Joel Dinda's photos with the keyword: marsh

The folks who settled Eaton County, Michigan, called the swamp that covered much of Windsor Township " The Old Maid Swamp ." Nowadays, to the extent it's called anything, it's the Secondary Complex Marsh or (if you're an old state employee) Lake Austin. At least in this corner of the bog. I think we should resurrect the old name.... Photo shot from the parking lot of the Secretary of State building, where I worked more or less forever without knowing the swamp's True Name.

Delton, more or less. While I took this photo a few years ago, today's the same sort of day.

After a time I switched to the V2's native lenses and mostly took pix of the scenery. The end-of-day light was terrific. Taken at Michigan Audubon's Cranefest, Baker Sanctuary (actually, from the neighboring Kiwanis Youth Area), near Bellevue, Michigan.

Taken at Michigan Audubon's Baker Sanctuary using my Nikon 1 V2 and my old 300 mm lens. I wasn't entirely satisfied with the results, but I'm still learning how to work with the getup. If you look really carefully you'll find a few Sandhill Cranes amongst the rushes around the tall stumps. That's about as good as my crane pix got this evening. On the other hand we had a good time. Cranefest is just wonderful.

Another photo from Michigan's State Secondary Complex--or the Old Maid's Swamp, if you would....

Drove a backroad I'd not travelled before on the way to visit my brother today. This swamp's on EF Avenue, south of Richland, Michigan. The swamp surrounds Three Lakes, which I've shown you before . Indeed, it's probably fair to say that Three Lakes is primarily a swamp, and that the lakes are just a manifestation of the bog's essence. Or even that most of the land between Richland and Augusta is a large marsh, with an occasional lake.

This is Unit B, looking west from from the viewing platform.

Another remnant of Windsor Township's Old Maid's Swamp .

Cheboygan State Park.

Across the Pine River, east of Wellston. More information .

Another view of the swan I showed you a few days ago. At MIchigan's State Secondary Complex.

Fleeing from our attention. Another photo from our visit to Maple River a few days back. Personally, I like Joan's photo of this family better.

At full size, you can see Sandhill Cranes in that marsh and pond. (Just for you, Sam.) Didn't have anything resembling appropriate gear for birding; just my little pocket cam. Next time I shall take the good camera, and a longer lens. Cheboygan State Park, Michigan; way out on the point, near the end of the Green Trail (PDF). Lake Huron's behind me; Duncan Bay is to my right.

Not my best picture. The light was odd, so it's partly overexposed and partly way too dark. I'm posting the pic because the barn in the photo collapsed a few weeks back, and I want to memorialize it. It's not really relevant to the photo, but forty years ago this stretch of road would flood with very little provocation. Coming around that curve at speed could be an adventure. Yes, I've improved both lighting issues, but I'm not particularly happy with the result.

Since our last visit to the place, Ducks Unlimited has assisted the owners in replacing the dam which controls the water level at Big Marsh Lake. One benefit was the new growth of wild rice (the pale green growth in this photo) in the lake. This is a very shallow lake, by the way; mostly it's two or three feet deep. None of which is particularly related to why I took this photo: It was a beautiful day, and the trees were close to peak colors.

Another photograph of Big Marsh Lake from the Kiwanis Youth Area, south of Bellevue, Michigan. No Sandhills in this one, but it came out really well. A similar view from another year, taken with my Olympus.

Even without the Sandhill Cranes and other birds, Big Marsh Lake is an attractive place.