a living archive

recent lifers

#293 - american black duck, anas rubripes

proud lake rec area

the trail was beat up in some areas, with planks rotted out of the boardwalk in certain parts of the marsh trail that proceeds out of the trailhead parking and splits from the organizational campground trails.

i was careful to only walk where i knew there were nails and beams to support me, but i would find this to be a very sketchy hike and path otherwise - i wouldn't bring someone with mobility challenges into this specific stretch of the woods.

that being said, the birds were great - northern flickers, gray catbirds, cardinals, goldfinches, and other commmon michigan species filled the air with their songs, and were readily coming out of the incredibly dense brush to present for me.

birding in the more rugged parts of the midwest can be tough going, but it is made all the more rewarding by the work that you put in.

with their population on decline in michigan, it was really exciting to see this collection of american black duck hens together in a pond that is slowly being reclaimed by the land. debris, detritus, and algae made it a perfect place for these ducks, mute swans, and a group of around 15 great egret to make their home.

#286 - american redstart, setophaga ruticilla

bald mountain - north unit trails

got a full night's sleep after what was essentially an all-nighter on the plane from LA - and doing 5 miles of hiking and birding - and i was rewarded with a handful of additions to my life list!

this american redstart was on my target list, yet i didn't expect it to pause for as long as it did in front of me, nor for it to be perfectly comfortable when it saw me move! it cocked its head slightly, then went back to preening its feathers.

so beautiful, the air was just buzzing today :)

recent outings

Point Iroquois Lighthouse

Whitefish Bay

absolutely breathtaking. i don't have the words to describe this place. i have pictures, but know that they can't do it justice.

Lakes Loop

7 Lakes State Park

4.5mi
226’ elevation gain
2h03m

the haze was really heavy today, and it was visible even at a local level and around the park - over the water, in the treeline.

nonetheless, the birds were abundant! an amazing amount of killdeer, barn and tree swallows, and eastern kingbirds were present in the immediate vicinity of big 7 lake and the main shoreline, and the entire trail proved to be a really rewarding experience.

i transitioned between so many different zones - from a sandy beach, to meadows, to oak woodlands, to willow and alder-choked bogs, finally ending on a quaint grassy trail that carved through a thicket.

highlights:

spotted sandpiper - juvenile
two sandhill cranes
green heron
great blue heron
~15-20 killdeer
6 eastern kingbirds
red-bellied woodpecker

Lake George Trailhead -> Graham Lakes Loop

Bald Mountain: North Unit

3.6mi
206’ elevation gain
2h12m
six new lifers/li>

the smell of the loam, the din of the insects, the chorus of birds rising in the morning - it felt so good to be back on familiar soil.

i grew up fishing and hiking here with family, friends, and just by myself after awhile.

the outside world keeps encroaching closer and closer, but for now, it's still protected and pristine, just wild enough to bring out the best nature has to offer.

the hike could have been made much shorter, but i reveled in the chance to really study the birds and remember how to recite their sounds and shapes, as i've done in california.

the wetlands keep the air moist and cool, incredibly damp, like walking through a cloud.

the obvious follow-up: bug spray or layers, take your pick. in august, you need one or the other, it really isn't optional. it's a swamp, with marshes, ponds, bogs, lakes, ponds, creeks, and streams all throughout.

during peak hours, if you spend more than a second in place - i mean an actual, single second - you will have mosquitoes on any exposed skin. it is an intense, visceral bodily experience - again, be prepared!

Los Pinetos Loop Trail:

Placerita Canyon Nature Center

6.9mi
1,768’ elevation gain
2h48m

i had wanted to do this hike for awhile, and it was killer. as in, my feet are still killing me 2 days later, and the views were absolutely killer as well. it was worth the haul, but really sketchy in some areas. bring lots of water!

i highly recommend beginning at manzanita mountain trail and working your way up viper trail to wilson saddle, then over to los pinetos spring, down to the canyon grove, and back to the nature center.

i went the opposite direction and really did not enjoy some of the downhill slides on the viper trail, which could have been avoided from the other direction.

so excited to knock this trail out and check it off my list, especially after crushing it at high altitude last weekend! it was a really enjoyable follow-up that can be easily completed in a morning.