Evening visit to the feeder.

This Ruby-throated Hummingbird was foraging just before dark. These photos were taken with a telephoto and a flash.

Hot day!

100 degrees is hot for any part of the country BUT 100 degrees in Northern Wisconsin on Memorial Day weekend, that's HOT. I remember Memorial Day weekends that were so cold we didn't want to go outside. Today it was so hot we didn't go outside. Did I mention we installed central air at the end of last summer. Today was the first real test. IT PASSED!

Rhododendrons, Lilacs and Bird-on-wing.

Rhododendron


White Lilacs


Bird-on-wing. Named for the appearance of a bird on wing. Although it appears orchid like it is not an orchid. It is found in pine forests. This photo was taken at the appropriately named Pine Haven Resort Minocqua WI.

Sunday sunset.

Finish to a beautiful day.

Memorial Day 2006

Love. I miss you dad. Dandelions.

Arachnid and Lilacs. Crab spider.

Look close for the white spider in the center of the photo.



Crab spiders named for long front legs which enable them to walk in four directions. Forwards,backwards and sideways. They hunt by waiting motionless and ambush insects that pass closely by. Crab spiders are often found on flowers but can also be seen on leaves and stems.

Monarch Butterfly on Lilacs

Northern Flicker.

This Northern Flicker "suffered and episode" today. I'm not sure exactly what the "episode" was but this bird "fell from the sky" and landed on the road just ahead of me. It flopped around on the road until I managed to scoop it up and move it to the safety of this tree. I managed to get several photos before the bird regained it senses and flew off. I'm guessing it might have struck a wire. It didn't appear to have any injuries other than simply being dazed.

The Bean Factory. St. Paul MN.

Road trip to Twin Cities. Had coffee at this great coffee shop / roaster. Stop and tell Steve that Joe "the new guy" sent you. Have Steve make you a cup at the brew bar. It doesn't get any fresher than from the brew bar.

Went fishing. Caught fish.

Went fishing today. Beautiful weather. Sunny and unseasonably warm today. Caught three nice crappie and fifteen blue gills. Enough for a fish fry later in the week. Thanks to the brother-in-law / guide for a good afternoon of fishing. I caught the most fish AND the largest fish (both RARE events).

I'm gloating while I can.

Sorry no pictures to busy untangling fish lines and landing large fish. Still gloating.

Quick trip to the cities tomorrow hope to get new glasses made and take some pictures.

An afternoon at a country feeder. Continued.

Clay-color Sparrow.


Red-winged Blackbird female.


Brown-headed Cowbird male.


Brown-headed Cowbird female.


Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Thanks again to Ryan Brady for help IDing the birds in this post. Ryan Brady's website

A recent rash of spam comments.

Word verification turned on.

I'll leave word verification on for a while to discourage spammers. Sorry!

An afternoon at a country feeder. Part 1

This bird house was put up about one hour before these Bluebirds were photographed "checking out the new real estate". Even though these Bluebirds many choose not to nest in this bird house I still found it amazing they show interest so quickly.



Bluebird (female).


Bluebird (male).

All of these photos in parts 1,2 & 3 were taken in one two hour period (10:43 to 12:37) today. The photos were taken in and around feeders in one yard of a friend. These photos are only part of the series I took. I still need to ID 5 or 6 birds I'm not sure about. I will post them as soon as I confirm their ID.

An afternoon at a country feeder. Part 2

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Photos 2,3,4 and 5 are sequential frames. Notice how the ruby throat changes from frame to frame. Especially the fact that it is "gone" by photo 5. Light refraction? I need to due some research.

An afternoon at a country feeder. Part 3

Baltimore Oriole.


Bluejays.


Goldfinch.


Goldfinch. Look close in the center of the photo.


Red-winged Blackbird (Male).


Red-winged Blackbird (female).

A little more color.

Creeping Phlox.


Winter Cress (Mustard Seed).


Grape Hyacinth.

Baltimore Oriole

Relaxing day today. Although it started out overcast and cold the day turned out to be sunny and reasonably warm.

I spent most of the day in the backyard working in the sun on "projects". It was fun to make some sawdust and to end up with a useable product. I also took time to play in the dirt so to speak as I rotated the compost bins and screened the oldest for about a yard of new compost. Have to keep the gardener in the house supplied with potting soil.

Just before supper the Mrs. the dog and I took a walk along one of our new favorite spots where this colorful Baltimore Oriole sang and flittered from Aspen tree to Aspen tree.

If the weather holds out tomorrow i think we'll take the boat out for the maiden voyage of the year and we might just try and catch tomorrow's supper.

Gone Fishing!!

Nice sunny day. Hoping it doesn't get foggy. Going fishing and picture taking.

Loch Gitche Gumee

A recent sighting of "Gitche". Photographed in a back bay off of Park Point Duluth, MN.

Near seasons end. Dandelions in full bloom.

Regular readers of this blog are probably tiring of the sight of dandelions. But as they know they are special to me and seeing this entire field in bloom means another year has come and will soon be gone. This field will go to seed and I will look forward to next spring and the sight of the first dandelion. Time to fish.

Nature's version of.... "It takes a village"

The dozen or so goslings in these pictures appear to be in the care one or two adults at a time. There clearly was some organizational structure at work.


Marble Godwits
In the photo above notice the two shore wading birds they are Marbled Godwits. This photo was shot from quite a distant and does not due justice. To see a better photo of these two birds go to Ryan Brady's website.