Mornings this time of year in northern Michigan should be cool, clear and frosty. The recent weather has been anything but that though.


Warm humid nights and cloudy mornings make for terrible wildlife photography opportunities at the Fish Pond. The warm dew laden air combined cool water surface turn the pond into a giant fog generator. It has been impossible to see more than a third of the way across the pond during the majority of my time spent there this week. I know there are ducks their since I have watched them disappear into the mist when they land. Beyond that though they remain out of sight along the banks until the fog subsides.


The fog drifts back and forth with the breeze and doesn’t clear until about eleven a.m. or noon when the sun finally makes its way over the tree tops to burn it off. As it retreats it covers the leaves on the lower branches of the trees and the spider webs that are strung between the branches of dead trees with what appears to be an extremely heavy dew.


Fortunately the fog doesn't seem to encroach up onto the shoreline so I had a chance to sneak around and grab a few shots of some of the plant life near my spot.


Even a slight breeze now causes the leaves to fall by the bushel. The combination of morning fog and the steady falling of leaves seem to have the ducks that are hanging about very nervous. The jump and fly the length of the pond at the drop of a hat these days.






After not seeing one in quite some time one of my favorite birds made a brief appearance this morning. A Belted Kingfisher landed in a tree on the bank directly opposite from my blind. It spent a little time watching a group of Mallards feed directly below it before it disappeared into the trees.


By next week I’m sure the pond will have a whole new look to it. A few trees will still be hanging in their and refusing to let go of their summers work but for the most part I’m sure that almost all traces of summer will be gone.

If you live in the northern regions of the USA or the southern reaches of Canada get outside and enjoy the colors while they last. Let them be your inspiration to do something creative.

Have a great one.

Kevin