Photo of the Week: Harris’s Sparrow in Michigan

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… Continue reading Photo of the Week: Harris’s Sparrow in Michigan

Photo of the Week: Black-Headed Grosbeak in Michigan

black and yellow 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

Photo of the Week: Tundra Swans in Lake Erie Marsh

Two Tundra Swans sim in the shallow water of a marsh, Mallards and Canada Geese in the background.

The large white Tundra Swans stand out in the marsh as they slowly swim in the calm blue waters; dozens of Canada Geese and Mallards move more quickly in search of food. Tundra and Trumpeter Swans are commonly seen in winter months along the Lake Erie marshes in both Michigan and Ohio, where I do… Continue reading Photo of the Week: Tundra Swans in Lake Erie Marsh