Máistir Nádúraí: Killdeer in the Snow

3.02.2008

Killdeer in the Snow

I explored the entire stream corridor trail of Pheasant Branch Conservancy this morning for 3 hours. This was the first time in 2008 that I heard the Carolina Wrens singing and also found some other early spring migrants including our first Killdeer of the year. While the sun was out, we got to spy on a half-sleeping Great Horned Owl that also seemed to be content with the comparatively mild weather. A Northern Shrike was still present on the county parcel and we were lucky to hear a Barred Owl call from the overlook parking lot. A few Horned Larks were picking at grit along Pheasant Branch Road. Closer to Waunakee I found another Killdeer foraging along the road, so I stopped to snap a quick picture of it with my scope and camera pointed out an open window. While there are a few exposed patches here and there for ground-foraging birds to pick through, there’s still a lot of snow cover.

Birders on the Wisconsin Birding Network are reporting Sandhill Cranes, Red-winged Blackbirds, Eastern Meadowlarks and an assortment of ducks and geese. Spring migration is upon us.

Canada Goose

Mallard

Green-winged Teal

Cooper's Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk

Killdeer

Mourning Dove

Great Horned Owl

Barred Owl

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker

Hairy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Northern Shrike

Blue Jay

American Crow

Black-capped Chickadee

Tufted Titmouse

Red-breasted Nuthatch

White-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

Carolina Wren

American Robin

European Starling

Cedar Waxwing

American Tree Sparrow

White-throated Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Northern Cardinal

House Finch

American Goldfinch

House Sparrow

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.