Author Archives: makielb

It’s time to get the garden ready for the heat that’s coming. Weeding, watering getting the water-bath filled for birds. Also picking some dill and basil for meals. This part of the garden is in shade for part of the day and is still doing quite well. Peppers, tomatoes and eggplants are all in flower.Continue reading “Back in the garden”

We stopped by our friend Edie’s garden today. She has spectacular flower and vegetable beds. Lots of nice tomato plants, eggplants, peas, garlic and lettuce. The two raised beds in front of me were filled with lettuce and arugula that needed picking. We got to take enough with us for several salads. I think theContinue reading “Another garden in Ann Arbor”

We spent the day on the Curley Lewis Scenic Byway, where we have made a slow-paced drive from M-123 to Brimley (about 30 miles) since 2011. It usually takes us about 5-6 hours to make the trip stopping at every spot we can. Typically we find 16-19 species of breeding warblers. This is Naomikong Creek,Continue reading “A day looking for warblers”

This is the new bridge that crosses the Tahquamenon River to the island at the Lower Falls. Now we can visit all five of the falls, rather than just two and seeing a distant third. Prior to the bridge unless you took a canoe or kayak across the river to the island there were threeContinue reading “The new bridge at Tahquamenon Falls”

A male Ruby-throated Hummingbird, keeping a close eye on our feeder at Whitefish Point. A real warrior. The Aztec god Huitzilopochtli. The name translates as “Hummingbird of the south.” This god of war, battles, gold and the sun was the brother of Quetzalcotl, the chief god of the Aztecs. Hummingbirds were considered the reincarnation ofContinue reading “Hummingbirds, moths and more”

An Arctic skipper and a Dreamy duskywing, two of todays insect finds. We went to Natalie Lake, near Newberry in Luce County searching for some special birds that nest there. We found them – Golden-winged Warbler, Mourning Warbler and Black Tern. But we are always expecting to find a diversity in insects. Two damselflies. TheContinue reading “Insects at Natalie Lake”

Yeah, this is me. Trying to remember things without the information right in front of me has it’s limits – sigh. The right individual is a Gold-backed snipe fly. The one on the left is a robber fly that is a mimic of other flies. Fringed polygala is carpeting forest floors in the eastern UpperContinue reading “Insects and orchids”

Ebony jewelwing, one of the largest damselflies. Craneflies are a primitive member of Diptera, which contains all of the flies. I think that there are about 1000 species in Michigan and the Great Lakes states. Just because it’s time to see more insects doesn’t mean that I stop looking at other things. This is aContinue reading “It’s now insect season!”

The day started with breakfast at Village Kitchen our local favorite place for breakfast. We were celebrating my birthday. Then I got a message that there was a Black-bellied Whistling-Duck at Gallup Park. While I have seen tens of thousands in the south, I had never seen one in Michigan, let alone Ann Arbor. ThisContinue reading “Starting June with a celebration”

Memorial, as in memory from the Greek goddess of memories – Mnemosyne. Memory is what we fear loosing as we age. Fortunately, most people that I know have retained their memory and mental health, although we all get forgetful on occasion. Then again, how many people do I know that know so much that theyContinue reading “Memorial Day”