Milkweed Peak

Common milkweed are at or near peak and definitely at peak for butterfly photography. Not only is the photography excellent, the aroma of the flower is incredible. Just by watching a plant with camera in hand dozens of photo ops present themselves. These plants are a food source for almost everything that flies and even the crab spiders that lie in wait for dinner.

Shiny Teeth

This wolf came very close to the trail cam and showed its gleaming teeth. What impresses me the most is their small size. For some reason I thought the teeth would be bigger, probably a function of the mythic "big bad wolf" mentality. A pack of five passed through in mid June. The alpha male with it's shoulder stripe, a black male, 2 mid sized grays, and a small yearling gray bought up the rear. The alpha and the small gray have been in area intermittently but this is the first time this year the pack has been at the scent post. Based on tracks this is probably the pack that has been frequenting the Buggert L. area.
Dale

(Image cropped to 50% of original)

Karner Blues

This was an excellent year for both lupine and the first flight of Karners at Crex and Fish Lake. Several times I lost count of the number of butterflies flying about me. The Prairie Redroot this one is feeding on is similar to Jersey Tea but I believe it is Redroot. Karner caterpillars feed exclusively on lupine but the adults feed on several different plants. I hope the second flight later this month is as active as the first one was.
Dale

Cedar Waxwings

I  took a trip through Crex today even though it was raining. After 3 straight days of rain I was going stir crazy. I happened to see a pair of Cedar Waxwings on the corner of East and North Refuge Rd. I watched them as they pointed their heads upwards in unison several times and then they mated. I was pretty far away but snapped a few pictures anyway. When I got home I could see that one Waxwing had a small berry in it's mouth. Doing some research I found out this is part of their courtship. They pass a berry between them.  Interesting...
Kathy J.

Night Games

These guys seem to be having a blast. I was reminded of dance recitals that we attended in years past. This den is exposed and would have made a great site for photography except virtually all activity has been at night.
Dale

A Short Rest

There are a variety of uses of trails in Fish Lake WA. Occasionally it is used as a phone booth, albeit temporarily. In addition to the usual wildlife this young man was captured on the trail cam.
Dale

Wolf Dispersal

This young wolf says it all; thin, awkward looking, insecure, on the move. Food is at the low point during the spring with hungry mouths to feed at the den so the yearling siblings start moving to new territory looking a mate and for space to claim for a new family. Other dispersers are alpha males who have lost their leadership role. The wolves of Crex are a dynamic group with a different alpha male taking over last fall. This spring wolf activity has been limited to hunting signs, a definite change from the last two years. The high water may limit the small mammals and deer may still be the primary food source causing the wolves to stay in the woodlands.
Dale