Porcupine.

This is a less common sight than it was twenty years ago. Fishers (a member of the weasel family) were re-introduced in the late 70's early 80's to help control the porcupine.

Snowy Owl. Sanborn Ave, Ashland WI.

Sanborn Avenue seed plant.

Spring training. NO not baseball.

A man, his dog and a sunny day.

Spring run off.

Ashland Wisconsin is north of the Great Divide so all of this water and thousands of other runn offs like this will all flow to Lake Superior. Note the reddish tinge to the water. Red Clay! See the photo above to see what it looks like when it arrives at Lake Superior.

Prentice Park birding.

(Top) Great Blue Heron (adult) fishing along the shoreline. Note the "silver flash" of a fish in it's bill. (Middle) Ring-Billed Gull who flew through the frame as I was shooting the Great Blue Heron. (Bottom) I believe this is an American Black Duck (more later).

Longer days. Warmer days. Cool nights.

Sugar bush. Maple syrup time in northern Wisconsin.

Muskrat

This Muskrat was foraging in the roadside run-off ditch along highway 63 in the Bibon Swamp.

City dwellers.

Any patch of grass will do after a winter of snow.

Migratory bird watching. March 26, 2006

Beautiful sunny day on the "tower" at the NGLVC (Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center) for migratory bird watching. A few birds were spotted including Bald eagles, Robins, Killdeer, Red-tailed hawks, and a Harrier. At one point there were seven bird watchers on the tower. A larger group than usual.

But the spot of the day was the Milbert's Tortoiseshell Butterfly below. Photo and ID by Ryan Brady.

Pussy Willows.

Yet another sure sign that spring is on it's way.

Great Blue Heron

Great Blue Heron adult.

Northern Harrier hunting in the Horicon Marsh.

These photos were taken on our recent road trip. It took me a couple of days to realize that these photos actually had "acceptable" shots. With this Harrier (male) and the two Kestrels which were posted several days ago the trip to the Horicon National Wildlife Refuge was well worth the trip.

This is a good sign.

Fishing in the hot pond. It maybe the hot pond but that water is still cold.

This is not your campfire pile of wood.

This "lumber yard" of logs is just south of Glidden WI. For size perspective note the snow fence running along the length of this huge pile of logs. The average snow fence is 4 to 4.5 feet high.

Road trip remnants.

Downy woodpecker.


Male and female Mallards.


Canada geese.

It sure was nice to be 250 miles south where March 21 is the start of spring.

Great road trip.

Red-tailed hawk.


Mallard (male).

We had a"soaringly" great time. Or for those who prefer a "swimmingly" great time. 4 night 5 days. 850 miles. Good weather with a little bad. Lots of great photos (or at least fun). Our house and pet sitter gets an A plus for his work. 48 degrees when we arrived at home with promises of things too come. See the photo below. My guess 4 maybe 5 weeks and we to will have tulips popping out of the ground.

Coffee and backyard wildlife.

Northern Cardinal (male).


Northern Cardinal (female).


Red-tailed hawk.

Staying with friends. These photos and more were taken before the first pot of coffee was gone and within 25 yards of the house.

Greening grass and a deer.

Notice the grass. That's right for the northern readers grass and it starting to green up. The deer just agreed to make the photo more interesting.

Horicon Marsh State Wildlife Area. Kestrels

Top photo a female Kestrel. Bottom photo (L) female and (R) male Kestrel. Photographed along Dike Road in the Horicon Marsh Area.

Jung greenhouse. Wow color.

Elizabeth and her magic.

The Supreme Bean coffee shop . Free WiFi.

Downtown Stevens Point.

Photo road trip.

Taking a road trip to take some photos to add to the portfolio. Got late start. Made it to Stevens Point WI. Nice room. Booked while on the road sitting in front of a motel with free WIFI. Booked a room 50 miles down the road (this room) from the pickup truck. WOW great technology. The moon shot is from the window.

Welcome sights.

This American Goldfinch spent a good part of the afternoon moving from feeder to feeder in our back yard.