makielb

From the garden to the birds

The plants in the garden survived the night, it never got that cold. This is what it looked like as we were getting ready to head north. Got to Whitefish Point and the Red-breasted Nuthatches were enjoying the suet. At one point there were seven on the suet or waiting to get to it. ThisContinue reading “From the garden to the birds”

Dealing with nature

This morning the B.C. comic was so appropriate. Last night after planting the garden there was a frost warning. Susan quickly got the plants covered. Since we’re leaving today to go north when we uncover the plants they will be “on their own” for a while. This morning it was 36F when I got up,Continue reading “Dealing with nature”

Garden 2026

It’s time to think about what’s going into our garden this year sice we will be planting it this week. Three of the beds are ready for planting. One bed, the lower right one still needs mint removed. The two rows with stuff already growing are our garlic beds. Once the garlic comes out we’llContinue reading “Garden 2026”

Hantavirus

The recent outbreak of hantavirus on a cruise-ship has brought this incurable disease into the forefront of the news. I first heard about hantavirus in the mid-1990s when there was an regional outbreak in the Navajo Nation in the southwest United States. This outbreak involved the deaths of three young healthy Navajo runners. It tookContinue reading “Hantavirus”

Time to look for warblers

Yesterday we got together with Mike and went to Magee Marsh where we met Joanna and spent an enjoyable day at Magee Marsh and Howard Marsh in Ohio. It’s always nice getting a good look at a Bald Eagle nest. But the real highlight was the number and variety of warblers. American Redstarts (left) wereContinue reading “Time to look for warblers”

Time to head south for a few days

Whitefish Point in May can vary from cold to hot and from windy to still, sometimes it rains and sometimes it snows. It’s OK when it rains because it is typically intermittent and migrants, especially waterfowl still moves. But when it snows everything that I want to see stops. Well, last night it snowed, althoughContinue reading “Time to head south for a few days”

Quiet days at Whitefish Point

The past few days have been less that great for migrants. The winds have been howling from the north-west and west. So, I’ve been catching up on reading and thinking about what I’ve read. I bought this a few years ago, as Terry Pratchett was an author that was recommended to me by a colleagueContinue reading “Quiet days at Whitefish Point”

What migrating birds will today offer?

This morning facing north (left) and south (right). It’s quite windy out of the WNW, but otherwise has the makings of a beautiful day. Yesterday, on the other hand was spectacular. There were close to 2,000 Sharp-shinned Hawks in the sky as they passed heading north, as well as stopping to hunt. Small birds, likeContinue reading “What migrating birds will today offer?”

Some humor to start the week

Somehow, Arlo and Janis always hit the spot. Poor turtle. Yes! Birds sing happy songs – because hey’re for mating. Susan would love this type of cafeteria. Back to birds tomorrow…

A cool May morning

Yesterday was surprisingly good for migrant hawks at Whitefish Point. There were a lot of Broad-winged Hawks and Sharp-shinned Hawks. Both Golden and Bald Eagles were seen in decent numbers. And in the evening we had a good look at a Long-eared Owl flying by as the sun was setting. Sunrise from the upper deckContinue reading “A cool May morning”