"Each day the sun shone, the birds lingered, though the trees were turning, purely out of habit, and their rose and yellow and rust looked strange and beautiful above the brilliant green grass."
― Elizabeth Enright
November is just about a week away, but temperatures Saturday and Sunday felt more like summer as they climbed into the mid to upper-70s. We've had warm trends in past Octobers, but one can't help feel a potent anthropogenic genesis at work here. So far for those of us in Wisconsin, climate change isn't something we experience as people do in other parts of the world. We'll return to more seasonable weather the coming week and come December I'll probably find myself complaining about the bitter cold. There are a multitude of aphorisms regarding weather in Wisconsin, but you can consider yourself spared.
With phenological authorities saying we're at fall color peak, Gibraltar Rock State Natural Area seemed like a natural and perfect destination to enjoy gorgeous weather. The natural area is part of a 5-mile trail section of the Ice Age National Scene Trail, which consists of over 1,000 miles of incomplete trails throughout Wisconsin. Though most people choose to begin their hike from the northern entrance, I prefer the less visited eastern trial head for its prairie section that directs to the bluff.
Depending on what might catch your eye on the way up, it's about a 30 to 45 minute hike to the spectacular scenic vistas atop of the bluff. There's a particular gnarly cedar that's probably one of the most photographed trees in the entire state. Though I've seen more beautiful pictures of it than mine, I venture closer to edge than I probably should in order to get a less common angle.
A little further down the trail for the best view ...
The trail that leads up to the top also offers stunning views, especially when traversing beneath the canopied amber glow of leaf-filtered light this time of year ...
We've already had lows dip into the 20s, which put insecting on the naturalist's shelf until spring ― or so I thought! I just had a feeling that the unseasonably warming would entice tiger beetles to re-emerge and a stop along the Wisconsin River near Sauk City proved me right.
Seasonly speaking, these Bronzed Tiger Beetles may be the latest I've ever observed. There was a single Punctured Tiger Beetle as well, but it evaded my approach. Oh, I got one crappy documentation shot that I'm not going to share. I also checked areas that render Big Sand and Festive, but none were found. It wasn't like there were a bunch of Bronzed ― perhaps a half-dozen individuals. They'll be good for a few days yet, but once temperatures dip again, they'll either have to hibernate or perish.
Also of note was this Ground Crab Spider which I think may be Xysticus ferox. There was also a single Shoreline Wolf Spider, but it was rather small and didn't get a good photograph of it.
While relaxing on the beach there were a multitude of birds flying overhead ― flocks of Lapland Longspurs, American Pipits, Red-winged Blackbirds, Eastern Bluebirds, and more. All were flying in a southerly direction on their way to their wintering haunts to escape the looming cold season. A few of the songbirds stopped in the shallows along the river for a quick sip of water before moving on. The above river photograph was so desolate looking with shades of brown, I desaturated it to see what it would look like in black-and-white.
My weekend birding outing was saved for Sunday at Holy Wisdom Monastery ― woods, savanna, and prairie and far less people-occupied than Pheasant Branch. There were dozens of recently arrived Dark-eyed Juncos and an abundance of White-throated Sparrows. In lower numbers were White-crowned, Song, Swamp, Chipping, Field, and a single Fox Sparrow. No Lincoln's Sparrows were detected. Other birds included both kinglet species, Hermit Thrush, and four kinds of warbler: Yellow-rumped, Tennessee, Orange-crowned, and Nashville. Though somewhat late, I got a great look at the TEWA and didn't mistake it for an OCWA. Eastern Bluebirds were dramatically perched in tangle along the eastern edge of the woods.
Capping off the weekend Nature outing was a stunningly intact Eastern Comma Butterfly (Polygonia comma) dorsal basking on spruce branches. It was likely on the wing because of the surprising warm weather. What becomes of all of these emerged and re-emerged insects? Perhaps death. Perhaps they provide meals for other hungry critters. Whatever their fate is, it was great to have one last go at insecting before winter arrives.
Birds Observed on October 23rd, 2022
A couple of locations near Middleton, WI
Canada Goose
Mallard
Bufflehead
Wild Turkey
Mourning Dove
Sandhill Crane
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Belted Kingfisher
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Eastern Phoebe
Blue Jay
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Winter Wren
Sedge Wren
European Starling
Eastern Bluebird
American Robin
Hermit Thrush
Cedar Waxwing
House Sparrow
House Finch
American Goldfinch
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-crowned Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
Orange-crowned Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
Northern Cardinal
All images © 2022 Mike McDowell