Red-bellied Woodpeckers struggling against Starling invasion of their nest site.

A Red-bellied Woodpecker pair has excavated their nest cavity for a couple weeks. Recently Starlings wished to take control. The battle over occupancy is intense. I had concern for the woodpecker pair and their resolve to hold firm against the Starlings. As of yesterday evening the woodpeckers were still at and in their nest cavity. This pair is in the eastern Upper Peninsula of Michigan. While the Red-bellied Woodpecker breeding range is expanding north, it is not regularly observed nesting throughout the Upper Peninsula ... yet.

Red-bellied Woodpecker nesting pair in St. Ignace, Michigan

I've observed Red-bellied Woodpeckers nesting in Alpena since 2006. This is the first pair I've observed nesting in the Upper Peninsula. The species nesting territory is expanding north. Here is a link to a write-up from MBBAII.

MBBAII Species Account

Evernia Mesomorpha with Apothecia

Evernia mesomorpha rarely produces apotheica. On April 29th, 2013 I observed this thallus in Michigan's Upper Peninsula at Point Aux Chenes dune/swale complex just west of St. Ignace.

Substrate: The bark of a fallen black spruce tree.

Evernia prunastri grows in the western US and in Europe. Apothecia on e. prunastri is as uncommon as e. mesomopha.

Note: Evernia prunastri was thought by some to be extirpated from Michigan. I observed the Evernia mesmorpha with apothecia on April 29th 2013 and on April 13th I observed Evernia prunastri in the upper peninisula of Michigan.

Here is a link to my documentation of E. prunastri in Michigan.

Evernia prunastri in Michigan