Yesterday we headed to our favorite wildlife refuge in Wisconsin. Had quite a successful day, in spite of cloudy skies and heavy fog to start off with. Saw a couple Eagles sitting on logs in the water soon as we go there. After looking at the full size images on the computer when I got home, I saw they were both soaked and no doubt sitting there to dry off. One was still there three hours later when we came back.
After the Eagles, we saw three fireplace size logs ahead on the gravel road with orange tape around them. Got up to 'em and there was a little Killdeer with a nest right on the edge of the road! The logs were to direct traffic around her and her 4 eggs.
Later on I was taking pictures of a couple Sandhill Cranes, a large bird about five feet tall. While looking thru the camera, a small Red Winged Blackbird attacked the huge crane! No doubt his female had a nest nearby. The cranes will eat the baby birds out of the nest. The crane wasn't phased by the repeated attacks. Gotta give the little guy credit for trying tho'.
Came across a pair of Loons later. One dove and came up with a large fish! Looked much bigger that when it could eat.
Kept dropping the fish and going back under to bring is up again. Went on this way for several minutes. I finally realized at the end what the Loon had been doing. It was trying to turn the fish so he could swallow in head first.
Handled the large fish with ease...gone in a minute.
The Loon is our state bird BTW. It's said that the tick is the state insect. That would make us the state of Loon-A-Ticks!
Saw lots more, but that's the highlights. We were happy and headed home.