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Today my dad and I were invited by Dr. Heather Keough of the Federal Forest Service to help count the Karner Blue Butterflies that live in the Manistee National Forest. The Karner Blue Butterflies are an endangered species. Dr. Keough and her team are trying to re-grow the Michigan savannah so that the rare creatures can reproduce naturally. F9.0 at 1/80, ISO 100, 300 mm lens at 300 mm

A young buck stands at attention above the railroad tracks near the Manistee Industrial Park. When I first spotted him and his brother, they were standing right on the train tracks. Lucky for me, they moved onto the flower-covered ridge and I was able to use the tall grasses as my foreground element. F2.8 at 1/320, ISO 400, 70-200mm lens at 200mm

An estuary near my Ludington home teams with new life every spring. Today I am attracted at first by the bright yellow buttercup flowers. But then I see the real prize: Buckeye butterflies that are being attracted to the nectar of the flowers. All I have to do is stay still and wait for the butterflies to come to the flowers in front of me. F5 at 1/500, ISO 100, 300mm lens at 300mm

Piping plovers lay their eggs on beaches, often in stony areas. After spotting one of the rare piping plovers along the Lake Michigan shoreline a week earlier, today I spot four eggs in the vicinity. Someone had carefully placed driftwood around the eggs to help prevent a person or animal from accidentally stepping on them. F10 at 1/400, ISO 100, 300mm lens at 300mm

I have always loved this stretch of the driveway into Todd and Brad’s family cabin on the Pere Marquette River. The scenic, tree-covered, curved road is fun to hike on. Tonight, it looked especially charming.

There are so many hidden gems around Mason County. This Custer view is pretty unbeatable!

Memorial Tree Park in Pere Marquette Township is a great place for a family picnic or an evening hike. Tonight, Betsy and I took the kids to Memorial Tree Park and we came upon this family of deer. I loved how the fawn thought the large tree stump hid it from me. I was able to walk within 15 feet of these deer with my wide-angle lens. F2.8 at 1/500, ISO 1000, 18-50 mm lens at 50 mm

It always amazes me how many big bucks I see around town in Ludington. They know they are safe, I guess! I saw this big guy on my way to Brad’s this evening in his neighborhood.

A male mute swan stands and spreads its wings after preening its feathers on a small bayou on Lost Lake at Ludington State Park. This is the moment I waited patiently for in our photography skiff at a respectful distance. It came after what seemed like an eternity of preening feathers. The backlighting of the bird and dark shaded background made the result worthwhile! I am so glad Brad and I chose to wait. F7.1 at 1/1000, ISO 800, 300mm lens at 300mm

Who would expect to find an egret beside the Chicago area Tri-State Tollway? After visiting my wife's childhood home in Deerfield, we are on an entrance ramp to one the world's busiest roadways when Debbie spots two egrets in a pond beside the toll road. I pull well off onto the grass and sprint 100 yards to make a "Florida picture" in Chicago. F4.5 at 1/1600, ISO 200, 80-200 mm lens at 200 mm

A tired cygnet decides it needs a break from swimming on its own, using itsremaining energy to climb on its mother's back for a ride. The swan family was cruising across Lost Lake at Ludington State Park when they passed by our tiny anchored photo-shooting skiff. F11 at 1/500, ISO 800, 300mm lens at 300mm

You do not want to mess with a swan that has a nest or babies nearby. I have seen many unsuspecting spectators get too close to a swan and pay a hefty price. This swan slowly circled our boat and it was his friendly way of letting us know that we had gotten close enough to his family. We always try to keep a respectful distance from wildlife so as not to disrupt their lives. F5.6 at 1/5000, ISO 800, 70-200mm lens at 135mm

A friend called me tonight to say they were watching a bald eagle in a tree in the middle of Stearns Park down at the Ludington City Beach. I headed that way and found the majestic bird as it sat on a large cottonwood branch.

While photo hunting from our little 13-foot Boston Whaler on Hamlin Lake at the Ludington State Park, my dad spotted this great blue heron with his binoculars from a quarter mile away. We slowly made our way within 50 feet of the master angler. F5.6 at 1/800, ISO 800, 300mm lens at 300mm

A great blue heron takes off from one of its fishing perches on Hamlin Lake. I look forward to seeing one of the big birds on most of my hikes and voyages at Ludington State Park. F5.6 at 1/1000, ISO 800, 70-200mm lens at 200mm

A brisk north wind on Hamlin Lake today is making it bouncy and wet on our 13-foot Boston Whaler, but the views are worth it. This is one of a pair of mature bald eagles circling high over the lake near Inspiration Point. People sing about being lifted up on eagle's wings; I can only imagine the feeling. F14 at 1/1000, ISO 800, 300mm lens at 300mm

These windmills are a topic of great controversy. Today, the white stood out against the blue sky and green field.

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