Apple tasting, North Carolina

 10/24/26: Tried 

• Evercrisp - indeed crisp, with a light sweetness
• Mutsu - bland
• Tigress - crisp and tart!

Wildflowers 2026

10/20-23  Walnut Creek Preserve, Mill Spring, Polk Co., NC:

• NC Extension plant toolbox
• Sourwood trees (Oxydendrum arboreum) - brilliant red leaves!
• Kidney-leaf Rosinweed (Silphium compositum) - huge leaves with red ribs, not flowering
• Dog Fennel (Eupatorium capillifolium) - feathery, like garden fennel
• Running Cedar (Lycopodium digitatum) - nonflowering club moss, like tiny cedar leaves, with an upright cone-like shoot that produces spores
• Bushy or Rice Button Asters (Symphyotrichum dumosum) - tiny flowers, like pale blue/lavender Daisy Fleabane
• Heath Aster (Symphyotrichum ericoides) - tiny flowers, like pale blue/lavender Daisy Fleabane - or were these Rice Button Asters?
• Forest or Thin-leaved Sunflowers (Helianthus decapetalus) - 3-5' tall, light green stems, 3" flowers with yellow centers
• Appalachian or Purpledisk Sunflower (Helianthus atrorubens) - 3-5' tall, red stems, 2-3" brownish-purple centers, opposite leaves at the bottom of the stems 
• Bearded Beggarticks (Bidens aristosa) - 2-4' tall, red stems, 1-3" yellow sunflower-like flowers with yellow centers
• Maryland Golden-Aster (Chrysopsis mariana) - 1' tall, with 1-3" yellow centers 
• Pennsylvania Smartweed (Persicaria pensylvanica) - 1" to 2" tiny pink-red flowers
• Gray Goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis)
• Sweet Everlasting (Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium)

9/1  Kal-Haven Trail (near trailhead), Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Large-leaved Aster (Eurybia macrophylla)

8/25  Canmore & Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada:

• Fireweed (Chamaenerion angustifolium)
• Red Paintbrush (Castilleja miniata)
• Showy Aster (Aster conspicuus)
• Bog Violet (Viola nephrophylla)
• Bunchberry / Dwarf Dogwood (Cornus canadensis)
• Fringed Grass of Parnassus (Parnassia fimbriata) - leaves resembled violet leaves
• Labrador Tea (Ledum groenlandicum)
• Meadow Death Camas (Toxicoscordion venenosum)
• Western Canada Violet (Viola canadensis)
• Meadow Buttercup (Ranunculus acris)
• Alpine Goldenrod (Solidago multiradiata)
• Shrubby Cinquefoil (Dasiphora fruticosa)
• Yellow Avens (Geum aleppicum) - seed heads! Flowers look like buttercups & cinquefoils
• Groundsel (Senecio) - don't know which
• Soopolallie / Canadian Buffaloberry (Sheoherdia canadensis) - red & orange berries

7/8  Home, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

On the Common Milkweed flowers:

• Variable Dancer Damselflies (golden females with brown spots near the segment lines) (Argia fumipennis), like this image
• Monarch !

6/12 Asylum Lake Preserve, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• White False Indigo (Baptisia lactea)
• Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
• Blackberries (Rubus allegheniensis)

5/19  Kal-Haven Trail (trailhead to F and 8th), Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Great Waterleaf (Hydrophyllum appendiculatum) - there are some in the "raised" bed in the backyard: transplant
• Great Waterleaf and Canada (white) Violets grow well under maples; Canada Violets turn pinkish after being fertilized, like Trillium!
• Go to West Lake: on the boardwalk at the back, go past the chain to the "closed" section and look down into the plant foliage for Lady Slippers! Wear boots - it'll be wet.
• Golden Oyster Mushrooms (Pleurotus citrinopileatus) in 2 places
• American Cancer-root or Bear Corn (Conopholis americana)

5/12  Kal-Haven Trail (trailhead to F and 8th), Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Solomon's Seal (Polygonatum biflorum)
• Starry False Solomon's Seal (Maianthemum stellatum)
• Aniseroot or Sweet Cicely (Osmorhiza longistylis)

5/4  Home, Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum)
• Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)
• Wild Blue Phlox (Phlox divaricata)

5/4  Kalamazoo Nature Center, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Wild Geranium (maculatum)
• Wild Blue Phlox (Phlox divaricata)
• Large-flowered Trillium (grandiflorum)
• False Rue Anemone (Enemion biternatum)
• Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum)
• Marsh Marigolds (Caltha palustris)
• Swamp Buttercup (Ranunculus hispidus)
• Golden Ragwort (Packera aurea)
• Downy Violets (Viola pubescens)
• Canada violets (Viola canadensis)
• Common violets (Viola sororia)
• Blue-eyed Mary (Collinsia verna) 

4/22  Home, Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Wild Blue Phlox (Phlox divaricata)
• Jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum)
• Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virg.) 
• Wood Poppy (Stylophorum diphyllum)
• Tall Meadow Rue (Thalictrum dasycarpum)
• (Lilacs!)

4/21  Kal-Haven Trail (trailhead to F and 8th), Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Wild Blue Phlox (Phlox divaricata)
• Wild Geranium (maculatum)
• Jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum)
• Early Meadow Rue (Thalictrum dioicum) - fringed flowers
• Blue Cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides) - starry yellow-green flowers
• Large-flowered Bellwort (Uvularia grandiflora)
• Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)
• Squirrel Corn (Dicentra canadensis)

• Common violets (Viola sororia)
• Canada violets (Viola canadensis)
• Downy Violets (Viola pubescens)
• Celandine Wood Poppies (Stylophorum diphyllum) 
• Marsh Marigolds (Caltha palustris)
• Large-flowered Trillium (grandiflorum)
• Dutchman's Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria)
• Cut-leaved Toothwort (Cardamine concatenata)
• False Rue Anemone (Enemion biternatum)
• Spring Beauties (Claytonia virginica)

4/17  Home, Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Serviceberry tree
• Marsh Marigolds (Caltha palustris) in backyard tub
• Large-flowered Trillium (grandiflorum) in SE corner of backyard
• Virginia Bluebell buds in SE corner of backyard

4/14  Kal-Haven Trail (trailhead to F and 8th), Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Common violets (Viola sororia)
• Canada violets (Viola canadensis)
• Downy Violets (Viola pubescens)
• Celandine Wood Poppies (Stylophorum diphyllum) 
• Marsh Marigolds (Caltha palustris)
• Hepatica
• Large-flowered Trillium (grandiflorum)
• Dutchman's Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria)
• Cut-leaved Toothwort (Cardamine concatenata)
• False Rue Anemones (Enemion biternatum)
• Spring Beauties (Claytonia virginica)
• Spring Cress (Cardamine douglassii)

4/13  Home, Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Trout Lilies (Erythronium americanum)

4/7  Home, Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Dutchman's Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria) (SE corner of backyard, near border)

3/31  Home, Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)
• Sharp-lobed Hepatica (acutiloba) - white
• Common violets (Viola sororia)
• Canada violets (Viola canadensis) - white

3/22  Kleinstuck Nature Preserve, Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Skunk Cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus) blooming

Birding 2026

* = new to life list 

10/20-22 Walnut Creek Preserve, Mill Spring, Polk Co., NC:

• Ravens
• Bluebirds
• Carolina Wrens ("duets" & "rattle calls")
• Phoebes
• Worm-eating Warbler*
• Eastern Towhee (alarm calls a high-pitched wheep)

Not a bird:

• Six-lined Racerunner lizard (Aspidoscelis Sexlineatus)!
• Jorō spider (Trichonephila clavata), a golden orb-weaver from East Asia

9/29  Kal-Haven Trail (trailhead to F and 8th), Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Brown Creeper
• Black-throated Green Warbler
• Black-throated Blue Warbler
• Pileated Woodpecker
• Downy Woodpeckers
• Hairy Woodpecker
• Northern Flicker (hc)

8/25 Canmore & Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada

• Black-billed Magpies 
• Ravens
• Clark’s Nutcrackers*
• Dark-eyed Juncos: gray-headed*

7/25 Asylum Lake Preserve, Kalamazoo Co., MI

• Common Yellowthroats
• Yellow Warblers
• Field Sparrows
• Song Sparrows
• Tree Swallows
• Goldfinch
• Blue Jays
• Red-winged Blackbird

6/23-6/24 Honor, Benzie Co., MI: 

• Brown Thrasher
• Ravens

• Red-winged Blackbirds
• Cardinals
• Titmice
• Nuthatches
• Mourning Doves 

Heard calls: 

• Ovenbirds 
• American Redstarts
• Common Yellowthroats
• Red-eyed Vireos
• Black-throated Green Warblers 
• Baltimore Oriole
• Wood Thrush 
• woodpeckers

Frogs: Bullfrogs, various others

6/12 Asylum Lake Preserve, Kalamazoo Co., MI

• Song Sparrows
• Common Yellowthroats (warbler)
• Red-winged Blackbirds
• Turkey Vultures

Crickets!

5/30 Kalamazoo Nature Center, Habitat Haven Trail, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

Heard calls:

• Indigo Bunting
• Common Yellowthroat (warbler)
• Northern Yellow Warbler
• Red-eyed Vireo
• Catbird
• House Finch
• Song Sparrow
• Cardinal

5/28 Home, Kalamazoo Co., MI

• Great Crested Flycatcher calling

5/24 Home, Kalamazoo Co., MI

• Swainson's Thrush sang in the backyard between 9-10 p.m.!

5/19 Kal-Haven Trail (trailhead to F and 8th), Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Gray Catbird
• Northern Yellow Warbler
• Rose-breasted Grosbeaks
• Sandhill Cranes (pair)
• Song Sparrow (heard call)
• Red-eyed Vireo (heard call)
• Wood Thrushes - many! (heard calls)
• Eastern Wood-Pewees (heard calls)
• 
  
• Common Yellowthroat (heard call)
• Blackpoll Warbler (heard call)

5/17 Rose St. north of Fairview, Kalamazoo Co., MI

• Pileated Woodpecker flew across the road right in front of me!

5/6 Bow-in-the-Clouds Preserve, Kalamazoo Co., MI. p.m.

• Rose-breasted Grosbeaks

5/6 Bow-in-the-Clouds Preserve, Kalamazoo Co., MI. a.m.

• Peregrine Falcon
• 2 Sandhill Cranes
• Baltimore Orioles (male & female)
• Northern Yellow Warblers
• Pileated Woodpecker
• Song Sparrow
• 2 Great Blue Herons
• Palm Warbler (heard call)

5/6 Home, Kalamazoo Co., MI

• White-crowned Sparrow
• Rose-breasted Grosbeak (male)

5/5 Home, Kalamazoo Co., MI

• White-crowned Sparrow
• Leucistic female Cardinal (she has a mate this year!)

5/4 Home, Kalamazoo Co., MI

• Black-throated Green Warblers
• Nashville Warbler
• Blue-winged Warbler
• Rose-breasted Grosbeak female at feeder

4/21 Kal-Haven Trail (trailhead to F and 8th), Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Yellow-rumped Warblers (flock)
• Double-breasted Cormorants (3 flying over)
• Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (heard call)
• Ruby crowned Kinglets
• Kingbird

4/14 Kal-Haven Trail (trailhead to F and 8th), Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Yellow-bellied Sapsucker* 
• Swamp Sarrow

4/10 Home, Kalamazoo Co., MI

• Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina)

4/6 Home, Kalamazoo Co., MI

• 16 Sandhill Cranes flew over

4/5 Al Sabo Preserve, Kalamazoo Co., MI

• Cooper's Hawk
• Golden-crowned Kinglet

3/29 Home, Kalamazoo Co., MI

• 18 Sandhill Cranes flew over

3/27 Asylum Lake Preserve, Kalamazoo Co., MI

• Bluebird 
• Hairy woodpecker
• Robins
• Phoebe
• Titmouse
• Blue jays
• Red-winged Blackbirds

3/22 Kleinstuck Preserve, Kalamazoo Co., MI

• Phoebe (heard call)

• Spring Peepers, Wood Frogs (chuckle)

3/16 Home, Kalamazoo Co., MI

• White-throated Sparrow (heard call)

3/14 Asylum Lake Preserve, Kalamazoo Co., MI

• 2 Sandhill Cranes
• Red-winged Blackbirds
• House Finches
• Robins
• Song Sparrow
• Fox Sparrow
• Cardinals
• Blue Jays
• Black-capped Chickadees
• White-breasted Nuthatch

3/8 Home, Kalamazoo Co., MI

• 35 Sandhill Cranes flew over
• Carolina Wren singing

2/28 Plainwell, Allegan Co., MI

• Common Merganser

2/27 6th and TU, Prairie Ronde Township, Kalamazoo Co., MI

• Snow Buntings*
• Lapland Longspurs*

2/27 Home, Kalamazoo Co., MI

• 20 Sandhill Cranes flew over

2/11 6th and TU, Prairie Ronde Township, Kalamazoo Co., MI

• Horned Larks (many)

2/10 Southern Kalamazoo Co., MI

• Tree Sparrows 
• Red-tailed Hawk
• Red-shouldered Hawk 
• Rough-legged Hawk 
• Northern Harrier 
• Sandhill Cranes (3) 
• Wild Turkeys (flock)

Christmas Movies

Christmas Note - Hallmark, 2015 - still one of my favorites. 

Newport Christmas - Hallmark, 2025 - time travel, quite enjoyable.

Merry Christmas, Ted Cooper! - Hallmark, 2025 - goofy optimism wins out!

Keller Christmas Vacation - Hallmark, 2025 - goofy, with great scenery!

More the Merrier - Hallmark, 2025 - funny, lovely story about a snowed-in hospital

Santa Tell Me - Hallmark, 2024 - about the 4 Nicks pursuing Olivia

My Secret Santa - Netflix, 2025 - about a poor mom who takes a job as Santa at a resort!

Single on the 25th - Hallmark, 2025 - how to value yourself, live alone and together. 

Twelve Dates 'til Christmas - Hallmark series, 2025 - wonderfully sweet and funny story set in England about a woman, her dad, mom, best friends, and 12 dating adventures. Definitely watch again!

Christmas Baby - Hallmark, 2025 - about a lesbian couple who end up with a baby left in their care. I loved Katherine Barrell who played Kelly.

Goodbye June - Netflix, 2025 - an older woman (Helen Mirren) is dying just before Christmas and her family try to cope. Sad but sweet.

The Holiday - 2006 - about English and American women who exchange houses at Christmas time and revamp their lives. 

Wildflowers 2025

10/23 Home neighborhood, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

Came across Ginkgo (biloba) fruits (from a female tree) today: 

 

 9/23 Kal-Haven trail, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Bluestem goldenrod (Solidago caesia)
• Pasture Rose (Rosa carolina) hips (fruit)

9/11-9/13 Walnut Creek Preserve, Mill Spring, Polk Co., NC:

• Running Cedar (Lycopodium digitatum or obscurum)
• Downy Lobelia (Lobelia puberula)
• Strawberry Bush (Euonymus americanus)
• Carolina Phlox (Phlox carolina)
• Elephant's foot (Elephantopus tomentosus)
• Sensitive Partridge Pea (Chamaecrista nictitans)
• Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis)
• Hog peanuts (Amphicarpaea bracteata) If you dig near the base of the stems and where the vines go into the ground there are edible legumes - the hulls pull off easily. You can eat them raw or boiled and they taste a lot like string beans)
• Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum)

9/9 Walnut Creek Preserve, Mill Spring, Polk Co., NC:

      Find a Plant, NC Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

• Few-flower Milkweed (Asclepias lanceolata) - compared to Butterfly weed (A. tuberosa)
• American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana)
• Rattlebox (Ludwigia alternifolia)
• Appalachian Ironweed (Vernonia glauca)
• Rough Hawkweed (Hieracium scabrum)
• Roadside Thistle (Cirsium altissimum)
• Purple or Hollow Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium purpureum or fistulosum)
• Green-head Coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata)
• Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
• Goldenrod (Solidago)

• Round-headed Bush Clover (Lespedeza capitata) ?
• Asiatic dayflower (Commelina communis) - non-native

9/7 Cumberland Falls State Resort Park, McCreary & Whitley Co's, KY:

• Maryland Golden Aster (Chrysopsis mariana)
• Carolina Elephant's Foot (Elephantopus carolinianus)
• Little Brown Jug / Arrowleaf Ginger (Hexastylis arifolia)
• Sweet Autumn Clematis (Clematis terniflora) - non-native
• Purple or Hollow Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium purpureum or fistulosum)
• Orange Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis)
• Rosinweed (Silphium)
• Goldenrod (Solidago)

7/7 Asylum Lake Preserve, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• White-flowered Chicory (Cichorium intybus f. album Neuman = white form and Neuman being the person who documented it?) It's also known as Italian chicory, or raddichio. 

7/4 Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Cuyahoga Co., OH: Beaver Marsh

• Field Horsetails (Equisetum arvense)
• Spatterdock / Yellow Pond Lily (Nuphar advena)

6/22 Asylum Lake Preserve, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Yellow Iris

6/21 Home:

Ate a couple of Serviceberries - sort of look like blueberries, but less/different flavor

 6/16 Source Pond Trail, Kalamazoo Nature Center, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Red Elderberry (Sambucus racemosa)

5/26 Wolf Tree Nature Trails, Oshtemo Township, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Wild Strawberries (Fragaria)
• Wild Black Raspberries
• Columbine
• Wild Phlox
• Golden Ragwort
• Common Cinquefoil (Potentilla simplex)
• Celandine? at edge of swampy pond

5/13 Kal-Haven Trail (trailhead to F), Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Mayapples
• Wild Geraniums
• Golden Ragwort
• Solomon's Seal (true) (Polygonatum biflorum)
• Starry False Solomon's Seal (Maianthemum stellatum)

5/9  Home, Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Wild Ginger 
• Honeysuckle 

5/3  Learned from Mr. Breyfogle that apples and roses are in the same family, which is why apple blossoms smell as delicious as roses!

5/2  Home, Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Red trillium (Trillium erectum)
• Flowering Dogwood
• Lilacs

4/29 Kal-Haven Trail (trailhead to F and 8th), Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Wild geraniums
• Solomon's Seal
• Celandine Wood Poppies (Stylophorum diphyllum) (Donna will share some with me!)
• Blue Cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides)
• Golden Ragwort (Packera aurea)

4/27  Kalamazoo Nature Center, Maple Beech Trail, Kalamazoo Co., MI: 

• Blue-eyed Mary (Collinsia verna) (first time I've ever seen these!)
• Yellow Violets (Viola pubescens)
• Trout Lilies (Erythronium americanum)
• Marsh Marigolds (Caltha palustris)
• Swamp Buttercups (Ranunculus hispidus)
• False Rue Anemone (Enemion biternatum)
• Squirrel Corn (Dicentra canadensis)
• Dutchman's Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria)
• Cut-leaved Toothwort (Cardamine concatenata)
• Wild Blue Phlox (Phlox divaricata)
• Common Trillium (Grandiflorum)
• Spring Beauties (Claytonia virginica)

4/25 Home, Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Serviceberry (Amelanchier)
• Lilacs
• Crabapple tree (Malus prunifolia)

4/22  KalHaven trail to F and 8th, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Common Trillium (grandiflorum)
• Cut-leaved Toothwort (Cardamine concatenata)
• Dutchman's Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria)
• Squirrel Corn (Dicentra canadensis)
• False Rue-Anemone (Enemion biternatum)
• Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)
• Canada Violets (Viola canadensis)
• Sharp-lobed Hepatica (Hepatica acutiloba)
• Spring Beauties (Claytonia virginica)
• Trout Lilies (Erythronium americanum)
• Marsh Marigolds (Caltha palustris)
• Common Violets (Viola sororia)
• Wild Blue Phlox (Phlox divericata)
• Redbud tree

4/19  Home, Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• more Bloodroots budded!

4/18  Kleinstuck Nature Preserve, Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica) budded

4/14  Home, Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Bloodroot: 5
• Toadshade (Trillium sessile) plants

4/7  Home, Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Toadshade (Trillium sessile) leaves are up
• Dutchman's Breeches (in galvanized tub)

4/7  Kalamazoo Nature Center, Maple Beech Trail, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Harbinger of Spring (Erigenia bulbosa)
• Cut-leaved Toothwort (Cardamine concatenata)
• Dutchman's Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria)
• False Rue-Anemone (Enemion biternatum)
• Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)
• Sharp-lobed Hepatica (Hepatica acutiloba)
• Spring Beauties (Claytonia virginica)
• Trout lily (Erythronium americanum)
• Common violets (Viola sororia)
• Canada violets (Viola canadensis)
• Marsh Marigolds (Caltha palustris)
• Skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus)
• Scarlet elf cup (Sarcoscypha coccinea) fungi

4/1  KalHaven trail to F and 8th, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Scarlet elf cup (Sarcoscypha coccinea) fungi
• American Columbo (Frasera caroliniensis) - plant takes 3 years to flower - we saw the 1st year basal leaves and the 3rd year dead stalks
• Skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus)
• Hepatica, sharp lobed (Hepatica acutiloba)
• Dutchmans breeches (Dicentra cucullaria)

3/23  Kleinstuck Nature Preserve, Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Skunk Cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus) blooming

3/21  Source Pond Trail, Kalamazoo Nature Center, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Wild Leeks up

3/17 Bishop's Bog Preserve Trail, Portage, Kalamazoo Co., MI: 

• Purple Pitcher Plants (Sarracenia purpurea), although not blooming yet!

Birding 2025

Birding 2025 (* = new to life list)

12/30 Traveling I-94 at mile 102, Calhoun Co., MI:

• Bald Eagle (juvenile)

12/24 Asylum Lake Preserve, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• American Kestrel

10/24 Asylum Lake Preserve, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Blue Jays
• Bluebirds
• Cardinals
• Cedar Waxwings
• Goldfinches
• Juncos
• Mourning doves
• Nuthatches (White-breasted)
• Robins
• Turkey Vulture
• White-crowned Sparrows
• White-throated Sparrows
• Woodpeckers: 
• Downy
• Red-bellied
• Yellow-shafted/Northern Flickers

10/23 Home, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Junco female along with male
• Red-breasted Nuthatch
• Red-bellied Woodpecker

10/22 Home, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Brown Creeper

10/17 Kleinstuck Nature Preserve, Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Catbird
• Eastern Towhees
• Robins
• White-crowned Sparrows

10/14 Home, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Junco (male)
• Sandhill cranes (11)

10/8 Asylum Lake Preserve, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• White-throated Sparrow
• Sandshill Cranes - 2 adults, 1 juvenile

9/24 Home, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Red-breasted Nuthatch

9/23 Kal-Haven Trail, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Barred Owl
• Pewee (heard calls)

9/19 Asylum Lake Preserve, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• I think I saw a Red-headed Woodpecker!

9/14 Traveling, NC:

• Black Vulture

9/12-9/13 Walnut Creek Preserve, Polk Co., NC:

• Carolina Wren 
• Yellow-throated Vireo 
• Wild turkeys 
• Whip-poor-will 
• Phoebe 
• Titmouse
• 4 Wild Turkeys
• Scarlet Tanager (hc)

9/9 Walnut Creek Preserve, Polk Co., NC:

• Pileated Woodpecker
• Carolina Chickadee * 

7/7 Asylum Lake Preserve, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Eastern Kingbird
• Mute Swan cygnets

7/2 Gorge Metro Park, Cuyahoga Falls, Summit Co., OH:

• Bank Swallows (nesting in the Cascade Valley Overlook cliff) 

7/3 Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Cuyahoga Co., OH: Brandywine Falls; The Ledges

7/4 Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Cuyahoga Co., OH: Beaver Marsh

• Great Blue Heron
• Wood Ducks (females, juveniles)
• Tree Swallows
• various frogs, including bullfrogs

6/22 Asylum Lake Preserve, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Baltimore Oriole (pair)
• Catbird
• Great Blue Heron (2)
• House Wren
• Indigo Bunting
• Killdeer
• Tree Swallow
• Song Sparrow (hc)
• Common Yellowthroat Warbler (hc)

6/16 Delano Homestead Source Pond & Headwaters Trails, Kalamazoo Nature Center, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Baltimore Oriole
• Barn Swallows
• Blue Jays
• Cardinals
• Catbird
• Chickadees
• Crows
• Goldfinches
• Mourning Doves
• Nuthatches
• Pewee (Eastern Wood) - peee-ooh-wEEEE
• Pileated Woodpeckers (2)
• Red-winged Blackbirds
• Robins
• Sandhill Crane

Heard calls:

• Acadian Flycatcher (whip sound!)
• Common Yellowthroat Warbler
• Wood Thrush

Nonbirds: Bullfrogs!

5/26 Wolf Tree Nature Trails, Oshtemo Township, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Red-eyed Vireo (heard and seen!)
• Indigo Bunting (heard and seen!)
• Great Crested Flycatcher (hc)
• Eastern Wood Pewee (hc)

5/24 Oswalt Farm, east of Vicksburg, southern Kalamazoo Co., MI

Went birding in a Audubon Society of Kalamazoo caravan yesterday in southern-most Kalamazoo county:

• Wild Turkey running fast in a field, parallel to the road 
• Kingbirds 
• Barn Swallows 
• Great Blue Heron taking off from a ditch 
• Turkey vultures lined up roosting on fence posts, some with wings outstretched to warm them in the sun 
• Bobolinks 
• Yellow Warbler
• Great-crested Flycatchers 
• Song Sparrow 
• Meadowlark females 
• Willow Flycatcher

Also, 6 deer running and playing.

5/22 Asylum Lake Preserve, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Barn Swallows
• Tree Swallows
• Catbird
• Indigo Bunting (hc)
• Baltimore Oriole (hc)
• Red-eyed Vireo (hc)
• Oven Bird (? - acted like it, white circle around eye)

5/14 Kleinstuck Nature Preserve, Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Green Herons (3)
• Olive-sided Flycatcher
• Magnolia Warbler (female)

5/13 Kal-Haven Trail (trailhead to F), Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Wood Thrush (heard call)
• Red-eyed Vireo
• Red-shouldered hawk (hc)
• Pileated Woodpecker
• Rose-breasted Grosbeak
• Catbird
• American Redstart !
• Bluebird nesting in a cavity
• Barred Owl !
• Yellow-throated Vireo (hc)

5/9 Home, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Rose-breasted Grosbeak (male)

5/4 Kleinstuck Nature Preserve, Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Black-throated Green Warblers
• Black-and-white Warbler
• Northern Waterthrushes (pair)
• Palm Warbler
• Yellow-rumped Warbler (2)
• Common Yellowthroat
• Orange-crowned Warbler
• American Redstart
• Gray Catbird

5/3 Arthur & Mildred Woollam Nature Preserve, Texas Township, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Yellow-rumped Warbler
• 8 Great Blue Herons sitting on nests in a rookery at Scouter's Pond!

5/2 Travelling I-94 westbound, mile 179:

• Great Egret

5/1 Asylum Lake Preserve, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Baltimore Oriole
• Catbird
• Bluebirds

4/30 Home, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Baltimore Oriole

4/29 Kal-Haven Trail (trailhead to F and 8th), Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Nashville Warbler 
• Wild Turkey
• Trumpeter Swans (pair)
• Wood Ducks (pair)
• Indigo Bunting
• Palm Warbler
• Yellow-rumped Warbler
• Common Yellowthroat (warbler with the black mask)
• Yellow-throated Vireo (raspy dog whistle)
• Baltimore Oriole
• Bluebird
• Sandhill Cranes (pair)

4/27  Kalamazoo Nature Center, Maple Beech Trail, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Tree Swallow 
• Yellow-throated Vireo (hc) 
• Pileated Woodpeckers (pair)
• Louisiana Waterthrush (hc) 

4/22  Home, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Chipping Sparrows
• White-throated Sparrows
• Carolina Wren

4/22  Kal-Haven Trail (trailhead to F and 8th), Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Hermit Thrush (reddish tail, 1st of thrushes to arrive in spring, pumps tail) 
• Trumpeter Swans 
• Barred Owl 
• Brown Creepers 
• Sandhill Cranes
• Pileated Woodpecker 
• Black and White Warbler 
• Bluebird (male)
• Blue Gray Gnatcatcher (hc)
• Red-shouldered hawk (hc)
• Towhee (hc)

Not a bird: Mourning Cloak Butterfly!

4/18  Kleinstuck Nature Preserve, Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Ruby-crested Kinglet 
• White-throated Sparrows (heard calls)
• Great Blue Heron

4/17  Willard Rose Prairie, Kal Nature Center, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• American Woodcocks 8:30-9:00 p.m.! 20 years since the last time I saw one while sitting on a bench at Blandford Nature Center when I heard rustling and it came out right beside me. First sighting: 1998 at Pelee Island, when I saw the mating ritual for the first time.

4/3  Fort Custer Recreation Area, Blue Trail, Augusta, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Heard Phoebe

4/1  Kal-Haven Trail (trailhead to F and 8th), Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Pair Trumpeter swans
• 1 Carolina wren
• 2 Canada Goose
• 1 Wood Duck
• 1 Mallard
• 1 Wild Turkey
• 1 Mourning Dove
• 1 Turkey Vulture
• 4 Red-bellied Woodpeckers (2 pair)
• 3 Downy Woodpeckers
• 1 Hairy Woodpecker
• 1 Pileated Woodpecker
• 2 Northern Flickers
• 6 Blue Jays
• 4 American Crows
• 4 Black-capped Chickadees
• 7 Tufted Titmice
• 6 Golden-crowned Kinglets
• 3 White-breasted Nuthatches
• 2 Brown Creepers
• 6 American Robins
• 1 House Finch
• 4 American Goldfinches
• 5 Dark-eyed Juncos
• 2 White-throated Sparrows
• 7 Song Sparrows - "dee dee dee" lead in
• 6 Red-winged Blackbirds
• 8 Northern Cardinals

3/30 Home, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Yet another flock of 25 or so Sandhill Cranes ascending in circles over the house before flying onward

3/19 Home, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Flock of 24 Sandhill Cranes ascending in circles before flying onward

3/17 Bishop's Bog Preserve Trail, Portage, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Red-shouldered Hawk
• Grackles

2/1, Kalamazoo Nature Center, Kalamazoo, MI

• pair of Northern Flickers

1/26, southern Kalamazoo Co., MI

Went birding in a Audubon Society of Kalamazoo caravan yesterday in southern-most Kalamazoo county (Schoolcraft, Vicksburg). Thanks to Amy Ranger for driving and scribing! Species listed in order of sighting:

• Red tailed hawk
• Mute swans
• Juncos
• Bluebirds: several different flocks!
• Downy woodpeckers
• Red bellied woodpecker
• Cardinal male
• Goldfinches
• Hooded merganser
• Canada geese
• Mallards
• American Tree Sparrows (a flock)
• Great blue heron (in a drainage ditch)
• Bald eagles: 2 (one a juvenile, still in dark plumage)
• Northern harrier male
• Sandhill cranes

We also saw a red fox dancing (aka hunting) in a field and loads of white tailed deer.

1/28, traveling in MI, OH

Near Galesburg and Battle Creek on I-94:

• 2 Turkey Vultures at each place

OH, along I-80:

• 2 Bald Eagles (1 adult, 1 juvenile); a 3rd one in a huge nest at the top of a tree, further along

1/30, traveling along I-80 in OH

Flock of Snow Geese flying over