It’s a gloomy and stormy day in SE Michigan. I didn’t want the Daily Bucket to have a similarly dark day, so this is going to be a quick story and photo heavy.
Pointe Mouillee State Game Area lies at the mouth of the Huron River as it empties into Lake Erie, just south of Detroit. Yesterday, we were out of the heat dome, so I ventured out to see what there was to see. Lots of wildflowers, not too many birds but enough to keep me happy, a skyful of dragon and damsel flies, and way too many hungry deer flies.
THE DAILY BUCKET IS A NATURE REFUGE. WE AMICABLY DISCUSS ANIMALS, WEATHER, CLIMATE, SOIL, PLANTS, WATERS AND NOTE LIFE’S PATTERNS.
A typical view from the walking trails. Bigger
Queen Anne’s Lace is starting to bloom.
Chicory was in full bloom.
Milkweed
Red Milkweed Beetle.
Eastern Painted Turtle on the path.
Pipevine Swallowtail. I don’t know what the yellow flowers are, but they were everywhere and taller than me.
Dragonflies were everywhere, with lots of pairs mating. A few were kind enough to perch, here an Eastern Pondhawk
Halloween Pennant
Female Common Whitetail
Blue Dasher
A few Trumpeter Swans nest at Pointe Moo. This was one of a pair, trumpeting as they flew.
One of the reasons I went to Pointe Moo was to look for White-rumped Sandpipers. I’m hoping that’s what these are. Bigger
Best I could do for a profile view. Bigger
The surprise of the day was a mink family, who I happened to catch sight of as they skittered across an opening in the phragmites. It looked like an adult and two kits. I missed the first two but got photos of the last one.
Last shot as it scurried away.
Now it’s your turn. What’s up in nature in your area?