"Getting dirty is the whole point. If you're getting dirty, that means that you have traveled to where there is no pavement. When you sojourn into such terrain, you greatly up your chances of experiencing some full-on wild nature."
― Nick Offerman
Hiking the Pheasant Branch Creek Corridor both days this weekend, I found nearly a dozen first-of-year birds: Brown Thrasher, House Wren, Barn Swallow, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Purple Finch, Eastern Towhee, and more. I confess I wasn't expecting as much as I found given the cold weather and unfavorable winds for migration. Having said that, overall number of individuals still seems a bit on the low side. Is it the weather or is it just that there are fewer birds? A bit of both, I suspect.
A cautionary note: If you see me at Pheasant Branch (or anywhere) and I'm working with my digiscoping rig ― like using it to take photographs ― please do not come up to me. I am busy and do not wish to be disturbed or asked questions. Sometimes it takes quite a bit of effort to obtain bird portraits. I might have been at a particular stakeout spot for a half an hour waiting for a bird to move into view, then someone comes along and the moment is lost. I can work to recreate conditions, but it can take a great deal of time. If you really have something important you feel you need to ask me, please wait until I backoff from my spot. Better yet, send me an email later on.
Hermit Thrush working the leaves.
Yellow-rumped Warbler looking for a spot for a late morning bath.
Heading into late April, birdsong is becoming quite intense as the sun rises. While walking from the north corridor back to the south section on the other side of Century Avenue, I came across a group of retirement-aged women attempting to identify a small songbird. I asked them "Do you know what that bird is?" They guessed Black-capped Chickadee, but they were delighted to learn it was a Tufted Titmouse. "Oh! I didn't know those were in here." Once it began to sing they asked me to identify the song. "That's the song of the Tufted Titmouse."
One woman asked what family the titmouse was in. I paused for moment and then I was delighted to proclaim "It's a tit! Along with chickadees, these nifty little birds belong to a group of birds called tits." Well, taxonomically it's Paridae, but I couldn't help myself. Now this is a situation when I'm totally happy to answer questions and educate ― they had a ton of questions, and I enjoyed answering them as we shared the trail until parting ways at Century Avenue. A few of them wanted to know where they could purchase binoculars, and I was more than happy to give them a couple of ideas.
Purple Finch enjoying a little snack.
The resident Carolina Wren belting out his song.
Decay.
Decay beyond death ― bones, a White-tailed Deer.
In just a week, temperatures are going to sore into the low 70s. Though I did see Bloodroot flowers ready to bloom today, they're sure to be open next weekend. I think a trip to Baxter's Hollow will be a good thing to do ― it'll be nice to see (and photograph) some spring ephemerals. I'm sure by now the Louisiana Waterthrushes are on territory there, too.
Middleton Area, Wisconsin, US
Apr 17th, 2022 9:00 AM - 02:00 PM
75 species
Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Blue-winged Teal
Northern Shoveler
Mallard
Green-winged Teal
Canvasback
Redhead
Ring-necked Duck
Lesser Scaup
Bufflehead
Hooded Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Wild Turkey
Ring-necked Pheasant
Pied-billed Grebe
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
American Coot
Sandhill Crane
Killdeer
Wilson's Snipe
Ring-billed Gull
Common Loon
American White Pelican
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Turkey Vulture
Cooper's Hawk
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
Belted Kingfisher
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
American Kestrel
Eastern Phoebe
Blue Jay
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Horned Lark
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
House Wren
Carolina Wren
European Starling
Brown Thrasher
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
House Sparrow
House Finch
Purple Finch
Pine Siskin
American Goldfinch
Field Sparrow
American Tree Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Eastern Meadowlark
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Common Grackle
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Northern Cardinal
All images © 2022 Mike McDowell