Baby Gallinules!

 

This morning we checked out of our hotel, and I took a picture of this cutie who greets everyone at the front door.

Then we went back to Rib Mountain and hiked the Green Trail, which is much less strenuous than the Blue Trail we hiked yesterday. Travalon found this rock with what looks like a snake trail on it. I said it was probably created by water.

We also saw this woodpecker pecking away at a tree.

Then we went to Cedar Creek Grill for the sandwiches we remembered being so good, the grilled vegetable and goat cheese one for me and the walleye one for Travalon. We drove to Lomira, a small town near Horicon Marsh, for a cookout hosted by my old college friend. Tiffy was there, and so were some family members of my friend, including her hilarious sister. After the Chicago cousins had headed home, the five of us hung out with my friend's dog Pluto for a while, until Travalon and I headed to Horicon Marsh. It was getting near dusk by then, so we thought it might be a prime birdwatching hour. And guess what we saw? A gallinule with babies!

Can you see the little babies with the same red nose as the mama? They kept swimming around really fast, and it was hard for Travalon to focus on them, but he got some good shots of Mama Gallinule.

I saw two yellow-headed blackbirds and heard one with its distinctive call, but we didn't go far enough into the marsh to see the black-necked stilts and all the babies everyone is posting photos of on social media, because we saw lightning in the distance and heard nonstop thunder. We did drive around the auto tour and saw at least ten rabbits, which is surprising because we never see rabbits there. We joked that there was a bunny convention at the marsh. Then the rain started, and we kept encountering geese on the road. We did get home safely, and I saw that Lazarus the Corn Plant Dracaena is now in full bloom and smells amazing. I will try to get a photo tomorrow.

Famous Hat