A scolding Black-capped Chickadee.
It's March! A new month of migration and discovery awaits! By the end of this month the number of bird species at Pheasant Branch Conservancy will double what it is at present. Yesterday morning I heard my first bugling Sandhill Cranes of the year as they circled over the marsh. It certainly lifted my spirits from what has been an interesting weekend in case you haven't been following the online discussion about the Mauston Great Gray Owl. Regular readers of my blog already know how I feel about baiting owls, so I didn't offer much input this time.
The Creek Corridor
The Woods
Though it's every bit winter out there right now, in a few weeks Eastern Phoebes will return as bridge sentries. A week or so after that we'll see the first small flocks of Golden-crowned kinglets, and then Yellow-rumped Warblers. But my Saturday excursion into the woods was a showing of winter birds with a few new printempo voices added to the choir. Beneath layers of cardinal songs, junco trills, woodpecker drumming, titmouse and chickadee calls, I heard American Robin and Song Sparrow spring melodies. I am ready for more.
American Robin pausing between notes.
Another American Robin resting in the sunlight.
Pheasant Branch, Dane, US-WI
Mar 2, 2013 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
32 species
Canada Goose
Mallard 2
Cooper's Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Sandhill Crane
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Great Horned Owl
Belted Kingfisher
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
American Kestrel
Blue Jay
American Crow
Horned Lark
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
American Robin
European Starling
American Tree Sparrow
Song Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Northern Cardinal
House Finch
Pine Siskin
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow
Singing Northern Cardinal.
All images © 2013 Mike McDowell