Welcome to My Michigan (The Mitten)
I took a fifteen year break from photography to spend as much time as possible with my family. Now that the kids are out of school and I find myself with more free time I have decided to join the digital age and pick up where I left off.
For me photography is a labor of love. It helps me see everything in a new light and a new way. Everyday events become forever memories. Insects, flowers, animals and birds become magical and mystical. My eyes see a whole new world around me, sometimes alien but always beautiful. This is what I love to do, winter, spring, summer and fall, immersed in the great out of doors with a camera in my hand.
Come and join me on my expeditions. And just maybe, like many others, you will come away "Smitten by the Mitten".
Thank you for stopping by.
Jim
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Butterfly Painting
Here are three more photos taken yesterday at Fenner. This is a Cabbage Butterfly on a Flat-topped Goldenrod.
This photo is uncropped with very little post processing.
Here are two cropped photos. The one on the right was shot in full sunshine and the one on the left was shot when the sun was under a cloud.
Breakfast at Fenner
Yesterday while walking the paths at Fenner we caught this Ruby-throated hummingbird eating a late breakfast of Butter-n-Eggs. Yum Yum ... Three more pics here.
Dragon Head
A friend and I went for a hike at Fenner Arboretum today. We hadn't gone far when we saw this deflated balloon falling from the sky. I really like the way it turned out.
Saugatuck Shore-Birds
Here is a pic of my favorite bird of the day, a Semipalmated Plover. Click here to see all of the shore-bird pics from the Kalamazoo River Trip.
Kalamazoo River Kayaking
What a beautiful day relaxing in the kayaks on the Kalamazoo River. Click here to see more Infrared pics.
A New One!
Yesterday I went kayaking on the Kalamazoo River with my wife, sister, niece and brother-in-law. We put in at the New Richmond Bridge Park Access and took out at Wades Bayou. It was a perfect day for a paddle with the perfect company. I thoroughly enjoyed the almost 4 hour paddle. Afterward we had a lovely Lunch at the Hickory Pit in Saugatuck. Last stop was the Mouth of the Kalamazoo River to look for shore birds. We were not disappointed, and saw Sanderlings, Semipalmated Sandpipers, a Semipalmated Plover, Herring, Bonapart and Ring-billed Gulls, Caspian, Common, and a Forster's Tern. The highlight was this Great Black-backed Gull. All in all we saw 44 species of birds for the day. It was a very good/excellent day!
Great Black-backed Gull
Look at the size of this gull next to a Semipalmated Sandpiper and Ring-billed Gull!
Cattle Egrets
On Saturday someone reported two Cattle Egret at Maple River SGA. So Sunday afternoon Greg and I headed that way to see if we could find them. I was quite happy to see that they were still there hanging out on the causeway between cell C and cell D. Here are the best pics I could come up with.
More Burke Lake Banding
We went to the Burke Lake Banding Station again yesterday. Here is my bird of the day, a Canada Warbler. Click here to see the rest of the pics.
Wild Sunflower
I stopped by Harris Nature Center in between rain showers today and was captivated by the Tall Sunflowers. Here is a closeup photo that I especially liked. I think this may be a Schweinitz's Sunflower.
Snowy Egret
This morning I was finally able to get a look at the Snowy Egret that has been hanging out in the holding pond on the NE corner of Hulett and Jolly Roads in Okemos Michigan. It is nice to have one of these beautiful birds in the Mid Michigan area.
Left photo is the Snowy Egret. Right Photo shows the size difference between the Snowy Egret and the Great Egret.
More Beach Flowers
Here are pics of two more Lake Huron Beach Bog flowers. The first is in the orchid family, Nodding Ladies' Tresses. It stands about 4 inches tall. The second is a Grass of Parnassus (Bog-star) flower. It is about 1 in in diameter. Click here to see some more photos of the Lake Huron Beach Flora and Fauna.
Fringed Gentian
Thirty years ago, when I first started visiting the Northeast Lake Huron shoreline, these flowers were not hard to find around the boggy beach areas (Marl Bogs) so prevalent in this part of the state. This past week I looked in places where Fringed Gentians were once quite abundant and was able to find only two plants. Problem is too many people find these flowers more attractive in a vase on their table top than in their natural setting. Also as more houses are built along the shore the bogs are drained or filled in so there is a nice sandy beach to play on. It makes me sad to think that future generations may never see one of these flowers in their natural setting. Click here to see all of the Fringed Gentian pics.
Take Off!
The eagle was back in its usual early morning roost looking out over Lake Huron. I hung around for a bit and was able to get these photos off him lifting off and flying away.
Lighthouses
Yesterday afternoon we finally had a peak at bright blue skies and warm sunshine. We decided to drive up to Cheboygan State Park and hike the green trail along the lakeshore. We saw several warblers and had good looks at Poe Reef and 14 Foot Shoal Lighthouses. It was a gorgeous day and a beautiful walk.
Poe Reef Lighthouse.
14 Foot Shoal Lighthouse and Big Mac.
The Eagle is Back
The Eagle is back in its' usual spot serenading us in the early morning.
