Cora. Soccer, Camping, Caterpillar and Grampa Dan

Cora with Grampa Dan

Soccer training with Grampa Dan.

Campground wildlife.

Wow...wow!

Camping near Two Harbors MN.

Hummingbirds at the new window feeders.

Changes at the kitchen window. Hummingbirds welcome.

Our backyard outside the kitchen window has seen some major change in the last week. First we decided that it was time to have the spruce tree(s) cut down for safety reasons. Their root systems were to shallow and the trees visually lifted the root system in strong winds.  We decide a controlled toppling of the tree(s) was far better than a storm driven event.

The loss of the trees included the loss of the bird feeders and the wildlife that visited them. So it didn't take long (two days) before we decided we needed our feeders back. 

A few dollars worth of hardware, a twenty inch long 2 1/4" auger bit and a nice new spruce tree stump provide the solution. Drill one deep hole in the center of the stump. 

Add a 2 1/4" eight foot metal pole. Level up the pole with a couple of wedges to secure the pole in it's new home. Add a 2 x 6", 48"long board. Creating a T. Add 3 bird feeders and ....... build it and they will come.

Add one..... no maybe two new window hummingbird feeders and get out the camera.

Enjoy our new visitors.

Things I've seen this week. Hymenoptera (bees, wasps and others) & Asclepias (milkweed).

Honeybee hive with lots of early fall activity. To learn more about the bees and wasps look here.

Warm fall day with little wind and lots of sun. The comings and goings of worker bees.

This was probably a bald-faced hornets nest. To learn more about bald-faced hornets look here. Although is could also be a Yellowjackets nest. To learn more look here.

Milkweed and Monarch Butterflies.  To learn more look here.

Milkweed seed dispersal. To learn more about seed dispersal look here.

Any art critics in the house? Be careful with your critiques you maybe be tempting fate.

Canvas one.

Canvas two.

Canvas three.

Canvas four. Same artist different media.

Sorry..... it is what it is. Sept 15, 2011 28 degrees at 7:15 A.M.
Mother Nature left the artwork on my Toyota pickup truck.

Things you don't see everyday.

Lay still stop moving.

Feed me mom...no... feed me first.

Don't cry over this.

Is this what the rapture looks like up close?

Eastern Meadowlark.

This and one other Meadowlark were spotted in an open field on Colby Rd and Franzel Rd. West of Ashland.

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.

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.

We went Elk hunting today. Clam Lake Wisconsin.

 We took a ride to Clam Lake Wisconsin. We tried to get an Elk in the crosshairs viewfinder. 

Clam Lake Elk Herd.

 This is as close as we got to anything with antlers.

 Earlier in the day we stopped at Perch Lake campground. This photo was shot from the boat launch. The campground was empty and very peaceful.

 It's going to be a couple of days (180-200) before there will be any fly fishing in this part of the country.

 Well if it's going to be ice lets get going if I can't fly fish then ice fishing will do just fine.

This small walking bridge and waterfall was the only photographic opportunity we saw along Highway 77 west of Clam Lake. No Elk, no birds, little or no wildlife.

A visit with friends as well as eagles, loons, fish, kayaking and a sunny day. And..a badger.

This Northern was placed on the menu.  

Feeding of the fish.

It's a takeout menu. 

Headed home to enjoy lunch.

Here is something you don't see every day.  A Badger.  We do live in the Badger state.

Photo by friends.

Badger State  Although the badger has been closely associated with Wisconsin since territorial days, it was not declared the official state animal until 1957. Over the years its likeness had been incorporated in the state coat of arms, the seal, the flag and even State Capitol architecture, as well as being immortalized in the song "On, Wisconsin!" ("Grand old bager state!") 

Loon.

Town of Bayview Houghton Falls Nature Preserve. Dedication day.

Trail head and parking lot.

One of the many small falls along the trails.