• Friday-What'sUP June 4 - 12:17 pm

Only 29 days and counting until Pasty Fest!

The American Goldfinch is in full color again for the spring and summer seasons and Roger Kangas spotted one checking out the menu at his feeder. The male birds sport these brightly hued feathers until fall approaches again, giving us another signal of the changing seasons here in the Upper Peninsula. With the warm weather having arrived, so have a variety of different birds to observe and enjoy. We get two for the price of one with the second winged beauty and its mirror image. Z-man caught this one either taking a nap, checking its reflection for feathers out of place or maybe just playing coy for the camera. Anyone care to take a stab at what species this fine fellow is?

Good morning from Texas!! I'll be home (my true home) next week for 10 fun filled days in the UP. I can't wait.

Kinda looks like a female Mallard duck.....

What little beauties these are...I can almost hear them singing. Thanks for the morning smiles.

I'm with the smf.

The Goldfinch, our state bird here in Iowa. The second one, a quail or grouse maybe?

I love birds. Some are colorful, some are scrumptious.

Really would like to compliment those responsible who care for the beautiful gardens at Stillwaters. With their spring blooms and colors they are truly magnificent.

Well, I am sticking with Janie. Bird number one has to be our statebird here in Iowa, the Goldfinch. Right now I am watching three of them play on our bushes--so is our cat, Jack. I just finished reading Sharon's journal entry from last night. It looks as though she is coming back to her field soon! That is great.
Take care and have a good day!

Looks like a pretty morning in Houghton......4th of July is starting to get close enough to think about. See you soon.........

Ahh the American Golfinch, Carduelis tristis, a congruent gormandizer of the thistle. A vibrant regular in the proprinquity at the feeder indeed.

Wheatman

that's what i was going to say

One of the sandpipers. I would guess one of the peeps. Was it taken in MI?

Back to the cam-Beautiful pictures!
Have a great weekend everyone.

As far as the second picture goes...It looks like a woodcock to me.

Z-Man graciously supplied us with another angle of the bird in question. Maybe this will help! (And YES, this picture was taken in Michigan, Keweenaw Bay to be exact!)

What beautifully colored feathers this bird has. If I had my birdbook, I could look it up.

What a cute little bird! Wonder what kind it is? Cant wait for someone to post what it is. Wish I had a bird book too.

a sandpiper of some type?

When I saw this pic, it reminded me of when I lived in Michigan...and all the different species of birds you could spot.

The bright yellow in the goldfinch reminded me of one of my college professors who also loved bird watching. Our favorite bird name was 'yellow belly sapsucker'. Honest...it's a wood pecker...and they are native to Michigan.

Plenty of birds at my feeder too. My guess of the bird was a Quail,a.k.a. Bob White.

curlew sandpiper?

I believe it's a Piping Plover - a protected species.

Since the day is coming to a close here soon for many of the viewers that check in at work, I'll be a sport and give you all a little hint...
It is similar to the Sandpiper species, but actually is a quite rare sighting in Michigan at all, having NONE counted here!
I'll try to post the answer around 5:00 p.m. EST :->

Mary, Could it be a Dunlin?
Job well done Margo! You get the for today! :->
Have a good weekend, everyone!

Margo,

I think you're right.

http://www.rspb.org.uk/birds/guide/d/dunlin/index.asp

http://www.enature.com/flashcard/show_flash_card.asp?recordNumber=BD0212

cute birdie. have you guys seen GH (general hospital on ABC soap opera) OMG it was amazing!!

Zman, Thankyou so much for sharing such beautiful pictures with us. The goldfinch is marvelous. At first I would have thought the other bird a sandpiper, but I'm not sure. In just over two months I will be able to return to the UP and the tranquility of the woods, the majesty of Lake Superior, and the wondreful lakes and streams. Time moves too slow. I remember last year being up the Brockway and watching a mother hawk and her young one fly by me atop lookout point, what a sight that was. When we live in the Keweenaw, we sometimes have a tendency to take the beauty for granted. Then we move away, and cry out for it. May I ask what type of camera you are using? What type of lens to get those close ups? Your Pictures are fantastic. Again, thanks and God's blessing be upon you for sharing with us.

the first pict is by Roger Kangas.

Hey, wait till you get old--time definitely does not go too slow, it zooms.

Great bird pictures! I love birds. I have a female wood duck who has been spending the last few days in my pond with her ducklings. When I first saw her, she had seven ducklings. Sadly, today I found she that only had three following her around.
Andy

I would suggest everyone go check out Roger's albums. There are some AWESOME pictures in there. Later, Skylar.

Wheatman where the heck have you been??

Great pics today!

The long beaked mystery bird above is a Dunlin.

It belongs to the sandpiper & Allie family and is doning its breeding plumage. It is more gray colored when not breeding.