Michigan's Upper Peninsula

We crossed over the long Mackinac Bridge in the fog to St. Ignace where we stayed for a couple days exploring the shores of Lake Michigan & Huron.  This Am. Redstart helped us celebrate Father's Day, Ida's birthday and our 43rd Wedding Anniversary.

We drove through Hiawatha National  Forest along the Whitefish Bay Coastal Scenic Drive and spent a few days at Tahquamenon Falls State Park.  Pictured is the Upper Falls.

We enjoyed the May Fly hatch at the RV Park on Big Manastique Lake.  The gulls and other birds were feasting on them.

Next destination was the Seney National Wildlife Refuge where we spent several hours driving the 7 mile auto tour.  There were well over 100 Trumpeter Swans, many up close like this family.

We found this Cedar Waxwing building a nest in a red pine next to the Visitor's Center.  Guess he couldn't find a Cedar Tree.

There were several pairs of Common Loons with very small young at the refuge.  We were hoping for more duck species but only found Ring-necked and Mallards.

The next day was rainy but we went back through the drive again and found this Beaver having a "bad-hair day".  There were several lodges in the many lakes of the refuge.

We continued our journey north to Grand Marais, Sable Falls, Hurricane River and 12 mile Beach, all part of the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.  All through this area we found 17 species of nesting warblers, this Blackburnian being one of our favorites.

We drove the National Forest Scenic Drive, highlights included a large Black Bear crossing the road and Miner's Castle Outcrop, pictured to the right.  This viewing platform, 300 feet over Lake Superior gave us a great view of the Pictured Rocks.

At Munising Lake, we observed a pair of Sandhill Cranes feeding with their young colt.  We continued traveling through the Hiawatha National Forest, camping near Big Bay de Noc.


We hiked on a boardwalk south of Wetmore where we were startled by a dive-bombing Merling, just inches over our heads.  It made an unbelievable sound, we must have gotten too close to it's territory.

We continued our zig-zagging path through the Escanaba State Forest, stopping at Van Riper State Park to camp for 2 nights.  Early in the morning, we drove along the Peshekee River finding this pair of yearling moose.

After a stop in Houghton for supplies we went south along the Superior shoreline to the Porcupine Mountains.  From our campsite on the water we watched Loons diving and dark thunderstorms with water spouts moving out across the lake.

On early morning drives along the park roads, we were serenaded by many White-throated Sparrows (photo on left) and Winter Wrens.

Parting memories of our adventures in Yooper Country includes this fawn who slowly came out on the road as we were approaching.  We also saw a Bobcat on the road to Lake of the Clouds, and our last stop, the Presque Isle Waterfalls.

From God's outdoor sanctuary we visited many small churches, always feeling part of the family of God.

Coming home to Wisconsin!
Best Regards,
Ty & Ida Baumann