Nature & Wildlife Thread

[JBtheExplorer]

I went hiking this morning and all I got was this bad shot of a crow chasing a hawk.

 

[JBtheExplorer]

Last-minute Earth Day hike this evening. The trail was busy with kids picking up garbage so I didn't see much wildlife, but at least the park is cleaner!

 

[Hound Heaven]

The Barred Owls slept all day in the neighbor's magnolia and then plopped themselves along the street to watch the dog walkers.

 

[j.w]

Last-minute Earth Day hike this evening. The trail was busy with kids picking up garbage so I didn't see much wildlife, but at least the park is cleaner!

View attachment 162870

View attachment 162872

View attachment 162871

It's a shame everywhere in this country people just throw their garbage on the road. Only think of themselves and nothing else! Makes me so mad! Good for those kids being shown how to live the right way

 

[j.w]

The Barred Owls slept all day in the neighbor's magnolia and then plopped themselves along the street to watch the dog walkers.

Wonder when they will nest or if they are or if they won't cuz they are family? Would love to see more of them come around to show off the babies.

 

[Hound Heaven]

Wonder when they will nest or if they are or if they won't cuz they are family? Would love to see more of them come around to show off the babies.

If I had to guess (which I am), I think she is just too young but should be able and ready by next year. (I don't think incest is a deterrent) They would have hatched by now for this year. Their nesting tree is very close to us. The last two years we've had babies show up and hang out and be warned - they were adorable!

 

[JMJ]

If I had to guess (which I am), I think she is just too young but should be able and ready by next year. (I don't think incest is a deterrent) They would have hatched by now for this year. Their nesting tree is very close to us. The last two years we've had babies show up and hang out and be warned - they were adorable!

They’re such cool birds, some of the keenest eyes on any in the woods. They along with wild turkeys and crows have been some of the only animals that have made me put in full camo sitting in an archery stand, I think they see your eyes move. Barreds can be downright comical with their head gyrations and calls. Your pics are making me miss the water oak we had cut down that was next to our driveway, I used to see one in it every morning when I loaded the kids and my stuff for the day. Thanks for sharing these!

 

[Hound Heaven]

They’re such cool birds, some of the keenest eyes on any in the woods. They along with wild turkeys and crows have been some of the only animals that have made me put in full camo sitting in an archery stand, I think they see your eyes move. Barreds can be downright comical with their head gyrations and calls. Your pics are making me miss the water oak we had cut down that was next to our driveway, I used to see one in it every morning when I loaded the kids and my stuff for the day. Thanks for sharing these!

I'm so glad you enjoy them - they just light up my life
Your archery stand story reminds me of one from my son that lives nearby - he was hunting in archery season sitting under a rock overhang and after a while he noticed a Barred Owl sitting on the ground a few feet away! They're sooooo stealthy and I think sometimes they're a little curious about us too. And yes, they're very entertaining.

 

[JBtheExplorer]

Went over to a local park this morning. The park is so close to being a "perfect" community park. It's got a lot of things going for it. Playground, splash pad, pickleball, soccer fields, basketball courts, shelters, recreational paths, etc.
The one thing it's missing is good prairie habitat. It has a nice pond that would look good surrounded in prairie. It also has a lot of open, weedy mowed areas that will never see much foot traffic. Perfect for some prairie strips. Hopefully one day. I don't know if they have plans to. The area is so weedy it makes me think they've still got future plans, or else they'd probably have seeded grass by now.

Muskrat

Savannah sparrow

 

[JBtheExplorer]

As you all can probably tell, I've been getting in as much hiking as possible this year after really missing out a lot last year. I've probably already hiked as much over the past few weeks as all last year combined. We've also had some really nice weather lately and it's nice getting out before the hot humid summer comes.

Painted turtle crossing a recreational path.

Red-bellied woodpecker

Geese that swam up to yell at me.

Red Admirals continue to be ALL OVER THE PLACE this spring. I've never seen so many before.

 

[JBtheExplorer]

Had a fantastic time hiking at Hawthorn Hollow Nature Sanctuary yesterday. One of my favorite places in southeastern Wisconsin to just take a leisurely stroll through woodlands, wetlands, and prairie. And it's gotten even better ever since it expanded, and now has a nice restored wetland you can walk around.

Trillium

Wild blue phlox

The Pike River

Virginia bluebells

Newly restored wetlands

Scarlet paintbrush, my first time ever seeing in the wild!

sandpiper

They've installed signs since the last time I was there.

And they built this overlook.

 

[j.w]

Had a fantastic time hiking at Hawthorn Hollow Nature Sanctuary yesterday. One of my favorite places in southeastern Wisconsin to just take a leisurely stroll through woodlands, wetlands, and prairie. And it's gotten even better ever since it expanded, and now has a nice restored wetland you can walk around.

Trillium
View attachment 163059

Wild blue phlox
View attachment 163060

View attachment 163061

The Pike River
View attachment 163062

Virginia bluebells
View attachment 163063

View attachment 163064

Newly restored wetlands
View attachment 163066

View attachment 163067

Scarlet paintbrush, my first time ever seeing in the wild!
View attachment 163068

sandpiper
View attachment 163069

They've installed signs since the last time I was there.
View attachment 163076

View attachment 163070

View attachment 163071

View attachment 163072

And they built this overlook.
View attachment 163073

Are all these places you visit really close by...............if so you are so lucky!

 

[JBtheExplorer]

Are all these places you visit really close by...............if so you are so lucky!

Mostly, yes!

And many of them have had some restoration efforts in just the past decade. Many just in the last handful of years. It's been exciting, and I hope it continues! Many of these places were low-quality habitats filled with invasive plants, but now they're really starting to become something much more useful to a lot more wildlife. (Oh, I saw a Wild Turkey yesterday at Hawthorn Hollow, too, but didn't get a photo of it) The main emphasis has been about cleaner waterways as well as general habitat restoration for endangered species. A lot of this has been done with help from Fund for Lake Michigan, Root-Pike Watershed Initiative Network, and many other organizations.

 

[JBtheExplorer]

Another quick hike this morning.

I visited the hidden cascade for the first time in four years! I used to visit it quite a bit. Unfortunately, a lot of invasive plant species are taking over since the last time I was there, primarily buckthorn and garlic mustard.

Great Blue Heron

Savannah Sparrow

 

[JBtheExplorer]

Just a quick quarter mile walk today. This Savannah sparrow is ALWAYS on this post.

This is one of the sections of park that I'm hoping they'll convert to prairie. It's just unmowed grass right now. Almost three acres of land around this pond.

The pond was active today. I didn't get any photos, but I saw a couple muskrats, including a baby that swam right past me. Also saw a few frogs and a turtle.