A Walk in Stewart County Park
I took the "long way" to work this morning. There's so much to enjoy visually all around Mount Horeb. I noticed the way the rocks were reflecting on Stewart Lake and wanted to get a shot with my gear. The dim, cool and wet spring morning gave me a slight challenge in sorting out my camera's settings. As I continued to seek for a vantage through the trees I'd take test shots, adjusting as I went. After a few minutes I couldn't find just the right viewpoint. And then a Red-tailed Hawk landed just uphill from me. Taking my cue I slowly moved to just below it, knowing it was in the canopy above me, though I couldn't see it. And there it was, the viewpoint I sought. As I began to snap a few frames the hawk let out a series cries. It set the tone for my entire day.
Cranes Descent. For the first time in a while I went for a photo walk into the park. Wanting to photograph birds I carried my camera and 400mm zoom lens ready. As I stood at the head of the ridge trail that runs just downhill from our home I could hear Sandhill Cranes in the distance. I scanned the sky all around me but tree cover prevented a clear view. As their calls grew louder they began to bounce off the heavy tree line opposite me. I never saw that particular flock. As I made my way down the trail I stopped periodically to scan the skies and to take photos of very high flying formations of geese as they migrate back to Canada. Eventually I found myself in the middle of the open prairie, the sky a nice dome above me. I settle into a very balanced stance and began to just relax, meditate, watch and listen. I heard another flock coming off in the distance. After long moments of waiting and not seeing anything I figured I'd missed this flock as well. Just then I noticed what I thought was a small, silent gaggle of geese circling above me and descending. I literally had to keep my camera directly pointed over my head, framing, adjusting my exposure and tracking them as they circled around and around above me. It was a really good exercise as I tried to aim the heavy camera and to turn it just so in order to compose the scene. When I got home I had a chance to actually see what I photographed. They weren't big geese or swans. It was a flock of Sandhill Cranes! WOOT! #Grus #canadensis #Grus_canadensis #Grus-canadensis #Sandhill #crane #Sandhill_crane #Sandhill-crane #Sandhillcrane #migration #natureasart #naturelovers #wildlifephotography #exploretocreate #your_best_birds #nuts_about_birds #bestbirdshots #bb_of_ig #bird_brilliance #eye_spy_birds #feather_perfection #birds_adored #thebirdingsquad #nature_worldwide_birds #total_birds #instabird #birdlove
Stewart Lake Photo Hike: 2018-01-10 This section has been cleared of Buck-thorn and burned. Prairie is coming back.
Stewart Lake Photo Hike: 2018-01-10
Stewart Lake Photo Hike: 2018-01-10
A few years ago I volunteered with another neighbor in clearing out the invasive Buckthorn trees and underbrush. Today I took a hike/run around on the trails. I'd stop at places where I'd built massive fires. The chainsaw guy was literally a machine when it came to clearing these nasty trees down. It was good to see the first place I worked on growing native grasses again. What really amazed me though was this view. I could still find the remnants of my biggest fire. It's now covered with interesting plants. Just downhill from that spot they work has continued without me. Not long ago you could NOT see the lake while standing where I took this photo. The Buckthorn was just too thick. You can still see where some downed branches were cut, and the ashes of the fire that cleared it are just past the tree. Well done guys! #stewartlake #stewartcountypark #danecountyparks #travelwi #explorewi #wisconsin #wisconsintrails #wisconsinparks #driftlessregion #driftless #driftlessarea #wisconsinlife #discoverwisconsin #travelwisconsin #midwestliving #explorewisconsin #outdoorlife #getoutside #liveoutdoors #getoutthere #naturelover
Yesterday I posted a photo of what I thought where the only Sandhill Cranes that I saw in the sky. I mentioned photographing large flocks of what i thought were geese at very high altitude. When I went to process a photo I only really looked at the last few. I just looked at all of the photos of "geese." They weren't geese but were very large groups of Sandhill Cranes! I had no idea they migrated in such large flocks. #Grus #canadensis #Grus_canadensis #Grus-canadensis #Sandhill #crane #Sandhill_crane #Sandhill-crane #Sandhillcrane #migration #natureasart #naturelovers #wildlifephotography #exploretocreate #your_best_birds #nuts_about_birds #bestbirdshots #bb_of_ig #bird_brilliance #eye_spy_birds #feather_perfection #birds_adored #thebirdingsquad #nature_worldwide_birds #total_birds #instabird #birdlove
Stewart Lake Photo Hike: 2018-01-10 This is the view into the uncleared section of forest. The Buck-thorn trees have choked out everything. You can barely see the oaks. No prairie grasses to be found.
Stewart Lake Photo Hike: 2018-01-10
You know you've adapted to the Wisconsin cold when you think it's a perfectly warm day to go hiking just because it reached the 20°s F (-6°C). Teri I had time to take a nice stroll along the trails. This is a shot taken along one of the newer ones. In fact this particular section was one I myself worked on as volunteer a few years ago. Myself and a neighbor who is a tree cutting maniac cleared all the invasive Buck-thorn that had choked out this small piece of Oak Savanna. He'd cutting it down and Id haul it into a pile and BURN it all. There are times I miss working in the park. I should contact him and see if I can get back into it. Maybe? I really used to spend at least an hour/day on these trails in some way. I'll see what unfolds. #stewartlake #stewartcountypark #danecountyparks #travelwi #explorewi #wisconsin #wisconsintrails #wisconsinparks #driftlessregion #driftless #driftlessarea #wisconsinlife #discoverwisconsin #travelwisconsin #midwestliving #explorewisconsin #outdoorlife #getoutside #liveoutdoors #getoutthere #naturelover #redditig
I took a hike through a patch of restored Oak Savannah. It's been a while since I've walked this newer trail located in Stewart County Park. I first walked this path when it was little more than a deer trail cutting through very thick Buckthorn underbrush. You could barely make out the shapes of these oaks. I worked with a neighbor as a volunteer cutting down all the brush and piling it high. We couldn't burn that day so cuttings were stacked until either they eventually rot into the soil or are hauled away or burnt later. Since that time they've cut down and cleared even more, and really improved the path. Though it's now nice and wide I have to admit I sort of miss when it was just a simple foot path. One less traveled.
What a day it's been! After a busier than normal morning hustling the kid off to school I barely had time to clean up and get into my spats. My friend stopped by on his way to the city and we practiced a few BJJ techniques. It's really awesome having someone come by to work out the little details that go into perfecting a move. He's also an experience kick boxer so we're both looking forward to hanging my heavy bag outside in the spring. Once he split for work I then hit the gym for my usual fitness routine. I'm staying at a constant 225 or so weight (102kg) while still increasing the amount I lift. @thalesblaso & I also came up with a plan to workout together here in Mount Horeb on days I can't make the city! It'll be in the mid afternoons once or twice a week. Once the weather breaks we can also begin doing cardio runs into Stewart Lake. I managed to find time to walk into the park myself today. I wasn't out for long, just long enough to find some fun lighting to photograph. I have no idea what this plant it but it caught my eye today.
Stewart Lake Photo Hike: 2018-01-10
Stewart Lake Photo Hike: 2018-01-10
It's that time of year when I don't take photos as much. I'm sort of "done" for a while. Now I only carry my Canon gear when I truly "feel" like it. Today I took another stroll in the nearby park. It's a place I once spent so much time. Something tells me I need to get out there more. #stewartcountypark #stewartpark #stewartlake #danecountyparks #travelwi #explorewi #wisconsin #wisconsintrails #wisconsinparks #driftlessregion #driftless #driftlessarea #wisconsinlife #discoverwisconsin #travelwisconsin #midwestliving #explorewisconsin #outdoorlife #getoutside #liveoutdoors #getoutthere #naturelover #redditig
