Lower Blackhawk Ridge

     It's been a busy couple days, no hikes, no post. Sorry!!
Here's a sample of the photos from yesterdays late afternoon hike.
There will be many more with a full story entry tomorrow.

Suet Bandit

 
   These are photos of several Red-breasted nuthatches that feast at my feeders.

    Red-breasted nuthatches along with the White-breasted are  bundles of energy. The easiest way to tell them apart is by bandit mask sported by the red-breasted one. Their nesting grounds are  much farther north than their cousins so they head south sooner and appear here first in the fall. They feed off and on all day but they like the woodpeckers come in abundance in late afternoon. At that time my homemade suet is gone first. I had a friend drill small holes in a full length cedar tree trunk a few years ago when they're filled with suet that's a big hit. Quite often in the afternoon a lot of their energy is spent taking seed and hiding it for the next day.

 

Upper Blackhawk Ridge

       I've been wanting to return to the place where these winter photos were taken a few years ago. The view is of the Roxbury valley from Blackhawk Ridge. St. Norbert's Church steeple is on the lower right-hand side. I've been to the top of Blackhawk Ridge many times since then to attend meetings of the Lower Wisconsin State Riverway Board, but never ventured out to that point again. I checked with my summer hiking companion if she had ever been there – the answer was no – so that was our destination for the afternoon.

 

When we arrived there were several cars in the parking lot. Behind one of the cars there were three guys donning their blaze orange. I knew that the bow deer hunt season had started so I inquired if it was safe to proceed with the hike. “Definitely” was the answer. They were well aware of the hikers presence. I have blaze orange vests in my trunk from days when I sometimes led the road clean-up crew for FLOW (The Friends of the Lower Wisconsin River). My companion and I agreed “better safe than sorry,” so on they went. There are days when the gated road is open. At the end of the road, there's a large modern log cabin, a pavilion, a covered deck, and ample parking and mowed grounds for activities like weddings and meetings. I have been to meetings there but when hiking, I wouldn't cheat and drive up. The blacktopped road makes a great path to walk on but you may have to take a breather part way up. Along the way there were some interesting rock outcroppings. 

     Again it was in the afternoon so the wildlife was not active. Once we reached the top, we headed to the highest point where I had taken that photo on a winter day a few of years ago. Much to my surprise there no longer was a view like I had hoped for! The trees that are on the edge of the slope in the photo are now so tall they block the entire skyline (I checked later and the photo was taken 9 years ago!) Mother Nature stands still for no one.

    I had never taken any of the trails beyond this point but we had the afternoon to spend exploring. The trails near the top of the hill are well groomed and grassy. I mention this because there also are combination horseback riding, skiing and hiking trails which are dirt and run up, down and around the hill. There were no great long distant views but the fall-like day in November was sunny and warm. The first part of the walk was through a massive prairie. Here I was able to point out the seed heads of coneflower, goldenrod, Queen Ann's lace and many more. There also were patches of shoulder high grasses; big bluestem (turkey foot) and the little bluestem sporting their silvery wisps. The Indian grass, the tallest of them all, had its reddish-brown spears set in motion by the warm breeze. From here the forest began to spread it's now leafless canopy over the leaf-laden path. Even here we could walk side by side taking in the beauty of nature and chat at the same time. Soon the opening from the forest had us again crossing the other side of the prairie and returning back to where we started.

       From here the forest began to spread it's now leafless canopy over the leaf-laden path. Even here we could walk side by side taking in the beauty of nature and chat at the same time. Soon the opening from the forest had us again crossing the other side of the prairie and returning back to where we started.My companion had never been there so we spent some time exploring the buildings and pavilions.Not ready to end the day, we crossed to the other side of the road and set out on a new adventure. The trials were as good as before, but many were lined by pines. Near the end of one of these trails we came to an overlook. The view is a bit obstructed but much to my surprise we were looking at the Sauk-Prairie area and beyond to the Baraboo Bluffs.

     I returned two days later with someone new and retraced this hike. This time we encountered several other hikers who had also opted to leave their cars down below in the parking lot. Since this area is set-up with horse trails, we also met a couple of gals with three beautiful horses. One horse was riderless so we asked if they had lost its rider over the edge. “No,” they had three horses and didn't want one to feel left out.

    This hike may be a good choice for someone who desires more stable footing. The road winds its way to the top, so it's not very steep in any one spot…a place close to home worth looking into.

Window Peeker

    This cardinal peered through my living-room window late yesterday afternoon.
The feeders were full so he couldn't be wanting more food.
It was "Thanksgiving Day"perhaps he was thanking me.

 

Happy Thanksgiving !!!

               Give thanks for everything great and small !!!

             After a busy day take a couple minutes to listen to this video, relax and enjoy!!!

 http://www.youtube.com/embed/fdSVp9GFeS4?autoplay=1&rel=

Gibraltar Rock State Natural Area

                

A couple weeks ago there was a break in the clouds so I decided to take a chance and headed for Gibraltar Rock State Natural Area. I had made arrangements with a friend that if it was a nice afternoon I'd pick her up. It was beautiful mid afternoon and there were several other cars in the parking lot. This section of the Ice Age Trail has been completed for well over a year. We chose to walk the trail, which is clearly marked, rather than the old road. The dirt path is wide enough to pass other hikers with ease. This time of year the soil is hidden by the fallen leaves of the red oaks that are abundant in this forest. The path had been well planned to wind in a gradual grade up the hill. Most plants were past their prime but could still offer interest because of their seed heads. The birds were filling the tree tops with chirps and songs  perhaps they were on a break from their way south

          
                                              

 

 Here and there along the 

way,the still brilliant red 

leaves of young red oaks 

were clinging to life. 

I got the impression that 

they were shouting, 

  

“Look at us, this is our time to shine, all summer no one noticed that we were here.”

We than approached a ditch that had long ago been eroded into the hillside by the spring runoff. The bridge across this now dry bed was made of ten to twelve foot-long logs that had been split lengthwise. (High on top of the hill one of these logs laid unused. I was amazed that it had been cut for this kind of use by a very talented person with a chain saw; the blade marks are still visible).

  

 

From here the path started to climb more toward the rocky goal of the hike. Still this path was less of a challenge than the Cactus/Ferry Bluff trail. Deeper in the forest the gray squirrels were securing acorns for the winter. Off in the distance the thunderous sounds of a pileated woodpecker working on a tree echoed across the hillside.

                                             

 

   

After a short time my eye caught sight of its handiwork. This Leonardo of the forest had been creating a sculpture high on a dead and rotting tree. The top two feet of the eight inch around tree had been chipped down to about three inches around; in places it had holes drilled clear though.

 
Just beyond this point the view began to clear, indicating that the rocky cliffs were near. The path took a steeper incline but soon this was made easy by stone steps. Again, the time and planning spent here showed. The path followed the many natural stone steps and, where needed, native rock was well placed to blend in. The main path led over to the upper edge, while many smaller paths led down to the rocky out-cropping. Here the vistas are two hundred feet above the Wisconsin River valley. There's a glimpse of Lake Wisconsin and the Baraboo range, and to the south and east the view extends over miles of farmland.

 

  

 Once we reached the edge of the cliffs my thoughts wandered back to the long ago days when I would throw my common sense to the wind. I did venture now to where we used to dangle our legs or perhaps sit on one of the red cedars growing out of the rocks. I decided that all those cedars reaching out must have been removed, but while taking photos of the amazing old bonsai-looking cedar trees, I realized that not only am I forty years older, so are the trees I sat on back then.

 

 

                                                                

    

This day there were the  

tiny pale blue blooms of 

harebells (bluebells) 

tucked in the crevices 

where the frost hadn’t 

claimed them.

     We decided to take the road back to the parking lot rather than the trail. Nature is doing its best to reclaim this; the blacktop and gravel are starting to break up and most of it is hidden by several types of moss. If you decide to hike this treasure I would recommend starting from the old road parking area. I've been told that the other end of the Ice Age Trail with a parking area is a bit more of a challenge if you want to reach the top.

Ear muffs?

   This gray squirrel is dressed for winter. When they grow their winter coat of fur their ears sport white tufts, The rest of the year the ears match the rest of their body. Notice that their tails are more colorful also. Our deciduous forests provide habitat for the gray squirrel, more so in areas that have a great abundance of oaks. They also occur in towns, cities, parks, where they probably wouldn't live without residential bird feeding stations. If you have them in your yard I'm sure you've been scolded more the once. They can be very vocal.

Brrrrrr !!!

There' s a saying we often hear in Wisconsin.

“ If you don't like the weather wait an hour!”

   That sure was the case yesterday. In late morning I went for a walk in the

Mazomaine Barrens. I was dressed in a T-shirt and shorts.

The sun was shining and the wind was a little more than a strong breeze.

A little over an hour later “Old Man Winter” came riding in on the wind.

The wind gusts from the west pushed against the flow of the Wisconsin River

churning up white caps.

    The birds at the feeders tried to hide from the chill. Some made the best of it just by

perching on the windless side of the feeders. But others choose to ruffle up their

feathers making them appear to be twice their normal size. Much like the ones in these older photos.

After the Moon

 I saw the super moon set over the Wisconsin River before dawn 
            and then caught the sunset at the end of day.

The Frosty Moon

   

 What should we call it? The November Full Moon.

   The Native Americans and colonist had many names.

Beaver Moon?  This was the time to set beaver traps before the swamps froze, to ensure a supply of warm winter furs. Also because of the fact that the beavers are now actively preparing for winter.
  It is sometimes referred to as the Frosty Moon, Dark Moon, Tree Moon or Snow Moon. 

           
       These photos were taken from my deck.

             Ferry Bluff in the background.

Most recently we called it a Full Supermoon. On November 14, 2016, it was the closest to Earth since January 26, 1948, and the next one like this will not be until November 25, 2034. When I heard this I thought I remembered taking supermoon photos a couple years ago. I looked back in my photo files and turns out it was on Sept. 28th. last year. So from what I can gather this one

was an extra super supermoon (closer yet).

More to come

 The water level in the river went down enough to expose the top of a rock in front of my house.
   It didn't take long for a pair of bald eagles to notice it. One managed to perch on it long enough for a few photos. Sightings of eagles in the Sauk Prairie area are still very few. I believe this is the local pair from the Ferry Bluff nest.



There are now enough nest around that we can spot them all year.
 Soon the weather should bring up the winter numbers.

  

" What are you looking at ?"

Morton Forest 2

    More on Morton Forest, the newest Dane County Park, near Mazomanie. If you go, look for Reeve Road across from the Subway store on Highway 14. This ride through the hills is in itself interesting. You'll be near the end of Reeve Road before you come to the parking lot. It appears that the newness has worn off; there was room to park in the lot today (a weekday).

Now that I'd been there before I knew enough to lead my two companions on the trail behind the small cabin/nature center. It's the one that's the least challenging. The trails in this section of the park were done by the Steve Morton family. They're wide and well-groomed after many years of use. There are some plantings along the way but they have also been there for years so they blend right in with what nature has done. We moved along chatting and approving of this choice for a hike. We had a great canine hiker with us (dogs are welcome but need a Dane County Park permit). There are many off-shoot trails but we chose to stay on the main trail to the top. There is signage but I found it to be a bit confusing; that could have just been me. Regardless, most of the trails loop back or head downhill. The timber frame shelters with a bench are a piece of art in their own right. There was plenty of room for all of us to sit and take in Mother Nature’s fall master piece.

                                The overlook views in this part of the park are amazing.

Check the other photos I posted on October 21^st. 

 

     We headed back down to the trail that would take us across the road to the second section of the park. On my first trip here I had taken a more challenging uphill path that now was perfect for taking down to where we needed to be. Once you reach the bottom, this path is flat and winds its way around a wetland area. I would think that earlier in the year it could be a great birding site.

From here we wanted to check out the additional new section that Dane County has purchased to add another hilltop viewing point. Once you’re near the road there's a left path taking you up to the road (which you want) or straight ahead takes you back to the cabin area. You need to take the road a short distance to the right. We noticed a dirt climb from the ditch leading to a path. It could be a bit troublesome if wet but once we reached the upper path there is a gated entrance a short distance farther down the road. I'm going to attach a web site to this entry; I believe this is what they’re talking about when they mention a challenge. The dirt path is new and goes pretty much uphill. We took a couple of breathers. The overlook here has another awesome shelter. They have cleared some trees and underbrush to open the view. My guess is that in the spring there will be some more grooming done here.

    While we were resting, a much younger and more fit couple that we had talked to at the first overlook came up the hill. They had made it without a breather but they were puffing and he was covered in sweat. Needless to say the rest of the downhill hike back to the car was a snap.

 The attachment is worth reading. It details the history of this very generous gift to the Dane County Park System and all of us for years to come.

     http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/new-dane-county-forest-is-paradise-for-hikers-and-naturalists/article_b915942c-1d8d-5ec3-9f9a-f4f87578015c.html

 

The magic of dawn

     An adventurous young friend of mine shared this story with me. He went kite surfing on one of Madison's lakes on a warm day in early fall. As he was pulled across the water by the kite there were gulls soaring in the sky in search of a meal. Then to his amazement the kite was joined by a bald eagle. It kept a distance between itself and the kite but seemed to soar in tandem for a short time. I think they were sharing the same air thermal.

    With all the talk about eagles I decided it was time for me to get a personal and close up view of the mural. The early bird that I'm I set out along the railroad tracks to get there before dawn. Being that the painting is on the east side if the building I thought the sunrise would bring some added magic to the creation. I'm glad I went when I did, the predawn lighting turned out to be what I needed. The first rays of the sunrise brought brilliance to the white crown. Then as the sun swept down the building it cast unwanted shadows. I would give a predawn visit two thumbs up. It's located at the Hwy. 60 bridge in Prairie du Sac., along the river bank.

    When viewing eagles keep your distance. This is especially important during the winter months, they need all their energy reserves just to survive.

Nature's Shining Touch

A walk on a cool fall morning provided this photo.

Dew was still clinging to the plants that had escaped the warmth of the sunrise.

I was looking high toward the sky, fascinated by the white pine cones.

Drops of sap were gathering on the tips of the now brown cones.

Suddenly a single drop was highlighted by the sunshine.

I was truly lucky to catch this moment in nature.

Spirit Wolf

   

     A couple of years ago after a rain shower, I went down to my deck to watch the sunset along the Wisconsin River. The remains of the rain clouds cast a gray and black pattern, while the sun touched the still water with a hint of orange. Rain drops from the trees were sending circular ripples to the pallet. This was a great photo opportunity. I amazed at what my artistic eyes picked up on in one of the photos. After living along the river for many years, I’ve learned the tales of nature and especially of the Native American’s spiritual connection to wildlife. 

   When I uploaded the photos to the computer I saw the spirit guide of a wolf looking back at me. In the lower left of the photo the reflected clouds and the ripples of fish surfacing created this blessing for me. 

    The top photo is as taken, the lower photo has an overlay to help you pick up on what I saw.

 

  

   

    Almost all Native American tribes have some form of mythology about wolves. Many believe humans evolved from wolves. They’re considered to bestow courage, strength, loyalty and success at hunting. While spending time in nature and on the Wisconsin River it’s not hard to understand how their tales developed around what was in their everyday lives.