Return from Door County...

Looking north from Cave Point

Though lifelong residents of Wisconsin, Last May was the first time Becky and I had ever been to Door County, often referred to as the "Cape Cod" of the Midwest (I'll bet they're tired of hearing that). We decided to return this spring not only for the incredible birding, but also because of the stunning natural scenery - both enchanting and relaxing. However, rather than go all the way to Rock Island State Park (my favorite place last year), this time we kept south of Washington Island to explore more of Peninsula State Park and other haunts closer to Bailey's Harbor.

Bailey's Harbor in the Morning

Our choice for "base camp" was a return visit to The Blacksmith Inn, a very peaceful and scenic locale at the heart of Bailey's Harbor. Of course, it doesn't hurt that the Inn's owners (Bryan and Joan) are incredibly warm and hospitable hosts who don't mind a little chitchat after breakfast! In conversing with Bryan, I can tell he and I are on the same page when it comes to nature and the state of our world.

The Blacksmith Inn - Bailey's Harbor

Last year we passed on Whitefish Dunes State Park and Cave Point, so that's where we began our adventure for the first morning. I had heard so much about it I think my expectations were set too high - yeah, the dunes are pretty cool for Wisconsin but my imagination rendered something a little more Californian for some reason.

We did well on a "Favorite Bird Haunts" reference from Roy and Charlotte Lukes at Meridian County Park - a hidden-away 150-acre gem and nesting site of the Black-throated Blue Warbler. The park is so named from the fact it is located exactly halfway between the North Pole and the Equator, and marked as such. It took us a while to find the secluded trail at this wayside of a park, but there it was...just past the restrooms. Deep down the trail we found singing Winter Wrens and Northern Waterthrush, but no "I-am-lazy" from the Black-throated Blues.

Last year we witnessed a major warbler fallout at Weckler's Point in Peninsula State Park. We struck "gold" there once again. In less than an hour we tallied 22 warbler species within a 50-yard stretch of habitat between Shore Road and the rock ledge up from the bay. There were oodles of Bay-breasted Warblers, Blackpoll, Cape May, Canada and Magnolia Warblers. Atop one tree there were half a dozen Scarlet Tanagers. Oh man, I'm telling you it was some of the best birding I've experienced all year. Becky was smitten by a Cape May Warbler that perched only 4 feet away from her. Here are a few of the feathered beauties I was able to capture:

A Bay-breasted Warbler takes flight

Scarlet Tanager

Cape May Warbler

Ovenbird

An American Redstart belts out its song

A little birded out (believe it or not), our next stop was The Ridges Sanctuary, which is 1,200 acre pristine natural area formed in 1937 - the largest private nature preserve in Wisconsin. Here we heard the ubiquitous Black-throated Green Warbler as it sang its notes "zee-zee-zee-zoo-zee!" But the reason to visit the sanctuary is for its incredibly serene atmosphere, rare native plants and colorful wildflowers (Dwarf Lake Iris, Marsh Marigolds, Gaywings and more).

Yellow Violet

Dwarf Lake Iris

Marsh Marigolds

Gaywing

While there I recall thinking, here is the example by which all other conservancies and nature preserves in Wisconsin ought to be judged and managed. As Becky and I walked along the 5 miles of footpaths and narrow boardwalks, it was no wonder to us that the preserve has been designated as a National Natural Landmark. Photographs fail to capture its true beauty and essence - you must go there.

You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting –
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.

-- Mary Oliver

All images © 2006 Mike McDowell