Photo of the Week: Cooper’s Hawk on the Prowl

small hawk with copper barring on its breast perches calmly on a tree branch at dusk.

After a long and successful day of birdwatching, I returned home last night just before dusk.

The sun’s golden orb shone so brightly from the west, I could barely see vehicles in front of me.

Let alone the traffic signal lights.

Since I was only a few miles from home, I drove my car into our local furniture store parking lot off the main road to wait for the sun to set.

Turning the corner to park my car in the parking lot I caught a slight movement. Continue reading Photo of the Week: Cooper’s Hawk on the Prowl

Photo of the Week: Great Backyard Bird Count at Pointe Mouillee

Mute Swans, Redheads, and American Wigeons gather on the ice and open water of the marsh.

Imagine it’s 22 degrees Farenheit at 9:00am on a winter weekend morning in Michigan.

If you’re like most people, you’re at home, warm, enjoying a late breakfast.

Or maybe you’re sleeping in.

Me?

I’m bundled up in my down winter coat, boots, hat, and mittens on the shores of Lake Erie near the Ohio border. Continue reading Photo of the Week: Great Backyard Bird Count at Pointe Mouillee

Photo of the Week: Great Horned Owl in Winter

brown and white owl perches in the fork of a tree in winter, with clear blue sky in background.

While the coloring of the Great Horned Owl makes it hard to distinguish it from tree trunks and bare branches in the stark winter woods of Michigan, the two feathered ear tufts stand out. What an impressive bird to see! And not a common bird for me. According to my records, the last time I… Continue reading Photo of the Week: Great Horned Owl in Winter