New Camera!

I'll have some pictures from Michigan up, but I don't have them right now, so I'll talk instead about my new camera. It is a Canon Rebel XSi/450D. 3.5 frames per second, 12.2 megapixels, and overall a great step up from my Powershot S2 IS. I got a two-lens kit, with the ef-s 18-55 and the ef-s 55-250. The 55-250 is the one I use for birding, and for the price, it is excellent. I am perfectly happy with the image quality and autofocus speed, the only problem is that it is a little short. However, it came with some nice editing software, and I can crop to get some really nice images.
This is a white-throated sparrow, taken in my backyard.This is a chickadee, also from my backyard.
This junco is in a funny pose, I thought.
This eagle, from Forest Park, is dropping the catfish/bullhead it was eating.
I was happy to get a couple of decent flight shots. Ring-Billed Gull.
White-Throated Sparrow. I like to see the green, since it reminds me of spring.
A Northern Flicker from Tower Grove Park.
Finally, I would like to recommend Birdforum to you birders reading this. I joined in June, mainly to ask camera questions, but now I enjoy just browsing the forums and gallery. One of the best features is the Bird Identification Q&A section, where you can get answers to your ID questions as soon as you post them. There are almost 90,000 users from all over the world, and it is a great community! Good Birding!

American Woodcock

A Woodcock seen at Tower Grove Park.

Beginning Bird Walk

I'll have some pictures up soon of the Forest Park Beginner Bird Walk on Saturday. The Wild Bird Sanctuary was there mist netting, so I have some nice pictures of birds in the hand.

Michigan

I saw many new life birds this summer, bringing my life list total up to 129. I don't think these are all my pictures from Michigan, and I'll try to find where I put the others.Scenery along Peterson Road.

Spotted Sandpiper at Peterson Beach.

Least Sandpiper at Peterson Beach.

Least Sandpiper again, Peterson Beach.

This Piping Plover has lots of bands on its legs. The DNR is very active in protecting them.

Empire Bluffs.

Immature Phoebes in a nest under the barn eaves.

Caspian Tern with some gulls at Esch Road.

Female Common Merganser with babies, seen at the Platte River.A Piping Plover. It turns out it was sitting on its chicks.They are really tiny and fluffy.

A Promise of Posts to Come

I'm in Michigan, I have seen lots of birds, and I will post more in depth sometime in August when I'm back in St. Louis.

Tower Grove Park Again

This Thursday, I went to Tower Grove Park in the afternoon. I saw redstarts, magnolia warblers, chestnut-sided warblers, wilson's warblers, and, the highlight, a hooded warbler. I'm afraid I don't have any pictures, but I will soon post about saturday's trip to TGP, which will contain some nice photos.

Tower Grove Park

A few Sundays ago, I went to Tower Grove Park. Species observed included a summer tanager, black-throated green warbler, kentucky warbler, wood thrush, and common yellowthroat.

Afterwards, I went to Kennedy Forest in Forest park, where there were swainson's thrushes, a northern parula, and a nesting blue-gray gnatcatcher.