More aspen girdling this weekend – this time I worked on the top of Hidden Oaks across from and next to the meadow. At first I started across the path from the meadow, but I startled a grouse from its nest, so I decided to move away until the babies hatch.

Grouse nest

The area between the meadow and the savanna has lots of smaller aspens that are easier to girdle – I did about 100 in a couple of hours. I found a tree frog on a branch. Whenever I tried to get close enough to take a picture, it would slide around to the other side of the branch. So I sneaked up behind a tree, poked the camera out from behind the trunk, and snapped the picture before it could move.

Gray Tree Frog

I got tired of working so hard, so I spent one whole day walking and looking and taking pictures – it was great fun!

I found Violet Wood Sorrel growing in several new places – in the Knife Edge Prairie, and among the aspens next to Hidden Oaks Meadow.

The Yellow Stargrass on the hill around Stargrass Opening was all in bloom – in the opening itself and in the woods all around it.

Around the side of the stargrass hill is a north-facing slope that has some big woods species. I found Starflower (Trientalis borealis) in bloom.

Unfortunately, the dandelions were all going to seed, so the fields that were all yellow a few weeks ago, were all white with seeds.

The Narrows with dandelions

Jacob’s Ladder is in bloom in the woods – it’s difficult to get a picture of it that shows its beautiful blue color. Here’s one that’s close.

I finally got a photo of one of the tiger beetles that live in the sand on the point of the Knife Edge. Mike Reese identified it as Cicindela scutellaris lecontei. It’s a species that lives throughout Wisconsin in sandy places with sparse vegetation.

I found two Crane Flies Mating.

I almost stepped on an Eastern Towhee nest, under a raspberry cane, in the opening on top of Indian Grass Prairie. It’s very well hidden.

Here’s the nest

And this is what it looks like from above

When I pulled the raspberry cane back, it was completely invisible.

The prairie that I planted next to the house is looking even better this year. Besides the Lupine and Prairie Phlox, I found Blue-eyed Grass and Downy Paintbrush.

I walked down to the wetland one evening and listened to the Woodcocks and the frogs. It was still fairly light, and the sky was completely clear, so I could actually see a Woodcock do his buzzing call. I watched him take off on his flight, and then when he landed, there was a female waiting for him. She ran in front, and he followed her with his wings raised, making little low noises. As it got darker I sat and watched more woodcocks circling above the wetland, silhouetted against the sky.