Pheasant Branch Conservancy always looks magnificent after a fresh snowfall. I wasn't the first person to hit the trail this morning; a couple of joggers beat me to it, but I got there early enough to catch the sunrise. The clear skies didn't last long as clouds moved and rendered more of a monochromatic look to the snow-covered wooded scenery. Sprout the Barred Owl was at his usual roost along the creek corridor and looked much more relaxed and contented compared to the last time I saw him when he was being mobbed by crows. I only had a couple of hours to explore and I wanted to check the prairie, woods, and creek corridor for birds. There was a Northern Shrike hunting on the north side of the prairie, but it flew west toward Pheasant Branch Road and I lost it behind a row of trees.
Pheasant Branch, Dane, US-WI
Nov 25, 2014 7:00 AM - 9:15 AM
37 species
Canada Goose
Tundra Swan
Mallard
Ring-necked Pheasant
Northern Harrier
Red-tailed Hawk
Sandhill Crane
Ring-billed Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Barred Owl
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Northern Shrike
Blue Jay
American Crow
Horned Lark
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
American Robin
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Snow Bunting
American Tree Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Song Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Northern Cardinal
House Finch
Pine Siskin
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow
All images © 2014 Mike McDowell