Photo of the Week: Belted Kingfisher Finds Lunch

gray-crested stocky bird perched on wire holding a goldfish in its bill.

A quick dark blur shot across my view in front of my windshield as I drove slowly down the dirt back road in Superior Township, Michigan.

Wait, what was that?

It was larger than an American Robin, but definitely smaller than a Red-tailed Hawk. And looked like it had streaks of white on its body.

What stood out for me was a bright orange object, something the bird was carrying either in its legs or bill. Continue reading Photo of the Week: Belted Kingfisher Finds Lunch

Photo of the Week: Watching Broad-winged Hawks Growing Up

Young Broad-wing hawk with fuzzy white down sits on a nest of twigs and dead leaves.

When you walk down the shady paved trail along the Huron River, you can hear water rushing by, the sound of Indigo Buntings singing in the distance, and muffled conversations of couples as they stroll down the trail.

Unless you listen carefully, you might not recognize the sounds of a family far above you, about 75 feet up, in the forest canopy.

A family that’s taken over an abandoned squirrel nest in the forks of a mature cottonwood tree. Continue reading Photo of the Week: Watching Broad-winged Hawks Growing Up

Photo of the Week: Sunflowers in Bloom

bright yellow sunflower in bloom, pink brick wall in the background.

For years, it’s been no surprise for us to find sunflower seedlings sprouting underneath our bird feeders.

The bird food in our feeders has a large proportion of black oil sunflower seed.

It’s a favorite food for birds, since it’s meatier and has a high oil content. Continue reading Photo of the Week: Sunflowers in Bloom