Flight photography of American Kestrels, Belted Kingfishers, and Eastern Bluebirds is available by contacting Paul Rossi and customizing your visit. Call 906 379-4950 or email: pwaynerossi@gmail.com
Daily rate (full day in-the-field): $500
Typical best dates below:
Eastern Bluebird natural cavity nest boxes (also Tree Swallow): June 12 – July 1
Eastern Bluebird natural cavity nest box video
American Kestrel natural cavity nest boxes: June 20 – July 17
American Kestrel natural cavity nest box video
Belted Kingfisher look-out perch and nest: June 13 – July 12
Belted Kingfisher lookout perch photography video
Common Loon photography can be available at the same time (along with other opportunities): Common Loons and More Birds 2025 – 2026 | paulrossibirds
Sharp-tailed Grouse lek photography: March 12 – April 4
Sharp-tailed grouse lek photography video
For a layout of all opportunities throughout the season, with dates, scroll down this page.
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I teach bird photographers how to take better bird photos by demonstrating how to evaluate what they can and can’t do with their equipment, under the circumstances they have.
The are many opportunities near my home (which is near the city of Cedarville, Michigan) for great bird photography at times when I am not leading normal workshops. Many are on private land.
This is for one person or small groups. All photography done from blinds will be 1 person photography, so you (and you alone) will be perfectly on shadow line, when there is sun.
I will teach you how to capture spectacular images when the possibility is present, and how to recognize when it is there, so you anticipate intelligently. You will learn to see composition in-the-field and capture it. And learn to leverage the newer technology to accomplish what was often extremely difficult or virtually impossible before. I am very familiar with Canon, Sony, and Nikon cameras, an adept at ensuring clients get the most out of their specific equipment. I will let you know your chances of getting spectacular images, based on your equipment, beforehand.
I talk with all persons inquiring about workshops to make sure they have what is necessary to be successful during the workshop, which includes the following:
- Mirrorless camera and a high quality 500mm lens, at minimum.
- A sturdy tripod and gimbal head, and the plates, so everything connects properly and works smoothly.
- An understanding of the relationship between ISO, shutter speed, and aperture, as well as exposure compensation. A good knowledge of how to manipulate your camera to change those variables.
Daily rate (full day in-the-field): $500
2 day minimum. If you want to stay for 4 days you can. I fill up my schedule based on first come, first scheduled. I always take a break day between clients to find opportunities.
Contact Paul Rossi pwaynerossi@gmail.com 906 379-4950
While I talk with you, we can make a plan for your visit – the number of days and the target species, and what dates are available at that time. I can email you with what we discussed, so you can think about it for a few days if necessary, and look at your schedule, and you can get back with me.
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Airports:
An option is to fly to Detroit, Michigan and then drive 5 hours to Cedarville. From Detroit its straight freeway on I-75 to M-134 after the Mackinac Bridge, and east on M-134 for 38 miles to Cedarville. Canadians can fly to Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, and drive 1 hour to Cedarville.
ANOTHER GOOD OPTION (if you fly with Delta Airlines): Chippewa County International Airport – about 35 minutes from your lodging
ARRIVALS
Airline Origin Flight Time Day Terminal
Delta MSP – Minneapolis/St Paul, MN 4242 11:20 PM (est) Daily Commercial (in Dec 2024 this changes to around 3:20 PM
Delta DTW – Detroit Metro – Detroit, MI 4278 7:06 PM (est) Daily Commercial
DEPARTURES
Airline Destination Flight Time Day Terminal
Delta DTW – Detroit Metro – Detroit, MI 4231 12:00 PM (est) Daily Commercial
Delta MSP – Minneapolis/St Paul, MN 4251 7:01 AM (est) Daily Commercial
Delta Flight 4278 leaves DTW (Detroit Metropolitan Airport) daily, near 6 pm, and arrives at Chippewa County Airport around 7:10 pm.
You have options for car rentals at the airport. Your drive to Cedarville (where your motel is) from Chippewa County Airport is 25 miles (35 minutes)
Delta Flight 4242 leaves Chippewa County Airport daily, near 12:00 pm, and arrives at DTW around 1:10 pm
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Below is a list of the opportunities (based on species) available in 2025, along with the expected date ranges (based on years of experience). The species listed in bold are highly likely to be photographable when present during the date ranges. Many of the opportunities are weather dependent: the weather determines the timing of migration, the timing of nesting, etc. So, calling me to find out how things are going and being able to decide on short notice can pay off with unique opportunities, such as flight images of adults carrying food – with Eastern Bluebird, American Kestrel, Belted Kingfisher, and Northern Parula. With these nest situations great flight images are highly likely and not difficult to accomplish, with my instruction, if you have the right equipment.
Sharp-tailed Grouse Lek Fighting: March 12 – April 4
Barred Owl Flight: April 20 – May 12
DUCK COURTSHIP/FLIGHT/FIGHTS
Long-tailed Duck: March 17 – April 10
Hooded Merganser: March 25 – April 15
Common Goldeneye: March 25 – April 15
Bufflehead: April 10 – April 25
Common Merganser: April 15 – May 15
Red-breasted Merganser: May 1 – May 15
Wood Duck: April 20 – May 10
Blue-winged Teal: April 20 – May 10
American Wigeon: April 15 – May 10
Green-winged Teal: April 20 – May 10
Pied-billed Grebe: April 20 – May 10
WOODPECKERS
Red-bellied: March 25 – April 10
Pileated: territorial April 5 – May 5; nests June 20 – July 10
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker: nests June 20 – July 5
Northern Flicker: territorial April 15 – May 5; nests June 20 – July 5
Red-headed: May 15 – May 30
Ruffed Grouse on drumming log/boulder (display/drumming): April 10 – May 5
American Bittern in flight: April 12 – May 12
Early Warblers and songbirds (before May 19 – 24 workshop), May 4 – May 18: Yellow-rumped W, Pine W, Palm W, Black-throated Green W, Nashville W, and Black and White W, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Brown Creeper, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Blue-headed Vireo, Wood Thrush. The birds in bold are likely if the weather is warm enough just before or at the beginning of the date range.
May feeder birds Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Purple Finch, Baltimore Oriole: May 12 – May 22
Eastern Bluebird natural cavity nest boxes (also Tree Swallow): June 12 – July 1
American Kestrel natural cavity nest boxes: June 20 – July 17
Belted Kingfisher look-out perch and nest: June 13 – July 12
Northern Parula nests: June 15 – July 15
Northern Warblers and More (May 19 – June 4)
For articles related to the opportunities above see: