Auroras and the Mighty Mack Bridge

This was our first visit to the Mackinaw area. We scouted yesterday knowing that the KP index (measurement of the strength of the magnetic impulse from a sunspot and predictor of aurora potential) was going to be up to 5. My dream was to get pics of the aurora over the bridge. We arrived at Old Mackinaw Lighthouse Point well before sundown last evening, and shot lots of pics of folks enjoying the sunset. We shot more of the bridge as dusk encroached, and darkness finally arrived. We captured some fireworks being shot off from the St. Ignace side. Then, just before 9pm, we caught our first glimpse of the aurora. It was a tear-jerking moment. It became intense enough for us to see some pillars (intense vertical streaks of light)! The auroras faded (as predicted) as the waning full moon rose....and using my fisheye lens, I was able to catch the moon with the bridge and the fading auroras. Thank you to David for fulfilling a dream and sharing an amazing night!

Hummingbirds

 It's my favorite time of the year.....the Trumpet Vines and Rose of Sharon shrubs are blooming and Hummingbirds are zooming about enjoying the blooms.
Something so peaceful and restorative sipping my coffee on the deck and watching these little birds. Yesterday, there were up to 6 at a time on the Trumpet Vines....all females. Their aerial battles were epic...some captured and posted below.
Meanwhile, the solitary male claimed the feeders as his territory. 

Cedar Bog Spiders....

 It was a pleasant day to walk at Cedar Bog today. Always lots to see, but today I saw some lovely spiders...

This is the Dimorphic Jumping Spider (Maevia inclemens)

And here's a Sylvan Jumping Spider (Colonus sylvanus)

Lastly, here's  Lined Orbweaver (Mangora gibberosa

Mourning Warbler at Old Reid

 Gracie and I took nice little hike today at Old Reid along Buck Creek. We had walked down the trail to the creek when I saw movement in some brush. After observing for a few minutes, the bird popped out ....it was a male Mourning Warbler. The Mourning Warbler passes through our area during migration...right now, he is on his way Canada and the most northern states for breeding. He winters in Central America. He's a hard bird to see and photograph....he's what's called a "skulking bird" meaning he stays deep in the brush and avoids revealing himself. He put on a show (as much as a Mourning Warbler will), although he did stay in the shaded brush....not optimal for clean photos due to the high iso, but still worth some pixels.

Magee Marsh Warblers

 Some of our shots from Magee Marsh this week....

Wilson's Warbler

Black-Throated Blue Warbler

Blackburnian Warbler

Hooded Warbler

Yellow-Rumped Warbler

Female American Redstart Warbler

Black-Throated Blue Warbler

Black & White Warbler

Chestnut Sided Warbler

Black & White Warbler

Palm Warbler

Magnolia Warbler

American Redstart Warbler

American Redstart Warbler

Northern Parula Warbler

Canada Warbler

Mama Robin Ain't Scared of No Red-Heads!

 An interesting encounter at Old Reid Park (Clark County) this morning. I was thrilled to see a Red-Headed Woodpecker at Old Reid. This is the first one I've seen there in all of my time spent there! As I watched, the Red-Head made his way down the tree line. He apparently came a bit too close to an American Robin nest, and Mama Robin wasn't too pleased. She came at him, claws out. Although this took place at a fairly long distance from my vehicle and shots were at high iso with the gray skies, I was pleased to get a few images of the interaction.