It was a beautiful night in West Michigan, and we set off to photograph birds that we only see when they migrate. We started with a stop at Grand Ravines North Country Park. There was plenty of animal activity, but we didn’t see the eagles and there was nothing posing for us like a Piliated Woodpecker. The water was quite high. The covered bridge did not look at all like it did last fall.
We did have an Eastern Phoebe and a Chipmunk pose for us.
After a quick stop, we headed to Stu Visser Trail. The place was alive with little birds. The Ruby-crowned Kinglets were still around, and they were hyperactively challenging anyone who cared to photograph them. A handful of warblers had arrived. It most likely was the highlight of my birding season. I spotted and successfully photographed a Yellow-throated Warbler. They are considered rare and endangered in Michigan. I had never seen one before and had no idea what I had photographed. I also got shots of a Yellow-rumped Warbler and a Palm Warbler.
We left Stu Visser Trail because it was getting overcast and the light was not good for taking pictures. In the truck I did some research with Merlin (an awesome bird identification tool) and found that I had photographed a really cool bird. We made a final stop at Window on the Waterfront. We watched a team of Ruddy Ducks for a bit and then looked at the tulips. Holland is looking beautiful for the upcoming Tulip Time Festival.
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