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”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
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”
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 – 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”
Michael's Place 