Wisconsin has some famous ones, Horicon Marsh first of all. I did not go to that one. Went to a fairly large cat tail marsh just outside Milwaukee, Vernon MArsh. There is some bird history to the site. Former Yellow Headed Blackbird site. Did not see ANY of those, though with more time you may find some. The Red Winged Blackbirds have taken over. They are common enough, but it was fun to watch the problems a female had finding her own fledgling, when ten others were ready for the food in the same tree.
For me, life list ticks for Black Tern and Marsh Wren. American Goldfinch were all over the place in small flocks.
Some of the usual Herons and Egrets. The Green Heron always surprises me in landing in a tree. Crest stuck up for a second.
The site is not developed and is a bit hard to find, but I walked along the dike they have built thru the middle. Saw no ducks and such in the hour I spent there.
Here is the site for the more famous marsh
http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/land...clands/horicon/
quote:
From that:
HORICON Main Dike
The main dike is open to the public from April 15 to September 15. It offers a good chance to view the marsh interior. Three major pools offer open water for waterfowl, herons, and shorebirds while the areas of cattails are home to Virginia and sora rails, marsh wren and swamp sparrow. Cormorants, black and Forster's tern also can be seen along here. On occasion shorebirds can be found here in large numbers when water levels are low. Rarities include black-necked stilt, both godwits, buff-breasted sandpiper, and red-necked phalarope. The woods along the north-south ditch to the immediate west at the end of the road are excellent during May and August-September for passerines.
Sweet memories: I lived 30 month in Madison, and passed through Horicon on several occasions. Yellow-headed blackbirds are among the memories from there.
Niels
Yes, Madison is close by, easy to go there any weekend. Even from Chicago I would go once every fall.