Cloudy skies and calm seas greeted us as we approached the small island at 7 am. Forecasts called for low 70’s and a stiff breeze, but would turn mostly sunny with high humidity and light winds. The shallow waters next to the pier were calm and shimmered aqua-blue.  I disembarked the ship at 8:30 am and walked the island to look for birds. The walkway was roped off so my intention of wandering into the bush was discouraged; the road adjacent was being used for tram traffic. No problem though, as Bananaquits were abundant, followed by Black-faced Grassquits that appeared in the ..read more

Today we are sailing between Nassau, Bahamas and Disney’s Castaway Cay. At 7 am, while Robin and I were at breakfast at Cabanas, a nice male Magnificent Frigatebird made a pass near the the ship. I had the bins with me so I was able to determine that it was indeed a male (all black frigatebird).  I walked the Promenade (level 4) for about an hour between 10 - 11 am but failed to see any bird or marine life near the ship.  After lunch Robin and I returned to our cabin and I immediately saw a Brown Booby soaring just outsiide my balcony. Grabbin the camera I spent the next 30 minu ..read more

Robin and I flew to Fort Lauderdale, FL yesterday morning to catch the Disney Dream for a 4-day Bahamas Cruise. We arrived shortly after 10 am and were shuttled off to the Port Everglades pier where the Dream awaited. By noon we were on the ship and having lunch at the Animator's Palate Restaurant. By lunch's end we'd have access to our Room (10020), which was ideally located on the port side of the ship next to the elevators and stairs. The Cabana and Pools were on deck 11 so it was a very short walk to food and relaxation.  Dinner at Palo's ($$$) was exceptional. A nice sunset and w ..read more

Skies were clear and temps were hovering near 50F this morning when I arrived at Erie Marsh Preserve in southern Monroe Co.. I brought the bike along with the intention of riding the outer dike to look for early passerines. Red-winged Blackbirds, Common Grackles, and Tree Swallows dominated the ride. Photo opps were few, and the Sun was burning my eyes as I rode east for the first 1-2 miles of the loop. Red-breasted Mergansers were swimming in the pond to my left, and a half-dozen American White Pelicans were swimming near shore in the bay to my right. Unfortunately, I was unable to photogra ..read more

With rain forecasted this evening and clouds through tomorrow morning I took the opportunity for a Sunday evening bike ride at Pt. Mouillee SGA. Winds were blowing 15-25 mph so it was disconcerting, but I decided that I needed the exercise.  At 5:30 pm the winds were blowing out of the SE so at least I'd have the winds at my back on the way back to the car. In the meantime I had to push through the wind as I rode east along the Middle Causeway. American Coot were scattering by the dozen along the Mouillee Creek, Walpatich and Lautenschlager Units. A pair of Greater Yellowlegs were callin ..read more

On the way home from the Refuge I stopped in Flat Rock to pick up peanuts from Masserant's. I decided to stop by the Meijer Pond at the corner of Vreeland and Telegraph to see if any ducks were still around. They were! Six Ring-necked Ducks and a Bufflehead were swimming in the pond next to the CVS, and a Horned Grebe was with them. I parked behind the bushes in the CVS alley with the plan to belly crawl to the top of the small berm to try to photograph them at ground level. It didn't work. When I got to the top of the berm the Ring-necked Ducks were at the far side of the pond and the Horned ..read more

Rain was forecasted this morning with clouds the rest of the day, but skies are clear, so I took a quick run down to the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge to see if any Common Loons might be around. I got a late start this morning, but arrived shortly before 10 am. The drive to the fishing pier was quiet. The pier itself had a few fisherman, but most were in boats on the river. No loons on the river. As I drove out I spotted the juvenile Red-tailed Hawk from Saturday and was able to get some nice pics from inside the car. I didn't stay as another car was behind me. Neither of us see ..read more

This past week Bruce Arnold has reported the first Lesser Yellowlegs, Pectoral Sandpipers, Dunlin and Wilson's Snipe at Erie Marsh Preserve in s. Monroe County. I took the opportunity to run down there this morning at 8:30 am to look for said shorebirds. Skies were clear and calm but temps were 25F; surprisingly warm enough to not need gloves (for short periods). A number of ducks (2 dozen) were swimming in the open waters of the flooded field along Bay Creek Road but severely backlit by the morning Sun rise so I didn't bother try to ID. Dozens of European Starlings, Red-winged Blackbirds and ..read more

The morning started clear and calm. Though temps were barely at 30F the lack of wind made for a pleasant walk at Lake Erie Metropark. I was here to look for Common Loons that had been reported a day earlier; they are currently moving through the Great Lakes Region and I was hoping to see some near the fishing pier at the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge. So, why am I here? My trip to the refuge was cut short by a stopped train on Vreeland Rd. so I opted to head to Lake Erie Metropark first. Parking at the boat launch I scanned the channel in front of the hawk watch and south to Lak ..read more

Shout-out to Tom Gass for finding a Ross' Goose at Lake Erie Metropark just before noon today. His message on Discord indicated that the bird was near the tip of Cove Point at the south end of the park. Robin and I were out the door a few minutes later. We arrived at LEMP at about 12:30 pm and drove to the south end of the park. Canada Geese were foraging in the grass along the road but we couldn't see any small white geese among them. I drove to the end of the parking lot and turned around to make another circuit when I spotted Brian Beauchene a bit north of our position in one of the picnic ..read more