Susie Hughes Nature Photography

Flight of the Seagull

2012-01-26T18:46:00.000-05:00

A Ducky Day

2012-01-25T21:07:00.000-05:00

Looking Beautiful takes work......

2012-01-22T17:21:00.000-05:00

Just when every feather is in place and your true beauty

is beginning to shine,

out of nowhere comes jealousy.

Thank goodness not a feather out of place!

God's Canvas

2012-01-18T22:01:00.000-05:00

Today it seemed that God was playing with the sky, it was constantly changing from dark to light, sun and no sun, glowing across the water and shining thru the clouds,

I was in awe of the beauty created before me.

Susie

Duck Bath Day

2012-01-18T21:31:00.000-05:00

Sunset Pictures...Not from the Lake

2012-01-11T19:27:00.000-05:00

Living so close to Lake Michigan I tend to think of Sunsets at the Lake, but tonight I headed east for these shots. I was at the Muskegon wastewater, and hurried from place to place to get different backgrounds and angles of the sunset, it changed so fast that every shot looked different.

Sunny January 10, 2012 Sunset

2012-01-10T23:26:00.001-05:00

I used 2 cameras with different lens and filters to keep the shine but eliminate the glare so the pictures may be out of order

for the timing of the sunset.

These were may favorite from many I took tonight. Susie

Evening Pictures

2012-01-08T22:17:00.000-05:00

I say evening, because the sky was beautiful but not a real sunset.

This was the moon from 1-7-2012

This is the moon from tonight 1-8-2012, the sky was blue over Muskegon Lake.

Snow stormy days finally yeild a beautiful sunset

2012-01-04T15:51:00.001-05:00

I spent over and hour at the beach on January 3, 2012, the storm clouds were trying to clear up and the sun was trying to peek out, the changes in the sky were beautiful to watch.

The wind gave a new meaning to cold.

Falcons and Owls

2011-12-27T20:42:00.000-05:00

Today the owl was at his best, until an eagle flew over head then he headed to the ground in a hurry.

I was looking up to see the eagle when this falcon landed so close to me that I couldn't get all of him in the shot.

I did finally back up to get some better shots, he seemed very comfortable with me between him and the soaring eagle. But he kept an eye to the sky just in case.

I never did get a picture of the eagle, but I did take a couple of the light house in the wind.

Sleepy Owls today

2011-12-05T19:40:00.000-05:00

This Owl was wide awake.

More Snowy Owl

2011-11-25T19:52:00.000-05:00

Thanksgiving 2011

2011-11-24T17:51:00.000-05:00

Dinner with the family will be on Saturday so today it was just the 4 of us. I smoked a turkey breast, it turned out great, added all the trimmings and while John, Toughy and Babe were happily resting after dinner, I went out for a quick birding trip to see the snowy owl Rick and Nancy had seen earlier in the day. It was beautiful so I am sharing it with you.
Susie

A day of beautiful birds

2011-11-16T19:46:00.000-05:00

Short eared owls, mallards, seagulls, European starlings, and a pretty sunset.

Birds today!!!

2011-11-07T19:52:00.008-05:00

I was procrastinating about getting out to take pictures, but a call from brother-in-law Rick, got me up and moving when he calling after seeing a Peregrine Falcon.

It was still around when I get there and here are some of the pictures I was able to get.

I also was able to see some Tundra Swans today, as well as a Heron in an unusual place, sitting on the top of a sprinkler.

And the always present, Mallards and Geese.

And last but not least, these big billed Northern Shoveler Ladies.

A day of Seagulls

2011-11-06T18:37:00.001-05:00

The wind seemed to keep the Gulls aloft without flying.

The winds and waves seem to make looking for lunch a real challenge.

Finally a catch but not a very good lunch.

Those fall colored leaves must look like fish from the air.

Blue Heron and this unusual harem

2011-10-30T16:03:00.000-04:00

Waves and Wind stir up the Big Lake

2011-10-15T15:00:00.000-04:00

An amazing sunset at Lake Michigan

2011-10-14T21:58:00.000-04:00

After a cloudy, rainy, windy day, the sun came out thru the clouds and this is what the beach looked like at Lake Michigan.

Enjoying Natures Bounty

2011-10-13T14:36:00.000-04:00

Today's banquet started with a beautiful sunrise.

Then Lunch was served complements of Mother Nature

Drove down Caterpillar Alley Today

2011-10-08T21:49:00.000-04:00

Home for lunch

2011-10-07T14:55:00.000-04:00

I went home at noon to see the dogs, the sun was perfect on the pond today.

Coming back out the driveway.

Ok, this last one is across the road from the office.

Loving this 70degree weather in October

2011-10-05T21:41:00.000-04:00

Birds enjoying the fall berries

I loved the shadows in the butterfly wings

Collecting that last drop of nectar

The migration begins

Making foot prints in the sand

Shorebirds enjoying the waves at Lake Michigan

Dinner

October 1, 2011

2011-10-01T21:10:00.000-04:00

Waves, birds, flowers and more.

High Winds in Muskegon

2011-09-30T09:48:00.000-04:00

The waves, storms and the wind last night made for a beautiful lake and sunset.
Some brave people saw it from a little different perspective and took it as a challenge.

Today was sunny and rainy and a little of everything was out and about.

2011-09-26T20:55:00.000-04:00

Chickadee's enjoying the fall harvest

Butterflys after the last blooms of the season.

Hummers looking for that last drop of nectar

before a long trip south.

A little of everything...

The Seeds of Fall

2011-09-25T14:15:00.000-04:00

Signs of Fall

2011-09-25T13:44:00.000-04:00

Everywhere I look the signs of fall are showing up with glorious colors, here are a few of my favorites.

Sunset at the beach, trial and error, new filters and editing

2011-09-17T21:25:00.000-04:00

Trying out some new filters for my camera lens, and some editing.

Lakeshore Sportsmen Chapter of SCI at Youth Day 2011

2011-09-12T11:56:00.000-04:00

This is our 17th year as a part of the annual Sportsmen for Youth YOUTH DAY event, SCI was a founding member of Sportsmen for Youth and has participated in every Youth Day that has been held.
The event host about 3,000 kids, PLUS their parents. By 10am on Saturday the count was 1700 kids thru the gates that opened at 9am.

Busy weekend

2011-09-11T14:59:00.000-04:00

Started Saturday with Youth Day and split my time between the

Lakeshore Sportsmen Chapter of SCI

Sensory Safari trailer filled with animals, hides, horns and skulls for kids to see and touch,

and

The Lake Effect Chapter of the Michigan Duck Hunters Association

where the kids got a chance to shoot, hear some great duck and goose callers, see decoys and learn more about waterfowl and duck and goose hunting, and see hen houses that the Lake Effect chapter puts up in the marsh for ducks to nest in.

John was out of town on Saturday, at the Pointe Mouillee Waterfowl Festival, it looked a lot more like he had been out

mud running when he got home.

Sunday a leisurely breakfast at Mr Bee's Pancake House's new location on Apple Ave, then a drive to the lake, sunny and nice at home and breakfast but it was so foggy at the lake you couldn't even see the lake, but I could hear the fog horn.

Back in Lakeside no fog and the butterfly's are still here.

Some of the butterflys are looking a little worn out

after a long hot summer.

Now kicking back for some football...it was a nice weekend,

highlighted by a Michigan State and UofM win.

Yes, I like UofM to win unless they are playing State.

My pictures have taken a back seat to working but here are a few of my quick shots.

2011-09-08T14:09:00.000-04:00

Last week of August Favorites

2011-08-29T14:04:00.000-04:00

Lake Effect Chapter of Michigan Duck Hunters YOUTH DAY Event

2011-08-28T13:26:00.000-04:00

This was a fun event for the youth in Muskegon.

The Lake Effect Chapter of the Michigan Duck Hunters Association teamed up with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and held their 4th annual Youth Day event at Snug Harbor on Muskegon Lake on Saturday.

Over 80 kids and their parents were treated to a fun day by the duck hunters, every youth received a new duck call, a t-shirt and a duck decoy, plus a free lunch was served to all.

The event had something for every young outdoor enthusiast from duck call demonstrations and wood duck box building to sporting dog demos and duck ID with the Michigan DNR. On display were ducks boats, decoy spreads, hunting dogs, decoy makers, and callers, wild bird carvers, predator trappers with furs and hunting tactics and tip seminars.

Prizes were drawn from the attendees and a fully guided and outfitted hunt was the grand prize for one lucky young hunter.

Education and conservation of our habitat is a goal for the Michigan Duck Hunters Associations and the Lake Effect Chapter, is at the forefront in this area and provided info to the youth on how they can help in protecting our natural areas.

A special treat for everyone was the presentation by the Braveheart Raptor Rehabilitation Center, with their live Red Tail Hawk, and Barred Owl, plus an assortment of educational items for hands on teaching, feathers, talons, owl pellets and more.

All the youth were invited to see more birds at the Braveheart Center on Sweeter Rd in Twin Lake on one of their open house days to learn more about wildlife.

The Michigan DNR presentation on waterfowl identification and habitat was a big hit.

Duck calling instruction was highlighted by championship callers.

Both callers jon in for a demo on calling in the big flock....

It was a little loud for the youngest callers.

Calling practice continued throughout the day.

Champion callers get an early start.

Decoy spreads, duck box building, duck boats and sporting dog demos:

Decoy and wood carver displays and demos

A special presentation by the Braveheart Raptor Rehabilitation Center, with their live Red Tail Hawk, and Barred Owl, plus an assortment of educational items for hands on teaching, feathers, talons, owl pellets and more. All the youth were invited to see more birds at the Braveheart Center on Sweeter Rd in Twin Lake on one of their open house days to learn more about wildlife.

A special thank you to Lake Effect Chapter of MDHA members Chris Simpson and Ryan Soulard for all the hard work they put into this event.

How many can you find??

2011-08-27T23:46:00.000-04:00

Butterflys everywhere

2011-08-27T23:44:00.000-04:00

Saturday Sunset

2011-08-20T22:57:00.000-04:00

A stormy day made our deck a good place to be.

2011-08-20T15:48:00.000-04:00

All the babies were out today Hummers, Woodpeckers, and several of the 'only a head a Mom could love' baby Bluejays.

Friday Sunset

2011-08-19T22:04:00.000-04:00