July 29

With sunny skies, a refreshing midday breeze and temperatures in the upper 70’s, I’m beginning my hike on a two-track through a meadow that’s part of the Runway Disc Golf Course, just east of downtown Alma. Soon, I notice several large grasshoppers, called Carolina Locust, in flight displaying their color-banded, butterfly-like, flying wings (stock photo). Following one as it lands nearby, this 2 ½ inch insect is almost impossible to find due to its camouflage coloration. Like other locusts, it eats a variety of plants and grasses, even ones humans like, such as clover, sunflowers and corn. Up ahead, I come upon a plant, called Lamb’s Ear with spikes of pale pink flowers and fuzzy, wooly leaves, shaped like lamb’s ears. Nearby, I spot a Japanese beetle crawling on a pink blossom of Swamp Thistle and a 1-inch Yellow-collared Scape Moth perched on a Goldenrod stem. The term “scape” refers to a kind of stalk, or shaft at the base of each antenna. Other pink blossoms that catch my eye, include Common Teasel and most often-white Yarrow. Proceeding down one of the mowed fairways, I notice several Catalpa trees with their large heart-shaped leaves and foot-long seed pods, as well a very tall female, Tree of Heaven displaying clusters of red seeds. This rapidly growing deciduous tree has become a widespread invasive species across North America. Known by a number of names including stinking sumac, Chinese sumac, varnish tree and stink tree, the plant releases a strong, offensive smell, particularly from its flowers. This tree was brought from China to the United States in the late 1700s as a horticultural specimen and shade tree. Its ease of establishment, rapid growth and absence of insect or disease problems made it popular when planning urban landscaping. These same traits have led it to spread aggressively throughout the United States, crowding out native plants. The tree has also helped advance the spread of the spotted lantern fly (stock photo), an invasive insect also originally from China.  These insects. feed on and damage many species of native and fruit-bearing trees. Continuing east, I finally make it to the bank of the Pine River where I pause to watch its water flow gently through a lush landscape. Along the shore, I spot a pair of perching Widow Skimmer dragonflies as well as a large Maple tree trunk gnawed by a beaver, many years ago. After stopping to explore a fawn carcass being worked on by a variety of decomposing insects, I turn around and head back toward the car. 

Mother Nature

Is tuning up

Midnight howls

From a coyote pup

Babbling brook

Vireo sounds

Feeding Downy

Pecks and pounds

Cicadas' whine

Snort of a deer

Wildlife noises

Perk the ear

 

D. DeGraaf

July 22

The early morning sky is partly sunny with temperatures in the low 70’s, as I stand on the edge of a field of tall corn to watch the water of Honeyoye Creek flow slowly southeastward toward its confluence with the Pine River, ¾-mile downstream. Moving through tall, wet vegetation, I notice a Goldenrod plant with an unusual growth of leaves on top of the main stalk. Called a "bunch gall," "rosette gall," or "flower gall," it occurs when a minuscule midge fly lays its egg in a leaf bud. After the grub hatches, its presence somehow keeps the stem from growing and elongating, resulting in a tight, flower-like cluster of leaves. Passing through a shady woodland, I first come upon an Indian Pipe plant whose common name comes from its supposed resemblance, when in flower, to a peace pipe. Other common names, include Corpse Plant and Ghost Flower. Next, I come upon a 500 lb. Pudding Stone, a type of sedimentary rock known as a conglomerate that metamorphosed into a rock of white quartzite, pebbles of jasper and dark-colored inclusions. These stones first got their name from their similarity to European settlers’ favorite fruit pudding dishes. Referring to a map while exploring this watercourse and the surrounding floodplain, it becomes clear that, years ago, the creek channel was straightened out, cutting off the old meandering creek bed that remains as a wetland. Along this old creek bed, I hear the loud shriek of a Green Heron and watch it land on a far-off branch. Normally seen with a hunched, short-neck profile (stock photo), I’m surprised to see this bird with an extended neck. These birds have specialized vertebrae that allow them to do this to look bigger, scare off predators and also hunt fish. Working my way onto Riverview Rd., I pause on the bridge to observe the creek water flow gently through a lush riparian landscape. Exploring the wet grass along the bank, I spot a perching, Blue-tipped Dancer Damselfly along with a female Halloween Pennant dragonfly.  The reason for the “pennant” in their name is that they resemble tiny flags streaming off the pond grasses while the reason for the “Halloween” in their name is that the orange and black coloring of their wing bands, especially of the male (stock photo), is reminiscent of the shades of this spooky holiday. Suddenly, a gust of wind rustles the wet leaves overhead causing water droplets to fall on the smooth surface of the creek, producing a series of concentric ripples. These waves are formed due to an equilibrium between the force of gravity and the surface tension of the water.

Past rushes and reeds

Rocks and redwings

Run creek, run

Under limbs and logs

Leafage and lichens

Run creek, run

Over sand and silt

Stumps and stones

Run creek, run

Through fields and fens

Floods and fog

Honeyoye, run

 

D. DeGraaf

July 15

The mid-day sky is cloudy with temperatures in the mid 70’s and humid air, as I start hiking and monitoring a 40-acre conservation easement in Gratiot County. As it was last week, my goal is to make sure the owner is complying with the lease agreement made years ago with the federal government to maintain the property as a wildlife refuge. Soon, I come upon a curious fawn with its white spots that will disappear by the time its four months old. In the distance, perched on a Canada Thistle blossom is an Eastern Monarch butterfly, one of only a few I’ve seen this year. Unfortunately, the monarch population count in 2024 is the second lowest in recorded history. The decline is attributed mostly to a lack of milkweed and other pollinating flowers in breeding areas due to high temperatures, drought, land-use changes and overuse of herbicides. Examining a patch of Dogbane plants, a colorful, 1/2 -inch, Dogbane Leaf beetle catches my eyes. The beetle's scientific name loosely translates to "made of gold."  In fact, gold is only one of a medley of colors displayed by these gorgeous native insects.  As I change my viewing angle, the iridescent beetle glistens with mixed shades of green, copper, blue, red, and of course gold. Unlike humans and many other organisms, these beetles can ingest and process the toxic chemicals concentrated in the latex of Milkweed and Dogbane. Approaching one of many ponds on the property, I notice, from afar, a swimming, breeding pair of Wood ducks along with their juvenile offspring while along the shore a patch of attractive, but highly invasive, Purple Loosestrife. Next, I pause to watch a Muskrat slowly swim past me. Proceeding south, I scan a wetland while listening to a Killdeer and noticing a large field of small, white flowers. Upon closer look, I see they are daisy-like blossoms known as Corn Chamomile, Mayweed or Field Chamomile. Suddenly, a pair of noisy Sandhill Cranes take off and fly west. Heading back toward the car, I hear a short chirping call from a Redwing Blackbird. This check call is a distinctive, matter-of-fact sound that both male and female birds make all year. It's often heard when the birds are feeding, in flight, confronting rivals, or raising an alarm. Up ahead, I come across a never-before-seen, Red-spotted Purple Butterfly. The red or orange-red spots in the name can been seen on the underside of its wings (stock photo). Down in the wet grass, I spot a lovely, 1-inch, red Meadow Hawk dragonfly. Unable to get a closer look, it is either a Ruby or Cherry-faced variety. 

Symphony of sounds

Dawn to dusk

Array of aromas

Mint to musk

Field and forest

Flooded with green

Fruits of the vine

Creatures glean

Fragile fledglings

Take to the sky

Crescendo of summer

Nature in July

 

D. DeGraaf

July 8

On this cool, sunny morning, I’m beginning my annual hike through a 25-acre conservation easement, just east of Alma. As a volunteer monitor for the Chippewa Watershed Conservancy, I checkout this private property to make sure the owner is complying with the lease agreement made years ago with the federal government to maintain this land for the preservation of wildlife. Following an old 2-track along one of the boundaries, I spook up two adult Whitetail deer and one fawn and watch them run for cover. Scanning the meadow, I see a few Canada Thistle plants displaying some pink blossoms as well as others seeding out with feathery down that will soon be used by female Goldfinches to line the inner portion of their nests (stock photo). Other blossoms that catch my eye, include Prairie Clover and Swamp Milkweed. Barely visible in the dense grass at my feet is a 1-inch Confusing Eusarca moth. The name presumably reflects the fact that it can easily be confused with a number of other moths. Trudging through tall, wet grass toward a tall Cottonwood tree, I’m alert to the song of a male Indigo Bunting. Sometimes nicknamed "blue canaries," these brilliantly colored yet common and widespread birds (stock photo) can be heard from late spring through summer all over eastern North America. Among the lush reeds and sedges, I spot a newly developed cattail stem with a densely packed spike of female flowers, shaped like a cigar and a thin yellow spike above it, containing the male flowers. After releasing pollen, the male spike withers and falls off, leaving the brown furry fruiting female spike. When mature, this spike disintegrates to release cottony masses of minute wind-dispersed seeds. Recalling that this property is a great habitat for a variety of dragonflies, I’m not surprised to spot an Orange Meadow hawk perched on a blade of grass. Nearby, on another blade of grass, I observe a perching Eastern Amber-wing dragonfly. This small dragonfly has wasp-like markings on its abdomen to scare off predators. Also, when threatened, they imitate a wasp by rhythmically moving their wings up and down while pulsing their abdomens. Up ahead, perching in the dense foliage is a beautiful, 2-inch Widow Skimmer dragonfly. The species name means sorrowful or mournful, perhaps because the dark basal portion of the wings looks like a widow's black shawl. These skimmers are a great control of mosquito populations, consuming up to a hundred per day.

Fluttering and flying

O’er field and meadow

Monarchs of orange

Swallowtails yellow

Seeking sweet nectar

Invited by flowers

Carried on breezes

In sunshine hours

Spreading their wings

Displaying their color

Butterflies of summer

Like no other

 

D. DeGraaf

July 1

It’s early morning with sunny skies and temperatures in the low 60’s as I hike west from Winans Rd. on the paved Meijer bike trail toward another encounter with Honeyoye Creek. Along the trail, I spot some red, unripe berries of Black Raspberry and orange berries of Tatarian Honeysuckle. The berries of this type of Honeysuckle are toxic. Symptoms of consuming them, include diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal pains. Blossoms that catch my attention, include yellow Toadflax (Butter-and-Eggs) and pink Milkweed. Arriving at the bike trail bridge, I pause to watch the Honeyoye Creek water flow south and listen to a distant Mourning Dove. Working my way along the top of a steep bank, I hear water flowing into the creek from a large drain tile originating from a nearby cornfield.  Up ahead, while listening to the song of a Tufted Titmouse, I watch a swarm of unknown damselflies flying above the creek channel. Referred to as a damselfly “hatch”, hundreds of aquatic nymphs (stock photo) emerge from the water at the same time, crawl up on the vegetation, grow and dry their wings, before taking to flight. Exploring the nearby bank, I’m not surprised to find one of many 1½-inch perching Stream Bluet damselflies that likely will join the swarm. Many Bluet species prefer ponds and lakes; the Stream Bluet as its name implies is most at home along moving waters. Further downstream, I spot a Muskrat foraging in the creek. These mammals eat the roots, stems, leaves, and fruits of water plants, such as cattail, water lilies, and rushes. Even though the muskrat is mainly a plant eater, it also eats small fish, clams, snails, and even turtles. Back on the trail near the bridge, I notice a perching White Spring Moth with a ½-inch wingspan, a perching Eyed Brown Butterfly with a 2-inch wingspan and a perching Red Admiral Butterfly with underwings that look like an old decaying leaf. Upon closer look, (stock photo) the underwing is a complex mosaic of turquoise and yellow with brown circles, thick black lines and successive waves of burgundy and blue. It's a world of color that masquerades as dead vegetation. It is also a beauty distinct from the attractive colors of the upper wings. On the other side of the trail, I spot a raspberry plant that seems to be displaying colorful blossoms which turn out to be dense clusters of Box Elder bugs. Continuing on the trail to the car, I drive a short distance south and stop at the Winans Rd bridge, near the corner of Lincoln Rd., to watch the creek water continue flowing toward its confluence with the Pine River.

Dawn of summer

Nature in stride

Wildflowers bloom

Butterflies glide

Green on the fields

Blue on the Jay

Ducks on the pond

Life on display

Cloudless skies

Vultures above

Croak of the frog

Coo of the dove

 

D. DeGraaf