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.