A lot going on since my last post. Having no visible means of support, one would think I have all the time in the world. Unfortunately, that doesn’t account for things like taking a week to fix a computer. A computer that was working before Microsoft decided I really needed an operating system upgrade, regardless of the fact my computer was working fine. Microsoft’s supposed foolproof upgrade trashed my computer so bad I had to resort to reloading the whole Windows operating system. Which means I also had to reload all the software programs on my computer. Which means I had to suffer through all the messages saying my software was old and out of date and didn’t I want to update to something new and wonderful. To which I had to say, “Sorry, but I’m old and out of date too. But I still work, like these old programs work. They do what I need them to do, even if they’re not the latest and greatest.”
Almost as much fun as reloading the operating system has been repainting the downstairs bathroom. Doing the job right entails removing and reinstalling the toilet. That’s something right up there with root canals, colonoscopies, and the tRump presidency. It ain’t pretty, it ain’t fun, and it could go really bad.
That little exercise highlighted our interesting dependency on two bathrooms. Growing up, my family had nine people in the household, all using one bathroom. No heat vent going to it, but at least it was indoor plumbing. Everyone had to go through the boy’s bedroom to get to the bathroom. But we somehow managed. Now, with three regulars in the house, and an occasional fourth, there was some pressure to get that second bathroom back on line as soon as possible. So all is good now.
In the fun work category, I finished a tile-top bench I’ve been building for my sister Lynn. I used the same tiles as her kitchen floor and the wood, white ash, will match her hallway. This bench has taken me longer than I expected, but it has been a great learning exercise.
The time hasn’t been all work. I finally got out for my first odonating of the season. Went to Riverbend Natural Area by the Grand River for a couple hours. Saw some old friends like calico pennants and Eastern pondhawks and I got pictures of a rusty snaketail. The snaketail is a new species for me and not commonly seen here. The Michigan Odonata Survey has no record of rusty snaketail here in Ingham County.
Male calico pennant.
Female calico pennant.
Female Eastern pondhawk.
Rusty snaketail.
Lise and I got in our annual trip up to the Grayling area for Kirtland’s warblers. The Kirtland’s is a habitat specialist species, only nesting in young jack pines. Jack pines are an interesting species in that their cones need to go through a fire to release their seeds. Historically wildfires would kill off the older jack pines, but the seeds would sprout into the young jack pines preferred by the Kirtland’s. Once the Europeans showed up, jack pines were either harvested and fire suppression prevented new growth. Those that were not harvested became too old for the Kirtland’s to utilize. The Kirtland’s population plummeted, and they were on the brink of extinction until their dependence on the jack pines was understood. Now with proper management their population has rebounded nicely, and they may be de-listed.
Me, standing on a bridge over the Au Sable River.
We have also gotten in some birding other places. Today we got a fork-tailed flycatcher in Flushing, Michigan. This was a life bird for both of us. The flycatcher is a South American bird, never seen before in Michigan. Needless to say, people have come from far and wide to see it. We’ve also been getting some of the less exotic species. Lise is at 179 species for the year, and I am at 174. Not big year numbers, but respectable. And more to come.
Double-crested cormorant eating a fish. Shiawassee NWR.
Muskrat with vegetation.
Ed's and Lise's Biggish Years 