Category Archives: Year 5

Real Chicks of Cloverland

Year 5

I love this time of year. I never know what will catch my attention on a birding expedition. New chicks fledge daily, and make their presence known to the world. While tree swallows were definitely not the focus of my trip to the Wisconsin Grasslands near Cloverland, when presented with 30+ screaming tree swallows demanding food from overworked parents, I stopped to enjoy the show.

I also enjoyed a hike into a forested glade where my Red-Headed Woodpeckers are nesting. The tall grass now reaches over five feet. At one point I heard something swishing through the grass. Moments later a fawn was staring at me from ten feet away. Mom was obviously out foraging.

Oh yes … my woodpecker friends.

Superior Sunrise Biking and Birding

Year 5, ,

A sunrise on Lake Superior is fantastic. A better sunrise on Lake Superior is one experienced on a bicycle while birding. This morning I left my home at 6:30 intent on getting some exercise while at the same time keeping an eye out for wildlife.

My path was to bike up Scenic 61. On an early Saturday morning the highway is essentially a big bike path. A car might come by every ten minutes. Thus, wildlife viewing opportunities can be numerous. In addition to a large number of deer, I spied this red fox hanging out in some purple lupine, and then down on the rocks.

When I returned to the mouth of the Lester River, I hiked down into the ravine and found this Common Merganser family busily at work finding breakfast.

It was a great morning to bike and bird!