Late March, made a few Mallard nest tubes. Was able to set up one nest tube. Harder than I thought it would be. Had to hold off a day or so, before putting up 2 remaining tubes. Watch my Nest Tube Video at the link on the bottom of the page.
Sorry for the lack of attention for the blog, Just taking it easy and forgot how to do this. He-He. First let me thank all of you for viewing my blog, Viewers from all around the Earth, " Thanks!!! ".
I stopped my car to rescue a Snapping Turtle and learned the hard way, why Mr. Turtle crossed the road.
Seriously, if you encounter a turtle crossing the road, be very careful if you decide to move it. Not only may you cause a car accident but also, all turtles can inflict a bite that will require medical attention.
While hunting the Slough during the early waterfowl season. I told myself that I better return between the end of early waterfowl and the duck season closing. The 2nd of October, I returned to catch a few of those "Slough Gills". After a couple hours, on my knees, preying, I had a nice mess of tasty "Slough Gills" ( Willow Slough Bluegills ).
Well, storm clouds appeared in the west, a cold hard wind began to howl and I've got no rain gear. So I assume the "lazy boyee" position ( my canoe has oar locks and the paddles are oars ) for the 2 mile row off the lake. The threat of rain passes making for a very comfortable canoe ride.
Willow Slough is a major, natural migratory bird resting area. I was ducking birds left and right. In the end I happen by a Bald Eagle on a cattail raft having dinner.
I hope you enjoy my little trip "October Slough Gills" as much as I did bringing it to you. Please like and subscribe. Thanks, Garnie.
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First, I'd like to thank all my viewers, I believe the site has a view from every country on Earth. I'm surprised, never thought it would happen, so thanks again and please visit again .
Duck Hunt In Hell
Been a long winter here, record cold and snow, got 4 inches / 10 cm of snow on the "Blood Moon", this years first full moon of Spring, but let's go back to September of 2013.
Here's a duck hunt video filmed on the hottest September 10th in recorded history. 96 degrees is now the current record for this day. The temperature in the Bayous of Lasalle Fish and Wildlife Area had to be +100 with 100% humidity and no wind.
The ditch I had to canoe was a mile and a half mud hole, beaver dams and food stores blocked the ditch every 30 yards, forcing me to get out and drag the canoe across knee deep muck. When this ditch is at normal fall water levels I can canoe the mile+ to the Waterfowl Resting Area in 15 min, on this day it took every bit of 2 hours. One thing for sure, I love me some duck hunting.
This video is a little long, about 25 minutes, so grab a snack, your favorite beverage and a smoke( if its ok with mama), and get a laugh with this duck hunting fool on his "Duck Hunt In Hell".
All likes and comments will be truly appreciated. Don't forget to Subscribe to my channel, Thanks Garnie.
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September 1st is opening day of the early Indiana Goose season. I am seriously psyched and will do my best to giddy-up go. The weather forecast says a high temperature of 85 degrees, that's hot, but I think I can handle it. Good Luck and Happy Hunting!
( Hey viewers, I'm pretty sure I'm wrong about this being the Karner Blue. After a bit more research, I'm concluding it's an Eastern Tailed-Blue, a rather common butterfly in the eastern US. I've sent this photo to the Miller Woods Educational Center of the Dunes National Park Service and asked for help with the ID. When I hear from them I'll edit the entire post. Thanks for the views.)
Pulling grass from my wild flower patch, when I saw a tiny blue butterfly flirting with the flowers. I ran to the house to fetch my camera, knowing the chances were slim to none the butterfly would be there when I returned. With camera in hand, I intensely searched the flower bed. Luck day, I was able to get this shot of not only one of the smallest butterflies in the USA but also, more importantly, an ENDANGERED SPECIES.. The Karner Blue Butterfly.
A native butterfly to the dry dune environments of the Great Lakes region, the Karner Blue became a threatened species because of habitat loss, due to urban and industrial development in the region which resulted in the range reduction of the only plant the Karner Blue uses for food as a caterpillar, the Wild Blue Lupine. In 1992 the Karner Blue was added to the Endangered Species list.
Took a short hike at Ranger's Marsh on the Little Calumet River. Warm, windy day. The marsh is dry as a bone. Water only in the Dead Cottonwood grove. The flooded wood is holding a few ducks and boy are they spooky. The first group of ducks began to get in the wind when I was 100 yards away. Group after group followed. I saw about 300 ducks catch the strong south wind for the next step north.
Drake Mallard Duck
Hen Mallard Ducks
Mallards
Mallards
Gadwall Ducks
Blue-Wing Teal
Blue-Wing Teal in dead Cottonwood Grove
Blue-Wing Teal Drake
Mink carcass
How dry is the marsh? Well, here's a photo of Mink ( Neovison vison ) jerky. A sun dried carcass of the nocturnal American Mink. Years ago, this little guy would have been worth his weight in gold.
Dry Marsh
This photo shows the condition of the marsh this spring, bone dry. Typically, there would be two foot of water covering the cattail humps.
Author
Me after a the hike. I'd like to thank you for viewing my blog. Thanks!
The Cooper's Hawk are still hunting the block. I think I know where their nest is. I'll stop taking photos of them until the chicks grow large enough fly, should be a couple months.
The hawks are a good watch but I've got enough photos of them as it is. No, I will not tie little animals to a stake in the ground, for hawk attack photos and you shouldn't either, keep it wild.
Lone Canada Goose flying over Caddie marsh, lots of northern birds in the marsh, resting before the flight to Canada.
The only area of the marsh holding water, migrating ducks are using the flooded dead cottonwood grove as a resting area.
Here a hen Mallard Duck is locked in to her landing spot in the wood.
Another encounter with the local Cooper's Hawks. On a bright sunny day, I heard the Cooper's Hawks calling. Two hawks were active in the trees around me.
Cooper's Hawk ( Accipter cooperii )
On an oak branch, I saw one perched, took a quick shot. The image was way over-exposed.
Hawk on perch
I adjusted the aperture, returned to where the hawk was and got this shot as it launched from it's perched.
The deep breath
Following the bird, it was obvious that it was in an attack dive.
The plunge
About six feet above the ground it hovered briefly then dropped behind my fence. I lost sight of it.
The death blow
The hawk flew up into a high oak and perched next to his mate. He had caught a Garter Snake and offered it to her. She did not appear interested. The female hawk is on the left, next to her tale is the snake.
Female and Male Cooper's Hawk
The female Cooper Hawks are larger than the males. Here she sits on her perch while the male flies to a near by tree to eat the snake.
Larger female Cooper's Hawk
Upon his return, she vocalizes the mating call and the start of a new clutch of Cooper Hawks begins.
Cooper's Hawks bonded pair
New to bird watching and need a little help identifying the birds you encountered in your journeys? Well, here is a good book to carry with you where ever you may find yourself, Peterson Books Eastern Birds.
The American Robin ( Turdus migratorius ) is a sign of the coming spring to many in the northern United States. Late February and early March sees large flocks of Robins searching for berries, worms and insects during the late winter thaw. One of the earliest birds to nest and lay eggs, with many having more than one clutch of eggs in a season.
The first full moon after the first day of spring. You must admit its a big day for life on Earth. 12 hours of daylight / 12 hours of dark. The Sun rises due east and sets due west. In the southern hemisphere it is the first of fall, in the northern hemisphere it is the first of spring. "Smell the Zephyrs(west wind)" in ancient Egypt, the time to get out and get some air.
On the road, going to a home supply store for plumbing stuff, replacing water pipes in my shack. I passed a little squirrel laid out on the pavement and thought, poor little guy survived winter to end up being road-kill. I took care of my needs at the store, as I approached the scene of the hit-and-run, I could see a rather large animal in the road where the squirrel lay. What have I run into this time? Up and into a near by tree, this large bird flew. As I passed I could ID the bird as a Turkey Vulture. Each year they show up at this time of year. I've seen them soaring on the thermal up-drafts but to see one on the ground is a rare sight.
A large bird with a wing-span of six feet, the Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) range from southern Canada to the southern tip of South American. They feed almost exclusively on carrion, dead animals, which they find with their extremely sensitive sense of smell. The turkey is one of only a few birds that can smell. The Genus name Cathartes is the Latinized form from Greek meaning "Purifier". After all, the Vulture's place in nature is to consume the dead before putrefaction sets in, many deadly bacteria are killed by the Turkey Vultures digestive system.
Look at that face, don't you love it, well I do. My favorite bird of all. The Turkey Vulture is the only bird that does no harm to any other animal. They don't harm bugs, worms or fish, the Turkey Vulture should be the symbol of world peace and environment purification. Can I get an Amen!
I put together a little game, while it's been to cold to go outside. A fun little game built in C++, and called "Duckie Danger", it's also a simple game, just smack ducks until five get away, game over, you quack!
Spring has sprung, like or not. Watched a few hundred Sand Hill Cranes fly over Ranger's Marsh yesterday. Heading north by northwest. Lots of migratory Canada geese and ducks using the marsh, also.
Sand Hill Cranes
The Sand Hill Cranes are migrating north to their breeding grounds in Canada and the northern US.
Sand Hill Cranes over Gary, Indiana, flying north by northwest.
After watching the spring migration, I went home. While walking from the car to the house, I saw a brown comet streak through the air just outside of my fence and I hear the leaves rustling in the lot north of me. It was a Cooper's Hawk on a dinner dive. I had heard one calling a couple days, this is the first one I've seen.
Cooper's Hawk, first this year
I put down my coffee cup and unlock and load my camera. The hawk flies up and into a tree with its lunch in its talons. Whatever it's caught has a wide tail, what could it be? No squeals, so not a rodent. I've seen them catch lots of snakes but the temperature is just above freezing, too cold for snakes.
Cooper's Hawk and unknown prey
After another short flight deeper into the canopy of the oaks. The hawk kills its prey. I'm still waiting to see what the hawk has taken.
Would not believe it if I did not see it myself
The Cooper Hawk had caught a Garter Snake. In the middle of the pic above, below the large tree limb that the hawk is perched on, you can see the blueish-gray belly of the snake hanging down and curling to the left. I am wrong again, it's not too cold for the Garter Snakes to be out and about. Spring Has Sprung!
