TRAIL REPORT & RECENT OBSERVATIONS
Seven Ponds Nature Center encompasses nearly 500 acres of woodlands, wetlands, lakes, ponds, prairies, and fields. There are over six miles of trails for you to explore and enjoy. Please check-in at the nature center prior to venturing out on the trails. Our trails are open to guests Tuesday through Sunday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and open to Seven Ponds members dawn to dusk, every day of the year.
CURRENT TRAIL CONDITIONS
July 26, 2024 - With all the recent rain, it seems that mosquitos are worse now than previously this summer/spring, so bring your trusted repellent of choice. Otherwise, the trails are in great shape and ready for a hike. Come on out!
RECENT OBSERVATIONS
- We heard a Black-billed Cuckoo this morning - the call coming from the North-80. Listen for this secretive bird's distinctive, rapid, "coo-coo-coo-coo" song repeated several times. Always a treat to hear or see. (7/11/24)
- A Red-headed Woodpecker has been seen around the nature center recently! Sightings have occurred in Paul's Woods and (once) at the nature center's feeders. This is a striking woodpecker - with its deep red head and contrasting black and white wing/back pattern. Let's hope it makes a home here and becomes a regular at our feeders! (5/8/24)
- House Wrens and Chipping Sparrows have returned! We also saw our first warblers of the spring: Pine Warbler and Yellow-rumped Warbler. It won't be long before we see our first Baltimore Oriole, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, and Ruby-throated Hummingbird. Spring has sprung! (4/25/24)
- This morning we were privileged to see a male Wood Duck - certainly regarded as one of the most beautiful birds - perched on the rooftop of our boathouse. From inside the building, we put the spotting scope on this stunning duck and everybody enjoyed great looks, and we were able to take a photo using a smartphone through the scope. We maintain about 30 large nest boxes throughout our property, which are intended for Wood Ducks but are sometimes utilized by Eastern Screech-Owls, squirrels, and other creatures. (4/4/24)
- Today we spotted our first Eastern Phoebe of the spring. These small birds are flycatchers - the first species of flycatcher to arrive in Michigan each spring. Let's hope they find enough insects over the next couple weeks! (3/28/24)
- Tree Swallows have arrived! Today we spotted one on a utility wire in the North-80, and then saw four individuals flying high overhead, hopefully finding a supply of insects way up there to eat. (3/25/24)
- Today we spied a groundhog (a.k.a. woodchuck, among many other colloquial names) visiting our birdfeeder area. Groundhogs are rodents in the family Sciuridae, belonging to the group of large ground squirrels known as marmots. Groundhogs play an important role maintaining healthy soil in woodlands and plains. The groundhog is considered a crucial habitat engineer. (3/14/24)
- This morning, while still dark, the distinctive call of a Barred Owl could be heard coming from the North-80. The Barred Owl seems to ask, "Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you alllll?" (3/14/24)
- One of our naturalists spotted a Muskrat busy at work in Waterfowl Pond in the North-80. Muskrats are an important member of the freshwater marsh ecosystem. They help manage cattails and other aquatic vegetation, and their lodges create resting and nesting spots for waterfowl. (3/13/24)
- We found a colorful mylar balloon tangled out of reach in a tree at Seven Ponds. Please don't release balloons - they come down somewhere, resulting in unsightly trash (at best) and hazards to wildlife (at worst). (3/13/24)
- One of the first butterflies of the spring is the Mourning Cloak, which overwinters in leaf debris and emerges on warm spring (and late winter!) days. (3/13/24)
- March is when waterfowl migrate in large numbers through Michigan. This morning we saw several Common Mergansers on Treetop Pond. These diving ducks are just passing through, and will be gone in a few weeks. The males are mostly white with dark green heads, while the females are gray overall with a dark reddish head. (3/7/24)
- An American Woodcock - a small, plumpy shorebird that spends its time in wet woods and performs its aerial courtship display over open fields - was seen and heard over the fields of the North-80 this past weekend. Males give a buzzy "peent" call before taking flight over open fields and forest openings to perform their dazzling sky dance, flying up in a wide spiral. As he gets higher, his wings produce a twittering sound, and after reaching a height of 200-350 feet, he begins to descend, chirping all the way down before landing in nearly the same spot as his take-off. He repeats this display several times until there is no light left in the sky, hoping a female will be impressed. (3/5/24)
![Red-headed Woodpecker Red-headed Woodpecker at Seven Ponds!](https://sevenponds.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Red-headed-Woodpecker.jpg)
Red-headed Woodpecker at Seven Ponds!
![WODU Wood Duck drake on the boathouse roof](https://sevenponds.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/WODU-1.jpg)
Wood Duck drake on the boathouse roof
![TRES Tree Swallow in the North-80](https://sevenponds.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/TRES.jpg)
Tree Swallow in the North-80
![woodchuck Groundhog at home at Seven Ponds](https://sevenponds.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/woodchuck.jpg)
Groundhog at home at Seven Ponds
![Muskrat Muskrat in Waterfowl Pond](https://sevenponds.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Muskrat.jpg)
Muskrat in Waterfowl Pond
![Mourning Cloak Mourning Cloak resting on a utility pole at Seven Ponds](https://sevenponds.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Mourning-Cloak.jpg)
Mourning Cloak resting on a utility pole at Seven Ponds
![come Female Common Merganser laying low and hoping to go unnoticed](https://sevenponds.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/come.jpg)
Female Common Merganser laying low and hoping to go unnoticed
![balloon Mylar balloon tangled in vegetation at Seven Ponds](https://sevenponds.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/balloon.jpg)
Mylar balloon tangled in vegetation at Seven Ponds
![sunset through the woods Nature provided another stunning sunset at the ponds](https://sevenponds.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/sunset-through-the-woods.jpg)
Nature provided another stunning sunset at the ponds
![Eastern Chipmunk First of the spring Eastern Chipmunk at Seven Ponds](https://sevenponds.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Eastern-Chipmunk.jpg)
First of the spring Eastern Chipmunk at Seven Ponds
![Skunk Cabbage The first skunk cabbage we saw this year](https://sevenponds.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Skunk-Cabbage.jpg)
The first skunk cabbage we saw this year
![sunset1 Sunset over Seven Ponds](https://sevenponds.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/sunset1.jpg)
Sunset over Seven Ponds
![TRSW2 Trumpeter Swans on Treetop Pond](https://sevenponds.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/TRSW2.jpg)
Trumpeter Swans on Treetop Pond
Seven Ponds Nature Photo Gallery
![sunrise EP ANOTHER spectacular sunrise over Earl's Prairie](https://sevenponds.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/sunrise-EP.jpg)
ANOTHER spectacular sunrise over Earl's Prairie
![woodchuck Good morning, Woodchuck! Nice to see you again.](https://sevenponds.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/woodchuck.jpg)
Good morning, Woodchuck! Nice to see you again.
![sunset Sunset at Big Pond](https://sevenponds.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/sunset.jpg)
Sunset at Big Pond
![misty morning Misty morning fog over Treetop Pond](https://sevenponds.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/misty-morning.jpg)
Misty morning fog over Treetop Pond
![NSHR Northern Shrike, aka The Butcher Bird, hunting over Big Pond](https://sevenponds.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/NSHR.jpg)
Northern Shrike, aka The Butcher Bird, hunting over Big Pond
![leaf with water droplets Water droplets on a fallen leaf - science in nature!](https://sevenponds.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/leaf-with-water-droplets.jpg)
Water droplets on a fallen leaf - science in nature!
![Chicken of the Woods Chicken of the Woods (Laetiporus sulphureus) in Paul's Woods](https://sevenponds.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Chicken-of-the-Woods.jpg)
Chicken of the Woods (Laetiporus sulphureus) in Paul's Woods
![GREG Great Egret spotted at the Crawford Rd/Lake George Rd swamp at Seven Ponds](https://sevenponds.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/GREG.jpg)
Great Egret spotted at the Crawford Rd/Lake George Rd swamp at Seven Ponds
![Arctic Skipper Arctic Skipper at Seven Ponds - first record for Lapeer County](https://sevenponds.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Arctic-Skipper.jpg)
Arctic Skipper at Seven Ponds - first record for Lapeer County
![Monarch caterpillar Monarch caterpillar on milkweed in the North-80](https://sevenponds.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Monarch-caterpillar.jpg)
Monarch caterpillar on milkweed in the North-80
![SACR with colt Sandhill Crane pair - and baby makes three!](https://sevenponds.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/SACR-with-colt.jpg)
Sandhill Crane pair - and baby makes three!
![ESOW Eastern Screech-Owl roosting in Wood Duck nest box](https://sevenponds.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/ESOW.jpg)
Eastern Screech-Owl roosting in Wood Duck nest box
![Baltimore Checkerspot Baltimore Checkerspot in the North-80 fields](https://sevenponds.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Baltimore-Checkerspot.jpg)
Baltimore Checkerspot in the North-80 fields
![](https://sevenponds.org/wp-content/plugins/bb-plugin/img/pixel.png)
![Virginia Opossum Virginia Opossum at our feeders](https://sevenponds.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Virginia-Opossum.jpg)
Virginia Opossum at our feeders
![Red Squirrel Red Squirrel overcoming our "squirrel proof" feeder](https://sevenponds.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Red-Squirrel.jpg)
Red Squirrel overcoming our "squirrel proof" feeder
![woodchuck Woodchuck chilling out on the rock bath](https://sevenponds.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/woodchuck.jpg)
Woodchuck chilling out on the rock bath
![SACR "Our" Sandhill Cranes, pictured on November 8 watching over our welcome sign.](https://sevenponds.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/SACR.jpg)
"Our" Sandhill Cranes, pictured on November 8 watching over our welcome sign.
![Evening Grosbeaks Evening Grosbeaks on a feeder at Seven Ponds](https://sevenponds.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Evening-Grosbeaks.jpg)
Evening Grosbeaks on a feeder at Seven Ponds
![shaggy mane Shaggy Mane (Coprinus comatus)](https://sevenponds.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/shaggy-mane.jpg)
Shaggy Mane (Coprinus comatus)
![Violet Dancer Violet Dancer (Argia fumipennis violacea) at the A-frame Bridge](https://sevenponds.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Variable-Dancer.jpg)
Violet Dancer (Argia fumipennis violacea) at the A-frame Bridge
![Fungi Fall fungi abounds!](https://sevenponds.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Fungi.jpg)
Fall fungi abounds!
![Red-spotted Purple Red-spotted Purple on our sidewalk](https://sevenponds.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Red-spotted-Purple.jpg)
Red-spotted Purple on our sidewalk
![Red-headed Woodpecker Red-headed Woodpecker at Seven Ponds](https://sevenponds.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/RHWO.jpg)
Red-headed Woodpecker at Seven Ponds
![Snow Bunting Snow Bunting in the Seven Ponds parking lot!](https://sevenponds.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Snow-Bunting.jpg)
Snow Bunting in the Seven Ponds parking lot!
![Paul's Woods Mayapple in Paul's Woods](https://sevenponds.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Pauls-Woods.jpg)
Mayapple in Paul's Woods
![raccoon Our healthy Raccoon visitor](https://sevenponds.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/raccoon.jpg)
Our healthy Raccoon visitor
![turkeys Young turkeys on the move](https://sevenponds.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/turkeys.jpg)
Young turkeys on the move
![slug Slugging along on a window](https://sevenponds.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/slug.jpg)
Slugging along on a window
![NOWA Northern Waterthrush at Jonathan Woods](https://sevenponds.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/NOWA.jpg)
Northern Waterthrush at Jonathan Woods
![LOWA Louisiana Waterthrush at Jonathan Woods](https://sevenponds.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/LOWA.jpg)
Louisiana Waterthrush at Jonathan Woods
![squirrels Fox Squirrel in front with Gray Squirrels (gray and black form)](https://sevenponds.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/squirrels.jpg)
Fox Squirrel in front with Gray Squirrels (gray and black form)
![bowl and doily web Bowl and doily web near the A-Frame Bridge](https://sevenponds.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/bowl-and-doily-web.jpg)
Bowl and doily web near the A-Frame Bridge
![Closed Bottle Genitan - Earl's Prairie Closed Bottle Gentian in Earl's Prairie](https://sevenponds.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Closed-Bottle-Genitan-Earls-Prairie.jpg)
Closed Bottle Gentian in Earl's Prairie
![Snowberry Clearwing Snowberry Clearwing moth, with wings so fast they are just a blur!](https://sevenponds.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Snowberry-Clearwing.jpg)
Snowberry Clearwing moth, with wings so fast they are just a blur!
![Blanding's Turtle Blanding's Turtle at Seven Ponds](https://sevenponds.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Blandings-Turtle.jpg)
Blanding's Turtle at Seven Ponds
![Dryad's Saddle Dryad's Saddle in the North-80](https://sevenponds.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Dryads-Saddle.jpg)
Dryad's Saddle in the North-80
![Pixie cup lichen Pixie Cup Lichen](https://sevenponds.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Pixie-cup-lichen.jpg)
Pixie Cup Lichen
![Smooth Blue Aster Smooth Blue Aster in Earl's Prairie](https://sevenponds.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Smoth-Blue-Aster.jpg)
Smooth Blue Aster in Earl's Prairie
206 bird species have been observed at Seven Ponds! The most recent addition to our property list was Common Goldeneye, seen on March 12, 2023. For more recent sightings posted to eBird, click the eBird logo to the right.
Our satellite properties are visited less frequently, but offer different habitat for birds. Check out the eBird reports for these two areas below:
Jonathan Woods Nature Preserve eBird reports
97 bird species observed
Richie Pond Nature Preserve eBird reports
69 bird species observed