Turtle, Bird, Moth, Wildflowers - A Mix from Michigan

June 2013
A visit to Happy Day Acres in Dalton Township, Michigan with my three sisters, one brother, one sister-in-law, one brother-in-law and one great nephew (who is 8 1/2 years old and into birds) was a bonus adventure.  We walked a bit south of the property to a wet area I had seen on Bing maps.  My great nephew spotted a bird off in the distance and identified it as a Cedar Waxwing!  I zoomed in on it with my camera and he was spot on.  What a beautiful bird with his tail dipped in yellow paint.

                                  Cedar Waxwing

Also near the swampy area we saw... 

   

 

 

As we walk through the woods one sister asked about something in a bush.  I thought it looked like dried leaves but wait...it had a pattern to it and little feet holding on to a twig!  I think this is a Small-eyed Sphinx, two of them!

                Small-eyed Sphinx  (Paonias myops)

The Small-eyed Sphinx (Paonias myops) is a species of moth of the Sphigidae family. It is found from south-eastern Canada to Florida and westward almost to the Pacific Coast.  The wingspan is ~2.47-2.72 inches.  Adults are more nocturnal than most sphingids; after an initial bout of activity after dusk, they fly throughout the night. Adults are on wing from June to September in eastern Canada.

More of what was in the woods at Happy Day Acres.

 
  

  

 I found this neat fossil but have yet to identify it.

Earlier that day, Marie and I took a walk near my home to the Grand River, there is a large wet meadow here where so many plants and animals live.  A quick walk to the river and we saw three Snapping Turtles laying eggs. 

Along the Grand River near Grand Haven here is what we saw...

 

What a nice visit with family and nature.