Nature & Wildlife Thread

[JBtheExplorer]

First snowy hike of the season.

Tundra Swans

 

[JBtheExplorer]

First hike of the year. 40°F today but really windy and feels much colder.

 

[BobDE]

I have been more sick than I have ever been for the last 2 weeks. But in that time I noticed this very determined eagle trying for 2 days to get what I could only guess was a fish frozen into the top of the ice. On the second day he disappeared and I am pretty sure that he was successful. I am glad that I was able to witness and capture some of his efforts!

 

[JBtheExplorer]

Found my old mask recently and decided to try it out on a recent hike. Between that and a pair of new handwarmers I recently got, it was a fairly comfortable hike in really cold weather.

 

[addy1]

Great eagle shots !

 

[JBtheExplorer]

I finally found a flock of overwintering robins! Most people think they all leave Wisconsin and fly south for the winter, but some do stick around, especially near food sources. I actually found this same group of robins last month, but they were more visible today so I grabbed some photos of them. These are the first overwintering robins I've ever found.

 

[JBtheExplorer]

Today was amazing! (Except for the -10°F temps and much colder wind chills)

There's been a relatively well-documented Snowy owl in Milwaukee County so I went to go find it. Luckily there were two cars parked in the area or I likely would have missed it. This is a first for me and a memorable one!

 

[JBtheExplorer]

One more photo from today.

 

[JBtheExplorer]

Short hike today. windchills are around 0°F. I was the only person on the trail today.

 

[JBtheExplorer]

Not a bad hike today.

Sensitive Fern

Looks like an animal was caught by a hawk or owl here. Little tracks lead up to a swoosh in the snow, and then no more tracks.

Also had some fun flyovers while on my hike.

Navy P-8 Poseidon

"Nevada One"

 

[JBtheExplorer]

The robins are still here.

 

[JBtheExplorer]

I heard red-winged blackbirds today! They're one of the earliest signs of spring.
The pussy willows are ready for spring too. It's so weird seeing all of these signs of spring before March.

And while listening to the blackbirds, I looked down at the pond I was standing by and realized there was a muskrat right in front of me. Most of the pond was frozen but the edges have started to thaw.

Oh, and Sandhill cranes are also back!

 

[JBtheExplorer]

There was an American kestrel at the local park today.

 

[j.w]

There was an American kestrel at the local park today.

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Looks tiny and sweet but prolly not to tiny creatures

 

[JBtheExplorer]

From today's hike.

American robins are starting to hunt on the ground again. The ground is still pretty hard though.

Geese are back at a local pond for the first time this year, but they can't quite swim around just yet.

And I found a turkey tail feather.