Máistir Nádúraí: Mostly Redstarts!

8.29.2021

Mostly Redstarts!

Quick Birding Update: I went to the Pheasant Branch Creek Corridor this morning to check on fall warbler migration. There were a few Tennessee Warblers, Chestnut-sided Warblers, Wilson's Warblers, and then singles of Northern Parula, Golden-winged Warbler, Canada Warbler, and Bay-breasted Warbler. American Redstarts were the most numerous warbler, higher in number than summer residents. Other birds detected included creek corridor nesters like Blue Jays, Northern Cardinals, Baltimore Orioles, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Gray Catbirds, Eastern Wood-Pewees, White-breasted Nuthatches, Black-capped Chickadees, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, American Robins, American Goldfinches, and many more. Winds favorable for migration should be coming this week, but I have a feeling there are going to be tiger beetle missions next weekend. Still, I'm grateful for the diminished humidity.

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.