Michigan Birds & Brews: B&B Jan. 8 Event: 2014: A Big Year for Birds & Bir...

Michigan Birds & Brews: B&B Jan. 8 Event: 2014: A Big Year for Birds & Bir...: Happy New Year birders!  We have a great event planned for our next Birds & Brews event and I'm pretty sure you don't want to mi...

The Oakland Press Blogs: Earth's Almanac: Roadside Cafe: Saga of a red-tailed hawk and a rabbit.

The Oakland Press Blogs: Earth's Almanac: Roadside Cafe: Saga of a red-tailed hawk and a rabbit.

The Oakland Press Blogs: Earth's Almanac: Osprey attacks great blue heron: GET OFF MY NEST!

The Oakland Press Blogs: Earth's Almanac: Osprey attacks great blue heron: GET OFF MY NEST!

First To Fledge - Barn Swallow

Checking up on the youngster. The male Barn Swallow would stop and perch by the youngster, chatter a bit, and then take flight and swoop and dive in the backyard. I happen to love Barn Swallows. They are my spark bird. When I see them, I think back to camp at Camp Stapleton in Port Sanilac, MI.

Hummingbird Perch

Hummingbird Perch, a photo by JKissnHug - Been busy birding on Flickr.

It's time to get out your hummingbird feeders. These little gems are winging their way to your backyard.

Via Flickr:
This female Ruby Throated hummingbird briefly stops for a quick sip from the feeder.

Magnolia Magnificence

Magnolia Magnificence, a photo by JKissnHug - Been busy birding on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
The striking plumage of this Magnolia Warbler always stops me in my tracks. Seeing one of these birds is a breathtaking experience knowing they pass through this area every spring and autumn without much notice, unless you happen to be one of the thousands of birders who enjoy the magnificent show called spring migration.

American Woodcock by Steve Gifford

American Woodcock by Steve Gifford a video by Steve Gifford - IN on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
*Click HD icon for better resolution*

One of my goals this spring was to find and photograph woodcock during the day. For the last several weeks I have been scouting out the best locations where I can find these elusive birds fairly consistently. Although there are a lot of great areas, one of the best spots I have been able to find is Columbia Mine at Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge near Oakland City, Indiana.

Having previously encountered this particular woodcock on multiple occasions within a relatively small area, I set out this morning to see if I could spot him before he spotted me.

In full camo and moving into the bird's regular territory very slowly I was fortunate enough to see the woodcock take a few steps, bobbing up and down. If it had not moved, I am sure I would have missed it.

By moving very slowly and quietly and trying to avoid eye contact, the bird eventually decided I was not a threat and became comfortable with my presence. Over the next hour and a half I was able to observe the bird resting, preening and forraging from never more than 20ft away.

The most interesting thing to watch was the bird's bobbing motion as it walked (see video). According to Cornell, this motion of pressing each foot into the earth multiple times with each step is intended to make earthworms move and easier to locate. Very cool!

In any case, I was very pleased to be able to witness such a unique and interesting bird go about it's daily routine. God makes neat stuff!

At The Spring Dance

At The Spring Dance, a photo by JKissnHug - Been busy birding on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
The male Sandhill Crane broke out into a bonding mating dance with his mate. She was entertained but was not quite ready to take a bow and return the overture.

Ring-necked Pheasants In A Corn Field

Ring-necked Pheasants In A Corn Field, a photo by JKissnHug - Been busy birding on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
On my way back from viewing Bald Eagles on Lake Erie, I stopped by a well known location in Superior Twp., MI., to search for Snow Buntings, Lapland Longspurs and Horned Larks. To my sheer delight, I found a flock of Ring-necked Pheasants feeding from waste grain in a corn field. The pheasants were very restless as I watched them from my vehicle. I managed a few shots of them shooting through a thicket of branches and small trees. The photos are really poor, but I have the confirmation I need to add them to my e-Bird checklist. These birds are considered rare for the time of year and season.

I was able to confirm the presence of Lapland Longspurs and plenty of Horned Larks. I wasn't able to confirm the clouds of white birds flying above the fields, were in fact, Snow Buntings. This area was the host to several Short-eared Owls and Northern Harriers last winter.

I arrived late to the area, after 4 p.m., so I wasn't shooting in great light to begin with. I enjoyed the solitude of the winter landscape. As I left the area, a brilliant moon was peaking over the horizon and brightening my mood for the 30 mile drive back home.

Chasing Away The Chill

Chasing Away The Chill, a photo by JKissnHug - Been busy birding on Flickr.

Warm wishes to all and Happy Holidays

Weeping Willow At The Shores

Weeping Willow At The Shores, a photo by JKissnHug on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
As I walked the trails at the Edsel and Eleanor Ford Estate during the Detroit & Oakland Audubon Society Conservation Symposium, I was captivated by this scene of a Weeping Willow reflecting off the water in a canal off of Lake St. Clair. I imagined myself as a youngster growing up on that fine estate playing in the woods and swimming in the lake on this magnificent property. I am thankful that the Ford Family has preserved the estate for generations of future visitors like myself and others.

Lake St Clair Sunrise at the Edsel Ford Estate

Lake St Clair Sunrise at the Edsel Ford Estate, a photo by JKissnHug on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
I attended the Detroit & Oakland Audubon Societies Conservation Symposium on Saturday, September 29. The first activity of the day was a sunrise bird walk on the estate grounds. We found numerous migrating birds

Busy Shorebird - Short-billed Dowitcher

Busy Shorebird - Short-billed Dowitcher, a photo by JKissnHug on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Being a subscriber to the University of Michigan Bird Listers is a great resource for local rare bird sightings. A birder friend found this Short-billed Dowitcher at our local park and posted it to the e-mail service. I grabbed my gear and off I went to find this shorebird and add it to my life list of birds. With the extreme dry weather we are experiencing, the normally wet pond at Long Park was drying up exposing new mud flats for the migrating shorebirds to probe for food.

Lilly Pads At Dusk

Lilly Pads At Dusk, a photo by JKissnHug on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Severe weather often brings a colorful glow to the evening sky. The sky was alive with color and pattern as a cold front swept out ninety degree temperatures and produced a double rainbow and a magnificent western sky aglow with spectacular color and pattern.

Catching A Few Zzzzs

Catching A Few Zzzzs, a photo by JKissnHug on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
I encountered this male Sandhill Crane while out walking the trails at Kensington Metropark. I watched him as he preened and occasionally nibbled at insects on the ground. What was very surprising when he closed his eyes and took a brief nap while I sat and watched from a few feet away. Here he is catching a few Zzzzs, as I calmly took his photo.

Kirtland Warbler - Female

Kirtland Warbler - Female, a photo by JKissnHug on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
I had the birding experience of a lifetime when a female Kirtland's Warbler made an appearance at the Biggest Week in American Birding at Magee Marsh in Oak Harbor, Ohio. A group of Mennonite birders found her in the willows along Estuary Trail at Magee Marsh. A friend of mine sent out a message, via Twitter, of their discovery and the bird chase was on. Hundreds of birders at the Magee Marsh exited the boardwalk and made a mile long dash to the location of the warbler.

Myself, and two birder friends walked over a mile to find this bird of a lifetime.

I was fortunate be able to get into a spot where I could capture a few open shots of her as she dashed around in the thick understory of the willows.

I have never been in such awe of the patience and kindness of fellow birders who took the time to show all of the birders where to find her in the deep cover of the marsh.

Thank you to my new and old friends who shared in this exciting birding experience at Magee Marsh.

JKissnHug's photostream

JKissnHug's photostream on Flickr.

Search For Warblers At The Magee Marsh Boardwalk

Search For Warblers At The Magee Marsh Boardwalk, a photo by JKissnHug on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Spring has arrived at Magee Marsh and I am there to find the warblers. We had a very nice outing on Saturday, where we found the Black & White, Black-throated Green, Yellow-rumped & Hooded Warbler. We also found a Northern Mockingbird, Hermit Thrush, White-eyed Vireo, White-throated Sparrow and gorgeous female Eastern Towhee.

The wind was howling off Lake Erie and we needed our winter coats to stay warm.

Bald Eagle - In The Neighborhood

Bald Eagle - In The Neighborhood, a photo by JKissnHug on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
With migration underway, I make it a habit of scanning the lake every morning to see if any new waterfowl have arrived overnight. I had spotted a single Pied-billed Grebe on the distant shore and was preparing to look at it through my spotting scope. I double checked the location of the grebe through my binoculars when suddenly a large black bird flew into view coming straight for my house from the other side of the lake. I quickly set the scope down, grabbed the binoculars and confirmed it was a Bald Eagle flying over the lake. A birder's thrill if there ever was one, at least for this birder.

I don't know why I do this, but I screamed out BALD EAGLE, maybe because I really enjoy seeing these birds and my husband happened to be home at the time. I guess I also wanted him to know what I had found and not to be concerned when I raced out the front door with my camera in hand. We have been married 27 years, so he knows when I go racing for the door with my camera in hand there is no time for an explanation, only for a photo of whatever has sparked my frenzied departure out the door.

I had enough time to get several shots as the Bald Eagle circled the area for several minutes at low altitude no doubt looking for fish to catch. The eagle continued on its flight over to Long Lake and out of my view, and I thought I wasn't going to be able to go birding this morning. I birded from the front lawn and seeing one of my personal favorites, the Bald Eagle.

Wildwing Trail Companion

Wildwing Trail Companion, a photo by JKissnHug on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
One of the special qualities of Kensington Metropark is the ability to find different birds along the trail or in the waters of the park. I turned the corner of Wildwing Lake trail and encountered an adult male Sandhill Crane walking the trail in the front of me.

I have gotten to the know these cranes after many years of observing them at Kensington, so I was not afraid of the bird. He was minding his own business looking for something to eat on the trail. He kept poking at the soil looking for bugs or other sources of food.

His mate is most likely nesting in a nearby wetland, as he is out feeding and will resume his incubation duties to give his mate a respite and time to go feed. The colts are usually born in early to mid May, so until them I will watch for singular Sandhill Cranes out feeding while the mate is sitting on the eggs.