Lighthouses: Old Mackinac Point and Petoskey Pierhead
For those of you who love lighthouses, here are two more I photographed while in northern Michigan.
Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse
Petoskey Pierhead Lighthouse
Lake Michigan’s Loch Ness Sunbathing on the Beach
Of course, the title isn’t true. Or is it?
I’ll let you be the judge. 😉
Loch Ness sunbathing?
Or maybe a fire breathing dragon?
Geez, now a moose!
What do you think? Or have I gone a little crazy….
Who knew driftwood could be such fun! 😃
Lake Michigan’s Rocky Coastline
A peak at some of Lake Michigan’s rocky coastline, where fossil-collecting is a favorite hobby for many. I got into the hunt and found a few interesting pieces.
Two Michigan Sunrises
During our Michigan visit, our hotel sat on a bluff looking east. Every morning I was up with my coffee in hand to enjoy the sunrise from our balcony. These were my two favorites.
Sunrise Over a Foggy Valley
Sunrise over Michigan
“The secret to a good morning is to watch the sunrise with an open heart.” ―
American Goldfinch
An American Goldfinch, looking a bit disheveled in his molting phase, was still a sunny sight to see a couple weeks ago.
American Goldfinch
Whew, he looks a lot like how I have these last couple weeks! 😅 Excuse my absence, we’ve traveled a 1,000 miles back to home, playing catch-up with everything, and preparing for our next trip heading south, to search for some warmth, with hopefully some birds and wildlife in the mix!
Ring-billed Gulls
Three photo favorites of Ring-billed Gulls taken along Lake Michigan’s coastline in the past week.
Ring-billed Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Ring-billed Gull
They enjoyed the pretty weather along with me!
Walking With Nature
“Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt.” – John Muir
Eastern Chipmunk
“It feels good to be lost in the right direction.” – Author Unknown
Thistle
“In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous.” – Aristotle
Green Heron
“If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere.” – Vincent Van Gogh
Ruby Meadowhawk (?)
“And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.” – John Muir
Stinging Nettle
“Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you.” — Frank Lloyd Wright
Verbena hastata (American vervain, blue vervain or swamp verbena)
(Thank you, Eliza, for the ID!)
Remember…..
“Time spent amongst trees is never wasted time.” – Katrina Mayer
Black-capped Chickadee
When I hear chickadees, they make me smile. They tell you who they are, you just have to find them in their hiding.
Chick-a-dee-dee-dee….. The more ‘dee’ notes in a chickadee’s call, the higher the threat level being called.
The chickadees I’ve photographed before have been in the southeast U.S., and I’ve always ID’d them as Carolina Chickadees who primarily range there.
Although there are range crossovers, the Black-capped Chickadee’s range is primarily higher north in the U.S. I’ve been able to see the difference in the wingbars to now be able to ID and say I’ve captured this new-to-me chickadee finally.
Welcome to my bird lifer list, #208 the Black-capped Chickadee!
Black-capped Chickadee
How lucky I was this Black-capped Chickadee came out of hiding just long enough for a click click!
Black-capped Chickadee
A Mallard and A Lighthouse
Meandering along Lake Michigan’s coastline, there are numerous lighthouses along the way. We didn’t seek them out, but I did take photos if we stopped around them. I liked this one, the bright red Charlevoix South Pierhead Lighthouse. ‘Cuz red is my favorite color!
Charlevoix South Pierhead Lighthouse, Michigan
At a barrier of rocks near the base of the lighthouse, I had passed a young lady, a female Mallard, who was nervously watching the passerbys.
Female Mallard
Charlevoix South Pierhead Lighthouse
Lighthouse info
Rolling waves coming in alongside the lighthouse
After I finished with the lighthouse, I went back over to Ms. Mallard to find she had been able to calm down for a little snooze.
Such a beautiful, peaceful scene!
Female Mallard – Safe and Asleep
Mackinac Bridge
After the latest fiasco with the Indiana motorhome manufacturer now fixing something they damaged, we desperately needed a change of scenery. Our 41st anniversary was a few days ago, so we’ve escaped to upper Michigan for a week or so, to explore and sight-see. We had no idea Michigan’s upper peninsula was so beautiful!
Here’s a photo I took of the Mackinac Bridge that crosses the Straits of Mackinac, connecting Lake Michigan and Lake Huron.
Mackinac Bridge, Straits of Mackinac, Michigan
Currently the fifth longest suspension bridge in the world
(I’m in the process of playing catch up with the internet and blogs so bear with me. It was nice to take a short break; but, oh my, it put me way behind!)
