Golden Crowned Kinglet

Golden Crowned Kinglet, by Mary Stebbins, Lakeshore Parkway, Grosse Pointe Shores, MI.

We found this bird dead but still very warm on our Christmas eve walk. It seemed strange to find a bird that primarily eats insects and a bit of fruits and seeds active in the winter. We don't know how it died.

Click on picture to see larger. 

The Kill

The Kill, by Mary Stebbins. This picture was taken out past the Marble Lighthouse at Bellle Isle in Detroit. A large predatory bird (hawk or owl) appears to have captured a small songbird (such as a sparrow). You can see, int his photo, the wing prints of both the large and small bird, the tail print of the large bird, and what is apparently the plowing mark made by one of the feet. Click on the picture to see larger.

I also just saw a Merlin (Pigeon Hawk) eat a pigeon in our back yard.

Mary, Christmas Day, 2005

Sorry about the word Verification thing

I had to add word verification to my comments becasue I was getting a ton of comment spam which was wasting my time deleting it all! Sorry!

Fall in the Creek

The First Day of Fall on the Creek. The creek was full of fallen leaves yesterday, on the first day of fall--a few were bright reds or oranges, but most were yellows, browns and greens. We'll get brighter colors as cold nights and bright sunny days cause a waxing at the connections points and a using up of the chlorphyll still stored in the leaves. This will expose the carotin and xanthophyll for yellows, reds and oranges. Photo by Mary Stebbins

Another view of the first day of fall at Silk Creek is at SilkCreek Portal.

Gold Dragonfly and Blue Damselfly. Note that the dragonfly is larger and holds its wings to the side while the damselfly is smaller, more delicate, and holds its wings behind it. 

Stinkbug on Echinecea Petal, photo by Mary Stebbins. Stink bugs release a "vile" odor when disturbed. Sometimes, if you smell a bad odor while mowing the lawn, you've hit a stink bug. 

Puddle Duck

Puddle Duck, Mallard at Niagara

photo (like all others on this site) by Mary Stebbins

Container: Fish Release in NH

CONTAINER: a fishnet full of fish being released in a NH lake. Photo by Mary Stebbins.

Downy Woodpecker at Great Bear Farms 5-19-05. I was sitting on a rock near the river when the bird flew into the tree next to me. 

My nemesis: poison ivy!! Coming out in the woods and in my yard and creeping itchily toward me! Wach out! Leaf-lets of three, let it be! 

Dandelion seeds ready to take flight. 

Marsh Marigolds (Caltha palustris)

I stopped tonight on my way home from Maine at Verona Beach State Park. I found Marsh Marigolds (Cowslips, Caltha palustris) in flower in the marsh there. The flowers that were starting to go by turned white. Marsh marigolds are in the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae) and have multiple styles and many stamens. (To see a "pastels" version of this same photo, click here)

Deer Skull, NH

Deer Skull, NH, 5/13/05. This skull is missing the forward portion of the upper jaw. Note where the tines have beened chewed for calcium by mice and squirrels. If left long enough in the woods, it would eventually disappear almost entirely, between being eaten and dissolving. The teeth would last the longest. (At the home of Heidi and Ken Chester)