Them!

"And then he realized why he was thinking like this. It was because he wanted there to be conspirators. It was much better to imagine men in some smoky room somewhere, made mad and cynical by privilege and power, plotting over the brandy. You had to cling to this sort of image, because if you didn't then you might have to face the fact that bad things happened because ordinary people, the kind who brushed the dog and told their children bedtime stories, were capable of then going out and doing horrible things to other ordinary people. It was so much easier to blame it on Them. It was bleakly depressing to think that They were Us. If it was Them, then nothing was anyone's fault. If it was Us, what did that make Me? After all, I'm one of Us. I must be. I've certainly never thought of myself as one of Them. No-one ever thinks of themselves as one of Them. We're always one of Us. It's Them that do the bad things."

— Terry Pratchett

The Grady Tract!

"Observe always that everything is the result of change, and get used to thinking that there is nothing Nature loves so well as to change existing forms and make new ones like them."

― Marcus Aurelius

Holy smokes, it's June already.

My go-to spot for observing and photographing Six-spotted Tiger Beetles (Cicindela sexguttata) at Pope Farm Conservancy has been a disappointment so far this spring. Normally, the long rock wall that cuts across the property is a reliable place to find them in May—perfect for capturing clean, low-angle portraits. You can sit right up against the rocks and boulders, often with beetles darting around just inches away. But this season, the wall has been quiet—there haven't been any. Having said that, I have been finding them in good numbers at other locations. What's going on?

I think I might have an idea ...

Here are high and low temps on days I did find them on the rock wall since 2020:

• May 30, 2020: High 75°F, Low 52°F
• May 30, 2021: High 86°F, Low 70°F
• May 11, 2022: High 86°F, Low 70°F
• May 16, 2023: High 79°F, Low 47°F
• May 21, 2024: High 85°F, Low 60°F

It hasn't been this warm so far this spring. Every visit Pope Farm this spring, the highs have only reached the 60s. The rock wall sits on a hill, exposed to open sky and wind, with just a few scattered trees nearby. In contrast, the other places are wooded trails, partially shaded by a canopy and buffered by understory growth. These forested paths likely offer a more stable microclimate: moderating temperature swings, retaining moisture, and shielding against wind. That creates a more favorable environment for beetle activity early in the season. Meanwhile, the sun-exposed rock wall may heat up quickly on a clear day, but its openness makes it more vulnerable to cold snaps and wind chill—possibly stunting or delaying beetle emergence.

But there are challenges with the other locations:

• Indian Lake Park: The gravel there is rather knee damaging.
• Great Sauk State Trail: Paved—doesn't look natural for portraits.
• Deer Creek: Destroyed (flood mitigation project).

But then I remembered ... the Grady Tract! It's really perfect.

I recall finding Six-spotted on the Grady Tract's trails—part of the UW Arboretum—a few decades ago. It just happened to be Ken Wood's favorite location for them (d. 2013). Incidentally, Ken was a prominent figure in the Madison naturalist community. He served as a guide and educator at the UW Arboretum for over 30 years, where he taught classes, organized conferences, and authored publications on various plant collections. His deep knowledge of prairie plants and birds made him a respected leader on field trips, particularly those organized by the Madison Audubon Society, where he also served as board president.  

Along the trail there were Lupines ...

A closeup ...

And also The Enemy ...

The "Sixers" (as Lori and I call them) were abundant!

As you look at these portraits, observe the variance in maculations or spots.

I could photograph them all day.

These little mysteries of Nature are interesting to me, but perhaps the Grady Tract will become my new favorite location for this species. Chances are, though, I'll continue to check the rock wall as summer's temperatures warm it up.

All images © 2025 Mike McDowell

Smoke!

"But clouds bellied out in the sultry heat, the sky cracked open with a crimson gash, spewed flame-and the ancient forest began to smoke. By morning there was a mass of booming, fiery tongues, a hissing, crashing, howling all around, half the sky black with smoke, and the bloodied sun just barely visible."

 ― Yevgeny Zamyatin

Isn't that awful? Under all that smoke are Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Ohio, and more. We'd have clear skies right now if it weren't for the haze, so I'm not sure if I feel like doing any nature photography today. Maybe I'll check out a few nearby spots for insects. I'm a determinist, so I'll just wait and see what I do. 

In this map below, red indicates an 'out of control' wildfire:

Nasty! Canadian forests are extremely dry, and fires are starting from both lightning strikes and human activity like campfires or cigarettes. Some are even "zombie fires"—blazes that smolder underground all winter, through snow and rain, and reignite in the spring. These overwintering fires are becoming more common in northern areas as the climate warms.

The boreal forest is one of the most important breeding grounds for migratory birds in North America, but increasingly massive, intense wildfires are threatening that role. Birds have long adapted to natural fire cycles—many even benefit from them—but today's fires are burning hotter, larger, and more frequently than ever before. That disrupts the patchwork of habitats birds rely on, from old-growth forests to fresh shrublands. When fires scorch everything in their path, there’s no refuge left. Even species adapted to fire struggle, especially during nesting season, when birds have to choose between staying with their young in dangerous conditions or abandoning the nest entirely. With these extreme fire events becoming the norm, the long-term outlook for many of these birds is increasingly grim.

Third Time!

"Joy in the universe, and keen curiosity about it all—that has been my religion."

— John Burroughs 

On Saturday, I took a bike ride through the Pheasant Branch Creek Corridor for a birding-by-ear outing. I ended up detecting 13 warbler species — a bit of a surprise for late May. But go back just two decades, and it wasn't unusual to tally over 20 around this same time. Dozens of other non-parulid species were singing as well, filling the corridor with the familiar spring chorus.

For Sunday, I figured it was time to switch gears and check for Northern Barrens Tiger Beetles (Cicindela patruela) at the West Unit of Spring Green Preserve. If found, this would be the third time at this particular location. A bonus was a Blue Grosbeak that sang on and off for a few hours. Sue and I arrived a little early for peak tiger beetle activity, so we tracked down the grosbeak first and managed a brief glimpse of it singing from a treetop.

Scouring the woodland trails, I came across a Six-spotted Tiger Beetle (Cicindela sexguttata). As I crouched down to begin my approach for a photo, a Northern Barrens Tiger Beetle flew in and landed just inches away — an unexpected side-by-side encounter.

Superficially similar in appearance to C. sexgutta from a distance, upon close inspection the larger maculations become apparent. C. patruela typically has a darker, more metallic forest green or bronze-green coloration, often with a slight bluish or purplish iridescence depending on the angle of light. It's a deeper and more subdued green compared to the more common Six-spotted.

Judging by maculations, there were at least two individuals, maybe three. 

Once it warmed up, this Northern Barrens headed for some shade to cool down. Like all tiger beetles, it's exothermic — relying on external sources of heat to regulate its body temperature. When the sun gets too intense, they often retreat to shaded spots or burrow into the sand to avoid overheating.

This is the type of oak (or pine) barrens habitat you want in order to find this species in Wisconsin.

At the same patch, here are two different Six-spotteds: one with the full set of six spots, and the other with just four. There's quite a bit of variation in this species — some individuals even lack spots altogether.

Nearby wildflowers included Fringed Puccon ...

And Frostflower ...

A final stop before heading home was the sandbars at the Arena Boat Landing on the Wisconsin River. With mostly sunny conditions, I figured there had to be tiger beetles out — and I was right. Whether it was still too early for Hairy-necked Tiger Beetles (Cicindela hirticollis) was a question I hoped to answer soon.

Prospects seemed good, and I wasn't disappointed — dozens upon dozens were scurrying and flying across the nearest sandbar just off the trail from the parking lot. There were a few Bronzed Tiger Beetles (Cicindela repanda) among them.

Perhaps one of the most skittish, this tiger beetle species is super challenging to get this close to.

After a couple of hours in the sun with the tiger beetles, I figured it was time to call it. Not a bad weekend: 13 warbler species on Saturday, and 5 tiger beetle species (Festive and Big Sand, too) on Sunday — including the always satisfying Northern Barrens and Hairy-necked. Spring doesn't last long, but when it's good, it's really good.

All images © 2025 Mike McDowell

Has something happened? No.

"I'm not happy with what Putin's doing. He's killing a lot of people, and I don't know what the hell happened to Putin. I've known him a long time, always gotten along with him, but he's sending rockets into cities and killing people, and I don't like it at all. I've always had a very good relationship with Vladimir Putin of Russia, but something has happened to him."

— Donald J. Trump

Sorry, but I couldn't resist commenting on this.

It's very strange to hear President Trump express surprise that Vladimir Putin is a killer, as if this is some recent revelation. For those who've paid attention over the years — to the annexation of Crimea, the flattening of Grozny, the assassinations of political opponents and journalists, or the full-scale invasion of Ukraine — this isn't a case of new information.

Putin's background in the KGB, his crackdown on dissent, and his disdain for democratic norms have been clear since the beginning. Whether it was the suspiciously timed Moscow apartment bombings in 1999 that helped launch the Second Chechen War, or the murder of Alexander Litvinenko with radioactive polonium in London, the signs have always been there.

Trump, of course, has long had a habit of admiring authoritarian leaders while criticizing America's allies. He called Putin "a genius" and was "savvy" when the invasion of Ukraine began — not exactly the language of someone who sees a tyrant for what he is. So when he now claims Putin "changed," it's hard to see it as anything but theater.

The truth is, Putin hasn't changed. He's been doing the same thing for decades. The only thing that's changed is the political moment — and maybe Trump's calculation of how to talk about it. Claiming ignorance now doesn't erase the years of fawning praise or the damage done by undermining NATO and cozying up to strongmen.

This isn't about a sudden moral awakening. It's about pretending not to have seen what was always obvious — and hoping nobody else remembers. One is reminded of the feigned innocence of Neville Chamberlain, marveling at Hitler's betrayal as though Mein Kampf hadn't been in circulation for over a decade. 

'65!

"Once I got my hands on a Stratocaster, I never wanted to let go. It was like that guitar could talk."

— Buddy Guy

Well, I did it again. But this time I went with a trade instead of an outright purchase. There are a few guitars in my collection that might be on the chopping block, but it's not the right time to sell them. Anyway, my 2021 Ultra HSS wasn't quite as good as my newer Ultra II HSS, so I used that guitar to acquire Fender's recently released American Vintage II 1965 Stratocaster, which is available in Sonic Blue, Shoreline Gold, and Candy Apple Red.

The 1965 Fender Stratocaster holds a significant place in guitar history as a transitional model that bridged the gap between the original Leo Fender era and the corporate ownership under CBS. Though many instruments made in early 1965 were assembled from parts produced before the sale, subtle but meaningful changes began to emerge as CBS implemented mass-production techniques. These included the switch from the "spaghetti" Fender logo to the bolder "transition" logo on the headstock:

Collectors and players alike often view 1965 Strats as the last of the "pre-CBS" quality, especially those manufactured in the first few months of the year. Naturally, mine is a 2025 reissue. However, there's a mint condition original '65 Candy Apple Red for sale on Reverb.com for $55,552.39. That's just a tad out of my price range!

All images © 2025 Mike McDowell

Big Sand!

"At the beach—time you enjoyed wasting, is not wasted." 

— T. S. Eliot

Sunday started off a bit gloomy with overcast skies and cool temperatures, but by afternoon the weather turned fantastic. Instead of birding, I decided to take advantage of the warmth and search for tiger beetles at the Sauk City Canoe Launch along the Wisconsin River. With the canopy already filled in, tracking down birds by calls and songs has become more challenging to at least see them—another good reason to switch gears and focus on my favorite insects once again.

Though I visit the canoe launch throughout the year, my favorite time to be here is when the place greens up and insect life returns. There's something about the mix of fresh foliage that makes the whole area come alive. 

Here's the best place to find the beetles ...

And just like that, Big Sand Tiger Beetle!

I just love this species. On my last visit, I only spotted two or three prowling around in the sand. But this time, there were easily twenty or more—active, fast, and everywhere I looked.

Collecting the portraiture ...

Spending a few hours with Big Sand Tiger Beetles is always a thrill. They're fast, alert, and constantly on the move—miniature predators patrolling their sandy turf. Watching them up close, you start to appreciate not just their speed and striking patterns, but also how well they've adapted to their environment. Sometimes, they vanish into patches of dead sticks and grass, becoming nearly invisible. One second they're in plain sight, the next they've melted into the background.

On site, my first Spiderwort of the season ...

And Toadflax ...

A true gem of the season was stumbling upon Showy Orchis (Galearis spectabilis) growing near one of my regular spots for finding Six-spotted Tiger Beetles. It's always a thrill when two favorites—one floral, one ferocious—share the same patch of woodland.

There was just one, but it took a backseat to the orchids!

All images © 2025 Mike McDowell