Rainbow Above the Trees

Posted on by Rebecca C.

Over the last couple of weeks, the weather here in Michigan has been extremely cold.  Actually between the negative temps and the bitterly cold wind chills, area schools have had to close down. I honestly do not remember any time where schools have had to close due to just the winter coldness.  I remember, school being closed due to the amount of snowfall but never freezing temps.  On a good note, Spring is inching closer every single day.

Needless to say, with the cold weather I have been hibernating inside next to the fire.  I have been trying to complete my book as well as keep up with my deadlines. I have done really well meeting article deadlines early (still had a couple rejections but that’s part of the freelance writing gig).

I was surprised to view this rainbow above the tree line tonight.  I am assuming the rainbow was due to the ice crystals in the air.  I loved seeing the brightness of the rainbow against the dull wintry sky.

Have a great night everyone.

Until next time….peace…

Frozen Clouds

Posted on by Rebecca C.

Ok, I know clouds cannot be frozen.  I do remember some parts of my science classes from grade school.  Tonight, when I had to get outside and away from the computer, the air was so cold.  The clouds just looked as if they were frozen in the sky.  I loved watching them as they slowly changed.

The air is suppose to be colder and colder throughout the rest of the evening. I really do not seem surprised by this; we’ve been experiencing this cold snap for a few days now here in Michigan. So, I am going to focus on my novel. But I thought I would share my frozen clouds first.

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Have a great night.

Until next time…peace.

Blazing Sunset

Posted on by Rebecca C.

Today, was a normal chilly day for winter in Michigan.  The sunset tonight was amazing.  As the sun began to set, the orange colors made the top of the trees look like they were on fire. The blazing sunset was absolutely stunning and beautiful.

During the winter months, the blazing sunset seem to be clearer and crisper. Of course, I have to remember to actually put a coat on next time.  I had grabbed my camera and ran out the door to capture the moment.  The air definitely was freezing.

Until next time….peace….

World Wetlands Day

Posted on by Rebecca C.

Today is considered to be World Wetlands Day; I love these unofficial holidays especially the ones that directly relate to nature and wildlife. Even though today in Mid-Michigan; the entire area pretty much had a snow day.  Some areas actually received 18.7 inches of snow last night.  Mother Nature just wanted to remind us who really is in charge.

Wetlands provide habitat for various types of wildlife and plants. Here in Michigan, we have wetland areas.  I will often refer to them as river flats; the name everyone in the area calls them.

Wetlands have various benefits.  The areas reduce flooding by absorbing the rain or snow melt off.  At the same time, wetlands act as a filter getting rid of pollutants and other contaminants by breaking down the material. In Michigan, there are actually three different types of major wetlands: marsh, swamp, and bogs.

Marshes

The river flats are more like marshes.  Depending on the time of year, they can an inch of water to several feet deep or completely froze solid.  I like these areas; I can grab my camera and photograph all types of wildlife.  I have spent hours photographing herons, cranes, ducks, geese, and much more.

Swamps

Swamps are more wooded. They are usually home to various types of little creatures including frogs, owls, and raccoons.  The plant life in the swaps can also be beautiful.

Bogs

Bogs are a result of decaying vegetation.  Bogs have different type of animal species including turtles.

Watching the wildlife in the wetland areas is fascinating.  I can spend hours outdoors during the warmer months.  Not today, when the temp is about 3˚F right now. Don’t get me wrong, I do enjoy the winter months too.  I just don’t get outdoors as much.

According to the Michigan DNR website, these are the plant and animals that frequent the wetland areas:

Arrowhead
Bald Eagle
Baltimore Butterfly
Black Spruce
Black Tern
Bowfin
Brook Stickleback
Bulrush
Cardinal-Flower
Common Cattail
Common Loon
Cotton Grass
Damselfly
Dragonflies
Dragon’s Mouth, Wild Pink
Dwarf Mistletoe
Eastern Newt
Great Blue Heron
Green Frog
Green-backed Heron
Iris
Kingfisher
Kirtland’s Snake
Lichen		 Liverwort
Marsh Wren
Marsh-Marigold
Michigan Holly
Minnow
Northern Harrier
Osprey
Pitcher Plant
Poison Sumac
Red Maple
Red-bellied Dace
Red-winged Blackbird
Sandhill Crane
Smartweed, Knotweed
Snail
Sphagum Moss
Spotted Turtle
Sundew
Tamarack
Trumpeter Swan
Water Milfoil
Water Shrew
Water-lily
Waterweed, Elodea

So, the next time you see a wetland area on the side of the road while you are zooming down a freeway; take a moment to think about all the wildlife the area has to offer.

Reference:

Michigan DNR (2015). Wetlands. Retrieved from:

http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-153-10370_22664-61132–,00.html

Favorite Photos of the Week

Posted on by Rebecca C.

I am going to try to upload photos every Sunday night.  My favorites throughout the week, I am planning to do one every week though out the year. The week was cold except for today which was snowy.  I actually enjoyed the snow; I walked around the back property and just relaxed in the peaceful atmosphere.

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My old barn standing against the snowy background.

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The sun peaking through the clouds on the snowy day.

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My favorite walking path.

Crows

 

The crows at the public access.

 

 

Last Sunset of 2014

 

The last sunset of 2014, I hope everyone has a great 2015.

Sun Halo and Sun Dog

Posted on by Rebecca C.

“There is no better designer than nature.” Alexander McQueen

Each time I find something new or unique in nature, I think of the above quote.

I am one of those people who will pull over alongside of the road to take a photo of whatever interests me.  I can’t help it, I love photographing anything I want to research or learn more about especially when the phenomenon involves nature. Today was no different.

The sun was shining brightly but as I drove around.  I noticed a ring around the sun in the form of a rainbow.  I was instantly intrigued. Of course, I did not have my good camera with me.  But I had my little pocket camera that goes everywhere with me.  I pulled off the side of the road and snapped a few photos.

Sun Dog

I figured there had to be a formal name for what I witnessed, so I started researching this evening. The ring forming around the sun is known as a 22˚ degree halo or sun halo.  Basically, the ring forms around the sun when sunlight passes through ice crystals in the clouds.  And, yes the temperature has to be 22˚ degrees.

Sun Dog 2

The bright spots on the side have another name. “At the points on the 22° halo which are on a horizontal line with the sun, the arc commonly broadens to two bright spots”, the phenomena is known as a sun dog  (HyperPhysics, n.d.).  I had never seen one of these before today.  In fact, my mother was with me and she stated the same fact.

Sun Dog 3

Reference

HyperPhyics (n.d). The 22˚halo. Retrieved from: http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/atmos/halo22.html

 

The Sun Started to Set, the Fog Began to Roll In

Posted on by Rebecca C.

The weather almost reached 50˚F this afternoon.  Definitely a rarity for December in Michigan, the temperatures are supposed to slowly drop tomorrow as rain begins to move in.  But we may actually have a little snow on Christmas Day, just enough to cover the ground.  We will see if I get my white Christmas or not.

I originally went outdoors to photograph some birds.  My feeders were being overrun with Sparrows, Titmouses, and Black Capped Chickadees.  I love these diminutive birds; they seem to “chirp” at me when I just step out the door.  Trust me; they are all very vocal when the feeders are low.

.SparrowSparrow

SparrowChickadee

After a while, my attention turned to the clouds.  They were just beautiful.  One person on my Facebook page describes the clouds as a “stairway to heaven.”  The stunning array was a perfect setting as the sun slowly began to sink below the tree lines.

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As soon as the sun started to set, the fog began to roll in….sounds like a good beginning for a book.

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The sun was already beginning to set in the above photo, but the clouds were still gorgeous.

Fog Rolling In

 

The fog rolled across the field, I actually watched the mist cover the ground.  I found the experience fascinating.

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The sun was setting, but the fog just covered the bottom of the ground.

I am sure there are better more scientific words to describe the fog, the clouds and the sun.  But I just like photographing the natural world around me.

 

 

The Shortest Day, the Longest Night: Winter has Begun

Posted on by Rebecca C.

As I am writing this blog, winter has begun.  Winter officially starts on December 21, 6:03 p.m. EST.  What exactly goes into figuring this exact time? The moment winter officially begins is when the Northern Hemisphere is the furthest distance from the sun.  So, as I say good bye to the shortest day of the year, I can welcome the longest night.  And, yes the day has been cold.

Even though the day was cold, I spent some time outdoors this afternoon.  When they came and harvested the fields, the water was high in certain areas which prevented all the corn to be picked. So, I went out to the back property and hand-picked two buckets of corn which I can use later on to find the wildlife.  Feeding the birds, squirrels and other little critters is one of my favorite pastimes.

I also trek around the back property and took some different photos.  I did spot about seven Whitetail Deer (Does), they were on the run. However, I like the fact that they are returning to the area after the hunting season.  The deer always hide down the river banks during that time.  I miss seeing them outback.

I know a few people will yell at me for this: I would like to see a little snow.  The snow does not have to be in large amounts.  I would like enough to at least cover the ground.  I would like a different contrast when photographing the landscape.  The weatherman still cannot state for certainty if we are going to have a white Christmas.  I would really like one.

Happy Winter Solstice!  Stay warm during this first official wintry night.