Máistir Nádúraí: More Spring Arrivals

4.20.2008

More Spring Arrivals

Pasque Flowers

Bloodroot

The passage of spring is an event taking days, weeks and even months. One by one, the harbingers please us with their awesome natural beauty; there is a unique feeling or reminiscence as we experience each type. Witnessing spring's winged and blossoming arrivals on a given day, we are inclined to mark nature's march toward summer one living organism at a time. We'll see an American Robin and proclaim spring has arrived, but we know it's merely a prelude to what lies ahead and it's going to get even better in the forthcoming days. Such progressions were captured in transit this weekend, in a few forms I include here.

Palm Warbler

Surrounded by dozens of Yellow-rumped Warblers, a lone Palm Warbler was a new arrival this morning at Pheasant Branch Conservancy. Around southern Wisconsin, birders are starting to report feathered gems like Wilson's Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Pine Warbler and Orange-crowned Warbler. It was a splendid weekend to enjoy the warmer weather with friends of all ages at a favorite natural area.

Bloodroot

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