A hawk for Christmas
I am in Virginia, where there are naturally a lot more trees than in Wisconsin. And it’s a bit warmer, though not by much this week. The different environment means different birds for me! Read more …
Today I’m thankful for buffleheads, goldeneyes, tundra swans, mallards, Canada geese and ring-billed gulls—and for figuring out what’s wrong with my camera
I saw so many birds today, but almost all of my photos of them ended up blurry. This has been a recurring issue. But I finally figured out the problem! Read on for the solution, plus not-atrocious photos of buffleheads. Read more …
Critter of the Day: Red fox (Vulpes vulpes)
I saw a fox today while I was waiting for the bus! Read more …
Bird of the Day: White-naped crane (Antigone vipio)
This beautiful bird is the white-naped crane (Antigone vipio), an Asian crane that breeds in northern Mongolia, northeastern China, and neighboring parts of Russia. The eastern members of the species winter in Japan and Korea, including the Korean demilitarized zone. Japan and Korea play important roles in my family history, so maybe that’s why this particular pair of cranes were so cooperative in letting me take their pictures.
Healthy Recipe: Fall Harvest Muffins
After a long sabbatical, I returned to baking muffins this weekend. I decided to make something with an autumnal theme featuring sweet potatoes, cranberries, and buckwheat.
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Bird of the day: Demoiselle crane (Grus virgo)
The demoiselle crane is not a Wisconsin bird. But I photographed this individual in Wisconsin, thanks to the International Crane Foundation having its headquarters in Baraboo, Wis. It’s the only place in the world where you can see all 15 extant crane species. Read more …
Bird of the day: American coot (Fulica americana)
I don’t often get a chance to see coots up close. At the lake, they tend to congregate out in the water and swim away if I walk toward them. And they are fast swimmers—at least it seems to me that for every step I take toward them, they move three steps farther away. Read more …
Recipe: Espresso Chocolate Chip Granola Bars
Yum Butter is a nut-butter maker in Madison, Wis., with lots of weird and wonderful flavor combinations. Try YumButter in this granola bar recipe! Read more …
Bird of the day: Female mallard duck (Anas platyrhynchos)
Most domestic duck breeds are descended from mallards and classified as the same species, Anas platyrhynchos. So it can be hard to tell if a white duck is an escaped domestic or a mallard that lacks feather pigments. Whatever the case may be, this one is pretty cute. I took a lot of pictures.
Bird of the day: White mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
Most domestic duck breeds are descended from mallards and classified as the same species, Anas platyrhynchos. So it can be hard to tell if a white duck is an escaped domestic or a mallard that lacks feather pigments. Whatever the case may be, this one is pretty cute. I took a lot of pictures.