Got out for some early birding on Saturday. I made it to the Shiawassee NWR when they opened at dawn. Which means I left here by 5:00 AM. The goal was to listen for bitterns and rails and I did hear American bitterns. They bring my total up to 192 species. A few other things were out and about too.
Immature bald eagle at the refuge.
One of the many song sparrows on the refuge. Seems there are more song sparrows on the refuge than extras in a Cecil B. DeMille movie.
One of several snapping turtles I saw.
Dawn is a prime time for birding. A lot of species quit calling by about 9:00. At one time I really liked dawn and the early morning. For some reason I always liked the sunrises more than the sunsets. Maybe because there are fewer people around then. Out at sea I often found myself working at night, so I would try to get out on deck for the sunrise and a few breaths of fresh air. When we go to Delaware I try to get out at least one time during the trip to catch the sun rising over the ocean. For some reason I can never seem to drag any of my family members along with me for this near religious event.
Shiawassee NWR at dawn. I had the place to myself.
I have to admit that lately it is harder for me to drag my carcass out in the early morning. My body seems to have shifted to a different schedule. Today I had high hopes of getting up at 4:00 AM to run up to Maple River for rails and owls. Instead I stayed up until midnight and then slept in until about 8:00 AM. There was a time when four hours of sleep would have been plenty. Now it takes me four hours just to fall asleep.
Which may explain the interest in Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies). Not only are they incredible fliers and kick butt top end predators in the insect world; they don’t come out until the sun is way up. You can have that second and third cup of coffee and they’ll be waiting for you. So much more civilized than birds that are impossible to find after 9:00 AM. So after crawling out at 8:00 AM this morning, I went out to do some odonating. Got some pictures of emerald spreadwing damselflies and what I believe is a brown phase variable dancer. I’ve never seen a brown phase damselfly so I need to confirm that one.
Emerald spreadwing (female)
Emerald spreadwing (female)
Emerald spreadwing (male)
Brown phase variable dancer (I think)
Today was also Faux Father’s Day. Molly thought it was Father’s Day and I didn’t know it wasn’t. Apparently Molly inherited my inability to do dates. So Molly decided to make empanadas for me. Empanadas are the Central and South American version of pasties, so you know they gotta be good. Lindsay decided to help and invited her dad and family too. It was only after they called Lise looking for an ingredient that we found out it wasn’t Father’s Day. But, since Molly will be in Costa Rica next Sunday, and Lindsay will be in Montana without Jim, we decided this would be a good day to celebrate Father’s Day. The empanadas were great and all is good in the world. Much better than something mundane like sacrificing a goat in my honor.
Ed's and Lise's Biggish Years 