Pileated Woodpecker

   Lots of action around the feeders in the yard this warm November afternoon.  I was content to photograph the chickadees, titmice and nuthatches then the Pileated Woodpecker descended on the scene.

Getting in position

Eyeing the suet

Making quick work of the suet cake

'Hey put the damn camera down and get another suet slab out here'

  At the sunflower seed dispenser this Tufted Titmouse grabs a morsel.

The seeds seem to fall from the sky

But its just the sloppy diner above

October Over

Low clouds mute the colors

As October came to a close the fall colors reached their peak.

View from the south breakwater

  Several trips to the south breakwater over the past week yielded the following birds.

Sanderling

Dunlin

Great Black-backed Gull

GBBG and friends

Common Loon

Red-breasted Merganser

 Harrier Fishing(?)

Bonaparte's Gull

                                 

   Finally in my yard on Sunday I had my first Fox Sparrow of the season.

Kicking grass and taking grain

Winter Birds Arriving 10/23/16

Lapland Longspur

     Time to blow out the sprinkler lines,tune up the snowblower and dig out the snow tires because the winter birds have arrived.  Drove around the reservoir after work this morning and found the above Lapland Longspur and a flock of 15 Snow Buntings.

Snow Bunting

Horned Grebe

Horned Lark

  Last Sunday at the South Breakwater of Ludington Harbor I found some lingering warm weather birds..... 3 Dunlin, a pair of PalmWarblers and a couple of dozen Yellow-rumped Warblers.

Dunlin

Palm Warbler

White-throated Sparrow

Golden-crowned Kinglet at Ludington State Park last Sunday

Two Wild Turkeys that blocked my driveway when I arrived home on Friday.

Surf Scoter at Ludington Harbor

  Only found one duck during my walk on the south breakwater this afternoon.  Turned out to be a female Surf Scoter.

Snow X Ross's Geese 10/17/16

  

  

2 Snow Goose x Ross's Goose hybrids followed by a Snow Goose

   This morning after work I drove around the upper reservoir road in search of Greater White-fronted Geese that surged into the region over the weekend.  Didn't find any but I found 2 Snow Goose/Ross's goose hybrids and 2 Snow Geese(one was a Blue Morph that I was unable to photograph).

Say's Phoebe

 Chris Lipps found this bird at the Big Sable Point Lighthouse early this afternoon. It is a Say's Phoebe although in my photos it doesn't appear pink as the images in my Sibley Guide to Birds. 

    Per Dave Dister this is the second county record for the species.  The first was also at the State Park and also found by Chris Lipps.
    Dave and I observed and photographed the bird for just under an hour. It was still there when we left.  For those who want to try for the bird, the lighthouse is a 1.8 mile hike from the nearest parking lot.

Ludington Loon

  Found a cooperative Loon at the Harbor this morning.

  The color of the bill appeared rather light.  I tried to turn it into a Yellow-billed but I settled on a Common Loon.