PLATTE RIVER WATERSHED

Located in the northern half of Benzie County, the Platte River Watershed is fourteen miles long with 90 miles of river and connecting streams.  I followed it to Platte Point on a recent sunny day, enjoying the beautiful scenery along the way.  

MILKING THE SUNSHINE

 Last Wednesday and Thursday were sunny and dry, inviting me back outdoors again.  I put many miles on my Subaru those two days traveling from Elk Rapids to TC to Kingsley and finally to the Lakeshore to take advantage of the good weather.  One stop was an early morning photoshoot at East Bay Park to catch the sunrise.  The clouds made for interesting pictures.

UNFOLDING

 Farm country wetlands and ponds are opening up with snowmelt…a gift that seems to keep on giving.  Geese, mallards, and gulls were busy preening, feeding, and gathering nesting material under yesterday’s blue skies.  A pair of Trumpeter Swans overwintering in the area floated on one of the smaller ponds.  Two sandhill cranes also stuck to themselves, feasting on dregs left in the corn fields.  

MIXED BAG

That describes both the weather and the pictures for today’s post.  I was out last week in sunshine, rain, and snow trying my new camera system in all kinds of light and with a variety of subjects.  So far, I’m delighted with the results.  It’s a keeper.

SPRING ARRIVES (L0L)

 And so have the Sandhill Cranes.  Five of them came to their regular spot to feed on the corn dregs.  I tried to figure out the family units.  Was the foursome the parents and last year’s twins, plus a singleton?  Or did the five include the parents with one colt plus a non-breeding pair?  When they joined voices in their rattling, bugle call, I left them to their feeding.  So good to see they’ve safely returned.