Back in July everything was soaring!
Let’s just say that July in Southeast Michigan was truly nothin’ special. Like many of you across the U.S., we were subject to that heat dome that made us miserable the tail end of June and into the holiday weekend, only to deal with another heat wave about a week later. Already-searing temps kept soaring, with near-record highs of heat and humidity. Dewpoints were despicable and the weather site Michigan Storm Chasers quipped that the dewpoints were “downright disrespectful!”
It wasn’t just Summertime heat that had SE Michigan in a tizzy.
#1 – In the City of Detroit, just a dozen miles from where I live, on Thursday, July 16th, the City had the dubious honor of having the worst air quality in the world. We also had that exact same honor one day in the Summer of 2025. The Canadian wildfires were not the only source of our smoky skies – wildfires were also burning in Minnesota and in the Pacific Northwest.
#2 – The State of Michigan was breaking lots of records and we weren’t proud of this one either – the cyclospora outbreak was highest of any state right here in Michigan. Well, that got me wondering: do Michiganders eat more healthful food like salads, or are they frequenting Taco Bell more than weekly for Taco Tuesday – hmm. We retained that honor well into August. Yay us!
On July 22nd, I seized the day!
On Wednesday, July 22nd the smoky skies were now clear, the temps went down to below normal, the humidity and high dewpoints vanished and the weather folks predicted three or four days of stellar weather. I was ready to get out as I hadn’t walked in ten days.
We had dealt with many dry days in a row, but the night before, around 9:00 p.m., the predicted torrential rain arrived. It rained heavily for about 15-20 minutes and I checked how much rain we got … almost an inch. Well, that didn’t bode well for any trails that might now be muddy.
I decided to head to Lake Erie Metropark to check out the Osprey platform nest and see if I’d see any offspring peering out of the nest. I knew there were two chicks born in early June because I follow the Metropark Photographers group on Facebook and one photographer frequents this venue and had been showing “baby pictures” for weeks.
Well, he was lucky to see them. I had made a few visits to the nest in June, with just a handful of photos of an Osprey flying near the nest, or an adult peering out of the nest, nothing too remarkable.
To get to the nest, plus get in some much-needed steps, there are asphalt and cement paths, so no risk of muddy feet. I walked along Cove Point, past the marina, then continued on to the nest, located near the marina’s parking lot. I glanced upward as the sunny skies from moments earlier seemed to darken at ground level. There was no rain predicted, but boy, those clouds looked a bit ominous.
In the distance, I saw one Osprey on the pole, none in the nest. Probably the female waiting on her mate to bring home the family meal.
As the saying goes, “good things come to those who wait” and in short order, along came Papa, a fish clasped in his beak.
The sun continued to be conflicted … “should I stay or should I go?” On the positive side, at least I could gaze up at the nest and its inhabitant(s) without the sun in my eyes. On a sunny day, it is problematic, especially with my digital compact, point-and-shoot camera as all I see is my own reflection and that was the camera I was using today.
As Papa neared the nest, Mama shot me a steely gaze as if to say “I’m not sharing!”
Her stomach growling, Mama told Papa to “get a move on!”
Papa Osprey made a graceful landing, settling into the nest with his prize fish.
Moments later, Mama tore into that fish as you see below. Was that piece of fish in her beak destined for her or her offspring?
Satisfied he’d made the wife and kids happy, Papa left, soon soaring above the trees. I didn’t stick around as Mama was feeding her offspring and Papa may be gone awhile.
I started back toward Cove Point and the car. I was so tempted to stroll the Cherry Island Trail, hoping to see a fawn or two, but erred on the side of caution due to that torrential rain, plus a mosquito with West Nile Virus had been reported in my county the day before – sigh.
I tucked the camera in its pouch and got out my car keys. My next destinations would be Elizabeth Park and Dingell Park, staying on their respective boardwalks and cement walkways.
It’s a bird, it’s a plane ….
However, my plans took a detour moments later because, as I neared the parking lot, a vehicle pulled up, two women hopped out and each reached into the back seat and dragged out huge kites, one Batman shaped and one a Bald Eagle. The wind had picked up since my arrival an hour earlier. I later verified on Weather Underground that the gusts were clocked around 25 mph.
I watched the pair approach a picnic table, set a radio and their water bottles on top, then each proceeded to ready their respective kites for lift-off.
My interest was piqued – perhaps there were some photo ops here, so I asked if I would be in the way and if they would mind if I took photos. I remembered kite flying as a kid, running back and forth across the meadow and perhaps they wouldn’t want to be dodging me.
One woman said “no problem, just no pictures of me!” I assumed she spoke for both of them, so that wouldn’t be a problem for me, (although it would have been nicer to show how they manipulated the kites).
The woman with the Batman kite had it airborne in no time, its multiple tails streaming in the wind, hovering amidst the ever-brooding clouds. She controlled her kite with a plastic reel, skillfully reeling in the double set of strings, occasionally nudging the kite to a different position by directing it with a flick of her wrist.
She told me they come to this location in the park to fly their kites as it is the windiest area of the park since it is right on Lake Erie.
Soar like an eagle!
The other woman, the one who was camera-shy, had the Bald Eagle kite and, as to getting that kite to stay airborne, she did not fare as well. Initially, it started climbing …
… getting higher and higher …
…. but soon thereafter, to coin a familiar phrase “the Eagle has landed.” But not in a good way.
The strings were tangled up and, unlike her friend, she did not use a reel, so she spent about 15 minutes untangling the strings and got the kite airborne for a few minutes, when a hefty gust of wind brought the kite down slamming it into the water. She had to crawl over the massive boulders, to fish it out, but announced it was not damaged, despite needing to drag it out of the seaweed and over some rocks.
The Eagle kite seemed none the worse for the wear and soon was in the sky again.
I said goodbye to the women and driving out of Lake Erie Metropark, I glanced over at the satellite fire station on the outskirts of the park and saw two Osprey were in residence. I always look going in/out of the park every time I’m here, so I was happy to see the pair and I scrambled out of the car to take some photos.
Longtime readers may remember a few years ago I saw the nest, which the Osprey have built atop the fire station’s siren and did a post or two about them. They nest there every year and yes, the fire station turns off the sirens while they are living there.
So, still another detour in my plans, but I stopped and parked and got a few shots of these Osprey. I haven’t a clue if there are offspring in the nest here. I had to crane my neck to get these shots, which are not particularly great.
I wanted you to see the nest.
When I zoomed in, a head popped up, likely the adult, Mama?
There’s always a pleasant greeting for me – NOT! No matter was Osprey nest I am photographing, if I’m not facing glares and surly attitudes, they turn their backs to me. I don’t take it personally. 🙂
Well I waited long enough to get a profile shot, then I was outta there and on to my next two parks, a long day indeed by the time I got home, many hours and many steps after I left. Posts on those treks will be down the road.
I am not joining Terri’s Sunday Stills Photo Challenge: “Beaches” but will contribute to her “Flower Hour” on Wednesday. I’m also joining Pepper’s Hiking Challenge “One Step at a Time”.
Linda Schaub
WALKIN', WRITIN', WIT & WHIMSY 