The new sign at Whitefish Point. A couple of caterpillars – Northern apple sphinx on the left, Virginia ctenucha on the right. Insects aside, yesterday was an epic flight of passerines at the point. Here are a few of the “official” numbers: Pine Siskin-490, Dark-eyed Junco-2025, Palm Warbler-347, Yellow-rumped Warbler-2677, and over 4000 ducks, dominatedContinue reading “Birdie day at Whitefish Point”
Tag Archives: michigan
The trees were dripping with myrtles!
The “myrtles” were Myrtle Warblers, also called Yellow-rumped Warblers. Yesterday the wind shifted to the NW and the woods between us and the tip of Whitefish Point were full of warblers, primarily “myrtles.” Between eight am and 7 pm I tallied close to 350 of this little beauties. There were also a few Palm WarblersContinue reading “The trees were dripping with myrtles!”
Erie Metropark Hawks
We spend part of the day yesterday at the Detroit River Hawk Watch in Erie Metropark which is in Wayne County, Michigan. I spent from 9 AM until noon watching hawks. I wan’t disappointed. I was able to seen over 2,000 Broad-winged Hawks, which was nice. If I had stayed the entire day I mightContinue reading “Erie Metropark Hawks”
Interesting plants
The other day when we were heading south to Ann Arbor we stopped at Point LaBarbe in Mackinac County. We were looking for some interesting late summer plants. And we actually found everything that we were looking for. Fen grass-of-parnassus on the left, lesser fringed gentian on the right. The mixed cobble and sand nearContinue reading “Interesting plants”
What was in the garden last night
Our garden, which is mostly edible plants also attracts a great variety of insects, both during the day and at night. Tomato hornworm caterpillar that’s been parasitized and covered in small coccoons. It’s still alive and munching on tomato leaves. Female Chinese mantis that laid eggs in the kale. This non-native species has apparently fedContinue reading “What was in the garden last night”
Back in the garden
After the rain stopped I got back out and finished picking jalapeños. There are still abunch of green ones so I am envisioning more pickled jalapeños in the future. I also picked the roma tomtoes which will also be canned. Last time I got 23 pounds. This times I got 24 and there’s still aContinue reading “Back in the garden”
What’s in the garden?
Being away for ten days means that there was a lot to get from the garden. This is about ten meals worth of green beans. Wow! The zucchini really grew while we were gone. Susan will be making zucchini bread. There are also a bunch of jalapeños, cherry tomatoes, slicing tomatoes and roma’s. But theContinue reading “What’s in the garden?”
An ineteresting butterfly
Yesterday afternoon I went for a short walk looking for birds and not expecting to find anything of interest. Then on my way to the point I found what I believe was a new butterfly for me, a checkered white. Not the best photo but the butterfly was quite active feeding at the (gasp) spottedContinue reading “An ineteresting butterfly”
Something’s missing
Susan has been working on the habitat restoration site at the parking lot of Whitefish Point for over three years. A lot of time and effort has gone into moving plants and lichens as well as driftwood and small logs. Recently, somebody removed, as in took one of the nicest pieces of driftwood that wasContinue reading “Something’s missing”
Walking without a camera
Sometimes, later in the day I’ll go to the point without my camera, which I should never do. Because everytime I do tht I run into something interesting. The white fluff on the branch are alder woolly aphids. Aphids are often “tended” by ants who do not harm the aphids, but rather watch over themContinue reading “Walking without a camera”
