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Wisconsin and Michigan 2016

AUGUST 25

I wanted to see if I could find a few dragonflies that I had never found before, so we headed up to Wisconsin and Michigan for a late summer outing. It had been awhile since we had been up in that part of the U.S. Neither one of us had been in Michigan before. After seeing the dentist in Uvalde, we were on our way by 10:00 am. We stopped at a couple of places along the way before we got to our first nights stop in the Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge in southern Oklahoma.

We stopped briefly at the Clear Fork of the Brazos River in Shackleford Co., Texas to look around.

Second stop was at Beaver Creek in Wilbarger Co., Texas off of US 183.

Blue-fronted Dancer (Argia apicalis) and Blotched Watersnake (Nerodia erythrogaster)

We arrived at the Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge fairly late. We checked out a few places before arriving at our camp site for the night; lakes, grasslands, and hills.

Eastern Pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis)

 

AUGUST 26

Our first night. This is the campground we stayed in. Before leaving and on the way out we saw several species of animals and some nice scenery.

White-tailed Deer

White-tailed Deer and Wild Turkey in the campground,

grasslands in the refuge.

The Wichita Mountains have a large herd of Bison.

Also, herds of Longhorns.

Lots of Prairie Dogs.

What the road looked like on the way out of the Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge.

Beautiful grasslands in southern Kansas.

We were planning to stay in a campground northeast of Kansas City in northwestern Missouri, but a hugh thunderstorm (with tornado warnings) drove us farther north. We stayed the night in Poe Hollow county park in Ringcold Co., Iowa. It rained most of the night.

 

AUGUST 27

Diana and I left the campground early to look at some of the bridges of Madison Co., Iowa. Our first stop was Roseman Covered bridge (one used in the movie "Bridges of Madison County"). Diana looked in the gift shop and I looked below the bridge for odes and other insects.

Blue-fronted Dancer (Argia apicalis) and Powdered Dancer (Argia moesta)

Cricket Frog (Acris crepitans) and Tiger beetle (Cicindela duodecimguttata)

Tiger Beetle (Cicindela repanda) and American Rubyspot (Hetaerina americana)

A Blue-tipped Dancer (Argia tibialis) and a Smoky Rubyspot (Hetaerina titia)

Cabbage White (Pieris rapae)

We headed over to Winterset, Iowa. There was a nice park at the edge of town that had another covered bridge. This bridge (Cutler Donahoe Bridge) was moved here for display. We hiked and and photographed. Winterset City Park.

Eastern Tailed-Blue (Everes comyntas) and robberfly

Great Spangled Fritillary (Speyeria cybele). This was the only place we observed this fritillary on the whole trip.

Stopped in Winterset to photograph John Wayne's birth place.

Our last bridge to check out before leaving Iowa was Hogback Covered Bridge.

We saw some beautiful farm land before we got out of Iowa.

Farm land and sunset before leaving northeastern Iowa into western Wisconsin. Arrived at Wildcat Mountain State Park late.

 

AUGUST 28

After going to a small church and eating out, we checked out several crossings of the Kickapoo River up and down WI 131.

Lots of canoes on the Kickapoo.

Some of the things we saw at the various crossings.

Composite flower (similar to a sunflower) and Eastern Forktail female (Ischnura verticalis)

Tiger Beetle (Cicindela repanda) and Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes)

Gray Treefrog (Hyla versicolor) and Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)

Either a Cherry or a Ruby Meadowhawk (Sympetrum internum or rubicundulum) These are difficult to tell apart.

A couple of Tiger Beetles observed at the river crossing. (Cicindela duodecrmguttata).

We went back to Wildcat Mountain State Park to relax and look at the scenery from trail above the Kickapoo River valley.

Goldenrod

Diana showing how tail the Giant Bluestem grass can get.

 

Relaxing back at camp.

 

AUGUST 29

Foggy morning at campground in Wildcat Mountain State Park. We packed and headed over to the Black River in Eastern Wisconsin.

We saw lots of these throughout Wisconsin.

I saw several odes and butterflies at the Black River in Vernon County, but did not take any photos of the river. Oh well.

Blue-fronted Dancer (Argia apicalis) and American Rubyspot (Hetaerina americana)

Eastern Forktail (Ischnura verticalis) and Slender Spreadwing (Lestes rectangularis)

White-faced Meadowhawk (Sympetrum obtusum) and Autumn Meadowhawk (Sympetrum vicinum)

Northern Crescent (Phyciodes selenis) and Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)

Cabbage White (Pieris rapae)

Seven bridges trail in Wildlife Management Area. There were way too many mosquitoes on this trail for my comfort.

On the way to our next campground, we found a Fox snake crossing the road. This was only the second Fox snake I had ever found alive. It was found on the way to picnic area on the Black River in Jackson County.

Fox Snake (Pantherophis vulpina)

The picnic area on the Black River in Jackson County. Black River State Forest

Powdered Dancer (Argia moesta) and Blue-fronted Dancer (Argia apicalis)

Our campground desination was Harstad County Park campground on the Eau Claire River east of Eau Claire.

American Copper (Lycaena phlaeas). It was too late to find much.

 

AUGUST 30

The Eau Claire River at Harstad County Park

Creek that runs into the Eau Claire River at Harstad County Park. This is where I was going to try for Arrow Clubtail and Zebra Clubtail. I only saw two Arrow Clubtails, but they were very difficult to get photos of. I got a few flight photos, but they weren't very good.

Arrow Clubtail (Stylurus spiniceps)

A few of these were also seen. Ebony Jewelwing (Calopteryx maculata)

 

AUGUST 31

Our camp site at Harstad County Park on the Eau Claire River. Below are some photos of the Eau Claire River.

Eau Claire River, Eau Claire County

On our way to the next location, we stopped and photographed this old Mill site. The museum was closed today so Diana didn't get to look to see what was inside.

I had to stop at the Chippawa River at Bruce on our way to the next campground. Troy and I stopped here a couple of years ago and had a lot of luck observing odes. Of course it was much earlier in the year.

Chippawa River at Bruce, Rusk County

Autumn Meadowhawk (Sympetrum vicinum) and Spotted Spreadwing (Lestes congener)

Spotted Spreadwing (Lestes congener) and Slender Spreadwing (Lestes retangularis)

Slender Spreadwing (Lestes retangularis) and Variable Dancer (Argia fumipennis)

American Rubyspot (Hetaerina americana)

Common Green Darner (Anax junius)

Lance-tipped Darner (Aeshna constricta)

We arrived at our next camp site late in the afternoon. A few things were still flying when we got there. Sailor Lake in the Chequamegon National Forest in Price County.

I was trying to catch a dragonfly.

Sailor Lake in Chequamegon National Forest, Price County.

Northern Leopard Frog (Lithobates pipiens) and Williamson's Emerald (Somatochlora williamsoni)

A posed Williamson's Emerald (Somatochlora williamsoni)

A couple of Lake Darners (Aeshna eremita). Lake Darners like landing on tree trunks.

 

 

SEPTEMBER 1

I spent a couple of hours looking around Sailor Lake for odes, frogs, or anything I could take photos of.

Our Sailor Lake camp site.

These weed beds around the lake is why it had a good population of darners.

Autumn Meadowhawk (Sympetrum vicinum) and Slender Spreadwing (Lestes retangularis)

Posed Lake Darner (Aeshna eremita)

We decided to go into Western Michigan so we could say we had been there. Porcupine Mountains State Park on the east shore of Lake Superior, Gogebic County. We got there fairly late. Set up camp and headed for a trail to Presquelsle River and falls.

 

 

Lake Superior

 

September 2

On the north end of the park was the main part of the park. Porcupine Mountains State Park, Ontonagon County. We went into the visitor center and drove to the higher parts of the park.

A common mushroom of the area.

Variable Darner (Aeshna interrupta)

Beach area on Lake Superior. I stopped to look for tiger beetles, but they weren't on the beach. They were across the road where I parked. I found four different kinds.

Cicindela scutellaris and Cicindela formosa

Cicindela formosa and Cicindela duodecimguttata

Cicindela tranquebarica and Cicindela scutellaris

We ate lunch at Watersmeet and then headed to Clark Lake Recreation area, Gogebic County (southern end of the state). Nice campgrounds. I checked a marshy place below the campground and came up with a few odes of interest. A good day for darners.

Green-stripped Darner (Aeshna verticalis)

Green-stripped Darner (Aeshna verticalis)

Variable Darner (Aeshna interrupta)

Common Whitetail (Plathemis lydia)

Black-tipped Darner (Aeshna tuberculifera)

Black-tipped Darner (Aeshna tuberculifera)

 

September 3

Got up early and headed down to the lake where the showers and beach area are located. After showering, I searched the beach area of Clark Lake and another small lake near by. I found a few things.

Canada Darner (Aeshna canadensis)

A couple of species of tiger beetles. Cicindela repanda and Cicindela tranquebarica

Hagen's Bluet (Enallagma hageni) and Slender Spreadwing (Lestes retangularis)

Saffron-winged Meadowhawk (Sympetrum costiferum)

White-faced Meadowhawk (Sympetrum obtrusum) and Autumn Meadowhawk (Sympetrum vicinum)

Stopped at Cunard Lake State Forest for the night. No ode activity.

 

September 4

We went to church in Woodruff, WI. After lunch, we stopped at a propane tank place to refill tank. The tank had a leak and could not be fixed. We placed all of the cold food in ice chest for the rest of the trip. We then headed out to a spot that Diana and I had checked out in 2010, Smith Rapids Covered Bridge picnic area on the Flambou River.

What the river looked like at the rapids. A Zebra Clubtail setting on a rock in the river.

Interesting flower and a Zebra Clubtail (Stylurus scudderi). This was as close as I could get. Not in good focus.

Green Frog (Lithobates clamitans) and White Admiral subspecies of Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis)

Spotted Spreadwing (Lestes congener)

On our way south and out of the state, we stopped at Solberg Lake County Park for the night. We got there a little late. No ode activity was observed.

Solberg Lake County Park, Price County marsh area.

 

September 5

On our way home, we stopped at Otter Creek Lake County Park in Tama County, Iowa.

Campground

 

September 6

Before leaving for parts farther south, I checked out the lake for some odes and other creatures.

Lots of Canada Geese

Widow Skimmer (Libellula luctuosa) and (Erythemis simplicicollis)

A female and male Eastern Forktail (Ischnura verticalis)

Familiar Bluet (Enallagma civile) and Fragile Forktail (Ischnura posita)

Cricket Frog (Acris blanchardi) and Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus)

 

September 7

Our last campground before getting back to Texas, Oklahoma, Ottawa County, Twin Bridges State Park. We didn't spend much time the next morning before time to hit the road. We had a wonderful trip once again.