Tag Archives: Photo by Steve Thorpe

2013 loon pair

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They’re back. This pair wasn’t nesting as of the first weekend in May. But they are clearly “an item,” calling back and forth to one another. We think, but can’t know for sure, that this pair was on the lake last year. They seemed very acclimated to us and to our kayaks. They approached quite close. For awhile they seemed to be following us as we headed to Ghost Bay.

If past is prologue, there will be two loon pairs on the lake, one nesting on Belly Button Island and the other nesting in the lower bowl of the lake, likely on the island. We wish them calm, undisturbed nests. Come early July, we hope to see four tiny loon chicks riding on their two sets of parents’ backs.

Ruffed grouse

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This is a ruffed grouse in the woods about two  miles northwest of Long Lake, off Sorenson Road. Its ruff, which both male and females have, is  a bunch of black feathers on the sides of the neck that the birds can fan out. The male birds can also fan their tail feathers like a turkey. This grouse is big–about the size of a chicken (16 to 19 inches long).

You can call this a ruffed grouse, or you could sound snooty and call this a bonasa umbellus.  Bonasum is “bison” in Latin. If you’ve heard the loud drumming sounds these guys make you might think you’re hearing the sound of bison hooves.That’s an exaggeration, but the drumming is loud. They drum by cupping their wings and using their strong breast muscles to move their wings very fast. They don’t beat on their chests. Instead, they move their wings so fast that they produce the booming sounds. The umbellus part of their species name comes from the Latin word meaning “parasol.” It seems that would be a tad like what their ruff or maybe their tail feathers look like when they are spread. Only the male birds do the drumming thing. They are looking for a female and also trying to keep the competition away.  
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All grouse have large feet with four toes. The front three are webbed, a bit. That webbing allows a ruffed grouse to walk on top of deep snow. Feathers cover their legs down to the toes. So, this is a bird with natural snowshoes and leggings.

If you are walking in the woods and a big bird suddenly flies up and you hear a loud wingbeat, it will very likely be a ruffed grouse. And in the winter, they may explode out of snow bank as you get near, because they burrow into the snow to keep warm. But this guy was just taking a stroll on a nice sunny day in Michigan’s “up north.”

Where’s Waldoe?

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November has been so mild that we’ve been able to continue our paddles into Ghost Bay. In fact, it was 60 degrees and sunny on Thanksgiving and we spent time on the water, including in Ghost Bay. It was mid-November when this doe reclined at the water’s edge in Ghost Bay. She was definitely aware of our presence. Those big ears of hers were twitching and she was watching us as we approached. But she seemed confident she was too camouflaged to be in danger.

We watched her for several minutes. Steve was busy snapping photos. At some point, we must have pushed just beyond her tolerance. She stood up and ran away. Just about all that could be clearly seen was her white tail bouncing up the embankment.

Full moonset on Long Lake

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The full moon, late at night, was so bright and the sky was so clear that we were tempted to paddle around the lake. We didn’t, but it was tempting. We decided to wait until morning.

At 6:30am, as we readied for a morning paddle to Ghost Bay, the full moon was still putting on quite a show. We paddled out while the moon was setting. Moon set and a light breeze sent moonlight to dancing on the lake. And then came sunrise.