Another Time Lapse Event

Right about the time I fell into a black hole of posting, the cherry trees were in full bloom and absolutely magnificent.  

Whether viewed up close or as part of one of the peninsula's lovely vistas, the orchards were quite something to behold. 

Amazing, yes? 

So, now we have the fruits from all those beautiful blossoms weighing down the trees.

I'm almost inspired to make a cherry pie in spite of the hot weather - I just can't quite make myself turn the oven on in the heat, though. 

A Different Kind of Time Lapse

So, it's been a while since I posted on the blog, speaking of time lapses. I was doing pretty well until about the middle of May, when I took a vacation break for hanging out in the woods and hunting for tasty things to eat. Since the beautiful weather has kept enticing me out into the gardens and woods, it's hard to find a time to spend indoors working on preparing pictures and to share!

The good news about this particular lapse is that I have a fun series for this installment.  

Baloo smelled something interesting in a low growing juniper bush close to the beach.  He wanted to investigate further, but I spotted the eggs and kept him from disturbing the nest. There were eight little potential ducklings just waiting to be hatched.  

Mom Mallard was nearby dabbling in the shallows and worrying about her little ones, so we moved on to keep her from getting too nervous.

However, a few days later, we were able to catch Mom actually sitting on her nest.  If you look carefully, you can make out not just the wing feathers, but also her face and eye looking right at the camera through the greenery.  Look for the golden eye toward the top and a little left of center.  

We actually got to see the little ducklings in the nest one evening, but I didn't want Baloo to ruffle their little downy feathers, so I didn't get close enough for a picture.  They don't hang around in the nest long after they're cracked out of the eggs, so the next time we spotted them, they were already swimming out in the bay.

The whole entourage was out for an evening paddle.  I particularly like the little one in the back - doesn't it look like it's staring off into its own little wonderful world of adventure?  

More Tree Sparrows

I just love the LBBs. Little Brown Birds may seem boring and common to some, but their earnest faces and surprisingly distinctive markings make for endless fun.  

There's nothing insincere about that expression.

The tree sparrow is has that dark spot on its front, as if someone poked it in the breast with a grubby finger.  They're pretty common in small shrubs out in the fields and woods where Baloo and I wander.

This picture is taken through my sister's front window. She had just put seeds out on the porch railing and it didn't take long for someone to notice and come in for a snack.

It also gave us a wary look right back through that window, as we enjoyed watching it munch on seeds. Doesn't that almost look like a cartoon expression? It makes me smile.

Killdeer

This kildeer was pretty bold and stuck around as Baloo and I crept closer, allowing me to get several pretty good photos.

It does look just a tad worried, doesn't it? I expect there's a nest nearby.

This is a different bird out in the big field we walk through most mornings. For some reason, the color is odd in this photo - it must be the lighting making the green of the grass reflect in the feathers. I liked the clear view of the face and neck markings, though. This bird was a little more shy, but didn't wander too far.  Once again, I would be willing to bet there's a nest being protected, though neither of these birds went into the full broken wing display they use to lure predators away from their nests.

Paths Through the Trees

One of my favorite walks with Baloo takes us along a ridge overlooking East Grand Traverse Bay.  It's especially dramatic when the leaves are off the trees, because the views of the water are unobstructed. 

This particular day was so lovely and clear that the sun sparkled across the water's surface leaving shimmering diamonds in its path.  

Then, a little deeper in the woods and along another path, Baloo and I found this snag with wrinkly ankles. Don't you hate it when your socks sag?

We inspected it more closely and found even more paths that had been made under the bark by bugs - the whole stump was covered with these trails.  

Pileated Courtship Dance

The rewards for getting out early every morning to walk the dog are countless. The wonder of seeing a pair of pileated woodpeckers engaged in an elaborate courtship dance was a simply magnificent example.

The choreography was quite something. First, they'd stand tall while facing each other.

Then, bow low and start the process of circling around each other.

Making a full turn, just like a courtly English country dance, passing left shoulders on the first figure.

Then, they sort of moved low and turned back around so they were once again facing each other.

And the figure would begin again.  Stand tall,...

...bow to your partner,...

...pass right shoulders this time and turn a full circle.

I feel so fortunate to have witnessed this display - it's probably one of those once in a lifetime experiences. 

Then again, there's always something wonderful to see, if I just keep my eyes open.

Swan Lake

The road that leads to what my family calls the "skunk entrance" (that's another story for another day) to the park at the end of the peninsula goes past a shallowish lake that has marshy areas along its edges. Frogs sing, muskrats swim, ducks dabble and swans do ballet. 

Here, a beautiful mute swan begins to execute a graceful arabesque.

Balance and extend.....  You can just see the webbed foot peeking out from under the wing as the stretch reaches full extension.  Any ballet instructor would be proud.    

Baloo and I saw this pair feeding in the bay as we took our sunset walk. More swans will appear in later posts on - Baloo and I were entertained by other large, white birds on a couple other occasions.  I just don't have the photos downloaded from the camera and prepared for posting yet.  

I know - the same creatures appear again and again.  What we see is what you get - it's the luck of the draw on our outings.  :)