Picture of the Day for January 26, 2016

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The other day I had a lone Redpoll at my bird feeder. Normally they come in a large group but only stay for a short time so I don’t know if this female was on a scouting trip to see where there are feeders and if I will be invaded soon. At the moment, there wouldn’t be room for anymore birds as the finches are stocking up on seeds while it is snowing.

And while a lot of the birds go south for the winter, the Common Redpolls do to, but their southern range is here in the cold winter areas and not the sunny warm areas. Their summer range is on the lands around the Arctic Ocean. Common Redpolls can survive temperatures of –65 degrees Fahrenheit and will tunnel into the snow down four inches and more than a foot long to stay warm during the night.

Common Redpoll

Common Redpoll

Picture of the Day for January 22, 2016

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This tiny butterfly with a wingspan of only an inch, if flying around during the winter, would be hidden under the huge snowflakes falling this morning. Earlier this week, it would have turned blue from the sub-zero temperatures. But the Spring Azure overwinter as pupas, and the ‘Spring’ Spring Azure emerges in April and May from a long pupal stage that started early summer the prior year. The ‘Summer’ Spring Azure waits until early summer to emerge.

There is a lot of debate on the Spring Azure on whether it is a diverse species with several sub-species or to be many full species. The butterfly I saw is most likely the Summer Spring Azure, as how some of the references would identify it, since its black markings are smaller than the Spring Spring Azure, plus it was spotted in late summer which is when the two batches of summer variety emerge.

Summer Spring Azure

Summer Spring Azure

Picture of the Day for January 20, 2016

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On January 20, 1887, the United States Senate allowed the Navy to exclusive right to lease Pearl Harbor as a naval base. The weather is warmer at Pearl Harbor than where these rocks are found on the shore of Lake Superior. These formations are called Battleship Row or Battleship Rocks, as they resemble a row of battleships lined up as if they were ready to head out to sea.

Battleship Row

Battleship Row

Picture of the Day for January 19, 2016

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Workers of the Jackson Iron Company probably sweated on summer days laboring near the two large blast furnaces of the ore smelting business, but probably would enjoy the heat on these sub-zero temperature days.

The late 1800s unique company town Fayette, located on Michigan’s Garden Peninsula, was connected to neighboring communities by stagecoaches but the overland route to Escanaba took two days by stage, but only three hours by boat across Big Bay de Noc. In the winter, when the lake froze, residents could ride a stage sled across to Escanaba, although I wouldn’t have wanted to do that in the -30 to -40 wind chills of the last few days.

Fayette Blast Furnace

Fayette Blast Furnace

Picture of the Day for January 18, 2016

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I see a lot of tracks in the snow, but no signs of rodents like chipmunks or ground squirrels. Thirteen-lined ground squirrels begin hibernation in September or early October and emerge between late March and early May in the northern portions of their range. They only venture out of their burrows when the sun is high and the earth is warm so no peeking out in the sub-zero temperatures.

Thirteen-lined ground squirrels, as its name implies, has 13 stripes running the length of its body. They are omnivorous eating worms, insects, small birds, mice as well as seeds, roots, grains, vegetables and fruits. They store seeds and grass for late autumn and early spring when food is scarce.

Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel

Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel

Picture of the Day for January 17, 2016

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On a very cold morning, the newly painted Marquette Harbor Light would stand out against the white snow. But with temperatures near -20 and -40 wind chills, I don’t venture out to the lighthouses in the winter time for a picture.

This lighthouse was constructed in 1866, after replacing the original light built in 1853, and a second story added in 1909. Until the opening of the major Minnesota mines in the 1890s, Marquette, Michigan, was the premier shipping port for iron ore on the Great Lakes and the lighthouse in the harbor was critical for the safe navigation.

Marquette Harbor Light

Marquette Harbor Light

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