Change Is Hard

…but change is certain.

Tag Archives: birds


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Searching for the stars. Again.

This time last week I was in northern Michigan at one of my favorite places (You may have noticed I have quite a few favorite places in northern Michigan) intent, once again, on getting the perfect Milky Way image.

Esch Beach, near Empire MI

I had a walk-in site at Platt River Campground, reserved weeks ago, and high hopes that at least one of the three nights would be clear.

My perfect camp site.

The site was beautiful. I knew it would be because I’d camped there once before a few years ago. It’s at the end of a trail, about 1/4 mile into the woods. Along the way are three other campsites, but mine was the last one.

This was my first camping trip of the season. It took me forever to get this tent up.

The good thing about a walk-in site is that there are no RVs near you running their air conditioning all night. (Though I wouldn’t have minded having air, it was 98 F inside my tent most of the first night.) The bad thing about a walk-in site is that you have to carry everything in. So I stayed pretty minimal.

Anyway. I had high hopes for Monday night, thinking it should be clear. And it was hot and sunny when I first arrived.

Before I even went to the campsite to set up the tent I drove the Pierce Stocking drive that provides a number of opportunities to stop and explore.

It’s almost mandatory that you take this image while you’re there.

But gradually, by late afternoon, clouds had moved in and that evening there were no stars to be seen. It even rained late Monday night, which brought the temperatures down. I was conflicted, grateful for the temperature relief but disappointed that I wasn’t out under the stars with my camera.

Looking toward Sleeping Bear dunes from Empire Beach on Tuesday.

Tuesday I explored a few beaches looking for possible places to shoot the Milky Way, if the sky ever cleared. But it didn’t clear that day.

Not very promising for star photography.

So I did the next best thing. I hiked a loop through the woods where there was the possibility of lots of birds. You know how I love taking photographs of birds. I had high hopes again of capturing something special.

Because I was covered in bug spray this was a fun hike.

About 2.5 miles, the trail was supposed to be filled with song birds, particularly warblers.

I took a close up picture of the map with my phone, and I’m glad I did. The trail wasn’t always obvious.

I heard lots of birds, none of them identified by my Merlin app as warblers, but I only saw one bird for a slight second, hidden in the trees, and I have no idea what it was.

I don’t suppose any of you know what this brownish bird is, hiding behind leaves and out of focus.

Tuesday night it rained again. I don’t mind a little rain on the tent, but it meant there was no star shooting that night either.

Wednesday was predicted to be overcast as well, so I made plans to drive about an hour north and meet a couple friends in Northport, another of my happy places. It was time to spend a little bit of time in civilization.

Scenic route through Pierce Stocking park.

That was definitely fun and had a lower mosquito to human ratio, but it deserves it’s own post, so stay tuned.

Taken Monday night, while standing in the rain.


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Favorite Alabama images

It’s been two, maybe three weeks since I was in Alabama. And you know that I took a few photos while I was there.

Arriving after 2 days of driving.

Maybe you’d want to see a few of my favorites?

Every morning I’d take a picture of the lake. Most of the time it was so quiet.

Of course who really defines the term “few?”

That red soil is a dead giveaway you’re in the South.

As it turns out most of the images I took this time revolved around birds. Why do you think that is? And are the birds much different in Alabama than they are in Michigan?

Maybe a king bird, maybe something else. Was sitting at the top of a young oak tree on an island in the lake.

But we weren’t always birders, we also took a couple boat rides on my brother’s lake. One in the middle of the day where we saw the bird above and one to see the sunset.

Sunset from behind the mimosa tree

And on our boat rides we did, of course, see birds. This was a big bird. This is the Osprey that builds a nest every year in the very tall power towers on my brother’s lake.

Osprey parent taking a sunset break from the demanding babies up in the nest.

There were very noisy babies in residence when I visited. They cried all day for mom or dad to feed them.

What are you looking at, lady?

And there was a bluebird couple remodeling the nest for their next brood, hovering around just over our heads as we sat on the back patio.

I keep telling him it’s a total gut job.

They didn’t seem worried about us at all as long as we didn’t move too quickly.

I think it’s fine the way it is. The kids will just poop all over it anyway.

And a brown thrush singing away and then scuttling along the lake shore looking for something good to eat.

I’m pretending to be a speedy roadrunner bird!

And, back at the cabin’s lake, we climbed the mountain and then the fire tower to view the large expanse of Lake Martin.

A small part of Lake Martin.

Actually, you can, even at that height, only view a small portion of this giant lake.

A fisherman was having a quiet moment when suddenly jet skies zoomed by.

And of course I went out in the kayak a couple times, not going too far, just down to the end of this bit of water, or that bit over there.

I spent a long time in the kayak trying to get these two glowing trees.

We have martin gourds at Lake Martin and this year the birds have taken up residence in at least one of them.

Incoming!

Babies there too.

You’re not my mama!

So all in all it was a good trip. I’m glad I went and I’m hoping to get down there again before this summer is over.

An orchard oriole in my brother’s back yard.

We’ll see.

Home away from home.

Oh…you ask…on my trip back to Michigan did I see anything interesting?

Well…what do you think?

Mom! That lady’s looking at me again!


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Bird bath part deux

Keeping in the theme of birds enjoying a bath, one afternoon this week I noticed two orioles in the bird bath.

By the time I got my camera and returned there was one in the bath and another observing. As you can see, Daddy was busy out on the feeder stuffing his face with grape jelly.

I don’t know if these two are this year’s juveniles or last years young ones, or maybe two females just enjoying a relaxing spa day.

But it was sure was fun to watch the one in the bath splash around.

So I’ll share the rest of these without comment. Enjoy.

I have other photos of this week’s shenanigans in my back yard, but those will have to wait for another day.

Edit: I was just outside to hang the oriole feeder up after cleaning it and refilling it with grape jelly. One of the two bathers was back, standing on the railing. He (or she) started flapping it’s wings at me, supposing that maybe I had something to feed it. So I think these two really are juveniles, and not adult females. So cute!


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The heron baths

Have you ever seen a great blue heron? (I feel like I should capitalize the heron’s name, anything with “Great” in it’s title seems like it should be capitalized, don’t you think?)

Do you see him out there?

We have lots of them around here, and I’ve taken you out to Kensington to see the heron rookery more than a few times, so of course you’ve all seen a Great Blue.

Here’s a closer image.

But have you ever seen one take a bath? (I think this would make a great children’s book title; Have You Ever Seen One Take a Bath?)

I wonder if he blows bubbles or holds his breath when his head is under water.

I was sitting, a couple of weeks ago, on my brother’s patio looking out over his lake. He has a wonderful view down the lake, but what I was focused on was the tip of his peninsula where a heron appeared to be standing or sitting up to his chest in water while flapping his wings. Or her wings I suppose. But I’m going to assume this was a he.

Coming up for air.

I had my camera in my lap so I started shooting pictures, trying to figure out what he was doing. Was he fishing? Was he caught in fishing line? Was he dancing to some song only he could hear?

There was much flapping.

No, he was taking a bath! Unfortunately many of my images are terribly out of focus, but I’ve found you the best of them so you can enjoy what we wittnessed.

He was a very enthusiastic bather.

He flopped around and preened in the chest deep water for quite a long time, and then he moved over to a sunnier spot and did what all well behaved herons do.

He’s a very proud and regal bird.

He stood, spread his wings and dried himself in the sun.

Because there’s no nicer way to end a warm bath than to dry off in the evening sunshine.

A little grooming never hurt any heron.


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At last, the little birds

I took myself out to Kensington, a favorite park for bird photography, on Easter Sunday morning because I figured it would be empty.

There appears to be a lack of breakfast servers this morning, lady! – Mrs. Red Winged

And, in some ways, it was. There were no families enjoying barbecue, and no busloads of school kids enjoying a field trip.

No one was feeding the little birds.

We’ve been waiting for you! – Mr. Red Winged

But photographers? Oh yea, photographers with their long, heavy lenses are not going to let a beautiful spring morning get lost in a holiday!

My royal self does not come down just because you have food, madam. – Red Headed Woodpecker

Still I bet most of us out there that morning managed to get at least a few (dozen) great shots.

We’ll get our own meal, thank you. – TWO Red Headed Woodpeckers!

And long ago, on a previous post I promised I’d show you more birds.

I am not too proud to accept a free peanut! — Nuthatch in flight

So here you go. I’ll try to limit this to some of my most favorite from that early morning walk in the woods a month ago.

Excuse me, if everyone else has had enough, I’d like to approach the hand. — Titmouse

But it’s hard. I have so many favorites.

I’m a little shy, but I’d really like a bit of breakfast, lady! — Chickadee

As I study each of these I’m transported back to that cool morning, surrounded by hungry birds, the deer watching from further back in the trees, the squirrels hurrying so as not to be left out.

Thanks lady! Sometimes we get overlooked cause we can’t fly. — Black Squirrel

The chipmunks hoarding, the sunlight shifting.

I’d like a little more please! — Chipmunk

It’s always a magical time at Kensington, no matter what part of the park you visit.

Too busy to eat, I’m building my future family a new home! — Mrs. Red Belly

But if you want to experience wildlife in a more intimate manner, get there in the morning on a weekday before the crowds and walk the trails at the Nature Center.

It’s the interior decorating that takes the most thought.

Or early on a holiday morning. That works too.

You got to really get in there for the deep spring cleaning required prior to babies’ arrival!

So tell me, which image is YOUR favorite?

I’ll ponder that question. — Sandhill Crane


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Who’s hungry?

Well, I am, for one. I haven’t eaten breakfast yet, and it’s mid-morning on a beautiful day here in Michigan. Lots of garden stuff to do. Places to be. People to see.

Early morning light through spring skunk cabbage.

But I’d rather be here with you.

Remember when I was out at the heron rookery in Kensington Park on Easter Sunday morning? You didn’t think I’d just leave the park after seeing the herons, did you?

Did you???

A busy neighborhood.

Well of course not.

When I could finally pry myself away from those big nests I went for a walk through the woods. And as soon as I was off the boardwalk I heard this cardinal just singing his heart out and enjoying the morning light at the very top of a tree.

Will sing for food.

Of course when he spotted me, perhaps the first automated bird feeder to arrive that morning, he shot right down to a branch directly in front of me.

Right at eye level.

You DID bring breakfast, didn’t you?

Now cardinals don’t generally come down to my hand to eat, though one did many years ago. But I think this one might have if I hadn’t accidently dropped some seed on the ground.

He was very interested in that.

What? You dropped my breakfast?

So was Mrs. Red Winged Blackbird.

I see an opportunity here.

And so was this squirrel.

I can be faster than all of you!

And this chipmunk.

But my cheeks can hold more seed than any of yours!

In the end I dropped some more for all of them and went on my way.

I remember that some of you have requested more bird pictures. Well of course I have some. Coming right up.


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Bird spring

I was looking at my most recent posts and realize that almost all of them revolve around birds. Even Penny has noticed my obsession.

Kensington Metro Park rookery, as viewed from the boardwalk.

But I can’t help it. They’re so beautiful, and interesting, and entertaining. I could watch them all day.

Reflecting on her anticipated brood.

Wait!

Sometimes I do watch them all day! Like Easter Sunday when I went out to Kensington on my own. I figured it wouldn’t be busy because everybody else would be getting ready for church or family dinners or both.

There’s more than just the rookery to look at, lady!

I was wrong. There were plenty of people, mostly photographers, out there. But we all work around each other and it’s fine.

Outta my way, I’ve got places to go!

I started out walking on the boardwalk near the heron rookery, an island with huge trees filled with heron nests. Every year the heron couples choose a nest and then have a set of little herons there.

It’s fascinating to watch.

Ready for takeoff!

Easter Sunday there was much heron coming and going as the couples updated their fixer-uppers in order to make them meet current esthetics. They definitely favor wood floors over carpet.

This couple appears to be going with a new build v.s. a fixer upper.

I spent a long time out there on the boardwalk watching all the work being done, and then I wandered back into the woods to see what else might be around.

This guy was snapping sticks off the tree, tossing them aside and snapping another until he found the one he wanted, then he flew back to the rookery with his prize.

Stay tuned.

Being a homeowner is so much work!


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Orange you glad…

Most years the orioles arrive at my feeder around May 5. Hummingbirds too. But a friend of mine, living about an hour west of me, had an oriole on her feeder Easter Sunday!

So I put my feeder up a few days ago and Friday evening, during an hours long torrential downpour, my first oriole visited! I wasn’t sure I saw him, –it was getting dark and the rain was coming down in sheets.

I didn’t get a photo.

But the next morning, after I went out and emptied the water from his feeder and filled it up with grape jelly, he showed up!

He was still skittish and I got no images, but I stayed very still, holding Penny tight, and watched him eat his fill.

And late in the afternoon, as I stood across the room, I saw him again. My camera was within reach and I got these images, focus soft, but capturing the joy I felt to see him here.

And guess what? Later in the evening I realized there are TWO of them here! They chased each other around the beach tree which acts as the landing area for all birds visiting our feeders.

I can’t wait to set the camera on it’s tripod and use a remote shutter release. We’ll see what we shall see.

And today the hummingbird feeder goes up. If the orioles are here, the hummingbirds are too.