Morning fog - Wood county wildlife area

Last nights hot muggy weather was certain to rise a morning fog in the lowlands of the Wood county wildlife area. Going with my hunch, I set the alarm clock to 4:00am. As light dawned on the wetlands I quickly realized that this morning was going to be special. For several years I have watched this marsh, with hopes of the right light to compliment the land. This morning the marsh north of south bluff showed its beauty.

Photos taken on June, 23 2009

Summer blooms - Up close

Wild rose

Wetland flower

Hedge nettle

Orange hawkweed

Lilly

Monarch butterflies

Here's a few photos taken of monarch butterflies during the summer months in central Wisconsin.

Monarch butterfly and partridge pea flowers.

Monarch butterfly and swamp milkplant

Monarch butterfly and milkplant

Monarch butterfly and thistle

Mating monarch butterflies

Goose pool reflection - Necedah national wildlife refuge

Goose Pool Reflection
Journal entry: Friday June 29, 2007 – Necedah National Wildlife Refuge, Wisconsin

The evening was stealthy quite. The silence leads me to listen even deeper, still silence. It was fifteen minutes before I heard a sound. A mouse…I could hear a mouse rustling in the grass near my feet.

Goose pool reflection - Necedah national wildlife refuge

Whooping Cranes - Necedah national wildlife refuge

A rare site in nature, this whooping crane couple is taking flight prior to the autumn migration of 2008. There are less than 400 whooping cranes living in wild today. With the efforts of the international crane foundation the whooping crane may someday rebound in numbers. During the late 1800's an estimated 1500 birds existed in the wild. An article in the local newspapers stated that black flies maybe driving the whooping crane from their nests abandoning their eggs before they hatch. Here's a link to the article: Black flies may be driving whooping cranes off nests

Whooping cranes taking flight - Necedah national wildlife refuge

International crane foundation

Late spring 2009

Here's a few photographs that were recently taken during late spring of 2009.

Leaf with pimpled eggs - South wood county park, Dexterville Wisconsin

Click here for a PDF sheet of maple problems.

Whooping cranes - Necedah national wildlife refuge - Sprauge pool

Lupine loop - Necedah national wildlife refuge

Click here for some info about the Necedah national wildlife refuge

Nearing dusk - Wood county wildlife area

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Though the photo "Nearing dusk" is the type of photograph that I have taken on several occasions, I will try to build upon this scene when the weather warms up. This scene with moon light and lighting bugs is a photo that I've had in mind for a while. Hopefully this summers mood will be a match for the photo in mind.

All in the nest - Cedar Waxwings

Here's a photo of a nest full of cedar waxwings. There were five in a nest no larger than a softball.

Eastern tent caterpillar

Some say a tent of caterpillars is an unpleasant sight... I'd have to agree with them. I also find these tents to be very interesting. Here's a link for some information about these creepy crawlers - http://www.hort.wisc.edu/mastergardener/Features/insects/ETC/etc.htm

Wood ticks

There's one species that is easy to find in the central Wisconsin wilderness, or should I say they find us. Pictured are a few of those moments that are just to common. From the grass and trees the wood tick will find a way.

Wood tick preparing for a drop.

Wood tick waiting for a victim.

Eagle dive - Sauk Prairie Wisconsin

Below are a couple digital illustrations that I created of eagles diving for fish. Both photos were taken on the bank of the Wisconsin River in the VFW park in Sauk Prairie Wisconsin.

Marshland silhouettes