Twelve More Miles

 
I did another hike today- six more miles mostly along the Manistee River, and then back.



It's late and I have to get up on time in the morning, so this will be quick.

It was a truly lovely walk, but I'll just throw out a few pictures.

This is a kingbird sitting on a stump. Nothing too special, but he did sit still for me.



Then, I saw a really huge trumpeter swan. It was so big, I didn't think it was a bird at first.



And then his mate showed up too.



I ate lunch in the shade of some lilac bushes before turning around. Also saw a rose-breasted grosbeak, pileated woodpecker (and some smaller ones), and a green heron.

The evening was filled with the MOWA meeting. Lots of noise and unfamiliar people.

Hike 100 Challenge = 106 miles!

North Country Trail, Fletcher Creek Campground to M37 and back, Wexford County, MI, 12 miles

	See A Tree Named Coco
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Tyrannus tyrannus

 


Here's a really common visitor to our back yard, and to the open spaces of most of the northeast. It's the Eastern Kingbird, a flycatcher. Its name isn't Tyrannus tyrannus for nothing. They are known for their aggressive behavior toward other birds.



Flycatchers have slight crests. Not like a blue jay or cardinal, but you can see that its head isn't exactly round. They also have slight "whiskers." That narrow white band on its tail is another easy distinguishing mark. You are very likely to see them on fenceposts and wires, surveying the fields. The sound the make is a buzzy "dzzzt."

They swoop through the air catching insects. This is a lousy picture, but it shows a very typical silhouette for this bird- handy for identification.



This is a view more typical of lots of birds, but the focus is really good, and you can see its underparts.

See Northern Oriole- A Lucky Shot