― Robert May
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
I spent the morning at Pheasant Branch Conservancy listening to birds and photographing insects. I ran into Vicki Pierce near the Century Avenue entrance and introduced her to some of the creek corridor's creepy-crawlies. On our way to the Park Street entrance, we heard a Rose-breasted Grosbeak's song punch through the avian choir. Other singers included Eastern Wood-Pewees, Eastern Phoebes, a single Great Crested Flycatcher, Gray Catbirds, Baltimore Orioles, Northern Cardinals, Song Sparrows, and more!
Hackberry Butterfly
I missed Long-tailed Dance Flies last spring, but found around a dozen of them today. I gave Mark Johnson a call because he's been wanting to see one since I discovered them a couple of years ago. While waiting for him, Vicky and I walked out to the confluence pond along Deming Way and put together a pretty respectable bird list. Unfortunately, by the Mark arrived the dance flies were gone. Since the dew droplets evaporated off the leaves, the red-eyed black dragons retreated elsewhere.
Long-tailed Dance Fly
But there were still plenty of other subjects!
Ebony Jewelwing
Orb-weaver Mangora spiculata
Peacock Fly
After the creek corridor hike, Mark and I took a trip to the Sauk City Canoe Launch to see what tiger beetle species were present. The sandbar is still underwater, but there were Bronzed and at least a couple Sandy Stream Tiger Beetles along the beach just east of the launch. We also found Big Sand, Festive, and a few Punctured Tiger Beetles, the latter a few blocks from the launch at an empty sandlot. Though the tiger beetles and robber flies were super fast, we managed to get some nice portraits of them.
Sandy Stream Tiger Beetle
Sandy Stream Tiger Beetle
Bronzed Tiger Beetle
Punctured Tiger Beetle
Robber Fly Stichopagon trifasciatus
Robber Fly Efferia albibarbis
Purple Coneflower
Pheasant Branch, Dane, Wisconsin, US
Jun 19, 2016 6:15 AM - 9:15 AM
58 species
Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Mallard
Great Blue Heron
Green Heron
Cooper's Hawk
Sandhill Crane
Killdeer
Ring-billed Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
American Kestrel
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Willow Flycatcher
Eastern Phoebe
Great Crested Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
House Wren
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Wood Thrush
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Cedar Waxwing
Common Yellowthroat
American Redstart
Yellow Warbler
Chipping Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting
Red-winged Blackbird
Eastern Meadowlark
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Orchard Oriole
Baltimore Oriole
House Finch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow
All images © 2016 Mike McDowell