Ultra II!

"Every weakness contains within itself a strength."

― Shusaku Endo

In guitar gear news, Fender recently released their new Ultra II lineup of electric guitars and basses. I hate it when this happens. GAS (guitar acquisition syndrome) is very real and challenging to defeat, and perhaps I just can't do it.

Just look at this one ...

This is the Ultra II HSS Sinister Red Stratocaster. Its Haymaker™ Humbucker can be split with the S1 switch giving it a wicked single-coil sound―I've watched the YouTube reviews. Fender states, "With new Ultra II Noiseless Hot Strat pickups for articulate, hot-rodded Fender tones and a Haymaker™ Humbucker that unleashes a raw, expressive snarl, the Ultra II HSS Strat is about as versatile as you can get."

Other cool features include:

• Ultra rolled edges
• Luminlay side dots
• Quartersawn compound neck
• Hot-Strat Ultra II Noiseless pickups
• Anodized pickguards

Argh! I want one. To be sure, I do not need another guitar and I may sell a few of mine to justify getting an Ultra II. Obsessively, I already have three Ultra I Stratocasters, but one of them I heavily modded with Seymour Duncan pickups and new hardware. I have the Cobra Blue SSS and the Arctic Pearl HSS. Perhaps one of those will end up on the chopping block.

All images from Fender MIC 2024

You're a Liberal!

In a moment I'm going to share a quote with you, but one word in it needs its requisite contextual definition, as there's a good chance when people read it they might misunderstand its intent, message, and meaning. The word is 'liberal', which is often used today by certain media and politicians as a pejorative. 

Let's dive in, shall we?

U.S. Political Liberalism, Classical Liberalism, and Philosophical Liberalism all share a focus on individual rights and freedom, but they diverge significantly in their views on government's role and how freedom should be supported. U.S. Classical Liberalism, rooted in Enlightenment thinking, emphasizes minimal government, free markets, and individual responsibility. Its primary goal is to protect personal and economic freedom, favoring limited interference in personal lives and a strong belief in self-reliance and private property. This framework shaped much of early American thought, influencing foundational principles like the Constitution.

Modern U.S. Political Liberalism, on the other hand, evolved in response to changing social needs, particularly in the 20th century. It embraces a more active government role in addressing social inequities and creating opportunities for all, often through regulations, social programs, and progressive taxation. Where Classical Liberalism focuses on the free market and limited intervention, Political Liberalism emphasizes a balance between individual rights and social responsibility, advocating policies that support equality and protections for disadvantaged groups. For Political Liberals, government is a necessary tool to foster justice and ensure that everyone can participate in society on a more equal footing.

Meanwhile, Philosophical Liberalism is an overarching theory that explores the ethical and abstract foundations of freedom, justice, and individual rights, not tied to specific policies. Philosophical Liberalism considers issues like autonomy, justice, and the ethical limits of freedom but doesn’t prescribe a concrete governmental role. This tradition provides the underlying values that both Classical and Political Liberalism draw on but stays focused on broad ideals rather than specific applications. Together, these forms of liberalism illustrate the evolution of thought about freedom and fairness, from theoretical concepts to practical applications in the political sphere.

And now the quote ...

"Hitler’s democratic triumph exposed the true nature of democracy. Democracy has few values of its own: it is as good or as bad, as the principles of the people who operate it. In the hands of liberal and tolerant people, it will produce a liberal and tolerant government; in the hands of cannibals, a government of cannibals. In Germany in 1933-4 it produced a Nazi government because the prevailing culture of Germany’s voters did not give priority to the exclusion of gangsters."

― Norman Davies, Historian (1996)

In this quote, Norman Davies uses "liberal" to refer to a set of principles emphasizing tolerance, openness, and respect for individual freedoms. He’s not necessarily referencing "liberal" in the modern, left-leaning U.S. political sense but rather in the broader, classical and philosophical sense associated with democratic values like freedom of speech, pluralism, and the protection of individual rights.

When Davies speaks of "liberal and tolerant people," he means those who value these foundational democratic principles, which ideally foster a society where diverse views coexist peacefully, and government operates with fairness and restraint. In contrast, the "cannibals" he mentions represent those with values fundamentally opposed to tolerance and individual freedom—people whose beliefs could erode or exploit democratic systems for harmful ends, as occurred in Nazi Germany.

So, Davies’ use of "liberal" here underscores the idea that democracy's effectiveness depends on a commitment to values that protect the rights and dignity of all individuals. It aligns more closely with Philosophical Liberalism. Without such a foundation, democracy itself is susceptible to being overtaken by destructive ideologies.

Devil's Lake State Park!

"I love to walk in the woods. But what I love even more is when the woods walk within me."

― Craig D. Lounsbrough

Few things compare to a beautiful fall hike at Devil's Lake State Park. The weekend crowd was out in force, but quieter trails offered peaceful spots to take in the park's stunning scenery. Now, October draws to a close, and we’re heading into the long stretch of winter until March. While the current warmth feels almost out of season, the chill will soon set in, and the last of the insects will fade away

Until November ...

All images © 2024 Mike McDowell

Wolf Spiders!

"Spiders are not only essential to the balance of nature but are also fascinating creatures that inspire awe and curiosity."

— David Attenborough

For lack of rain, the Wisconsin River near Sauk City is rather low once again, offering opportunities for exploration and exposing more habitat for the creatures that thrive along its banks. When the water level drops, the shoreline becomes easier to navigate, allowing for extended treks and a closer look at the fascinating world of creepy-crawlies that emerge. Although autumn is well underway, we're still not at peak fall colors. Most of the trees along the river are holding onto their green leaves with some showing hints of yellow.

During this outing, there were several Arctosa littoralis—Shoreline (or Beach) wolf spiders—scurrying across the exposed terrain. These spiders are perfectly adapted to life along the riverbanks, their cryptic coloration helping them blend into the surroundings as they hunt and move across the sandy habitat. 

They're known to burrow under sand or other beach debris, which helps them stay hidden from predators (mainly wasps) and better positioned to ambush prey. Typically nocturnal predators, they emerge at night to hunt for insects. During the day, they remain concealed under sand to avoid detection​, but when disturbed, they'll make a run for it to avoid getting crushed. 

Their hiding behavior is facilitated by their ability to blend into the sandy habitat thanks to their coloration, which acts as some of the best camouflage rendered by natural selection. Unlike spiders that rely on webs, wolf spiders like Arctosa littoralis are agile hunters, and their excellent eyesight helps them spot prey even in low-light conditions. They react quickly when they feel threatened. When sufficiently bothered, they can literally jump away, with larger individuals capable of leaping about a foot at a time, doing this repeatedly until they are out of danger. It's kind of adorable, actually.

How about some macro close-ups?

Some individuals exhibit drab patterns and colors, blending seamlessly into their sandy surroundings, while others display more vibrant hues with warmer tones. These striking variations not only showcase their beauty but also serve as a fascinating reminder of their adaptability to different micro habitats.

I would like to get a better photo of their fangs, but I don't wish to handle them. As much as I admire them, they are a little creepy—it's part of their attraction, though.

Appreciate this warmer-toned one ...

Their amazing eyes ...

Such astonishing camouflage!

The trees along the shore were bustling with a gazillion Yellow-rumped Warblers. This time of year, they don’t sing; instead, their cheerful chip notes sound like a persistent 'check' as they flit from branch to branch, searching for insects and berries. While their vibrant yellow butt-patch adds a splash of color to the scene, these warblers are so common that most birders wouldn’t give them a second glance. However, their abundance is a testament to their adaptive success, thriving in a variety of habitats and making them a familiar autumn sight. It really is a good bird.

I brought my digi-rig with me and spent some time photographing the fall-plumaged YRWAs.

Farewell for now, but they’ll return in the spring, usually in late March for those of us in southern Wisconsin. Their arrival signals the promise of May's glorious neotropical songbird migration, which, unfortunately, seems to feature fewer members with each passing decade of my birding experience. At least this species remains abundant, and they could, down the road, serve as genetic stock for evolution to potentially create new varieties of wood warblers, perhaps thousands of years from now. When observing the current Parulidae family, we see members that are strikingly similar due to recent speciation, alongside others that are quite disparate, having speciated much longer ago. This suggests that hundreds of warbler species likely went extinct long before there were humans in North America to witness them.

Lastly, there were still some tiger beetles, but only Bronzed now. Recall last year I found them up to the first week of November, which was the first time I had ever observed them so late in the season. We've had a few nights of freezing temperatures, but we're heading into a warming trend for a week or so. It'll be interesting to see if they re-emerge. 

Perhaps farewell to the tiger beetles, as well!

October highlights vanishing seasonal life, through migration, hibernation, decay, and death. Each species plays an important role in our local ecosystem, reminding us of the diversity of life that thrives around us during the warm months. As we observe their beauty, behaviors, and interactions, let’s continue to appreciate and do our best to protect these remarkable creatures and their habitats for the future—and you can't do that by rolling back hundreds of environmental programs and regulations. 

All images © 2024 Mike McDowell

Sparrows!

"It was a beautiful bright autumn day, with air like cider and a sky so blue you could drown in it."

—Diana Gabaldon

Isn't it beautiful? And who wouldn't want to explore it? Clouds and rain would move in later on, but I had the entire morning to search for migratory sparrows at Pheasant Branch Prairie, where the gentle rustle of grasses and the soft calls of birds created a tranquil backdrop. This may turn out to be my only sparrowing adventure this fall, as busy weekends loom ahead. The 58-year-old version of me doesn't have quite the same energy as the one who launched this blog back in 2005. Over the years, I’ve gradually reduced my monthly posts and likely will continue this trend. With my blog's 20th anniversary approaching, I face the decision of whether to keep publishing content here. Perhaps I’ll shift to a single comprehensive post each month, allowing me to delve deeper into the themes I love while celebrating the beauty of the natural world.

Here are the sparrow species I observed on Saturday:

Spizella passerina

Spizella pusilla

Passerella iliaca

Junco hyemalis

Zonotrichia leucophrys

Zonotrichia albicollis

Passerculus sandwichensis

Melospiza melodia

Melospiza lincolnii

Melospiza georgiana 

Pipilo erythrophthalmus

Ha! Those blasted Latin names again, right? When considering common names of these sparrow species, there's only one with an eponym—Lincoln's. It was named after Thomas Lincoln, a young friend of the American ornithologist John James Audubon. In 1833, during an expedition in Labrador, Lincoln shot the first specimen of this species (shame!), which was then unknown to science. As a tribute to his contribution, Audubon named the bird in his honor, originally Lincoln Finch Fringilla Lincolnii.

Curiously, Audubon claimed he discovered the species in his 1834 publication, but this narrative is contradicted by his wife Lucy's diary entries, which provide a different perspective. Further complicating the matter, a published transcript by Audubon’s granddaughter, Maria, aligns closely with his narrative, suggesting she may have altered the record. Additionally, the recently rediscovered unpublished diary of Thomas Lincoln supports Lucy's version. This situation raises important questions about the reliability of primary sources in Audubon scholarship, perhaps emphasizing the need for a review of his contributions to ornithology. 

 

Or should we just erase Audubon altogether?

In one case, and to much woke criticism, the National Audubon Society decided to keep its name, despite controversy surrounding its namesake, who was a slave owner and held racist views. After a year-long deliberation, the board concluded in March 2023 that the organization's work and legacy had come to transcend Audubon’s name, focusing on their broader conservation efforts. 

History will preserve the connection to the bird because the binomial scientific name M. lincolnii will not be changed. Naturally, as I've mentioned in past posts, I'll probably not adopt whatever descriptive name the American Ornithological Society comes up with (nor will I purchase any new field guides). Therefore, if you happen to be birding with me sometime in the future and I call out "Lincoln's!" or "M. Lincolnii" I'm still technically correct and you should know which species I'm talking about.

In a sense, it feels like a subtle form of racism to claim that common names honoring offensive figures are problematic, yet simultaneously assume that people won't notice the superficial nature of simply keeping the scientific names untouched. This suggests an underestimation of people's ability to recognize such token gestures for what they are. I still contend if the US birding community is not welcoming to minorities, it’s the birders that are a problem, not the names of birds. Does anyone really believe that white people changing the names of animals, parks, lakes, schools, buildings, highways, etc., will reduce inequality? Some say it's a start, but I suspect it'll have nil effect. 

Ultimately, while changing names might signal a willingness to engage with these issues, it is the actions and attitudes of individuals within the community that will determine whether true inclusivity is achieved. No matter what we call things, the history is set in stone.

Anyway, here are the magnificent birds I photographed ...

Ye dapper Lincoln's.

White-throats ...

As per usual, most of the sparrows were clustered on the northeast slope of the drumlin.

Adult and immature White-crowned Sparrows ...

A Field Sparrow above, and Fox Sparrow below ...

Dang obstructions!

With what little sunlight remained, I spent some time taking macro photographs of vegetation; some still living, some dead, and others carrying the promise of a new season. 

Ya gotta love asters.

It's already the middle of October. As we journey through life, the sensation of time speeding up can be quite striking, especially when we immerse ourselves in Nature. In our youth, the changing seasons brim with new experiences—watching the leaves burst into color in the fall or feeling the first warm breezes of spring often feels like an eternity. However, as we age, those vivid moments can blur into a continuous cycle, making the months seem to fly by. This phenomenon, rooted in psychological and biological changes, suggests that our perception of time is influenced by how many novel experiences we encounter. As we age, routine often takes precedence, diminishing the richness of our memories and giving the impression that time is passing more swiftly. I think that engaging with the natural world helps slow down this perception, allowing us to savor each moment, by cultivating mindfulness in Nature, we can reclaim a sense of time that feels both abundant and meaningful.

All images © 2024 Mike McDowell