Long Lake’s Bald Eagle

Loons and eagle

This guy was high, high up in a white pine on the east side of Long Lake, sort of looking toward Belly Button Island. That’s what we call the big island, anyway. As far as I know, it doesn’t really have a name.

This eagle was definitely lord of all he surveyed. We watched for several minutes while he perched. We moved on and then saw him flying across the lake.

It seems like there’s been a lot of Bald Eagle sightings this year. Hopefully, we’ll have a nest on the lake and we can enjoy a pair for many years. Wouldn’t that just be the cat’s meow?

Wild Blue Flag Iris

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Meet Iris Versicolor a/k/a Blue Flag Iris a/k/a Northern Iris. It was growing in late June right where all the books say it should be growing, along the water, in clumps of tall, sword-like leaves. These were on the west side of the upper lake, sort of midway between the island and Ghost Bay.

These iris grow from rhizomes, thick roots that grow horizontally. The rhizomes contain iridin, a toxic substance that has been known to poison people and animals. You’d have to eat the rhizomes, though. I’m not tempted. And the sap, well it can cause dermatitis.

So, don’t eat Blue Flag Iris. Don’t touch it either. Just let your eyeballs enjoy it.

Lotsoducks

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Mallard mom was moving along at a good clip on the eastern shore of Long Lake, fairly close to shore. Her ten teeny ducklings were having a hard time keeping up. Every once in awhile they needed to do that frantic scooting-across-the-water-thing that ducks can do. It’s that move where they create a great commotion and put themselves in overdrive for a short distance. One or two ducklings would start and in short order the rest would join in.

You think mallard mom would slow up because putting on such a clownish display can’t help but draw the attention of those who prey on these little fuzz balls. But this afternoon it was a good day for ducklings. Ducklings, 10. Bald Eagles and snapping turtles,  0.

Teenage Northern Pike

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She, probably a she, was hiding in plain view. This Northern Pike was about 15 inches long and didn’t quite have the hang of the hiding and pouncing thing, which is the way pike forage for food. Still, she blended in quite nicely. That’s sunshine reflecting off the pike, but younger fish like this one do tend to have more yellow coloration than their elders and it’s arranged almost in stripes.

Ms. “Snotrocket”–an uncouth (but apt) nickname derived from the slimy mucous layer on a pike’s skin–sat still for several minutes in about 18 inches of water while we paddled about.

Steve took this photo with an underwater camera a few weeks ago. The weeds in Ghost Bay were still acting like it was winter. They were all huddled on the bottom of the bay. That didn’t leave much cover for a pike.

Where’s a young pike to find safety waiting for brunch this time of year? An osprey or an eagle could have snatched her easily. And, on that brunch thing, pike prefer to eat food that is one-third to one-half their size. Impressive.

Inspiration

IMG_0164We need this reminder, since it’s been minus 17 degrees Fahrenheit at the lake this past week. These lovelies are now bundled up in their winter covers, tucked inside the “L” of the dock, with a foot of snow on them.

Michigan is a four-season wonder and that is such a good thing. But winters can be very tough. I hope the black-capped chickadees, nuthatches, titmice, finches and woodpeckers of all sort have stashed enough food and are finding supplement at our winter feeders. Because they, like ourselves and unlike our state bird (the robin), don’t flee from the Michigan winters.