Central Ohio NatureA Michigan Meditation – Rifle River Recreation Area
Posted on September 12, 2022
August brings quiet to nature in northern Michigan. The song and movement of birds in the nearby brush or forest canopy is less. At times not much seems to be stirring. But later, as we paddle a lake framed in lily pads, a faithful kingfisher proves us wrong as it continues about its business noisily taking flite from a nearby shore.
King birds, a constant menace to emerging dragonflies in June, are seldom seen now. Insects, particularly mosquitoes, are also not as common, and along with them the warblers that they attract.
It is a time of year that one is often treated to views of young life.
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Stopping for a moment in the quiet of the season draws one into the magic of the north woods.
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During the short nights of June one can often hear the haunting call of a loon. In late August, with its longer cooler nights, the voice of an owl or the howl of a coyote can be heard, but only occasional is it accompanied by a loon.
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Gliding silently over “glass” we are drawn into wondering, what will be seen ahead?
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Flowers appear in late summer, like the beautiful Grass of Parnassus growing at water’s edge. Further along the wooded shore, if one looks closely, Bottle Gentian may also quietly announce its presence.
It seems that the more time one spends in the woods the more one feels it’s embrace.
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With the sights, sounds, and fragrance of flowers and trees, being in nature on foot or in a canoe more profoundly unites us with something greater. As we breathe deeply, and muscles work to embrace the challenge of the place, we are taken deeper into that reality. Perhaps we can only truly arrive at such a place using the resources within.
Sometimes one is sure one knows what something is. A closer examination of the below dragonflies teaches that one must look closely. They are each unique.
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While hiking we’ve learned to be on the lookout for fungi. They often pop up when least expected and often cheerfully announce their presence next to the trail. Others, with distant foreboding, peer out from the darkness of the dense woods and speak of mystery.
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Whether in the canoe, on the trail, or sitting quietly at one’s campsite, nature speaks through the reality of the moment. It is constantly changing, responding to light that silhouettes then illuminates, wind that sculpts the water’s blank surface or plays in leaves high overhead then leaves them still, then with little warning, the sound of distant thunder is heard, and the faint whisper of light rain grows ever louder. In those moments, if we allow it, change will occur within. If we are lucky, we’ll never be the same.
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Thanks for stopping by.
While I Was Away Fishing
Posted on August 8, 2019
With the arrival of a granddaughter and my annual fishing trip to Michigan photographing the wonders of nature in central Ohio has been a bit neglected. Fortunately in my absence my wife took up the slack and was busy finding fascinating things closer to home. In fact, considering that it’s usually the slow time of year, there have been an amazing number of things to see.
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Numerous Kingbirds nest along the reservoir in Griggs Reservoir Park and while the babies have fledged they still expect their meals to be catered. Fortunately, ample fresh berries and cicadas make the work a little easier.
Bringing dinner home, (Donna).
Trying to get noticed, (Donna).
Finally! (Donna).
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When not being entertained by the kingbirds; vireos, numerous Great Crested Flycatchers, and even a Yellow Warbler were spotted.
A Warbling Vireo which is not often seen this time of year, (Donna).
An immature Red-eyed Vireo, (Donna).
Great Crested Flycatcher, (Donna).
Yellow Warbler, a rare find in the park in early August, (Donna).
Barn Swallows engage in a heated discussion about sharing a dragonfly, (Donna).
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A first of the year Buckeye Butterfly and a seldom seen Royal River Cruiser were also spotted.
Buckeye, (Donna).
A Royal River Cruiser not often seen along Griggs Reservoir, (Donna).
and not to ignore some of the more usual suspects . Â . Â .
A Eastern Tiger Swallowtail at waters edge, (Donna).
Amberwing Dragonflies are common but due to their small size are often hard to photograph, (Donna).
Monarch, (Donna).
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It’s always hard to compete with my wife’s discoveries but as usual the Rifle River Recreation Area did not disappoint with some nice Large Mouth Bass caught. To eliminate as much trauma as possible the barbs were removed from the hooks which doesn’t seem to effect the catch rate and I’m sure the fish are much happier as they swim away.
A beautiful morning on Devoe Lake.
Typical of the Large Mouth Bass caught. This one was on Au Sable Lake.
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There were often a pair of Trumpeter Swans not far off while fishing on Devoe Lake. In addition there were always loons to enjoy. An encouraging discovery was not only the number of loons seen on the lakes within the park, where they nest due to the absence of motorboat traffic/wakes, but on the cottage lined lakes nearby.
Common Loons, Devoe Lake.
Au Sable Lake
Rifle Lake
As can be seen from the above screen shots Rifle Lake does not have suitable habitat for nesting but Au Sable Lake does with a considerable amount of sheltered natural shoreline. To my joy, immature loons were observed there.
Lily pads on Devoe Lake.
Trumpeter Swans, Devoe Lake.
Near sunset on Devoe Lake.
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As I finished this post a task required that I briefly venture outside. In our front yard a hummingbird briefly hovered close by and then went about it’s business. Such a serendipitous occurrence caused me to stop for a moment, and as I did, ever so faintly, the call of a loon on Devoe Lake could be “heard”. I was left again with the realization that nature’s wonder can be found in many places. Whether on a lake in Michigan or in a city park of Columbus Ohio, all we need to do is open our eyes.
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Thanks for stopping by.
The Rifle River and A Mystery Bird
Posted on July 14, 2019
It’s that time of year again when we travel 6.5 hours north from our home in central Ohio to the Rifle River Recreation Area. Usually we enjoy checking out different areas for new adventures but this park’s unique beauty keeps us coming back. Whether paddling on the park lakes or hiking the trails there is always something to discover. From one week to the next different wildflowers can be seen. Spring warbler activity is complimented by the evening call of a Whippoorwill or Barred Owl and there’s always the distant call of a loon on Devoe Lake.
(click on images for a closer look)
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This year’s late June visit meant that in addition to increased warbler activity we’d also see blooming lady slippers and pitcher plants. Of course there would also be more mosquitoes to deal with and they’re always particularly pesky when one crouches down to study a flower or take a photograph.
A shaft of sunlight highlights a fern along the trail.
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My wife was nice enough to contribute the bulk of the pictures for this post as much of my time was spent fishing. However, to start the post off on a curious note I did notice something interesting one afternoon while hiking.
These rolled up birch? leaves littered the forest floor.
A closer inspection revealed a small caterpillar within the shelter of the rolled up leaf. It was in the process of eating it’s way out. Another egg sac near by? Based on an educated guess it would appear that a moth deposited it’s eggs on the underside of the leaf which then caused it to roll up and fall to the ground. Inside the leaf the caterpillar is safe from the prying eyes of birds until it escapes into the leaf litter and pupates soon to emerge as a moth and continue the cycle.
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When my wife wasn’t hiking and I wasn’t trying to catch a fish we did a fair amount of exploring by canoe.
Yours truly with a Devoe Lake Large Mouth Bass.
Exploring Grebe Lake
Common Loon, Devoe Lake.
Take two, (Donna).
Yellow Pond Lily, Grebe Lake.
Painted Turtle, Loud Pond, Au Sable River, (Donna).
Paddling trough the lily pads, Grebe Lake.
Trumpeter Swans, Grebe Lake.
A Mink checks us out along the Au Sable River, (Donna).
Au Sable River Walleye.
While Water Lily, (Donna).
Kingbirds entertained us as we paddled the Devoe Lake shoreline, (Donna).
Morning on Devoe Lake.
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One day as we drove back to our campsite after a morning paddle we came upon an unusual discovery in the middle of the road.
Our first thought was to move it along before it became the victim of a less observant driver.
But a closer look revealed that it was a Blanding’s Turtle something we’d expect to see in a nearby lake but not in it’s present location. Since it’s not a turtle we often see we were pretty excited, (Donna).
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However, perhaps the most unusual thing seen during our week long stay was the bird spotted while hiking along Weir Road.
The best ID we could come up with was a partially leucistic White-breasted Nuthatch but it’s beak didn’t look right. The mystery remains.
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We’d be remiss if we didn’t give special mention to the Ovenbirds and Yellowbellied Sapsuckers that entertained us each day at our campsite.
Ovenbird, (Donna).
With a white moth.
Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, taken while hiking but representative of the activity around our campsite, (Donna).
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While on the subject of birds, while hiking a park trail my wife was excited to see a Black Billed Cuckoo. It was a life bird for her.
Black Billed Cuco, (Donna).
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Finally, below is a summary of other things seen as we explored the park trails.
A recently emerged mushroom translucent in the sunlight.
A family of very colorful but small mushrooms.
Wild Columbine along the trail.
Hawkweed and fern.
The Rifle River
Showy Lady’s Slippers along the park road. A real treat to see.
A closer look, (Donna).
Bunch Berry Flower
Spotted Thyris Moth on fleabane.
Deep into the woods.
Red-spotted Purple
Another view, (Donna).
Yellow Lady’s Slippers were also seen, (Donna).
The flower of the Pitcher Plant. The plant gets it name by the shape of the leaves at the base of the plant which trap insects in water the leaves collect.
Overlooking Pintail Pond
Hover fly on dogwood blossoms.
This fairly large moth has yet to be identified.
Fleabane
Eastern Wood Pewee, (Donna).
Elfin (not Slaty) Skimmer.
Yellow Goats Beard, (Donna).
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, (Donna).
Another view.
Sheep Laurel, (Donna).
American Redstarts were fairly common, (Donna).
Blue Flag Iris, (Donna).
Dot-tailed Whiteface, (Donna).
River Jewelwing (M), (Donna).
River Jewelwing (F), (Donna).
Cedar Waxwing, (Donna).
Four-spotted Skimmer, (Donna).
Wood Frog, (Donna).
Coral Fungus, (Donna).
Chaulk-fronted Corporal
Wild Geranium, (Donna).
Little Wood Satyr.
Indian Pipe (before), (Donna).
After? (Donna).
A Green Heron stalks prey along the Devoe Lake shore, (Donna).
Black-shouldered Spinyleg, (Donna)
Another interesting plant we have yet to ID, (Donna).
Dead Mans Fingers, (Donna).
Delaware Skipper, (Donna).
Baby Robin, (Donna).
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As each day passes nature evolves. A wishful thought would be to spend one week each month in a place such as Rifle River Rec Area. Then one would truly appreciate it’s wonder. Thanks for stopping by.
Misty Day, Devoe Lake.
An Uncommon Loon
Posted on June 3, 2019
During a recent rough and windy late May paddle in central Ohio we were excited by the sighting of an immature Common Loon. This is the first time we’d seen one while paddling in Ohio. Usually they’ve moved north by the time we get the canoe in the water so this one was a bit of a mystery. On this particular day our goal had been to see warblers while exploring the reservoir’s quiet coves but the wind put a damper on that effort. Fortunately there were other things to see.
Common Loon, Alum Creek Reservoir north of Cheshire Rd, (Donna).
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In one cove after a little exploring on foot a relatively new Beaver lodge and dam were discovered.
Beaver Lodge, Alum Creek State Park.
A beaver lodge resident, Kentucky Flat Millipede.
Beaver Dam, Alum Creek State Park.
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Yellow Warbler, Alum Creek State Park, (Donna).
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A little further on a mother Wood Duck did her best to distract us from her babies.
Female Wood Duck, Alum Creek Reservoir, (Donna).
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The outing’s best bird pictures were taken by my wife at the end of the day while I put the canoe on the roof of the car.
Eastern Towhee, Alum Creek State Park, (Donna).
Female Rose-Breasted Grosbeak, Alum Creek State Park, (Donna).
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The season moves on and with it the ever increasing activity of butterflies and dragonflies. New adventures await.
Female Common Whitetail.
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail.
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Thanks for stopping by.
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A Special Place In Michigan
Posted on July 24, 2018
At least once a year for the last number of years we’ve traveled seven hours from central Ohio to the expansive 4500 acre Rifle River Recreation Area in Michigan. With it’s fairly extensive system of hiking and mountain bicycling trails, plus lakes that don’t allow motors, it’s a beautiful quiet nature lovers paradise. The park’s woods contain conifers, including some fairly large White Pine, as well as deciduous trees like oak and maple making it home to a great diversity of insects, plants, birds, and animals. The park has two campgrounds, one with electrical hookups, and one that is rustic. We prefer “tent” camping in the Devoe Lake rustic campground with it’s pit toilets and handpumps, whether in our small trailer or in a tent, because the sites are bigger, more secluded, and a variety of birds often come right to your campsite. In addition the rustic campground communicates with park’s best hiking trails without the need to get in your car.
Park Map.
A south loop hiking trail cuts through meadows interspersed with stands of trees that attract numerous species of butterflies and dragonflies not mention birds such as Indigo Buntings that love that type of habitat.
South Trail
The northern loop takes the hiker on much more rolling terrain interspersed with swamps and culminating along a ridge that provides a panoramic view of four of the parks lakes.
Grousehaven Lake from the park loop road.
The lakes offer a variety of fish species to attract the angler including Brook and Brown Trout, Northern Pike, Large Mouth Bass and panfish.
Typical catch and release LM Bass on Devoe Lake.
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Many of the lakes just outside the park boundary offering public access are heavily developed with boat and dock filled shorelines and large year round homes which in recent years have replaced many smaller cabins set back in the trees. Some of the larger multistory dwellings seem almost ready to topple into the lake giving these small bodies of water more the feel of a large recreational swimming pool. Even so, the lakes do offer good fishing even if with somewhat diminished natural aesthetic. However, if communing with nature is your goal, it is worth it to travel away from the park to the nearby Au Sable River and it’s chain of lakes which offer a rewarding undeveloped destination for the photographer, fisherman, and nature lover.
Loud Pond, Au Sable River chain of lakes.
Loud Pond Au Sable River chain of lakes.
Loud Pond Au Sable River chain of lakes.
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Within the park, even without a very special species of bird, there is ample reason to return year after year to enjoy the park’s beauty. But the very special bird that makes the park so irresistible is the Common Loon. Numbers seen vary year to year but they’re always there with their haunting cry breaking the silence of the night. To our knowledge it’s the closest location from central Ohio where nesting loons can be found.
Common Loon
With young, (Donna).
Another view, (Donna).
Meal time, (Donna).
The young are growing fast.
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Lodge Lake.
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An equally enchanting bird usually seen on Grebe Lake is the Trumpeter Swan. During one paddle the call of the adults across the lake gave ample evidence as to how they got their name.
Trumpeter Swam Family, (Donna).
Another look.
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Being old enough to remember when they suffered the ravages of DDT and were very rare Bald Eagles always have a high wow factor. We had a number of sightings in the park and at least five the day we paddled Loud Pond along the Au Sable River.
I control the canoe and my wife often takes the pictures.
Where there is a nest there is usually an eagle.
Donna get’s a picture of one of the Bald Eagles seen on Loud Pond.
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Equally fascinating were the other birds seen during our hikes and paddles.
A Great Crested Flycatcher over looks a meadow on the south trail.
An immature Great Crested Flycatcher asks to be fed, (Donna).
A Catbird puts everything into it’s song, (Donna).
A good day for the Cedar Waxwing, not so much for the dragonfly, (Donna).
Along the south trail in the very top of a tree a Chestnut-sided Warbler sings it’s heart out, (Donna).
A Green Heron makes a living along the shore of Devoe Lake.
Too far away for a good pic, perhaps an immature Rose Breasted Grosbeak?
Ever on the lookout for flying insects, like sentry’s Kingbirds lined the shore of Devoe Lake.
Another look, (Donna).
Near water’s edge a Kingbird sits on it’s nest, (Donna).
Donna catches this female Kingfisher along the shore of Devoe Lake.
A Tree Swallow party along the shore of Devoe Lake,(Donna).
Numerous Rose Breasted Grosbeaks were seen but they proved a challenge to photograph, (Donna).
Spotted sandpiper along the shore of Loud Pond, (Donna).
Immature Spotted Sandpiper along Loud Pond, (Donna).
Immature Baltimore Orioles hang out in a distant tree.
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The Rifle River just downstream of Grousehaven Lake.
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If you’ve followed this blog for any length of time you know we love dragonflies. While butterflies may initially catch your eye very few creatures fascinate in the air like the dragonfly. But the relationship fraught with conflict because we also love birds and the dragonflies maneuverability is often not enough to avoid becoming a tasty high protein snack.
Calico Pennant, (Donna).
Female Ruby Meadowhawk
Blue Dasher, (Donna).
Chalk-fronted Corporal.
This Damsel fly on flower illustrates the capability 0f the micro 4/3rds Panasonic (Leica) 100-400mm lens, (Donna).
Dot-tailed Whiteface, (Donna).
Mating Ebony Jewelwings, (Donna).
Twelve-spotted Skimmer.
Female Lancet Clubtail, (Donna).
Female Calico Pennant.
Male Halloween Pennant.
Mating Halloween Pennants, (Donna).
Slaty Blue Skimmer, Tamron 18-400mm zoom.
Most of the time when we take a picture we have a pretty good idea what the subject is. When we don’t part of the fun is during the research to figure out what it is. So far the ID of this rather nondescript dragonfly remains a mystery.
The Vesper Bluet is a late afternoon and evening damselfly, (Donna).
Mating Vesper Bluets, (Donna).
River Jewelwing seen along the Au Sable River, (Donna).
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The Rifle River near the park’s southern boundary.
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Butterflies live a rough life. Subject to the effects of rain, wind, sun and sometimes attempted predation they often become rather tattered with age. Like wildflowers much of their magic come from the fact that they are only here for a short time. During this most recent visit it was interesting because we didn’t see as many as expected and often the ones seen were rather tattered. However, the few that were in nice enough shape to merit a photograph took up the slack.
Common Wood-Nymph, (Donna).
Northern Pearly-eye
Northern Pearly-eye another view.
American Copper, (Donna)
Another view, (Donna).
Great Spangled Fritillary, Tamron 18-400mm zoom.
Peck’s Skipper with a partially shaded wing explores an iris.
Northern Cloudywing Skipper
Eastern Comma.
Monarch, (Donna).
The very small and seldom seen Banded Hairstreak, (Donna).
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No matter when one visits the park in spring and summer there are some flowers that are seen and some that are not. Turtleheads and Cardinal flowers usually appear in August so we missed them this year but others were present.
Certainly not a flower but one of a number of very large White Pines in the park. How do you capture it’s impressive size in a photograph?
St. John’s Wort, (Donna).
Yellow Water Lily
Black-eyed Susan’s appear to take flight, (Donna).
This American Wintergreen was growing in a very moist area, (Donna).
Spotted Knapweed along the Lake Huron shore.
Pickerel Weed on Grebe Lake.
Water Lily.
Water Lily times two, (Donna).
A hover fly checks out a water lily.
Clustered-leaved Tick-trefoil.
Small and very common in the meadow areas along the south trail this one has eluded identification.
Bladderwort seen along the north trail, (Donna).
New Jersey Tea or Wild Snowball, interestingly it has been used for treated such things as gonorrhea, syphilis, colds, cough, fever, chills, spasms, bleeding, . . . “.
Monkey Flower, (Donna).
Swamp Milkweed, (Donna).
Indian Pipe, (Donna).
Jack-in-the-Pulpit.
Fern.
At their peak these Picture Plant flowers will turn a deep burgundy. See below for the leaves.
The leaves resemble a picture, imagine that!
Daisy Fleabane, very small, very common, very beautiful.
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Early morning on Grebe Lake.
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When out on a day’s hike looking for birds, flowers, or butterflies it’s hard not to notice other things and sometimes they become the most memorable.
Painted Turtle, Devoe Lake.
Pixie Cups, north trail.
We saw quite a bit of this colorful fungi the day we hiked the south trail.
Six-spotted Tiger Beetle along the trail, (Donna).
American Toad, (Donna).
Garter Snake in an unusual location, Devoe Lake.
A beaver lodge on Grebe Lake.
British Soldier Lichen seems to love old fence posts.
Early July is apparently not the best time for fungi. This was one of the few not very colorful examples seen.
Crown-tipped Coral Fungi near our campsite.
A Map Turtle catches a few rays, (Donna).
A large Porcupine is spotted along the south trail, (Donna).
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So much natural diversity in one Michigan state park! This year we left the park wishing for a few more days to explore, to look more closely with intention, to breath in the fragrance of balsam, or just to gaze up into the splendor of the green canopy of trees surrounding our campsite. Perhaps that’s the best way to leave.
Devoe Lake.
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Thanks for stopping by.
Central Ohio Nature 