LIFE AT THE SPEED OF A PLANT

A Year of Birding: MyTop Twenty Birdwatching Moments of 2010

2011-01-09T20:14:00.000-08:00

This year I decided to attempt accounting for the number of ABA species I accumulated for the year. I thought I was on a roll starting in January when I visited my parents in the Lower Rio Grande Valley where I picked up multiple lifers including 4 rarities. However, somewhere along the way other aspects of life took over and I missed seeing several migrant warblers as well as a few other birds. So despite two trips to "the valley" and another to the Gulf Stream on Brian Patteson's Cape Hatteras pelagic birding tour, I still only topped out in the 330s. I think the real story may be the number of life birds I picked up this year...Or even better I learned it's not just about seeing the birds, but it's the stories you hear along the way and the people you meet. Also as one seasoned "chaser" told me, "it wouldn't be as exciting if you actually saw EVERY bird you chased." Well maybe. I'm not so sure about that one.

Anyway, here is a collection of some of those lifers, plus a few of my top bird photos and/or sightings from 2010.

#1 Amazon Kingfisher (lifer)

This bird was an ABA first record seen January 24, 2009-February 3, 2010 on the banks of Zacate Creek where it flows into the Rio Grande in Laredo, TX. My parents and I went to see this bird on February 1 . We waited over 3 hours with many chasers for the bird to make a 5 minute or so appearance just before sunset.

#2 Northern Jacana (lifer)

My dad and I went on a Texas rarity chase on February 4 for two birds. Our first stop was Choke Canyon State Park to try for the Northern Jacana. At Choke Canyon, we met a nice park ranger with an interesting life story about his former work along the Mexican border fighting the drug cartels. In addition to the jacana, Choke Canyon proved to be good place to see Verdin and multiple wren species. The ranger also informed us he had Painted Bunting on his early morning bird count, but we missed spotting this species due to time constraints (last time I saw this species was 1995).

#3 Northern Wheatear (lifer)

Our second stop on February 4 was the Amish farm and homestead of John Borntrager for the Northern Wheatear in southwestern Bee County, TX. John had found this bird back on December 30,2009. The bird popped into view immediately upon our arrival, atop a pile of scrap wood and sticks. We visited the farm for about 45 minutes. While I photographed the bird, my dad 'chewed the cud' with the farmer, picking his brain about Amish life. We learned through conversation with John, his family owned a store down the road, the Borntrager Combination Shop. So after visiting the wheatear we headed to the store where we picked up some homemade items which included lip balm, jams and knit drink coasters.

#4 Crimson Collared Grosbeak (lifer)

During the same early February trip to the Rio Grande Valley, a male Crimson Collared Grosbeak was making a showing foraging on potato vines at Quinta Mazatlan. We searched the grounds for about an hour when the bird was briefly located by another birder. About 20 minutes later the bird re-appeared near the complex entrance and we were treated to excellent views for greater than 30 minutes. On this occasion, we also got to witness how people bend birding ethics, trampling vegetation, nudging others out of the way and flushing the bird just to get photos of a spectacularly colored rarity...

#5 Tropical Parula

During our search for the Crimson Collared Grosbeak, I found this easy lifer coming to the oranges at Quinta Mazatlan.

#6 Clay-Colored Robin (lifer)

Not the prettiest bird, but a lifer nonetheless. This bird was seen at the Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park peanut butter suet feeder. I learned during this early February trip that the Rio Grande Valley is much birdier earlier in the winter as opposed to late March when I visited in 2009. Birds such as the Clay-colored Robin were much easier to see in winter vs. when spring approaches in the Valley.

#7 Rose-throated Becard

Not a lifer, but this was only the 2nd time I've seen this bird. He was coming to the suet feeders at the entrance to Bentsen. This was a much better look than the lifer I had at Estero Llanno Grande in 2009.

#8 Brown Jay (lifer)

On my second trip back to Texas in March, myself, spouse and parents chased this bird. He was coming to a private residence in Zapata. The owner's were gracious in allowing us to sit on their back patio while we waited for the bird. The bird never came to their tortilla feeders (yes the bird was known to have a hankering for tortillas), but we were fortunate to spot him in and among the bramble of trees just outside the property where we had been patiently waiting for him. Traveling the back streets of Zapata provided a glimpse into a town that distinctly resembled a third world country with it's narrow dirt and pot-holed streets lined by degraded stucco homes. It was definitely on of those "you're not in Kansas anymore" moments. However, despite the obvious poverty, their was still an artistic romanticism to the town's unique architecture and landscaping in this different and small slice of America.

#9, #10, #11, #12, #13 ...

The next five species were seen on Brian Patteson's pelagic bird watching trip in the Gulf Stream out of Hatteras, NC. Yes, the water is really that blue in the Gulf Stream. In fact there is a clear demarcation between the deep cobalt blue of gulf as opposed to the blue green waters closer inland.

#10 Greater Shearwater (lifer)

#9 Black-Capped Storm Petrel (lifer)

#11 Audubon's Shearwater (lifer)

#12 Cory's Shearwater (lifer)

#13 Bridled Tern.

This bird landed on the boat for 45+ minutes. When he took flight the captain tossed him a boat cushion for refuge.

#14 Red Phalarope (lifer)

Seen at South Metro Pier in Milwaukee County, WI during the Madison Audubon Society Lakeshore Birding Trip on November 7

#15 Great Gray Owl

Seeing the Great Gray this year was my third and by far best view. I had previously seen "him" in 2009 in the Sax-Zim bog and before that in 1996 in the Fremont National Forest in southern Oregon. In 2010, this bird was seen on our annual winter bird watching trip to the Duluth area in Minnesota. We had searched for this bird, dawn and dusk for 3 days without success. Unable to resign our hopes of seeing a Great Gray Owl before heading back to southern Wisconsin, we decided to brave the snow-covered roads and make one last run for the bird at dawn on our day of departure. The effort paid off. We watched this bird for 38 minutes in a fairly substantial snowfall.

#16 Thayer's Gull (lifer)

Our last stop in the Duluth area in January was Canal Park where I found this lifer with the help of Mike Hendrickson.

#17 White-cheeked Pintail (?lifer? likely not to be accepted?)

Following our pelagic birding trip from Hatteras, NC we bee-lined it to Pea Island NWR where this White-cheeked Pintail was being seen. The jury is out as to whether it will be accepted as a wild bird and therefore ABA countable. Odds are with waterfowl such as this species that it will not be accepted as a wild bird.

#18 Anna's Hummingbird (lifer)

This bird was coming to a feeder in Grand Marais, MI in late October. We just happened to catch wind of this rarity during one of our many stops to Whitefish Point this year where birders were talking about this sighting in nearby Grand Marais. Since we were heading to that area to hike Pictured Rocks and drink the best beer in Michigan at the Dunes Saloon, this stop was right along our route.

Just a few gems from this spring in the north...

#19 Black-throated Blue Warbler and #20 Blackburnian Warbler


The bluff overlooking Spectacle Lake in Chippewa County Michigan affords excellent warbler viewing and photography as one is positioned at or above the tree tops where the birds are often seen at close range.

It's always an added treat to capture a warbler singing, let alone a Black-throat Blue Warbler singing.

At Monocle Lake, located in the valley below Spectacle Lake, I found this Blackburnian Warbler perched a few feet off the ground, ruffling it's feathers after a bath in the creek.

Michigan Lakeshore Birding Trip

2010-11-08T18:37:00.000-08:00

Some folks were intently birding, others multi-tasking between texting and scoping...and despite being one of the tallest in the group, Tom wanted to get the true birds eye view.

A group of birders from the Madison Audubon Society birded the west shore of Lake Michigan from South Metro Pier in Oak Creek to North Point in Sheboygan this past Sunday. The group was led by Aaron Stutz with attendance by some of our favorite Madison area birding personalities. The weather was cooperative, the company good.

We were greeted by this sleepy-eyed Red Fox at our first stop of the day...

Soon after, the best bird and a lifer for many, a Red Phalarope, was found at South Metro Pier in Oak Creek.

Red Phalarope

For comparison here are some photos of Red-necked Phalaropes taken this fall in the Gulf Stream off of the North Carolina Coast...

But back to Lake Michigan...Coming in at 2nd place for the trip was the Western Grebe found by Tom Prestby at the Texas Ave. Overlook in Milwaukee (no picture available, sorry).

Until the next time...Good times and good birding!

Milwaukee Lakeshore Birding

2010-10-05T20:35:00.000-07:00

After having overnighted in Milwaukee following Farm Aid, my spouse and I checked out the bird activity at South Shore Yacht Club, the Coast Guard Impoundment and Lakeshore State Park on Sunday afternoon. Although birds weren't necessarily numerous, the sightings were top quality. At the yacht club we had close looks at a colorful Ruddy Turnstone, a single Dunlin and a 15+ minute display of a Peregrine Falcon hunting the flocks of Rock Pigeons and gulls.

Dunlin

Ruddy Turnstone

Add caption

Peregrine chasing Rock Pigeons

Peregrine Falcon

The Coast Guard Impoundment was fairly uneventful. However, we were treated to close range views of a Cooper's Hawk perched along the fence as well as a Northern Harrier hunting the wetland.

Lakeshore State Park was fairly birdy with much migrant activity in the trees bordering Harbor Drive as well as in the prairie plantings at the park entrance. Golden-crowned Kinglets were the predominate bird among an odd assortment of birds including Palm Warbler, Brown Creeper and Red-breasted Nuthatch. The weary migrants made for easy photography opportunities allowing me to approach most birds within a few feet. Most amazing was the diversity of species we saw in a small narrow prairie planting approaching the park which included the following: Orange-crowned Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow-rumped Warbler, American Tree Sparrow, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Downy Woodpecker and Song Sparrow.

This little puff ball is a Golden-crowned Kinglet trying to warm

Golden-crowned Kinglet

American Tree Sparrow

Finally my first of the year WI Orange-crowned Warbler

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Downy Woodpecker

Jaegerfest

2010-09-29T20:51:00.000-07:00

Parasitic Jaeger, Wisconsin Point, Douglas County, WI

Myself, spouse and good friends attended the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology sponsored Jaegerfest this weekend in Superior, WI. I attend this event as much for the people as the birds. It seems to be a great opportunity to re-unite with birder friends as well as put faces to all the personalities that post on the Wisconsin Birding List.

We stayed at the Super 8 in Superior which is minutes from Wisconsin Point. All in all the motel was clean, but nothing spectacular. It definitely met our needs as a simple place to get a good night's rest since the beds seemed newer and were actually quite comfortable. Also, Gronk's Grill and Bar is located next door, so if you are one of those people who bird by day and drink beer by night, aka "beer birding," this motel appears to be suited to such activities. The continental breakfast warrants an honorable mention too for it's good selection of tasty homemade sweetbreads.

Part of the "Beer-birding" contingency

"Beer-birders" setting up to see some birds

The weekend in a nutshell....

Line of birders intently focused on seeing jaegers

After withstanding two days of either blustery NW winds and rain which caused expensive optics to take "headers" in the sand or frigid morning temps with lackluster distant showings of Parasitic Jaegers and Sabine's gulls that I never saw....FINALLY Sunday morning delivered the stuff Jaegerfest is made of. Our group was among the small number of remaining birders on Sunday morning who were holding out hope for a spectacular jaeger showing. Our "jaeger whispering" antics involving shots of jagermeister
the night before apparently paid off. We were rewarded by the birding gods with near-range repeated Parasitic Jaeger flybys, acrobatic sparring between the jaeger and various gulls and long satisfying looks of said bird resting on the water offshore.

Scenes from the weekend...

Gull flight at dawn

Wisconsin Point Lighthouse shrouded in a Sunday morning fog

The star of the show...

Parasitic Jaeger

Parasitic Jaeger chasing Ring-billed Gull

The supporting actors...

American Pipits commonly landed on the beach.

Franklin's Gull

Harris' Sparrow

Red-breasted Merganser (I think)

I dumb-assedly thought this was an Orange-crowned, but it's a Yellow (I think)

Palm Warbler

Bonaparte's Gull

The people...

Tom Schulz, our trip leader, with Seth Cutright

Seth Cutright, Daryl Tessen and the ever popular, Tom Prestby


Dawn stake out for jaegers and rare gulls

Peter Bridge, Tim Hahn and Tom Prestby wondering, "Where are those Jaegers???"

After two days without seeing a jaeger, Paula was getting a little cranky:)

Tim showing frustration after not seeing any jaegers for 2 days!

Dinner at Grizzly's, a nightly event during Jaegerfest

Spring scenes from Jefferson County

2010-07-30T11:50:00.000-07:00

Spring is a busy time for me, being both a gardener and a birder. This year I opted for more birding and no new garden projects mostly to allow me to play with my relatively newly purchased Canon 50D Digital SLR with it's 100-400mm zoom lens. As a result of focusing on birds and hiking, my plans for starting vegetable seedlings was neglected. I eventually had to opt for buying plants as my seedlings were a failure. However, on the flip side I've been able to get out and shoot more bird and butterfly photos. Here are some taken in my home county...

The Yellow Warblers are one of the first warblers to return in spring. By May 1st (time ofthis photo) numerous were present along the Glacial Drumlin Trail in Lake Mills.

At Fauville Grove Sanctuary I

found the following photogenic species...

American Tree Swallows copulating
(fancy word for "doing it")

White Crowned Sparrow

Ring-Necked Pheasant

This year has also been good for butterflies. Here are some Red Admirals with more photos of other butterflies to follow at a later posting

Remmie? dropped by tonight

2010-05-21T20:31:00.000-07:00

He's going for the top now perching by the cross.

A strikingly handsome bird indeed.

Meet Remmie?

2010-05-19T20:51:00.000-07:00

May 2nd, 2010 while gardening in the yard, my husband and I noted a Peregrine fly over our yard and land on the church steeple up the hill behind our house. Our first thoughts were, "Woo hoo! New yard bird." Our 2nd was that this bird was a one hit wonder migrant using the church for a temporary roost. However, the eve of May 14 the Peregrine was back, this time feasting on some bird atop one of the church peaks. May 15 in the early a.m. before heading out for an all day birding excursion we checked for the bird to find him flying back into his perch with a freshly killed Mourning Dove.

Over the course of these 3 visits, my photographs have dramatically improved. The last of these allowed me to make out numbers and colors of bands on the bird's leg. These were entered into the Midwest Peregrine Database. Originally I was thinking this bird was "Bennie" who hailed from the Cargill Malt Complex in Jefferson, WI. However, after re-examining the band and how bands are reported in the database, I have deduced this bird is actually named "Remmie", banded in 2008 at
WEPCO Pleasant Prairie Power Plant, Pleasant Prairie
Kenosha county, WI. Jury's out. I've made contact with the Peregrine Database and await their reply. Totally cool whatever this bird's name is.

Bass Hollow

2010-05-18T20:38:00.000-07:00

This past weekend (May 15) we decided to return to Bass Hollow Recreation Area in Juneau County. We discovered this area a few years ago when we were returning from a trip to Adams County to see the Kirtland's Warbler. Our last time visiting we only had a couple of hours to scratch the surface of this magical place. The Bass Hollow Recreation Area is adjacent to the Bass Hollow State Natural Area.

Although this area is likely less pristine when compared to its counterpart state natural area, it still abounds with more varieties of woodland flowers and spring ephemerals than I have seen in most
Wisconsin landscapes. I was pleasantly surprised to discover a handful of Giant Yellow Lady Slippers among the diverse array of woodland flowers.

Even more amazing was the abundance of Bishop's Cap extending its delicate sprays of white among the Trillium, ferns and other numerous woodland flowers.

We hiked the 3 mile loop trail (plus some side exploratory jaunts) in 7 hours, at a snail's pace, absorbing the bird, plant and butterfly life. Unfortunately we had no trail map to guide us at our starting point, so we embarked on the trail with blind curiosity. We put our faith in the lone hiker we encountered at the beginning of the trail. She assured us the trail was a loop that took about an hour to complete. Approximately 2 miles into the hike, we finally located a posted map confirming the trail was indeed a loop. Seven hours later we completed the "about an hour" 3 mile trail.

We entered the hollow from the parking area off Hwy. K. The trail traversed immediately down a slope of disturbed habitat of downed trees teaming with native ephemerals and ferns.

We immediately encountered very visible singing Mourning and Cerulean Warblers on this section of trail.

After about 50-100 feet, the trail opened on to a small field, Flambeau Field, with a sign directing us southeast on the loop trail into the hollow. Following this path, we were led through more disturbed forest and more encounters with Mourning Warblers, Indigo Buntings, Eastern Towhees, other migrating warblers, Wood Thrush, Ovenbirds and many Rose-breasted Grosbeaks.

However, if one were short on time, an alternative to the loop trail would be a hike in and out on the same trail, picking up a part of the loop on the northeast side of Flambeau Field. This unmarked trek across Flambeau Field to the northeast corner and edge of the field quickly reveals an obvious trail which is actually the endpoint for the loop trail if one follows the signs. Taking this route, one more quickly advances into the shaded old growth habitat of this area where Acadian Flycatchers can be easily seen and heard.

On this visit we opted for a leisurely exploration of the entire the loop and followed the well-marked trail in the southeast direction where the signs pointed. This southeast path, eventually meandered into the heart of the hollow where open disturbed forest was replaced by old growth shade and we encountered Acadian Flycatchers, Yellow-billed Cuckoos and Louisana Waterthrush. The terrain in this area was relatively steep in sections with wide paths that rose and descended in and among the hollow. Hiking poles were useful as knee-saving and balancing devices for the down hill sections and rocky creek crossings.

The area also seemed to attract butterflies. On this particular day I found the following four species:

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly

Duskywing species????

???Pearl Crescent butterfly

? A ratty looking Compton Tortoiseshell

After our extended loop hike. We decided to briefly investigate the access points into the state natural area off of Cowan Rd. The trails into the Bass Hollow State Natural Area resemble narrow, barely distinct game trails that seem to peter out and involve some bush-whacking to follow. Perhaps this will be an adventure for another day as I am intrigued of reports that this habitat supports Nodding Pogonias.

Total Bird Species: 68 (including 19 warbler species of which 2 were 'picked up' at a nearby marsh)

Bird Highlights: 2 Common Ravens, 1 Olive-sided and 5 Acadian Flycatchers; Magnolia, 2 Blackburnian, 3 Cape May, 2 Hooded, 5 Mourning, 6 Cerulean Warblers; 1 Louisiana Waterthrush, 1 Gray-cheeked Thrush, 3 Veery and 6 Yellow-billed Cuckoos.

Plant Highlights: Wild Geranium (common), Yellow Lady Slipper, Trillium Grandiflorum (abundant), Maiden Hair Fern (common), Bishop's Cap (abundant), Jack-in-the-pulpit, American Cancer-root, Rue Anemone and Yellow Forest Violet.

Birds around the yard

2010-05-14T19:43:00.000-07:00

The house wren was checking out nesting possibilities this morning.

Later this eve I discovered the Peregrine Falcon we thought was a migrant passing through two weeks ago seems to have stuck around the church behind our house. I spotted him feasting on some creature up at one of the peaks and then later photographed and videoscoped him preening.

This was followed by a "fat's man nap" aka "food coma."

Bird Migration Ramping Up

2010-05-06T20:09:00.000-07:00

Yesterday morning Wisconsin birders had their first warbler fall-out of the season with 20+ warbler species in one morning. By the time I got off of work, the wind was blowing at crazy gusts and I was lucky to come up with 4 warbler species in the Lake Mills area. Funny how work gets in the way of spring migration.

Tonight made a quick drive to Faville Grove Sanctuary as part of my scouting efforts for the Madison Area Audubon's Big Day birding competition. Found my first-of-the-year White-crowned sparrows which seem to be moving through in high numbers.

Tree swallows were 'gettin' busy' bondage style.

I also found some stunning Ring-necked Pheasants in the expanse of prairie habitat.

Typical Midwest Spring

2010-04-27T19:12:00.000-07:00

Widespread frost forecast tonight for SE WI....I'm feeling too lazy to go cover the strawberries. I'll take my chances. Hope the sprouting snow and sugar snap peas survive.

Spring in Wisconsin

2010-03-16T17:52:00.000-07:00

Ok so my goal here is not to make some masterpiece out of this blogging thing cause what happens is I NEVER post anything...So here's some quick pics from my garden as flowers and greenery emerge during this spell of Mother Nature's trickery. We hearty Wisconsinites know Spring is not quite here despite today's sunny low 60s. At least one more snowfall however brief it may be is likely just around corner (like a few days if the forecast is correct). Yet I can't help but get excited with what the gardening season will bring this year. I've already begin cleaning up my flower beds.

Crocuses are my first bloomers and last fall's spinach is ready for picking only days after 95% of our snow has melted. Good times ahead.

Duluth Area Birding Jan 21-24

2010-01-25T11:53:00.000-08:00

January 21, Sax-Zim Bog

2 NORTHERN HAWK OWLS located along County Rd 7, one at the Sax Rd. intersection on the east side of the road and the other also on the east side but a few tenths of a mile north near the power lines

2 BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKERS: one seen along the trail to the McDavitt Rd. feeder and the other just past the feeder in the woods

NORTHERN SHRIKE: County Rd. 29

3 BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE: One on Sax Rd, south side in some shrubby type stuff close to the intersection with County Rd. 7, the other two were seen on the north end of Owl Ave near the intersection of Arkola Rd. These latter two birds were seen in the same location on January 22 as well.

BOREAL CHICKADEE: Admiral Rd. feeder

PINE GROSBEAK: numerous locations, Arkola Rd and Owl Ave feeders come to mind

WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS: Numerous locations, Stoney Lake Rd., County Road 133 in Meadowlands across from the cemetery etc.

PINE SISKINS: Most numerous as Abramson’s feeders, also many at Morse’s feeders

PURPLE FINCH: Most numerous at Abramson’s feeders

January 22, Sax –Zim Bog

SHARP TAILED GROUSE (5) seen foraging in tops of tamaracks southside of Arkola Rd., west of Stickney Rd. in the area marked on Mike Hendrickson map “sharp-tailed grouse lek.” We confirmed via our spotting scope as they were seen at some distance and at first we’re dismissed as Ruffed Grouse.

1 GREAT HORNED OWL: Identified by the large size and ear tufts silhouetted against the night sky at 5:30 pm on the corner of Hwy. 83 and McDavitt Rd. ( I was hoping for a Great Gray)

1 NORTHERN HAWK OWL : east side of McDavitt Rd. less than 1/10 th of a mile south of the trail to the feeding station on that road

1 BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER: working the east and west sides of McDavitt Rd. north of the entrance to the path leading the feeding station

2 NORTHERN SHRIKE: I don’t have exact locations recorded for this day

2 BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE: north end of Owl Ave near the intersection of Arkola Rd.

2 BOREAL CHICKADEE: McDavitt Rd and Blue Spruce Rd.

PINE GROSBEAK: numerous locations, Arkola Rd and Owl Ave. and Lake Nichols Road

WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS:Lake Nichols Rd., Poplar Rd., also seen on Prairie Lake Rd. when we drove further south to try for the Varied Thrush which did not see (we tried for an hour around 12:30-1330)

COMMON REDPOLLS: ~ 15 on Lake Nichols Rd. (seen in a mixed flock w/ Pine Siskins) another ~50 on Poplar Rd. just north of the Kelsey intersection

PINE SISKINS: Abramson’s feeders, Morse’s feeders and Lake Nichols Rd.

PURPLE FINCH: Abramson’s feeders and at the Prairie Lake Rd home of the Varied thrush

January 23: Lake County

1 Male SPRUCE GROUSE: 11:05 a.m., on Hwy 1, 10.2 miles NW of Hwy 2 intersection, gritting in the road. Good looks and lots of photos. The weather was crappy so few cars on the highway affording us the ability to stop on this road with no shoulder.

1 NORTHERN HAWL OWL: Stoney River Forest Rd., 5.2 miles south of Hwy 1 seen at 3:50 p.m.

1 BLACK BACKED WOODPECKER: HWY 1 between the forks of the Kawishiwi River

3 BOREAL CHICKADEE: 1 on Stoney River Forest Rd; the other 2 I don’t have the exact locations recorded

13 PINE GROSBEAK: 9440 Hwy 1, at a home north of Isabella on east of the road w/ a good feeding station (seed, suet and deer carcasses)

12 COMMON REDPOLL: 5 on HWY 1 about .1-.2 miles south of the home with the feeding station; the additional 6 I don’t have exact location recorded

MOOSE: WE drove Hwy 2 south in the dark and snow fall after searching for Great Gray Owls unsuccessfully. The Hwy was covered with a pure blanket of snow as we were the only car on the road making virgin tracks. My headlights picked up animal tracks of two large beasts which appeared to be running ahead the vehicle and as I slowed in curiosity, two moose, one identified as a bull crossed in front of the vehicle just north of Dempsey Creek. Not a bird sighting but definitely very cool.

January 24: Lake County

1 GREAT GRAY OWL: Yeah! Stoney River Forest Rd. perched atop 3 different black spruce trees, 5.3 to 5.5 miles south of the Hwy 1 intersection. Bird was first observed at a great distance at 8:05 a.m. via scope as we were fearful of flushing. We approached cautiously and observed bird within 25 feet of the vehicle until 8:48 when he flew into the forest. We had worked for this bird both on this road(2 dawns and 1 dusk) and in the Sax Zim bog (2 dawns and 2 dusks) every day of our trip, so we were delighted to find him on our last morning in MinnesotaJ Lots of pictures and video were taken.

1 NORTHERN HAWK OWL: Hwy 2, 18.2 miles north of intersection w/ Hwy 61

1 BOREAL CHICKADEE: Stoney River Forest Rd.

~40 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS: Mixed in with Robins and predominantly Cedar Waxwings near the Ore Docks in Two Harbors.

~100 COMMON REDPOLLS: Hwy 2 all over the road in the snowfall, 12.3 miles north of the Hwy 61 intersection in Two Harbors

8 PINE GROSBEAKS: Hwy 2 a few tenths of a mile south of the Redpolls

Winter Sowing

2010-01-07T11:06:00.000-08:00

Follow this link to the Our Little Acre blog for a nice tutorial on winter sowing of seeds requiring stratification . Very informative and easy method to start seeds. A good thing to get going on this time of year.

On another note, with 2009 behind me, I'm trying very hard to organize my thoughts and photos and actually post something of substance to my blog. Maybe by the end of today I will come up with something if I'm not too distracted by the snow or other computer distractions:)

2009 Garden Season in Review.

2009-12-30T12:00:00.000-08:00

Dec. 9, 2009 First storm

July 6, 2009

So obviously sometime in July the summer stepped up and I was busy either gardening or traveling to and from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Managed to get in an incredibly hike along Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. I had grand plans to better document my travels and progress/regression in the garden more for myself than anything. But I failed miserably. At least I can say I was out engaging with my world as opposed to my computer.

My garden gets a C+/B- in 2009r. I was one of the unfortunate many who was blessed with blight this year and thus my tomatoes which had a good running start and some early nice fruits, quickly hit the brick wall on production and quality. Had I not had the tomato disappointment my garden would have solidly landed an A/B grade.

The disappointment with the tomatoes was definitely offset some buy the raspberries which grew and produced like gangbusters in their second year in my garden. My 6 year old niece even deemed my raspberries the highlight of her trip to the Midwest this past summer.

A Quick Note

2009-07-16T20:19:00.001-07:00

I'm up to five butterfly species in my garden in the past month. Most obviously they like the native Butterfly weed but also various other plants. Echinacea appears to be another favorite. Now if I can get more photos.

So far the Japanese Beetle Trap is working fabulously. A few remain on the foliage but by and large I have trapped the bulk of my yard's population with about 100-125 currently in the trap. Yeah!

Luce and Chippewa Counties, Michigan,June-July 2009

2009-07-15T09:49:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to post some photos from my recent trip to Michigan's Upper Peninsula. These photos were taken along Lake Superior at Jinny Palms preserve and Vermillion Light Station in Chippewa County as well areas in Luce County along the "Big Lake", the Two Hearted River and Pike Lake.

Grand Sable Dunes, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Lake Superiors Artistry in the sand...

Mouth of the Two Hearted River on a gray dreary day...

Tall Buttercup growing along the Two Hearted River Bank

Jinny Palms Preserve plant life......

Common Wood Sorrel and Wild Lily-of-the-valley

Blue Flag Iris at Vermillion Light Station

A Ruby-throated Hummingbird finds a fitting perch on the Great Blue Heron weather vane

Japanese Beetles

2009-07-13T19:16:00.001-07:00

Well this year appears to be the year of the Japanese Beetle for me. After coming home from vacation following July 4, the garden was flourishing with lush vegetation.

Now in the span of one week my beautiful edamame soybean plants are decimated with holes all over the leaves. They are verging on a skeletal appearance, all because of those darn beetles. So tonight, I hung a trap with reservations about potentially attracting more of these Asian nuisances to the yard. However, I can't really imagine how my one little yard can support many more of these buggers. I also took great pleasure in manually removing 16 beetles from the soybean crop and givin em the old swirly in my toilet.

Insects busily enjoying the fruits of my labor

2009-07-12T11:11:00.001-07:00

Lots of bug happenings in the garden in the past week. This year I'm trying to do a better job photo documenting some of the insects visiting my plants. Here is a collection from the past few days two days....

Scudderia sp. katydid nymph out for an early eve frolic among the day lilies.

Halictadae Bees have been busy gathering pollen.

This Spring Azure butterfly was busily probing the Rudebekia.

I found this weevil orgy tucked away in my hollyhocks.

Evil Japanese Beetles are starting to decimate the leaves of several fruit and vegetable crops. I'm going to try a trap although I've now read it may actually attract more of the beetles. Arghhhh!

And finally a few other wasp/bee species yet to be grossly identified.

On the Quest for Orchids and Other Adventures in Door County, Wi

2009-06-17T07:45:00.000-07:00

This past weekend I visited Ridges Sanctuary in Baileys Harbor, WI. I had attended a talk in February on Ridges at the Wisconsin Public TV Garden Expo and was intrigued to visit this unique wonder. Ridges is an interesting little piece of boreal forest and bogs occurring in a surrounding habitat not known for being of the boreal variety. One would expect this sort of habitat to occur farther north. However, the layering elevation of the topography comprised of a series of ridges created by Lake Michigan over several hundred years, has created this uncharacteristic gem in Door County. Not only does it host approximately 25 species of native orchids, it also affords an interesting bird diversity including breeding habitat for more typically northern occurring warblers.

Of the 25 orchid species we were able to see five species blooming this trip, the Ram's Head, Pink and Yellow Lady's Slipper and the Early and Striped Coralroot. In addition to the orchids blooming in the sanctuary, many more Yellow Lady's Slippers were also seen along Moonlight Bay on Ridges Road as well as at Jens Jensen's The Clearing in Ellison Bay.

Beside orchids, Ridges is teaming with a wide variety of ferns, lichens and wildflowers. The threatened Dwarf Lake Iris vigorously grows across the Ridges forest floor during the spring/early summer and was currently in bloom this visit. Nearer to the beach, in the lower lying ridges the remnants of blooming Artic Primrose were visible and Indian Paintbrush was coming into bloom.

On the bird front, we were treated to typical boreal and northern warbler species to include singing Canada, Blackburnian and Nashville warblers among various other typical warbler species. All in all we had 77 bird species for birding efforts which included visits to bird haunts in and around Baileys Harbor as well as Whitefish Dunes State Park and Cave Point County Park.

Areas around Baileys Harbor produced the following highlights: Grasshopper Sparrow, Black-Crowned Night Herons, Black-billed Cuckoos and two Red-necked Grebes on the lakefront. At Cave Point highlights included the awesome blue water along the rocky shore as well as three singing Mourning Warblers and lots of warbler activity along the drive into Cave Point County which included numerous Chestnut Sided Warblers, American Redstarts, Black and White Warblers.

All in all the trip was excellent. My only disappointed was being alluded by the rare Calypso Orchid despite three days of searching. None the less, beauty surrounded me and we met some interesting folk, all who were nature enthusiasts and/or birders, photographers and orchid lovers. Each provided rich little nuggets of wisdom and perspective to enhance our overall experience. Door County is definitely better to be enjoyed in the forests and on the water as opposed to in the clutches of the pervasive over-shadowing commercialism that also abounds in this magnificent place. Well I'm off to garden...Enjoy the day!

Natures cruel joke

2009-06-03T09:59:00.000-07:00

We are past SE Wisconsin's last frost date of May 15th. What is going on this year?

No time

2009-05-22T19:31:00.000-07:00

My garden is taking off and behind with planting. So much to do and little time to report. Been taking lots of pictures this spring birds, native plants and progress in the backyard garden. Once I get a "leg up" with getting the rest of my plants in I plan to organize my photos and post more details. Hope everyone else is having a fantastic spring, getting outdoors more and computing less.

We just returned from a six day trip to Michigan's Upper Peninsula and once again this spring were rewarded with awesome looks at some of the lesser seen warblers. Our faves were the male Canada Warbler at Whitefish Point Bird Observatory and the 'warbler wave' seen on Mission Hill in Brimley which delighted us with up-close, eye-level views of Bay Breasted and Cape May Warblers again and again and again. Then the whole trip was topped off by a wolf sighting during the day. The size and height of this animal was pure wolf (not a wimpy coyote). As we approached in our vehicle the wolf scurried into the woods, briefly stopping in the woods within 25-30 feet to peer into our souls. Then mystically, within a blink of the eye, the great creature was gone. SO COOL!

Bad Squirrel!

2009-04-27T18:57:00.000-07:00

Well this weekend I caught the squirrel in the act of leaping over my fence into the strawberry patch. Just as he was ready to do his dirty work of digging up the plants only to leave them waste and die, not even to make a meal of the tasty roots and greens, I quickly cranked open the window and yelled, "Hey! Get out of there! Bad squirrel." And voila the squirrel listened and ran. For two days now he has been on good behavior. I hope it lasts. After all we have been totally feeding him and his family with the safflower seed they indulge in daily, the food which provided them the lush furry coats they had this winter. How about some gratitude. I guess a little conversation or bit of scolding CAN work some temporary magic with the wee non-human creatures.

First Vegetable Seedlings Emerge!

2009-04-25T17:02:00.000-07:00

Friday we finally got some 80 degree weather here in the Midwest. With the warmer temps, I am finally seeing my greens emerging (spinach, arugula, various lettuce and green varieties) and radishes.

The raised cedar beds are nearly complete. Just a few screws to secure my fence posts. I am finding it necessary to fence my beds as our yard has become a refuge for the squirrels and rabbits, of which both are Nazis when it comes to my flowers and vegetables. For the 2nd time this spring, despite my fencing around the strawberries, squirrel bastard dug up several strawberry plants, leaving them to dry and perish on top of the soil. He also ransacked my bareroot Bellwort planting, taking one small nibble and again leaving the roots to lie and perish. Fortunately I caught the travesty early enough and rescued the plant by soaking the roots which effectively revived the bareroot. I feel like I am on constant patrol.

It appears this year, my large flourishing Virginia Bluebells are not going to return. I fear I may have dug them up when I transplanted a junk perennial later in the season last year. I have a few smaller plants in other locations around the yard, but this plant was spectactular and well-established. Boo hoo.

Today a cold front moved in with thunderstorms dropping the temp from 85 degrees yesterday to late afternoon low today of 45 degrees. Despite the rain and cold outside I managed to get some broccoli raab, snow and sugar snap peas and more scallions planted. I also replenished the strawberry bed with additional bareroot plantings where the squirrel did his mischief. Tomorrow more fencing before the peas quickly emerge and the critters get to them. I am still puzzling as to how to keep the squirrels and chipmunks out of my vegetables. The rabbit proof fence isn't doing the trick (on a side note the movie Rabbit Proof Fence is highly recommended).

Well that's all for now on the garden front. Posts of garden photos to follow when I get better organized.

Spring activities in the garden and along the Mississippi

2009-04-20T18:37:00.000-07:00

Lots has been going on. As always I'm either busy birding or gardening this time of year. Therefore I find little time to talk about what's happening. On the garden front, my seedlings for the first time ever, have aphids this year. I have sprayed several times with Safer insecticidal soap which I believe may have slightly damaged some of the seedlings. Kind of a bummer. My fault though. The aphids came in with house plants I had outside in pots over the summer and did not effectively spray when I brought them in this fall. Those little buggers were just waiting for the opportunity to explode in population and my seedlings provided the stimulus.

Despite the cold spring, I have started moving some of the seedlings outdoors into my greenhouse. I decided this year to cover the green house with 70% shade cloth to prevent the burning that occurs with hardening off my plants. So far so good. It's been too cold (30s and 40s) to keep the young tomatoes out in the green house. Those came in again this weekend.

This year I have been working on new cedar raised beds. Construction is almost complete. We spent Saturday in the rain trying to finish that project. I am also devising a better fencing system around the beds to keep the squirrels and rabbits out of the garden. As it is, the squirrel dug up most of the strawberry plants I planted within a day or so of planting. I have not done well with strawberries since moving here three years ago. Therefore I decided to dig up the old plants and start new. Time will tell.

On the native plant front, I spent Saturday birding along the Upper Mississippi and observing the spring plants that were blooming. Hepatica is blooming both in my garden and along the Mississippi in Grant County, WI. At Nelson Dewey State Park I saw the usual Pasque Flower, Hoary Puccoon and Bird's Foot Violet on their prairie trail. At Wyalusing State Park and along the Mississippi River Parkway, Bloodroot and Dutchmen's Breeches were starting to bloom. Here in Fort Atkinson, I've noticed my Bloodroot finally blooming after 3 years of waiting. More later with pictures of my garden progress.

Spring Garden Clean-up Begins

2009-03-16T19:42:00.000-07:00

Sunday the temperature here in SE Wisconsin reached 57 degrees. Took advantage of the warm weather and near entire thaw of snow to start preparing beds for planting. This meant cleaning all the old plant debris from 70% of my beds that I neglected to remove last fall. Certain plants such as the echinachea I chose to leave to provide seed for the birds. Who knows if they really eat it. But otherwise the days just got away from last fall. I also pruned my rose bushes. They are looking pretty woody and brown. I hope they survived the negative 20-something cold spell we had in January. Also raked the leaves from the northeast rock garden and north facing borders on the front of the house. Noticed tulips starting to sprout in the south facing beds along the house. The buds on the Rhododendrons are small as I knew last fall. I was not as attentive to the watering when I should've been. It will be interesting to see if they blossom this year. I'm planning to plant my salad greens, radishes and few cold germinating ornamentals when I return from Texas early April. Excited for another season with many projects in the works!

Amazing owls

2009-03-06T16:17:00.000-08:00

Got out for a late afternoon walk today along the Bark River. The harbingers of spring were all around me....chickadees and cardinals singing and full of activity, flocks of geese flying overhead, red-winged blackbirds "clucking" in the distance and a killdeer calling out his arrival. When I approached the old growth area along the river, I "pished" some chickadees in closer who chattered and called around me. Their small little ruckus must have stirred a Barred Owl who flew in to check me out. As I rounded the bend and neared the owl, she flew off. However I pleasantly came upon a second owl, then relocated the first owl. The pair sat and watched me with vigilance. One gave out a scolding baritone hoot as if to say "get the hell outta here." I am suspicious there may be a nearby nest, given the owls stayed in fairly close proximity to me. Despite some searching, I did not find a nest, but intend to investigate further. Owls are such amazing and graceful creatures. I am always in awe when I see one. Hoo-Hoo.

Seed Starting

2009-02-23T19:37:00.000-08:00

Decided in the midst of a late February snow snowstorm to start ornamental flower seeds on Saturday 2/21/09 (see picture left for a garden shot 2/22); started my tomatoes, peppers and passion flower seeds tonight. A little early for the tomatoes and peppers but I was eager and had the time to do it.

Seed starting trays were washed in hot soapy water, rinsed, misted with straight vinegar, set for a bit and then rinsed again. Used Jiffy Premium Seed Starting mix, doesn't have clumps and sticks like the non premium mix. Wearing a face mask, I poored the mix into a large black tub and poored near boiling filtered water into the mix, stirred and continued adding water until the mixture was evenly moist but not soaked. Filled my seed trays and small pots with the potting mix, tamped, added seeds and then topped off with a little more mix. Flats were then set out under full spectrum fluoro lights in my sunny plant room with clear plaster lids to foster a warm moist climate. The 2009 gardening season is underway. Now although I'm a bit late, I will stratify my native seeds in the fridge in hopes my wimpy efforts will result in plants later this year....

Gardening season is just around the corner...

2009-02-15T15:58:00.001-08:00

This past Wednesday, Wisconsin experienced a brief thaw and I took advantage of planting the last of crocuses and tulips that I had not got into the ground this fall. The "experts" indicate I might not get blooms, could get foliage or possibly nothing. We'll see...I also planted garlic which I failed to get in this fall as well. Stay tuned for the results...

Attended the Wisconsin Public Radio Garden Expo this weekend and picked up about 15-20 bare root native plants. Attended various lectures including one on Ridges Sanctuary in Bailey's Harbor, WI. Apparently Ridges is one of the most biologically diverse areas in the Midwest. It has 25 of the approximately 40 species of orchids found in Wisconsin. Definitely on my list of destinations to visit this spring. Here's a link to their website: http://www.ridgesanctuary.org/index.htm. The website definitely under represents the amazing flora found at this place.

I'm getting excited about spring and am busy preparing to start seedlings. All my old containers and seed trays need cleaning and disinfecting. I started to work on this today. I was also inspired to start propagating more pineapple sage from cuttings. God knows what I'll do with all the plants as I think I started about 20-25 plants today.

Garden update

2008-11-09T08:03:00.000-08:00

Well the season is almost over with temperatures starting to routinely fall into the 20s at night. However I have been able to preserve my lettuce, cilantro, leeks and scallions by tarping these guys during those chilly nights.

Remarkably until last night I had green and hot peppers still growing, but I gave up with the recent forecasts of constant freezing weather.

So much to do now with house projects and garden clean-up lingering. Still need to did my tender bulbs. Leaves still need to be raked and used to mulch the garden beds.

My recently planted grass is growing well. My flame-weeding efforts did not kill back the clover but at least there seems to be more grass where there was once almost exclusively clover.

Trials and tribulations

2008-10-05T11:50:00.000-07:00

Well after throwing tarps and blankets over most of the garden beds, my garden largely survived widespread frost on Friday night. A few tips of the mostly spent tomato plants are visibly damaged. These were parts of the plant that were touching the underside of the tarps. Those with a double boundary of cloth and tarp fared much better. Amazingly the garden in the center of the yard, which is mostly ornamentals, seemed undamaged by the frost without any added protection. I did water all the beds on Friday based on internet advice that well hydrated plant cells are more hardy to frost.

On another note, my efforts with flame weeding the lawn were unsuccessful as I see evidence of the widespread clover coming back after only a week. I'll take the clover over the other true weeds as it seems to deter the rabbits from eating my other more valuable plants.

First Frost

2008-10-03T11:07:00.001-07:00

Last night, patchy frost. Most of the garden survived with the exception of some hostas along the fence and the sweet pepper plant in the raised bed on the south side against the house. The sweet pepper plant was just a bit wilted but revived with some water. I was under the false impression my plants nearer to structures would escape the frost under the theory that structures would give off heat. Guess not. Looking forward to digging up plants today to salvage indoors especially some late bloomers that have yet to "shine"this year. Tonight expecting wide spread frost.

Fall in the yard

2008-09-28T18:15:00.000-07:00

Today I made my last attempt to manage the lawn organically. As with any "green" project this was another time consuming adventure. So I took to the clover with the flame weeder all the while paranoid that police were going to come by and fine me for not having a permit to burn. This got me wondering if flame weeding would be a "burning" activity that required a permit and if it is one those regulated activities how crazy to think people can just "willy nilly" pollute my air and the communical environment with nasty herbicides without any regulation what so ever. So anyway this is the first summer using a flame weeder and I've learned a few things along the way. The flame weeder does not kill dandelions or plantain which are the most prolific in my lawn. Therefore over the summer my husband and I have been hand digging plantain and dandelions with the "weed hog." Today I approached the lawn recovery program first with flames hoping to extinguish most of the clover in the grass. Then I followed with the "weed hog" to get the remaining "tough" weeds. I also torched the "fairy rings" in the grass hoping to resolve that lawn phenomana. Lastly, I overseeded the lawn and watered. Now I will watch and wait for spring to see if my efforts paid off.

With all this lawn talk, one would think I'm obsessed with lawn or something. I'm really not, having actually removed much of my lawn in the past three years of owning this house. However the spaces still covered by lawn require attention to look "nice" and I've struggling the last three years to do this without chemicals or harsh fertilizers. I hope my efforts and sore back will see some rewards.