Weborg in May (Part Two)

I just love it when a plan comes together...

So it was with my plan to camp at Weborg Campground in Peninsula State Park on May 21-24 - 2010.  The weather was (mostly) nice and the birding was as phenomenal as I had dreamed (hoped) it would be. 

Lured in to my early spring junket to Door County, WI by a promise to rent those little motor-scooters when we got to the Park; son Nelson had agreed to come along.  Now Nelson probably would have gone along regardless with his old-man, however the chance to zip along on something motorized and different appealed to him immediately.  The intense birding I was planning on doing - probably not so much.  I will give him a lot of credit for even pretending to be interested in the constant avian anecdotes and factoids which I was gleefully spewing, as his face never betrayed anything different.  I actually kinda' sorta' think he may have really enjoyed the intensity of the hunt, but I'll gladly wear his admission of, "No, Dad I didn't mind at all...I really learned a lot" as a badge of honor.

While moving around the Park in our three and 1/2 registered days, both on foot and on bicycles we had brought with us we saw over 76 species of birds; many of them migrating warblers.  (No...sorry...I choked on the $ 48.00/hour quoted charge for a single motor scooter, and Nelson didn't even seem to mind my backing away from that idea) I made it up  for stiffing him on his scooter-ride the best I could, by playing three rounds of stimulating mini-golf and competative go-cart racing in amongst stopping for locally made ice cream in delicious waffle cones and other area confections.  One of the more famous of the must-do stops is in Ephraim.  The signature red and white themed place is called "Wilson's" and is a local iconic (104 year-old) restaurant and ice cream parlor that serves your basic hamburgers, fries and malts, while filling the summer-time college kid need for steady employment between semesters.  I particularly LOVE their home-brewed draft root beer.   This year I bought both of us commemorative ball caps...why?...cause I just love ball caps.  (and tee-shirts...I love those too, so I bought one)

One of the most memorable things particular to this trip to the State Park was definitely the enormous patches of brilliantly blue forget-me-nots.  Because I had never been in the park this early in the year before, I didn't know about this particular stunning display.  As I rode along one of the many bike paths in the park, I was taken with the incredible beauty of these simple flowers.  The sheer concentration of them seemed to cause the ground to glow with their natural iridescence.  Another first for this trip was the amount of trilliums in bloom and the occasional delicate yellow Lady slipper along the trails.  Mostly I just enjoyed the company of my first born, as he gladly accompanied me on each adventure I dreamed up.

The two of us had nice fire-side talks while sitting and sipping beverages, and allowed the time of day and amount of natural light to slowly lull us into a non-typical bed-time each night.  The crickets and frogs on our side of Weborg's natural marsh, cranked it up to full volume at dusk.  The cacophony was truly spectacular and would probably keep most light sleepers from drifting off to La-La land...not me...I absolutely enjoyed each chirp and croak until dawn came to nudge my eyelids open.  Bacon on the camp stove, coarse ground camp coffee, and blueberry pancakes made the trip that much more memorable, and having my oldest child along to share in the simplicity of the natural world around us, was priceless.  Memories are made of these...indeed.

Thanks for allowing me to wax familial for a bit...It meant a lot to me.

Here's our bird list from the trip:

Forget-Me-Nots in Bloom!

Peninsula State Park - 100 Years and "Counting"

A birder's paradise awaits you in Door County, Wisconsin...

Anything that reaches the grand old age of 100, gets my respect. To have existed for a continuous century is quite an accomplishment in today's "throw-away" world. Peninsula State Park, located in Fish Creek, WI (County of Door) is celebrating a significant birthday (all year) with various activities surrounding its centennial. You can purchase all kinds of neato-cool merchandise too if you are the type of person who is predisposed to the "shopping gene." I personally am a hat and tee shirt (hoarder) "collector" and am not afraid to admit to this teensy bit of self-indulgence. Heck, I truly do "wear" the things I purchase too, so...(um...am I pathetically justifying my OCD behavior here?) Anyway, there's all sorts of...ahh...ways to "support" their cause HERE if you are so inclined.

The family recently took its annual vacation to this favorite destination; utilizing two vehicles (one pulling the Jayco) to accommodate for all the necessary creature comforts which six people would require for the four days we would be camped there. Were there "extra" items brought along which would not be used? Sure there always are, however if there's "room" in the vehicles...what the heck...throw them in too. Bicycles, lawn-chairs, beach towels, blow-up rafts, tarps, coolers, grills, you name it...stow it in. Don't forget the ladder-golf (AKA: testicle toss, Bola, Polish golf, hillbilly horseshoes, etc.) either, as we planned to have intense on site competition. You don't know about "TT?" Well, it's just about the most revolutionary campground activity since the deadly beloved steel-tipped lawn "Jart" was banned by the "safety nannies" in the 80s. There is truly no replacement "danger factor" offered by this new creative game, but playing it still offers the stalwart camper many of the same ingredients for some lively fun: competition, chance, hilarity, and one hand free for an "adult beverage." There's even a few serious tournaments across the country dedicated to it's play. I would hazard a guess that one day, any potential patron of any camping facility in America would be carefully screened upon check-in, to ensure that said plastic paragon of entertainment, was a part of their larder before being granted entry. (No, just kidding, but you sure see a lot of these set-ups as you drive the posted 10 MPH through the many circles of campsites.) It sure as heck-fire beats "Cornhole" as the best form of entertainment introduced to the camper in many years. Enough of that! How the heck did I get off on THAT tangent anyway? (..., it's easy Birdstud...you are easily distracted...you might as well add ADHD to your OCD profile while you're at it).

Packing up the necessary "birding gear" the first full morning, I sidled my leg over the bar on the Giant (my "comfort bike") and headed out of Welckers Point Campground just as the sun was getting going for the day. I pedaled onto the scenic Sunset Trail heading towards the Eagle Bluff lighthouse in hopes of seeing wild turkeys. Upon bicycling the relative short distance to the lighthouse drive, I was treated to a group of three splendid Toms walking and pecking their way along just off the pavement. (Video below) I stood quietly watching (and filming) in the cool Lake Michigan morning breeze as they moved off into the woods. It always amazes me each time I see them in the wild of the Park; their long black beards blowing in the wind as they look for acorns and other favorite foodstuffs that litter the forest floor. They are so doggone big (and probably tasty) to see they take flight is another head-shaker. You just don't figure them to be able to do it, for as much time as they spend on the ground walking from place to place. Of the 59 total bird species I have seen while in the park, they are among the most interesting to watch. White pelicans were seen in the various bays and flying overhead throughout this particular visit. A few warblers also made an appearance: Black-throated greens, American redstarts, and Ovenbirds among them. Don't forget to visit the 1904 Blossomberg Cemetary too. There are many species of birds to be seen on and around the ancient tombstones. I saw many, many immature Robins basking in the dappled sunlight, and "washing-up" in a handy water-filled dirt depression. Plus, reading the markers is truly educational too.

So dear reader, my (can't miss) prescription for a wonderfully relaxing, and entertaining way to spend some quality family-time, and recharge from your busy schedules is to pack up the Woody with the kitchen sink, and head to north eastern Wisconsin's "thumb." P.S...and don't forget to pack your TT too...remember, that day is coming and where you read about it first.

Happy [100th] Birthday Peninsula State Park: from the Birdstud and (all) his readers











Now...Gobble-up this Birdstud Original Video!!

The Turkeys of Eagle Bluff Lighthouse