“Masters of deceit and camouflage”
By Tom Dennis Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus Although the Killdeer is classified as a “shorebird” it is more likely to be found living and nesting far...
Author : Thomas Dennis
A peculiar family member
By Tom Dennis Northern Flicker, Colaptes auratus We have received several messages lately with pictures of this beautiful bird, asking for assistance with identification. The...
Magnetic bearings in birds?
By Tom Dennis Ring-billed Gull, Larus delawarensis This week’s highlighted species in our Blue Water Nature Series, the Ring-billed Gull, the most common gull species...
“The Clean-up Crew”
By Tom Dennis Turkey Vulture, Cathartes aura Turkey Vultures are common summertime residents to the Blue Water area and although they are not typically thought...
Evening Grosbeak, Coccothraustes vespertinus
By Tom Dennis The Evening Grosbeak is relatively large for a finch but is still considered a small bird. Wait, you said “large for a...
Bless a Coot… don’t pollute!
American Coot, Fulica americana By Tom Dennis What looks like a duck, floats like a duck and swims like a duck, isn’t always a duck! My...
The Ambiguous Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus By Tom Dennis Now before you think I’m well typecast because I once played the catatonic character in One Flew Over...
The House Finch
By Tom Dennis House Finch, Haemorhous mexicanus Our final bird in a short series on LBJ’s “little brown jobs” is the House Finch, a locally...
“Stubborn and loyal to a fault”
By Thomas Dennis American Black Duck, Anas rubripes The American Black Duck is found locally but in much lower numbers than the similar and well-known...
“The Flying Cigar”
By Tom Dennis Chimney Swift, Chaetura pelagica A common summer bird in Michigan is the Chimney Swift and like the Tree Swallow it’s a swift...
