2020

After putting forth respectable effort with the search for Goldens, we drove twenty minutes east to Gibraltor Rock in pursuit of Townsend's Solitaire. Though this species had not been reported since the first week of the new year, we were fairly confident this was a result of a lack of effort as opposed to the species having left the area. Even if we had dipped, this was my first visit to this state natural area and I was looking forward to the exploring the area regardless of what birds we saw.

Gibraltor Rock State Natural Area, Columbia County 1Feb2020

Gibraltor Rock did not disappoint. The scenery was certainly pleasing. More importantly we found our target bird, Townsend's Solitaire, teed up along the overlook.

Townsend's Solitaire, Gibraltor Rock SNA, Columbia Co, WI 1Feb2020

This species is a "rare" but annual visitor to Wisconsin during the winter months and certainly one of those nuggets I look forward to seeing during the paucity of bird diversity characteristic of winter birding.

Townsend's Solitaire, Gibraltor Rock SNA, Columbia Co, WI 1Feb2020

Satisfied with our looks at the Townsend's Solitaire it was time to part ways. Tom needed to get back to Green Bay and daylight was fading. We said our farewells as the boys briskly made their way down the bluff far ahead of my leisurely strolling balanced-impaired frame.

These group excursions are far too infrequent, the unintended result of moves that have spread us out across the state and country. The value of times like these is immeasurable. Life is short and unpredictable when it terminates. Make time for friends and nature while you can.