Reached 6,000 Followers this Week! THANKS!
Copyright Jeffrey Foltice
This week was a big milestone for my blog. I passed the 6,000 mark for registered followers! Thanks everybody! 
Let me say I really appreciate your interest and the time you take to check out my outdoor and nature photos. I also wish I had more time to respond to everyone personally, but please accept this note of thanks when you don’t hear from me at other times. The photo I’m posting now could be the same barn swallow in my previous entry, but there were so many flying at impossible speeds, turning on a dime in midair, that I lost track of the individuals. I felt very fortunate to get this one displaying its tail feathers momentarily before it flew off at high speed a second later. I shot this at 1/1300 of a second and F-9, and had to shoot at a faster ISO of 1600 under the available lighting conditions of the time. I used a 200mm F-2.8 lens. Enjoy! (Click on the image to see an enlarged version)
Green Among the Green
Copyright Jeffrey Foltice
I found this Green Heron today in a West Michigan wetland area among green foliage and reeds. I’ve found this particular type of bird to be shy around people. They seem more at ease under cover and moments later this one was hidden from sight.
White Violet
Copyright Jeffrey Foltice
I was pleased to find this White Violet a few days ago growing in the woods at a local Ottawa County, Michigan park. I’ve read that many flowers have guide lines that draw in pollinating insects much as runway lights guide planes in for landings. The lines on this flower will make it much easier for insects to find the right spot to land
Great Blue
Copyright Jeffrey Foltice
This Great Blue Heron decided it was time to take off after it did some fishing today in an Allegan County, Michigan wetland area. This has always been one of my favorite types of birds to photograph.
American Goldfinch
Copyright Jeffrey Foltice
I spotted this American Goldfinch perched on a flowering tree branch in Zeeland, Michigan yesterday. Now that warm Spring weather has arrived in West Michigan, I’ve been seeing a large variety of birds and flowers arriving. I’ll do my best to share these scenes here
Dandelion Masquerade
Copyright Jeffrey Foltice
This little Yellow Warbler decided to become one with the dandelions today in Ottawa County, Michigan. I found the little bird masquerading as one of the yellow flowers as the sun came out this morning bringing yet another beautiful and warm Spring day to the area.
Spring Lineup
Copyright Jeffrey Foltice
I found these marsh marigolds lined up and freshly blossoming over an Ottawa County, Michigan wetland area today. With sunshine and warm temperatures arriving for several days this week, flowers have begun to emerge in West Michigan with more on the way.
Spring Beauty
Copyright Jeffrey Foltice
I found these tiny, appropriately named flowers called “Spring Beauty” today growing in Ottawa County, Michigan. Each flower is only about 1/2 inch wide opening fully on sunny days. They can be found growing in the woods where they emerge from underground tubers similar to small potatoes. Click on the image for an enlarged and more detailed view.
Upland Sandpiper
Copyright Jeffrey Foltice
I found this Upland Sandpiper in a large Southwest Michigan grassy field yesterday. It wasn’t too surprising to find it there since the habitat for this type of Sandpiper consists of tall grass. Normally spending up to 8 months of the year in South America, they come north to breed during the summer in such areas before they return south.
Red Camouflage
Copyright Jeffrey Foltice
This Cardinal seemed to feel at home at it perched surrounded with red twigs today. I photographed the beauty in Zeeland, Michigan this afternoon.
