Photo of the Week: Greater Yellowlegs in Late Autumn

Medium-sized shorebird slowly walks through the grass along the shoreline.

On one of the last warm days of November in southeast Michigan, the Greater Yellowlegs feeding in the shallow waters of Washago Pond at Willow Metropark was a pleasant surprise for me this weekend.

And when I reported my sighting of the bird on eBird, it was flagged as a rare find for this time of the year.

I visited the pond because another birder reported finding a Cackling Goose, which I found as well.

Along with about 300 Canada Geese, almost two dozen Mallards, a couple Hooded Mergansers, and another surprise this late in the season: Yellow-rumped Warblers.

But I wasn’t expecting to find any shorebirds. Continue reading Photo of the Week: Greater Yellowlegs in Late Autumn

Photo of the Week: Black-bellied Plover at Howard Marsh

black and white shorebird grazes on the grass

The black and white shorebird with long legs, short neck, and round head calmly grazed in the grass next to the parking lot, oblivious to the delighted birders who looked on from a distance through their binoculars and spotting scope. A Black-bellied Plover isn’t a rare occurrence at Howard Marsh Metropark on the southwestern shore… Continue reading Photo of the Week: Black-bellied Plover at Howard Marsh

Photo of the Week: Irruption Year for Evening Grosbeaks

Brilliant yellow, black, and white bird with large whitish bill pauses in the green grass while feeding.

If you’re in Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, or New York, you may soon see a striking black, yellow, and white bird a little smaller than an American Robin at your feeders.

Evening Grosbeaks are moving south this year, with dozens of birders reporting them this week in southeastern and central Michigan.

We haven’t seen any at our feeders (yet), but I hope we will soon! Continue reading Photo of the Week: Irruption Year for Evening Grosbeaks