Máistir Nádúraí: First Warblers...

8.10.2007

First Warblers...

Tennessee Warbler

The first mixed-flocks of migrant songbirds from the north are finding their way into southern Wisconsin. I checked NexRad late last night and there was detectable migration over much the central part of the country. A few days ago at Pheasant Branch we found a Tennessee Warbler and this morning a Blackburnian Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler and Olive-sided Flycatcher. White-breasted Nuthatches, Black-capped Chickadees, Carolina Wrens and a Great Horned Owl were among resident birds. No telling for sure whether birds like American Robin, Baltimore Oriole and Rose-breasted Grosbeak were nesters at the conservancy or migrants from up north. By the end of next week, there will be a lot more!

Pheasant Branch Stream Corridor 08/10/07:

Ring-billed Gull

Mourning Dove

Great Horned Owl

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker

Hairy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Olive-sided Flycatcher

Eastern Wood-Pewee

Eastern Phoebe

Great Crested Flycatcher

Red-eyed Vireo

Blue Jay

American Crow

Tree Swallow

Black-capped Chickadee

Tufted Titmouse

White-breasted Nuthatch

Carolina Wren

House Wren

American Robin

Gray Catbird

European Starling

Cedar Waxwing

Blackburnian Warbler

Black-and-white Warbler

Chipping Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Northern Cardinal

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Indigo Bunting

Red-winged Blackbird

Baltimore Oriole

House Finch

American Goldfinch

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 rifles. Once a gigging musician, collecting Fender Stratocasters is a recently revived interest—most prized being a 1957 Vintage Custom Shop 'Mary Kaye' White Blonde. A former IT Professional, he's spent the last 24 years employed in the sport optics industry.