Migration Rushes

Woohoo! Much has transpired in the two weeks since I last posted. The great ephemeral rushes of migration are upon us. Birding is now in high gear. Between birding, work (gets in the way of birding), sleep (I'm deprived) and eating (popcorn, almonds and crackers on the fly) who has time to nestle into the box to process photos and document the fantastic rush of 2018's spring migration?

A confiding Hooded Warbler oblivious to my presence at UW Arboretum, Madison, Dane Co, 13May2018

As I embark to settle down to write. I can predict I will likely nod off into in-completion (yes it happened, finally finishing this 4 days later than intended). But here I go, the words have been kicking around in my brain for at least a week...

Blue-winged Warbler, Cherokee Marsh-South Unit, on a glorious day of birding after morning rain showers
4May2018

April in her notorious bipolar fashion had us desperately hanging on to her paucity of migrants as her end grew close. Warblers had been sparse in numbers and diversity. However only as manic April could do, she dutifully delivered on her final day with our first decent push of warblers numbering about a dozen species.

Spotted Sandpiper, Sub-zero Pkwy Ponds, Dane Co, WI 29April2018

We exploded from a steady trickle of of succulent shorebirds,

Dunlin, Sub-zero Pkwy Ponds, Dane Co, WI 29April2018

Wilson's Phalarope, Sub-zero Pkwy Ponds, Dane Co, WI 29April2018

swallows,

Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Goose Lake Conservation Area, Dane Co, WI 29April2018

and Yellow-rumped and Palm Warblers...

Yellow-rumped Warbler, Goose Lake Conservation Area, Dane Co, WI 29April2018

to recurrent orgasms of birds and more birds, sparrows, warblers, shorebirds, and tanagers. The undulating waves of one bird rush after another have been exhilarating...

Smith's Longspur, Dane Co, WI 3May2018

It has left me breathless on occasion, often trembling from excitement and always desiring more!

Tennessee Warbler, Cherokee Marsh South Unit, Dane Co, WI 4May2018

Each day yields fresh delights...

Black-and-white Warbler, UW Arboretum, Dane Co, WI 8May2018

In the common and cryptic...

Eastern Whip-poor-will, "the gorge", Dane Co, WI 5May2018

Barred Owl, UW Lakeshore Preserve, Madison, WI 7May2018

The bold and beautiful...

Summer Tanager (Dane lifer), Forest Hill Cemetery, Madison, Dane Co, 5May2018
One of two birds on my Dane life wish list for 2018

And the soul-soothing blues.

Black-throated Blue, Seen with my friend Shawn at Frautschi Point, UW-Lakeshore, Dane Co, WI 7May2018

Eastern Bluebird, Frautschi Pt, UW Lakeshore, Madison, WI 7May2018

I continue to fall in love with discovery, in love with finding a sense of place and harnessing the healing power of the quiet gorge, the nourishing seeps, the hidden springs and kindness of strangers, all yielding their gifts in incremental fashion with each return.

Swainson's Thrush, "the gorge" 4May2018

Solitude and beauty carry my spirit far from the crowded birding corridor where I am shunned like a modern day Hester Prynne, brandished with the scarlet letter "C" or "S" or perhaps,"FB..."

Golden-winged Warbler, "the gorge," Dane Co, WI 4May2018

The weight of human cruelty is no match for the power of a curious Golden-winged Warbler...

Golden-winged Warbler, "the gorge," Dane Co, WI 4May2018

Or a bluff decorated in sprays of white blooms...

"The gorge" 5May2018

Along "the gorge", hepatica and bloodroot have yielded to Dutchman's breeches which have now gone into senescence as well. The shooting stars are queued up for their spring debut. Bishop's Cap has just begun to bloom. Virginia Bluebell and Trout Lily have peaked in their poignant glory. Soon their blooms will also fade. All of it is so preciously ephemeral. Look up. Look down. The sensory overload at this time of year is immense. The forest floor is a constant changing menagerie of blooms rapidly transforming with the mere passing of a few days.

Wild Ginger, "the gorge," Dane Co, WI 5May2018

Truly there are so many birds and blooms, yet so little time. My attention and interests continue to be pulled in a multitude of directions. "The gorge" is beckoning me to return. However the bird activity at "the gorge" has been no match for the incredible deluge of warblers visiting the University of Wisconsin Arboretum.

Magnolia Warbler, UW Arboretum, 10May2018

My addiction to the forest sprites keeps me returning to the "Arb" for the time being. What's not to love in a place with scores of delightful birds and birders who welcome me with warm regard? With its vast landscape and hidden woodland benches, I can perfectly balance social versus solitary birding, choosing when to join my birder friends in a frenzied quest for warblers versus quietly strolling the wooded paths where the surprise of an intimate bird encounter is often lurking.

Northern Parula, UW Arboretum, Dane Co, 10May2018

The birding in Gallistel and Wingra Woods as well as at the north end of Gardner Marsh has been incredible over the past week.

In recent days I was wowed by a confiding Hooded Warbler at my feet...

Hooded Warbler, just walking right on by, busily foraging and singing within a few feet of me. 13May2018

...the delight of an unexpected Kentucky Warbler in my birding patch

Challenging light trying to capture this very vocal skulker
UW Arboretum, Dane Co, WI 13May2018

...an abundance of tantalizing warblers feeding low near the ground during our recent bout of chillier temperatures.

Black-throated Green Warbler, UW Arboretum, Dane Co, WI 8May2018

...gobs of Blackpoll Warblers concentrating at the north end of Gardner Marsh

Blackpoll Warbler, UW Arboretum, Dane Co, WI 10May2018

...and knockout views of several Scarlet Tanagers.

Scarlet Tanager, UW Arboretum, 10May2018

The past few days have also brought an influx of female warblers. Just today I saw my first fair lady Black-throated Blue Warbler as well a female Bay-breasted Warbler. These subtle beauties have joined the recently arrived female Tennessee, Nashville, Magnolia, Blackburnian, Blackpoll and Chestnut-sided Warblers along with female American Redstarts, a harbinger of migration's conclusion.

Bay-breasted Warbler, Cherokee Marsh South Unit, Dane Co, WI 10May2018

Soon this lovely madness will fade. Until then I will continue to relish one of the more memorable spring migrations I've experienced in recent years!

Prothonotary Warbler, Cherokee Marsh South Unit, Dane Co, Wi 10May2018
One of several I've seen this migration at various locations.

Finally Ephemerals!

With recent north winds I figured few new birds would have arrived yesterday morning. Same goes for today. So I diverted my attention to other nature endeavors.

Hepatica, Dane Co, WI 27April2018

I am mostly taking the day off from outdoor excursions since I suffered a nasty fall yesterday hitting my knee cap squarely on the pavement, jolting my already impinged shoulder and planting my binoculars into the pavement as well. Spring has arrived along with my extraordinary grace in maneuvering through life.

Pasque Flower, Walking Iron Park, Dane Co, WI 17April2018

Yesterday I decided to tour a few natural areas in western Dane county in search of spring ephemerals. Last week and earlier this week I had found pasque flowers, hepatica and dutchman's breeches on the verge of blooming. With recent warmer temperatures and the passing of time, I was hopeful to find the early spring ephemerals finally blooming. Nature did not disappoint.

Pasque Flower, Walking Iron Park, Dane Co, WI 27April2018

Last year I missed the pasque blooms due to the busyness of house-hunting and moving combined with trying to squeeze in birding during peak spring migration. So I was not going to miss them this year.

Pasque Flower, Walking Iron Park, Dane Co, 27April2018

My first stop was Walking Iron Park which has an impressive pasque flower prairie.  I arrived shortly after sunrise to find most flowers not yet open. However as I lingered in the area, more and more plants had spread their blooms.

Pasque Flower, Walking Iron Park, Dane Co, WI 27April2018

When I see pasque flowers, I am forever reminded of my inaugural encounter with this species many years ago, circa early 2000s, during what used to be annual trips to Grant County, Wisconsin to see the earliest of spring migrants and spring ephemeral blooms. These bloom on the Dewey Heights Prairie bluff above the Mississippi River at Nelson Dewey State Park.

Pasque Flower, Nelson Dewey State Park, Grant County, WI 9April2006!
Wow! Long before...

In addition to the flowers at Walking Iron, resident birds such as Chipping Sparrow, Brown Thrasher, Eastern Towhee, and Eastern Bluebirds, were busy singing and getting about the business of breeding. It's refreshing to hear the increased bird song after witnessing the birds struggle during our recent spring snow storms.

Chipping Sparrow, Walking Iron Park, Dane Co, WI 27April2018

I also picked up my FOY Dane County Lark Sparrow at Walking Iron. At the nearby Mazomanie Sand Barrens, I found another. Both locations are breeding sites for this species. This is not within my 7.5 mile radius patch. There goes any notion of me being a patch purist! I suspect getting this species as a patch bird will prove difficult. Though I could get lucky with finding one at some recently burned prairies in my patch.

Lark Sparrow, Mazomanie Sand Barrens, Dane Co, WI 27April2018

I made a spontaneous stop at Black Earth Rettenmund Prairie en route toward my last stop of the day.. I was curious if this dry-mesic prairie would also have pasque flowers. I found the answer to my question on the west slope.

Pasque Flower, Black Earth Rettenmund Prairie, Dane Co, WI 27April2018

Pasque Flower, Black Earth Rettenmund Prairie, Dane Co, WI 27April2018

Pasque Flower, Black Earth Rettenmund Prairie, Dane Co, WI 27April2018

Finally I arrived at my last stop at the edge of Driftless Area along what is known as the Johnstown Moraine. This is by far the most intriguing location in my birding patch. The habitat is high quality, unique and immensely underbirded. That's fine by me and part of the intrigue and attractiveness of this location. A large part of me feels guarded against speaking about it as I appreciate the solitude it affords despite its close proximity to highly-populated Madison. The last thing I want is to create a stir that would attract more people to this location. Ah, but the dog walkers know of this place. And per their usual, many I encounter ignore the rules regarding leashes. I have a plan with regards to these perpetually inconsiderate schmucks. More on that another time.

Bloodroot, Dane Co, WI 27April2018

Upon my arrival to the gorge, I spotted scattered bloodroot along a rocky slope.

Bloodroot, Dane Co, WI 27April2018

The stop to photograph these plants also yielded my FOY patch Broad-winged Hawk.

Broad-winged Hawk, Dane Co, WI 27April2018

Earlier this week, I found hepatica mostly in bud at this location. I returned yesterday to find the west-facing side of the gorge decorated in blooming hepatica, varying from white, to magenta to stunning bluish-purple.

Hepatica, Dane Co, WI 27April2018

Hepatica, Dane Co, WI 27April2018

Hepatica, Dane Co, WI 27April2018

Hepatica, Dane Co, WI 27April2018

Dutchman's breeches scattered the slope as well. Most buds were just emerging, but some plants were nearly in full bloom.

Dutchman's Breeches, Dane Co, WI 27April2018

Dutchman's Breeches, Dane Co, WI 27April2018

I expect in coming weeks the magic of what I've dubbed my "Secret Spot" will continue to reveal itself. I have lofty aspirations for what I might find in terms of spring migrants, ferns and forest blooming plants. Something to look forward too!

Bittersweet Hood Goodness

I will render nothing, nor will anything be rendered. Nothing is amongst or amidst anything...but it definitely might be among...

Ha!

Happy 420 from the Bittersweet hood!

How did you celebrate? For me it was with Lagunita Waldo's Special Ale X2 and then some. Once again this limited release triple IPA did not disappoint. Mucho delicioso! Piney citrusy goodness in epically balanced proportions. Cheers to Peter and Adrian for celebrating this fine occasion with me!

Ah, but I come here not to espouse the virtues of a great IPA but instead for bird-speak.

As in pure gold Merlinesqueness.

Merlin, Bittersweet hood, 20April2018

Merlin x2.

This morning while shooing turkeys from the backyard I caught the shrill chattering calls of a Merlin from across street.

Rather quickly I found the nest.

From my yard, I confirmed nesting Merlins!



Let the entertainment and study begin!

UPDATE 4/28/2018 Two days after I posted this the Merlins were MIA. Did the crows or some other animal or bird, the Cooper's Hawk, get their first egg? Was there never an egg? Seems odd there wouldn't have been. I watched them switch off sitting on the nest... and fiercely defend the area against the crows and Cooper's Hawk. I am quite disappointed they seemed to have moved on. Perhaps they found a more suitable location nearby in the neighborhood and I will encounter them again.