Rare bird and orchid

We heard that there was a Hudsonian Godwit at the point. So, we drove down there (we usually walk) and managed to get the bird.

I zoomed in on the bird, and yes it’s a breeding-plumage Hudsonian Godwit.

After seeing the bird we headed odd to look for fairy-slippers/Calypso orchids. We were with Martin and Catherine as well as Dan. With five of us looking for orchids we’d probably have better luck.

Between where we parked and the woods with the orchids we stopped to see the Lakeside daisies, a rare plant in the Upper Peninsula.

Lots of insects – a bush-cricket, a flower fly and a Ctneucha moth caterpillar.

First orchid was downy rattlesnake-plantain. As with most of the members of the genus Goodyear, I find the leaves more interesting than the flowers.

Then we found striped coralroot, an orchid that is parasitic on the roots of woody plants.

Dan, Martin and Catherine happy about out next find.

Here’s Susan photographing a fairy-slipper, showing you how small the orchid is.

Here are two photos of fairies-slippers that I took.

Our final orchid, dwarf rattlesnake-plantain. This plant would easily fit under a half dollar.

The largest patch of dwarf rattlesnake plantain that we found.

More tomorrow…