There are so many Bluebirds around this winter that it is hard to resist taking a photo of them. Here is a female Bluebird that I found at Fenner Nature Center yesterday. She was right by the parking lot feeding on the edge of the prairie with seven other Bluebirds.

Bluebird

Bluebird

As I was taking photos of pheasants in flight I quickly learned just why all of the pheasants were in flight. This juvenile Red-tailed Hawk was thinking a pheasant sure would make a nice snack.

Red-tailed Hawk

Ring-necked Pheasant

To capture this moment frozen in time
One must freely open their mind
Rely on what's not there for all to see
The moment you do this, the moment you're free.
by John Anderson

(See extra pic here)

Raptor numbers are high at Maple River State Game area right now. So far this year there have been Merlins, Northern Shrikes, Red-tailed Hawks, Rough-legged Hawks, Kestrels, Northern Harriers, Coopers and Sharp-shined Hawks, Bald Eagles and now a Golden Eagle. What a great place to visit if you like raptors.

Golden Eagle Coopers Hawk

Rough-legged Hawk Red-tailed Hawk

Bluebird

I know the song that the bluebird is singing,
Out in the apple tree where he is swinging;
Brave little fellow, the skies may look dreary;
Nothing cares he while his heart is so cheery...
Emily Huntington Miller

Far Above the Moon

This is Major Tom to Ground Control
I'm stepping through the door
And I'm floating in a most peculiar way
And the stars look different today
For here am I sitting in my tin can
Far above the moon
Planet Earth is blue
And there's nothing I can do.
David Bowie

When the weather is blustery and I don't want to go very far away from home I head over to Harris Nature Center and Legg Park to see what birds are hanging out there. If it is too cold outside you can go inside and get a good view of birds that are visiting the feeders.

White-breasted Nuthatch Hairy Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker Winter Wren

Cardinal House Finch

Yesterday seemed like an early spring day at Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge, not the middle of winter. It was 42 degrees with light to medium fog, a lovely day for a walk on the Ferguson Bayou Trail. There were not as many birds as there would be on a spring day but the views across the wetlands was quite lovely. More pics from the day can be seen here. 

Shiawassee NWR

A friend and I drove up to Shiawassee NWR today to look for owls. We didn't find any owls but did see several groups of lingering Tundra Swans. Tundra Swans are such a beautiful bird with a lovely quiet voice. It was a real treat to see and hear them flying overhead.

Tundra Swan

A little bit of cold duck on a cold day on a frozen lake in northern Michigan. Warms the soul!

Cold Duck

This has to be one of my most favorite raptors, a Rough-legged Hawk. Usually Maple River is home to several of these beautiful birds, but they are late in arriving this year. Maybe because of the warm fall weather? Good news is they are finally starting to show up. Last Wednesday I saw three of them. Here is one that has just taken flight while keeping a close eye on me. Welcome back!

Rough-legged Hawk

I traveled to Wayne County with a friend today to look for two rare sparrows that were visiting a backyard bird feeder. We waited for several hours with a small group of patient birders and were eventually rewarded with a Harris's Sparrow and a Golden-crowned Sparrow. It was a good day to be out in the cold. A big thank you for the family that shared their yard with us!

Harris's Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow

Here are a couple of birds that you don't normally see in Mid Michigan at this time of the year. Yesterday we found six White-throated Sparrows and one Hermit Thrush at Fenner Nature Center. It was a nice way to end a very good year of birding. Apparently these birds are as "Smitten With The Mitten" as I am!

White-throated Sparrow

Hermit Thrush