Charlie and the Nature Factory [Warning: Stunningly Beautiful Large Photo Images]

[Silver King]

Yay! Do you ever get the roseate spoonbills? We had a period of about two weeks here where I couldn't walk out of the house without seeing a flock, but now haven't seen one in a month or two. They're so amazing.

I usually see them around saltwater estuaries near mangroves, but never in great numbers. I've heard people refer to them as pink flamingos until I point out the shape of their bills.

 

[Haggis]

What's funny is that I've visited Michigan many times, in all seasons, and marveled at what a beautiful place it is outside of most cities. You have great fishing there too, which is a huge bonus.

Perhaps not as good as Florida, but you're right. Great fishing. The Great Lakes are something special, and the lakes and streams here offer up a whole other kind of fishing than you see in the deep water.

Not that the deep water fishing sucks.

And who could blame her?

*raises paw*

You're correct, SK. Michigan is a beautiful place most of the time, it's just so dreary this time of year.

It's a peninsula, surrounded by water. Almost always cloudy. Seldom do we see blue skies or non humid days. But, you're right, SK. Much of Michigan reminds me of Maine. Sparsely populated and fairly wild. We don't speak quite as funny, though. Except in the UP.

 

[swachski]

Okay, you're reminding me of what a great state we live in, Haggis. Everyone should experience it in the summer, especially the Sleeping Bear Dunes -- voted the most beautiful place on earth! (by one of those morning shows, but still). And the UP waterfalls are amazing. And the endless beaches. And the wildlife. (even an occasional gator sighting)

**brought to you by the Pure Michigan® tourist council**

 

[Haggis]

Okay, you're reminding me of what a great state we live in, Haggis. Everyone should experience it in the summer, especially the Sleeping Bear Dunes -- voted the most beautiful place on earth! (by one of those morning shows, but still). And the UP waterfalls are amazing. And the endless beaches. And the wildlife. (even an occasional gator sighting)

**brought to you by the Pure Michigan® tourist council**

And then there's Flint, Pontiac and Detroit.

 

[swachski]

*sweeps Flint, Pontiac and Detroit under the rug*

What?

 

[Haggis]

Nothing. Nothing.

What about them Tigers?

 

[swachski]

I think there's one in the GR zoo. It's the cougars you need to watch out for.

Not that I know any personally.

 

[quickWit]

mmmm, delicious cougar...

 

[swachski]

I don't think they're on the menu. Plus they're very elusive around here, so you may never see one.

And like Charlie, you can imagine what's in their diet.

 

[Archerbird]

Everyone should experience it in the summer, especially the Sleeping Bear Dunes -- voted the most beautiful place on earth! (by one of those morning shows, but still)

I had to google Sleeping Bear Dunes. Looks nice indeed.

 

[quickWit]

I don't think they're on the menu. Plus they're very elusive around here, so you may never see one.

And like Charlie, you can imagine what's in their diet.

Endive salad?

 

[swachski]

Probably. They must maintain their feline figures, after all.

 

[backslashbaby]

I love the heron! We have one here that flies over to our swampy beaver pond down the road.

I wish you could take pictures of my hawks. It's winter and bare here, but the hawks are still amazing. One of them has started saying hello (Or f*** off, maybe. I don't speak hawk!)

 

[Lyra Jean]

Gorgeous pictures SK.

 

[Silver King]

Do you ever get the roseate spoonbills?

After answering this question last night, I recalled taking a few shots of them a couple of years ago. The quality of this image is poor, as it was taken in direct sunlight, with the birds a good distance away; but I like how the roseates share the tree with that heron:

Also, as promised, another little blue, just for you:

Please note this is a tricolored heron, not a little blue heron. More about that here.

 

[Lady MacBeth]

I can't believe where you live. Seems very exotic from up here in Canada.

 

[heyjude]

Thanks, SK! They're gorgeous!

 

[MaryMumsy]

I can't believe where you live. Seems very exotic from up here in Canada.

It is exotic. They have wonderful wildlife and birds. Also palmetto bugs (cockroaches big enough to put a saddle on) and mosquitos the size of hummingbirds.

MM
who used to live next door in GA

 

[Silver King]

It is exotic. They have wonderful wildlife and birds. Also palmetto bugs (cockroaches big enough to put a saddle on) and mosquitos the size of hummingbirds...

For those who might think MM is exaggerating, she's actually under-reporting the size of some Florida insects.

(When we were kids, my older brother almost choked to death on a palmetto bug after it had flown into his mouth. His face turned blue as he clutched and scratched at his throat. Finally he coughed up the roach, which crawled past his lips and flew away, seemingly unharmed.)

 

[Jersey Chick]

pfft... we have wild turkeys. Now there is a majestic anima---

no, wait, even I don't believe that.

Those photos are gorgeous. The hubs and I spotted a huge white bird in one of our trees last winter, but from the distance and angle, we couldn't tell what it was. It just. stared. at. us.

I think it was contemplating eating one of us, it just couldn't decide which.

 

[Haggis]

Those photos are gorgeous. The hubs and I spotted a huge white bird in one of our trees last winter, but from the distance and angle, we couldn't tell what it was. It just. stared. at. us.

I think it was contemplating eating one of us, it just couldn't decide which.

In Jersey? That was a pigeon.

 

[Lady MacBeth]

Any photos of those cockroaches?

 

[heyjude]

It is exotic. They have wonderful wildlife and birds. Also palmetto bugs (cockroaches big enough to put a saddle on) and mosquitos the size of hummingbirds.

MM
who used to live next door in GA

You know I think I've only seen one cockroach since we've moved here?

The most fun is the lizard-things. Geckos? They're so neat, especially the ones that change colors.

For those who might think MM is exaggerating, she's actually under-reporting the size of some Florida insects.

(When we were kids, my older brother almost choked to death on a palmetto bug after it had flown into his mouth. His face turned blue as he clutched and scratched at his throat. Finally he coughed up the roach, which crawled past his lips and flew away, seemingly unharmed.)

I'm so glad they were both okay! ::shudder:: Does your brother still have psychological scars from this incident?

 

[Wicked]

Awesome pictures, SK.

May I request some bugs, snakes, and lizards?
I think I would have the time of my life in Florida. Though I would probably need to invest in bigger bug jars.

 

[Thump]

We had a gator living near our summer house when we were itty-bitty. My dad named him "Wally" (get it? get it?). He'd feed it eggs and meat scraps left over from our own cooking.
It never ate my sisters (useless thing!) or even one of the dogs, one of which was small enough to be a gator snack honestly.