Photo of the Week: Common Gallinule

gray and brown marsh bird wades along the edge of the Lake Erie marsh looking for food.

Check out those green legs of the Common Gallinule! It’s been over 20 years since I saw my first Common Gallinule, but I’ve only seen their long green legs in the past two years. The unexpected leg color always makes me smile. I remember the first time I saw a Common Gallinule, in the mid… Continue reading Photo of the Week: Common Gallinule

Photo of the Week: Rare Blue Grosbeak in Wayne County

large blue bird with rufous-colored wings perches on barbed wire fence.

When the Blue Grosbeak with its heavy bill and chestnut-colored wingbars was first spotted last week, it caused a frenzy among the southeast Michigan birding community. Birders throughout Wayne, Washtenaw, and Oakland counties made the trek to view the rare bird. I was one of them! Luckily, some people saw both female and male birds.… Continue reading Photo of the Week: Rare Blue Grosbeak in Wayne County

Photo of the Week: Yellow-crowned Night Heron

Gray bird perched on log, with black and white face, yellow crown, and long yellow plumes on back of head and back.

Word spread quickly in our southeast Michigan birding community when the Yellow-crowned Night Heron was reported at a popular birding spot in Washtenaw County.

By the time I arrived in the evening, just before dusk, more than two dozen birders and photographers had already posted their sighting of the medium-sized heron.

What was everyone excited about? Continue reading Photo of the Week: Yellow-crowned Night Heron