I’ve been turning my #bird photography into simple outlines for kids (and grown-ups with crayons). That side project is now a coloring book called "Feathered Friends" with birds from three continents. Just something I’m happy to have finished. Link in profile.

Golden-hour surprise at Lake St. Clair Metropark: a #VirginiaRail slipped out of the cattails and tiptoed the mud—my first ever. Secretive, coppery, tail flicking; more often heard than seen. A special end to the day! #birds #nature #wildlife #photography

#Yellow-rumpedWarbler in fall dress: soft grays and olives, faint streaks—yet the lemon rump still flashes. Drifting south in chatty flocks, many winter far north by living on bayberry and wax myrtle—a small, restless lesson in resilience. #birds #nature #wildlife #migration #autumn #photography

#Anna’sHummingbird —another lifer from my last trip to Arizona’s #RamseyCanyon in the #HuachucaMountains. I lingered by the creek as flashes of emerald and rose blurred past, and this little jewel finally settled just long enough for a portrait. #birds #wildlife #nature #photography #travel

I pulled over just before the road climbs into the hills at #EagleNest, #NewMexico. As I paused to take in the lake, there was a flurry of wings—and a #MountainBluebird settled nearby, posing perfectly for a portrait. #birds #nature #wildlife #photography

#Black-chinned #Hummingbird #Birds #ramseycanyon #arizona #wildlife #photography #nature

#Rufous #Hummingbird #birds #wildlife #nature #photography

Another lifer! #Broad-billedHummingbirds darted around the feeders at the #RamseyCanyon Visitor Center, and I managed to photograph a few as they paused on nearby branches. #birds #wildlife #nature #travel #photography #arizona

Back in Arizona, I spent a day exploring Ramsey Canyon and revisited Madera Canyon. The highlight was capturing a few shots of the #Berylline #Hummingbird —a lifer for me! #birds #wildlife #nature #travel #photography

On my local park trail, I watched a #NorthernFlicker indulge in a #dustbath —fluffing its feathers, digging a shallow pit, and rolling in dry soil to shake off parasites, then kicking up clouds of dust in the process. #birds #nature #wildlife #photography #michigan

#EasternKingbirds —true to their “tyrant” name—relentlessly defend nests from larger predators like hawks, crows, squirrels, and even Blue Jays, unleashing fearless attacks that belies their small size. #birds #wildlife #nature #photography

Male #Swainson’sThrushes defend their territories through dramatic singing duels—escalating in volume and pitch and occasionally shifting into a descending cadence. These vocal contests often spill over into chases and even physical attacks along territory borders #birds #nature #photography

#BlackpollWarblers hold the #songbird record for longest over-water flight: these half-ounce migrants—western #birds boasting longer wings than their eastern cousins—fly nonstop up to three days across the Atlantic each fall to winter in #PuertoRico, the #LesserAntilles, and northern #SouthAmerica.

Eastern #Screech-Owls are common throughout the eastern US, nesting in tree cavities—or even backyard boxes. Their camouflaged plumage lets them vanish into bark crevices by day, a true stealthy #raptor. This is a #whitemorph I saw at #MageeMarsh, #Ohio. #birds #nature #wildlife #photography

#Bay-breastedWarblers nest about 16 ft up in northern Canada’s spruce, their chestnut plumage flickering among the needles. Their numbers boom with #spruce #budworm outbreaks—and crash or even vanish once the #caterpillar pulses fade. #birds #nature #migration #photography

Often dubbed the #necklaced-warbler for its striking black chestband, the #CanadaWarbler is a vibrant, energetic songbird of #northern #woodlands. It’s the last warbler to arrive on breeding grounds, and the first to depart for #SouthAmerica to escape the winter. #birds #photography #nature #spring

Alexander Wilson’s first specimen of this striking songbird came from a #magnolia tree—he dubbed it the #Black-and-yellow Warbler, and its scientific name, #Setophaga_magnolia, still reflects that origin. #MageeMarsh #birds #photography #wildlife #nature

#Spring #migration is my favorite time to go birding, and #MageeMarsh on #LakeErie’s shores is arguably the best place on Earth to see waves of #warblers passing through. #Blackburnian, #blackthroatedgreen, #chestnutsided #blackthroatedblue #birds #wildlife #nature #photography

#KirtlandsWarbler —one of North America’s rarest #songbirds—breeds almost exclusively in young jack-pine stands of #Michigan, #Wisconsin, and #Ontario. Yesterday at #MageeMarsh #Ohio, I finally had the chance to see one. #birds #nature #wildlife #springmigration #photography

#GreatBlueHerons are easy to spot in #flight — neck tucked, legs stretched straight behind. They’re not the quickest on wing or on foot, yet they strike like lightning when a fish surfaces or a gopher strays too close. #birds #nature #herons #wildlife #birdsinflight #photography

You might hear it called a #soree, #meadowchicken, or #Carolinarail—all names for the abundant yet elusive #Sora. I’ve heard its whinnying calls many times in my local park, but this was the first one I’d actually seen there in quite a while. #birds #nature #photography #wildlife

#Red-tailedHawks are a familiar summer sight across North America, and they’re formidable predators. I found this one perched low on a branch, intently scanning the ground for its next meal. #birds #nature #birdofprey #raptor #wildlife #photography

In flight, a #GreatEgret tucks its long, elegant neck and streams its legs straight behind. Widespread across wetlands on nearly every continent, its brilliant white plumage can be surprisingly tricky to capture well—unless the light is just right. #birds #nature #wildlife #photography #michigan

#American Oystercatchers are the only #birds in their environment capable of prying open clams and oysters. They frequent the water’s edge at low tide along the East Coast, but on rare occasions, their prey can clamp down on their bills until the tide rises—sometimes dooming the bird in the process.

The skies above #Kearney, #Nebraska are filled with #SandhillCranes. I felt privileged to witness this great gathering of ‘Sandies’ on the #Platte River. Here are a few frames of a small group. #birds #wildlife #nature #migration #photography

I came across a pair of #Ring-neckedPheasants on my evening walk and was amazed by their abrupt takeoff—they can reportedly reach speeds of up to 40 mph and cover about 600 feet in flight, going even farther if aided by strong winds. #birds #nature #wildlife #colorado #photography

The #WesternMeadowlark’s sweet, flute-like call is often heard long before you catch sight of this ground-feeding bird, which inhabits grasslands, meadows, pastures, and marsh edges throughout the West and Midwest. #birds #nature #wildlife #colorado #travel

#MuteSwans are elegant, graceful, and beautiful. They still fulfill the role for which they were first imported from Europe in the 1800s: adorning our local lakes and ponds. #birds #photography #nature #wildlife #aquaticbirds

#Mallards are beautiful #ducks found just about everywhere. In some spots, they’re less wary of people, and Detroit’s Belle Isle happens to be one of those places. #birds #photography #wildlife #nature #michigan #detroit

#EasternBluebirds typically thrive in open country with patchy vegetation and large trees or nest boxes. I photographed these beauties at #HaehnleSanctuary near Jackson, #Michigan. #birds #nature #wildlife #photography

I was frustrated that I couldn't get a good shot of the Puerto Rican Lizard-Cuckoo, but then this beautiful #SaffronFinch appeared at a much better angle. Bosque Estatal de #Cambalache, #PuertoRico. #birds #nature #wildlife #photography #travel

In the summer, #RedWingedBlackbirds abound where I live, returning to the marshes of southeastern #Michigan as early as mid-February. Their calls echo across the landscape from then until late October. #birds #photography #wildlife #nature

It’s been a while since I last visited #BelleIsle for a sunset, and there’s a particular spot along the winding strand that always offers a great view of Detroit’s skyline. Each time I’ve photographed it from there, I’ve come away with some memorable shots. #photography #belleisle #Detroit #MI

#BritanniaConservationArea in #Ottawa may be small, but my brief visit there last summer yielded some unforgettable moments. Just outside the entrance to the #MudLake trails, I came upon this #BarredOwl, half asleep yet occasionally opening its eyes to give me the once over. #birds #photography

It was startling to witness this #Red-tailedHawk tearing into a female #mallard, leaving her helplessly writhing in its talons—a sobering reflection of Tennyson’s musing on ‘Nature, red in tooth and claw'. #birds #wildlife #nature #photography #birdofprey #predator

#PalmWarblers run on the larger side among #warblers, sporting a round belly and a rusty cap. Their longer legs and tail often give them a pipit-like appearance when they’re on the ground. I captured these shots in #Florida, December 2023. #birds #wildlife #nature #photography

#Greenherons are small, but no less captivating. I spotted one perched on a railing, looking anything but subdued with its striking green and chestnut hues catching the evening light. These resourceful #birds are known to drop insects or twigs into the water to lure unsuspecting fish. #photography

#Baldeagles aren’t exactly a common sight where I live, so watching one in flight is always a thrill. This morning, as I was driving on #BelleIsle, I was lucky enough to see this magnificent bird soaring right toward me. #birds #photography #nature #eagles #detroit #belleislepark

The tiny #Verdin is a restless bird, forever combing the foliage for insects and spiders, and sometimes even sipping nectar from hummingbird feeders. They construct multiple spherical nests throughout the year, each serving as a snug roost. #birds #photography #wildlife #arizona #desert #southwest

#WoodDucks are among the most beautiful of #NorthAmerican #waterfowl. The male’s dazzling #plumage can impress even the most jaded observer. They’re also unique among #ducks for nesting in tree cavities, often high above the ground. #birds #nature #wildlife #photography

I spent a week in gorgeous #PuertoRico at the end of ’23, and these are three of the hummingbird species I had the pleasure of photographing: the #PuertoRicanEmerald, the #GreenMango and the #PuertoRicanMango. #birds #travel #photography #caribbean

Tame and familiar it may be, but the #AsianGreenBee-eater dazzles with its coloration. I doubt I’d ever tire of seeing these beautiful birds each day—would you? #birds #nature #wildlife #travel #india #rajasthan #photography

On my second drive through #KrugerNationalPark, the sun dipped rapidly toward the horizon, and daylight seemed to vanish by the second. Suddenly, our driver got word of a #pride of #lions resting on some rocks along a side trail. #travel #nature #photography #wildlife

#Yellowwarblers really are everywhere, yet for years I never saw them, caught up as I was in ‘life.’ #Birding opened my eyes and helped me slow down, revealing the wonders I’d been missing all along. Pictured here are a male, female and a fledgling. #birds #photography #nature #wildlife #zen

It began to feel like I was searching for the Yeti, but late in the evening—just as I was about to head home—there it was: a #SnowyOwl perched on a utility pole. It had been a long, cold day on the windswept fields of the Thumb, but the payoff was so worth it! #birds #photography #michigan

These #RedBreastedMergansers made a surprise appearance in the pond by my place last year. They breed farther north and winter farther south than any other American merganser. Also known as #Sawbills for their serrated beaks, these birds sport a notably shaggy crest. #birds #nature #photography

The #Red-headedWoodpecker is especially distinctive, often called a #flyingcheckerboard for its #bold coloration. Skilled at catching insects in midair, it primarily feeds on acorns and beech nuts, stashing any surplus in tree bark crevices for later use. #birds #birdsinflight #photography #nature

#AmericanAvocets are rarely spotted along the #DetroitRiver, but I happened to be in the right place at the right time to capture photos of this striking bird, far from its usual range. #BelleIsle, April 2023. #birds #photography #wildlife #nature

The origins of the name #Prothonotary can spark debate among #birders. These striking, bright-yellow birds — often also called #SwampWarblers — are frequently spotted weaving through reeds in wetland habitats. I photographed these at lake #Erie #metropark in Michigan #birds #photography #wildlife

I think this photograph of #twilight dancing on the surface of #LakeSt.Clair perfectly illustrates the #tranquility we can find through #mindfulness. Though never completely still or calm, life’s disturbances can settle into manageable rhythms—much like the gentle ripples on the water. #photography