Everyday is Monday

Half way to Eggs!

2009-05-27T21:08:00.003-04:00

Even though it rained nearly all day, we had a little celebration. Today the chickens (no longer are they chicks) turned 11 weeks old or about halfway to being laying pullets. Still no "signs" of roosters which is good as I'll find it hard to part with any of the "girls".

Having had chickens (and ducks, geese, and guinea hens) in the past, I was happy that they have all survived. Likewise, I'm happy that I survived this long too! Whenever I walk past their temporary housing in the brooder house, they beg for attention and we have long conversations whenever I feed.

Because they've gotten bigger and I haven't built their proper Hen House, I created a small run for them to spend nice days out on the ground. I've also let them out to forge a bit as they've cleared out all of the grass in their pen and run.

Much of the garden is complete with the onions, peas, broccoli, potatoes, and Spring vegs up and growing. Soon the tomatoes, peppers, and squash plants will be in too. Then I'll have time to mulch the walkways and get ready to enjoy the garden as it grows.

Busy as a Bee

2009-04-20T09:31:00.005-04:00

At last the weather feels like its broken Winter's grip and Spring is settling in.

Unfortunately that usually means that I have many tasks to do in a short period - Garden prep, bed protection, planting, transplanting, seed starting (in doors and out), chicks to clean, hen houses to build, trees to trim up, fences to mend, wood piles to clean, Spring cabin cleaning, and a host of other tasks.

Luckily, today is rainy so I'll be back after breakfast to catch up on in door tasks!

Puff Balls to Prickly Chicks

2009-04-03T22:52:00.003-04:00

Well the cute little fuzz balls have become half feather pin cushions as the chicks are growing quickly. All have sprouted tiny wings and tails, and have spikey hair dos as their heads are more pin feathers than real feathers. One of the Wynadottes is very friendly, in part to a little hand feeding of egg yolks and bread crumbs that they all share. Given the chance she/he would sit on my arm all day checking out buttons, pens, paper, my iphone and anything else I have in my shirt pocket. One of the Araucana is also becoming chummy which I hope they all do before they move outside. That makes it easier to call them together if they're going to out free ranging.

Now, if I could just get the Spring snows to stop long enough to get started on their outdoor hen house, I'd be much happier.

Another Step

2009-03-23T22:36:00.003-04:00

Another step toward sustainability that I planned to take, in addition to the garden beds, is to have a few chickens for eggs, manure, and bug control. A few hens are able to provide a lot of eggs over a years time, and while that isn't really that much of a cost savings, every little bit helps. The production of their nitrogen rich manure will also be very helpful in improving and maintaining the garden soils. Lastly, if I can free range (under a watchful eye) them a bit, they'll be a help in reducing insect pests.

To that end, I picked up a number of chicks at one of the local farm stores. In the end I got four chicks each of Silver Laced Wyandottes, Buff Orpingtons, Araucana, and Rhode Island Reds. I pick them carefully and hopefully will have mostly hens, although there isn't a sure way to sex most chicks. There are a few other breeds that I would like and so I may add a few more later this Spring.

If I end up with 12 hens, they should produce around three dozen eggs per week which will be more than enough for me. I'll be send some down to my Mother and maybe have enough to sell once in a while - but I'll have to wait to see.

The most immediate need will be to construct out door housing. I'll be constructing a smaller "chicken tractor" for short term (and breeding later on) housing. Eventually, I'll get the permanent hen house constructed at one end of the wood shed that also needs to be built this Spring.

Finally. . .

2009-03-15T23:29:00.002-04:00

The beginning of Spring appears to have finally arrived. They temperatures have risen to the upper 40s during the bright sunshine and sunset has moved on to about 7:15 PM. We'll surely get a few more overnights of cold air and maybe a flake or two, but it looks like Winter is moving on.

This week will be busy. My birthday is on Monday (shameless plug) and I've decided to start the brooder up in anticipation of getting the chicks this week. I haven't decided on the final count yet, and the breeds will be what's available when I get to the Farm Supply. This will put the chicks at about 10 weeks by the end of May when they should be fine outside. That's also long enough to get a Chicken Tractor constructed as their permanent home will be built in with the new wood shed coming this year.

Some of the herbs are sprouted as well as a few early flowers. I planted some ornamental hot peppers today that will go into the new planters to be built for the deck. I'll also need to start some of the tomatoes for pots and a few for early sets in the garden. Speaking of the garden, while it has been melting, the beds are still under about a foot of snow, but all things considered, I hope they will be nearly visible before any cooler weather returns. With luck, things will be really ready to run over the next few weeks.

Finally, of note, in two weeks I will be celebrating one full year living here on my ten acres. While some of the work preparing the homestead has been done over the last year, there is still much to do.

Spring is in the Air

2009-03-06T12:55:00.005-05:00

While its a long way off, Spring is finally in the air today. The temperatures are into the middle 40s and the eves are dripping water from the snow on the roof. We're scheduled for a number of mild days until the middle of next week when another (last?) dip in temperature is expected.

The Winter birds are still coming to the feeders, but with the warmer weather, I won;t be surprised that some will be moving on back up north. Along with the Chickadees, Nuthatches, and Jays, I've spent much of the late Winter with Pine siskins and Redpolls.

Deer have been pretty bold most of the Winter as well. Even with the feeding ban, I don't worry about them getting through the Winter as they come in to clean up under the feeders and to play "king of the snow hills" created when the driveway gets plowed.

Hopefully, it won't be long and they can move back deep into the woods and leave the turkeys and squirrels to any spilled seeds!

Winter Dragging on. . .

2009-01-31T09:13:00.002-05:00

January was quite brutal. We had two Arctic fronts that dropped the temperatures (without wind chills) down to -29 and -26 degrees for three or four days in a row with each front. In between the fronts, the snow continues to pile up - more than 125 inches total this winter!

One thing that has to be considered preparing for winter is where to plow the snow. I underestimated the space needed and so I have hills of snow blocking my view out at the feeders, around the wood stacks and along the front garden. All of that snow will be around well into to Spring to remind me of the changing seasons.

A bright spot was seeing this bird down in Bay City at my recent visit to my mother's feeders. Leuchistic coloration in birds is not that uncommon, but I can hardly believe the affects on this House Finch!

I'm not Feeding the Deer. . .Really!

2008-12-29T09:05:00.003-05:00

The warm weather reduced the ground snow by about half and that has moved the deer a little ways back into the forest. That is a good thing as deer need to be deep in the woods and not hanging around yards and roads. Ecery Winter a few unluck deer are road kill, but that does feed the Crows, Chickadees, and eagles.

Michigan has a feed ban for deer, but its impossible to stop them from cleaning up under the feeders and stealing a snack from the Turkeys. The only deer I don't begrudge cleaning up is this orphan yearling. This little guy is about the size of my lab dogs and has lost its mom. He tries to hang out with the other yearlings, but most will not have it. Even though its early in Winter, I think that Spring will find this little guy a bit bigger and stronger.

Of Course, Its in the Timing

2008-12-28T08:47:00.002-05:00

This, my first Winter at the cabin has been strange. First off, we have received more snow so far this Winter than we did all of last Winter (nearly 100 inches so far). Because the snow has been fairly deep, the deer have already set a routine of raiding the feeders - even though it usually isn't until the end of January in the past.

Yesterday, the air flow reversed and the temperature soared up to nearly 50 degrees which caused much of the snow and ice to melt - now there's only about a foot of ground snow. This morning, the temperature is back down to 30 but the wind is blowing fiercely and small flaked snow is falling.

I had burnt through about half of my wood pile, so I arranged for another load. Ofd course it came yesterday amid the warmth and melted snow. Today it sits out in the blowing cold, waiting to be stacked - or freeze together which every comes first. As I look out the window at the blowing snow, I wait with anticipation to go out into the day and start stacking before it freezes solid!

When You're hot, you're hot; When you're not. . .

2008-12-20T09:07:00.002-05:00

Boy, my weather station recorded a low last night of -22 degrees! With the sun shining now its up to a "balmy" -17. The feeders are quiet as everyone must be staying home in the very cold temperatures.

Luckily, unlike fellow birders the Stokes (Lillian and Don) out East, at least I have electricity - theirs has been out for most of the week due to the winter storms that dumped all of our snow.

All of this reminds me why I love the tropics!

Dave

Cold and blustery

2008-12-15T16:26:00.003-05:00

Winter has definite come early and hard this year, and the weather has bounced from 40 degrees yesterday to twenties this AM and finally into single digits this afternoon. The turkeys came in for a quick snack and then headed back into the woods to get out of the wind.

The wood peckers have been cleaning out the suet feeders with as many as four pairs of Hairy Woodpeckers dining and several Downies and the Red Bellied waiting a turn.

Everytime I return from outside the deer move into the feeder area hoping to find a meal. The does and their yearlings are getting a bit protective of any fallen seed and work to keep others are bay. Even with the melt in yesterdays warmer temperatures, they seem to have become more determined to glean the easy pickings under the hanging feeders.

A Day in the Life

2008-12-06T11:45:00.003-05:00

SNOW! The routines of Winter have set in. We have about 2 feet of snow on the ground and most days are very much the same while waiting for Spring. Generally, I have never woke to the sound of an alarm preferring to wake based upon my natural cycle of time. I like to get a start just before the sun is up regardless of the time.

In Winter the first task is to start the day's fire in the wood stove. I heat with wood and generally the fire needs attention from burning overnight. If I forgot to restock the wood pile on the porch, that also means a quick (cold) trip to the wood shed for a few splits to get things going including the coffee pot! This time of the year, that also means I can sit by the fire and watch the local morning news and weather to see how the day will be. So far this year, that generally means more snow!

Once I get coffee into me its out to top off the feeders. Every morning the Blue jays are massed at the feeders awaking their daily peanuts, corn, and sunflowers to stash out in the woods. Unofrtunately, they (and the squirrels) stash more than they eat. Usually also waiting is the "new" Cottontailed Rabbit and my favorite Black Squirrel. I miss the chipmunk and Ground Squirrels scampering about, but I know they stored enough to get them through the Winter without having to brave the cold outside their dens.

I noticed that a White Breasted Nuthatch has taken to overnighting in a nest box outside my bedroom window and it doesn't take long for the feeders to be over run with Chickadees, both species of Nuthatches, Hairy, Downy, and my single Red Bellied Woodpecker.

The last to come in about mid morning are the five Turkeys who live in my woods. As the snows pile up, I figure the Turkeys need the easy food found under the feeders and will give them a cup of seeds each for their morning breakfast.

Through the day, the birds a few squirrels, and the Cottontail graze the seeds. By mid day the feeders will be nearly empty but I wait until late afternoon to replenish them. Otherwise, the Jays and Squirrels would cache food all day and the seed dependent birds would get little. A little top off of the feeders in late afternoon gives everyone a chance to fill up before dark.

In between watching the birds, I work on reading, writing, and planning for Spring. Some days bread making, baking, and the like keeps me busy as I work inside waiting for the arrival of Spring and the chance to work outdoors in the garden or woods, a chance to go fly fishing, or keeping up with the research projects I have going.

2008-11-20T23:38:00.002-05:00

While this Winter's first snow is still on the ground, a few days before Winter officially settled in, a new mammal appeared under the feeders. I've mixed feelings as usually they spell diaster around gardens, but we'll just see how things go through the Winter.

I guess I'll have to wait to see if the garden will be safe next Spring. I do have the fruiit trees inside wire fences, so they should be ok over Winter.

Pew and Phew!

2008-11-06T15:29:00.003-05:00

This morning I looked out at the feeders and thought "Pew, there's a skunk in the yard!" But wait, something didn't look quite right. I've got a few "tree rodents" that come to the feeders on a regular schedule - chimpunk, 13 line ground squirrel, red squirrels and a few fox squirrels. An area south of me has a number of small "Black Squirrels" that are about the size of the Reds. (I'm not sure, but I think there is a red version of the Reds or Pine Squirrels, so maybe these are them?) This animal was much bigger.

Phew! It finally turned around to face me an lo and behold, it was a black Fox Squirrel. I knew it was a Foxy because of its size, and the bushy tail showed some deep brown edging like Fox Squirrels. Today was the first day I saw him (yes, definitely him), and hopefully, he'll hang around.

Unfortunbately, the Red (pine) Squirrels are very territorial and often run off the Foxes, but I shall see.

Weather Good News-Bad News

2008-10-22T11:39:00.002-04:00

Having my own weather station is a mixed blessing. The cloest NOAA station is about 40 miles away and at a much different elevation and so the predictions are a bit off for my cabin. Having my own recording/measuring devices gives me a more accurate picture of things - especially when it comes to gardening! That's the good news!

The bad news, is that I have a more accurate measure of the extremes. Take last night, for example. NOAA had the low in the uppre 20s when my station recorded a low last night of 12.7 degrees F. Last August, I recorded my first frost at about 26 degrees overnight! I also had my last frost in late May while the frost charts had it in early May. It's nice to know the exact weather at the cabin.

But it was still too cold, too early last night!

Feeders

2008-10-01T17:58:00.002-04:00

Up here in the woods, animals can be pretty hard on bird feeders. The birds become easily tamed and return to feeders all day long as they work to survive. Of course, the birds don't need our help to survive, but it feels good to be able to help out and look out the window and see birds close at hand.

Unfortunately, the birds are the only ones who enjoy the free handouts. Almost as quick as the birds to come to a feeder are the Squirrels! In my case, I get Fox and Red Squirrels everyday at my feeder. They tend to move in, bully birds, and not give up their feeder until its empty. The biggest treat to them is another of they own kind. As soon as a squirrel sees an interluder coming in, they sound the alarm and dash off the feeder and chase the newcomer across the ground and tree limbs.
The problem for the feeders are they bad habit of tearing and chewing their way into the seed holder. They will chew off plastic and wooden perches; they chew into plastic bodies, and generally are pretty hard on a feeder.

Next up are the masked bandits - Raccoons. The biggest problem with Coons is that if they can, they'll haul off the feeder into the woods to eat in solitude. This is especially true for suet feeders. In addition, because of their dextrity, they will work on any feeder until they get it opened. At least they eat all of the seeds unlike the squirrels that simply want the sunflowers.

One thing I've done, is to provide lots of feeders for everyone to share. Over on my birding website - www.mi-birder.com I've posted my quick solution to making a nice feeder from a cedar replacement fence picket. For a couple of dollars, I have created a number of small feeders to place on trees and posts in order to feed my natural neighbors.

Autumn Watch

2008-09-16T08:53:00.002-04:00

Autumn is coming to the great expanse of northern forests where I live. The two days of frost in late August yellowed, then dried many of the fiddleheads (ferns) the dot my backwoods. I did my best to protect the tomatoes and zucchini from those frosts, but the frosts of September have done their job on them. The garden is ready for cleaning before winter (see my garden blog - sodsgarden.blogspot.com) .

This morning, I watched the Red Squirrels tearing, ripping, and gathering strips of the cardboard I lmulched on my garden paths. They carried it off to insulate there winter sleeping dens to bear against the coming cold and snow. Even though Winter is much further down the raod, the creatures of the woods around me remind me to prepare, for Winter will surely come.

Dragging Anchor

2008-08-22T08:51:00.003-04:00

As part of my project on the North Branch Au Sable Restoration, I spent 6 hours yesterday floating down 6 miles of the upper North Branch. The project involves a Biological and ecological assessment of the stream in preparation for a Bioassessment and Watershed plan. The area floated was way "upstream" in areas not heavily fished and parts of the reproductive "nursery area" of brown and brook trout. I'll follow up with photos when I recover!

Out of the Darkness

2008-08-07T15:40:00.003-04:00

I've found a interest track or two, so I set out my trail cam to see if I could capture images of the creature. The track I found was of a canine left paw print. My guess is its approximately 5 inches long which makes a really, really, big dog or "something" else. (Little Red Riding Hood's Granny??)

Anyway, I didn't capture the creature (yet), but I did get photos of this fellow/gal last night.

Not hardly big enough to be my creature, but a "nice" neighbor anyway (for now)!

For those who might be interested, here is the creature's track. The pen in the picture is 5.5 inches long for comparison:

Autumn is Sneaking Up

2008-08-07T08:46:00.002-04:00

It's kind of hard to believe that we're into August already! This year's young birds are mobbing the feeders and water pan in droves include a group of 8 young Orioles, lots of Blue Jays, and even a few Hermit Thrushes. Nights are cooler with temperatures dropping into the 50s but the days are bright and warm. I've harvested the early onions, the peas are done, but still no tomatoes. The squash are into a routine of two or three fresh ones each week. Life is good.

But that will change, the cool nights will linger longer. The days will continue to grow shorter. The Fall radish and lettuce will soon be sprouted. After the first frost - late in September, it will be time to get ready for Autumn. The hunters will be in the woods and things will settle down for winter.

Sigh, What happened to Summer?

The Heat is on. . . .

2008-07-19T22:30:00.003-04:00

Northern Michigan has been on the heat and storm merry-go-round lately. With the stiffling afternoon heat, not much is happening. The garden is hanging in there, but no tomatoes or squash yet - although it won't be long!

While inspecting plants (and weeds!) I noticed these spiders. I was struck by their coloration and pattern. Goldenrod Spiders show sexual dimorphism - the females are yellow. Interestingly, the males are white and on whiter flowers (like these Queen Anne's Lace) they are whiter as well.

Drama in the Sand

2008-06-27T11:51:00.007-04:00

Recently, I was out contemplating the next step on my back deck, when I noticed some activity in the sand alongside one of the footers. This parasitic wasp was hard at work digging a tunnel for its soon to be layed egg.

Parasitic Wasps (I don't know the specific name for this one) have an interesting life cycle. They will dig a burrow in sand or other appropriate soil for their nest.

They will continue to burrow until their entire body fits down below the surface. Once the chamber is complete, they head out to stock it with food.

Unfortunately, for me, it only took a matter of minutes before the adult returned with a parasitized catepillar upon which it would lay its egg. I wasn't ready with the camera for such a speedy return and missed that photo opportunity.

Once the deed is done and the catepillar safely underground, they will use their legs to throw sand back over the opening and even pull adjacent debris over it to help hid it from hungry predators. Having completed their task, off they fly to repeat the process again somewhere else. After incubation, the yound wasp hatches and emerges from the burrow to repeat the life cycle for the next generation.

Pretty cool!

Wings and Wildflowers

2008-06-17T14:58:00.005-04:00

Birds are busy protecting territories and raising families so things are pretty slow at the feeders. Replacing the birds are blooming wildflowers and the butterflies that depend upon them. These two - Tiger Swallowtails and one I don't know - are common on sunny days.

Any guesses oin the second one?

In addition to the Snapping Turtles laying eggs, I've encountered several others including Painted Turtles and Blanding Turtles laying eggs for the next generation.

A fine Day for Egg Laying

2008-06-10T19:36:00.002-04:00

Today, like most of the past week, was rainy. Regardless I was scheduled to go out and investigate the North Branch of Au Sable watershed. With the rain, we decided to cover the upper headwaters area from Otsego Lake down to Lovells.

The rainy weather and season was perfect for turtles to be out and about making nests and laying eggs. We came upon this gal at the end of her efforts. While she was preoccupied we shot a few pictures to record the event. Snappers are known for their long life, so the reproduction of the species is in fact an real monumental event.

Birds and Bugs

2008-06-05T16:12:00.003-04:00

somehow, birds and bugs seem like a natural fit together for a naturalist. The obvious bugs would be butterflies, but I always enjoy seeing Hummingbird Moths. These are smaller day-time moths who feed on nectar more like butterflies than one would expect for a moth. Today, while I sat out after the rain, I found one coming to a pot of Pansies sitting on my steps with me.

As you might tell from the blurred wings, these moths hover much like Hummingbirds as the feed, hence their name.

2008-05-27T16:59:00.002-04:00

Not much excitement at the cabin the last few weeks - just slowly working away at getting things in order. The garden structure is all done, including the perimeter fencing - hopefully, I won't have to share too much of the harvest with the critters. Harvested the first of the lettuce, spinach, and radish for dinner tonight.

A few new birds stopping by including a pair of hummingbirds that frequent their feeder. The hen turkeys are mostly nesting and only come up with Toms in tow once or twice a day. Its run in, get a bite and a drink and run back. Probably a couple of weeks yet before they'll have little ones to care for.

About the only thing exciting involves more work. I've gotten the first two footers in for the back deck after deciding on a two level design. Once I get the deck(s) done, I'll be able to fence a run in the back and let Charlie and Max come up for a visit! That's kind of exciting, but its also a ways down the road.

Pretty much settled into the "up north" mindset and routine now - except for the cold nights (like tonight!). More posts to follow as the deck(s) progress along.

Fencing me in

2008-05-12T21:25:00.003-04:00

In late April, Grayling had a close call by a 1700 acre wildfire. The day after, I drove through part of the area along I75. The entire area was blackened by the fast moving fire - 24 hours after the fire was contained, hotspots still smouldered. I was struck by the level of ashing and the speed at wish it moved. It got me thinking about what I need to do around my cabin and the surround acres and acres of Jack Pines that are around it.

I realized it would be important to establish a fire zone on all sides of the cabin. That means removing and controlling trees within 50-100 feet of the structure. Over the next few days I started to identify trees that need to come down.

I also continue to build raised beds in my garden. As I thought about critter control, I realized that rather than buying fence posts, I should simple used the trees I'm cutting for the needed fence posts.

so that's what I've been doing. I have all of the posts needed to fence the garden and will now start to work on those needed for fencing an area for the dogs so that they can come up for visits. I figured I'll be ready to start fencing in about a week or so. Oh joy, another project!

Back on-line . . .

2008-05-05T20:03:00.002-04:00

It's almost overwhelming to have been off-line for most last five weeks. Regardless, WildBlue has come and gone and my satellite Internet is up and running.

Lots has happened since I was able to post last - all involving my final move to my retirement cabin near Grayling. There are still boxes here and there and I have no idea where anything is, but over time, new order will be created.

I have half of my raised bed gardens in and radish, peas, lettuce, onions, broccoli, and herbs in the ground. Over on my gardening site (see links) I'll post how I built my raised beds and the critter guards for them.

Now that I have Internet back, I'll get to regular posts in a day or two.

Absence temporary until I get Internet at cabin

2008-04-08T13:49:00.000-04:00

You Say Good Bye and I say Hello

2008-03-25T23:19:00.003-04:00

Well, this is the last crazy week of living in ann Arbor for me. It has been and will continue to be hectic trying to pack, move stuff, drive back and forth, and keep up with everything else, but I'll be out by the (hopefully) weekend or Monday at the latest. I have list after list of address changes to make, services to cancell, services to order, things to sort, things to pack and things to trash.

Luckily, its so crazy that I don't have time to worry or to get pensive about the moving after living here for over 20 years. There are everyday things that I'll probably miss, but I plan to get back this way to bird later in the Spring and Fall. I'm also keeping my cardiologist and doctors at UMHS so I'll be back for appointments once in while.

And with the Beatle's song playing in my head, I'll sign off for the last time from Ann Arbor. My next post will either be from Bay City or (once I get service at the cabin) the great north country near Grayling. Its been a good run, but now its time to go. So long Ann Arbor, I'll see you again!

Spring . . springing

2008-03-21T14:07:00.001-04:00

Well, March 20th was the first day of Spring, and like many bird species, I am in "mid-migration" in terms of my move to my retirement cabin. The pace has been pretty steady all month, but I'm down to the home stretch (or should I say week's stretch) and will remain somewhat well traveled through this coming week. Once I get to the weekend, I should have my apartment fully emptied and officially become a home owner/occupier!

Of course, with Spring officially here and me trying to finish up the move, the (hopefully last), great Spring Snow is scheduled for later today and into tomorrow morning. With luck, I'll have a load into the car before it gets too bad. The crazy weatherman is talking about 6-10 inches of sloppy snow potentially so it could get (more) interesting.

Just my Luck

2008-03-12T13:33:00.002-04:00

On Tuesday, I was up at the cabin delivering yet another load of boxed possessions when a few birders in Ann Arbor had spied an Icelandic Gull nearly in my apartment's back yard. It was even closer than the Ross Goose hybrid of a few weeks back! It would have take next to nothing to get down to Gallup Park and have a look see, but alas, I was 200 miles away. Such is life, bird seeking, and moving!

As it now stands, the target to be fully moved is March 26th. I'm getting less and less time at the cabin to find places for everything that is getting moved, so I'll end up having to organize myself once I take the last load.

Fortunately, it looks like I'll just catch the beginnings of the summer fuel increases although its a bit pricy this week.

Moving Boxes and Dodging Snowflakes

2008-03-06T22:21:00.002-05:00

It seems as though when Spring tries to push Winter out of the area, Winter answers back with yet another snow storm. The correct one started out as a possible 6-10 incher, but now is looking more like a mild 3-5 somewhat similar to the one earlier this week. Regardless 13 days to go until Spring!

Moving is well, moving along. Its a little complicated trying to keep enough in two places so that I can live in either location, but that is drawing down to the end. Here in ann Arbor, I have clothes, kitchen ware and storage boxes to go and 25 days left.

I turned in my offical 30 day notice at the start of March, so its now or never in terms of getting things moved!

A Tiny Little Goose comes A-Calling

2008-03-02T15:19:00.004-05:00

Things got a little hectic for a couple of days as a Ross Goose was spotted in Ann Arbor and very close to my apartment. That meant a couple of days of photography, editing, posting, and such.

This little guy came on the scene on Thursday, February 28th and by Saturday the 1st, he was no where to be seen. To give you an idea of its size, here is a more distant shot with a gull and Canada Geese along side of it for comparison.

After much debate it was decided that this was most likely a Ross x Lesser Snow hybrid to some extent. Regardless it was a fine bird (a life bird for me) and created a great deal of excitement.

Deer in Winter

2008-02-28T08:21:00.003-05:00

While I don't mind the few deer that stop by and eat fallen seeds from the feeders, or even the one or two that raid the feeder itself, there's a cabin near mine that has a real "Deer Diner" in their backyard. In the evening, when I drive by, I've seen upwards of what I guessed to be 100 or so deer all browsing about in their backyard. Obviously, with them being so close to their house, they have put out feed for them (or they're overfeeding the birds by a lot!)

Here's a view of just a small section of the herd last time I went by:

Eclipse

2008-02-21T19:42:00.007-05:00

Well, the lunar eclipse has come and gone until the end of 2010. Viewing here was not perfect, but ok until clouds covered the sky around the moon. It started like this (around 7:30 PM):

Soon after 7:45 IT had begun

By 8:15 the shadows were really moving along

And finally around 9:30 it had nearly covered the Moon entirely

And by 10 the entire Moon was covered both by the shadow of the Earth as well as enough intermittant clouds to prevent any more photos.

Tonight the Moon does its thing

2008-02-20T22:29:00.004-05:00

Tonight, the Moon will do it thing and shrink into the shadow of the Earth in a Lunar Eclipse. This one is visible from North America and I will have a good seat. I've tried to get photos of past eclipse with pretty limited success. Unfortunately, this will the last for a while as the next scheduled event visible here will not be until December 20, 2010 - so if it doesn't work out this time any better than usual, I have a long wait.

GBBC Lists

2008-02-18T08:23:00.002-05:00

Grayling List - 3 hours
Ruffed Grouse 1
Wild Turkey 27
Bald Eagle 3
Mourning Dove 3
Downy Woodpecker 2
Hairy Woodpecker 2
Pileated Woodpecker 1
Blue Jay 5
American Crow 2
Common Raven 3
Black-capped Chickadee 30
Red-breasted Nuthatch 2
White-breasted Nuthatch 4
Dark-eyed Junco 5
American Goldfinch 3

Number of Species: 15 with 93 individuals

Bay City List - 3 hours
Canada Goose 7
Mallard 8
Bald Eagle 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Ring-billed Gull 7
Herring Gull 6
Rock Pigeon 12
Mourning Dove 3
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 2
Blue Jay 3
American Crow 3
Black-capped Chickadee 5
Tufted Titmouse 2
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 2
European Starling 7
American Tree Sparrow 5
Dark-eyed Junco 7
Northern Cardinal 4
House Finch 8
American Goldfinch 6
House Sparrow 18

Number of Species: 24 with 120 individuals

Ann Arbor List - 3 hours
Canada Goose 50
Mallard 25
Common Goldeneye 1
Hooded Merganser 2
Turkey Vulture 5
Rock Pigeon 15
Mourning Dove 3
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
American Crow 7
Black-capped Chickadee 3
Tufted Titmouse 2
White-breasted Nuthatch 2
Carolina Wren 1
European Starling 5
Dark-eyed Junco 15
Northern Cardinal 3
House Finch 7
American Goldfinch 5
House Sparrow 11

Number of Species: 20 with 164 individuals

Great Backyard Bird Count

2008-02-17T08:57:00.003-05:00

Somethings I try to do every year and the GBBC, Feederwatch, and the Christmas Bird Counts. Both of these "citizen science" projects contribute to the collective knowledge of bird distribution. GBBC is held each year over President's Day weekend (Friday through Monday) - this year that's February 15-18th. If you haven't participated, you still have time. Bird lists and information are submitted electronically at www.birdcount.org .

I will have counts for the cabin (Crawford County), my family home (Bay County), and my apartment (Washtenaw County) here in Michigan. Once I get them completed, I'll stop back and post them here.

Two Places at Once

2008-02-13T09:24:00.002-05:00

Trying to live in two places at once is quickly wearing thin. I've worked out a "move this first" list and have been working to figure out exactly how to accomplish the smoothest possible move. Yea, good luck. It seems like no matter where I'm at I don't have the one thing that I really, really, really need at that moment. Ah well. . .

The plan right now is to gentle move about 10% of my stuff each trip to the cabin over a 10 trip period. That needs to be coordinated with giving up my 22 year old lease on my apartment here in Ann Arbor! The target right now is to be completely moved as of the end of March.

I will have paid two months of rent at the month-to-month rate which is much higher than my old lease, but the alternative was to be moving in December and January! Speaking of wintry weather, that's another factor that comes into play when moving. You have to time both ends so that there is reasonable temperatures, light, and no precipitation.

Regardless of the hassles of moving, it will be worth it once its done. It's like all of the construction work - it was fun and exciting, sometimes frustrating - but in the end it was worth the savings of not hiring it all out.

I thought I saw. . .

2008-02-06T08:15:00.000-05:00

a Blue Woodpecker for a second!

I was taking a coffee break from hanging new rods, drapes, and all the hardware that goes with them when I looked out over the cup rim at the suet feeders. For a split second my mind tricked me into seeing a Blue Woodpecker working away at the suet.

You now how sometimes your mind sees something a bit different from what is actually on the other side of your eyes? Well, it was one of "those" kinds of sightings. In the split seconds that are normally spend on identifying a common bird, the "ole brain" comes to the perfectly wrong solution!

I guess the issue wasn't the fact that I "mis-saw" a very common bird as much as it was the fact that it was doing an uncommon thing - at least at my feeders.

In the end, I laughed at my mind's error and realized that my Blue Woodpecker, was just a Blue Jay acting very "woodpeckerish" at the suet feeder.

Being omnivores, I guess they too need to fuel up on suet during the cold days of winter.

I must resist. . .

2008-02-04T08:39:00.000-05:00

Every year the same seasons cycle through the year. Even with global warming, the shift in timing is not noticable (at least not yet!). The worst time of the year for me is the next two months. Spring can not get to me soon enough.

All the seed catalogs start arriving with the Christmas bills. That means my brain starts turning over soil, peat pots try to appear in unused crevices, and dreams of really doing "it" right this year occupy every waking moment. Of course, with it being snow covered, freezing January outside, I must resist.

Then along comes February and a winter thaw. That, along with the seed orders that must be placed, makes the day dreaming worse. Rows of what to plant where sudden begin turning up on scraps of papers and the odd note pad begins to fill with grand schemes. Alas, I must resist still.

Finally, March roars in. The earliest of migrants are filling up at feeders and scraping through the wet leaves and grass eeking out enough to eat for them to begin to think about nesting. Those peat pots in my mind begin to make real appearances and the dreams are firmly laid out on paper. With luck, March will roar in like lion and out like a lamb.

But, until then I must resist.

Free at last, free at last. . .

2008-01-29T21:56:00.000-05:00

The last of the inspectors didn't leave until after 7PM, but everything is now in order and I can occupy the cabin. "Free at last. . . ." While it seems like a short time ago that I started the finish work, it has been nearly one full year. Well not exactly. I was only working a few days per week, was out of the country for a couple of weeks, had several family members get sick and require my attention, but regardless, the wait was worth it.

Of course, now I have start buying furniture and decorating materials, before its time to go fishing and work in the soon to be new garden beds!

Long time coming

2008-01-25T10:24:00.000-05:00

A year ago, I purchased my retirement cabin along with ten acres of surrounding woodlands. The cabin was just a shell with water pump and septic. For some God awful reason, I thought it would be a good experience to do most/all of the finish work myself! While it is satisfying, it has taken most of the past year.

HOWEVER, There seems to be some light at the end of the tunnel and I have scheduled the final inspections for Monday. I'm a bit nervous as I've never done this kind of work before or dealt with permits, rules, regulations, and the like. Oh, I've tried my best to do my homework, and I know its not 100% perfect, but it is my work and that alone is satisfaction enough. Whish me luck!

Baby, It's Cold Outside. . .

2008-01-20T08:51:00.000-05:00

Weather reports for the state cautioned an Arctic Cold Front was dropping down into the state and boy is that an understatement! Temperatures dropped down below 0 degreees overnight and promise to stay in the single digits for the next 24-48 hours. Wind Chills will push the temperatures even lower with -10 to -20 being felt.

Before leaving the cabin (and heading back south) I loaded the feeders there, in Bay City and even here in Ann Arbor. The birds, predictors of cold weather were fueling up before the front arrived and continue to home in on the black oil sunflower and suet in order to stay warm.

Fortunately, the cold snap should break before mid-week and we can return to normal activities - bloggin and otherwise.

Can't Help Myself. . .

2008-01-18T22:39:00.000-05:00

I don't know why it is, but I can't help myself. Maybe it was too many Saturdays with Walter Lantz' Woody Woodpecker (and Mel Blanc's voice) growing up. This cartoon character made his appearance in the late 1940's and continued on for over 20 years as a staple of Universal Picture's Saturday morning cartoon fests.

Woody is alleged to have been modeled after a Pileated Woodpecker, but I thought it was a Red Headed Woodpecker with a bad feather day. Regardless, whenever the real Woody (make that Pileated) Woodpeckers show up at my suet feeders, I can't help but not drop what I'm doing and watch them.

Being shy and reserved, they are not daily visitors, but will stay on the suet for an hour or more unless they are disturbed. If they haven't had their fill, they was wait until the coast is clear, then return to finish snacking on the suet and peanuts. It's either their cartoon past and the joyful remembrances of Saturday mornings or their striking size that makes it impossible not to observe them every chance available.

In, On, and Along the roads

2008-01-06T09:32:00.000-05:00

When I travel "up" to the cabin when its cold and snowy, I anticipate getting to Roscommon county. That's because its usually there that I can reliable see turkeys. I've seen them on the roadsides picking grit, crossing the road, crossing halfway then forgetting what they were doing ending up blocking traffic, and often picking through any plants that show in the snow. I've seen tracks, droppings, and feathers along the roads, but fortunately, no "roadkill" turkey. (I think the locals understand their obligations living in wildlife neighborhoods and the "visitors" are amazed to see turkey flocks!)

Turkeys are much better along the roadways than Deer. Deer will stand watching, then dart in wrong direction every time. Turkeys, on the other hand may stand watching, but the usually remember what they were doing and finish crossing the road taking their own sweet time - no darting for them!

New Year - new starts

2008-01-01T10:01:00.000-05:00

Over night, Mother Nature dropped the deepest snow of the season over the area. The storm began above freezing and so the trees and shrubs were covered in a thin sheet of ice that allowed the snow to pile on their branches and limbs. Like all snows this time of the year, the fluffy white flakes reminded me that winter is a time for reflection and resolution - of new starts. Most think of Spring as the time of renewal, but not for me. For me, its Winter because at the beginning of a New Year, its time to make plans for the coming seasons. And so as I sit and wait out the fallen snow, I'll be making my plans for the coming year and season as I dream about my future.

May you each have a blessed New Year and prosper in all that you do.

Closing the Book on 2007

2007-12-24T22:24:00.000-05:00

Here it is, Christmas Eve and 2007 is drawing to a close. This year has been very different for me. I haven't done many of the things that I normally do - I haven't birded very much - I haven't even worked much (Ok, that's a trick as I retired in June!).

Most of 2007 has been spent working on the cabin that will soon become my home and studio as a naturalist. One lesson that I've learned in 2007 is that building a cabin is hard work especially in that I'm usually not very handy, but I do enjoy hard work.

As I've thought about all that I've done this past year, I realize that to get the things that I want, I have to work at it - to stretch myself inorder to reach my goals. And so I'm closing 2007 with this recent photo from my feeders as a reminder to me that one needs to stretch to reach their goals .

2007-12-16T20:33:00.001-05:00

Before this last wintry blast of snow and cold, I had a chance to get some pictures of a few of my other "regulars" at the cabin feeder. I put out a limited number of whole peanuts (available in bulk from Hampton Farms) for the Blue Jays. I limit the amount to a couple of handfuls at a time becuase they tend to cart them off to stash for later.

When they get through with the peanuts, they start in on whole corn before picking through the black oilers. Although, if its not too cold, they will crack open the oilers one at a time for a snack!

I also have a large flock of Black Capped Chickadees in a nearly continuous parade to the feeders during day light. I'd estimate that there are about 20 that zoom in one at a time, take one oiler and go off to break it open to eat in solitude before returning for another.

The suet feeder is fairly new. The chickadees will also sample the suet if it is going to be colder. Unfortunately, they have to share the suet with the nuthatches and woodpeckers. The Pileated Woodpeckers don't stop by regularly, but there are almost always both Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers making short work of the suet that I put out.

Here is a female Downy waiting her turn for the suet. This was taken the same day that the Pileated was pigging out on the suet. Fortunately, the cost for suet is much cheaper than the lard with seeds mixed in that places seem to sell all winter long.

This week, (once I can travel up to the cabin), I'll put out some of a peanust butter-fat mixture to see how that goes over.

Woodpeckers and Suet

2007-12-13T23:22:00.000-05:00

Earlier this winter, I built a wire basket and hung up some beef suet. I figure the birds could use a little fat to get them through winter! Of course, it attracted the chickadees and nuthatches along with Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers. But by far, my favorite has been the Pileated Woodpecker who stopped by this week to dine.

They're pretty hard to miss when they stop by being nearly 2 foot long/tall! This is a male as noted by its red moustache stripe.

BTW the most interesting sight feeding on fat this winter has been three Bald Eagles sparring with a group of Ravens for a road kill white-tailed deer.

New Bird at feeders

2007-12-07T09:47:00.001-05:00

While working this week (on window sills and trim), I happened to look up and see a new bird at the back feeders.

I've been wonder why the seeds are disappearing as fast I put them out. And here I thought it was due to the wintry weather!

Unfortunately, the cabin is in a "no bait/feed" area for deer due to bovine TB so I won't be able to lure them away to their own feeding station.

Ah well, up north living. . . .

Happy Thanksgiving!

2007-11-22T08:17:00.000-05:00

One of the sights that I look forward to at my cabin is the wild turkeys that come in to pick through the seeds below the feeders. While not the most regular of birds to stop by, they are fairly dependable.

My plans for next year is to film and photograph a family of turkeys for the entire year. In the mean time - Happy Thanksgiving - the snows of winter are on their way.

Winter Irruptions

2007-10-23T22:58:00.000-04:00

Having my cabin a few hundred miles further north gives me a first peak at winter bird irruptions that are predicted for the year. Previously, I posted about the Evening Grosbeaks.

Today I watched about a dozen or so Pine Siskins devouring the sunflowers at the feeders.

And of course, the resident Turkey flock stopped by for their afternoon snack.

I also had a few Purple Finches early in October, but they haven't returned to photos - yet!

Milestones

2007-10-21T08:50:00.000-04:00

Most of my time over the past year has been taken up by my new cabin. Having been just a shell when I bought it last January, I have had to design and complete most of the finish work with the help of my brother. Along the way during this year, there have been milestones of progress that moved the work along.

The first was getting the electrical wiring completed for the rough-in inspection. Part of that task not only involved locating boxes, but also moving a few walls around for my floorplan.

Next was the necessary plumbing work in order to rough-in inspect that. Not being much of a plumber, I hired that work out. A few bumps in the work, but once that was done, I could begin to drywall.

Drywalling was very slow and tedious labor - it was beyond just work! The cutting, fitting, taping, and sanding took on a life of its own and require much of the summer to complete. In fact, it really isn't complete at this point as the bedroom, office, and hall ceilings remain. Regardless, the finishing of the walls was another milestone as it took so long to do!

Now we have begun the ceilings - starting with the tongue and groove in the great room. (We did this as a break from staring at drywall tape every time.) I'm expecting that we should be finished with the bulk of this before the end of the month and will then need to move on to the drywall ceilings that remain.

After ceilings, its floors, doors, and trim. Of course the best milestone will be the Certificate of Occupancy at the end!

All good things

2007-09-26T10:43:00.000-04:00

Well, the adventure with the remote feeder has ended now that I discovered that my cabin is located in a "no bait - no feed" zone due to bovine TB in the deer herd. Being a field biologist, I had second thoughts as I really enjoy the turkeys that have come in, but I also understand the need to monitor and eradicate TB from the deer herd. Hopefully, this too shall pass.

Within the next week or so, I hope to have all of the drywall in place so that I'll be down to the priming and painting. Then it will be on to the tongue and groove ceiling, doors, and trim boards!

2007-09-19T11:31:00.001-04:00

Tuesday I headed to my cabin - more drywall, priming, and painting! While there my feeders were invaded by a horde of Evening Grosbecks - my first ever. Being from mid and southern Michigan, they never seemed to get there far south in the state. They really hit the feeder hard and were a joy to watch.

Cabin Game Camera

2007-09-17T09:38:00.000-04:00

Well, I got my game camera set up behind my cabin finally. I pulled the first set of pictures and found out that I have twin neighbors:

I also got a remote feeder that I set up this past weekend to feed the furry and feathered beasts while I'm away. I reset the camera nearer to the feeder and can't wait to see who shows up to dine next! I'm really hoping the turkeys come in this week.

Cold Signs of Autumn

2007-09-13T11:58:00.001-04:00

Officially Autumn is just around the corner and its been dropping hints of what's to come. The last few days have been too cold for this time of the year and I'm hoping for a few more Indian Summer days before this all ends and Winter is on its way.

The birds and animals up at the cabin have been tearing into the feeders like they know that something cold is marching up the hill. Squirrels, blue jays, chickadees, both nuthatches, and others are gathering seeds nearly all the time they are awake.

I'm hoping for some interesting pictures as I bought one of those automatic feeders and a "game camera" to photograph the action. I've left things working up there and should have some photos to share soon.

I still have to order wood for winter - I'd better get that done today or it will really be a cold winter at the cabin!

Summer has come and gone

2007-09-03T21:23:00.001-04:00

I always have trouble keeping up with things during the Summer. I think it usually has something to do with the long days and being away from the computer. This Summer was no exception as it has slipped completely away without as much as a peep from me!

The month of June was lost to making the final arrangements of my retirement from working at a job! I have planned the retirement for over a year, but there were many details to be worked out before the end of June. My replacement had been named and was ready to start learning the ropes. In addition, we were opening a second high school that was behind construction, but destined to open on time this Fall. I have agreed to work part time a few days per week training my replacement as well as seeing to the final details of the new school. In late October, I’ll be working a full week when one of our technicians is off to get married and the Department is moving to new facilities!

Part of this Summer was lost to travel. During the first two weeks of July, I traveled to the Amazon in Peru. This is a trip that I had taken back in the 1990s, so I was long overdue. It was also my first trip out of the country post September 11th. I really enjoy traveling to natural areas and did so every year until I landed at Central Office. With that job being year round and most of the opportunities to get things done happens when school is not is session, so it was next to impossible to get much travel in while working. The much higher pay (than being a classroom teacher) was well worth the last five years of nearly constant work. My pension is now nearly what I made as a classroom teacher without any of the work that went with it!

Of course the one thing that has kept me most busy has been the construction of my retirement cabin. Work has progressed slowly with my brother and I getting two or three days per week doing the electrical, insulating, hanging drywall, installing floor tile, tongue and groove ceilings, and working to get it occupied before this winter. I have always thought I’d enjoy working like this but I’ve really not had the opportunities to do so. I’ll update the cabin saga in a separate posting.

Lastly, my oldest brother took a turn for the worse after battling his disability (myasthenia gravis) for the past five years. To complicate his condition, he had a major cardiac issue, pneumonia, and respiratory failure. He spent over two weeks in ICU, followed by over a week as a general patient, and is now doing two or three weeks in physical therapy. As his patient advocate and him being 100 miles away, lots of time was spent driving back and forth. Luckily, he appears to be recovering as well as can be expected.

So that has been my Summer. Now that things have settled down a little, I’ll strive to be more regular in my posting. The cabin will occupy much of my life for another few months, but then I should be back to some kind of normal!

Change is the Currency of Life

2007-06-07T20:12:00.000-04:00

It occurred to me today, that I haven't written much about the changes about to take place in life for me. As of today, I have 10 days remaining before I will be officially retired - for the second time for the school district where I've worked for nearly 23 years. Before I came here, I had worked in two other districts for five years each.

About this time a year ago is when I retired for the first time. Even though I had retired, I remained "on the job" for an additional year as a transition year. But now, that year is drawing to an end and so will my world of formal work. It isn't that I don't like my job or am unable to do it, but its time to move on.

Nearly three years ago I had a fairly significant heart attack and at that time, I realized that there were lots of things I wanted to do before it was time. I thought I'd better decide about the future then and put together a plan that has gotten me to the next ten days.

One of the things I've missed for the last five years or so, is traveling - especially to the tropics for bird watching. So that is the first thing that my plan called for. My last official day of work will be June 29 and on the 30th, I'm headed to Peru, a place I visited back in the late 90s.

My plan also provided for the cabin that I've written about extensively over the last few months. The plan didn't have this place in mind, but I knew that once I saw this place, that it was exactly what I had in mind.

I have a few things to get in order before work is over, and I will be working to get those things done over the next few weeks. The District would like me to continue on for a few more weeks and I may do so very part time. However, most of what I have planned for when I return is to throw myself into finishing the cabin so I have "my place" to live in retirement.

New Plant at Cabin

2007-06-04T07:13:00.000-04:00

My work at the cabin has been slow as the plumber has been hard at work getting his work completed. I did notice on my last trip, that I have a few new and interesting plants growing close to the cabin. Here is a favorite - a Pink Lady Slipper Orchid.

My plans are to spend some more time looking around through the trees and see if there are other pleasant surprises tucked in here and there.

On the construction end, I hope the plumbing is done this week so that I can get the go ahead and start getting insulation up and the wall work moving. Basically, I'm down to insulation, drywall, ceilings, flooring, and the final wood work trimming.

Now that it is June, I have some 12 days to work this month. The first two weeks of July, I'll be traveling out of the country (A trip along the Amazon in Peru) and then just a couple days of finishing up employment. With luck, I'll be fully retired by Fall!

Notice new visitor at Cabin

2007-05-23T10:53:00.000-04:00

Ouch! the price of gasoline jumped nearly 30 cents yesterday while I was at my cabin. I passed several stations in the AM when gas was $3.35 per gallon and when I returned home the same stations were $3.69! I guess the profit taking for Memorial Day started early this year!

On an unrelated note, while I was up north, I noticed a new visitor to the bird feeding station:

Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrels are much more common in open environments such as grasslands, but this sunflower collecting squirrel showed up at the edge of my Jack Pine forest to pack away the sunflower seeds that have spilled from the bird feeder. It's about the right time for raising young, so I'll be on the look out for any kits they may have,

Trout score pretty even

2007-05-14T15:09:00.000-04:00

Well the score between me and trout is pretty much a tie at this point. I've hook a few so fair but something less that my goal of one per stream hour!

Luckily for me, work on the cabin is slowed down as the bulk of things right now is with the plumber - but that will change once he's got everything under control. Then it will be back to work and less fishing for me.

Rites of Spring

2007-04-28T22:03:00.000-04:00

This weekend is the opening of Michigan's trout fishing season on the Au Sable river near my cabin. As you might guess, not much work got done!

The heat is on. . .

2007-04-27T15:30:00.000-04:00

Well, I am finally getting some heat put into my cabin - now that winter is over. Electrical work is nearing completion and next up will be to tackle the plumbing! Every week its a little more and a little closer to being me!

Favorite neighbors

2007-04-05T23:07:00.000-04:00

One of the things that I really like about going to my cabin are the animal neighbors I get to see. They are lots of deer and birds that I don;t get to see regularly during my work week. One of my favorites are:

These turkeys that I see along the roads near my cabin. I usually see them in flocks like this, sometimes as many as 15 or 20 of them. They are even up near yards picking through seeds that are put out in yards and in driveways.

I've put up a feeder behind my cabin hoping that they find the it and stop to visit right outside my windows. Right now, there are chickadees, purple finches and nuthatches mainly, but someday they may start to stop by.

Cabin Winter hangs on

2007-03-15T08:48:00.000-04:00

This was the view down my driveway at the cabin March 10th - nearly 20 inches of snow!

By Tuesday, the temperature had risen to nearly 60 degrees and now I have nearly 8 inches of water at the road! Ah Michigan, got to love the changable weather.

Winter on its last legs

2007-03-11T14:49:00.000-04:00

We finally have gotten a break in the weather and temperatues are starting to warm up. This morning I stopped to do a little birding along the Huron and saw many American Coots, a few Scaup, Ring Necks, Red Heads. Common Mergansers, Hooded Mergansers, and a few Trumpter Swans.

The highlight of the day so far has been another new visitor to my balcony feeder - a Red Bellied Woodpecker. I put out a suet feeder to try to keep the Downy Woodpecker coming in the morning. Because I'm usually not home during the day, this is the first time I've seen the Red Bellied stopping by for a snack.

The Carolina Wrens that had taken up housekeeping on the balcony are still around every early morning with their bubbly songs.

One of my Favorite Things

2007-03-05T07:34:00.000-05:00

One of the late winter things that I really like to do is to watch raptors like hawks, owls and eagles. Without the leaves on trees, it makes them easier to spot. Here's a photo of a Bald Eagle I saw recently along the Saginaw River. It had been sitting above a spot of open water eyeing the ducks and gulls in the water below.

I also see a pair on my trips up to my new cabin. They have a nest along the side of the expressway!

Speaking of cabin - work is continuing along and I hope to have all of the electrical in place and take care of the rough-in inspection before the end of March. Progress marches slowly!

Carolina in the sunrise

2007-02-27T14:57:00.000-05:00

My little Carolina Wren has found a friend and they seem to spend the evenings on my balcony. How wonderful it is to be awakened each day by their bubbling song. . .hopefully my neighbors appreciate it too!

Work up on the cabin is proceeding as the electrical rough-in work is nearly complete - one or two more trips should do it. After the electrical is ready, it will be time to start on the kitchen and bath with cabinets, appliances, and flooring - construction is so much more satisfying when I get to do the work myself.

Great Backyard Bird Count results

2007-02-21T10:26:00.000-05:00

Each year I try to participate in the GBBC sponsored by Cornell Lab of Orinthology. This year, as in the past, I was able to count birds for both my apartment in Ann Arbor and for my mother's feeder in Bay City. Here are the results:

Ann Arbor - balcony feeder and view
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Trumpeter Swan
Mallard
Canvasback
Redhead
Ring-necked Duck
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
American Coot
Mourning Dove
Downy Woodpecker
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Carolina Wren - Came up to bird feeder!
American Robin
European Starling
Northern Cardinal
House Finch
House Sparrow

and

Bay City yard feeder area and view
Canada Goose
Mallard
Common Merganser
Bald Eagle
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Blue Jay
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
American Robin
European Starling
American Tree Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Northern Cardinal
House Finch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow

Great Backyard Bird Count

2007-02-18T14:57:00.000-05:00

This weekend is the Great Backyard Bird Count sponsored by Cornell Lab of Orinthology. I always try to file a report for Ann Arbor where I live and for Bay City where my mother lives. While the winter has been fairly mild until recently, the birds have been somewhat common - especially those that visit my balcony feeder. Today, in honor of the Bird Count, I was blessed with a not so common bird visiting the feeder:

A Carolina Wren!

"I'm sure there must be a weevil in there someplace!"

From the Frozen Mitten

2007-02-14T10:43:00.000-05:00

Hello from Michigan!

The last two weeks have more than made up for our lack of winter weather. The first bit saw us suffering through below zero degree air temps with wind chills into the -20s/-30s F! and not a day of missed work or school for me. Last night we got another bone chilling snow storm that dropped and drifted 5-8 inches of new snow, so its no work or school for me today!

Having the day off is a good thing as I have much to get done after being the rut of winter - awake - work - dinner - some TV - bed and then do it all again the next day.

It's been too cold to venture north to my new cabin to continue the work there, but the nice weatherman is promicing above freezing temps for next week. Hopefully that will give me a few days to catch up.

Ah well, it won't be long and Spring will eventually get here and the garden season will be upon us all.

Brrr edition

2007-02-03T22:15:00.000-05:00

The current arctic blast has drop the temperatures down into the low single digits and it looks like it will get colder overnight as there isn't much of a cloud cover. Having been around the block for a number of years, this cold reminds me of any stretch when I was living in Cincinnati during the late 70s and early 80s.

As I recall it was in January when the air temperature was around 25 but we were expecting one of these Alberta Clippers to drop the temperature in the next 24 hours. As I recall, the drop ended up over 50 degrees straight down and with the wind chill the feels like temperature was around -40 something. Not only was school cancelled, but my apartment complex lost electrical service and the cold work me around 8 AM. Luckily, my favorite restaurant had power and I spent the next 24 hours there waiting for electricity and heat. Hopefully, this blast will not be that bad.

Catching up

2007-01-28T14:38:00.000-05:00

Over the past few weeks, I've become the owner of the cabin that I've posted about and that has taken up much of my time. Once I got the banking together it was a several day wait to get all of the details and paper work ready, but on January 16th, I signed the closing documents.

Because it is just a shell at this point, much of the time spent has been getting permits together and planning out the work that needs to be done. I've started on the electrical work, but it does go slow.

Travel time up is three and a half hours and without lights or heat it takes planning to make a trip worth while. I am excited about having this size of a project and really want to do as much of the finish work myself as is possible - for the experience if nothing else.

On a different note, as I sat working and catching the birds back and forth to the feeder, I noticed that my Titmouse count is up 6 or seven at times. The cardinal pair has been in and of course the chickadees. There's a light snow falling and they can sense the coming colder weather forcast for the week so I'm sure they'll be stocking up all day.

Every Journey

2007-01-23T18:20:00.000-05:00

One of my tasks for the year is to work on my photo collection of raptors. Luckily, today, I was in the right place at the right time and "captured" this Red Tailed Hawk as the first of what hopefully will be many steps along the way for completing this task.

While it may seem that blogging is taking a back seat, rest assured, once I get the cabin purchase settled, all the permits are in place, and the weather begins to be reasonable, I'll be back much more.

Iceman cometh

2007-01-15T21:05:00.000-05:00

Well, in one of the final insults to Winter, we got a wintry storm last night, but everything fell as sleet and freezing rain. I guess it did make for a wintry scene although the trees probably don;t appreciate it!

This N That Update

2007-01-14T15:52:00.000-05:00

If it seems as if I've fallen into a snowbank and can't get blogging, that's only part of the picture. Actually, we've had very little to no snow here in Michigan, but I have been busy caught up in in the details of buying my "retirement cabin" in the north woods of Michigan. As this is the first property that I have ever purchased (my Bay City property is inherited), I had no idea all of the work that it takes to find some land, make and offer, get a down payment, get a loan for the balance, plan what to do next, and finally get to closing.

Well, I'm 99% of the way there and on Tuesday I should be the proud owner of 10 acres of forest with a new cabin shell waiting for my touch to finish it off! While I'm excited as all get out, the time it's taken to get to this point has sometimes been discouraging.

But finally, let the adventure in ownership begin anew!

Red Bird

2007-01-03T18:02:00.000-05:00

Some of the regulars at my balcony feeder include a pair of cardinals. Everytime I see this brightly colored male cardinal visit my feeder, I can't help but to smile and stop to watch as he picks through the sunflower seeds before deciding which to take away to eat.

First Birds

2007-01-02T14:45:00.000-05:00

I think of myself as primarily a field biology or naturalist, I also wish I was more of a birder than I am. More often than not, I only get a day or two to get out to find birds weekly. One of my resolutions for the New Year is to get out and about more.

Regardless, here's today's list of "accidental sightings" as I did not make any special efforts to get today:
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Mallard
Common Merganser
Ring-billed Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Downy Woodpecker
Blue Jay
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
European Starling
Northern Cardinal
House Finch
House Sparrow

All of these were seen either at my balcony feeder or from the balcony window while I pretended to work! (Before you wonder, I can see the stretches of the Huron River from my windows!)

New Visitor to feeder

2007-01-01T15:38:00.000-05:00

While it isn't anything unusual really, I started off the New Year with a new visitor to my balcony feeder:

but here is a Downy Woodpecker that found its way to the apple tree top outside my balcony and then appeared up on the feeder that I have outside my windows. Considering that I'm on the second floor, this is the first time that I've seen him stop by. I've got a steady stream of chickadees, titmice, blue jays, cardinals, and even crows, but this was an awesome sight just the same. I guess I'll have to whip up a batch of suet and see if I can keep him coming!

"Two Dog Lodge" or the little cabin in the woods

2006-12-28T14:24:00.000-05:00

As I mentioned in my last entry, I am purchasing a little cabin in the woods. I'm trying very hard to not spend lots of time thinking about it as the wheels of banking move very slowly. I've been given the impression that its a done deal and have made many drawings and sketches of what goes where and the colors of everything - but still. I don't want to get caught up in the wishing and not the owning!

Ten acres sounds like a lot of land and I've spent some time trying to get my mind around how big that is. I've paid strict attention to the odomometer as I've driven along the road to try and sense how big is big. It was then that it occurred to me that I hadn't walked the property and for all I knew, the back 40 . . .err 10 could be a giant swamp.

Guess I'd better plant to add that to the list of to do's before I get caught up in the decorating!

Return to Everyday is Monday

2006-12-24T21:07:00.000-05:00

It seems like everyone else who changed over to Blogger BEta, I have been shut out for several weeks when they converted over complete to the "new and improved" Blogger site. Being Google, the solutions are never as simple as they need to be.

Regardless, here it is Christmas and I have returned to the world of blogging. While I was "gone" a few interesting things have happened - best of which is my Christmas present to myself:

(Gee, I see they've also added a "terms of Service check box for uploading photos! Good greif, when will they leave well enough alone!!!)

No, this isn't Santa's North Pole workshop - but it is a brand new cabin I have purchased up in Northern Michigan. While it looks nice and cozy, the interior has not been finished. It sits on 10 acres and I'm sure that there will be lots of pictures to come as I finish off the interior and prepare to live the good life.

Well, off to bed to see if santa is going to bring me anything else.

Shoppers in the morning light

2006-12-06T07:33:00.000-05:00

I've mentioned the birds that come to visit feed I put out on my balcony before, but with the cold and snow, their visits increase and competition is high for the feed I put out. Usually, the Blue Jays will only stop by one at a time, but here are two both getting their share of peanuts during the early morning (hence the flash picture!)

Sunrise. . .Sunset . . .Red Sky in the Morning

2006-12-05T11:24:00.000-05:00

Just as the sun breaks through the trees at 8:00 AM I think about "Red skies in the morning" and prepare for the days snow fall.

17 days until the first day of Winter!

Sigh. . .Winter is here . . .Is it Spring yet?

2006-12-04T11:00:00.000-05:00

Well, this looks like it . . .the start of another winter of cold temperatures, frozen dirt and snow on the ground and bushes.

and just as the kids in the back seat say "Is it spring yet?"

Count down to winter

2006-11-30T21:46:00.000-05:00

Well, even though the weather can never be trusted to be as expected, I'm in countdown mode for the first heavy snow storm. We could get several inches from the storm chasing up the Mississippi over the next 24 hours - could even be double digit snowfall between here and Bay City (where I'm driving to on Saturday!). Then again just a few degrees to the east and we'll get more rain and a little snow dusting on the way north. Sigh if I could only predict the weather!

Weather turns the corner

2006-11-29T22:51:00.000-05:00

Well, today on the weather front, all bets are off as by the end of the day, the rain was just beginning and the temperature is scheduled to drop into the 30's over the next day or two. By Friday, the weather service has already warned of up to 6" of snow if the storm stays on its current track! every though the sky looks threatening, its still warm enough that its just raindrops on the lens.

Crazy weather - record temperatures

2006-11-28T21:49:00.000-05:00

After waking to frosty cars and shrubs the crazy weather gets crazier with record temperatures by the time to come back home after work. Here's the view from the parking lot at work with the temperature in the middle 60s and its the end of November!

Unpredictable weather

2006-11-27T22:45:00.000-05:00

The last few days the weather has been at extremes for November. This morning when I left for work, everything was covered in frost. I used to hate frosty car windows, but now, with remote starters and electric window defrosters I really don't notice them any more.

Thanksgiving Week Vacation

2006-11-24T17:43:00.000-05:00

(I've been off travel to family and friends for the week, so posting has been impossible. However, everything returns to normal again starting Monday. )

This time of the year is the time for harvests and reflections. As the plants begin their wind down to seelp away the winter. Plants like the Milkweed burst forth with a flurry of seeds that must be frozen over the winter to germiniate in the Spring. As they float away on puffs of wind, mymind floats away dreaming about what Spring will bring for me.

Death on Wings

2006-11-17T21:46:00.000-05:00

While I finish out this week's set of postings on favorite birds, I thought I'd share one of my mother's "least favorites". When this guy flies into the yard all the smaller birds flee into the cover of shrubs and underbrush. The harborer of "Death on Wings" is the resident Cooper's Hawk that cruises past our feeders almost daily - always on the look out for a "too brave" sparrow or dove.

Another Favorite Bird

2006-11-16T18:57:00.000-05:00

About the time that Autumn begins to overtake Summer in October, a cheerly little ground sparrow appears at our feeders. Often heard singing their "home sweet Can-a-da Can-a-da Can-a-da" song before flying to the ground below feeders, the hop and peck among the spilled seeds, gleaning what others have dropped. There are two different "variations" - a white striped and a brown striped. Can you tell which is which?

Favorite Birds

2006-11-15T20:59:00.000-05:00

Usually, my favorite bird is the one I happening to be looking at! Still some birds always make me smile when I see them.

Chickadees are that way with most birders. Small, active, stately in black and white and gray - but not overstated, friendly by not harassingly so, and always with a cheerful song.

Having attracted Tufted Titmice (or would that be titmouses) to my balcony feeder and have the bonus of having them at "my other place" up north, they have become my new favorite bird - at least for right now!

Gray Tuesday

2006-11-14T17:38:00.000-05:00

Today was one of those gray days of Autumn. Looking out the window all day it looked much colder and like it was going to snow mountains of snow, but not a flake was seen. It was the kind of day that by 4:00 PM everyone is yawning thinking its well after dinner and getting close to bed time - only to discover they're still at work.

Oh well, snow will be here soon enough and so will the gray days of Winter when there's enough snow to cancel the world that day and we all get to sit at home drinking warm drinks and thinking about what to plant this Spring.

My Favorite Bird Photograph

2006-11-13T06:37:00.000-05:00

Back in the days before digital photography, I took lots of pictures with my 35mm SLR film camera. That meant that one had to wait and wait to see if the photos were any good or if you missed the moment entirely. I have drawers full of black slides, blurry images and empt tree branches.

However, here is my all time favorite picture from those days of old. This Black Capped Chickadee was so intent on getting to the grub in the end of the branch, that it didn't notice me shooting away. Somehow in the flurry of clicks, this picture came to life.

PHOTO Black Bellied Whistler - hunting photo!

2006-11-09T08:51:00.000-05:00

Well, I've found the pictures and this is definitely a Black Bellied Whistler.

I've also confirmed that this would be the first state sighting for Michigan, so now the Records Committee is picking up the ball and making direct contact with the hunter in question in order to properly document this bird.

The bird was taken in the Nayanquing Point Game Area on the western shore of Lake Huron's Saginaw Bay.
While it is "unfortunate" that his bird was harvested, there is hope that the species may be seen again in the area under similar circumstances.

I happy to have played at least a small role in getting this bird into the record books. Let's hope we see more Black Bellied whistlers here in Michigan in the future.

UPDATE Black Bellied Whistler

2006-11-08T08:47:00.000-05:00

Well, it seems the plot thickens. I've been checking and I can't find a record at all for this species being this far north - EVER. However, with the hurricanes of last year in the deep south, anything is possible. I'm going to check further with the Audubon Records Committee regarding this sighting - so stay tuned! This could be a first!

Interesting bird report from a Hunter

2006-11-07T08:44:00.000-05:00

I was talking to my brother this weekend - an avid hunter - and he was telling about a fellow duck hunter who had an unusal bird that he "harvested" on the shores of upper Saginaw Bay. It seems that this guy bagged himself a Black Bellied Whistling Duck - normally a far southern duck. I'm tracking down pictures to verify for myself. I'll post details as they become available.