— George R.R. Martin
American Redstart
My birding posse and I spent the last three mornings birding the Pheasant Branch Creek Corridor for southbound migratory songbirds (entire weekend list below). Naturally, it's impossible in Wisconsin to see all 37 warbler species during fall migration, as many southern breeders left the state back in July and August. In an average fall we're fortunate to see around 23 to 25 warbler species. Some warblers molt into a shadow of their former spring glory, but many are still quite stunning during the fall migration — they're not all diminutive green and yellow CFWs (confusing fall warblers).
Black-throated Blue Warbler (female)
Sylvia found a male Black-throated Blue Warbler this morning, but Dottie and I missed it. However, all three of us got to see a female. We got really nice views of Black-and-white Warblers, Chestnut-sided Warblers, and a super crisp plumaged Canada Warbler. It's a farewell and send-off of sorts, as we won't see these particular species again until late April and early May of next year.
Common Yellowthroat
While birding, we try to avoid the Muggles on the main trail as much as possible by hiking the little side trails throughout the corridor. In fact, a good portion of the mile-long corridor can be explored this way. These hidden narrow paths remind me the way the entire trail system looked twenty years ago ... before the paving, and before Middleton began heavily promoting it as a commuter trail and outdoor gymnasium. Perhaps in a future post I'll outline why I don't feel Middleton deserves their Bird City Wisconsin designation any longer.
Wood Warbler Path
Treasures of the woodland path ...
Possible Cortinarius Mushroom
Great Blue Lobelia
Bottle Gentian
We have cooler and rainy weather on the way for pretty much the rest of the week. No frost warnings yet, but it may keep tiger beetles in their burrows. Buffalo Treehoppers have been quite common on S. perfoliatum plants this late summer. I haven't observed as many Locust Treehoppers as usual, but did come upon a few over the weekend. With spring gone and summer drawing to a close, I can reflect on some incredible moments in Nature — so much to see despite the weirdness that pervades most everything else going on right now.
Look to Nature to keep you grounded and sane!
Painted Lady
Buffalo Treehopper
Locust Treehopper
Festive Tiger Beetle
Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Wild Turkey
Mourning Dove
Black-billed Cuckoo
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Sandhill Crane
Killdeer
Solitary Sandpiper
Ring-billed Gull
Green Heron
Red-tailed Hawk
Belted Kingfisher
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Least Flycatcher
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
Eastern Phoebe
Great Crested Flycatcher
Blue-headed Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Barn Swallow
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
House Wren
Carolina Wren
Gray Catbird
Swainson's Thrush
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
House Sparrow
House Finch
American Goldfinch
Song Sparrow
Ovenbird
Northern Waterthrush
Golden-winged Warbler
Blue-winged Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
American Redstart
Magnolia Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Canada Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting
All images © 2020 Mike McDowell