After the Snowstorm

I had the day off today so I visited Pheasant Branch prairie to break fresh snow with my snowshoes. First on the trail! Whoo hoo! The future ex-Mrs. McDowell was in on the excursion. She expressed a desire to get some fresh air and exercise after being cooped up for a couple of days on account of the snowstorm, so I invited her.

With temperatures still in the single digits, we did a lap around the entire prairie. Along our route we observed dozens of American Tree Sparrows as they zipped over the fields in small scattered flocks. A few Dark-eyed Juncos followed them. A highlight was finding an adult White-crowned Sparrow perched high and looking über regal with the deep blue sky behind it. Though hopeful to see one, we failed to find a Northern Shrike. After an hour of kicking up snow, we went to get some cider and coffee.



We went our separate ways after warming up with our hot drinks. Lucky Becky had a dental appointment, but I decided to extend my snowy trek along the stream corridor trail section of the conservancy. There I watched a respectable assortment of dependable winter birds. There were White-breasted Nuthatches, Northern Cardinals, Black-capped Chickadees, Blue Jays, and a Brown Creeper. I also found three Great Horned Owls roosting in the evergreens.



Pheasant Branch – December 10th, 2008:

Mallard
Red-tailed Hawk
Mourning Dove
Great Horned Owl
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Blue Jay
American Crow
Horned Lark
Black-capped Chickadee
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
American Robin
American Tree Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Northern Cardinal
House Finch
American Goldfinch

All images © 2008 Mike McDowell