Common Redpoll

Common Redpoll, a photo by JKissnHug on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
On this cold and blustery February afternoon, I decided to follow up on local birder reports of Common Redpolls and Pine Siskins flocking to the feeders at the Stony Creek Metropark nature center. Being the curious birder that I am, I decided to check it out for myself.

The nature center has an open and airy viewing room with comfortable chairs and large windows overlooking the mature forest and a flowing creek bisecting the landscape. A very nice birdfeeding area was adjacent to the nature center building offering thistle and all-purpose birdseed in separate feeders. I watched for several minutes as the resident backyard feeder birds made a brief dash at the feeders. I watched the Black-capped Chickadees, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, American Goldfinch, Northern Cardinal, House Finch, Dark-eyed Junco, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers all coming in for a sampling at the birdfeeders. I was delighted with what I was seeing on this gray day, however, I wanted to see those rare nomadic visitors of winter - the Pine Siskin and Common Redpolls.

I did not wait long for the first House Finch to appear and then one by one a few Pine Siskins made an appearance at the feeders. I kept looking as the Siskins and Goldfinches fed together at the thistle feeders. I kept watching and hoping for the Common Redpolls to show up and they came in by the twos and threes to the feeders. As I watched, more Redpolls started jousting for feeding perches at the feeders and the birdfeeding party was in full force with Siskins, Goldfinches and Redpolls all taking turns pushing each other off the perches of the thistle feeder. This frenzy of feeding activity lasted 30 minutes, and, as if on cue, they all flew off into the forest leaving the American Goldfinches, Dark-eyed Juncos, Chickadees and Titmice to the space at the feeders. Happy to have seen the birds I had come to see, I returned to my car in a quest to see the Trumpeter Swans reported at the Southdale Picnic area, not far from the nature center.

Tonga's Mate - Port Huron Peregrine Falcon

Tonga's Mate - Port Huron Peregrine Falcon, a photo by JKissnHug on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Tonga's mate, (name unknown) roosts atop a light suspended from the Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron, Michigan.

Peregrine Falcon - Powerful Talons

Peregrine Falcon - Powerful Talons, a photo by JKissnHug on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Tonga, the Peregrine Falcon roosts atop a light on the Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron, Michigan.

Peregrine Falcon - The Great Wanderer

Peregrine Falcon - The Great Wanderer, a photo by JKissnHug on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Tonga, the female Peregrine Falcon roosts atop a light on the Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron, Michigan.

Snowy Owl - Harrison Twp

Snowy Owl - Harrison Twp, a photo by JKissnHug on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
A birder friend sent me a tweet about a Snowy Owl he spotted on a business along South River Road in Harrison Twp. I sent him a message back and he said there was a possible second owl on a house just down the street. I was extremely excited to hear about a Snowy Owl in the area. This would be a life bird for me. After a short debate with myself, I grabbed my camera gear, binoculars and headed out to Harrison Twp. in hopes of finding at least one of the owls. I got out to the location and immediately found the owl on the top of the business and took several photos from the ground. I watched the bird until it flew to the east and landed on a house across the canal. I then drove east toward the DNR boat launch and spotted a Snowy Owl on the rooftop of a house down the street from the business. I met up with my friend to say thank you and introduce myself in person. We chatted a short bit about birding at Metro Beach and Harrison Twp. He then headed back home and I went back to the S. River Road house to get these shots which were much closer and from a better vantage point. I only saw one owl, but it sure was worth the 90 mile round trip from Commerce Twp.

Getting this bird on my life list makes up for missing the White-winged cross bills and Northern Shrike at Indian Springs Metropark (just a few miles away from my house).

Short-eared Owl

Short-eared Owl, a photo by JKissnHug on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
This owl would be found in the fields and marshes of the countryside. Will hunt during the day by flying low to the ground.

Barred Owl on Bittersweet

Barred Owl on Bittersweet, a photo by JKissnHug on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
A Barred Owl that resides at the Howell Nature Center in Howell, Michigan.