July 16

Last Thursday, while vacationing on Beaver Island, I did an early morning beach stroll from our rental house on the coast of Lake Michigan. The weather was cloudy with a temperature of 70 degrees and a gentle breeze off the lake. Before starting out, I stood facing the lake and noticed, as I did a year ago, that the water level remained high, flooded the old shoreline and drowned several young cedar trees. Heading south on the soft sand, I spotted a variety of small white crustacean shells scattered about including: snail, clam and the ubiquitous Zebra Mussel. Also, nearby I came upon part of the Synsacrum bone of a gull. Walking away from the water onto the fore dune, some colorful blossoms caught my eye including: Hoary Puccoon, Swamp Milkweed, Oxeye daisy and the aromatic Lake Huron Tansy, listed as a threatened Michigan species. Nearby, I saw a patch of Bearberry with some unripen fruit. Pausing to observe how the breeze moved through Cottonwood leaves, I was serenaded by a Song Sparrow. Continuing south along the beach, I came upon the fresh carcass of a Herring Gull, noting its size, plumage and lack of any sign of predation. Just ahead, I noticed blossoms of Common Dogbane and was surprised by their pleasant aroma. After observing a Monarch Butterfly fluttering up ahead, I was pleased that it landed on a Milkweed blossom long enough for me to zoom in and photograph it. After my hike, while reviewing my photos, I was pleasantly surprised to see I had inadvertently captured the partial image of a Monarch caterpillar on an adjacent plant. Still heading south, I spotted some foraging Canada Geese and a floating Ring-billed Gull. Near my feet, I watched the gentle waves wash over a bowling-ball size boulder of Granite Gneiss. Turning around and retracing my steps, I spotted a predaceous Robber Fly walking on the sand searching for food. Nearby, I noticed a Silverweed plant with its small yellow blossoms and burgundy runners. Finally, I made it back to the house just before rain started to fall.

Finally spotted you

Ended my search

Fluttering near

Paused to perch

Wings of orange

Border of black

Symbol of summer

Welcome back

On Milkweed flower

For a while stay

Magnificent Monarch

Beauty display

D. DeGraaf