Máistir Nádúraí: Just Birding!

9.14.2026

Just Birding!

Over the past several nights, NEXRAD radar picked up heavy bird migration, making it the perfect time to head back to the Pheasant Branch Creek Corridor for the 2026 fall warbler parade—and it delivered. My birding crew tallied 17 warbler species in total, highlighted by standout sightings of a male Black-throated Blue, Golden-winged, Blackburnian, and a Canada Warbler. Chestnut-sided Warblers were the most abundant of the bunch. Factoring in reports from other birders, at least 20 warbler species moved through the corridor—a testament to the site's ongoing value as a vital haven for migratory songbirds.

Here are all the species observed:

Canada Goose

Mourning Dove
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Green Heron
Great Blue Heron
Cooper's Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Belted Kingfisher
Red-headed Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Eastern Phoebe
Great Crested Flycatcher
Blue-headed Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Northern House Wren
European Starling
Gray Catbird
Gray-cheeked Thrush
Swainson's Thrush
Wood Thrush
American Robin
House Sparrow
House Finch
American Goldfinch

Pine Siskin
Song Sparrow
Ovenbird
Northern Waterthrush
Golden-winged Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
American Redstart
Northern Parula
Magnolia Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Canada Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting

Bio:

Mike McDowell has been exploring and documenting southern Wisconsin’s flora and fauna since 1987, leading field trips since 2002, and sharing his observations on his long-running nature blog since 2005. While most at home at Pheasant Branch Conservancy, his wanderings often take him to regional gems such as Pope Farm Conservancy, Spring Green Preserve, the Wisconsin River, and the Baraboo Hills. His photography has been featured in newspapers, magazines, and books, as well as on a Wisconsin Endangered Resources license plate, a Capital Brewery beer label, and even in National Geographic. In 2012, he received the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology’s Bronze Passenger Pigeon Award in recognition of his contributions to ornithology and community engagement. A skilled digiscoper, he was a multi-time finalist in Swarovski’s Digiscoper of the Year competition. Mike’s interests range widely—from insect macro-photography, especially tiger beetles, treehoppers, and robber flies, to fossil collecting, botany, natural history, amateur astronomy, and long-range rifle marksmanship. A former gigging musician, he has rekindled his passion for Fender Stratocasters, with a prized 1957 Vintage Custom Shop “Mary Kaye” among his favorites. After 15 years in IT, he has spent the past 26 years working in the sport optics industry, where his expertise continues to shape how others connect with the Natural World.

Disclaimer:

The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this blog are those of the author alone and do not necessarily reflect the views, positions, or policies of the author's employer, organization, committee, or any other group or individual with whom the author may be associated. Furthermore, any assumptions, conclusions, or inferences drawn from the content herein are the sole responsibility of the reader. The author disclaims any and all liability for misunderstandings, misinterpretations, hurt feelings, eye-rolling, second-hand embarrassment, or spontaneous combustion resulting from exposure to the contents of this blog. For the avoidance of doubt, this blog is written for entertainment, education, and/or catharsis and should not be mistaken for professional advice, legal counsel, or the inner workings of a well-adjusted mind.