Finally in the new place

[jbird]

Well its been 7 months since we bought the place and we finally moved in last weekend! Between unpacking boxes and troubleshooting this & that around the house, I set up some bird feeders. The birds are here in massive armies! Havent had a lot of time to be patient and get the best photo ops, but I have managed a few documentations.

We have about 14" on the ground making snowshoes the way to get around.

This first shot is of the house :-)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/_JDS7810.jpg

The Chickadees are the stars right now. Dozens of them raid the feeders every daylight hour.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/_JDS7910.jpg

Pine Siskins are equally abundant and make a beautiful chorus of chirping in the woods
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/_JDS7925.jpg

Red breasted nuthatches are common here. Up until now, I have only seen one in Wisconsin but hundreds of white breasted nuthatches. These guys are regular visitors to my suets.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/_JDS7775.jpg

Ahhh the cardinals! They are here in great numbers and are always flitting about and singing their complex songs. So far they rarely visit the feeders but seem to be busy about other business.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/_JDS7865.jpg

I tried breifly to call in woodpeckers and got a redbelly to give me a few fly-by's, but that was it.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/_JDS7872.jpg

Today I was greeted by about 20 turkeys feeding on the seed fallout from above. My first atempt to sneak up on them failed. They returned later and I snuck around the side of the deck down at their level. One of the straglers spotted me and panicked, so I burst out with the camera firing. LOL!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/_JDS7961.jpg

Really excited for the photo ops and general wildlife viewing right here on the property! Hopefully I'll be able to start posting more frequent pics. Maybe even start fishing again some day! :-)

[Mark Kranhold]

Congrats on the house Jbird. What a beautiful setting and wildlife you have flying around there. Have you heard anymore about the release of the Hawk you saved? I always enjoy your photos, Thanks Mark

[jbird]

Thanks fyshhead. I havent heard any more on the hawk. Last word was that he will be released this spring. I am hoping I can be there for it.

[mems]

Hey Jay, nice digs. Where about are you living? Glad to see you are not like the rest of the state on unemployment and sitting in a bar drinking brandy and leinenkugels. I hope there is some fishing near by. Spring is around the corner, Don.

[jbird]

Don Im in Marshfield. (Central Wisconsin) There is some good water nearby in the form of the eau pleine flowage and wisconsin river to name a couple. Theres more water than I could explore in a lifetime within a day trip from here.

[Kneedeep]

Yes, great looking chateau, Jesse! Izzat a pool I see there?
Used to fish around Rhinelander, Wis. when I was a kid. I remember it being pretty good.
Always enjoy the pics. Have seen a few Western Bluebirds here in SoCal lately headed north for the summer.

[Darian]

What a place for the variety of birds. Keep those photo's coming.... Not sure I like snow that much but seems like everything there is wonderfully abundant (except employment). Good looking home, BTW. Another place for the bucket list. :D

[jbird]

Kneedeep, you have a perceptive eye. Heres a photo from back in August when we first aquired the place.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/JDS_4447.jpg


Yea Darian, lots of snow and not much work. Ive got a job doing finish carpentry for a large home manufacturing company. Its not very glamorous but its better than nutt'n. Im also doing some tile on the side.

[mems]

Jay there is lots of fishing there. I remember catching some tiny brookies in local streams around Marshfield. The driftless area is probably the most famous trout water there, some nice browns. Locally there you have the Wisconsin river with walley and pike in abundance. My favorite fishing there was up at spider lake near Hayward for musky. I also liked Doore county for stealhead, they aren't really ocean run, and some fun fishing creeks made famous by Hemmingway, two hearted. But the best fishing was at Isle Royal and the brookies there in the lakes. You will have fun there in the summer and fall, winters were just too cold and long. Good luck, and just wait till it hits the 40's everyone running around shirtless playing basketball like it was summertime. I hope the employment works out for you, it was tought finding a job there back in the 70's, I can't imagine how tough it is there now. All the best, Don.

[Mike McKenzie]

jbird,

In some respects I'm jealous..Looks like you got a nice piece of paradise there. Ever since I read "A Sand County Almanac" I've thought about havin' a place in that country. I love country that has hardwood forest as opposed to evergreens (although I do love Ponderosa Pine country) Now I'm gettin' "to long in the tooth" so I'm stuck with Digger Pines and Blue Oaks. Those turkeys can turn into real pests, as they can sure tear up the landscapin' and garden if it's not fenced...From the looks of things, you can "live off of the land" if Ya' run out of work! :D

Mike