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”
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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”
Spring wildflowers in Michigan
We went to Hudson Mills Metropark in Washtenaw County yesterday searching for a special little spring wildflower that is typically the first of the flowers that we see each year in Michigan. We were not disappointed. Stoneflies are some of the earliest insects that we find in Michigan. Here are photos of possibly two species,Continue reading “Spring wildflowers in Michigan”
Traveling in the South – packing to leave Dauphin Island
It’s a busy morning as we are getting ready to head slightly north where for two days we will have no internet service. So here are a few drawings of mostly birds from the trip. Winter Wren and Bald Cyprus – typically how the trip starts, and sometimes ends. Usually these two bright warblers (HoodedContinue reading “Traveling in the South – packing to leave Dauphin Island”
Sad news about a good friend
My friend and co-author of The Birds of Washtenaw County, Michigan John Swales died two days ago. This has been really had for me. We had known each other since 1990, if not earlier. And he was the stimulus to writing the above book. Soon after we were not only spending time together with birds,Continue reading “Sad news about a good friend”
Traveling in the South – birds in flight and more
We spent another great day looking at nature, this time with our longtime friends Roger and Dawn. WE were at Orlando Wetlands. This is an Anhinga heading to a nest. Here’s a Northern Harrier looking for food. A Tricolored Heron heading to it’s nest. I learned this bird as a Louisiana Heron many years ago.Continue reading “Traveling in the South – birds in flight and more”
Traveling in the South – Spruce Creek and tacos.
Our day started with an amazing sunrise. This is the view from Ken and Patsy’s front porch where I sat watching Fish Crows and White Ibises leave their nocturnal roosts. It was hard leaving but we were headed to Roger and Dawn’s for the next few days. On the way to Roger and Dawn’s weContinue reading “Traveling in the South – Spruce Creek and tacos.”
Traveling in the South – Longleaf Pine Preserve
We watched an amazing sunrise sipping coffee with our friends Patsy and Ken before heading out on our next adventure to the Longleaf Pine Preserve where we first met in February, 2020. These are two flowering butterworts, which are carnivorous plants. Yellow butterwort is on the left and Blue butterwort is on the right. HereContinue reading “Traveling in the South – Longleaf Pine Preserve”
Traveling in the South – Tiger Bay/Pershing Highway
We spent yesterday on a wonderful trail that was once the road from Deland to Deytona. The center of the trail is red brick. Our friends Patsy and Ken introduced us to this site last year and we all went again this year. It wasn’t very birdy, but I did see two Swallow-tailed Kites whichContinue reading “Traveling in the South – Tiger Bay/Pershing Highway”
Traveling in the South – Halifax river morning
We’re visiting our friends Ken and Patsy in Port Orange. This our morning view where I got to watch lots of ibises and herons fly by. The very brief view of the rising sun before the clouds set in and the rain started. A palm just off of the front porch with a Princess ofContinue reading “Traveling in the South – Halifax river morning”
Michael's Place 