Eurasian Wigeon at the Schoenberg Marsh in Columbia County Wisconsin on April 6, 2015

I made the run out to the Schoenberg Marsh in Columbia County this morning in hopes to see the Eurasian Wigeon. It was there as reported and only gave distant views while I was there. The duck is actually at the Erstad Prairie pond which is about the same location as Schoenberg Marsh. The beautiful male duck was active the whole time I was present. It seemed to hang out with different ducks, dipped and feed with an American Wigeon. The Marsh was a great place this morning with many duck species. Some of the species were Wood Ducks, Ring-necked Ducks and Blue-winged Teal. Always nice to start the day with a new Wisconsin life bird. From there I hit Goose Pond just down the road it had Tundra Swans and many Canada Geese. Another pond just down the road, DM and I had  4 Pectoral Sandpipers, 2 Wilson’s Snips and 1 Rusty Blackbird. From there I went down to the Rock County Airport with hopes to see the reported Loggerhead Shrike. I spent some time there but came up empty. Ended the day hitting a few spots in the South Kettle Moraine and just had a few Sandhill Cranes. Thanks to Valerie who found the Eurasian Wigeon and to the others who got the word out for others to see the uncommon species to the area. A big thanks to Melody for those perfect directions to the marsh pond! A cool morning with some sun, target bird found, meeting birding friends along the way today made for an exciting day! Images were taken on April 6, 2015.

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Eurasian Wigeon, male

Eurasian Wigeon

Binomial name: Anas penelope

Category: Ducks, Geese and Swans

Size: 20” long, 32” wing span

Weight: 1.5 lb

Cool facts: Birds that are found in North America each year are likely birds that have come from eastern Siberia and Iceland. They have not found breeding Eurasian Wigeons in North America but it could be taking place.

Eurasian Wigeon, male

Eurasian Wigeon, male

American Wigeon, male front, Eurasian Wigeon, male back

American Wigeon, male front, Eurasian Wigeon, male back

Eurasian Wigeon, male

American Wigeon, male front, Eurasian Wigeon, male back

Eurasian Wigeon, male, left, American Wigeon, male, right

Eurasian Wigeon, male, left, American Wigeon, male, right

Eurasian Wigeon, male

Eurasian Wigeon, male

Eurasian Wigeon, male

Eurasian Wigeon, male, middle, American Wigeon, male, right

American Wigeon, male and Eurasian Wigeon, male dipping

American Wigeon, male and Eurasian Wigeon, male dipping

The setting from a distance at Schoenberg Marsh

Some waterfowl with the Eurasian Wigeon from a distance at Schoenberg Marsh

Wood Duck at the marsh, male

Wood Duck at the marsh, male

Blue-winged Teal, male Goose Pond

Blue-winged Teal, male Goose Pond

Blue-winged Teal, female

Blue-winged Teal, female Goose Pond

Swan, Goose Pond

Tundra Swan at Goose Pond

Swan, Goose Pond

Tundra Swans at Goose Pond

Swan, Goose Pond

Tundra Swan, Goose Pond

Swan preening, Goose Pond

Tundra Swan preening, Goose Pond

Swan, Goose Pond

Tundra Swan, Goose Pond

Sandhill Crane South Kettle Moraine near Eagle

Sandhill Crane South Kettle Moraine near Eagle

Sandhill Crane South Kettle Moraine near Eagle

Sandhill Crane South Kettle Moraine near Eagle

Sandhill Crane, the call, South Kettle Moraine near Eagle

Sandhill Crane, the call, South Kettle Moraine near Eagle

Sandhill Crane South Kettle Moraine near Eagle

Sandhill Crane South Kettle Moraine near Eagle

Sandhill Crane South Kettle Moraine near Eagle

Sandhill Crane South Kettle Moraine near Eagle

Sandhill Crane feeding in the South Kettle Moraine near Eagle

Sandhill Crane feeding in the South Kettle Moraine near Eagle

Sandhill Crane South Kettle Moraine near Eagle

Sandhill Crane South Kettle Moraine near Eagle

Sandhill Crane South Kettle Moraine near Eagle

Sandhill Crane South Kettle Moraine near Eagle

Sandhill Crane South Kettle Moraine near Eagle

Sandhill Crane South Kettle Moraine near Eagle

Mallard Duck, female South Kettle Moraine near Eagle

Mallard Duck, female South Kettle Moraine near Eagle

Mallard Duck, male South Kettle Moraine near Eagle

Mallard Duck, male South Kettle Moraine near Eagle

Song Sparrow finding food at Paradise Springs South Kettle Moraine near Eagle

Song Sparrow finding food at Paradise Springs South Kettle Moraine near Eagle

Song Sparrow finding food at Paradise Springs South Kettle Moraine near Eagle

Song Sparrow finding food at Paradise Springs South Kettle Moraine near Eagle

Song Sparrow finding food at Paradise Springs South Kettle Moraine near Eagle

Song Sparrow finding food at Paradise Springs South Kettle Moraine near Eagle

Song Sparrow finding food at Paradise Springs South Kettle Moraine near Eagle

Song Sparrow finding food at Paradise Springs South Kettle Moraine near Eagle