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Photo of the Week: Ross’s Goose in Michigan, Third Month in a Row

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small white bird swims lazily in the blue water.
Ross’s Goose with its orange bill and black-tipped wings stands out in the water.

The Ross’s Goose is a rare bird to find in Michigan.

But that’s not what it seems like this year, as I’ve seen one in each of the first three months of 2020!

In three different counties. What a treat!

With its breeding grounds in the Arctic, the Ross’s Goose migrates through central Canada and through the central United States, west of the Mississippi River.

Seeing one this far east, near the Great Lakes, is pretty special.

Seeing three in three months in three different counties, amazing! Continue reading Photo of the Week: Ross’s Goose in Michigan, Third Month in a Row

Photo of the Week: Harris’s Sparrow in Michigan

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Brown sparrow with white wing bars, black crown and bib with pink bill feeds on the ground near the pruned rosebush.

With its beautiful black bib and pink bill, the Harris’s Sparrow is one of the prettiest sparrows I’ve seen.

The largest sparrow in North America, the Harris’s Sparrow stands out amidst the House Sparrows, Dark-eyed Juncos, and House Finches as it feeds on the ground.

And what a surprise to see it in Michigan!

It usually is found in the Great Plains of the United States in the winter, before it heads north to Canada to nest.

One new thing I learned about the Harris’s Sparrow: it only nests in Canada.

I’ve always thought the White-throated Sparrow was a gorgeous sparrow, but have to say the Harris’s Sparrow is prettier.

Seeing the bird this week in southeast Michigan means I’m well on my way to reaching my birding goal early this year.

I set a goal of adding 10 new species to my Michigan birding list in 2020 and I’ve already reached number seven.

Guess I better change my goal!

Photo of the Week: Black-Headed Grosbeak in Michigan

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black afaced, yellow-breasted bird with white sidebars perches on wooden bird feeder.

Much to the delight of Michigan birders, we’ve had a good winter for vagrants in our area.

Vagrants are birds that show up in areas far from their regular migratory, breeding, or non-breeding area.

It seems each week another local birder reports a rare bird, a first or second sighting for a county or the state.

Which sets off a bit of frenzy in the birding community, as local bird chasers head off into the woods, shoreline, or someone’s property in search of the bird.

I know, I’m one of them! Continue reading Photo of the Week: Black-Headed Grosbeak in Michigan

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