Kimball Falls spring thaw and runoff.

Chased and spotted at touch down in Chequamegon Bay area. The Dominator.

I'm claiming this as a photo scoop. These are the first published photos of  The Dominator  taken after it's touch down in the Chequamegon Bay area.  See the Storm Chasers website.

Here is my question for the experts ... has there ever been a verified touchdown of a tornado in Ashland Wisconsin? Within a 5 mile radius?  Within a 10 mile radius?

Interesting vehicle to see up close, stationary and without an approaching vortex.

 For tornado video footage vist the TornadoVideos.net website

Checkout the emblem "Mythbusters Tested" 250 MPH. Visit the Mythbusters website.

Behold the Beast at work.

Proof of sighting.

Spring road trip to Herbster Wi. Boys with toys edition.

BEFORE you watch the video below warning: This video could be and maybe should be titled the "Boy with a Toy(s)" video. The video is longer than I would usually post and is loaded with lots of video editing tricks. Some good, some bad and some poorly executed.

I am trying to dig deeper into my video editing software to learn some of the more advance features. Rather than use the "sample" video suggested I decided to use this real live example.

The "Instant Replay" at 4:38 mark might be a LITTLE over kill although it does offer some nice momentary views of an immature eagle underwing patterns as well as a great few seconds of the same eagle landing on a branch. I hope you enjoy the subject matter and ignore the amateur video editing.

For those of you that have never seen a Blue Jay and a Pileated Woodpecker in the same photo (see at 6:29 mark) watch carefully. There is a brief moment where you can compare the size difference between the two birds.

Oh! the bong, bong, bong sound you here at the 6:29 mark is my "keys in the ignition warning" in slow motion. I like it far better that way it is far less annoying. To all my fasten your seat belt readers, you know who you are. Take That! bong! bong! bong!

Here is the source of the raw footage I used.

A road trip to Herbster Wi today. Along an approximate 100 yards of County Hwy C. We saw and videotaped an adult bald eagle, immature bald eagle, ravens, pileated woodpecker and a blue jay. The eagles and ravens were competing for the carcass of a dead deer.

Nevers Road. Pushing the Canon 7D and the Canon 100-400mm lens to their limits.

 These photos were taken from the top of Nevers Road. I've taken these shots before but this is the first set with the Canon 7D with the Canon 100-400mm telephoto lens.  You will notice that the photos are getting grainy. They could be enlarged a little more but they would be even grainer. The lighthouse notice the open water on both ends.

 These photos were taken from the top of Nevers Road. I've taken these shots before but this is the first set with the Canon 7D with the Canon 100-400mm telephoto lens. The oredock with the KIYI research vessel in it's winter berth. Note the single ice fisherman in the foreground.

 These photos were taken from the top of Nevers Road. I've taken these shots before but this is the first set with the Canon 7D with the Canon 100-400mm telephoto lens. The Hotel Chequamegon, Band Shell, Ashland Marina, Ellis Ave & US 2 intersection and Ellis & Sixth Street intersection.

 These photos were taken from the top of Nevers Road. I've taken these shots before but this is the first set with the Canon 7D with the Canon 100-400mm telephoto lens. The hotpond, new retaining wall, BowFly,  Beaser School and the Ashland High School

 These photos were taken from the top of Nevers Road. I've taken these shots before but this is the first set with the Canon 7D with the Canon 100-400mm telephoto lens. Westend Beach and the Elks Club Golf Course.

This shot was taken from 100 to 200 yards up Nevers Road.

Boating on the bay. Hard water and the hot pond.

 

Great ice but no wind.

 Red Rocket pilot

 Cement canoe boating. Really!

 Yet one more view of the lighthouse.

Wildlife and sanity seem to be returning to my world.

The days are getting longer. The migratory birds are returning and passing through the Chequamegon Bay area. It's great to have "new subjects" to photograph. Some colors are popping out from under the snow. This time last year ice fishing was just about over. All of the landings were inaccessible. This year seems to be on a similar time line.




I was met by this male Cardinal this morning as I was leaving the yard. I had the camera and the 400mm lens.. but did not have a tripod or a monopod. I found the best rest I could and at least managed to get it's wonderful song. I would suggest closing your eyes and just listening.

For those who suffer with motion sickness you might want to hold on and take a dramamine.... just kidding.  Enjoy the song if not the ride.

The ice is moving. Our own little non-destructive version of plate tectonics.

The ice in Chequamegon Bay is starting to move.  Spring is getting near.

These photos were taken at 1st. and 2nd. landing today.

These photos were taken at 1st. and 2nd. landing today.

These photos were taken at 1st. and 2nd. landing today.

 This photo is from the archives. It is one of my favorites from a series I shot northwest of Bayfield WI near the Ice Caves. The "landscape" is large mounds of push ice that have been covered with blowing snow and beach sand from the shoreline. If you look at the right side of the photo at the point where the "land" and sky meet you can see a thin slice of open water of Lake Superior. For additional information about the ice cave see here.

I went back and dug deeper into the archives for this and the two photos below.

Ice cave approach.

Ice Caves.

Walking out to fish.

This photo was taken at the head of the bay between long bridge and short bridge.

Nature.... yes nature. Bromeliad.... almost pineapple. See it.

 

Can you see it. It's in the pineapple family. Bromeliaceae

I want to photograph plants, birds and wildlife.  Ice out should be soon (30 days). Sanity can't be far behind.

Washburn WI. Gov. Walker protest rally.

March to Walker caravan route.




Rep Janet Bewley Ashland Wisconsin speech.




Rep Nick Milroy Superior Wisconsin speech.




Part of the music at the rally.

"Top of Wisconsin" says NO to Gov. Walker's budget bill.

Rep. Janet Bewley. Wisconsin 74th Assembly District. Meets and thanks Gov. Walker protesters at a Saturday March 5th 2011 protest rally. Ashland WI.



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