Máistir Nádúraí: Marsh Birds

4.27.2012

Marsh Birds

Swamp Sparrow

Several Sora, dozens of Swamp Sparrows, and a few Marsh Wrens have recently taken up residence at the cattail marsh on the far west side of the confluence ponds along Deming Way in Middleton. Since this small marsh has been getting increasingly interesting over the past few years, I’ve added it to my daily birding route. I went there last evening after work with my digiscoping rig to try and photograph these three species and managed to get a few nice shots.

Sora

However, the Marsh Wrens had other plans. They were busy constructing nests in the dense vegetation and would only pop into view long enough to see them grab pieces of cattail fluff and flutter back down into the stalks and grass. I can’t help but smile when I hear a Sora. As I walked along the trail about a dozen or more made their whinnie and kerwee calls, but they were very difficult to get a glimpse of. Well, with the exception of one cooperative bird pictured above. Amazingly, this particular Sora was standing motionless on the partially submerged tree branch.

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.