"There's always another storm. It's the way the world works. Snowstorms, rainstorms, windstorms, sandstorms, and firestorms. Some are fierce and others are small. You have to deal with each one separately, but you need to keep an eye on whats brewing for tomorrow."
― Maria Snyder
Part I: Migration Update
This past weekend's birding added two new wood warblers to my year list: Northern Waterthrush and Pine Warbler. The recent wave of migration also brought first-of-season sightings of Henslow's Sparrow, Upland Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Dunlin, and Broad-winged Hawk.
NEXRAD showed solid migration during the night on the 17th ...
But the next night, a massive cold front came in and kept migrating birds to the south and east ...
Again, the overlapping wind map ...
Part II: Storms
On Friday, this particular system rendered severe thunderstorms that spawned dozens of tornadoes and large hail ...
This is some of the largest hail I've ever seen. Although we have underground parking where I live, vehicles left in the outdoor lots were peppered with dents. Strong winds downed a few trees in my neighborhood. Ringle (Marathon County) was hit the hardest with an EF3 tornado, destroying or damaging several homes. Fortunately, nobody was severely injured or killed.
Part III: Sauk County Bound
The Wisconsin River was already running high, but the storms pushed it into dramatic flooding. These photos were taken at the Sauk City Canoe Launch—one of my favorite tiger beetle haunts. It remains to be seen whether any of the beetles will endure the flooding or return to the site once the waters recede.
Next up, Devil's Lake State Park ...
Our hike along Grottos Trail yielded little bird activity—just a Winter Wren and several woodpecker species—though the trail never fails to deliver its breathtaking view of the East Bluff. Despite the natural beauty, this particular path always stirs darker memories: I can't help but recall the tragic murder of John Craig Schmutzer, who was stabbed to death here on October 14th, 2020. The case remains unsolved. Devil's Lake has a body count, but most are from climbing accidents and drownings.
Sue and I had never been to the park's Nature Center. Situated on the North Shore, functioning as the primary hub for the park's exhibits, naturalist programs, and visitor resources. It features animal and geology displays, hands-on natural history specimens, and historic photographs. I couldn't help notice an error on this Black-throated Green Warbler display, but didn't have the heart to tell them.
There were Dutchman's Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria) in bloom near the park's main entrance ...
It's a fascinating wildflower native to eastern North America, distinguished by its unique shape that resembles upside-down pantaloons, which have evolved for specialized pollination by bumblebees capable of forcing them open. As a spring ephemeral, it employs a clever phenological strategy, completing its entire above-ground life cycle quickly before the forest canopy leafs out and blocks sunlight, relying on a symbiotic relationship with mycorrhizal fungi to efficiently absorb nutrients during this brief period.
All parts of the plant contain toxic psychoactive compounds, including apomorphine, protoberberine, and protopine. While cattle typically avoid it, ingestion can lead to a neurological condition known as "cerebral cortical necrosis" or "craze seizures," earning the plant the rancher's nickname 'Staggerweed.' This toxic nature stood in stark contrast to the delicate image held by some of its admirers; allegedly, Victorian wildflower enthusiasts were not amused by the common name "breeches," particularly because they were aware that the singular form "breech" referred to the buttocks.
We concluded our weekend adventure by checking for Birdsfoot Violets (Viola pedata) at Spring Green Preserve, where it proved abundant.
This wildflower is host to the eggs and caterpillars of the Regal Fritillary (Speyeria idalia), which is an endangered butterfly in Wisconsin.
The cooler temperatures had me thinking the sandy trail would be devoid of tiger beetles, but we spotted one lone Festive Tiger Beetle soaking up the sun.
Just two Lark Sparrows were found, but a lot more are on the way.
In fact, a lot more of everything is on the way!
All images © 2026 Mike McDowell