"I was drinking in the surroundings: air so crisp you could snap it with your fingers and greens in every lush shade imaginable offset by autumnal flashes of red and yellow."
― Wendy Delsol
Happy Fall Equinox!
Here in southern Wisconsin we closed out summer on a rather wet note. After a rainy Saturday and a gloomy Sunday morning, the weather finally broke mid-morning. Since we picked up around six inches of rain, Sue and I went up to Sauk County to check the Wisconsin River water levels.
She texted:
"I wonder how high the river got."
I responded:
"Well, let's go look!"
Remember this? The rising water completely reclaimed the summer sandbar system, which meant less tiger beetle habitat. Also, with cooler temperatures and wet sand, the question in my mind was whether any tiger beetles would be out on the prowl. Expectations were exceedingly low for insects of any kind, but it's always nice to get outdoors and explore.
And ...
Yes! But just one — a single Bronzed Tiger Beetle (Cicindela repanda).
Is this my final tiger beetle of 2026? Only time will tell. While I've spotted C. repanda as late as early November, those late-season finds are rare—my season usually wraps up in October. From December through March, my patience is put to the test. Every week or two, my mind wanders back to them in my sleep. Having spent so many hours in the field, I often dream of tiger beetle species that don't exist. It's remarkable how vividly my brain can construct a fictitious beetle that feels completely real.
From the river, we decided check the tiger beetle spot at Sauk Prairie State Rec.Area. Going just a short distance north rendered completely different weather — going from overcast to partly to mostly cloudy. It's been a couple of months since our last visit. Covering the slope, I think I saw a Festive, but didn't get a good enough look at it to confirm the ID. The only other tiger beetle I would have thought possible would be Oblique-lined, but none were found.
But I did find female and male Variegated Meadowhawks (Sympetrum corruptum) — they're amazing looking, aren't they?
Unlike most dragonflies that spend their entire lives near a single pond, Variegated Meadowhawks are a remarkable long-distance migrant that relies on a multi-generational cycle to cover thousands of miles across North America. In spring, adults stream northward and inland from warmer overwintering grounds in the southern United States and Mexico, rapidly breeding in ephemeral, sun-warmed waters. As autumn approaches, the summer's offspring emerge and ride cold fronts south, using high-altitude winds to return to frost-free regions. Driven by rapid larval development and an incredible capacity for wandering, they often turn up far beyond their expected range, using seasonal winds to colonize temporary habitats across the continent.
A multitude of pollinators were on goldenrod, and a Green Stink Bug was left undisturbed.
It's Aster Season!
Check this out ...
See those tiny flies? I nearly missed them.
Zooming in ...
I'm pretty sure it's Tmemophlebia coquilletti, but I'm not 100%. I've ever seen one before, so it'll be an opportunity for research and education. In brief, they're a small North American bee fly (Bombyliidae) tightly tied to open, sandy habitats like inland and coastal dunes, where adults serve as active pollinators feeding on floral nectar
From the Sauk Prairie Recreation Area, we headed to Devil's Lake State Park for a hike on the Grottos Trail along the base of the East Bluff. Late in the season, the summer crowds had thinned out, making it easily one of the best times of year to visit. The park saw two tragic fatalities earlier this summer — a climbing instructor fell during a class, and a young man died after jumping between rock formations at Devil's Doorway. While fatal falls draw public attention each year, many more serious injuries on the bluffs quietly go unreported.
On Grottos ...
Signs of fall ...
There were a variety of small mushrooms to photograph ...
Oddly, avian activity was nearly non-existent, save for a single calling Pileated Woodpecker. With no birds on the lake and no sparrows, warblers, or passerines in sight, the woods were remarkably quiet, making for a peaceful and regenerating hike.
What will the new season bring? I've read tantalizing prognostications of gorgeous fall colors in southcentral Wisconsin.
All images © 2026 Mike McDowell