Pheasant Branch Conservancy (prairie parcel)
Things are quieting down migration-wise along the creek corridor, so yesterday morning I decided to return to the prairie parcel for sparrows. The color of the prairie is stunning this time of year. I love the purple aster accents mixed in with green and yellow plants and grass. The weather was crisp with excellent lighting for photography. I made my way to the east side of the drumlin so I would have the sun on my back as I explored the edge habitat for birds. It was a perfect early fall day.
Nashville Warbler
As I made my way down the trail, I was pleasantly surprised to find a small mixed flock of wood warblers foraging low in the thicket. There were Common Yellowthroats, Palm, Nashville, and Tennessee Warblers, plus even a Northern Parula was down low, which is something I don't usually see. As the small warbler parade went by, I did my best to digiscope them.
Northern Parula
Tennessee Warbler
Preening Common Yellowthroat
This young male Common Yellowthroat spent several minutes preening his feathers. Though essential behavior for good feather health, I always find it somewhat comical to watch. This warbler will probably stick around for a week or so yet, but eventually his instinctual restlessness to move on will push him southward. It's a long and arduous journey, full of potential perils and challenges. I have every confidence in this little bird that he'll be back at the conservancy next spring. Common Yellowthroats are one of the most abundant North American wood warblers and shouldn't be disparaged for their evolutionary success!
Common Yellothroat
Fall is the best time to get excellent views of Lincoln's Sparrows. When I do encounter them during spring migration, it's usually only by their song. They're fairly abundant at the prairie right now and will be throughout much of October. For me, the neat plumage pattern of the Lincoln's Sparrow is unmistakable, but some birders occasionally get tripped up by Swamp and Song Sparrows. With practice, though, sparrow identification can be a breeze.
Lincoln's Sparrow
Pheasant Branch, Dane, US-WI
Sep 23, 2013 7:00 AM - 9:15 AM
52 species
Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Mallard
Ring-necked Pheasant
Cooper's Hawk
Sandhill Crane
Killdeer
Ring-billed Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Eastern Phoebe
Blue Jay
American Crow
Horned Lark
Barn Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
White-breasted Nuthatch
House Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Eastern Bluebird
Swainson's Thrush
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Tennessee Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Northern Parula
Palm Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting
Red-winged Blackbird
Eastern Meadowlark
House Finch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow
All images © 2013 Mike McDowell