New Year birds

Today, I birded my way back home from Madison.  I needed some common birds for the year so I decided to stop at all the usual places.  

The first place I stopped was Mazomanie (pronounced May-zo-may-nee) Bottoms hoping for Grouse, Bobwhite, Red-breasted Nuthatch or anything else.  All I found was a juvie Bald Eagle and this Eastern Bluebird who didn't want his picture taken: 

He was one of 8 birds present. 

Then, I ran over to Arena Boat Landing where I picked up the most species for the day. 

As I drove in, I quickly picked up the 150 or so American Robins that were hanging around the open water.  A Song Sparrow put in a quick appearance and then the resident Great Blue Heron flew over.  Now up 4 more year birds, I headed back to the river only to find it completely frozen over.  Coming back out, I spotted a lone male Yellow-bellied Sapsucker as he flew through.  A stop at the pine stand on the way out added Brown Creeper to my day list and a probable RED CROSSBILL flew over.  I wish the bird would have sat down so I could get a proper look at it. It would have been a new State bird. 

This beautiful sunset ended a decent afternoon of birding: 

Happy Birding! 

Birding this week.

Ok. I haven't posted recently.

On Mon, I took a run down to County TB along the river to look for shorebird spots and ducks.
I then looped back around along the WI river to the Millpond and then back to US-14.
I added a few species to my Richland County list. N Shoveler, Am Coot, Lesser Scaup and Red-breasted Merganser.
All the water everywhere is high. The marsh at ST-80 and ST-60 is flooded.

Today, I heard my FOS Blue-gray Gnatcatcher and FFTYFTY (first for the yard for the year) House Wren and Chipping Sparrow.
This evening, I walked up to the field behind my house and picked up a few more Bigby birds.
3 flyover Gr Blue Herons, half a dozen Wood Ducks, Wilson's Snipe, Am Woodcock and a singing Henslow's Sparrow to top it off.
the Henslow's was also a year bird.
The only Owls that were calling were Barred. It sounded like there were 7 or 8 of them.

I'll post some pics the next time I have time.

Finches!

3 House and 2 Purple finches at my feeder today. First I've seen since before Christmas.

No, this isn't a house finch and no the other bird is not a purple finch.
Anybody have any ideas as to what they are? (yes, this is one of my photo quizzes)








I'll even give you an idea of where I found them (extra points if you can guess where):












Well, Earthbird was the only one to answer. and she got the ID right.

The two birds are Black Rosy-finch in the first and third pics and Am Pipit in the middle one.
Location is at the top of Beartooth pass in the Beartooth mountains of southern Montana.

I wish the pics could show just how beautiful it is up there. But no number of pics can.


Happy Birding!