"But days even earlier than these in April have a charm, — even days that seem raw and rainy... There is a fascination in walking through these bare early woods, — there is such a pause of preparation, winter's work is so cleanly and thoroughly done. Everything is taken down and put away... All else is bare, but prophetic: buds everywhere, the whole splendor of the coming summer concentrated in those hard little knobs on every bough."
— Thomas Wentworth Higginson
Part I: The River
April has arrived, bringing its grand awakening as Nature's brushstrokes of migration, emergence, and growth transform the brown landscape into vibrant masterpieces.
Despite recovering from a stomach bug that made for a slow Saturday, Sue and I returned to the Sauk area for a Sunday Nature outing. Following recent rain and northern snowmelt, we found the river running higher than usual at the canoe launch. With cooler temperatures and the reduced shoreline, I didn't expect to see any tiger beetles, but they were already active upon arrival, darting across what remained of their hunting grounds. All were Bronzed (Cicindela repanda).
This brings the count to five tiger beetle species found so far this year. Will I manage to track down all 16 Wisconsin species in a single season? Probably not! But since 14 of those can be found between Sauk and Spring Green, the goal always seems reachable — especially since Sue is eyeing Cowpath and Long-lipped tiger beetles now. Those two species require trips up north, but her interest might be the extra push I need to make it happen again.
It's beetle portrait time ...
You can clearly see how the red and green microsculpture renders the bronzed coloration of this species' elytra ...
The elytra serve as a protective shield for the beetle's delicate hindwings and abdomen. When a tiger beetle prepares to fly, it raises these hardened forewings, which then allows the membranous flight wings underneath to unfold and generate lift. This dual-wing system is a defining characteristic of the order Coleoptera, which includes all beetles.
This next one shows the microsculpture even better ...
Usually there's a lot more exposed shoreline — note the plants in the water ...
On our way out, this section of trail had a few Oblique-lined Tiger Beetles, but I didn't stop to photograph them ...
Part II: More Spring Ephemerals
Leaving Sauk, we returned to Middleton to search for more spring ephemerals; first the Pheasant Branch creek corridor, then the prairie parcel. I know of a spot where I suspected Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) would be open, and they were ...
And then the hike up the drumlin to find Pasqueflowers (Anemone patens) ...
They're not yet at peak, but a few were open ...
Perched in an oak overlooking the prairie remnant and flowers, a solitary Field Sparrow held its tongue, seemingly more interested in us than in its own melody. While the beetles, birds, and wildflowers follow the Earth's ancient, rhythmic schedule, their brilliance remains a kind of surprise. At least, that's how I experience it when I see them for the first time every season. Nature's masterpieces are timed — we just have to be the ones who finally show up to watch them do their thing.
All images © 2026 Mike McDowell