Always Take Your Camera!

Always take your camera, always take your camera, always take your camera, always take your camera, always take your camera, always take your camera, always take your camera, always take your camera, always take your camera, always take your camera, always take your camera, always take your camera, always take your camera, always take your camera, always take your camera, always take your camera, always take your camera.

I learned this lesson  -again - last evening. Before leaving home for a bike ride on the Cap City Trail, I says to myself, "Self, should we take the camera with?". And, Self, the big dope, says, "Ohhhh, nooooo. What could we possibly see on the Cap City Trail that we haven't seen before?". "Quite right", quoth I. Camera remains hanging in the closet.

So, then on my way back, as I'm approaching the Lake Farm Park campground, I look up and see a gaggle of geese, large geese, really large geese. But they weren't geese, were they? Noooo! They were eleven Sandhill Cranes, followed a few hundred yards later by four more. Now that would have warranted a digitally-enhanced image or two.

But, no camera, no photos, just a dumb post.

ALNC Photos

A couple of the same pictures after editing.

Red-Tailed Hawk Soars

Here are two shots of a red-tailed hawk soaring over Monona Woodland Park. OK, I'm guessing it's a Red Hawk based on its size, color, and location (I observed a Red Hawk in the park back in May). Not the greatest photos, but it does demonstrate why keeping the camera handy can come in, uhh, handy. I took these photos on June 16, 2010.

Minnesota DNR web page: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/snapshots/birds/redtailedhawk.html

Here is an ornithologist's 1954 report on red-tailed hawks in Wisconsin.

Naturalists out there, please feel free to correct my identification of this bird.

Birds and Biking

While out for an early morning bike ride along the Capital City Trail, I came upon a family of Sandhill cranes; mom, pop and junior.

A red-winged blackbird kept buzzing the cranes and was clearly unhappy about their presence.

Click on the photos for a larger image.

I tried a different route by diverting off the state trail at South Syene Road and followed an off-road trail that skirted a subdivision and a US Fish and Wildlife fishing restoration area - or something like that.

ON my way home, I was reminded why I generally avoid the bumpouts on Winnequah Road, especially when I'm headed northbound. More on that in another post. My guess is the bumpouts will be a piece of history after the 2011 construction year.

In random news, Sunny Schubert 'friended' me on Facebook! And I friended her back. What a marvelous modern world we live in.....  

Up North in Bayfield

I spent most of the past week in Bayfield enjoying the spectacular views, wonderful weather, browsing the excellent used bookstores, visiting the orchards, walking along sandy beaches, and eating good food.

We bought a place up there about 12 years ago after we got tired of fighting traffic in Door County. (You can rent it for your own vacation - if you mention my name they will probably still let you stay there.)

Click here for the Top Ten things that make Bayfield special.


We did stir ourselves to see the final Big Top show of the season - the traditional Old Last Night festival of music and humor. The humor included the hyper-high jinks of the Circo Comedia and the laid back observations of life in small town Wisconsin from humorist Michael Perry. Perry also managed to provide important life lessons, such as "never stand behind a sneezing cow" and the intricacies of the Air Hanky (aka the Farmer Blow or Snot Rocket).


The Apostle Islands National Park is the crown jewel of the area. (Foolishly, I left my kayaks at home and the water was incredibly calm; even placid.) A great way to see the islands is on the Apostle Islands Cruise Service. They offer a variety of tours during the high season. Details are here.


We also visited Madeline Island via the Madeline Island Ferry Line. Madeline Island is not part of the Apostle Islands, but does boast the excellent Big Bay State Park, the the aptly named Big Bay Town Park (it's a town park on a large bay), the Madeline Island state historical museum, and Tom's burned down bar (twice!).

The history of the area is one aspect of that always amazes. French explorers (couriers de bois, i.e. rogues) and Catholic missionaries probably first came to the area in the early 1600's.

"About 1660, two explorer/fur traders, Groseilliers and Radisson, made their way to Chequamegon Bay. Five years later, Jesuit Father Claude Allouez and Father Jacques Marquette arrived. A mission was soon established at LaPointe, on Madeline Island. For the next 150 years, it was an important outpost for French, British and American fur traders."

Food: If anything in Bayfield will defy your expectations of Northern Wisconsin, it's the extraordinarily high quality restaurants. And I don't mean just a juicy prime rib on Saturday night. Don't miss the Egg Toss for breakfast (yeah, it's little pricey for Up North, but hey you're on vacation.) And then hit Maggie's for lunch and supper. The Wild Rice is the high-end offering of this restaurant group owned by local philanthropist and business woman Mary Rice.

(I've not eaten at the Wild Rice, but did overhear a local wag explain that he was going there for the privilege of paying $200 for a $40 meal!).

Some other food offerings: Ethel's at 250, Greunkes First Street Inn and Restaurant, the Portside, and the Old Rittenhouse Inn.


Books: I usually spend considerable time and money at What Goes 'Round used books in Bayfield and the Chequamegon Book & Coffee Company in Washburn.


Hiking/Walking: There are several scenic and interesting trails right in Bayfield. If you're up there in January, check out the ice caves.

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There's a bunch of other great stuff - quaint shops, kayaking, festivals like the Apple Fest. And then there's the unusual like dog sledding, and the run on the water. You can also drive on the water. Really.

It is a good ways up there, but after a few days it is hard to return to 'civilization'.

Baltimore Oriole?

I took these pictures in my back yard (Monona, Wisconsin) today. Looks like either a tanager or an oriole, but I don't think tanagers have black heads. Perhaps it is a Baltimore Oriole or a Black-headed Grosbeak? I'm calling it a Baltimore Oriole because the Grosbeak doesn't live around here.

It was interesting that this bird was hanging out with several robins. Could he have been confused?