https://www.facebook.com/101059959355766/

Drummondupclose

Home
United States
Drummond, MI
Drummondupclose

Drummond Island, Michigan wildlife from a zoom lens view. All photos are mine. Etsy Drummondupclose

05/29/2026

This cute little otter had just popped up to look more closely at who I was before I was able to capture a little photo. River otter swimming along the shoreline in Scott Bay.

05/27/2026

Mallards are so familiar that it’s easy to overlook just how beautiful they really are.

That glossy green head, the crisp white neck ring, the rich chestnut breast, and those intricate feather patterns that somehow look hand-painted.

Mallards are our most recognizable dabbling ducks, meaning they tip forward in shallow water to feed rather than diving deep. And while the males tend to steal the spotlight in spring, both parents play an important role, with females soon busy nesting and raising ducklings.

Sometimes the birds we see all the time are worth a second look. 💚

05/25/2026

One of summer’s smallest showstoppers. ✨
Ruby-throated hummingbirds are back, and watching them never gets old. The speed, the precision, the tiny pauses in midair that somehow look effortless.

This little visitor was making the rounds through the flowers, catching the light just right for a flash of emerald and ruby.

Fun fact: a hummingbird’s wings can beat around 50 times per second, creating that familiar hum we hear before we even spot them.

05/18/2026

The marsh is all soft browns and beiges right now, and then this little white-crowned sparrow shows up looking like it understood the dress code but still wanted to stand out. 🙂

These are one of those birds we tend to see during the shoulder seasons here in northern Michigan and the U.P. They pass through in spring on their way farther north to breeding grounds in Canada and Alaska, then show up again in fall as they head back south for winter. Some cover some pretty incredible distances for such a small bird.

05/17/2026

I had to laugh watching this. 😄

This tree swallow was absolutely convinced this stick belonged in the bird box.

Three attempts later… still no luck.
Eventually it gave up and flew off to find something less ambitious. 😂

Nature has its moments.

05/11/2026

A tree swallow taking a quiet pause on Drummond Island.

These little aerial acrobats are among the spring arrivals that always feel like a true sign of the season changing. Fast, graceful, and almost always in motion, which makes moments like this feel extra special to capture.

One still moment against a perfect blue sky.

04/11/2026

I didn’t see the first one arrive, but suddenly they’re back.

Dark-eyed juncos tend to show up right as winter sets in, and then again when it starts to ease up. Around here, they’re often called snowbirds.

Most of the time you’ll find them on the ground, hopping and scratching for seeds, or moving low through the brush.

They’re not flashy, but once you start noticing them, they’re everywhere.

What’s interesting is that many of the juncos we see in winter don’t stay. They head farther north to breed once spring really takes hold.

So this time of year, when they start showing up again, it’s a pretty reliable sign that the season is shifting, even if it doesn’t feel like it yet. But with all of the new birds arriving this week, it's really starting to feel like spring.

       

04/07/2026

It might say spring on the calendar, but this morning had other plans.

10 degrees. Fresh snow. And still… they’re back.

Red-winged blackbirds have started to fill the marsh again, perched on cattails and reeds, calling out like they always do this time of year. No hesitation. No waiting for better conditions.

Just showing up and singing anyway.

If you’ve ever wondered what early spring really looks like here, it’s this. Not warm days and open water. It’s this in-between season where winter hasn’t quite let go, but something else has already begun.

And the sound carries across the marsh like a promise that it’s coming.

04/05/2026

A fun surprise from this morning on Drummond Island.

This river otter didn’t stick around long, just enough time for a few quick photos before diving under the water. Looking back at the images later, one frame caught it right in the middle of a yawn.

River otters are quick and often only visible for a moment or two, so it’s always a bit of luck to catch something like this.

02/26/2026

We rarely see cardinals in our yard… so this felt like a little winter gift today ❤️

And even better? This is the first time I’ve ever photographed one here in the winter. Through the window, yes. But I’ll take it.

Most of us picture the bright red males when we think of cardinals, but this beauty is a female. The soft tan feathers with warm red accents and that bright orange-red bill are just as stunning in their own way. Female Northern Cardinals keep that hint of red year-round, and unlike many songbirds, cardinals don’t migrate. They tough out our northern winters right along with us.

Seeing her perched quietly in the cold felt special. A reminder that even on gray winter days, there’s color if we’re paying attention.

Did you know cardinals are one of the few bird species where the male often feeds the female beak-to-beak during courtship? Keep an eye out… you might catch that sweet moment too.

Address

Drummond, MI
49726

Website

facebook.com

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Drummondupclose posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Want your business to be the top-listed Photography Service in Drummond?