Powell Marsh WMA - 01 Jun 2026

My head hit the pillow last night and I slept like a log. Until 3 am, which is about the time the cats wake me up every morning. I couldn't get back to sleep so I got up at 5 am and looked out the window at the lake while eating breakfast. A Common Loon made an appearance in the middle of the lake, so I decided to start a checklist. A pair of Canada Geese flew in and flushed a lone Hooded Merganser near shore. A Chestnut-sided Warbler was singing loudly overhead and was a nice start to the day.

(46.0047,-89.8437) Dillman’s Bay Resort, Vilas, Wisconsin, US
Jun 1, 2026 6:12 AM - 6:45 AM
Protocol: Stationary
Checklist Comments:     Clear, calm, 40F. Window birding
7 species

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  2
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  3
Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus)  1
Common Loon (Gavia immer)  1
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)  2
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  1
Chestnut-sided Warbler (Setophaga pensylvanica)  1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S350742948

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home) 

My plan for the day was to drive to Powell Marsh Wildlife Management Area just 18 miles away. A look at eBird checklists from the area showed PMWMA as the only "real" hotspot with over 200 species. I left Robin and headed out the door at 7 am and drove slowly through the resort, Sand Lake Drive, and County Road D toward County Road H. Along the way I picked up Nashville, Chestnut-sided, Black-and-White, and Pine Warblers while an Ovenbird belted out its song from the woods near D and H. As I drove County Road H I heard the distinct call of a Yellow-throated Vireo next to a Red-eyed Vireo so it was nice to compare the two calls.

13284 Dillman's Way, Lac Du Flambeau US-WI (46.0045,-89.8442), Vilas, Wisconsin, US
Jun 1, 2026 7:05 AM
Protocol: Incidental
Checklist Comments:     Clear, 55F
13 species

Hairy Woodpecker (Eastern) (Leuconotopicus villosus [villosus Group])  1
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)  1
Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens)  1
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)  1
Yellow-throated Vireo (Vireo flavifrons)  1
Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus)  1
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  1
Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla)  1
Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia)  1
Nashville Warbler (Leiothlypis ruficapilla)  1
Chestnut-sided Warbler (Setophaga pensylvanica)  1
Pine Warbler (Setophaga pinus)  1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata)  1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S350753960

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)

I drove Highway 51 N to Powell Road and followed it south to Powell Marsh Road and the Powell Marsh WMA parking lot. A Rose-breasted Grosbeak (seen) and a Red-eyed Vireo (heard only) were singing loudly from the trees next to the parking lot but could not compete with a Chestnut-sided Warbler that was also perched and singing at eye level. 

The main dike 

was surrounded by open sedge marsh to the left (east),

and dryer, taller, grassland marsh to the west. 

Alder Flycatchers were singing loudly their "Free-BEER" calls from several locations and it only took 20 yards of walking to spot the first bird atop a dead snag.

A small flock of American Goldfinches were foraging in the alders just a few feet ahead of me.

To the east I could the loud "Yak-Yak-Yak" of Wilson's Snipe, and before long I'd hear their haunting, winnowing flight song from several locations. Sedge Wrens were also calling, with their "Chip-Chip-Cheeeng-Cheeeng-Cheeeng" call every 20 yards it seemed.

A pair of Ring-necked Ducks were swimming quietly in the open waters of the sedge marsh, and the morning Sun was allowing me the chance to see the red "ring" on their namesake neck. From the Cornell BOTW map it appears that Northern Wisconsin is at the very southern border of their breeding distribution. 

The dike was lined with several bluebird boxes that were being utilized by Tree Swallows. Both male and females were flying back and forth and perching close nearby. I would hear an Eastern Bluebird during the morning walk. 

Continuing along the dike to the south the marsh began to open up to more water. 

As I walked an American Bittern flushed from the west side of the marsh and flew off. I managed a couple fly-away shots as it disappeared 100 yds away.

I then heard the trumpeting honks of Trumpeter Swans and saw a pair of swan flying off into the backlit east. Lucky for me they circled and flew back to the north where I was able to get slightly less back-lit photos. 

The Alder Flycatchers continued to call from their perches. I even managed a flight shot of one heading to its next perch. 

Approximately a mile south of the parking lot the main dike was crossed by another dike running east-west. At the corner of this junction a nice poplar tree stand was growing and was large enough to host several Northern Yellow Warblers, Nashville Warblers, and American Redstart. 

I walked a couple hundred yards along the west dike and came upon a pair of singing Sedge Wrens very close by. I couldn't resist so I played back their song and got one of the birds to pop out of cover and put on a demonstrative show for the intruder. 

A few hundred photos later I crawled out of the ditch only to get a phone call from Robin. She asked if I could make a run to Walmart to pick up some supplies for her class. This prompted me to turn around and head back to the car. Along the way I finally spotted one of several singing Savannah Sparrows out in the marsh. 

As I walked back to the car I'd also run into several more Alder Flycatchers. 

The Trumpeter Swan pair was swimming in the canal to my (now) right, and a 3rd swan was with them. They were all very backlit so I had to wait until I was past them to get slightly better light.

Tree Swallows kept an eye on me as I walked past the bluebird boxes.

And one of numerous Common Yellowthroats finally made an appearance. This one must be molting because the top of its head looks caved in?

I would also flush another American Bittern but this time get a few more flight shots as it headed in the direction of the first one a bit earlier.

Song Sparrows and Swamp Sparrows were plentiful but very uncooperative this morning. My only visible Song Sparrow.

I'd return to the car and head off to Walmart to buy art supplies and beat it back to Dillman's Resort shortly before lunch. I will be coming back to this place again, tomorrow. Powell Marsh WMA is the bomb-diggidy.

Powell Marsh SWA (Vilas Co.) (incl. vista & dikes), Vilas, Wisconsin, US
Jun 1, 2026 7:28 AM - 9:34 AM
Protocol: Traveling
2.74 mile(s)
30 species

Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator)  3
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  2
Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris)  4
Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus)  1
Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris)  1
Wilson's Snipe (Gallinago delicata)  3
American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus)  2
Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon)  1
Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens)  1
Alder Flycatcher (Empidonax alnorum)  6
Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus)  1
Common Raven (Corvus corax)  1
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)  4
Sedge Wren (Cistothorus stellaris)  6
Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)  1
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  2
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)  4
Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis)  2
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)  4
Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana)  4
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)  2
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)  6
Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla)  1
Nashville Warbler (Leiothlypis ruficapilla)  1
Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)  7
Northern Yellow Warbler (Setophaga aestiva)  6
Chestnut-sided Warbler (Setophaga pensylvanica)  2
Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum)  1
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus)  1
Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea)  1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S350844535
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)

After lunch Robin and I headed back to the cabin for a brief refresh before she had to head back for the afternoon session. I took the time to check the bird feeder outside the window. The Chipmunks were having a blast eating seed and chasing each other around the grounds. 

I went out to flip the feeder around so the suet would be visible, and I spotted a woodpecker on a nearby tree. First thinking it was a Hairy Woodpecker I looked more closely through the camera lens and realized that I was looking at the silhouette of a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. Despite the poor lighting I managed to get some nice images w/ the Sony a1 II and 200-600mm lens.

When it flew off I turned the camera on one of the Chipmunks at my feet.

I decided to sit quietly in the chair next to the feeder and keep a lookout for the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker when a Red-breasted Nuthatch flew in and began to collect seed to cache in nearby trees. It was so close to me that I couldn't move, and couldn't photograph it if I wanted to due to the short distance, So I watched it do its thing while a Yellow-rumped Warbler flew in overhead and perched quietly for several minutes. An Eastern Phoebe would also make an appearance by the boat dock down below. A pair of Common Loons would also make an appearance out on the lake a bit later.

(46.0047,-89.8437) Dillman’s Bay Resort, Vilas, Wisconsin, US
Jun 1, 2026 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
Protocol: Stationary
Checklist Comments:     Window birding/main lodge
13 species

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  1
Common Loon (Gavia immer)  2
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius)  1
Least Flycatcher (Empidonax minimus)  1
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)  1
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)  1
Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis)  1
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  2
Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina)  1
Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis)  1
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)  1
Pine Warbler (Setophaga pinus)  1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata)  1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S350966442

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)