Mallard Nest Tubes

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.

Click-on photo to see enlargements.

Buffelhead Duck speeds by as I cross the marsh.

I had this feeling of being watched.

Mother Goose giving the EYE.

Mallard Duck Nest Tube.

The Muskrat, the keepers of the marsh.

Ring-necked Ducks.

Migration stop-over.

Moving to another hole in the marsh.

Click the link below to view my YouTube video:

Mallard Nest Tube: 
Making and Setting-Up 

Thanks for the view.

October Slough Gills

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.

Visit my YouTube Channel and watch more of my videos:

http://www.youtube.com/gmvideos06

Duck Hunt In Hell

Thanks !!!

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.

Visit my YouTube Channel and watch more of my videos:

http://www.youtube.com/gmvideos06

Early Goose Hunting

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!

Spring Migration

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!  

Lake Michigan Fishing Spots

On a cold, January day, cabin fever kicked in. So I grabbed a fishing pole and a hand full of tackle and set my sights on the Lake Michigan shore line to scout places to fish. Its been years since I've fished Lake Michigan, so this would be a trip to see if the old places are still open and if there are any new places to be found. Besides, the temperature was 10 degrees with a 25 mph north wind, too cold to fish.

Indiana DNR shelter and parking area

My first stop was a Indiana Department of Natural Resources Restoration Area on the east branch of the Little Calumet River.

Indiana Department of Natural Resources Restoration Area
Little Calumet River East Branch

I was hoping to find a river access spot where I could launch my canoe. The parking here is a little to far from the river to drag a canoe. At the time the river was low and looking good. Lots of deadfalls along the shoreline, good places for the big ones to hide.

Little Calumet River facing East

This bridge and the road leading to the river are closed to vehicular traffic. To the left (south) of the bridge about a half mile is an undeveloped parking area. You can walk in from there. After a rain, the road leading to the unofficial parking area  would be a mud hole.  So, it would be best to park at the picnic shelter provided by the DNR and pictured above. The walk to the river is just a wee bit longer.

Old Bridge over Little  Calumet River facing West

The above photo is facing west. Two or so miles is a public marina. I've fished near the marina before, so it looks like the marina would be the best place to put in the canoe and paddle the river. By launching at the marina, I will be able to float, not only the east branch of the Little Cal, but also the west branch and paddle north to Portage Bay and Lake Michigan.  

Somebody's  watching me

Walking back to where I parked, I got the feeling I was being watched. There on the naturally overgrown Oak-Maple Forest floor was a young White-Tail Deer, a doe, watching my every move. 

White-Tail Deer

Yep, if you feel as though you are being watched, chances are, you are being watched. I moved forward a bit and found a clearing in the brush, for a less wild photo. The doe stared me down until I gave in and vacated her woods.

Fox Squirrel

At the DNR picnic shelter, I encountered a Fox Squirrel. The largest of the North America tree squirrels. He's hanging out at the shelter, looking for an easy meal, sorry, I'm a firm believer in "Do not feed the animals". Squirrels in particular, if they eat soft food instead of cutting hard shelled nuts, their upper and lower front teeth will not be worn down and will continue to grow, causing the squirrel to starve . 

Indiana DNR Public Fish Site, Port of Indiana

A few miles north of the Little Cal is the Port of Indiana. This is another Indiana DNR public fishing site. Don't let the sunshine and calm water fool you, this was a cold, windy day.   

Large flock of Common Mergansers

On the waters of the port, was a large flock of waterfowl. This photo was cropped, there are actually three times as many bird on the water. This is a flock of Common Mergansers aka Sawbills aka Fish Ducks. Mergansers dive under the water to catch fish. Every few minutes, the entire flock would dive, proving to me that the fish were in the harbor, but like I said before, it was too cold to fish.    

Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore,  National Park Service

Due west of the Port is a section the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and the Portage Riverwalk Park. Located where the Little Calumet River enters Lake Michigan.  

Wind pruned Pin Oak and Pine trees

The dunes meet the river where wind pruned pines and pin oak anchor the high banks of the river. About fifty feet below these stunted trees is the river. Shore decks are placed along the river bank from which you can fish or just watch the pleasure boats make there way to the lake from the marina.

Pine Cones

Old pine cones that dropped their seed long ago. The harsh conditions of the dunes environment causes the trees to be stunted. They may not be large trees but they are very old. (And you thought man 'invented' bonsai trees) 

Ice on the Rocks

Lake Michigan is at a low water stage. These rocks would be under water at normal water levels. Look at the ice on the rocks, another good reason not to fish. 

Black Mussel

A freshwater mussel in the sand. I wonder if there's a pearl inside of it? Mussels have a interesting life cycle. The female is fertilized by the male. She retains the eggs until they are hatched. the larvae are released into the water and actively search out fish. When a fish is found the larvae attach themselves to the fins or gills of the fish until they become juveniles. Then drop off onto the lake bottom and grow to adults.  

Western Grebe at Portage Harbor

What's this? The Loch Michigan Monster! No, just a bad photo of a Western Grebe in Portage Harbor. Another diving bird that will winter here as long as it can find open water and fish. This area is where the Little Calumet River meets Lake Michigan. 

Chicago Beyond the Horizon

Right about now, I'm at the point where I can't take this cold any more. A couple more shots and I'm out of here. So here's "Chicago Beyond the Horizon". 

Portage Dunes

After all is said and done, it was a good day. I found a few places to fish and float my canoe. Visited some new scenery and got a few pic to boot. When the Coho run in March, you know where I can be found. 

(Click on any photo to see an enlarged photo slideshow)

American GoldFinch (Spinus tristis)

American GoldFinch (Spinus tristis)

Each July when the Goldfinch broods fledge, my garden is visited by family groups of Goldfinches.  The bright yellow males are the first to be noticed.  He perches on the tall stems of the Shasta Daisies, surveys the undergrowth for stalking urban leopards, house cats. The all-clear call is given and the rest of the group moves in to feed. In the background of the photo above can be seen the compound leaf of an Indiana Black Walnut, a tree that was once common through out Indiana before the forests were clear cut and burned for agriculture. The squirrels plant these trees, at one time I believed what I was told, squirrels bury tree seeds to hide for their next meal. After watching squirrels burying maple seeds one after another in my garden and the fact that the nearest walnut tree is a city block away from my yard, I tend to think that squirrels are distributing the tree seeds to replenish the forest habitat. After all no trees no squirrels.

July in my perennial wild flower garden.  The wild flowers were planted about twenty years ago, from bag and canned wild flower seed mixes.  I just turned the soil, broadcast the seed mix and let nature take its course. Every now and then, I'll root out the grass that invades from what little lawn that I have.  No ferts or pesticides, dividing the root clumps is a no-no also. Basically, no maintenance is the rule, I just let it grow. When I see plants taking hold that I do not want I just pull them out by the roots.  The deadheads are left on the stalks to re-seed, provide food for the visiting birds and shelter for the overwintering insects.

Swan Attack Causes Man to Drown.

A Mute Swan attacked a man in a kayak, causing it to capsize. Once the man was free of the kayak, the attack continued. Each time he would surface, the swan would force the man underwater. The swan did not stop until it was certain the poor guy was drowned. 

Mute Swans cupped and landing.

This happened at a housing project water retention pond. The man was actually the swan's "caretaker".  He was using the swans to attack any Canada Geese that approach the pond. The swan species involved here is the Mute Swan(Cygnus olor). An invasive species, native to Europe and Asia. Mute swans have been used as garden pond and mote guards for countless years.  

Humped, orange and black bill.

Our 30 lb, native Trumpeter Swan(Cygnus buccinator) is the largest waterfowl and will avoid contact with people and populated areas. While the Mute Swan thrives from human contact in urban areas. Swans are fascinating to watch but if you are in small watercraft, keep your distant.

Trumpeter Swan, largest waterfowl, native to North America.
  

If you would like to see more, visit the following links:



Los Angeles Time

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-killer-swan-attacks-chicago-man-until-he-drowns-20120416,0,1669472.story

MSNBC

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/47064137/ns/local_news-anchorage_ak/t/killer-swan-attacks-illinois-caretaker-until-he-drowns/#.T43b2bNYtow

Yahoo Answers, UK

http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20061025082035AAPxtmy

BBC

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17736292

A Short Rest for North Bound Sand Hill Cranes

March 10, 2012 I was driving, near the Little Calumet River in Gary, Indiana when I notice a group of Sand Hill Cranes on a landing approach into a marsh south of the river.

Sand Hill Cranes Landing in Marsh

I pulled over and followed the river bank a short ways and found a large group of Sand Hill Cranes resting in a wetland along the banks of the Little Calumet River.

100's of  Sand Hill Cranes 

The Sand Hill Cranes are on their spring migration.

Sand Hill Cranes resting in Little Calumet River Marsh

My presents disturbed some of them, so I left them in peace.

Sand Hill Cranes taking flight

(Left Click any Photo to See Slide Show) 

Snap Shots, January-February 2012

Stepping a couple months back for this post, here are a few of the snapshot made during the months of January and February 2012. Northwest Indiana had a mild winter, below average snow fall and above average temps. All in all a most pleasant winter.


Last summer I found an area with a large growth of Illinois Bundle weed (here is a photo of this plant in flower). I revisited the area and found the Bundle weed seed pods. The seed pods twist themselves about the flowerhead in a tight bundle. In the photo below you can see how the pods split open to release the seeds. I collected a few seeds and will try to grow them in my flower garden this spring.

Illinois Bundle Weed Seed Pods

The only birds seen in the field during this hike were a small flock of Chipping Sparrows. Flying from bush to bush, and close to the ground, looking for seeds and insects in the leaf litter.

Chipping Sparrow

The neighborhood in which I live is shared with a family of Cooper Hawks. They hunt and nest in Oaks and Maple trees. Skilled hunters, they fly through the trees taking any small animal that lets its guard down. 

Cooper Hawk

Many a time I have a Forest Gump moment, while standing in the yard, I'll see a feather drifting in the still air.  Sure enough a Cooper Hawk will be perched in a tree above, plucking it's lunch. 

Cooper Hawk with lunch

This is a photo of a Red-Tailed Hawk, high in a dead Cottonwood tree, overlooking Ranger's Marsh.

Red-Tailed Hawk

How mild was the winter of 2011-12.  I left the collard greens and cabbage in the ground last fall. We would go out and pick a hand full of greens when needed. Well, they grew all winter, these photos were taken February 27, 2012. I'll let them go to seed and maybe they'll be our greens for Easter dinner. 

Collard Greens in February 

Well, the winter was mild enough for this Blue Bot Fly to pay us a visit in February.

And the Maple trees are flowering in February.

(Left Click any Photo See the Slide Show)