Family Walk at Rycenga Park- May 6 2018

Our first Family Walk this year was May 6 at Rycenga Park in Spring Lake Township.
It was a fun two hours of exploring.

 

   Trailing Arbutus,  Blooming!

      Goldthread,  Blooming!

 

                   Marsh Marigold

 

 

 

 

Thanks to Marie for getting us together, and thanks to all who were able to come!

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.

Happy Day Acres Earth Day

2013 04 14 My brother Chuck and family put on an Earth Day Celebration at Happy Day Acres.  Trees were planted, fun was had, and there was much yummy food eaten.  

The temperature was 35 with heavy, wet, snow coming down, this was around noon on Sunday.  Great weather for an outdoor gathering to plant trees.

We are a pretty tough group, and the weather decreased the odds of a wildfire like we had here last year on Earth Day.

It wasn't long before the rain/snow let up and we eventually had some sun and blue sky.

 Trees were planted.  Some of the kids made markers to put next to the trees they planted so they can see how much it grows by next year.

 We went on a walk around the property.  I found a nice crop of Trailing Arbutus (not yet blooming) growing in a certain area, I marked it with a flag so it is easy to find again.  Also we found many kinds of moss and lichen.

We played games.  Chuck made a BiminiRing Toss Game, which was fun.  There is a hook attached to the Happy Day Acres board, and a metal washer on a line, you drop the washer and try to land it on the hook.  Seems fairly easy but I never saw anyone hook the washer.

I, for one, had a great time, it was nice to be outdoors enjoying the fresh air.  Thanks again Chuck and Betty.

On our way home we passed Goose Egg Lake, there is a small park here.  What a difference a few hours make in the weather here in Michigan!