Holy Moly! That was fun! Good people, cool birds, and perfect weather!

Horicon, Highway 49
No Limpkin. It had been seen at 6:06 am and not at all after that, though on Saturday, there were 11 reports of it. Sigh. We consoled ourselves with the antics of Black Terns, incoming American Pelicans, Coots, and more.
Hwy 49 eBird lists: Dodge County and Fond du Lac County

Marsh Haven Nature Center
We stopped at the Marsh Haven parking lot hoping to see Yellow-Headed Blackbirds at the feeder. Like the Limpkin, the Blackbirds were not hanging around. However, there were Purple Martins. Lots of them!
Marsh Haven eBird list

Horicon Marsh Auto Tour
We followed the number one rule of birding: If a photographer and people with binoculars are intently looking at something, then you better go see what is there. They had found a Least Bittern, just hanging out and preening. This bittern was not disturbed by us in the least (ha!)

Next awesome bird: Whooping Cranes! We saw a pair foraging among the reeds from the west end of Old Marsh Rd. We pulled ourselves away to see what was visible from the boardwalk. From there, we watched Barn Swallows swooping in and out of nests. Eight of them fanned their wings and sunned themselves on the boards. A Black Tern posed on a post. After a quick lunch, we caravanned to our next stop.

Auto Tour eBird list

International Crane Foundation
Everything about the ICF was wonderful. The native plants throughout the property are stunning! They hosted numerous intersting insects occasionally distracting us from the birds. Our fabulous guide, Andrea, with her bottomless show-and-tell bag answered all our questions and provided background for all the cranes we saw. Some of the fascinating tidbits:
– While straight along the neck, a Whooping Crane’s trachea bunches up along their sternum, totaling five-feet in length. This adaption gives their call added resonance allowing it to be heard miles away.
– ICF members can tour Crane City once a year to see the birds that are off-exhibit. Join!
– Cranes can live 20 years in the wild and up to 80 years in captivity.

There are trails in the ICF as well. We did not explore them. Green Herons and Virgina Rails were spotted along a pond’s edge from the crane exhibit area.

Honey Creek, Cox Nature Center
Twisty roads took us to the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology’s Honey Creek property. We set up camp by the Cox Nature Center and spread out a potluck feast. We even had fresh cooked taco meat from Deb’s camp kitchen.

A few follow-ups:
Swing State in New York City and Luna Gale by Rebecca Gilman
Rebecca’s Soba Noodles with Peanut Sauce
Donna’s Potato Salad (I used vegan mayo and left out the eggs and ham)
The awesome bug shirt
Yes, it is a Wisconsin state park policy to find accommodations for cyclists
Firefly identification by flash pattern

Instead of trumpet revelry, Saturday morning started with a Barred Owl call at 4:25am. Soon we heard a Willow Flycatcher and Song Sparrow from the soybean fields. Walking Skyview Lane, we heard a number of birds, including Marsh Wrens and Veerys, singing on both sides of the road. From farther away there were Sandhill Cranes and a rooster.
Dawn Chorus eBird list

After breakfast and coffee, we headed to the Honey Creek trail. A lovely walk along a narrow trail edged with maidenhair ferns and over a creek. We saw a young Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, an Eastern Phoebe, a Wood Pewee, and Yellow-throated Vireos.
Honey Creek eBird list

I hope we do this again, either back at Honey Creek or somewhere else.