A plate from A Field Guide to Western Birds.
Illustrations by
Roger Tory Peterson
On Thursdays when I remember to do it I call the Michigan Statewide Bird Report hotline to see what unusual sightings people have called in during the past week. Yesterday’s report had the following:
In Livingston County, an immature Rufous Hummingbird has been hanging out at a home birdfeeder in the town of Brighton. At least he still was there on November 16. Birders are welcome to park sensibly and go around to the back yard where the feeder is. (Does this sound like A Prairie Home Companion?)
The Rufous Hummingbird is a native of the western United States, but there are occasional, but still rare, sightings in the Midwest. As a rule of thumb all hummingbird feeders should be taken down in late August or early September in places where the winter means business. Several years ago in Wisconsin, a Rufous Hummingbird was taken captive by the Milwaukee Mitchell Park Conservatory (a wonderful place), because he/she was still lapping up the sugar water in November.
Roufus HummingbirdsIllustration by Louis Agassiz Fuertes
Next, in Wayne County Cave Swallows were seen at the Lake Erie State Game Area Pointe Mouillee and they crossed over into Monroe County, too. Apparently the Monroe County trolls are hibernating already, as there is no report of fines for trespassing. Michigan is broke, so don’t think for a minute that I’m kidding. Michigan and Ohio went to war over the Toledo line, which was part of Monroe, in the 1830s. Ohio got Toledo. Michigan got the Upper Peninsula, pasties, bears and copper. Monroe is still pissed off. But they should be glad to have some big-hearted Texas swallows visiting. This might be an effect of the hurricanes.
There was a Ross’ Goose in Muskegon County from November 8-13.
And in Allegan County at the Todd Farm, an immature Golden Eagle was present on November 12. The Todd Farm in days gone by was a major oasis, a pit stop for migrating Canada Geese. But they don’t migrate any more, I guess. Every year we’d make the trek to Fennville, Michigan to gaze at probably 100,000 geese, stop at the cider mill, buy apples for the Thanksgiving apple pies – which my father baked – he was an excellent cook – and probably we’d have taken sandwiches along and a Thermos of coffee.
Finally a Great Gray Owl was present at the Tahquamenon Falls State Park in Newberry in the UP. The Tahquamenon Falls are spectacular by the way. I’ve not been there in the gloom of November, but I like rugged weather. Just not in May.
Immature Golden Eagle.
2 comments:
I had ruby throats in September - maybe even early October - but I told them to get going. I had lots of red flowers, tho. Now they're sepia flowers. Today it's to be 51 degrees - and decent for next 2 days. Last chance for yard work and bulb planting, etc., I think. (And I'll need ever second!)
Much French pastry uses lard.
My father's recipe for a 2 crust pie:
2 c. flour
2/3 c. lard
1/8 t. slt
ice water to form dough, approx. 1/4 c. Go slow and add more if necessary.
Makes fantastic crust, and I use it for 2 crust fruit pies to this day. (And I get other people to eat them. Way too fattening. Great for breakfast the day afte Thanksgiving.)
I LOVE a good pecan pie. My nephew's wife is from Lafayette, Louisiana, and they know how to cook, let me tell you. Pralines. Gumbo. Etouffee.
I'm hungry after working outside. Tea time!
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