Ever Changing Nature

[CaraRose]

For the last five years we've been doing this yearly trip now every August to Leelanau State Park in Michigan. Twenty years ago the lake came all the way up to the campsites, now it's 100 yards or so away. But it's rising. Three years ago I walked out on a rocky point, where someone (for whatever reason) had been stacking rocks into various towers. This year that point isn't even visible this year, though I was able to see the top of one of the stacks with a cormorant sitting on it in the distance.

The dry rocky shoreline is under a foot of water, and the lake now comes over the vegetation, and while there were pockets of marshy areas there, now most of its marsh as you go out towards the lake.

I've never seen a heron or a RWBB there before, but now they're all over the place. I don't recall ever seeing cormorants either. More frogs, more dragonflies. A little surreal, but cool. Maybe in another 5 years the lake will be back to where it was 20 years ago.

[CaraRose]

The shoreline pictures required wading out into a foot of water. This was dry rocky shoreline last year.

[CaraRose]

A few more herons...

[mjs1973]

A great series of images Cara, and great observations about the area. I really love the 3rd image (sunrise/sunset) in your fist post.

[OldClicker]

Nice series. I've often thought of moving to the Traverse City area and these certainly pique that interest. I like the second one with the wispyness of the grasses. The water looks very calm (also in your previous Leelanau series) for a lake that large. - TF

[CaraRose]

Thanks TF, Mike.

TF, Traverse City is a pretty nice city in itself. The area is really nice. Both the Leelanau Peninsula and the Mission Peninsula are absolutely beautiful. Leelanau State Park is outside of a tiny little port town called Northport that we just love. Not much there, but nothing fake or touristy about it at all.

[scott-devon]

Very nice series Cara, I too like that 3rd shot in the first series with it's great lighting and composition.

[Dale J Martin]

Some great captures!

It's great to hear some areas are coming back. What has changed to help this area out?

Regards,

Dale