The warm spell at the January didn’t last. It is, after all, winter in northeast Michigan. The temperatures dropped to a chilly -5 degrees F in the early morning, and I am feeding the birds twice a day now (and the deer, too! They come by regularly for snacks). The ground has turned from aContinue reading “A Year of Birds: February 2023”
Category Archives: birdwatcher
A Year of Birds: January 2023
January has come in cold for a few days after a warm spell (if you consider 35 degrees F warm, that is!). But it has snowed, the temperatures have dropped, and today I saw a mute swan swimming on the bay near the snow-covered beach. It glided silently along, beautiful. A couple of days later,Continue reading “A Year of Birds: January 2023”
Favorite Photos of 2022: Part 2
Here are some of my favorite photos from 2022 that I took. June: Ruffed Grouse July: Mute Swan July: Two Kingfishers July: Sandhill Crane mother and baby August: Hawk August: Tern with fish September: Blue Heron September: Sandhill Cranes October: Bald Eagles October: Yellow Legs migrating November: Young Eagle flying November: Golden eye ducks migratingContinue reading “Favorite Photos of 2022: Part 2”
Favorite Photos 2022 Part 1
This year, I took many photos, and want to share my favorites during this review of the year. January: rough legged hawk February: snowy owl March: Great Blue Heron April: Golden Eye May: Wood Ducks May: Phoebe May: Great Egret
A Year of Birds: December 2022
December has come in cold, but not bitter as it often does here in northeast Michigan. The days are often cloudy and gray, unless the sun decides to peek through. Some mornings, the banks of clouds on the horizon look like a small mountain range in the distance, and it is beautiful. While driving backContinue reading “A Year of Birds: December 2022”
Heron in the Marsh: acrylic painting
A few months ago, I found a heron in a marsh off of Misery Bay, and wanted to paint him. I used sgraffito technique for the grass, and wanted to experiment with getting a sense of light on the water. This was painted using my typical palette of ultramarine, yellow ochre, yellow hansa, burnt umber,Continue reading “Heron in the Marsh: acrylic painting”
A Year of Birds: November 2022
Part 2 One morning during the second week of November, I got up before dawn, and watched while the sun rose. It was beautiful, and there were the ducks, enjoying the early morning light, looking like black silhouettes against the peach-colored water. I feel blessed to see sights like this, when nature proclaims its beautyContinue reading “A Year of Birds: November 2022”
A Year of Birds 2022: November
Part 1 During my hike today at the beginning of the month, the bay is silent compared to the almost constant background chatter of small tweets, whistles and the high “kews” of the yellow legs that are heard during the summer. When I went into town, I saw one of the few birds that hasContinue reading “A Year of Birds 2022: November”
A Year of Birds
October 2022 The weather is swinging between very cold at night and warmer during the day as October starts. Today, I saw a blue heron that is still here in spite of the cooling days. This heron is one of those staying around When I went out to dinner in Presque Isle, I didContinue reading “A Year of Birds”
A Year of Birds: September 2022
September 2022 The days are still warm at the beginning of September, and there are plenty of bird sightings along the beaches and marshes. Today, on the way into town, I stopped by a local marsh on the river, and saw a pair of Greater yellow legs there, wading and fishing. Then, on theContinue reading “A Year of Birds: September 2022”
A Year of Birds: August 2022
This has been a very busy month, but I am trying to find time to go birding. The sandhill pair is still hanging out near Misery Bay in the marshes, but I haven’t seen the baby. I hope it is okay, I will check on them to see. While hiking, I saw a young merganserContinue reading “A Year of Birds: August 2022”
On Giving Back
I believe that each of us has things that inspire us, concern us, and motivate us. These are the things that we are passionate about, the things that cause us to take time, effort and even donate money towards.I have several things that qualify for the above. In this post, I want to share aboutContinue reading “On Giving Back”