Turkey Vulture

One of the many migrating birds in the region.

A front yard view.

Spadoman's front yard view. Tough way to end each day.

Chipmunk hide and seek

These photos were taken at Pine Lake in Bayfield County WI.

More information about Chipmunks

Green Darner Dragonfly

Green Darner Dragonflys male (L) and female (R) mating ritual. Female (R) depositing the eggs after copulation.

These photos were taken today on the shoreline of Pine Lake in Bayfield County WI. One of my favorite small lakes.

For more infomation on the Green Darner Dragonfly and other members of the order Odonata

Broad-winged Hawk

This Broad-winged Hawk was photographed just south of Grandview WI.

Thanks to Ryan Brady for IDing this raptor and his additional note "that bird likely spent its winter in extreme southern Central America or northern South America!"

Yearling Black Bear

This young Black Bear was spotted near the school today. It appeared to the many bystanders to be either recently out of hibernation or sick. My observation was that it had little energy and want to lay down and rest. The DNR was called and hopefully helped move it to a save environment.

Spring 2007 maiden voyage.

Today Spadoman and I went to Woodruff WI to pickup his Harley. It was a great day for a ride. The trip over was a little political talk, family talk and general all around bs..ing. The trip back was warm and comfortable for me but less so for Spadoman cruising down the open highway in typical northern Wisconsin spring weather.

2007 milestones. Happy birthday Scott. April 21, 2007

Today is Scott's 34 birthday. Today right on schedule the ice left Chequamegon Bay. Today I saw my first dandelion of the year. I miss you dad. Time to go fishing.

An afternoon and evening along the bay.

This porcupine was sunning itself in the afternoon sun just west of the head of the bay.


Any vantage point will work.


This adult Bald Eagle was using the high point in the bay to watch the activity.


I never tire watching these large raptors.


Moving on.


Look who's doing all the work. The women!


Look who's supervising. The men! These guys were yelling out directions from shore. Cold beer and warm fire. It's great work if you can get it.


This is why we live here.

Other highlights of the day.

Northern Harrier hunting over a field north of Washburn WI.


I believe this ball of hay must have a mouse or vole in it. I watched this Harrier repeat this "capture" several times over a 30 minute period. It would fly off and land (in the distance) with the "bundle" and then spend several minutes picking away at it.


Sandhill Cranes passing overhead while I was watching the Harrier.



Flowering (florets) of a Pussy Willow. notice the fly in the center of the flower. One step closer to summer.

American Bittern.

Look close it's there.









These photos were taken today at Long Bridge at the head of the Chequamegon Bay.

The Sibley Guide to Birds describes the American Bittern as follows: "These secretive, cryptically colored marsh birds are unique among herons in being more easily heard than seen. They move slowly through dense marsh grass....at an agonizingly slow gait."

For Jennifer. First butterfly of the season. Mourning Cloak.

WOW what a surprise. I was driving along a forest road in the "barrens" area of the Bayfield peninsular looking for migrating birds when this butterfly crossed over the hood of my truck. For the next ten minutes I tried to get close enough to take a picture and this is it. Not good but proof of the sighting.

Swimming at westend beach. Yup! College students.

Someone has to be the first one(s) to swim each spring. I think these four have the prize for this year.

Just in case you missed it. That's ice in the background. Chequamegon Bay is still iced in.

Oh! to be twenty again.

Bird watching day at the Northern Great Lakes Visitors Center.

Tim and Ryan up in the tower watching and counting migrating birds.


Sandhill Crane.


Sharp-shinned Hawk


Red-tailed Hawk


Bald Eagle

All of these photos were taken from the tower. All of these birds passed by on their migration. Most were just within camera range. All of the photos have been "zoomed in" in Photoshop. Not the best quality but still great examples of the many birds that were seen today.

Thanks to Tim and Ryan.

Sunrise April 14, 2007. Sandhill Crane count 2007.

This is the way our day started. My wife and I were surveying this field as part of this years Sandhill Crane count. We were on-site before any daylight and got to enjoy the sunrise.


At this point we hadn't seen any Sandhill Cranes in the survey area.

Shortly after this photo was taken I noticed Sandhill Cranes in a field to the west of our location. We decided to move our vantage point to get a better look at the cranes. The reddish/orange tint on the wings in the photos below is from the rising sun which was now at my back (east) and higher in the sky.

"Great" birds in flight.

Sandhill Cranes from this years crane count.


Sandhill Cranes from this years crane count.




Great Blue Heron. This photo was taken yesterday on the South side of Long Bridge on Ashland's west end.


This Bald Eagle photo was taken at the same time as the photo above. The eagle was soaring over the the west end of Chequamegon Bay.

More sign that spring is near.

These Great Blue Heron were photographed at "Short Bridge" on the south side of U.S. 2. There were two different birds in the back waters.