Lunar Eclipses

/

Photographing the eclipses the last couple of years has been very enjoyable... Our Moon is truly amazing to behold, and it's a great reminder that we're such small individuals on a special home we call Earth.

Snowy Owls In Michigan - 1st Birding Trip

/

Well no luck finding a snowy owl on yesterday's first 2015/206 winter trip to the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge area in Saginaw, Michigan. The Snowy Owl is one of North America's largest predatory birds and a truly special animal to see in the outdoors...but, a very photographic old Chevy pickup turned out to be the highlight of our photography adventure.

Love these old trucks!

We drove the farm roads for an hour or so and were fooled several times by white objects in the fields, none of which turned out to be actual owls. 

A "false" Snowy Owl in the middle of the picture above. Dedicated Snowy Owl birders know of the frustration these objects can deliver when you're excited about finding an actual owl.

We saw very large gatherings of Sandhill Cranes. See below...

Sandhill Cranes in flight near Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge, Michigan.

Also several groups of Snow Geese and 2 Bald Eagles, 2 Northern Harriers, and misc other species. 

Snow Geese in the farm fields near Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge.

We'll head out again soon if reports start coming in from other birders.



Snowy Owls - Winter 2015/2016

/

What a majestic bird! Snowy owls have been visiting Michigan the last few winters as part of a massive outreach of there traditional arctic range due to an abundance of food in the arctic (lemmings) and a booming population.

We will go to the Shiawassee National Wildlife Area in Michigan this year and try to find and photograph few of these great birds.

"Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1953 and contains more than 9,800 acres of marsh, bottomland hardwood forest, and grasslands. It was authorized by the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission under the Migratory Bird Conservation Act “...for use as an inviolate sanctuary, or for any other management purpose, for migratory birds.” Additional purposes designated under the Refuge Recreation Act are “…incidental fish and wildlife-oriented recreational development, the protection of natural resources, and the conservation of endangered and threatened species.”


Au Sable River, Grayling, Michigan

/
The Gates AuSable Lodge on the AuSable River at Stephan Bridge in Grayling, Michigan.

The Gates AuSable Lodge on the AuSable River at Stephan Bridge in Grayling, Michigan.

Well I finally did it... a short trip to the famous Au Sable River near Grayling, Michigan. Stayed for 2 nights at the Gates Au Sable Lodge on "The Holy Waters" of trout fishing on the Au Sable. Beautiful! And how was the fishing? Well let's just say that my son and I went too early in the year and the water was high and cold and swift. No fish. But we'll go back this summer guaranteed!

 

The Au Sable river at the Stephan Bridge.

The Au Sable river at the Stephan Bridge.

Jack Fitzgerald at 5 years of age flyfishing on the Au Sable.

Jack Fitzgerald at 5 years of age flyfishing on the Au Sable.

Jack and his dad (me) on a historic Au Sable River Boat. These watercraft were designed during the logging era for gliding up and down the Au Sable. They became ideal (and famous) flyfishing boats in modern times.

Jack and his dad (me) on a historic Au Sable River Boat. These watercraft were designed during the logging era for gliding up and down the Au Sable. They became ideal (and famous) flyfishing boats in modern times.