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| April 13th was the first day I saw Tree Swallows this year. I think they may have been surprised to find many of the lakes and ponds frozen over when they arrived given our late winter. This guy was having a hard time trying to get a drink although there was a bit of open water. |
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| This was the first look I had of a swallow this year. April 13, East Jordan. |
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| There was one lone Purple Sandpiper on the rocks here in East Jordan on April 13. The first time I've seen them up in the bay for a few years. |
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| Robin and worm sequence from April 13. Starting with the tug-of-war and ending with the satisfied Robin with a full belly. |
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| These were an added bonus from the Woodcock quest. It was nice to be able to photograph these birds against the snow. April 11, East Jordan. |
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| I had heard reports of Woodcock being in the area and decided to check in a spot I've found them in the past. It didn't take long to find one but it was a little harder to get a decent picture. They generally flush before they let you get too close. This was the best I could do through the underbrush of one of the three or more that were there. April 11, East Jordan. |
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| I think this guy might have thought I was a potential meal or maybe he/she was just after the muskrat that was feeding on the ice in front of me moments before. April 11, East Jordan |
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| These were the birds I was attempting to shoot when the Wood Ducks arrived. Since they're divers they had less of an issue with the ice. They stayed for a few days but have since departed. April 6, East Jordan. |
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| There was still considerable ice in our pond when the Wood Ducks arrived, it has since opened up completely. I think it made feeding difficult and I watched the five that appeared unannounced leave as a group after swimming the length of the brook. April 6, East Jordan. |
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| I had been noticing Eagles hanging out near the local pond recently although I hadn't had chance to check it out. When I finally did, this was the first bird I saw carrying the remains of what appears to be a fish skeleton. |
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| I thought the bird had left until it flew into my viewfinder as I scouted for ducks. |
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| I'm not sure what it was after - ducks or muskrat possibly - as it landed in the marsh. |
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| When it took flight it flew directly toward me. |
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| This is probably a 1st year immature Bald Eagle - not showing any white on the head or tail yet lacking the lighter belly of a 2nd year bird. |
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| I think it was startled by the sound of my camera shutter and turned to fly in the opposite direction. |
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| A little later a second bird flew in - this one a second year bird with a mostly white underside. April 5, East Jordan |
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| My resident White-breasted Nuthatch seemed to be acting strangely - going to places out of it's usual routine. Then it occurred to me this was a different bird - a male with the full dark cap. Possibly a mate for the female? April 5. |
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| Female photographed back in December for comparison. Still a regular until early April although I haven't seen either in the last couple of days. |
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| I was practicing getting these birds in flight - these are possibly the two best attempts. March 31st and April 1st East Jordan. |
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| I've been falling behind in my postings - time to start catching up. These shots are from back in March when I found two lone Snow Buntings at the end of West Head. These are all shots of the paler of the two, the other bird already starting to get it's summer breeding plumage and appearing quite dark on it's back. Possibly the male? March 29 |
