Summer officially made its debut at 11:54 a.m. here in Southeast Michigan with a bright and beautiful morning. After countless gray, gloomy and often rainy days, the bright orb in the sky was worth taking note, as the Detroit Free Press Tweeted out the breaking news, much to the delight of its many Twitter followers:
So, what do you associate with the first day of Summer and the longest day of the year? Fun in the sun?
Originally we had a rainy forecast for the weekend, but this morning the weatherman was like the Town Crier, happy to report that the rain and storms will stay at bay until late Sunday night. That’s cause for celebration and we can break out the shorts and flip-flops for sure and people will likely open their pools.
But, if you don’t have a pool, it’s best to head down to the ol’ swimming hole, like our geese families did. I saw two different families this week at Council Point Park. They were hitting the beach, er … the Creek for a little swim.
I saw this family parked at the side of the perimeter path, just long enough for me to get a few shots of them as they soon headed down the slope and into the water.
I walked along the perimeter path, and, when I reached the south side of the Park, there were the geese, coming around the corner near the twisted tree, so I ran to find a clearer spot to view them.
Look at the neat line they formed after Mama or Papa Goose and they never strayed out of that queue, except for one gosling who decided to try diving for his breakfast. He couldn’t quite implement that move and, after two tries, and toppling over each time while his parents and siblings watched, he finally gave up. Hmm – I’ve got to believe they picked up a few stray goslings along the way as these weren’t all their own!
Finally, the “signal caller” a/k/a Mama Goose, had her goslings regroup and they tried the diving lessons again.
The following day, I spotted a different family of geese at the cement ledge that covers the storm drain. I have often stood here to take pictures and it is also the ledge where Harry the Heron studies the water for fish, but you can see how the water has risen in the Creek and now sloshes over the ledge. All the walkers are commenting on the high water level here.
On that morning it was windy and the cottonwood seed puffs were drafting around everywhere, and, as you can see, many of them floated over the water and landed daintily, just like mini cotton balls, glomming onto the surface of the Creek.
This is the first family of goslings, and, at a glance, now it is difficult to tell them apart from the parents. They have their adult plumage now and also some features like black beaks and feet. Even their wings appear to be fully developed.
Mama Goose was standing on the cement ledge, deciding whether or not to take a dip …
… or just preen a little.
Perhaps woolgathering on one foot was the way to go?
Papa Goose was in his sentry stance, watching over his offspring. The goslings often just plop down, either in the middle of the perimeter path, or on the grass. I guess it’s a tough life downing all that grass and taking swimming lessons with your folks and all.
I hope the nice weather is here to stay for awhile … this is the first time we have had three days in a row of good weather since April 1st – 3rd.
Linda Schaub
WALKIN', WRITIN', WIT & WHIMSY 
This afternoon we finally got some sunshine. Hopefully a good weekend here too. Lovely photos of the geese.
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The sun really perks you up doesn’t it? And it was crisp (low 50s) and no humidity as well. I hated to come into the house. Thanks, you can really tell the different families. I think the one family is ready to move on soon.
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Wonderful Canada Goose shots! 🙂
Raining some here today, and we are supposed to get more tonight and the next few days. The geese in our river have moved on with their goslings. I don’t see any in the local ponds either. They know where and when to go, so more power to them. Geese are intelligent, family-oriented birds! 🙂
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[Hmm – I was sure I responded to this last night – maybe I hit a stray key and my comment is in cyberspace??} Thanks Tom – they are such a joy to watch and I know they’ll be headed out soon as they begin to lose their feathers and can no longer fly. They will be gone until Summer’s end. The four families of goslings are at different stages of growth and one group here looks ready to fledge and the other are still in the cute-and-fuzzy stage. (They still have a little attitude going on though.) Your geese and their goslings have probably looked for a safe haven while they have no flight feathers as they moult in June and July. Our geese travel to larger parks where they can graze at the shoreline, but beat a hasty retreat if a land predator is around. I have seen large flocks of them at Lake Erie Metropark last Summer however, with all the flooding and water sloshing all the way up to the Park grounds, beyond the rocks that line that shoreline, I wonder where they will go if the shoreline is not accessible? Our Park sprays goose repellent on the grounds and they do so until after Labor Day to keep geese away and geese attacks down – we have baseball diamonds and soccer fields and the walking paths … most people fear the geese … they’ll only bother you if they sense danger to them or their offspring as you well know. I’ll miss them (not the poop though – you have to really watch where you step these days). 🙂
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Happy sunshine!
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I forgot what it felt like and that’s why I had to include that little blurb from the “Freep” as our “Detroit Free Press” is known – looked like I was not the only one who clamored for sunshine!
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Welcome to Summer. Hope it lasts long so you can clock your miles. Interesting to see the Swan family grow bigger as they swam. Perhaps they were baby sitting swans from other families too.
And diving, swimming and eating are hard work. The swans are beautiful.
Do you think the same swans will come here next year to breed and have babies or are there different families each year/ What is the life span of a swan if left alone?
Susie
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Susie – I hope it sticks around and yesterday I heard a rep from “The Old Farmer’s Almanac” on the radio and they are often accurate … in fact, they predicted a cold and wet Spring for 2019. They were right on the money. Anyway, they said we will have a cool Summer and lots of rain. The other day my favorite meteorologist said in his three-month prediction (til the first day of Fall) that we will have a normal Summer. So I wonder who is right? I used to buy the “Almanac” every year – now it is almost $10.00 and you can access the same content online. https://www.almanac.com/
The geese and their offspring will return and nest, incubate and raise their young every year at the same locale … pretty incredible isn’t it?
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Oh, my goodness, look how they’ve grown! YAY for sunny weather – 3 days in a row!!! Happy trails to you, I hope you get many miles in and many photo ops too! Enjoy the weekend, Linda, you deserve to soak up all the sun you can!
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Yes, they are almost as big as their parents (the first family) and the other ones are gettin’ there. My beautiful day of sun and fun turned out to be crummy due to the garage door spring malfunctioning. I was looking forward to my day and getting away as it was a beautiful weather day.
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Aw…
That’s horrible about the garage door. We had that happen one time, a long time ago, and it’s not fun! I hope the sun held out so you can enjoy today for walking?
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More and more, between fellow bloggers and a neighbor, I have now learned it is not uncommon … I thought it was. I would have accepted the situation better had the car not been involved. I decided to just “adult” and work outside yesterday – the overgrown/new growth on the bushes, weeping tree really made the house look bad. Hopefully next weekend is fine, … unless they cannot take the car til late in the week and it has to stay at the bump shop longer than planned. We have a classic cruise event next weekend and often many people swarm there the week before for last -minute work on their cars.
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Miss Linda………………………..lets think about this wonderful day come the winter months and how pleasant it is on this the first day of summer…………………….is that 12 goslings ?,…………………………following Mama? or is it a combination of geese families??…………….
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Yes, I’d like to bottle up yesterday and today as well to keep in those long Winter months. Those are indeed 12 goslings following Mama Ann Marie, but they did not start their journey with that many goslings – I’m not sure where they picked them up and I didn’t see another adult which was strange.
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Thought it would never arrive and now look at it!
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You’re right Michael – a brutal Winter and a very rainy Spring. I sure hope sunny and warm weather is here for good.
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I’m actually outside sitting on the deck for the first day ever this year…but it’s a coolish north wind……I’m not complaining though, as it’s sunny and a blue sky! Supervising the demolition guys and electrician today.
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Hope the demolition and electrician went smoothly for you Joni. It was a beautiful day – no humidity, flawless blue sky – we were lucky. I was not so lucky with my day – had a problem with my garage door, could not get in to get the car and it got worse after the tech arrived. I missed my walk on such a beautiful day and am pretty bummed about it.
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Looks like you had a beautiful day weather-wise for your first day of summer walk. We had a pretty day too – bright sun, a few white puffy clouds, low humidity. A great day to be outside enjoying the geese at the park!
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Unfortunately you know from my other post how it didn’t work out … but I did most of yesterday out enjoying the nice weather. It was just a perfect day yesterday as well Laurie. I worked out in the yard making it look presentable once again then went grocery shopping late afternoon – I was pooped by the end of the day and didn’t get here until late and am really behind here and other friends on e-mail or FB. I guess I should have gone out there on June 8th after that 5K at Council Point Park, since it was good weather, but it was already quite warm out. I prefer working out in the yard, especially the front where there is no shade except on the City property when it is still cool. Yesterday, I got burned on my face and back of the neck despite staying out of the direct sun. Despite all the walking, which does not make you all that limber, I feel like a Mack truck ran over me.
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I love that tweet!! I think so too about the strays. They definitely picked up some. I’ve never seen so many in a go.
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Isn’t that funny!? I had to share it with everyone – it is true you know … where was that sun the last few weeks?
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Is it still sunny? I hope it is! If it is you’re super lucky…. Hear was pouring and now humid and sticky.
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It was supposed to be a rainy stormy day today – in fact they were calling for severe weather so when I went grocery shopping yesterday I decided I’d better not get too much refrigerated food … so far, all day, just cloudy – grrrr. (Not that I want a storm – I’m hoping to catch up here a little bit.)
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Wow! Those goslings grew up quickly! I’m glad that you’ve finally gotten some sunshine, Linda. We have some rain on the way next week.
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We have a stormy day on tap today and now Friday but in between just hot and humid. This past weekend was stellar weather though!
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Oh what a sweet post about the geese. I just love the thought of the gooslings having diving lessons and learning all of life’s lessons from mamma goose. ❤
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Glad you liked it Zena. I watched that young on try to dive and he kept falling over – he finally gave up … I imagined his brothers and sisters giggling while watching him. 🙂 Then Mamma Goose gathered them around and showed them how it was done. So cute to watch and they are getting very big!
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Oh so sweet ❤
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It’s so fascinating to me how creatures in nature just “know” what to do, like the goslings following their momma! Also, it definitely is breaking news that the sun is shining! ENJOY! 🙂
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That has always fascinated me too Mackenzie. I watched this same group of geese yesterday on that landing. They are so big now and if they did not keep plopping down all the time to rest, you would not know them from their parents. I know you are swamped with school and with the move, but if you have 10 minutes and need a “cute baby birds break” have a quick peek at this site. I have been following this local photographer who shoots at Kensington Park, maybe 30 miles from me. In May this year, a gosling hatched along with a sandhill crane baby (which is called a colt). Somehow the gosling egg got into the crane’s nest … local bird experts think the crane took over a goose nest, but they are not sure. The gosling and colt are just a few days apart in age and are growing up as “brothers”. The gosling mimics the crane actions and vice versa and the parents are raising it as their own. Jocelyn Anderson, the photographer, posts about 1 or 2 times a week and I’m following her on Twitter so I don’t miss any posts. If you take a few minutes, read the pinned portion about the history and then her blog is going in reverse chronological order like ours, but you may want to start back in May just to see the pictures and watch them growing up. The narratives are not long, a paragraph at most and she captions her pics. She is doing a great job documenting the pair and her blog has been featured on the local Detroit Audubon Society website (which I follow on Facebook) and also the national site. It will give you a little smile, then carry on with your harried schedule. 🙂 https://jocelynandersonphotographyshop.com/pages/sandhill-crane-family-with-adopted-gosling
We have some rain this morning which is not making me smile as it was unexpected, a storm earlier this a.m. and I have a dentist appointment and will be walking (not far) as my car is still in the shop re: the spring accident. And some more bad weather tomorrow and Saturday. I hope the rainy weather clears up in Ohio for Halston’s wedding – I will keep my fingers crossed for that!!
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Thank you for sharing!!!
Oh man. That’s so frustrating with the weather. Thank you for thinking of the wedding!! It is actually in Miami! I don’t know if I mentioned that-It’s hard to keep everything straight 🤣 Hope dentist appointment went ok!
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Yes, you’ll love taking a peek at the youngsters growing up as “fuzzy brothers” – I should have sent it earlier to you. No, that’s a first, reading about the wedding in Florida, unless I missed it. No cavities – teeth in great shape – now if everything else goes as scheduled that is on the rest of the weeks
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It sure is nice to see these photos with all the babies. Isn’t it something how they work together to take care of all of them. I love watching the babies, baby ducks are even cuter. For some reason the ducks around here were not having babies for the last few years. And last summer I saw the first baby ducks. Only 2, but that was the first ones I have seen in a long time.
We are heading down to Florida again this Saturday, my husband’s Mother is not doing well. We are going to go help her out and spend some time with her. I just sat down and was getting caught up on reading. Your photos always lighten the day.
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I know, after pulling those pictures for yesterday’s post, I long for nice weather. Funny you mention the difficulty with getting the duckling shots as I have gone to the River, Heritage Park and Elizabeth park – no ducklings – this year I hope to have success. Glad you are enjoying the photos Sandra – you are in Summer photos, so lots of fun Summer shots. I am going to get to bed shortly, but look at your post only – I was writing a friend a long e-mail which put me behind here and in Reader. I’m sorry to hear about your husband’s Mother … it will give her a lift to see you both and hope she will be feeling better by the time you arrive … at least the weather should be better by then from what I hear on the news.
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That is why we are leaving tomorrow, looks like some rain and sleet heading this way, we are going to try and get out of here before it arrives. That is strange that you are not seeing ducklings either. I wonder why? I will have to look into that.
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Yes, some of the weather is not so great with the snow and you are driving a big vehicle, so best to try to beat it. I am on Facebook. Just a few friends on Facebook, but follow it for the parks, the news and the City forum on crime and neighborhood happenings (that is how I saw MIke’s obituary notice – it was in the neighborhood forum). Anyway, I follow Heritage Park where I went last week for the ducks on the lake and touches of red. The guy who runs the site calls it “Heritage Park Photo of the Day” … people can send him photos and a photographer took lots of duckling pictures … we had crummy weekends, both days, with rain, and finally I got up there one morning before work – it might have been when I took the lilac pics, I’m not sure … anyway, no ducklings and he had several groups of them. We don’t have them at Council Point Park as we don’t have that many ducks there. And, unless they are in an open area like I took the goose with the fish, there are too many bushes along the edge to see them.
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I have facebook but only have it to see my nieces kids on there. And see some news feeds sometimes.
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I am not on it a lot but I have one friend who only is on Facebook, and not on e-mail anymore. I follow my radio station on Facebook to see the pictures that go with the stories.
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