Máistir Nádúraí: First Outing of 2012

1.03.2012

First Outing of 2012

We finally have below freezing temperatures but still no snow cover. Despite the blustery weather and extremely slippery ice-covered trails, I initiated my 2012 birding year yesterday at Pheasant Branch Conservancy. As usual this time of year, there was a lot of activity near the conservancy condominiums because of all the feeders placed on balconies. A few Northern Cardinals were singing and the chatter of chickadees, nuthatches, goldfinches, and other songbirds made the winter day seem a little more cheerful. In addition to expected winter emberzids like American Tree Sparrows and Dark-eyed Juncos, I also found a Fox Sparrow and a few White-throated Sparrows. Perched right where they're supposed to be, I saw two roosting sentinel Barred Owls. The male tends to hold the same spot in the trees just north of the condominiums, while the female typically rests on a ledge at the entrance to their nest cavity.

Pheasant Branch, Dane, US-WI

Jan 2, 2012 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM

27 species

Canada Goose

Red-tailed Hawk

American Kestrel

Rock Pigeon

Mourning Dove

Great Horned Owl

Barred Owl

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker

Hairy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Blue Jay

American Crow

Black-capped Chickadee

Tufted Titmouse

White-breasted Nuthatch

American Robin

European Starling

Cedar Waxwing

American Tree Sparrow

Fox 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.