"In order to see birds it is necessary to become a part of the silence."
― Robert Lynd
I birded Pheasant Branch Prairie both Saturday and Sunday to have one more go with fall boreal sparrows. Weather has been atypically warm for November so far, but there are cooler temperatures on the way. The White-crowned Sparrows were at the same place as they were the past few outings near the back of the drumlin. I also found a few lingering White-throated Sparrows hanging out with some Dark-eyed Juncos near the same area. American Tree Sparrow numbers continue to increase and I was able to score some nice portraits of one particular individual.
There's barely any detectable migration on NEXRAD over the midwest during the night as most summer songbirds have moved on. My checklist below indicates nearly a dozen fewer species than a week ago, but you may note a Northern Shrike. I heard the bird calling from the trees pictured at the top of this post, but only saw it one time as it flew over the drumlin and out of sight. There will be more.
The aforementioned White-crowned Sparrows seem to be part of a family unit. When the adult calls or sings, the immature birds pay close attention to what's being vocalized. Naturally, there's no way to know this for sure, but the fact that the five individuals have been hanging out together for almost three weeks seems to offer anecdotal support for it.
This was the reaction from one of the immatures when the shrike was calling.
Just one of three White-throated Sparrows I found on Sunday. There are at least two locations at Pheasant Branch where they often overwinter ― near the Conservancy Condos, and the condominiums on the east border of the parcel. There are bird feeders out, which likely sustains them during our harsh winter months.
When you see them up close, American Tree Sparrows are really quite stunning birds. Their teedle teedle and seep calls will be their only vocalizations until March, just before they return to Canada. Their late winter songs are sure harbinger that warmer weather isn't far off.
But perhaps not quite as gorgeous as Fox Sparrows, which are a favorite of mine. While photographing this particular bird, another individual was singing a subdued version of their melodic and cheerful song from the edge of the line of habitat they seem to favor. These sparrows will probably stick around for another week, but then they, too, will head further south for the winter.
Alas, probably my last outing of the fall season where leaves are still present on some trees. The oaks on the south side of the drumlin were nearly bare. It wasn't the most stunning fall I've ever witnessed, but it definitely had its moments at a few places. Weeks back it appeared leaves were just going to brown and fall away, but perhaps the rather sunny autumn helped make it more stunning. How colorful the fall foliage season is depends more on a wet spring growing season than what occurs over summer. However, a soggy summer will generally dull colors.
And a fallen feather from a Sandhill Crane ...
Pheasant Branch Prairie
Nov 7, 2021 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
28 species
Canada Goose
Mallard
Ring-necked Pheasant
Sandhill Crane
Ring-billed Gull
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Shrike
Blue Jay
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
Horned Lark
Brown Creeper
European Starling
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
House Finch
American Goldfinch
American Tree Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-crowned Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
Northern Cardinal
All images © 2021 Mike McDowell