Whitefish Point weekend

Our day, whether at Whitefish Point, in Ann Arbor or elsewhere starts with coffee. It’s just at the cabin our mugs reflect the site.

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Usually after coffee and breakfast we usually take a walk to the bird observatory to see who might be there, or what birds shave shown up – like the Snow Goose to the right of the Canada Goose.

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Usually, we will then search out a trail, especially on weekends where we can avoid large numbers of people. This has become more typical during the pandemic. The trails of choice this weekend were the Paradise Pathways North and South Trails.

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In the fall, especially after rainy days, which have been rare this year mushrooms and other fungi become more numerous, and quite attractive.

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Regardless of what else might around I am always drawn to lichens and clubmosses. It always amazes people when they see the great diversity in these primitive fungi and plants.

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As our long walk was coming to an end the other day we found several patches of Comptonia, sweet-fern, along the trail. The when we reached the parking lot we realized that it was lunch-time. So we headed into Paradise and go to the Berry Patch, where we had not met the new owners yet, or seen the new menu. Masks on (there’s a virus outbreak in Paradise) we met the owners, orders lunch and sat outside eating it.

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I thought that our last sighting of the day would be a mating-pair of northern flightless grasshoppers. However, one night Susan found a spring peeper on a tree behind the house, where she was using a flashlight to search for insects (mostly moths) in the dark.

Our days have recent ended watching Jupiter, Saturn and the Moon. With a spotting score we were able to see the rings of Saturn and four Jovian Moons. The perfect way to end the day.

More next time…