Now where was I? Ah yes, tramping around chilly Kensington Park one morning last week. I was checking out the herons on a dreary overcast day with spitting snow and drizzling cold rain.

And, as you know, I left the herons after a few minutes of attempting to get decent images in the low light and headed into the woods in hopes of finding skunk cabbage, a sure sign of spring here in lower Michigan.

And of course I hoped to spend some time with my little birds too. Those chickadees and titmice and downy woodpeckers and nuthatches that hang around visitors begging for a snack.

Since it was early, and the weather was bad I was probably the first person to venture into their woods that day. I knew the birds out on the boardwalk were hungry, they had already told me so. And the little ones back in the woods were ravenous too.

As I was being swarmed by a small cloud of birds I heard the sound of a red-bellied woodpecker high up in the trees. As I fed the little ones I watched him watch me.

Down, down, down he moved. Slowly, from one tree to another, pretending he wasn’t interested in all the activity. Not interested in those luscious peanuts or succulent woodpecker suet balls in my outstretched hand.

He even did a couple fly-overs, as he gaged the risk versus reward, but he couldn’t make himself land on my hand.

I waited patiently, camera held in one hand, the other outstretched filled with delicacies. Eventually my shoulders ached and I dropped a few treats on the ground and proceeded up the path and around a corner, intent on getting further into the woods.

He immediately dropped to the ground and gathered up his breakfast. I laughed and went on my way.
But just around the corner a new batch of birds waited for their snacks. I spent quite awhile there, photographing them in the branches and on the grasses near by, as they waited patiently for their turn for a treat.

Then I heard it. The distinctive sound of the red-bellied, and there he was, just out of reach in a tree near my head. Once again I held out my hand, and once again he flew over but couldn’t trust me enough to land. And once again I tossed him a peanut or two and went on my way.

Further into the woods a nuthatch was chattering loudly, and I stopped to give her a treat.

A bluejay showed up, and darned if that red-bellied wasn’t far behind.

Sighing, I moved over a bridge to the other side of a wetland, one of my favorite places to stop and feed the birds. Several littles were waiting for me and you know who followed me over there too.

As I was leaning over to put some seed on a bench for everyone to share I heard a gobble to my right. And there was a magnificent manly turkey, with his three wives strutting down the path.

He was so handsome that I pulled the camera away from Mr. Red-belly and focused it on the big boy showing off just feet away from me.

Mr. Red-belly wasn’t having it and he dive bombed my head while I was looking toward the turkey. As the turkey harem moved on down the path I left my increasingly rude stalker with a few seeds and moved on in the other direction.

And that’s the way the rest of my walk went. Wherever I stopped to feed a hungry bird, the red-bellied and increasingly fat bird followed. I finally dropped a whole lot of treats on the ground and got away.

I think he followed me for at least an hour and more than half a mile. He never came to sit on my hand but he knew he didn’t have to. If he was just persistent he’d get a contactless treat.

Though I describe him as a stalker and a pig, I actually smiled each time I’d hear his call. I’d look for him and there he’d be, a tree or two over from me, acting like he was entitled.

I guess he was.
As I scurried away I heard a munching sound in the underbrush. What kind of bird was making a sound like that?

Ahh….the infamous little red squirrel bird. He never blinked as I stood and took his picture. This guy didn’t notice me either.

Everybody was hungry that morning, and I realized I was too. No one was standing around offering me breakfast, so I decided it was time to head home and find something to eat.

But wait! I was in the woods looking for skunk cabbage, looking for a sign that spring has indeed come to lower Michigan. Did I find any? Or was I too distracted by the bird drama swarming my head?

Well of course I found it. And it made me smile too.
March 28, 2022 at 7:44 pm
That first closeup photo of the titmouse is amazing!
Suet balls? Do you buy those, or make your own somehow?
Oh, yeah! You were looking for skunk cabbage. Glad you found them. Spring is definitely on its way!
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March 29, 2022 at 7:25 am
I bought the suet balls at Magoos, a pet/wild bird store in Flint. I’m sure they’re available other places you buy birdseed too.
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March 28, 2022 at 7:46 pm
The detail you capture in your photos is incredible. Like Linda said, the titmouse photo is stunning – it made me whisper “wow!”
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March 29, 2022 at 7:26 am
I liked Mr. Titmouse too.
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March 28, 2022 at 7:51 pm
What a post! Wow, wow, and wow! The close-up of the tufted is one to frame. So many other good ones, too. Glad you found the skunk cabbages.
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March 29, 2022 at 7:26 am
It was a really fun walk.
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March 29, 2022 at 7:34 am
So much to se and photograph.
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March 28, 2022 at 7:55 pm
Stalked by the birds, or at least one. Didn’t what happened to Tippi give you some warnings about birds? lol some great photos.
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March 29, 2022 at 7:27 am
Sometimes I do get those feelings if the birds are extra hungry and active…but it’s kind of cool too. No scary music, so that helps.
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March 29, 2022 at 7:52 am
I guess as long as the path isn’t lined with crows… I’m sure the lack of scary music helps, or creepy music, like little kids singing nonsense songs as the crows gather.
On a more serious note, I do think the photos of the birds on your hands are always cool.
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March 28, 2022 at 9:35 pm
Awesome photos!
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March 29, 2022 at 7:27 am
Thank you!
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March 29, 2022 at 7:31 am
You’re welcome
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March 29, 2022 at 2:19 am
So much fun with all the birds! Love your follower red belly beauty, haha! And the turkey, wow!! So handsome! I’m glad you found the skunk cabbage, never heard of it so glad you shared a photo. Here’s to Spring, on it’s way! 🤩🌞❤️
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March 29, 2022 at 7:27 am
I hope spring happens soon…it’s sooooo cold right now. This morning it’s only 15. Sigh.
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March 29, 2022 at 6:14 am
As I scrolled through I just kept oohing and ahhhing- what amazing captures Dawn! I love every single one.
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March 29, 2022 at 7:28 am
It’s a park where it’s hard to get a bad photo!
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March 29, 2022 at 6:53 am
“Contactless treat”….LOL.
I always love your stories and photos from Kensington Park. Such a cool place.
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March 29, 2022 at 7:28 am
It’s such a cool place. I laughed too at the contactless treat….sign of the time.
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March 29, 2022 at 7:18 am
All of the pictures are great, but that first image of the heron in the trees is haunting.
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March 29, 2022 at 7:29 am
Glad you liked it. Sometime when you’re down this way we should go there!
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March 29, 2022 at 10:58 am
Dawn, I am so in awe over your ability to balance a camera in one hand, extend a handful of bird seed and receive eaters in the other — AND come up with such great photos!! As I was looking over these birdies, I couldn’t help thinking about the wee one that Monkey caught the other day (and hoping he somehow managed to escape death). Glad you found your skunk cabbage, harbinger of Spring on its way!!
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March 29, 2022 at 11:57 am
I hope little Monkey’s bird escaped death too. I get quite attached to the birds, both out at the park and in my own back yard. I’m always heartbroken when I find one that died from whatever cause.
I can’t wait for spring. I’m so tired of having cold feet and wearing so many layers. Plus Katie likes to go out A LOT and it’s so much more pleasant for me if cold rain isn’t dropping down my neck. She, on the other hand, doesn’t mind cold at all.
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March 29, 2022 at 1:59 pm
Monkey don’t seem to mind the cold either, but I’m ever so eager for warmth. And flowers. And not having to fight MUD!!
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March 29, 2022 at 1:59 pm
I always have so much fun with all your birds. Great shots! And one day I will get a bird or hummingbird to eat or drink from my hand… I love seeing that!
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March 29, 2022 at 9:04 pm
I’m glad you enjoy them! I hope you can get some birds to visit your hand too!
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March 29, 2022 at 6:56 pm
WOW! I got a bunch of smiles out of this post! Thank you, Dawn!
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March 29, 2022 at 9:04 pm
I’m glad!
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March 29, 2022 at 8:42 pm
Love the turkey —
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March 29, 2022 at 9:05 pm
Me too. He was quite pompous.
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March 31, 2022 at 9:21 am
Fantastic! I am in awe of your bird photos! ❤️❤️❤️
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April 1, 2022 at 8:08 am
Thank you!
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March 31, 2022 at 11:04 pm
Wonderful post! Made me smile and laugh out loud. And … skunk cabbage! yay! Spring is indeed here. Not a lot of folks understand how wonderful skunk cabbage is. Although, the “red squirrel bird” was pretty spectacular. 🙂
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April 1, 2022 at 8:08 am
I’m glad you had fun on our walk!
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April 1, 2022 at 10:54 am
These photos and captions are just superb!! I am totally in awe of you. I’m enchanted by the birds and wildlife around me but haven’t been able to get the quality of my photos any where close to yours. Curious what camera you are using one-handed while enticing birds to eat from your hand? I keep buying cameras thinking this is JUST the ONE for that certain activity but am never convinced it is JUST the one. LOL
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April 1, 2022 at 1:34 pm
I’m using a Nikon Z6ii, but have done this with Cannon too. The trick to catching moving wings is make sure you have a shutter speed of at least 1/2000. You will need to increase your ISO most likely t get the shutter speed up that high. I shoot almost all in aperture priority mode.
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April 1, 2022 at 5:04 pm
Thank you for these tips! I’ve occasionally caught the moving wings and in flight but those are flukes and certainly not talent on my part. 😀
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April 1, 2022 at 7:45 pm
Do I see your reflection and the horizon, in the black eye of the really close-up titmouse?
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April 2, 2022 at 2:02 am
Yep, you sure do.
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