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I spotted this loon on Hamlin Lake during a June hike in the Ludington State Park. Photographing it was a personal highlight in a photographic journey that spanned more than a year. I dreamed of reencountering the loon “twice as close” or “twice as close again.” But in six more months of hiking and boating in the park, I never saw a loon again. I am grateful for the opportunity to see this one.

Deep within the forest in the northern part of Ludington State Park lies a pond that my son Brad and I have discovered to be a delightful place. We watched this male wood duck and several others for more than an hour on a late September morning. We waited patiently for them to come closer and then looked for those magic moments when the splendid ducks fit in perfectly with their marshy home.

Attention on deck! A family of Canada geese appears at full alert along the north bank of the Sable River on a summer afternoon. Perhaps they are watching for the fox that lives just around the bend, or perhaps they have already spotted the sly predator.

A three-day-old piping plover is dwarfed by dune grass near a pond in the dunes north of Big Point Sable Lighthouse. The tiny bird has no idea it is a rare endangered species. Michigan Department of Natural Resources piping plover steward Katrina Hernandez and I have spent a couple hours this morning finding the plover and rest of its family after they fled from the cage and fencing designed to keep people and predators away, yet not to restrict the birds from leaving.

Autumn along the Lake Michigan shoreline is a quieter time, a good time for spotting wildlife. On a November morning, this buck appeared along the high clay banks south of Ludington, in an area where no hunting is allowed.

A doe pauses between licks while drinking water from the Sable River at Ludington State Park.

One of Santa's reindeer appears to be on the loose this morning along Hawley Road south of Ludington. I captured this moment as she flew through the snow during a short-lived blizzard that hit Mason County. F2.8 at 1/320, ISO 800, 300mm lens at 300mm

I have shot a handful of bald eagles in my years of photography. To make three images including eagles within 35 days of shooting our 366 Project was almost comical to me. The light on this eagle’s wings was too magical to pass up.

A fawn curiously and warily makes its way along a trail at Ludington State Park. Its mother lets the young deer learn how to lead the way while staying close by.

I stood on a stool inside of my kitchen and then shot through the window towards my bird feeders outside. I have always loved the color blue. Blue jays are beautiful birds and for whatever reason have always reminded me of my dad. I was happy to make this image.

A pair of trumpeter swans graces the Sable River at Ludington State Park. The threatened native Michigan species has been getting some help in launching a comeback. The band on one of these birds marks it as one introduced to the area by the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians. The "11K" on the band helps naturalists keep track of its whereabouts.

King of the Ranch

A rare trumpeter swan fans out its wings on a sunny afternoon at Ludington State Park. With a wingspan that reaches six to seven feet, the impressive trumpeters are the world's largest species of waterfowl.

I spotted this loon on Hamlin Lake during a June hike in the Ludington State Park. Photographing it was a personal highlight in a photographic journey that spanned more than a year. I dreamed of reencountering the loon "twice as close" or "twice as close again." But in six more months of hiking and boating in the park, I never saw a loon again. I am grateful for the opportunity to see this one.

An unseasonably mild February day appears to suit a rare trumpeter swan just fine as it rests in the sunshine on the Sable River at Ludington State Park.

Driving in Truck at Legends Deer Ranch

Driving in Truck at Legends Deer Ranch