Tracks on the Beach

On the southeastern shore of Lake Superior...

Canada Goose

heron or crane?

man

Teva Sandal

BEAR!

Splash!

This is where I lost my Sony compact digital camera.  Climbing down from this rock I heard a clunk.   Hmm.  What was that?  When I turned around to check it out I heard a splash.  By then it was pretty clear my Sony had dropped into a small pool next to the rock. I plunged my hand into the cold darkness to search for it.  It was 10 minutes before I was able to locate and retrieve my poor old camera. I tried drying it out but no luck. It's a goner.

Canada Geese - Part Two

More Canada Geese photos, this time from the beach at Erich's house on Lake Superior (until I chased them away)

                Bye bye birdies.  Leave your presents somewhere else, please!

A few of my favorite things

Hiking with Erich combines a few of my favorite things:  spending time with my best friend, hiking, enjoying the natural beauty of Canada and northern Michigan, and photographing some of the amazing things we see along the way.

Spring Lake - Part Two - Surprise!

(See Spring Lake, part one.)

After our adventure with the swans and turtle nests we walked to where the wetland boardwalk joins with the North Country Trail behind the old brick brewery.

 My attention went to the water lilies and blue flag irises until just ten inches from my foot was something that made my heart race!

There, in the soft grass, partially hidden by branches was a tiny fawn all curled up in a circle sleeping and seeking shelter from the rain. Trying not to disturb the spotted white tail deer I snapped a few photos. Her eye opened slowly as she lay still.

While I looked behind me to get Erich's attention she bounded away into the marsh grass to hide. What a rare opportunity!  I will not forget that moment of discovery any time soon!

Spring Lake - Part One

A few days ago Erich and I took a little hike through Spring Lake Park on M-119, really more like a lagoon. We were rewarded with several wildlife encounters which, of course, we photographed.

The resident pair of Mute Swans (Cygnus olor)  came to see us and later were joined by a cygnet! (baby swan). We also found at least a half dozen Snapping Turtle nests which had already harbored many eggs to the hatching point. I've heard rumors that there are so many large turtles in the pond that's the reason we rarely see any cygnets in spite of the fact that a pair of swans can hatch 5-12 cygnets in one season.

An open turtle nest

The male (cob) is extremely territorial and can become very aggressive, even toward humans, as he showed us by hissing, approaching and displaying his impressive wingspan.  The female (pen) was protective, keeping the cygnet close to her.

They eventually realized we had no bread scraps and posed no threat, so they quietly went about their business eating aquatic vegetation and small aquatic animals.

P.S. Upon further investigation I learned that Snappers don't hatch until September so the ravaged nests we discovered must have been found by predators such as skunks, raccoons, or fox.

Canada Geese

Erich and I took a walk on the banks of the Saint Mary's River in the Soo recently. We found two families of geese trying to hide in a little lagoon. The goslings are adorable with their fuzzy, downy  feathers and black webbed feet!

Gotta love the nervous parent squawking at us with her big pink tongue!

It is often called the Canadian Goose, but that name is not the ornithological standard, or the most common name.-Wiki