It was -4 degrees Fahrenheit when I arrived at Pheasant Branch Conservancy this morning, but a day off work shouldn't be wasted by staying indoors. The snow squeaked with each step I took and I was a little self-conscious of how much noise it was making as I made my way down the trail in my Asolo boots. As for birds, there were no major changes compared to Sunday, but there were a few birds I missed today that I was hoping to find on this inaugural day of birding for the new year. My first bird of the year was a Dark-eyed Junco, and my first digiscoped bird was a Northern Cardinal (above). After PBC I went to Marshall Park to scan Lake Mendota and still found open water. Most of the Tundra Swans and Common Mergansers that were there on Sunday were gone. There were still a few Common Goldeneye and Buffleheads, and a Bald Eagle soared overhead. Including some Rock Pigeons I saw along Highway 14 on my way home, I tallied 31 species for the day.
Pheasant Branch, Dane, US-WI
Jan 1, 2013 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM
26 species
Canada Goose
Mallard
Cooper's Hawk
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
Mourning Dove
Great Horned Owl
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Blue Jay
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
American Robin
American Tree Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Northern Cardinal
House Finch
Pine Siskin
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow
Northern Cardinal © 2013 Mike McDowell