Monday, July 13, 2020
Sunday, July 5, 2020
June 29 - July 5
A couple new species for me this week.
Other shots from this past week:
I found a web resource called The Photographer’s Ephemeris which helps predict the location of the rising and setting sun and moon for any location on earth along with the corresponding dates and times. This allowed me to predict when a setting full moon would lineup with the Ludington North Breakwater Light at approximately the same time the sun was rising. I had this date saved on my calendar and got up at 5am to drive to the location for this shot. The planning paid off!
ps. If you detect that the structure is leaning a bit to the right, you have a good eye. In 1994 the foundation shifted resulting in a permanent 4deg tilt to the structure.
Monday, June 29, 2020
June 22-28, 2020
This week began on a cloudy morning with an image of a new species for me.
Indigo Bunting
On a ride down through some open farm country one evening I was able to get yet another new species. This bird was very shy and I was not able to get very close.
American Kestrel
Later in the week I took the Kayak out on Pere Marquette lake and was able to get another shot of one of my favorite small ducks.
Bufflehead
Sunday, June 21, 2020
June 18-21, 2020
First night out in the kayak on the Pere Marquette River produced two new species for me.
Virginia Rail
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
And the next couple of evenings produced four more new species for me.
Eastern Meadowlark
Black-billed Cuckoo
Savannah Sparrow
Brown Thrasher
Other photos from the weekend:
Bufflehead (new Mason County record late departure date of June 18)
Rabbit
Wild Turkey
Canadian Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly
Mayfly on front porch
Just beginning to learn how to use my DSLR camera to record video. Couldn't pass up a chance to make a clip of the wonderful morning song of a Gray Catbird (View On YouTube).
Sunday, June 14, 2020
June 12-14, 2020
This weekend provided two new bird species for me that I have not had an opportunity to photograph before.
Bobolink
Bobolink
American Black Duck
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Additional shots from the weekend:
Pileated Woodpecker
Rabbit Eating Grass
Baby Rabbit
Merlin Falcon
Whitetail Doe Running In Field
Sunday, June 7, 2020
June 4-7, 2020
Took a quick shot of an Eagles Nest with two juveniles and an adult. The juvenile on the left is practicing his flying technique flapping his wings up and down while his sibling roots him on. 
Bald Eagle Nest
Bald Eagle
Whitetail Fawn
Whitetail Doe with Fawn
Strawberry Moon shot hand held at 600mm from my boat!
Seagull diving for its dinner.
Common Merganser
Eastern Kingbird
Toad hiding in the grass. Shot with my new 100mm Macro lens
Wrist Strap Accessory
Carrying valuable camera gear while tromping through the great outdoors can be a bit unnerving. My biggest worry is not so much that I fall with it, but rather that the camera slips out of my grip while hiking.
One of the best investments I made is the BlackRapid Wrist Strap that attaches to the 1/4 thread tripod mount in the bottom of my camera body. This strap prevents the camera from free falling in case the camera should slip out of my grip. I will wear it on my left wrist when I have the large lens attached. It doesn't prohibit me from using the camera at all as I generally cradle the camera lens with my left hand while shooting anyway. When I have a body with a small lens attached, then I will wear it on my right wrist as I usually carry the camera by its grip with my right hand. I find that I have much more confidence in the field while wearing this accessory.
The other small device I use in conjunction with the wrist strap is a seatbelt accessory called a Leash Lock. Technically this is a clip for a dog leash but it works just fine for my purpose. I usually drive with my camera sitting on the passenger seat next to me so it is readily accessible in case I see something on the side of the road I want to shoot. One day, I did see some wildlife that caught my eye and I hit the brakes while turning the wheel to pull over. My camera with the 150-600mm zoom rolled into the door and then onto the floorboard! Needless to say, the idea to use a seatbelt attachment to tether the camera down was born soon after. This little device does a great job for me as a way I can simply hook the wrist strap into it while the camera is on the car seat next to me and I don't have to worry about my camera going flying if I hit the brakes.
Sunday, May 31, 2020
May 29-31, 2020
Not much shooting this weekend however I did find a something unique. A mink in a tree! This mink was in a hollow crevice about 15 feet up in the side of a pine tree. Unfortunately he was on the shady side in low light so was not able to get sharp detail, but the cute factor makes up for it.
American Mink
Great Crested Flycatcher
American Redstart
Monday, May 25, 2020
May 22-25, 2020
Weather was not overly cooperative for the first part of the weekend with a lack of quality (morning/evening) sunlight. Sunday evening and Monday morning provided much better light. I was able to get a couple of nice eagle shots Monday morning.
Bald Eagle
Bald Eagle
Bald Eagle
Belted Kingfisher
Spotted Sandpiper
A male Wild Turkey strutting
Canada Goose - Goslings
Least Flycatcher
Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel
Saturday, May 16, 2020
May 15-16, 2020
Shots from this Friday and Saturday at Ludington State Park. This first image is a new species for me. It was shot just west of the dam in the marshy area.
Black-throated Blue Warbler
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Also shot some other common species throughout the park:
White-crowned Sparrow (rare Gambel's subspecies)
Gray Catbird
Caspian Tern w/Fish
Bald Eagle (Juvenile)
Least Flycatcher
Swainson's Thrush
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