Yesterday was a perfectly lovely day. We had a good walk under blue skies. We found the Bay right where it’s supposed to be. We even found some lichen to show Mr. Tootlepedal. Finally, I discovered my dilemma before we headed home, and managed to untangle the leashes before I could be flung over the bluff. This is different from my usual practice. Satisfactory.
Today was not shaping up nearly so well, but at the last moment I opened my email. Bruce the Weatherman has been spying on the birds Around Here, and has posted a selection on his Great Eastport Bird Count album on Flickr. Here are his favorites. (My favorites might be the bluejays, but I’ll make you go over to the album to see those.)
Torch Lake Views 
Dawn
February 19, 2016
Birds can always lift a spirit on a not-so-good day.
Gerry
February 19, 2016
True. Really not-good days require dogs.
shoreacres
February 19, 2016
I’m looking at those lichen with the bits of red snuggled up to them. I saw some photos of cup lichen and their fruit the other day, and am wondering if your red is part of the lichen, or just some stray lint. Snow and lichen seem worlds apart, but clearly that’s not so.
Today’s bird fun here included mallards and pigeons mating. Well, at least the mallards got down to business. The pigeons seem to be trying to figure it out. There’s a good bit of strutting going on, though. It’s fun to watch, for both me and the cat, since it’s on a railing not four feet away.
Gerry
February 19, 2016
The bit of red is part of the lichen. Our lichen seems to have a good deal of tolerance for snow. More than I have, come to think of it. There is wonderful lichen all over Isle Royale, right out in Lake Superior.
I’m still trying to sort out the mallards and pigeons mating. Texas is different than Michigan.
kitty Kontak
February 19, 2016
Do you ever deal with the east side of Torch or is it always the nor, west and south sides?
Gerry
February 19, 2016
Not only do we deal with the east side of Torch, but we get up to Charlevoix and Petoskey and down to Traverse City and over to the Leelanau Peninsula . . . we have even been known to go to Egypt and Havana. But we do it all from a sound grounding Around Here, between the lake and the bay. Why?
Martha
February 19, 2016
I’m a pileated fan. And a blue jay fan, too- even tho they can be mean little jerks. Once I saw a small owl in a tree surrounded by at least a dozen blue jays. The noise was incredible! I don’t know who was threatening whom, but I broke it up with a clap of my hands.
But I have to say that crows are nearest and dearest to me. Ever vigilant and brilliant.
Your blue sky and open water looks necessary. Soak up that sun and that bright light. Winter ain’t over yet.
Gerry
February 20, 2016
I have seen angry crows harrying a Great Horned Owl, but I believe they do that because the owls eat their eggs, or perhaps commit worse depradations that don’t bear thinking about too closely. I agree that the pretty bluejays are cranky.
The birds I like the best are the chickadees and the hummingbirds and the barred owls. I’m developing an appreciation for crows, but I’m suspicious of them. They are very, very smart.
Martha
February 20, 2016
I like that you doubled down on the “smart” comment. :^) Did you see the PBS doc re crows? They can recognize a human face after 2 YEARS!
Gerry
February 20, 2016
I am not surprised at that. What’s worrying is . . . how long can they hold a grudge? Edit: Forgot to answer your question. I did not see the PBS doc but I will look for it. (I don’t have television, but lots of good programs seem to turn up online or on DVDs at the library.)
Martha
February 20, 2016
Netflix has that crow program, but you could probably stream it from PBS site. I love my library, too.
Gerry
February 21, 2016
I will have to experiment. (Or wait until my next visit to Rob the Firefighter and the Lady Alicia. They have an astonishing array of video resources.)
P.j. grath
February 20, 2016
You are SO RIGHT about some days being better than others, and only those of us who live under cloudy skies for long stretches of time can appreciate a sunny day for the glorious day it is! In my opinion….
Gerry
February 20, 2016
We are companionably sharing an opinion.
Craig Smith
February 20, 2016
Back in the days before common departmental syllabi, I had my freshman comp students read “Mind of the Raven,” by Bernd Heinrich. Fascinating and humbling.
Gerry
February 20, 2016
It occurs to me that you could probably make a good thing of marketing your own syllabus to people who wish to exercise their minds . . . to keep up with the ravens.
uphilldowndale
February 20, 2016
Our jays are quite secretive, one of my prised possessions is a jay’s blue feather, it sits amongst my precious things in my cabinet
Gerry
February 20, 2016
A little piece of sky.
tootlepedal
February 20, 2016
Thank you for the lichen shots. They quite made my day. Does the red mean that they are British Solider lichen?
Gerry
February 20, 2016
You are very welcome. Once upon a time I busily researched things like the names of lichen, but I’ve forgotten everything I learned and I can’t find it again. Provisionally, British Soldier lichen might be what we would call it Around Here if we were able to remember things. I will let you know if I wake at 3:00 a.m. with an insight. (You are fortunate in that I cannot call you on the telephone when I have these epiphanies, but must use email instead.)
Gerry
February 20, 2016
Just to confuse the issue, I found more about “British soldiers” or “Redcoats” in this post: https://torchlakeviews.wordpress.com/2011/04/10/a-really-good-walk/
tootlepedal
February 22, 2016
Those were fine lichens.
Gerry
February 22, 2016
Thank you. I liked them too.
Karma
February 21, 2016
Dogs and birds can make a not so great day better, agreed. As well as a cat in one’s lap, which I happen to have this morning as I drink my coffee and read blogs. I do remember the days of feeling that two dogs wanting to go separate directions were an issue that would surely tangle me – that was when I invested in one “Y” shaped leash. Sigh, now I’m a bit sad for missing Daphne, but that is ok.
Gerry
February 21, 2016
I make my own troubles. I tied their leashes together and generally hold onto the knot. When I’m taking pictures, I step on the leash and . . . sometimes little dogs can be devious.
I still miss my beloved little dog Jake, who died long ago. He has been joined in my heart, but never replaced. I am sorry for your sadness, but glad that you had Daphne and all the joy she brought you.
Giiid
February 24, 2016
I love these photos, they made me smile even before the morning coffee! Your snow looks much better than ours did.
Gerry
February 24, 2016
It was pretty that day, wasn’t it! It’s all messy now, though, with tree needles and old leaves and road sand mixed in. The Cowboy explored it all, and had to have a very thorough bath before he could be let loose in the house.