"Black and white photography erases time from the equation."
― Jason Peterson
I should blog an entire year in black and white! I've flirted with the idea before, but I doubt I would actually follow through with it. Anyway, I did go birding yesterday around the Middleton area. I checked out places like Pheasant Branch, Holy Wisdom, Ed Tallard Conservancy, Governor Nelson State Park, Dorn Creek, Mendota County Park, and a couple other quick stops here and there.
I found a Northern Shrike at Dorn Creek, which was my first of the fall and winter season as well as a FOY bird for 2022's annual list. Other notable birds included two female Hooded Mergansers at Middleton's Lake Street Boat Launch. Lake Mendota is still open and there was an assortment of waterfowl present, including an amazing number of Tundra Swans. There are still Sandhill Cranes at Pheasant Branch and I think this is the first time I've ever gotten that species in January.
I was also somewhat surprised that I didn't find any Lapland Longspurs or Snow Buntings in with the many Horned Lark flocks north of Middleton. I briefly looked for the Snowy Owl that's been present in that area but only came up with a single Rough-legged Hawk.
Whereas last year I had half a dozen Red-breasted Nuthatches coming to my feeders, it was something of an effort to find even one yesterday. Finally, I checked the pine stands at Ed Tallard Conservancy and found two in which a mixed-flock of Black-capped Chickadees and Dark-eyed Juncos. Apart from that, most locations were fairly quiet. The dense dead grasses around the pond at Holy Wisdom held American Tree Sparrows, several Song Sparrows, and a lone Fox Sparrow.
At the Conservancy Condo feeders along Pheasant Branch I found a veritable finch-fest ― American Goldfinch, House Finch, Pine Siskin, and Common Redpolls. I listened and looked carefully to see if any Purple Finches were among them, but I don't often find them at this time of year. There are reports of them in the area; one should strive to bird every bird.
At present, a quick check of the weather shows it's -9 degrees Fahrenheit with the windchill. Yesterday was bad enough in the open areas given the wind, but in the woods it was much more tolerable. Today I think I shall stay inside. I'll make a hot breakfast, drink coffee, watch more of The Witcher (Season 2), read, and perhaps take a nap after lunch. It's a long way to spring, but yesterday's outing was a good start for the year.
Middleton Area, WI
January 1st, 2022
43 Species
Canada Goose
Tundra Swan
Mallard
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
Wild Turkey
Bald Eagle
Northern Harrier
Red-tailed Hawk
Rough-legged Hawk
American Kestrel
Sandhill Crane
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Great Horned Owl
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Shrike
Blue Jay
American Crow
Horned Lark
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
American Robin
European Starling
American Tree Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Song Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Northern Cardinal
House Finch
Common Redpoll
Pine Siskin
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow
All images © 2022 Mike McDowell