Perhaps if I had grown up around here instead of Chicago I would not be in awe so much when I see a deer in the woods. Tonight at sunset I was walking in the woods and saw a beautiful doe cross a stream, get out on the other side and shake off just like a dog. You'd think it was something great to watch--it was. Shortly after that I saw a beautiful buck, strong, arogent, powerful, struting his stuff in the woods--what a sight!
Gary
Friday, November 11, 2011
11/11/11
What a surprise this morning while driving the school bus out in the country--a coyote running across the field and then stopping to look at us. I know that lots of people think they are a nuisance but I think they are beautiful and the kids on the bus were excited to see it.
Monday, November 7, 2011
11/3/11
11/3/11
At Hartje School forest we explored dirt, not just any dirt but dirt that has come from a pile of wood chips. This early Fall we found Stink Horn mushrooms and now we found particles shaped and with the consistency of styrofoam. They did have rhysomes and smelled like mushrooms but I have never seen these things before.
Gary
Gary
10/6/11
Oct 6th 2011
It has been a long time. Sorry. I was on an overnight with Sacred Heart 6-8th graders. We canoed the back waters of the Mississippi at Wyalusing State Park. It was a beautiful two days, calm, warm and clear. We saw a few water snakes, one really nice big one, a few bald eagles, a turtle and lots of clam shells along the shore.
More later.
More later.
7/3/11
7/3/11
It has been way too long since I posted.
On a trip with kids to Wazee Recreation area in Norther Wisconsin (Clearest, deepest lake in Wis) I saw a school of Trout while I was snorkeling--the first time I have ever seen trout.
The next thing I saw and I say it twice in two different areas, was a large small-mouth bass and lots of little fish, all the same kind, swimming around. The next time I saw it, it was another large small-mouth bass and the same kind of babies swimming around. So here is what i thought: the big one was the mother and she was watching over her brood. This is just one more example of animals caring and having feelings.
the final thing that I saw were two loons but this time I was snorkeling again and as I approached them they didn't seem to notice me so I got close enough to see them swimming underwater and ducking their heads and then as they swam away under water I could see that they were doing a frog kick rather than a duck paddle--this was awesome to see.
Gary
On a trip with kids to Wazee Recreation area in Norther Wisconsin (Clearest, deepest lake in Wis) I saw a school of Trout while I was snorkeling--the first time I have ever seen trout.
The next thing I saw and I say it twice in two different areas, was a large small-mouth bass and lots of little fish, all the same kind, swimming around. The next time I saw it, it was another large small-mouth bass and the same kind of babies swimming around. So here is what i thought: the big one was the mother and she was watching over her brood. This is just one more example of animals caring and having feelings.
the final thing that I saw were two loons but this time I was snorkeling again and as I approached them they didn't seem to notice me so I got close enough to see them swimming underwater and ducking their heads and then as they swam away under water I could see that they were doing a frog kick rather than a duck paddle--this was awesome to see.
Gary
5/11/11
5/11/11
Two things: a sight and a sound. The Orioles have been flitting around the yard. They are so beautiful, their bright orange is so noticeable. I have not heard their distinctive calls yet. The sound? The trilling of hundreds of toads at the pond at Hartje. What a sound and sight--all those toads looking for mates and calling. It is mesmerizing.
Gary
Gary
4/21/11
4/21/11
On Monday, while exploring with kindergartners in Smith Conservancy we found a beautiful (one of the most beautiful critters in the world) baby tree frog, under bark on an old log on the ground--we left it there.
Today while walking through Webb Forest I say ducks in trees! I didn't know ducks were perchers--I couldn't see them well but I am guessing they were Wood ducks--they seemed to be backlit so I couldn't make out the coloring very well. On the ground side of things there were wonderfully clear raccoon tracks because we had just had a very wet snow and then a freeze last night. The tracks were made before the freeze. Finally, I scared two geese. I checked their tracks and they were amazingly like turkey tracks. It was hard to see the web marks or other distinctions.
Gary
Today while walking through Webb Forest I say ducks in trees! I didn't know ducks were perchers--I couldn't see them well but I am guessing they were Wood ducks--they seemed to be backlit so I couldn't make out the coloring very well. On the ground side of things there were wonderfully clear raccoon tracks because we had just had a very wet snow and then a freeze last night. The tracks were made before the freeze. Finally, I scared two geese. I checked their tracks and they were amazingly like turkey tracks. It was hard to see the web marks or other distinctions.
Gary
4/9/11
4/9/11
Another great Spring day: watching a snapper cross the bike trail, seeing two pairs of Cranes on nests, all the frog sounds. a Pair of Merganzers, Wood Ducks, a snake. two muskrats, Bared owl hoots, and a turkey taking off from a tree.
It was beautiful
Gary
It was beautiful
Gary
4/8/11
4/8/11
It was a wonderful spring day today. lots of bird calls. Lots of frog calls: Peepers, Leopards, Chorus and Wood Frogs. We saw several Leopard frogs while we were walking along the river. And, best of all we found a living garter snake today. The first one of the season. He was a very small one, perhaps 7-8 inches but very feisty and beautiful.
It was wonderful to be surrounded by the calls of the frogs.
Gary
It was wonderful to be surrounded by the calls of the frogs.
Gary
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