Máistir Nádúraí: Dusting off the Digi-gear

3.17.2007

Dusting off the Digi-gear

This morning I spent 3 hours birding along the Pheasant Branch stream corridor under sunny skies but slightly cooler temperatures. I saw my first Eastern Phoebe of the year, and while it appeared to be finding insects, a nearby Cooper's Hawk seemed interested in watching the somewhat sluggish phoebe.

I found four Carolina Wrens, but they were not very cooperative photographic subjects. However, they were a joy to listen to perched atop the tallest trees and belting out their trademark “tea-kettle, tea-kettle, tea-kettle” song. White-breasted Nuthatches were everywhere and are always more accommodating to nature photographers:

This American Robin hopped down to the stream bank to refresh itself:

Here are all the bird species I observed this morning:

Canada Goose

Mallard

Hooded Merganser

Woodduck

Cooper's Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk

American Kestrel

Sandhill Crane

Killdeer

Mourning Dove

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker

Hairy Woodpecker

Eastern Phoebe

Blue Jay

American Crow

Black-capped Chickadee

Tufted Titmouse

Red-breasted Nuthatch

White-breasted Nuthatch

Carolina Wren

Eastern Bluebird

American Robin

European Starling

Cedar Waxwing

American Tree Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

Song Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Northern Cardinal

Red-winged Blackbird

Common Grackle

House Finch

American Goldfinch

House Sparrow

It's a long story, but when I got back to my car I found a handwritten note on my windshield:

I'm the lady w/dog that was screaming at you at the Pheasant Branch Co. Park. I am very, very sorry for my behavior. I was hoping I would get a chance to apologize.

Sincerely,

Mary

p.s. I hope you can forgive me.

Bio:

Mike McDowell has been documenting southern Wisconsin’s flora and fauna since 1987 and began leading field trips in 2002. Prolific at Pheasant Branch Conservancy, other highlighted natural areas include Pope Farm Conservancy, Spring Green Preserve, and the Baraboo Hills. His nature photography has appeared in various publications, newspapers, magazines and was even featured on a Wisconsin Endangered Resources license plate, a Capital Brewery beer label, and a National Geographic publication. He began journaling nature observations on this blog in 2005. He's the recipient of the 2012 Bronze Passenger Pigeon Award from the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology, presented to individuals who have made outstanding contributions in their local communities or state to promote the field of ornithology. He was a finalist in Swarovski’s Digiscoper of the Year photography contest several times. His other interests include insect macro-photography (especially tiger beetles, treehoppers, and robber flies), fossil collecting, amateur astronomy, botany, natural history, and marksmanship with long-range firearms. Once a gigging musician, collecting Fender Stratocasters is a recently revived interest—most prized being a 1957 Vintage Custom 'Mary Kaye' White Blonde. A former IT Professional, he's spent the last 24 years employed in the sport optics industry and has more binoculars than you.