"Yes, but it’s, you know — every year, you're all, 'March! This is going to be great! Start of spring!' But it's definitely not, right? Because there will be a weird, freak snowstorm, and it's like winter's started all over. Unexpected things happen in March."
― Kate Clayborn
With temperatures reaching the upper 50s on Sunday, conditions were suitable for tiger beetles to emerge from their winter burrows. Our destination: Sauk Prairie State Recreational Area, one of my top spots for insects. Beyond multiple tiger beetle species, the sandy habitat hosts Velvet Ants, robber flies, nifty jumping spiders, sand wasps, butterflies, and a host of other captivating critters.
Despite breezy conditions, a long berm shields the southern part of the sandlot. Would the sun warm the ground enough to draw the beetles out? I thought the odds even, but if they appeared, it would be my earliest-ever late winter tiger beetle emergence.
Sue and I carefully scoured the area for several minutes, and for a moment I thought it might still be too early, but then I spotted one warming itself in the sunlight.
They began emerging at 1:00 p.m. with an air temperature of 55 degrees. The Oblique-lined Tiger Beetle (Cicindela tranquebarica) is among
the first to emerge in southern Wisconsin. March 8th beats my previous record of March 14th set in 2024. In the past, before I
learned more about their ecology and phenology, I wouldn't expect to find any emerged tiger beetles until late April or early May.
The beetles were a bit wobbly-legged at first, but it didn't take long for them to begin making high-energy escape flights if I got too close too quickly. For me, sneaking up on tiger beetles is part of the fun. Once I'm in position to photograph them, often times I watch what they do from my camera's viewfinder while snapping photos here and there.
The process of collecting portraits ...
Finding Oblique-lined Tiger Beetles this early felt like uncovering a secret, a private audience with a season that hadn't officially begun for anyone else. It was more than just a sighting; it was a validation of the subtle shifts in temperature and light, a tangible reward for paying close attention to the land's quiet stirrings — knowing exactly when and where something is going to be given the right combination of sun, slope, and soil.
The definitive portrait ...
With time to kill before our tiger beetle search, we hiked along Otter Creek at Baxter's Hollow; going to Sauk Rec too early would have meant just walking around a cold sandlot, so why not take in some captivating views and sounds while letting the sun do its work?
Although the only birds detected were Black-capped Chickadees and a Pileated Woodpecker, this time of year is ideal for seeing Baxter's Hollow's scenic, rocky terrain before the foliage blocks the views, making it one of the most beautiful spots in the Baraboo Hills.
Round-lobed Hepatica, but no flowers yet!
And Skunk Cabbage ...
Some type of large-leaved moss ...
With every spring comes a slate of aspirations, yet the world outside erupts with a force that commandeers all attention. The tempo of the natural world accelerates, making it easy to become fixated on a single fascination, like tiger beetles. That is the quiet virtue of March — it offers a slower, more reflective cadence than the feverish rush of April and May. The next tiger beetle species may not hold the same thrill, but my satisfaction at finding early Oblique-lined was intense!
All images © 2026 Mike McDowell