I saw a thin fresh layer of snow on the ground looking out the window early this morning, but I know it will melt well before the end of the day. At present, temperatures are in the low thirties with freezing rain. The gloomy weather this past week in my neck of the woods hasn't been very conducive for bird photography or very suitable for bird migration. However, last night's southerly winds helped push birds into Wisconsin.
My expectations for new spring arrivals was pretty low when I hit the trail yesterday at the conservancy. I found only one Yellow-rumped Warbler, a couple of Hermit Thrushes, two singing Winter Wrens, a handful of Golden-crowned Kinglets, and a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. The Eastern Phoebes were foraging for insects low to the ground. I hope they're finding enough to eat in this unseasonably cold weather.
The serenading songs of Fox Sparrow were definitely a highlight I enjoyed throughout my walk. The confluence ponds are open and attracting an assortment of waterfowl. The durable winter birds, however, were preoccupied with spring concerns, especially Black-capped Chickadees, excavating cavities in old tree stumps.
The creek corridor Great Horned Owl pair are once again using the large oval cavity in the dead cottonwood tree. The photograph above shows the youngsters from last year. This is the third consecutive year that the owls have used this particular cavity, but an owl expert told me they don't usually reuse them year after year. I guess it's hard to give up a good thing!
Pheasant Branch, Dane, US-WI
Apr 13, 2013 7:30 AM - 9:00 AM
50 species
Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Mallard
Lesser Scaup
Bufflehead
Pied-billed Grebe
Great Blue Heron
Cooper's Hawk
Sandhill Crane
Killdeer
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Great Horned Owl
Belted Kingfisher
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
American Kestrel
Eastern Phoebe
Blue Jay
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Winter Wren
Carolina Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Eastern Bluebird
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Savannah Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
Eastern Meadowlark
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Purple Finch
House Finch
Pine Siskin
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow
All images © 2013 Mike McDowell