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
That Eagle kite needed a tail. Gives better stability. I have 2 kites hanging from my ceiling as decroation.
I’d like to see close up footage of that Osprey’s eyes popping when that siren goes off!
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Wayne, I was wondering if that was the problem with the eagle kite too, but I was thinking the other woman’s string method was better too. The eagle kite was down more than it was up. Did you fly the kites in your room at one time or just collect them?
I’m glad they shut the siren off at the fire station when the Ospreys are there – it would be quite a scare. They were gone at the fire station the last time I was there, August 21st, as were the Osprey family in the platform nest by the marina. It was chilly a couple of days – guess they all packed up and left – they acted like the hummingbirds!
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Yes, I have flown the 2 kites hanging from my ceiling.
One is a traditional bat kite and the other is a bi-plane!
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You should try them out again Wayne!
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I have several other kites I use for flying.
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You should really do a post about it – it would be fun. Too bad you can’t send up the drone to capture you flying the kite!
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If I did put the kite up, It would be simple to put the drone up to get a video!
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You should do it Wayne – don’t let them tangle up in one another though. I saw a drone display in advance of 9/11 – there are 2,977 drones in the display, representing each of the persons that lost their life. The drones form the twin towers … I saw the drone video on “X” but found it on CNN – will put in a separate comment.
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Wayne – here is that drone display. I looks amazing (what I could see of it as my internet is still problematic and cutting out).
https://edition.cnn.com/2026/09/10/us/video/twin-towers-drones-25th-anniversary-digvid-vrtc
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The poor stupid fish – everyone and everything eats them – it’s amazing that they reproduce enough to satisfy us all.
This post is just in time for a repeat of the heat!
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I hear you about the fish JP – if it’s not the raptors gettin’ them, it’s the bears. Right now in Alaska, the bears are having a feast with the salmon run.
Sadly we are embarking on that same sorry heat wave, starting tomorrow, along with the severe weather that goes with it. Bring on Fall soon please!
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It’s nice that they don’t do the sirens when the nests are active. That may be enough to scare them off.
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I thought it was nice too Kate. This park is located in Brownstown and they have a main fire station and two satellite stations – this is one of the satellites located on the fringe of the park. I think these Osprey and the ones at the platform nest have migrated when it got chilly last week. Perhaps they jumped the gun since we’re going to have a real-feel of 100 tomorrow!
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I’ve lost track of when one heat wave ends and the next begins down here. And another starts today. Sigh… But at least we never got the smoke from the wildfires like you had. That “I’m not sharing!” shot of mama osprey is priceless! Kites are a lot fancier these days than they were when I was growing up. That looks like a lot of fun. I’m glad the fire station turns off those sirens while the ospreys are there. I can only imagine what the suddnen loud sound would do to them. Sometimes I do wonder what birds make of the human contraptions they encounter while trying to live in our world.
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Our heat wave began today too Barbara – not as hot as you are, but we went from a coolish, perfect week to today’s high dewpoints and off and on rain all day. We get to real feels near 100 the next two days and rain every day this week. My walking regimen has been trashed all Summer. I am riding the exercise bike as an alternative. I was lucky it was gray outside so I could get these shots. The Ospreys seem to have perfected the glare for all humans – it seems that way to me. I’m glad the fire station is okay with turning off the siren for them. This is not the main fire station for Brownstown – they have two satellite stations and this is one of them on the outskirts of the park. The poor birds make do in our environment but, like you, I wonder sometimes how they deal with humans and their contraptions.
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Another fun post that made me smile, Linda. Thank you! 😁
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Thank you Pepper! I have some more walks where I saw the Osprey, but many times I went by and didn’t see anything in the nest, or I arrived and they flew off (in a huff I might add). Per the guy in the Metropark Photographers Facebook Group who visits the nest on a regular basis, it looks like the Osprey in the platform nest have already migrated … I didn’t see either family when I was there on the 21st.
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So glad you’ve been getting some walks in. Seems like cooler temps are not too far away. I am starting to see the start of autumn leaves.
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I did last week, but I think this week won’t be great for walking with all the rain and heat. I did see some leaves on bushes and vines around trees that were already turning and lots of yellow Poplar leaves on the trails. I had heard we were going to be very warm, even hot, through mid-September, but this morning, the WWJ Accuweather meteorologist said all of September – wow!
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Oh, interesting. Here I was thinking that it’d be cooling off soon.
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That would be wishful thinking. 🙂 I did hear that Saturday and Sunday will be cooler though.
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that’s something to look forward to. 😊
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Yes, I am looking forward to some cooler temps. I suspect Saturday might still be a bit soggy since we’re getting some more storms in the overnight Friday and then Friday morning.
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Sorry I had not gotten to this comment, Linda. It has been a busy but fun weekend with family and I haven’t spent much time on WP.
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No problem Pepper!
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We’re ready to be done with the heat/humidity ourselves. The South is into the triple digits again this week, but the long-term forecast shows a noticeable drop in nighttime temps, and more importantly, in humidity levels. Any sign that fall is on the way is welcome!
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This Summer has not been nice weather-wise, except for a few days here and there. We are embarking on another heat wave as well Dave, likely not as hot as you will have it, but we will have real feels near 100F the next two days and severe weather along with that heat and rain every day this week. It’s been raining off and on today – my walking regimen has never taken such a hit as in 2026. I am so ready for Fall!
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Ospreys are great, we have so many nests here. I like watching them. That’s quite the fish he caught and hauled home ! The batman kite photo was very cool. I used to do that when I was a kid but just the cheap little kites. I think my neck wouldn’t like doing it now lol
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I like watching the Osprey too Susan. The last time I was at the park on August 21st, both nests were empty. I follow a Metropark Photographers site on Facebook and the guy who takes photos of these Osprey said they migrated already. It was chilly last week, but not THAT chilly to take off – they could have stuck around for this heat wave we are getting this week. I am amazed at the large fish they carry in their talons or beak. There was a wildlife photographer on “X” a few years ago and he had a video of an Osprey landing a fish so big that the fish was dragging the Osprey beneath the surface of the water, but he kept hanging on to that fish, finally emerged, triumphant, holding onto its prize!
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You got lots of great photos! Thank you for them and your words.
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Thank you Anne! Glad you enjoyed them.
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Wow fun to watch the kite flying! I haven’t flown a kite in decades – I used to with my nieces and nephews on the farm in the spring at Easter if the wind conditions were right as there were 100 acres of empty fields before the crops were in. And those are some very impressive kites. I thought I was bad in august going two weeks without walking, but it hasn’t been the best summer for it. Hoping fall will be better. We had rain of and on for the past two days, which is needed but depressing.
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Joni, I enjoyed watching them fly the kites, especially the Batman kite as she really knew how to maneuver it to catch the wind and it was impressive with the tails. My friends and I went down to the field at the end of the street which later became Hopedale Plaza … I don’t think I ever had a kite here in the States. We got those light balsawood kites and a ball of string and would be gone for hours if they didn’t get hung up in the trees. Our weather has been lousy too – today was rainy off and on and we are getting ready for this heat wave and severe weather tomorrow and maybe Wednesday. The weather folks say it will be Summerlike until mid-September. Please hurry Fall!
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They looked like expensive kites, not the flimsy ones we used to have! It was always a challenge getting it airborne.
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Yes, I think ours were made of balsa wood and material similar to Tyvek. We tied ribbons on the strong for a tail as I recall.
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Way too hot to walk today, although I tried and lasted about ten minutes.
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Yes, I didn’t walk either – dew points in the low 70s and high humidity and we had air quality issues again. We were supposed to get rain, but that didn’t happen, although we have storms tonight and especially tomorrow. I am just so done with this weather. I understand all of September will be warmer than usual, not just the first half as they said a few days ago.
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Miss Linda………………………………that was an interesting story showing us the nests for the Osprey…………………………………………thank you . I would never have noticed those Osprey walking by myself……………………………….YOu are a good story teller…………………
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Thank you Ann Marie! I think the Osprey are gone until next Spring now. I follow a group of photographers who take pictures at the Metroparks and the guy who has been posting about this Osprey family near the marina says he no longer sees them there, so they must have migrated. I was last there on August 21st and saw neither family.
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Great osprey photos, Linda. I hope you have been able to stay well with everything that is going on there.
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Thank you Rebecca! I went to the platform nest several times this year and only got photos of the Osprey two or three times and even less for the Osprey at the fire station nest. I think they have migrated already per a photographer I follow who said he hasn’t seen the family in a week or two. I am lucky to have escaped this cyclospora outbreak, but I’ll admit my walking stats are pretty abysmal this year due to heat/humidity and smoky skies. We have a week of rain and severe weather this week due to the heat. I am so ready for Fall and I am sure you are as well.
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Last time I looked I didn’t see the osprey at the lake anymore either. I figure they have migrated. The hummingbirds are migrating also. I’m glad to hear that you’ve stayed well. We’ve really been watching what we eat this summer. Yes, heat advisory until Saturday night here. Cooler weather can’t come soon enough for me. 🙂
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It seems early for these Osprey to leave, but maybe the winds were in their favor. We’ve had a lot of very windy days here all year, but as for now, I know the raptors use the winds to their advantage when migrating, so maybe that’s why for both our Ospreys. Yes, it’s been a Summer of watching the skies, what you eat and now yesterday, some of the parks in another county have water (and not marshes) with toxic algae on the surface from all this heat and they are telling people not to go there unmasked to avoid getting it in your lungs. There’s too many bugs with bites that can make you sick. I’m so ready for Fall too!
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You did get some nice osprey pics, even if they didn’t include nestlings. My mother loved flying kites—usually on the beach in Oregon. One time her long dragon kite got away from her (she wasn’t too good at gripping things) and I had to race down the beach to rescue it for her.
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Thank you Eilene! I think both Osprey families have now migrated. I follow a Metropark photographer who often posts about them and he says they are now MIA. It’s rather early to leave – we have another heat wave this week! The kite-flying looked like fun, especially for the woman with the Batman kite as she was skilled at maneuvering it. Your mom seemed to have the same dilemma as the woman with the eagle kite. I have not flown a kite since I was a kid but enjoyed doing so with friends.
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Southern Ontario had awful weather in July too, but at least there was no infected lettuce. You must have been so happy to finally get out on a nice day! Those kites look impressive, and I bet it’s a fun hobby, except having to climb over rocks to retrieve one. Your friends the Osprey never look happy, do they? 😆 Great photos, though!
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Glad you liked the Osprey with their perpetual snarly attitude Debbie! They never look happy to me either. I’ve not done any kite-flying since leaving Oakville where my friends and I used to go to a big field near what became Hopedale Plaza. It looked like fun, especially the one woman who was maneuvering the Batman kite. I WAS happy to get outside again – the weather and smoke have really wreaked havoc with my walking regimen. We are in another rainy/stormy pattern this entire week, including severe weather and our real feel temps will be around 100 again. I am looking forward to Fall!
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That was fun to see the kites, Linda. I don’t see people flying them like we used to when we were kids.
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I enjoyed seeing those kites too Ruth, especially the Batman kite as she was skilled at maneuvering that kite around to catch the wind just right and those tails made it seem to come alive. I was glad the women with the eagle finally got the kite to stay airborne. I never see kids flying kites either and as a kid I remember flying kites in the field near the house with my friends … great, cheap fun!
Hope you stayed safe in these awful storms. Luckily no damage here, but along Fort Street there were many trees down, one on fire, from today’s storms. I’m thankful, once again, to remain unscathed.
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Thankfully most of the storminess missed us, but our power was out for about an hour. Could have been worse.
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Hi Ruth – yes, I have seen the photos/videos just two blocks from my house. The trees are down left and right. Power’s been out since the middle of the night, internet was out, but came back, but it’s spotty. I feel blessed after seeing the devastation so close to my house, so we both are fortunate indeed.
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Blessed indeed! Giving your generator a workout, eh? Did you get power back yet?
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Ruth, I am so relieved and today I saw that we had golfball-sized hail. I was in the basement and I heard a lot of noise outside and it was black as night … so scary. My power just came on at about 4:30 today. I was getting worried as the generator kept running nonstop and the outage map said I had power so I figured they were not going to come back tonight for the five or six people who had no power as they’d concentrate on bigger areas. I’m glad this is over. Whew!
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Linda, it looks like your detours always lead to something pretty cool. And the kites were really interesting perhaps some of the most beautiful kites I’ve ever seen
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Another outing with an interesting ending like you said Yvette. I have not seen people flying a kite since I last flew one and that was before we moved to the States in 1966. Yes, I agree – both kites were interesting looking and the woman with the Batman kite sure knew how to get that kite to twist and turn in the air. It looked like a lot of fun!
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wow that sure was a long time ago when you saw those kites. Well it was fun to see them featured in this post and wishing you a great day
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Thank you Yvette!
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