What A Find Today !

Headed out very early this morning to a northeast gate.Couldn't ask for a nicer start to the day. Clouds moved out early and the black flies were tolerable as long as your kept moving. The plan was to sit at a swampsedge but I got distracted.....

What a find !

Antler weighed just over 5 lbs

Jim

Wildlife Everywhere !

Started out early this morning. A few miles  from the gate this black squirrel was sitting on a stonewall.

Then a short distance up the road three deer were feeding in a field.

My plan this morning was to  hike and then on the return trip  sit a while watching a small swamp.
The black flies and ticks were a challenge.

Approaching the first swamp I could hear a goose sounding its alarm
I was a good distance away so I knew it could not be me.

My approach was very slow and quite. Something had this goose on edge. It didn't take to long to figure it out.

This hawk was on the opposite shoreline overseeing area. Reviewing my bird field guide it looks to be a Broad Hawk.
 Thanks for the help identifying
Jim




 I worked my way down to another swamp.
 It didn't take long for the things to get busy

The beaver on the blog title page is the same one above. Sitting still and camouflaged this beaver  was unaware of my presence swam to within a few feet of me.

Just prior to leaving this Brown Creeper challenged me. It is in the center of the pic on the tree trunk.

Jim

Something Different

While on a business trip this week I had a brief opportunity to visit one of the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife & Fish Refuge areas in McGreger , IA.

This National Wildlife & Fish Refuge  is located on the Upper Mississippi River which flows  through    Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and Illinois.  

 This flood plain is home to 250 bald eagle nests. Unfortunately the weather  was cold and extremely windy with showers. I stopped at the office in Mc Greger to learn more about this flood plain. Unfortunately no nesting eagles were in the general area

Above picture shows the habitat. I did see the work of many pileated woodpeckers . The weather was poor at best for viewing . I did see several mallards, common mergansers and a blue heron.

 Below , Looking out over the viewing areas at Pikes Peak State Park is a good vantage point in seeing a section of the Mississippi River and the flood plain.

 The water is high due to snow run off and several days of heavy rain.

The pics are dismal due to the weather . However they give you the feel for the habitat.

I don't think I would of ever made a special trip to the Mississippi, However I am glad I took the time to check it out.
Jim

Last Look For Antlers

I spent the morning looking for antlers from the top of Bear Hill down to the reservoir shoreline. From the top of Bear Hill you can see the reservoir through the tree's. I bushwhacked so  did not bring my SLR. That was a mistake. When I arrived at the Gate ,a  large moose met me. It ran about forty yards ,stopped and just looked back at me for nearly ten minutes. Working my way down the ridge I had a deer walk  to within twenty five yards of me. Shortly after I jumped another deer and watched it bound away.

While sitting at the reservoir I watched a immature eagle fly by.

Hiking back up Bear Hill I came across this Eastern Red-spotted Newt. Not an uncommon site. I thought it looked neat crawling along this log.

Ticks were relentless. !

Jim

Wildlife Everywhere This Morning

Up early and off to my favorite gate. I barely passed the yellow gate there were two does  watching me intently. It didn't take long before they  disappeared A short time later I watched a lone beaver doing his morning check. Walking towards the back of the beaver pond an immature eagle lifted for its perch and glided out of sight

Reaching the reservoir the squeal of wooducks taking off were quickly followed by the enchanting calls of several loons.

Three Kingfishers kept me entertained while I watched over the reservoir.They were extremely vocal. I assumed two males where trying to win over the female
Watching out over the reservoir I did get a distant picture of a mature eagle grabbing something from the water.

A good day to say the least.

Jim

East Side Hike With Bonus

One could not ask for better weather.  Yesterday at dawn my ride dropped me off at Gate 29 in New Salem. My ambitious goal today would hopefully let me exit at the east gate entrance on Route 9  The starting weather was cold with the temperature at twenty five degrees. The warmer weather earlier in the week had the peepers singing in unison. Only a few pitiful sounding frogs would be heard as I started out.

 The air was crisp , keeping me hiking at a fast pace to keep warm.It wasn't too long before the sun started to rise.

The hike would meet up with the reservoir in several places.

Reaching East Street started to show promise of maybe completing this journey.

Stopping to take a drink of water, I spotted this treasure  hanging from a sapling glistening in the sun.

Late afternoon I reached Goodnough Dike.( pic at top of page). From there I had short distance to hike to my truck on Route 9. A rewarding day to say the least
Jim

Lot Of Activity Of All Kinds

Yesterday I headed out to my favorite Northeast gate.  There  were many vehicles already at the gate when I arrived. Opening day of fishing season with shore fishing only. Fog was a concern when passing the yellow gate. The plan for the morning was to head to higher elevation in attempt to gain more visibility and better light conditions. As  I start to gain some elevation I caught  movement in the distance. It was two deer. They had spotted my movement.and slowly bounded away only to stop and look back . They didn't see me so they decided to come see what was going on.

Tail up both were extremely cautious with each step. There noses raise looking for any scent that might be in the air. When  at about 40 yards away from me, I got BUSTED !

Light was poor with moderate fog.

It  sure made for an enjoyable morning.
Jim