Máistir Nádúraí: Spring Six-spots!

9.15.2020

Spring Six-spots!

"Come, little leaves," said the Wind one day, "Come to the meadows with me and play. Put on your dresses of red and gold; For Summer is past, and the days grow cold.”

― George Cooper

Gray-cheeked Thrush

Quick Birding Update:

My birding posse added a few more warbler species to our fall total on Saturday and Sunday. New for this migration: Northern Parula, Blackpoll Warbler, and Mourning Warbler. We also had a Black-throated Warbler, which is always a personal favorite species for me. Saturday's warbler tally was 17, and Sunday's was 15 with fewer overall individuals. Saturday appeared to be a substantial Catharus Thrush push with many Swainson's and some Gray-cheeked. I love the Swainson's diminutive little "boip" whistle that helps you comprehend just how many surround you as you walk through the woods.

Upper Corridor Trail

Well, I didn't take many photographs, but I thought I'd share some nice portraits of Six-spotted Tiger Beetles Cicindela sexguttata I photographed at Pope Farm Conservancy earlier this spring. The rock wall that runs along the main path running up the hill from the parking lot is a great spot for observing and photographing this particular species. These are all the same species, but show significant variability in their maculation spots ― from none to ten! What's in a name, anyway?

Bio:

Mike McDowell has been documenting southern Wisconsin’s flora and fauna since 1987 and began leading field trips in 2002. Prolific at Pheasant Branch Conservancy, other highlighted natural areas include Pope Farm Conservancy, Spring Green Preserve, and the Baraboo Hills. His nature photography has appeared in various publications, newspapers, magazines and was even featured on a Wisconsin Endangered Resources license plate, a Capital Brewery beer label, and a National Geographic publication. He began journaling nature observations on this blog in 2005. He's the recipient of the 2012 Bronze Passenger Pigeon Award from the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology, presented to individuals who have made outstanding contributions in their local communities or state to promote the field of ornithology. He was a finalist in Swarovski’s Digiscoper of the Year photography contest several times. His other interests include insect macro-photography (especially tiger beetles, treehoppers, and robber flies), fossil collecting, amateur astronomy, botany, natural history, and marksmanship with long-range firearms. Once a gigging musician, collecting Fender Stratocasters is a recently revived interest—most prized being a 1957 Vintage Custom 'Mary Kaye' White Blonde. A former IT Professional, he's spent the last 24 years employed in the sport optics industry and has more binoculars than you.