Fall colors – plants and birds

An amazing sunrise at Whitefish Point. This photo is from the lower deck. The next one is from the upper deck. Each has its own merit.

With strong south/southeast winds the clouds were soon gone, then replaced by others well after the sun was up.

I think that when people think about fall color they think of hard-wood leaves (maples, oaks, hickories, aspens, etc.) But in the north you realize the beauty of the tamaracks changing color as they are about to drop needles. First they go from dark green to lime green, then yellow. Mixed in with balsam fir, white and black spruce, hemlock and pines they can make for a subtle, yet beautiful landscape.

The tamaracks are all yellow here.

Aspens and birches are still holding some leaves, although almost all of the paper birches have dropped theirs.

Now that the feeders at the Whitefish Point Bird Observatory are now being filled there is a lot of activity. On the left is a female Purple Finch with a goldfinch in the background. On the right in the center is a colorful male Purple Finch.

Here’s a nice portrait of a male Purple Finch. It is nice hearing their calls and seeing so many. Most will be leaving northern Michigan soon.

Above all of the finch activity at the feeder an American Crow keep watch for anything it could snatch.

On our walk back to the cabin Susan found a Fox Sparrow. The rufous and grays go well together.

The blueberries at the front of our property are all glowing red, having long giving up their fruits to us and other mammals.

The view of the cabin from Whitefish Point Road. And finally…

I took this photo of a Northern Hawk Owl on 25 October 2014. I guess we had better get out and start looking.

Until tomorrow…