White-throated Sparrow
The avian symphony at Pheasant Branch Conservancy this morning was astonishing to behold. House Finches, Northern Cardinals, Black-capped Chickadees, Tufted Titmice, American Robins, and White-throated Sparrows were giving it their all. If it wasn't singing full-song, then it was calling; like the energetic trills of Dark-eyed Juncos and churs of Red-bellied Woodpeckers. But the best song I heard today was that of a Brown Creeper; a see-see sound followed by a tweedle of jumbled notes unlike anything else in the winter woods.
Barred Owl
Not all the bird vocalizations were necessarily pleasant to my ears. Around a dozen American Crows taunted and chased a Barred Owl through the woods. Eventually the owl entered a tree cavity where it was at least visually concealed from its harassers. Oh, but the crows weren't nearly finished. Though they couldn't see it, they kept right on cawing as if they knew the owl was still within earshot. Who am I kidding? Of course they knew. The Barred Owl pictured above was more fortunate and went unnoticed by the gang of crows, which is really what they seem like to me when I encounter extended corvid mobbings.
American Robin
Pheasant Branch, Dane, US-WI
Feb 19, 2012 10:30 AM - 1:00 PM
28 species
Canada Goose
Mallard
Red-tailed Hawk
Mourning Dove
Great Horned Owl
Barred Owl Belted
Kingfisher
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Blue Jay
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
American Robin
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
American Tree Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Northern Cardinal
House Finch
Pine Siskin
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow
All images © 2012 Mike McDowell