May 29

The morning temperature is 60 degrees under a sunny, hazy sky as I stand on the Leaton Rd. bridge and watch a Muskrat swim with the slow-moving current along the edge of Salt Creek. Looking around, I spot a female Redwing Blackbird near her nest while far upstream a couple of swimming Mallard drakes catch my attention. Exploring the bank, I come upon a Red maple tree displaying clusters of winged seeds, sometimes called “spinners” or “helicopters” due to their characteristic descent to the ground. These seeds are reddish, in contrast to the more common Sugar maple, which are green in spring. Soon they will disperse, unlike Sugar maple seeds that hang on until the fall. Driving northeast to the Fremont Rd bridge, I watch the creek flow through a more “natural” channel while overhead, I see a Catbird perching in one of the many leafless, lifeless Ash trees. While passing through an adjoining meadow, I notice little masses of sticky, frothy bubbles, on young Goldenrod plants. These white foam blobs are produced by the nymphs, of spittlebugs, small insects related to aphids and other true bugs (stock photo). The foam serves a number of purposes, including protecting the nymph from predators as well as providing insulation from temperature extremes and a low humidity. Heading back to the car, I look up and listen to a perching Song Sparrow. After driving to my third encounter with Salt Creek, I’m hiking along the edge of a golf course, just south of the village of Shepherd. From one tree, high overhead, I hear the song of a Baltimore Oriole while from another, I spot an Eastern Kingbird. This bird is a long-distance migrant, wintering entirely in South America. They migrate in flocks and unlike many of the migratory songbirds, they travel mostly by day. From a downed tree in the underbrush, I get a close look at a sitting Eastern Chipmunk. Finally, as I watch the creek water flow rapidly north, I think about the identify crisis of this watercourse. While current maps label it “Salt Creek.”, maps in the 1800’s called it “Salt River”, which was also the name of the village that is now Shepherd. Likewise, the graveyard south of the village is still called Salt River Cemetery and the village park is called “Little Salt River Park. However, there is another watercourse that runs through the middle of Isabella and Midland Counties that currents maps label “Salt River” (stock photo). To confuse matters more, this creek that meanders through this golf course was once named “Winding Brook” while the current owners call it “Maple Creek."

Buzzard soars so well

Amazing sense of smell

Flies with grace, flies high

On the wind, azure sky

With others, just a few

Keen eyes, quite a view 

Skillful and smart

Black bird, thou art

I watch and praise

Turkey Vulture’s ways

 

D. DeGraaf

May 22

Mid-morning temperatures are in the mid 50’s, under sunny skies as I stand on Isabella Rd. watching the water of Salt Creek flow gently eastward while listening to the familiar song of a Yellow Throat (stock photo). Along the bank, I notice a stand of Common Reed (Phragmites) that appears to be the native variety as opposed to the highly invasive variety. The non-native subspecies was introduced to the east coast in the late 1700’s and early 1800’s and has gradually spread westward. It forms dense monocultures that can overtake wetlands within a few years. It is a particular scourge in southern Michigan, where it dominates coastal marshes and wet prairie in Saginaw Bay and the St. Clair Delta. Nearby, I spot a colorful Red Admiral butterfly warming itself on a large boulder. While heading back to the car, I get a quick glimpse of a swimming Muskrat. From my next stop, which is the Summerton Rd. bridge, I look skyward to see my first Baltimore Oriole of the year. Moving along the bank, I’m greeted from overhead by the loud shrill of a male Redwing Blackbird, letting me know I’m too close to his nesting area. On my way back to the car, I come upon a Black Current shrub with its small white bell flowers. Come July, this bush will display edible fruit (stock photo) that can be used in jams, wine and juices. For my next creek encounter, I’m on Coe Rd. looking south at a channel that has likely been straightened to maximize farm acreage and facilitate tile drainage. Off in the distance, I see a Sandhill Crane that is most likely sitting on her nest. Sandhill Cranes mate for life, choosing their partners based on dancing displays. Although each female usually lays two eggs, only one nestling typically survives to fledge. Perched on an overhead powerline are three birds that are familiar sights along a watercourse like this. First, a Barn swallow that glides close to the water feeding on insects and nests under the road bridge. Second, a cooing Mourning Dove whose mate retreats to a nearby spruce tree. Third, a male Belted Kingfisher preparing to dive for small fish. This bird is one of the few species in which the female (stock photo) is more brightly colored than the male. Turning back toward the car, I spot a few blossoms of Swamp buttercup. The sap of this plant is an irritant to humans and most livestock including cows, sheep, horses and pigs.  Cows are very susceptible to buttercup poisoning while grazing, resulting in respiratory distress and convulsions.

 

One of nature’s finest

Look for you in spring

Wait for your arrival

Long to hear you sing

I search for you

In tree or the sky 

Still nothing yet

Often wonder why

Finally, you arrive

Your call is clear

Baltimore Oriole

Glad you’re here

 

D. DeGraaf

May 15

Midday skies are sunny with temperatures in the lower 60’s as I watch the water of Salt Creek flow east under the Mission Rd bridge, while listening to one of many different songs of a Northern Cardinal. Stooping down, I spot a field ant crawling over a Dandelion blossom, most likely feeding on the nectar. Also, this sighting implies another natural phenomenon, namely these ants also farming Dandelion aphids that live under the basal leaves or around the tap root (stock photo). In exchange for protecting these tiny insects from predators, the ants are able to milk the aphids for sugar-rich, honeydew they produce by sucking sap out of the dandelions. Walking toward the car, a small Catalpa tree with 18- to 20-inch-long, dried up seed pods catches my eye. Back in the car, I head downstream and stop where the creek flows under Isabella Rd as a Killdeer flies off. Farther down the channel, I spot a Solitary Sandpiper. Almost all sandpipers migrate in flocks and nest on the ground, but this species breaks both rules. In migration, as its name implies, it is usually encountered alone. Most likely, this bird is heading north from its wintering grounds anywhere from extreme southern U.S., south to Central America, the Caribbean and even tropical South America. When it reaches its summer breeding grounds in the northern boreal forest of Canada and Alaska, it will lay its eggs in old songbirds nests rather than nesting on the wet ground. While watching Barn swallows dip and dive for insects on the creek surface, I spot a pair of them perched on an overhead power line. Along the bank, I observe a patch of Wild Mustard and a few clumps of lush Pincushion moss. Up ahead, several Cabbage White butterflies flutter around. Since none of them land for a photo op, I try in vain to video record one in flight. The “cabbage” reference in the name refers to the larvae (stock photo) that feed on garden crops like cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower. While looking at the clear creek water at it flows downstream, I enjoy the song of a Yellow Warbler. Heading back to the car, I pause to watch a stand of invasive Phragmites with their wispy panicles swaying in the breeze. For my third stop, I listen to a Song Sparrow while watching the slow-moving water flow under Isabella Rd, between Jerseyville and Coe Rds. Along the bank, I notice old Beaver willow stumps as well as dried-up, prickly seed pods of Teasel. Approaching the car, I spot colorful blossoms of Grape Hyacinth whose strong scent keeps deer and rabbits away.

 

Sun finally warms

Spring seems late

Creatures out of hiding

Nature ends her wait

Frog on the pond

Snake on the ground

Bee on the flower

Bird calls sound

Cattails appear

Maple leaves unfold

Time has come

Wildlife take hold

 

D. DeGraaf

May 8

I’m standing on the edge of Blanchard Rd., 5 miles due west of Shepherd, looking north at a drainage ditch that marks the source of Salt Creek. For the next several weeks I plan to explore this watercourse (stock photo) as it snakes its way through Isabella and Midland Counties before spilling into the Chippewa River, 17 miles northeast of here. Under mostly cloudy skies and temperatures in the low 50’s, I hike south along a steep, lush bank where the water in the 3-ft wide creek channel is barely seen. Moving down slope closer to the water, I notice blossoms of Beggar-ticks, known for their barbed seed-like fruits that stick to animal fur or clothing. The name comes from the tiny seeds that resemble ticks (insects) on the clothes of beggars. Other common names for this plant include, devil's-pitchfork, devil's bootjack, sticktights, bur marigold, pitchfork weed, and tickseed sunflower. Further downstream, I spot a patch of green horsetail shoots as well as some dead stalks of Burdock showing a few Velcro-like seed pods. Turning around, I head back toward the car where my ears tune in to songs of a Yellow Warbler and Catbird. Next, I drive south on Crawford Rd. and stop to explore the creek where some of its banks are covered with blue blossoms of Common Periwinkle. This plant was first introduced to North America in the 1700’s as an ornamental and is still commonly sold as lawn ground cover. However, as seen here, it escaped cultivation and is invading a natural area. It grows vigorously and forms dense mats that displace native herbaceous species. On the path, I come upon a rosette of Common Mullein with its velvet-like leaves. Upon closer look, I spot a 1/8-inch Humble Fly. In addition to familiar forensic clues such as fingerprints and bloodstains, more and more criminal investigators are relying on the services of the humble fly. Given the nature of the things flies choose to dine on, they are often the first to be found at crime scenes. There is a predictable succession of flies that arrive at a corpse, with different fly species specializing in eating different parts of the body at different stages of decomposition. Back in the car, I drive a short distance southeast and stop to explore the creek as it flows under Pleasant Valley Rd. Moving along the bank, I look and listen to a male Redwing Blackbird perched on a cattail stalk, most likely protecting a nest down near the water’s edge. Back toward the car, I watch run-off water from nearby cropland flowing through a drain tile into the creek and wonder if it contains pollutants.

 

Beside the trail

Forest glade

Slithering, weaving

From sun to shade

Forked tongue

Stripes of black

Sometimes taut

Sometimes slack

Reptile of the wild

Worthy of praise

Snake in the grass

I admire your ways

 

D. DeGraaf

May 1

It’s around noon as I watch the Salt Creek water flow under Blanchard Rd. near the village of Shepherd. This water course (stock photo) that I plan to explore, from beginning to end, over the next several weeks, starts as a drainage ditch, 6 miles west of here, curves south to north where I stand and then meanders northeast for 17 miles as it finally flows into the Chippewa River. It’s partly sunny with temperatures in the low 40’s as I hike north, trying in vain to video record a fast-moving swallow as it swoops near the water. Fortunately, it perches on the far bank where I see it’s a Rough-winged swallow. Unlike most swallows, these birds are not very social and do not nest in colonies. They are named for the ridges of hooked barbs found along the outer edges of their wings, though these serrations are smaller and less barbed on female birds (stock photo). These swallows feed almost exclusively on flying insects, intercepting them with a low, gliding flight over water or open ground. In the fall, most populations migrate to Central and South America, though warm areas such as the Texas Gulf Coast and southern Florida host populations year-round. Moving along the lush bank, I notice a patch of Dead Nettle. The name “dead nettle” is a little misleading since it comes from its apparent resemblance to stinging nettle, minus the sting.  However, there doesn’t seem to be any resemblance at all. Continuing north, I catch a glimpse of a male House Finch and blossoms of a garden flower, called Grape Hyacinth that most likely escaped from a neighbor’s yard. After pausing on a high bank to hear a male Redwing Blackbird followed by a Common Crow, I enter a woodland where I spot a female Redwing Blackbird. On the muddy ground, I notice a few Woodland Violets and some fresh deer tracks, while overhead, I observe male flowers of a Box Elder tree swaying in the breeze. Up ahead, I come to some wetlands where the Blue Jays welcome me and the pond scum (blue-green algae) is blooming. Crossing over to the other side of the creek, I pause to look at and listen to the flowing water as it heads northeast. Also, I’m surprised to see a fresh beaver stump. Heading back toward the car, I spot the branch of a Multiflora rose shrub displaying reddish, disfigured leaves due to Rose rosette disease (RRD). The disease is caused by a virus transmitted by feeding of microscopic mites. Defoliation and dieback are common and susceptible plants may die in two to four seasons.  

 

Fresh tracks

On the trail below

Hard to tell

I think it’s a doe

In the meadow afar

A pace to her walk

Ears perk up

From the one I stalk

She stops and stares

Through a morning haze

Whitetail of spring

I admire your ways

 

D. DeGraaf