Some butterflies I did notice yesterday, October 16 2012....

Folks:

  Butterflies are alive and flying!  In Madison, they have not succumbed to frost.  To find them, seek out COMPOSITES, i.e. plants in the family Compositae...especially goldenrods, tall purple Asters ("New England Aster") and asters with many small, white flowers ("Frost Aster").  These can be found in wild or feral places:  near community gardens, along railroad tracks and bikepaths, in "vacant" lots.  Probably the most common butterfly you'll find yet this year are Orange Sulphurs, but you might also see any of the following:  Clouded Sulphur, Dainty Sulphur (2012 is a banner year for this species), Cabbage Butterfly, Fiery Skipper, Common Checkered-Skipper, Sachem (another skipper) and _____.  This last is up to you... DF

Some birds I did not notice today...

  Despite the date, today I did not observe the following:  Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Acadian Flycatcher, Alder Flycatcher, Canada Warbler, Yellow-billed or Black-billed Cuckoo, Dickcissel, Bobolink, Bewick's Wren, Upland Sandpiper or Common Nighthawk.   I did encounter Wilson's and Tennessee Warblers, Swainson's and Gray-cheeked Thrushes, and Red-headed Woodpecker.  More migrants are bound to come through...perhaps on Friday morning? 
  As always, feel free to send comments to dfallow@yahoo.com

Today I biked out early and watched, at an Undisclosed Location, a couple birds singing.  Okay, it happens every day, but these particular birds were two that are only found in Madison during migration (they breed farther north) and whose songs I am not very familiar with:  Lincoln's Sparrow and Philadelphia Vireo.  Seeing these two vocalize was the high point (thus far) of my day, much more so than seeing Sandhill Cranes, a Great Horned Owl, a male Wood Duck and a male Eastern Bluebird. 

You don't have to get up at 4:20 to see/hear such things...as you might find out this weekend on any of my guided, by-bike field trips.  Please drop me an email for details...dfallow@yahoo.com
Thanks!

Birding by bike is....birding, by bike.  In other words, get there by bicycle.  If you're interested in that, then we're on the same page.  As of today, there are lots of waterbirds, Icterids and sparrows in Madison.  This weekend, a lot more could arrive.  How's your raincoat?
dfallow@yahoo.com