Horicon Marsh 8-11-14

Took a trip last Monday to Horicon Marsh in Horicon WI. It was my first time there, and I have to say I was blown away! If at all possible, GO! To think that I saw well over 40 species of birds in a short time and  added 9 or more life birds to my lifelist in the middle of summer is pretty amazing. I hope to be able to go back for spring migration. The marsh itself is over 33,000 acres of wetland. There are so many places to go, I couldnt possibly do it all in one day. I spent some time in a photo blind that I had reserved for the day. It was a little slow, so I hit some of the trails, the floating boardwalk and gift shops, a couple Nature Centers and took a drive through the 3 mile Auto tour. Here are some of my pictures from that day.

Black Tern (life list bird)

Yellow-headed Blackbird (life list bird)

Common Gullinule (life list bird)

Northern Waterthrush (life list bird)

Trumpeter Swan (life list bird)

Great Blue Heron

There you have it!! I will post the other half soon.....

7-17-14 Nature Time!

I set out to Big Hill Park today for a few hours after experiencing the joy of an oil change. I had almost 4 hours to do whatever I wanted, so naturally this would be my choice. I got a few pictures worth posting in between swatting Mosquitoes since I forgot my bug spray at home. After donating about a quart of blood, I decided to leave and go to one of my other favorite places in the world, Happy Hollow Park. Not much to see there, but the river sure is high for this time of year. I came home happy and relaxed and you cannot put a price on that!! Enjoy the weekend, whatever it brings you. I am hoping to sneak some more outside time in! On to the pictures.

July 10, 2014 Part 2

I told you I would be back with part two! I probably have enough for part 3 and maybe even 4!! Then again, this may be it. I am also linking up with Eileen for Saturdays Critters. As I said before, I took a 4 hour trip to a spot here in Janesville called Rotary Gardens. Its a magical place and I could get lost there for hours, in fact I did!! I spent most of my time in the Pollinators section, a spot where you see the most bugs, butterflies and even hummingbirds. The flowers and landscaping and statues etc are worth the trip alone, but throw in all the animal life, and I am there. I am also including a few pictures I took on Wednesday, just out for a drive with my dogs. I am posting them first.

 RIP poor little gopher, Nature can be so cruel. Then again, kitties have to eat too!

 A pair of Eastern Kingbird juveniles. I watched their parents race back and forth to feed these two!

Adult flying off to find more insects for the hungry juvenile.

And now the pictures from Rotary Gardens

I thought it was funny that this Red Admiral Butterfly picked that spot on this sign to rest!

 Red Admiral Butterfly

 Have to figure out what this fuzzy little guy is called. 

Love photographing dragonflies. Its always nice when they cooperate!

July 10th, 2014

Today is the day of the week I get to spend doing whatever I want. I have a Pet Sitter named Shan, who comes here every Thursday from 9am to 3pm. That is my guaranteed day to be out of the house with no worries about damage to my apartment, or a fevering dog to come home to. I have been lucky so far, every week Shan has come, the weather has been beautiful! Today was no exception, 70s and sunny, a little breeze. I started my day by having breakfast with 2 of my favorite girls, daughter Courtney and Grand daughter Kileigh. After that we did a little shopping, then I headed to our local garden for some photography opportunities. I love to shoot bugs in the Summer, especially on beautiful flowers. I love to break out my macro lens and try to get as close as possible to my subject, always a challenge. On to the pictures. Look for part 2 soon....

Outside time!

The days here in Wisconsin have been beautiful unless its raining!! We have been having days in the low 80s or even upper 70s! I cant complain about that being that its July. My time outside has been limited. Its challenging to shoot with 2 dogs. Jax has severe separation anxiety and has done damage to my apartment, so until I can get into a place I own, I either have to hire a dog sitter, or take him with. Challenges challenges :) Anyway, spent a couple hours in a local prairie yesterday, trying to get some bug shots. I am also joining up with Eileen on her Saturday Critters challenge. Here they are:

More Life List Birds

I am going to continue to post a few new life list birds every couple of days. I had decided at the end of 2013, I was going to concentrate on Warblers heavily this year. I was not disappointed!! On to the birds!

American Redstart

Black Throated Green Warbler

Wilsons Warbler

Chestnut Sided Warbler

Cape May Warbler

Black Poll Warbler

There you go!! I group of 6 Warblers, all 6 were life list birds for me this year, I still have many many more to post, so keep watching!! 

Life list birds

I have fallen behind in showing my life list birds!! Last time I posted, I was at 100. I am now at 168! I am just going to periodically post a few life birds as I go until I am caught up. Its been a very exciting year! I went out in search of Migrating birds a lot more this year, even if it meant sitiing in my SUV and watching for them. Well worth the effort to see such beauty. On to the birds.

Eastern Wood Pewee

Barred Owl

Fox Sparrow

Yellow Bellied Sapsucker

Dickcissel

Red Eyed Vireo

Magnolia Warbler

Summer Days

I love Summer. I love being outside, wandering around, seeing what I can see. Yesterday I decided to spend the day along the river. I had 6 hours to kill, and believe me, it flew by. There is just something so calming and peaceful about walking, camera in hand, waiting for something to catch my eye. It could be a beautiful flower, a bug, a bird or a landscape. I just never know. That is part of the thrill, I almost feel like a detective, walking slowly and as quietly as I can, hoping to catch something magical. I was able to do just that yesterday. I have seen many many Great Blue Herons, but never as close as this one, or for as long. I took almost 100 pictures of it fishing and preening, but edited it down to these 4 shots as my favorites.