makielb

Canada Day – 2025

It’s been a very long time since I have written anything. So it seems appropriate that I start writing again on Canada Day. This was something that we celebrated when I was young, as my grandparents lived and were married in Canada and my mother was born there. Recently, we made a major trip toContinue reading “Canada Day – 2025”

Mother’s Day – 2025

I have so many memories of celebrating Mother’s Day with family and friends. Memories of my mother, grandmother and aunts. Kathy only got to have a single Mother’s Day with Alexis before Kathy died. Susan has celebrated with Alexis and Camilla for over forty years. My mother Maria Bellotti with her parents Frances and MicheleContinue reading “Mother’s Day – 2025”

Ann Arbor Spring

After being at Whitefish Point for much of April and the start of May we are back in Ann Arbor for a few days of shopping and planting. Going out the back door we are now home to a nesting American Robin. AT first she was quite disturbed with our coming and going. But sheContinue reading “Ann Arbor Spring”

Whitefish Point – Long-eared Owls

We are back at Whitefish Point, Michigan for a bit. It’s always nice when the drive from southern Michigan is easy and the weather is nice. Last night after walking to the point after dinner it had become quite cloudy with a moderate breeze from the west. This meant that any birds flying in theContinue reading “Whitefish Point – Long-eared Owls”

Whitefish Point – migrating hawks

The past two days have ha nice numbers of migrating hawks. This was dominated by Sharp-shinned Hawks, Northern Harriers and Rough-legged Hawks, which are all nice to see in numbers. A Sharp-shinned Hawk that landed in a dead tree. Rough-legged Hawks were dominated by light-colored birds although a few dark ones passed by. Northern HarriersContinue reading “Whitefish Point – migrating hawks”

Whitefish Point – A rare bird shows up

You never quite know what to expect bird wise when you’re at Whitefish Point. I am always interested in what raptors appear, when they appear and in what numbers. Rough-legged Hawks seem to fly in any weather, regardless of the temperature or wind direction. The same applies to Sharp-shinned Hawks and Turkey Vultures. Red-tailed HawksContinue reading “Whitefish Point – A rare bird shows up”

Whitefish Point – snow and birds

Sunset is always pretty at Whitefish Point. So far we haven’t seen any owls in the evening. While we have had a lot of snow this year, it’s not an unusual amount. The photo on the left is Susan and Bruno on 11 April 2015, The photo on the right is the same view thisContinue reading “Whitefish Point – snow and birds”

Whitefish Point – Hawk-watching

Yesterday was a wonderful day at Whitefish Point. The daytime temperature went from 30F to 40F with light ESE to SE winds. Those winds pushed the birds way to the west of us, but we could still see a lot of them. Red-tailed Hawks dominated the day with most forming a large kettle of overContinue reading “Whitefish Point – Hawk-watching”

Back at Whitefish Point

We got to our home away from home yesterday afternoon. It’s beautiful, sunny and cool. The high yesterday was 39F. However, there is still a lot of snow. While this view of Whitefish Point Road doesn’t show it well, the base is about 2-3 feet. Here we are at the intersection of Sandy Lane andContinue reading “Back at Whitefish Point”

Hands Off Rally in Ann Arbor

Susan and I went to the Hands Off Rally at Jackson and Maple Roads in the later afternoon in Ann Arbor. We had the pleasure of seeing several friends there – Chellie, Tom & Jodi (three friends who were with Susan earlier in the day at a similar rally in Ypsilanti), We also saw Meg,Continue reading “Hands Off Rally in Ann Arbor”