Townsend’s Solitaire at Port Washington in Ozaukee County Wisconsin on March 8, 2019

On my way home from birding in Sheboygan and getting the Great Tit, I thought I would stop at Port Washington. A Townsend’s Solitaire had recently been reported there. The Solitaire was present in the area as reported near the creek at the entrance of Coal Dock Park. When I arrived it was in a tree just above the creek perched. After watching it for awhile, it flew to the concrete wall a couple feet away along the creek and ate what I would think would be gnats or tiny insects. Hopping and skipping around on the concrete wall, I could tell it was catching things and eating. It was also picking insects out of mid-air. I think maybe the warming concrete there provided awaking insects that were dormant? After awhile it flew to the power plant fence adjacent to the creek across the road and ate some conifer berries. This only went on for a shot time. From there it flew high into a tree above the creek and then onto a condo roof top, then north out of sight, I left the area. It was comfortable at 36 degrees, the sun was fading with clouds, but with no wind it was very pleasant.