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Driving down the big hill on Old US31 I noticed a large red-tailed hawk sitting in a tree over Conrad Road. From several hundred yards away I made this image with my 600mm F4 Nikkor lens. F4 at 1/160, ISO 3200, 600mm lens at 600mm

A Red Shoulder Hawk Perching on a Birch Tree

Is it Thanksgiving yet? Turkey sounds really good right now. F4 at 1/2000, ISO 3200, 600mm lens at 600mm

This year on Tuesdays I have photographed over a dozen different bald eagles. My dad and I spot eagles now all the time around Michigan. Of all my eagle photos, this one has the best light. This immature bald eagle was flying directly into the sunlight about 30 minutes before sunset. The young bird was flying over Thundering Aspens Sportsman Club near Mesick, Michigan looking for its dinner. F4 at 1/1000, ISO 800, 600mm lens at 600mm

The male ring-necked pheasant is, from my perspective, the most beautiful game bird in Michigan. This colorful ring-neck tries to hide in the grass at Thundering Aspens Sportsman Club near Mesick, Michigan. With the cornfield behind him plowed under and snow-covered; the colorful bird stands out despite staying motionless. F4.5 at 1/1000, ISO 1600, 500mm lens at 500mm

All I can think of is the Roadrunner cartoon character as this ring-necked pheasant speeds across a Northern Michigan cornfield. The colorful ring-neck is one of the many planted and naturally reproducing pheasants at the 800-acre Thundering Aspens Sportsman Club near Mesick. Thundering Aspens has created one of the best habitats for pheasants in Michigan. F7.1 at 1/100, ISO 1600, 500mm lens at 500mm

Ring-necked pheasants are one of the most beautiful birds in the world. I was excited tonight to finally get a nice environmental portrait of these elusive birds. This guy was heading into a recently disked cornfield to eat some dinner. I photographed him at Thundering Aspens Sportsman Club near Mesick, Michigan. F4 at 1/800, ISO 1600, 600mm lens at 600mm

The sweet little songs of chickadees and other small songbirds always brighten my day. By using my 600mm lens, I am able to bring the birds closer to me visually. This beautiful chickadee was singing in the sunlight this evening at Thundering Aspens Sportsman Club near Mesick, Michigan. F4 at 1/1000, ISO 800, 600mm lens at 600mm

A large family of geese practices synchronized swimming this morning on Bass Lake near Pentwater, Michigan. I really enjoy the repetitive patterns in this photograph. F5.6 at 1/400, ISO 400, 28-300mm lens at 300mm

This elusive hairy woodpecker climbs a tree so fast I struggle to keep the stunning bird in my viewfinder. The woodpecker uses its stiff tail feathers as a prop to be able to climb and cling to the tree. F2.8 at 1/8000, ISO 1600, 300mm lens at 300mm

A pair of crows seems to be watching with curiosity as another crow takes flight from atop a birch tree. Their pose makes me think the lingering pair are wondering why the third bird is departing instead of continuing to bask in the sun on their lofty perch. F3.2 at 1/1000, ISO 100, 300mm lens at 300mm

This large mute swan swam into the only area of the Goldsworth Valley Pond being hit by sunlight and proceeded to groom and bathe himself for several minutes. He banged his powerful wings onto the surface of the water creating a huge mist the air and then quickly swam into the cloud of water. F4 at 1/2500, ISO 800, 600mm lens at 600mm

Looking regal as he rushes through the water, a swan graces a pond at Western Michigan University. The mute swan and its mate looked splendid to me but plenty intimidating to the ducks and geese attempting to swim toward their side of the pond. F11 at 1/500, ISO 800, 80-200mm lens at 200mm

Most of the students at Western Michigan University have headed home for the holidays but this pair of mallard ducks is among the many waterfowl sticking around for the holidays in Goldsworth Valley Pond. F8 at 1/500, ISO 800, 80-200mm lens at 200mm

Barrows Golden Eye Duck

This goose was in a feisty mood this morning as he swam around strutting his stuff on the Goldsworth Valley Pond on the campus of Western Michigan University. He was even brave enough to tangle with a male swan. The swan won, but you wouldn't have known it a few minutes later because this guy acted like he was the king of the pond. F4 at 1/4000, ISO 800, 600mm lens at 600mm

After spending Christmas morning at home with my mom, wife, and kids, I headed out around 1:00 p.m. to finish shooting the last Tuesday of our year-long project. My first stop was my in-laws' backyard on Lavinia Street in Ludington. Don and Shari feed the birds all year long and I knew several cardinals were frequenting their yard. F4 at 1/640, ISO 800, 600mm lens at 600mm