A pair of sandhill cranes (the other adult is just out of frame) is walking their young through the countryside in early May. The brown fuzzy chicks stick close to their parents. Winnebago, Co. WI #wisconsinbirds #winature #birds

Lots of dragonflies out today! Here are some views of a Four-spotted Skimmer (Libellula quadrimaculata) at Uihlein Waterfowl Production Area in Winnebago Co., WI. #dragonflies #widragonflies #nature

Photographing small birds takes patience and skill. I am trying to learn both. In addition to those learned skills, it takes a bit of luck. This Ruby-Crowned Kinglet is a tiny cartoon-like ball of feathers. It paused briefly, giving enough time to capture a few underexposed images. This photo is partly taken through leaves, giving the image an unintended dreamy quality that I like. Nikon Z50ii 50-250 #birds #naturephotography #wildlife

The Black-Necked Stilt is aptly named for its looks and not some long-dead naturalist. While the old naturalists should be remembered, the bird should be remembered for itself. The bird's stilt-like legs prop up a dainty body, and its neck is indeed black. Outside the Horicon National Wildlife Refuge in WI. #birds #wisconsinnature

Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) is one of my favorite woodland spring flowers (spring ephemerals). As you can see from the photo of the root cross-section, the plant gets its name from its dark red roots, which were once used as a dye. #wildflowers #nativeplants #Wisconsin

A Canada Goose relaxes, but keeps a watchful eye while incubating its egg at the Horicon National Wildlife Refuge. This goose and a few others have located their nests right off the boardwalk, making them easy to view. #birds #Geese #horiconnationalwildliferefuge

Some trees caught my eye. A row of young Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa) trees lines a small ditch, and another group of trees flank Dike Road outside Wisconsin's Horicon Marsh. #trees #horiconmarsh #Wisconsin

Song Sparrows are back, and they seem to be everywhere I go. This one is off of Lake Butted des Morts and was a very cooperative subject. Song Sparrows are named for their melodious singing. Their song makes them very conspicuous in the audio landscape, but their brown stripes allow them to quickly disappear into the vegetation to escape the gaze of predators. #wisconsinnature #wisconsinbirds #birds

Film Friday. In January, I went to High Cliff State Park in WI on a foggy day. I took along a 1950's Voigtlander Vitomatic I with a 50mm f2.8 Color/Skopar lens. I think the old camera did quite well. Shot on Ilford HP5 400 speed. #voigtlander #ilford #blackandwhitephotography

Early in April, we woke up to freezing rain. The garden became coated with ice. The birds moved about eating seeds, and I ventured out into the rain with my camera. I took some quick photos of the ice on the maple tree, chicken wire, and last year’s switch grass, and milkweed pods. I figured I would come back out a little later, but the rain got warmer, and within an hour, it melted away the sculpture it had been working on all morning. #icestorm #garden #nativeplants