― Lewis Grizzard
Song Sparrow
A flooded field on the far west side of Middleton has attracted a decent variety of waterfowl and other interesting birds. I've been visiting it most days for the past two weeks and have enjoyed observing the changes morning to morning. Yesterday a large flock of Greater White-fronted Geese flew in, and this morning a fresh group of Tundra Swans circled overhead, eventually landing near a dozen other swans that seemed to be calling them down from the skies.
Song Sparrow
Just a few yards from where I was observing the waterfowl, three male Song Sparrows were aggressively defending territories with song and chase. Naturally, there's plenty of room for all of them, but I suppose it's a necessary process for optimal ground and advantage for the forthcoming breeding season.
Song Sparrow
Some of the action on the water ...
Tundra Swans
And non-action ...
Northern Shovelers
Northern Pintail
Like these Northern Pintail, most waterfowl were on the opposite side of the flooded field, but still easy to identify with a spotting scope. Oh, how I would love to get a nice close-up digiscoped photograph of a pintail!
Northern Shrike
The Northern Shrike from my last blog post was present again Saturday, but not Sunday. Perhaps it finally set out on its northward journey toward the arctic circle. These are my March late shrike dates from eBird, Pheasant Branch Conservancy:
2016-03-06 1 Mike McDowell
2015-03-21 1 Mike McDowell
2014-03-24 1 Mike McDowell
2011-03-15 1 Mike McDowell
2008-03-15 1 Mike McDowell
So, the 17th is right in the pocket for departure.
At the Pheasant Branch Creek Corridor I found a Carolina Wren singing away at the top of a dead tree. Unfortunately, I didn't have my digiscoping gear with and figured by the time I went back to get it the wren would be finished singing. However, I returned to the creek corridor after a quick lunch to see if the wren might give a late afternoon song. I waited for about an hour. I didn't mind as the weather was super nice and I enjoyed soaking in the rays. Eventually, another trail user inadvertently disturbed the female wren by going off-trail and her agitated call notes brought the male in. He flew in from across creek, landed in the root wad, then took up a high perch and began belting out his rolling chippity-chippity-chippity song.
Carolina Wren
Great Horned Owl
She's sitting up now ... I believe there be owlets beneath all those feathers!
Great Horned Owl nest
American Robin
Pheasant Branch Conservancy
Black Earth Creek/HWY 14 Flooded Field
March 17th & 18th, 2018
Greater White-fronted Goose
Canada Goose
Tundra Swan
Wood Duck
Northern Shoveler
Gadwall
American Wigeon
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Canvasback
Redhead
Ring-necked Duck
Lesser Scaup
Bufflehead
Hooded Merganser
Ring-necked Pheasant
Turkey Vulture
Cooper's Hawk
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
American Coot
Sandhill Crane
Killdeer
American Woodcock
Ring-billed Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Great Horned Owl
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
American Kestrel
Northern Shrike
Blue Jay
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Carolina Wren
American Robin
European Starling
American Tree Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Rusty Blackbird
Common Grackle
House Finch
Pine Siskin
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow