6.14.2015

Bobolinks!


Bobolink

Curt Caslavka and I led a Madison Audubon field trip through Morey Field this morning in search of grassland birds, especially Bobolinks. We've been doing this particular field trip for 4 or 5 years now and it's a real crowd pleaser on account of how many Bobolinks are present. However, the biggest surprise of our outing came when we were near the back edge and I picked up the song of a Bell's Vireo. Checking my records, the last time I found this species in the Middleton area was during the breeding season of 2008 at Pheasant Branch Conservancy.


Bobolink (female)


Pope Farm Conservancy

Curt mentioned he found Dickcissels at Pope Farm Conservancy, so I headed over that way after lunch. I didn't see or hear any until I got to the prairie on the north side of picnic area. There were at least two. One was singing away perched at the top of a small oak tree and was acting aggressively at other songbirds. Any Field Sparrow or Clay-colored Sparrow that ventured too close and the Dickcissel would swoop down from his perch and chase it away. The other Dickcissel was in the northeast corner of the prairie, perched on a skinny branch and appeared unruffled by other birds.
  

Dickcissel


Dickcissel

It's hard to believe we're already halfway through June.


White Penstemon

Middleton Municipal Airport, Dane, Wisconsin, US
Jun 14, 2015 8:15 AM - 10:00 AM
33 species

Canada Goose
Mallard
Blue-winged Teal
Great Blue Heron
Sandhill Crane
Killdeer
Ring-billed Gull
Mourning Dove
Red-bellied Woodpecker
American Kestrel
Willow Flycatcher
Bell's Vireo
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
Cliff Swallow
American Robin
Gray Catbird
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Common Yellowthroat
Yellow Warbler
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Dickcissel
Bobolink
Red-winged Blackbird
Eastern Meadowlark
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
House Finch
American Goldfinch

All images © 2015 Mike McDowell