Blog Archives
Green Heron
Dear friends, this is not your typical image of a Green Heron, but it shows his beautiful back feathers in the spring. He was fishing alone in the shade and I never can resist parking along the road to capture these guys. til Tomorrow MJ
Tufted Titmouse Portrait
Dear Friends, this lovely bird is coming to our bird feeder every day, do you like his feathers, I love the patterns around his eye, til Tomorrow MJ
Spotted Towhee
Friends, this beautiful bird is a lifer for me, a spotted towhee from the North Dakota badlands. I love his red eye and rusty feathering, perched on a dead sage brush he was waiting for me to leave so he could resume his rummaging in the weeds for insects; til Tomorrow MJ
Sora with Green Legs
Friends, this curious looking bird is a Sora (i think), and I love the Green feet. Never had seen one myself so was quite a thrill to see one so closely. He provided a break from the Warblers who have been haunting my lens lately. From his coloring you can see why he can hide in the old cat tails and sedges around Phantom Lake in Crex Meadows. til Tomorrow MJ
Yellow Rumped Warbler
Friends, this little warbler (yellow-rump) is showing off his three patches of yellow feathers, one on each side of his chest, one on top of his head and one on his rump. There were hundreds of yellow-rumps in Crex Meadows this spring, but now that it has turned to summer (85 degrees F) they have gone further north. til Tomorrow MJ
Cape May Warbler
Friends, this bird was found on a colder day and he was fluffed up to keep warm, today was 85 degrees F so birdies are not fluffed up today. This is a male Cape May Warbler and i love his feathering. Below is a frontal view of his streaked chest. til Tomorrow MJ
Hawk Eye
Friends, this sharp-shinned hawk is looking for prey as he cruises above. Actually this image is the result of a little Photoshop magic. His bright yellow eyes tell us that he was a baby this spring and is a hatch year bird. When he is grown, his eye color will shift to orange and then to red. His beautiful chocolate coloring will shift to gray, oooo I could use some chocolate for breakfast, til Tomorrow MJ
Weekly Photo Challenge:Unique
Friends, This bird is not unique to the Crex area, but the male in breeding plumage is unique as it is the only time I have seen the American Bittern male in his full regalia. The white epaulets and the feathery fringe under his chin are decorations that persist for only a short period in the spring. I think the gray mane feathers are also part of this costume. til Tomorrow MJ
A Christmas birdie
Friends, this Christmas birdie is not your traditional cardinal, but a pine grosbeak (male) who is attracted to sunflower seeds in bird feeders and the pine cones of the northwoods. He is a delicious color and resembles a small parakeet or parrot in his actions. til Tomorrow Happy Holidays MJ
The Smallest Falcon
Friends, this tiny hawk is an American Kestrel found in Crex Meadows. The educators on Hawk Ridge have taught me that this is a male due to the blue outer wing. Females have a red-brown feathering extending from the back out across the wing backs. They are a small member of the falcon family, related to the Merlin and the Peregrine Falcon. When hunting, they will often hover (wings flapping while staying in one place) or kite (wings steady while staying in one place) over a hayfield or other open area. I think this boy was hunting me. til Tomorrow MJ
MJ Springett 