An autumn walk at Forest Hill Nature Area

The weather yesterday was absolutely beautiful.  After arriving home from work, we decided to head out to Forest Hill Nature Area for a walk.  Here are a few of the sights.

If you build a bluebird trail, they will come

Not a great photo, but it does show the male of the Bluebird pair that I saw at the Ziibiwing Center

The new bluebird trail at the Ziibiwing Center is drawing attention from the local birds.  Yesterday afternoon I stopped to see if there was any activity.  I found several pairs of Tree Swallows either perching on or entering boxes.  I also found at least one pair of Eastern Bluebirds staking a claim to one box.  The birds are still very skittish and are best observed from a distance - as they begin to nest and acclimate to attention you should be able to approach a little bit closer.  Out in the field behind the museum I also saw and heard at least two male Eastern Meadowlarks calling back and forth.

Again, not a great picture - Eastern Meadowlark male

Last week I even saw a birder, glassing the open fields with binoculars.

Singing a Song of Spring

Last Thursday (16 April), I arrived back at the office to the sound of a bird calling in the field to the north.  Looking out over the field I could see this bird perched atop a small tree.

Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna)

A closer look reveals an Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna).  Every year, I hear one calling in this field a few times during the spring and then it seems to disappear for the summer.  Meadowlarks are a "blackbird" that isn't black.  It is closely related to birds such as Grackles, Blackbirds, Orioles, and Cowbirds.  In addition to its flute-like song, Eastern Meadowlark can be identified by their bright yellow underside and black v-shaped mark across its chest.

Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna) - a closer view

Field Trip - Alyce J. Peterson Natural Area, Mecosta County, MI

On Saturday (16 August 2014) a group of five met at the Alyce J. Peterson Natural Area for a wildflower walk.  Peterson Natural Area is a preserve owned by the the Chippewa Watershed Conservancy.  It is located along the north side of 11 Mile Rd, between 180th Avenue and 185th Avenue near the village of Stanwood in Mecosta County, MI.

Alyce J. Peterson Natural Area - map from the Chippewa Watershed Conservancy website

This preserve was established in 2008.  It was donated by the estate of Alyce Peterson who wished the property to become a wildlife preserve.  The property is mostly old farm fields.  A small creek bisects the property running from the northeast corner to the southwest corner.  This creek is narrow enough to jump across in most places.  It flows into the Muskegon River less than a half mile from the western property line.

Many of the plants that we found are the weedy species that you would expect to find in abandoned fields, but there were also many wetland species growing along the creek. While this property is bit of a drive from Mt. Pleasant it is well worth visiting this time of year.

Here are some photos from our walk.

Nicole LeVasseur, Cathy Murray, and Ralph Crew look up Cut-leaf Coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata)

Several apple trees can be found on the property

Goldenrod Soldier Beetle on Cut-leaf Coneflower

Turtlehead

Horsemint

Ralph Crew and CWC Exceutive Director Stan Lilley observing birds

Katydid on Spotted Joe-pye Weed

Cut-leaf Coneflower and Spotted Joe-pye Weed

Common Boneset (white) and Spotted Joe-pye Weed (pink/purple)