"I only went out for a walk, and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in."
― John Muir
With only 10 days left of May, we are well past migration's peak. There will continue to be birds moving northward into June, and plenty see and photograph, but for the most part I'm finished birding the creek corridor for the spring. For the remainder of spring and summer an emphasis will be placed on locations, but also insects (especially tiger beetles, naturally). A favorite annual trek for me and my birding posse is our annual adventure at Wyalusing State Park in Grant County. Here you'll find Kentucky Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler, Prothonotary Warbler, Ceruleans galore, and an incredible variety of other woodland songbirds.
WI DNR's website states: At Wyalusing State Park, camp 500 feet above the confluence of the Wisconsin and Mississippi rivers. One of Wisconsin's oldest state parks, Wyalusing features family and group campsites, hiking trails, a canoe trail, Native American burial mounds, bird watching, fishing, boating, bicycling and picnicking on bluff top overlooks.
And it is quite the view ― just imagine how many Prothonotary Warblers might be down there!
At the bottom of Long Valley Road; the boat launch pier has seen better days.
Oh, and here's a Prothonotary Warbler now!
By mid-May it's quite easy to find them hanging out at the boat launch. On this particular day there were a couple of males zooming around chasing one another, and some females sitting around on sticks and logs preening and sunning.
Preening:
And sunning ...
Then inspecting the photographer!
And even more preening ...
I might eat a humble pie with respect to my previous comments about catharus thrushes ― there were impressive numbers of Swainson's Thrushes at Wyalusing as well as a Veery or two. On the recent trip to Baxter's Hollow, the Veery count was also better than I expected. While there were later than normal Swainson's at Pheasant Branch, overall numbers still seemed low for that location. I suppose it's possible they simply took advantage of the steady southeast winds and got onto territory without being noticed in my neck of the woods.
The Swainson's Thrush ...
A diminutive woodland songbird with an incredible voice.
Certainly not as showy as this Yellow-bellied Sapsucker!
It's a grand time of year for wildflowers and Wyalusing is just loaded with them. Sylvia smartly pointed out these Jeweled Shooting Stars Primula fassettii, which I might have otherwise missed whilst searching for Yellow-throated Warblers (which we did find). Initially, I was a bit miffed by a field trip leader unintentionally fooling us by playing YTWA song over and over on territory, for which I chided him for doing. He didn't say a word, but I said "Thou shalt not use playback on breeding territory!" Some of his participants chuckled at my comment. We merely waited until they left and eventually the true warbler songs sounded from the conifers once again. Eventually I got a great eye-level look at one, but he was too quick for a photograph!
Apparently, this is a species of Special Concern in Wisconsin, as it is only found in four counties, Grant being one of them.
There was also Spring Beauty ...
Wild Geranium ...
Woodland Phlox ...
And more phlox ...
False Rue Anemone ...
And Nodding Trillium ...
It was a very relaxing day of hiking with friends, listening to an incredible variety of birdsong, and appreciating the fantastic scenery that Wyalusing offers the naturalist. At the top of Long Valley Road, I laid down in the grass and took a photograph of a window to the sky through the verdant canopy.
I remained there for a long time.
All images © 2022 Mike McDowell