Photo of the Week: Juvenile Red-tailed Hawk

Large dark-brown hawk with white specking on back and dark banded tail perched on the crossbar of a wooden utility pole looks over its shoulder and down at the trail below.

On this morning’s Washtenaw Audubon birding hike through Nichols Arboretum in Ann Arbor, Michigan, we had an interesting encounter with a young Red-tailed Hawk.

One of our group of 20+ folks spotted the hawk from a good distance away, perched on the crossbow of a utility pole adjacent to the trail.

We carefully watched from afar as one of the more advanced birders in the group quickly identified it as a juvenile Red-tailed Hawk.

How could they tell so quickly it was a juvenile? And a Red-tailed Hawk?

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Photo of the Week: Northern Cardinal on a Snowy Day

Bright red songbird with tall crest and black mask perches on a tree branch, snow-covered tree branches in the background.

One of my favorite birds to see in winter is the Northern Cardinal. Their bright red color always stands out in the snow in southeast Michigan. Given how little snow we’ve had this winter, I wasn’t sure I’d ever see one when we had snow. Until this one showed up in our yard this month… Continue reading Photo of the Week: Northern Cardinal on a Snowy Day

Photo of the Day: Plymouth Ice Festival 2023

Abstract ice sculpture with dozens of sharp point icicles sticking out of it, downtown Kellogg Park in the background.

It’s back!

The Plymouth Ice Festival returned to Plymouth, Michigan for their 41st festival this weekend.

I’ve been going to, and introducing my friends, neighbors, and work colleagues, to the festival ever since it first launched.

And for the first time in a while, yesterday’s Arctic cold weather was perfect for the dozens of ice sculpture in front of downtown Plymouth businesses and in Kellogg Park.

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