Northern Michigan!

The picturesque shoreline of Lake Huron at Thompson's Harbor State Park, Presque Isle County, Michigan. For the seventh year in a row, I headed to Nettie Bay Lodge to lead a natural history excursion. We had a great time and saw LOTS of stuff - birds, mammals, plants, you name it. Jackie and Mark Schuler, proprietors of the lodge, are fabulous hosts, and as a bonus Jackie's cooking is WORLD CLASS! Just ask anyone who's been. What a perk. If you're interested in coming up next year, contact Jackie or Mark at Nettie Bay Lodge, HERE. We keep the group small, 8 to 10 people. It'll be May 22 thru 26, 2017 (arrive in afternoon on Monday, depart after lunch on Friday).

My blogging has been sparse of late, but it's not for want of material. I've got so much stuff in the past month I could write posts daily for weeks. Time has been the problem, and still is as I play catch-up. So, for now, a pictorial slide show of just a few of the northern Michigan goodies from the past ten days.

Dwarf Lake Iris, Iris lacustris

Fringed Milkwort, Polygala paucifolia

Ram's-head Lady's-slipper, Cypripedium arietinum

Four-spotted Skimmer, Libellula quadrimaculata

Sea Lamprey, Petromyzon marinus (in tank at Hammond Bay Biological Station)

Blanding's Turtle, Emydoidea blandingii

Purple Finch, Haemorhous purpureus

Savannah Sparrow, Passerculus sandwichensis

Clay-colored Sparrow, Spizella pallida

Kirtland's Warbler, Setophaga kirtlandii, preening

Mourning Warbler, Geothlypis philadelphia

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Sphyrapicus varius, female checking on male in nest hole.

Semipalmated Plover, Charadrius semipalmatus

Virginia Rail, Rallus limicola