This hasn’t been our weekend for birding. Either we have incredibly poor timing or we pissed off some great birding god. Maybe Roger Tory Peterson’s spirit is mad because we started using a Sibley’s guide.
Yesterday we chased a red-necked grebe at Lake Lansing. It was reported Friday afternoon so we were there at first light Saturday morning. Beautiful sunrise. As we were scanning the lake I noticed a rainbow right behind us. Rainbows are formed by light refracting through water droplets in the atmosphere. In this case, water droplets in the atmosphere right above us. Big water droplets that decided to quit fighting gravity. No leprechaun, no pot of gold, no red-necked grebe. Just running to the van from a cold downpour that turned into a steady day long rain.
The first and the last of the sun on Saturday.
The smudges are “droplets” in the atmosphere above us.
Today we went down to Ann Arbor for a memorial. Breezy day but nice and warm. Tornado kind of warm. We decided to check out an area where I thought we could get American pipits and maybe a Wilson’s snipe. Since we were in dress clothes so we had to pull over behind some barn to change clothes in the van. So far so good. No hidden security cameras or police patrols checking us out. Honest officer, we’re looking for birds. Can I put my pants on before stepping out of the car?
Then we drove around checking out fields, but it was too windy for small birds like pipits to be flying around. So we foolishly left the safety of the van to go traipsing down a trail. My idea and not the best one I’ve ever had. We got just far enough away from the van to make things interesting when the sky opened up. We’re talking biblical. Forty days and forty nights, Noah get your ark, kind of thing. Johnstown Flood water levels. We beat a hasty retreat for home with no new species for the weekend. 
A lovely day birding with Ed and Lise.
We did have some excitement for the weekend. This was the Okemos High School homecoming. Molly and some buddies went to the dance. He bought a shirt to match her dress. I stayed home, cleaning my pistols.
Homecoming.
Ed's and Lise's Biggish Years 