Necedah National Wildlife Refuge - 9-1-24 9-7-24

When we headed here in May, we had 2 goals.  One was to go to the Headwaters of the Mississippi, which we did. And the other, was to go to the Harley Museum.   We took a short break from the refuge life on Sunday and headed to Milwaukee.  

We got here too early to check into our hotel, so we checked out Lake Michigan.  Our first stop was the Breakwaters area on the lake.  The wind was howling and the waves were crashing.  After a short walk and an usie, we went to the waterfront where we put on our jackets and people watched.

  

While we were cold and wearing our jackets, most  folks were out in their summer attire.   They seemed to be taking advantage of the last few days of summer.

We got checked into the Days Inn, then went to Charcoal for linner, then called it a night.  BTW, the cheese bites were amazing.

Sunday Pics:

Monday was Labor Day and Harley Davidson Museum Day.  We took a few pictures of the outside of the museum while we waited for it to open.  We now have the great experience of the museum and a couple of shirts and a blanket as memorandums. 

We went to Lakeshore State Park for a short walk and got a little bit of nature chasing in.  There were lots of people boating, fishing, walking, and biking.  And there were lots of cops.  They were patrolling the trails and the water.  We aren't sure why their presences was needed, but whatever it was, we felt really safe.

We stopped for a bite at Route 20, before getting back to Room 224 for a nice relaxing evening.

Monday Pics:

Tuesday we picked up our truck on the way home.  Hopefully this will be the last issue with the DEF system for a while.  Fingers crossed.

We did a little bit of piddling when we got back then relaxed at Camp Chewy.  While we were out and about, we saw a little buck on Grand Dike Road.

We started out the day on Wednesday, with Chewy #9 in the trap.  We enjoyed the nature along the way to Quill Hill for it's release. 

 

When it was released from the trap, it made a bee line for a tree and slowly made it's way to almost the top of the tree.  It got as far away from us as possible.

We spent the afternoon taking a walk in the woods with Angie and Brad to look at some potential Indian Mounds that were seen on google earth.  It definitely had the look of mounds. 

We have had a full day of nature chasing today. seeing lots of cranes, pelicans, waterfowl, swans, bald eagles, a kingfisher, turkeys, and lots of other cool stuff!

Wednesday Pics:

Thursday was a rainy start to the day.  We went on a road trip with Angie to La Cross to return some borrowed equipment.  Afterwards, we had lunch.  It took us 3 stops but we finally found a good place to eat.  The Crow did not disappoint.

Friday was a nice cool, cloudy morning.  During the wee hours of the morning there were geese squawking and Owls hooting.  It is a lot easier to hear what is going on outdoors with the windows open.

The resident turkeys were enjoying this cool morning.  They were hanging around Camp Chewy as we were drinking our coffee.

We thought we would spray soapwort but with the on and off showers today that didn't happen.

We cut down the empty Hummingbird nest that will be used for education at the visitor center.  It was smaller than we realized, the size of a quarter.

We couldn't spray for soapwort, so we went on a scouting mission to check out our previous efforts.  There are a few new soapwort plants, but not nearly as many as before.  

The HQ Sandhill Crane family were hanging out in front of HQ.

It was nice this afternoon, chilling out and enjoying the sights of the refuge.  Tonight, we watched a movie with the heater on and covered up with our new Harley Davidson throw that we bought at the museum.   We closed all the windows and used the throw for a little extra warmth when we went to bed.

Friday Pics:

Saturday morning was a chilly, 37 degrees.  We took our morning stroll to check on the traps and get our 3 mile walk in in shorts and sweatshirts.  Let's just say, it was quite chilly with the wind blowing.

Our 3 mile hike was aborted when we got to the Fire Center and found Chunky Chewy #10 in a trap.  She is the heavy weight champion so far!

We saw all kinds of cool critters along the way to Quill Hill.

Chunky came out the shoot in a fast trot, at least fast for a porcupine.  Then she slowed down and checked out her new home.  She sniffed trees and logs and was last seen wandering around in the nice forest.  I believe she is going to love Quill Hill.

We took our time on the way back and enjoyed more critter watching. 

We made a Wally World run then came back and worked on pictures and the blog. 

Saturday Pics:

Necedah National Wildlife Refuge - 8-25-24 - 8-31-24

We had a nice morning ride back to Camp Chewy Sunday.  It is great to start the week with some wind therapy.

We took a slow, 3-mile stroll, on this hot day.  There were not as many critters out as usual, but with the heat, that is understandable. 

 

We got the all the porcupine traps reset and ready for the catch.  It has been a while since we caught one.  

Sunday Pics:

Monday, we got the Kubota out and was ready to go spray Soapwort.  We almost forgot to check the traps.  Lauren went back to check them while I got some supplies out of the biolab.  It's a good thing he went back to check.  Chewy #8 was in one of the traps.

We loaded Chewy up in the Kubota, covered his cage with a towel, and away we went on an hour drive to Quill Hill.  After it was released, it considered climbing a tree, then changed its mind. 

 

While we were there, we sprayed Soapwort on Quill Hill and then sprayed spots along the way back to the refuge.

We were shocked at how low the water had dropped at Sprague/Goose Pools.  What a difference a few weeks make.

We stopped and checked on the beaver guard.  The beavers have been very busy for the last 4 days.

When we got back to HQ around 2 pm, the temperature was 94 degrees with a heat index of 109 degrees.  It was time to wrap it up and stay in the a/c.

The resident turkeys made an appearance at Camp Chewy this afternoon.

Monday Pics:

Tuesday, we spent the day riding around checking the hunter parking areas for soapwort.  We never realized how many parking areas there is on the refuge.  It's hard to believe that deer season is almost here.  Although, it does start earlier in the Northwoods.

Of course, while we were out and about, we did a little bit of nature chasing.

Tuesday Pics:

Wednesday morning we went to the Boghaunter Trail to see if the Wooley Milkweed had seedpods.  There were no seed pods, but it was a nice morning for a Kubota ride.

 

We did the final bee survey for the year.  We only got one Common Eastern bumblebee in the last few minutes of the survey.  They just weren't active on this dreary looking day.  Oh well, one is better than none.

We checked out the foliage near the gazebo and found a few bumblebees and other critters.

  

After lunch, we checked on the last 2 hunter parking areas for soapwort then relaxed at Camp Chewy.

Wednesday Pics:

Thursday was Sarah's last day and a going away party for the three of us.  We managed to get a little bit of work in spraying soapwort before the party and the rain.

We enjoyed a meal of brats, sides, and desserts with the nice folks that work here.  We were given a goodie bag with very unique and personable gifts.  A Necedah NWR hoodie with pictures of a Karner Blue Butterfly, a Wolf,  a Crane, and a Blanding's Turtle.  We also got a Restoring the Little Yellow River tee-shirt and a picture of the wolf pups near their den

 

The Soapbusters that we have proclaimed ourselves as being were given a bar of homemade soap.

Lauren got a refurbished balloon, with You are #1, that he found and gave to Angie when we first got here, and a cute bumble bee ornament.

I got a Necedah NWR magnet and Porcupine Earrings.  

We got a card with a Red-headed Woodpecker on the cover and very nice things wrote in it.

Afterward, we put Amber in the cage in the hopes of no more porcupine damage and relaxed at Camp Chewy.

The only birds that we saw this afternoon were a couple of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds.  Looks like the birds have already started their migration.  We won't be too far behind and start our migration in a few weeks.

Friday, we met Nikki at International Crane Foundation.  After a shopping spree in their visitor center, we toured the facility.  We were able to see all 15 species of cranes.

On the way over, the truck we had a shutdown mode check engine light come on..  On the way back to the refuge, we stopped at Kudick in Mauston and had them check it out.  We left the truck with them until it can be repaired.  They were nice enough to give us a loaner car.  We have the car parked in the cage with Amber for safe keeping.

We took a 3-mile hike when we returned.  We flushed the Sandhill Crane family as we were walking along the trail between the biolab and HQ.

We saw several photogenic grasshoppers.

We saw a Garter snake and several frogs. We only got frog pictures, the garter snack quickly disappeared.

We saw a gaggle of geese.

And saw something that we don't have a clue of what it is. 

 

Afterwards, we got caught up with our pictures, blogged a little bit, and relaxed in our secluded Camp Chewy.

Friday Pics:

It was nice waking up Saturday morning with the windows open and no need for a/c.  It was also nice listening to a pair of Barred Owls calling to each other during the night.  

We strolled our 3-mile walk getting in a little bit of nature chasing.  The White Pelicans looked like they are practicing for their migration.

We got our Whooping Crane fix, seeing a couple way across the water.

We saw a lot of frogs along the boardwalk.

The bumble bee population has dwindled down.  The only bumblebees that we are seeing are Common Eastern.  

Afterwards we made a Wally World run and got our clothes packed for our Milwaukee trip tomorrow.

Saturday Pics: